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This is my Father's world.
O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world,
should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King –
let the heavens ring.
God reigns –
let the earth be glad.
"This
Is My Father's World"
Words by Maltbie D. Babcock
Constitutional Law
Online Class
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HSLDA: Register Now for Spring
Constitutional Law Online
 Registration is now open for the spring
semester of Constitutional Law
Online, taught by Michael Farris, Chairman of
Home School Legal
Defense Association and Chancellor of Patrick
Henry College. The class begins January 5, 2009, and
concludes June 1, 2009. If
you've always wanted to learn more about the
history and background of
our legal system, from a biblical
perspective, or if you're looking
for a good U.S. government class for your
homeschooled students, then
this class is for you! This 18-week Internet-based course follows
Michael Farris' textbook,
"Constitutional Law for Enlightened
Citizens," and uses a
computer-based audio CD-ROM to deliver the
"classroom" lectures. The
syllabus lists the reading and listening
assignments for each week and
offers a flexible schedule for homework. Every two weeks, students can
participate in a live chat-room discussion,
hosted by Michael
Farris, to pose their questions and discuss
the material. Twice during
the class, students will submit essay exams
for grading. A certificate
of participation will be awarded to all
students at the end of the
class. Tuition is $250 for HSLDA members and $275
for non-HSLDA members,
which includes the required textbook and
CD-ROM. For more information,
or to register, visit the class website at conlaw.hslda.org/cms.
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In This Issue:
5 Post-Election Responses
Recommended Resources
• Franklin Springs Family Media:
God-honoring DVDs
• Kid's Wealth: Financial
Stewardship Activity Book
• Birch Court Books: Fun and
Educational Gifts
• Doorposts: New Email Discussion
Group
Greetings,
The long political campaign season is
over, and Christians have cause for
disappointment. Tom Minnery, Senior Vice President, Focus
on the Family Action, says, "Let me speak
plainly. Our nation has never faced the
kind of anti-family, pro-abortion assault
that we're likely to see in the coming weeks
and months." Tony Perkins, president of the Family
Research Council, warns, "We are going to
see, I think, unprecedented attacks against
our faith through measures like the hate
crimes legislation and the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act. We're going to
see attacks on innocent human life through
the Freedom of Choice Act. And I think
even our freedoms are going to come under
attack." How should we respond? Our
responses will be an important and lasting
lesson to our children. In this issue we have included some
suggestions from national leaders and
organizations that can help us respond in a
God-honoring way.
Some Good News. Marriage and
family were big winners in the election, as
Florida, Arizona, and California became the
28th, 29th, and 30th states to amend their
constitutions to define marriage as the union
between one man and one woman. Read
more. May the Lord bless your family for His
glory!
Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching
Home is a home-school, family-run
business operated in our home since 1980.
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Response #1: Trust God
Change
Mark Stamper, co-pastor, Central Oregon
Baptist Church
In Daniel chapter one, we see a country
conquered and partially ransacked.
Citizens are forcibly removed from their
country and expected to obey the laws of a
new empire. At the end of Daniel
chapter five (about 70 years later), we see
an empire basically vanishing in the night
and a new empire taking over in the morning. Talk about change! The changes that
will take place in the next few months in our
country do not even compare to what occurred
during the life of Daniel. So, how should we view changes in
government? First, we need to keep our focus on
the One who is sovereign over all governments
and empires. As the One ultimately in
control, God is working all events out for
His glory and for our good. Therefore,
we do not need to worry about events but
rather we should rest in God's control. Second, we should focus on doing
the will of the One who ultimately rules now
and will rule forever. The governments that ruled in Daniel's
time have fallen into ruin, and the ruins
have mostly faded into dust. Generally,
people would not recall the names of the
powerful empires from Daniel's time.
What has lasted? Those things that were
done in obedience to God and for His glory. So, let us stay confident in God's control
and trust in His wisdom as we seek to follow
Him.
"The Most High is ruler over the realm of
mankind,
And bestows it on whom He wishes."
(Daniel 4:17)
This new instructional DVD series is a
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The southern charm and hospitality of the
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See information and view trailers for all our
top-quality DVDs that set forth a vision of
God-honoring family life.
Franklin Springs Family Media.
franklinsprings.com
|
Response #2: Prayer
Tony Perkins, president of the Family
Research Council, says, "God answered
many of our fervent pre-election prayers, but
the causes of faith, family and freedom lost
significant ground. "God's people must now press on, and take
back the ground that we lost. With
repentance and prayer, we must lay
foundations for the next election, and not
wait until then to plead for mercy to avoid
greater, even more unthinkable losses! "Focused prayer for our civil government
must become part of the core of church life,
if America and religious liberty are to
survive!"
The primary method of effecting political
change is through prayer.
"I exhort therefore, first of all, that
supplications,
prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings,
be made for all men; for kings
and all that are in high places;
that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life
in all godliness and gravity.
This is good and acceptable
in the sight of God our Savior;
who would have all men to be saved,
and come to the knowledge of the truth."
(1 Timothy 2:1-4)
It is ultimately God who can "remove kings
and establish kings" (Daniel 2:21) and
influence their actions: "The king's heart is
like channels of water in the hand of the
Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes."
(Proverbs 21:1) All of our political action is in vain if
we do not recognize God's workings in the
affairs of men and call upon Him to help us
and our nation. • Pray
for Our Leaders Pray for national, state, and local
officials by name – for their
salvation, wisdom, and integrity. (Find
your representatives online.)
• Pray
for Revival Among Christians "If My people, who are called by My name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek
My face,
and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin,
and will heal their land."
(2 Chronicles 7:14)
Resource. Intercessors
for America serves Christians by
encouraging effective prayer and fasting for
the church, our nation, and their leaders
through e-mail prayer alerts and newsletters.
Free Financial Stewardship
Activity Book for Kids
Teach your kids about giving and
sharing from a biblical perspective.
Through the activities in this 28-page
booklet, your children will become
reflective, learn to make good money choices,
and shine in the glory of giving.
The Financial Stewardship Activity
Book is free at kidswealthmoneykit.com.
KidsWealth
Money Kit
A practical program for teaching your
children
how to successfully manage money.
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Response #3: Evangelism
"As he thinks in his heart, so is
he."
Ken Ham, president, Answers
in Genesis
As a nation, we recognize that America is
in big trouble. It is in trouble
economically. It is in trouble morally. It is
in trouble with its enemies. As Americans went to the polls, many
thought that the way they voted was
determined by their reaction to the problems
with the economy, Wall Street, the housing
market, the war in Iraq, or numerous other
issues. But regardless of who we are as
Christians, we ultimately voted in accord
with Proverbs 23:7: "as he thinks in his
heart, so is he." The problem with America is not ultimately
the economy, the immorality, Wall Street, the
war or the housing market – the problem
with America is that hearts and minds have
changed over the decades. The church has, on the whole, compromised
God's Word, particularly in this era,
beginning in Genesis – and such
compromise then affects how people view the
rest of the Bible. Foundationally, the
only way to change America is for hearts and
minds of people to change in regard to the
Word of God. (Adapted from Ken Ham's blog. Read
more.)
Spreading the Gospel
True and lasting change will only be
brought about when the people that make up
the electorate, and those that govern, both
love and obey the Lord God. "Go into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature." (Mark
16:15) This is the Christian's great commission
and should take priority over any political
action in which we are involved. The main benefit of political action is
not the comfort of our freedom to do as we
choose during our brief life on earth, but
the ability to spread the Gospel for the
eternal salvation of others.
Resource: Living
Waters. Learn how to share your faith
(evangelism) effectively and biblically.
Look What's New – Plus Fun
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little ones busy and learning.
Birch Court Books
Free Media Mail shipping with online
order of $20.
www.birchcourtbooks.com
Free catalog. 800-655-1811. |
Response #4: Political Action
"Now More than Ever"
Tom Minnery, Senior Vice President, Focus
on the Family Action
Now, more than ever, we must prayerfully
and boldly shine the light of truth in the
public arena and defend what is right. Let me speak plainly. Our nation has never
faced the kind of anti-family, pro-abortion
assault that we're likely to see in the
coming weeks and months. We must mobilize extraordinary numbers of
citizens who care about upholding virtue,
defending life and safeguarding religious
liberty.
"Our Finest Hour"
Tony Perkins, President, Family
Research Council
In January, we will see the government
consolidated in the hands of the most
radical, left-wing president and Congress in
the history of our Republic. And they plan to
drastically change our nation the moment they
take power. Yet, there is ample reason for hope if we
take a stand. And if we start now. Never forget: Extreme liberalism
does not work as a governing
philosophy. As in the past, the Left is
likely to suffer a rapid backlash as their
policies are exposed, and as they fail to
help Americans. Importantly, most Americans still disagree
with the newly elected leaders in Washington,
D.C. on issues of faith, family, and freedom. Therefore, FRC is launching a plan to help
expose our liberal leaders' radicalism to
America even as we short-circuit their agenda
in Washington. Knowing an Obama victory was possible, FRC
crafted this plan in advance (read
more). The history of our faith and freedom is
the story of men and women like you creating
victory out of very bleak moments of apparent
defeat. So make no mistake, this can be our
movement's "finest hour." Help Launch
"Our
Finest Hour!"
"Join the Resistance"
from Grassfire.org
AllianceEmboldened by an overwhelming electoral
victory and a near-supermajority in Congress,
President-elect Obama and his allies are
preparing to implement his liberal,
"post-American" agenda. Who can stop the Obama agenda? Only an
unprecedented idea-based resistance from
freedom-loving citizens can prevent the full
implementation of Obama's march to the left. Grassfire.org is seeking to mobilize
grassroots citizens who agree with the
statement: "As an American citizen, while I will show
respect to President-elect Obama, I oppose
the far-Left and socialistic elements that
comprise the centerpiece of his agenda. I
recognize that it will take a patriotic and
resilient Citizen Resistance to block
implementation of this agenda and I join with
others who oppose these threats to our
liberties."
See "Political Action
Opportunities" in the sidebar to the
left.
Discuss Biblical Parenting
with Other Like-Minded Christian
Parents
Share your questions, advice,
problems, encouragement, and success
stories!
Doorposts is hosting a new email
discussion group for Christian parents who
want to use the Bible in their everyday
child-training.
Whether you've used Doorposts materials or
not, we invite you to join
us and share your stories, questions, and
ideas, as well as get help with discipline
and character-training.
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Response #5: Thanksgiving
by Jeff Myers, Ph.D., Passing
the Baton
It has been a long time since pro-family
conservatives were dealt such a decisive blow
in an American election. Feelings range from
"disappointed" to "disillusioned." What should our attitude be? In his book The Psychology of Ultimate
Concerns, Robert Emmons discusses three
virtues essential to success in life:
self-control, humility, and gratitude. Emmons defines gratitude as "The capacity
to feel the emotion of thankfulness on a
regular and consistent basis, across
situations and over time." Ingratitude, on the other hand, operates
from a sense of entitlement that says I have
a right to have things go my way so that I
can be happy. I became convicted of my own lack of
gratitude. I have so much to be thankful for,
yet find myself being irritated and
dissatisfied. I don't like the direction
things are moving politically, socially,
culturally or economically. Left unchecked,
though, my attitude dissolves into anger and
even fear. As I've been reminded to express
gratitude, however, my attitude and sense of
focus have been renewed. I'm still just as
determined as ever to prepare a new
generation of culture-shaping leaders who
understand the times and are prepared to
lead, but I'm doing it out of a sense of
conviction, not of fear or resentment. Here are some of my convictions about
gratitude: • Ingratitude
immobilizes.
Gratitude energizes. • Ingratitude
is stingy.
Gratitude inspires generosity.
• Ingratitude
steals joy.
Gratitude restores hope.
• Ingratitude
demands good for itself.
Gratitude desires good to come to
others. If your goal is to increase your ability
to act on what is important, and to do so in
a life-giving fashion, develop an attitude of
gratitude.
"Always giving thanks for all things
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to
God,
even the Father."
(Ephesians 5:20)
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