Last weekend Dad & Mom went to the annual APACHE Homeschool Convention, and it was great. Thanks for being patient when we spend a couple of days there; it takes a lot of effort on your part to keep the wagon rolling smoothly. You kids do a great job. We love to homeschool, and this convention is the highlight of our year. We always find great new reading material, search for curriculum, fellowship with likeminded believers, and enjoy listening to speakers who are inspired in what they do and why they do it. For twelve years now we’ve been attending the convention (except for a couple of years when we had new babies), and we wouldn’t consider missing it. Make it a priority to attend. And every year. You won’t regret it.
Now. How do we summarize two days of teaching into one page of print? Hmm. Don’t think it can be done. This might have to be a two part letter. And even at that, we’ll barely scratch the surface of the weekend. But we’ll give it a try.
This year’s keynote speaker, John Stonestreet, taught us the definition of a Biblical worldview and why we want to pass it on to you. It’s a big cultural buzzword right now, but it has a basic meaning. In a nutshell, here’s what it means. What we do, what we say, where we go, what we think, and what we believe is all based on the Bible. And we cannot be talked out of it. Mr. Stonestreet told us that almost 50% of kids in America reject their faith in college, and 70% no longer attend church after they leave home. That’s pretty sobering. Most of this is caused by five other worldviews that are taking over America and are rooted in humanism, or self-worship. You will be bombarded by advertisements, motivational speakers, billboards, and educational systems telling you that you are your own god. You’ll be told, “Don’t let anyone tell you what’s right or wrong.” That’s why we talk about the things that we talk about, because we want you to know why you do what you do and why you believe what you believe. Don’t worry; you’ll have lots of chances to defend what you believe. We want you to be ready.
So how do you teach a Biblical worldview? Well, it starts with daily teaching and discipling. Sometimes we hear about the special time of daily group devotions that accompany church work teams and mission trips. Agreed, that’s special. That’s good. However. Work team devotions are not enough. One week of daily devotions cannot create a strong Biblical worldview. Two hours of Sunday worship hardly cut it either. Or one hour of Sunday school. No, it must be a daily discipline in your home, led by dad, helped by mom, embraced and enjoyed by all. It’s also called catechism. Critics might call it brainwashing. Brainwashing truth. Guess that fits too. But really, it’s just teaching the Bible every day, that’s all it is. Is it easy to do every day? Nope, it’s not. Is it important? Yes, certainly. Are there other activities that could steal that time slot for family devotions? Probably. Will you have to make it a priority for your family someday, as you have pressures pulling you away? Definitely. Is it worth it? Absolutely. And it’s not hard to do. Sing some songs. Memorize scripture. Read the Bible. Talk about the Bible. Apply the Bible to daily life. Ask questions. Explain answers. Pray together. Another word for it is discipling. And it doesn’t end with family devotions. No, it continues all day long, every day. Like this: it’s the walk-along, talk-along, live-along, work-along, sing-along, play-along, learn-along life. All great things to talk about during family devotions. Make it happen for your kids. And don’t think you’ll wait to start until your kids can walk. Or talk. Or sing. Or sit. Or anything. Start when they’re tiny. Like, in the womb tiny. So they hear Dad & Mom singing, reading, reciting, praying before they are born. And don’t ever stop. Don’t let that time be snuffed out by work pressure, life pressure, house projects, hobbies, or anything else that prevents it. It’s important. You may not hear it much, but family devotions are important. Family devotions led by dad are key to Biblical worldview training. Remember that. And, family devotions build strong relationships, too. Remember that, because that’s important too. Relationships and Biblical worldview training. Some great teachings that we want you to remember.
Keep on keeping on.
Dad & Mom
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