A California state appellate court ruled last week that it is illegal for parents in that state to home school their children without the appropriate state teaching credentials. This ruling slaps in the face the existing laws of California. James Dobson of Focus on the Family recently interrupted his national radio broadcast in order to bring to our attention the impact of this decision and what we can do to help. We encourage you to listen and become informed. Also there is a petition you can sign that may help to reverse this decision.

C. H. Spurgeon said, “Salvation is a very simple business.” (Vol. 38, MTP, pages 268-269).

I am so thankful that I became acquainted with sermons by C. H. Spurgeon almost immediately upon my being saved. I made a public profession in a Revival Meeting where salvation was presented by the Evangelist as “simple.” In the After-meeting, the professors were lead thru several verses in the Gospel of John on salvation by faith, and we were given a copy to take home with us to read. I read and re-read those verses, and although I was experiencing joy, I felt an inner weakness in faith, and wondered if it was really all that “simple” as John seems to present it. I seemed to be tempted, in my new-born state of weakness in scriptural knowledge, to doubt the promises I read.

But during the same week, I came upon the name of Spurgeon, and thereafter I began to hunt some of his sermons in my hometown public Library. In the Providence of God, the Library had several old copies of the “Twelve Sermons” series of Spurgeon’s sermons, and upon reading some of them, Spurgeon confirmed what I had read in John — salvation is a simple matter — it comes to the person who will simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. I have never been moved from believing that, and that is the primary reason I have loved Spurgeon’s sermons so much. He preaches simple faith and simple salvation.

Consequently, I have no appreciation for the extreme “preparationalism” that is sometimes associated with ministers, such as I expressed in regard to the book, “Alleine’s Alarm” — or as it’s called today by the publisher, “Sure Guide to Heaven.” (The publisher would have done a better service on that if they had also changed the contents, not merely the title). That is also why I did not take a liking to “The Gospel According to Jesus” by John MacArthur. Such books simply complicate and fog-up the simplicity of the Gospel.

I’m a lover of the “simple gospel” — like all those verses on faith in John, a book written to lead men to believe in Christ (John 20:31). Just a grain of that faith is sufficient to salvation.

Spurgeon pointed out the paradox, however, saying that believing “is the simplest matter in all the world, yet, by reason of its simplicity, it is the hardest possible act for human nature to perform” (Vol. 12, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, page 18). That’s somewhat how I felt when I first believed — it was so easy, yet it was “hard” to believe salvation is so simple.

Human nature makes it hard. Human nature wants to “do” something more than simply believe.

It is hard enough to convince a person of the simplicity of salvation by believing without adding all the extra baggage such as expounded by the “Sure Guide” type of books.

And this is a situation in a lot of professing Christian pulpits, churches, and writers of books, for they themselves do not give the impression that they are really convinced of the simplicity of faith in Christ for salvation. That is why a lot of them, I think, oppose public invitations, speak against “decisions,” and what they brand “decisional regeneration” and “easy believism:” — they just don’t have confidence like Spurgeon had in simple faith and the simple gospel of simple salvation.

People often ask me, here in my store, for books and literature on “how to deal with” or “answer” this, that, and the other type of cultic people. I always take a Bible and turn it to John 3, and I tell them to “hold their noses to John 3:18, and don’t let them budge off of it to some other rabbit trail. If they won’t accept John 3:16-18, it won’t do them a bit of good if you persuaded them about the error of some of their other unscriptural ideas.”

What good does it do a person to argue them away from some cult doctrine, if they won’t believe on the Son for salvation? If they will believe on Christ for salvation, that will answer and dispell a multitude of errors.

Spurgeon has a story about a simple fellow named “Jack.” He was saved by simply believing, and would go around telling people he was saved, but many had doubts about Jack’s being truly saved — he was such a simpleton. Jack would simply reply to their questions –

“I’m a poor sinner,
and nothing at all,
But Jesus Christ
is my all and all.”

His critics and the doubters just could not shake Jack off of his simple faith. Spurgeon took about two pages, telling about “poor Jack” and his testimony (Vol. 1, New Park Street Pulpit, pages 361-362).

Today, some of the “ultrafine doctrinal brethren” (as Spurgeon called them), put down simple faith as “easy believism,” and they hold up an experiential standard so high that it amounts to another form of salvation by works. But by God’s grace, salvation is “easy,” and salvation is “simple” — despite what some brethren say and think.

Spurgeon said, “O simple faith, thou hast the key to the kingdom! Come, and welcome into my heart” (Vol. 38, MTP, page 201).

Spurgeon preached a sermon on John 1:12, 13, and he opened it by saying, “Everything here is simple; everything is sublime. Here is that simple gospel by which the most ignorant may be saved” (Vol. 38, MTP, page 265).

He said it was so simple that “children of three and four years of age have doubtless been capable of it; and there have been many persons, but very little removed from absolute idiocy, who have been able to believe; a doctrine which needs to be reasoned out may require a high degree of mental development, but the simple act of trusting requires nothing of the kind” (Vol. 12, MTP, page 19).

Now, the reason Spurgeon believed it was so simple is because he himself was saved by the simple act of looking to Jesus, and he believed that the Word of God is powerful, and the Holy Spirit accompanies the Word, and that is what overcomes the resistance of human nature, and makes it easy to believe.

“This is a very simple matter,” he said, “One grain of faith is worth more than than a diamond the size of the world . . . Salvation is a very simple business. God help us to look at it simply, and practically, and to receive Christ, and believe on his name! . . . I go over and over and over with this, and never get one jot further, because I find that this medicine cures all soul sicknesses, while human quackery cures none. Christ alone is the one remedy for sin-sick souls. I can sympathize with Luther when he said, ‘I have preached justification by faith so often, and I feel sometimes that you are so slow to receive it, that I could almost take the Bible, and bang it about your heads!” (Vol. 38, MTP, page 268, 269, 272).

Spurgeon tells about a certain woman who heard him preach but would not believe. She wanted him to pray for her to be saved. Spurgeon shocked her by sayingin, “No, I will not pray for you . . . I set before you Christ crucified, and I beg you to believe in him. If you will not believe in him, you will be lost; and I shall not pray God to make any different way of salvation for you. You deserve to be lost if you will not believe in Chirst.”

The immediate result was that the woman exclaimed, “Oh, I see now! I do look to Christ, and trust him” (Vol. 38, MTP, page 388).

It’s just that simple to those of you who have believed, isn’t it?
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Luk 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
Luk 14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
Luk 14:17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
Luk 14:18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
Luk 14:19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
Luk 14:20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
Luk 14:21 So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
Luk 14:22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
Luk 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Luk 14:24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

God has prepared a great supper. When I was young an enjoyable experience for me was to hear my Mom calling from the front porch that dinner is ready. Once I heard her voice she did not have to call again, I was at the dinner table as fast as I could wash my hands; sooner if I could get away with it.
God knows we need food and that we enjoy eating. Our need and enjoyment of food is real; so is our need and enjoyment of the kingdom. We need the kingdom, and God desires that we enjoy it. All that is in the kingdom is for our well being and enjoyment. Our need and enjoyment for supper is a sign that points us to the kingdom. God bids us come and enjoy the table he has set for us.
It is sad that many are called but few actually except this invitation. The table is set now; the food is delicious, the fellowship is sweet, but still some will not except.
First he invites the religious but they are full of excuses: land, business ventures (bought oxen), and marriage (placing your spouse or other relationships in a higher place than God); actually displacing God with other issues. It’s like living on plain bread and water and being offered a lifetime of full meals of grains, vegetables, meat, and fruit and saying: ” Nah, I am content with poverty, please excuse me.”
So the servant turns from them and goes to the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. The servant was surprised that even then there was room because evidently many of them turned down the offer.
Finally the servant turns and goes to wherever he can find people and compels them to come in. I can imagine that even then many will refuse. But God will have a full table. Many that are bidden to come and enjoy will not get even a taste because they refuse to hear. They place things and people above enjoyment of God. They are too proud or ashamed to go. Not even a taste will they get.
The psalmist says “O’ taste and see that the Lord is good!”
Jesus loves us so much that he stands at our hearts door and knocks. If anyone opens he will come in and have supper with that one. So the supper actually begins as soon as you accept the invitation. I am afraid that many Christians are not at present enjoying God; they are not dining today with Jesus. Whether you are a believer or not the invitation stands. Why not talk to Jesus today. Are you hearing his voice? Are you having fellowship with Jesus. Are you hearing his still small voice saying: “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light and you shall find rest for your soul.”

“Liberal minded” used to mean you are open to new thoughts or ideas while holding on to knowledge that has been proven true with the test of time. But now it seems that such knowledge is being cast aside if it does not fit in with a particular agenda or propaganda of political correctness. It seems that our educational institutions have become lopsided in promoting extreme left liberal agendas. This is not a healthy thing for our nation of free thinkers. Chuck Norris makes an interesting observation concerning this lopsidedness in his article, Don’t send your kids to college – before you read this. He writes: ” Among this educational lopsidedness is the intentional training of students to disdain America, freely experiment sexually, forcefully defend issues like abortion and homosexuality, as well as become cultural advocates for political correctness, relativism, globalization, green agendas and tolerance for all.” If Mr. Norris is right then the need is even greater for Americans to, not only homeschool their children, but to also prepare them to stand strong, and sometimes alone, in an increasingly narrow-minded world, especially in our colleges and universities of which many will someday attend. I believe that America needs to safeguard the rights of its citizens to educate their children according to free conscience. Without this we will undoubtedly slide down the slippery slope of intolerance. Families, I encourage you to keep up the good work of homeschooling. Be liberal in the true sense of the word.

Keith Jones

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig tight and bull-strong.

Keeps skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A mad bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled.

Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna
happen anyway.

Don’t judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and
think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.

Don’t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t botherin’ you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop
diggin’.

Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal
with watches you from the mirror every mornin’.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgement comes from experience and a lotta that
comes from bad judgement.

Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than
puttin’ it back in.

If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try
orderin’ somebody elses dog around.

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.

For your viewing pleasure and not used for profit or gain.

Children struggle in school for various reasons. It may be simply a matter of maturity. A child may be very smart but not ready. Many children are not ready until they reach the age of 8 or even as old as 12 years. This may sound strange in this day when more and more people are talking about “the earlier you start them out the smarter they will be.” I like homeschool because it allows you to teach your children at a pace that works best for them. Not all children are ready at the same age nor do they learn the same way. Home ed allows for flexability. I realize that compulsary education laws vary from state to state as to what age you have to start them off but at least at home you can adapt to your children’s abilities and not just try to push them along. Believe me when I say: pushing them too fast can be detrimental to their success and enjoyment of learning. If your child is really struggling in say math at age 6, slack off and go slower. Or maybe they are not catching on to this phonics idea right now, not to worry, in time their brain development will take place and they will pick it up very quickly. Do not try this at school, they will be left behind. But at home, not a problem. They will eventually surpass their public school friends. Dr. Moore talks about the integrated maturity level (IML) of children. He says: ” The IML is a crucial consideration. Some children mature more rapidly in vision, others in hearing, and still others in cognition. The sum total of these abilities, however, requires plenty of time to develop. Aside from an IML evaluation, it is difficult to know just when a child’s learning faculties have matured, although parental assessments are often helpful.” (Mothering, Summer, 1990 by Raymond Moore) I’d say and more than just helpful! Remember the old saying-The hand that rocks the cradle rocks the world.

Keith Jones - Hsadvisor.com

Are you looking for an inexpensive user friendly curriculum? A2 Home school Curriculum is an excellent choice. It comes to you in CD form with a library of 800 books including many great classics. Covering grades K-12, this CD includes a math worksheet generator and more than 1500 copy work forms. There is also a scope and sequence for math, history, and English. Take a look at the list of subjects covered: Phonics, Reading, Writing, Penmanship, Grammar, Spelling, Arithmetic, U.S. History, World History, Literature, Philosophy, Mythology, Rhetoric, Vocabulary, and Economics. Wow! All this for only $100! Even if you only use it to supplement other curriculum this is an invaluable resource. A2 Curriculum is very flexible and easy to use. You can also take advantage of support from other homeschoolers, if you so desire. Read what others are saying about it. By now you may be asking: Why is the price so low? Let me quote from the FAQ section of the Accelerated Achievement website:

Why is the price so low? It is almost like it is too good to be true.

I am not a businessman. By day I am a research engineer at the Boeing Company. I am a home school activist. I believe in it. I want to help people succeed. I have probably priced this product far below the optimum selling price. When I was in College I bought and sold automotive electrical parts. I could buy voltage regulators for GM cars for $0.75 and I attempted to sell them for $2.95 to parts houses and garages. I could not sell any. The price was too low. People thought that there was something wrong with them or that they were stolen. I raised the price to $9.99 and sold out.

Most companies would sell this product for $300 or more. I could probably sell more if I increased the price. It gives the impression that the product is more valuable. It inspires confidence. If you would prefer to pay $300 for this product, e-mail me, and I will send you a special html file that will help you do this.

The morals of the market place are almost gone. Almost nobody asks what a fair profit is, it is always “What will the market bear?”

Does it irk you when you hear that homeschoolers are geeks, misfits, or social weirdo’s? It does me, but that does not stop me from going forward with encouragement for homeschool families. You see, the proof is in the pudding. Anybody can repeat what they heard someone else say without investigating the matter. Most people do not realize the number of famous individuals that were homeschooled. It’s pretty difficult to place labels on homeschooled people when you know the facts. Here is a sample of famous people who were homeschooled:

PRESIDENTS-George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Quincy Adams, Abraham Lincoln, William Henry Harrison, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D Roosevelt

AUTHORS-Mark Twain, George Bernard Shaw, Irving Berlin, Charles Dickens, C.S. Lewis

COMPOSERS-Anton Bruckner, Felix Mendelssohn, Amadeus Mozart, Francis Poulenc