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More on speeding through the NT

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July 18, 2006 By

For anyone who is wondering what one gains by speeding the through the New Testament at the terrific rate of 10 chapters/day, here are some thoughts I had the last time I did this:

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  • It’s a great way to gain a broad overview of the New Testament: like a drive through the forest, rather than a study of the leaf structure of a particular tree. Both methods are edifying: this is the drive.
  • It’s a more natural way to read the epistles. Think about it: if somebody writes you a letter, do you read half a page per day? Or do you read the entire thing, then re-read it again if you didn’t get it all the first time?
  • It’s a more natural way to read the Gospels as well. Do you read a short story half a page per day? Of course not! If it’s short enough to finish in a single sitting, that’s what you do, right?
  • Is 6 or 8 pages/day really too much? It sounds like a lot if we have trained ourselves to nibble the Scriptures in tiny tastes, but let’s make a meal of it.
    Think of any other book: wouldn’t you feel silly to say that 6-8 pages is too much?
  • If you’re worried about missing too much on this cruise through the NT, plan to do it again next month. And the next. Each time you will notice something new about the larger context – something you would never notice if you only read a chapter or two.
    I love to notice repetition and continuity between larger passages – phrases that are repeated several times or statements that obviously refer to an incident several chapters back. Cross references don’t always make this obvious. Sometimes the only way to catch this is by reading large portions in a single sitting.

Thank you to all who have decided to join in this challenge! If you are considering but not sure you want to do it, why not try the technique for just the gospels? It really is amazing how much you notice when you quickly read through a large passage!

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Thoughts on Beatitudes & memorization

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

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March 21, 2006 By

This month, we have taken on the monumental task of memorizing the Sermon on the Mount. Let me clarify that: we don’t expect to finish it this month, we only started it this month.
As we worked on the opening passage, it occurred to me there ought to be a logical progression (of course, right?). To make it easier to learn, I tried to find the logic in it – does anyone else’s mind work that way? – and I came up with something like this:

Blessed are the poor in spirit (those who see their own worthlessness and need for a savior) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (here’s how they will get it:)
Blessed are the mournful (they mourn because they are worthless, i.e. poor in spirit) for they shall be comforted. (God will give them hope:)
Blessed are the meek (they look to their Comforter for instruction; He gives them His law for instruction) for they shall inherit the earth. (why? wait and see…)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness (striving to obey the instructions they have been given) for they shall be filled. (with the righteous works of Christ)
Blessed are the merciful (the righteous are merciful) for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart (having obtained mercy, their sins are forgiven and therefore their hearts are purified) for they shall see God. (with pure hearts, we can approach the throne)
Blessed are the peacemakers (ummm…the pure in heart are not contentious?) for they shall be called sons of God (I don’t quite see the connection there, but once we are adopted:)
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’s sake (adopted into Christ’s suffering) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (full circle from the first part: this is how we got to share in Christ’s inheritance)
(summary:)
Blessed are you when they shall persecute and revile you and say all kinds of evil about you falsely for my sake (because it means you have followed the path described above; you are a child of God); rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

In the first 3 weeks of March, the 4 oldest have nearly memorized 26 verses and become very familiar with the rest of the sermon (they can recite as a group, but need prompting individually). The 4yo and 6yo say most of the words along with us, though I don’t think they could do much on their own yet.
This is by far the longest memorization task we’ve ever undertaken. The progress has been very exciting to us, and it’s surprising just how quickly we are moving along.

A few tips:

  • Become very familiar with the passage you’re memorizing. Read it over and over, aloud, as a group. Let the children take turns reading it aloud, and divide it into portions so that each child can read part of it.
  • Take turns reciting what each of you knows, individually.
  • Recite as a group.
  • Learn it with your children.
  • Have the children copy the passage (or portions of it) regularly for penmanship/spelling.
  • Try to work on it regularly, but don’t give up if it goes by the wayside for a time. You’ll be surprised at how quickly lost ground is regained!

We’ve not done nearly enough memorization, but here is a sampling of what we have done in recent years:

  • The Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17)
  • Psalm 23
  • Psalm 8
  • Psalm 15
  • Psalm 127
  • The Lord’s Prayer (part of the Sermon on the Mount that we already know!)
  • books of the Bible
  • The Apostles’ Creed
  • portions of the Westminster Catechism
  • portions of the Catechism for Young Children
  • The Mayflower Compact
  • Preamble to the US Constitution
  • 1.5 paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence
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Daily Proverbs

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March 1, 2006 By

For many years, we have sporadically read the “daily chapter” of Proverbs – chapter 1 on the first of the month, chapter 2 on the 2nd, etc.
For the last 2 years, we done so with rather more regularity: we usually end breakfast or start our school day by dividing the chapter among those old enough to read. Some days we stop at nearly every verse to discuss life applications and explore cross references. I have to remember to be patient when it takes 40 minutes to read a single chapter and be thankful that they are learning and participating!
When we have finished the chapter, one of the children writes a single verse (our Proverb of the Day) on the whiteboard. Sometimes Hubby chooses a verse for us before he leaves in the morning; sometimes it’s chosen by general consent or just by me; occasionally I will let the child who writes choose the verse. It’s a great privilege in our house. icon smile Daily Proverbs
On the 27th, the girls conspired to write Proverbs 27:14 on the board. There was a wave of giggling as Dad walked through the door that evening, and all the children exploded into laughter when he realized the joke was on him.

Pr 27:14 – He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the
morning, It will be counted a curse to him.

I’m thrilled with the fruits that we’re seeing in our children! Given the first line, the oldest 4 (ages 7 to 12) can finish nearly any verse in the book. Our reluctant readers are gaining daily practice at reading aloud and expanding their vocabulary. All of the children frequently quote Proverbs to each other in their daily interactions, and for any verse under discussion they can usually think of several cross references of their own. They may not know the “address” of the verse, but they can quote it word for word!
A current topic of interest is how often the wicked fall into their own pits. Proverbs warns of this over and over, and examples are given througout the Scriptures. The girls are noting in books and movies that even unbelievers recognize and approve of this pattern. Of course, unbelievers like to call it poetic justice.

Pr 28:10 – Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He
himself will fall into his own pit; But the blameless will inherit good.

We read other books of the Bible as well: we’re currently going through I Samuel as part of our history, and the Gospel of John for Sunday school. We’re always working on one or more memory passages, often Psalms. Inspired by new friends, we may begin memorizing the sermon on the mount as a family. The girls also do private Bible readings as part of their school. Often their daily writing/copywork is from the Bible.

But of course, we see the greatest fruits where we’ve been most faithful to study and that, now, is Proverbs.

Today’s Proverb:

Prov 1:8,9 – My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; For they will be a graceful ornament on your head and chains about your neck.

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Grocery Shopping to the Glory of God

Current giveaway: Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker

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September 16, 2005 By

shopping1 Grocery Shopping to the Glory of God
Maybe you’ve been fighting insatiable curiosity as to how mothers of large families get groceries. I’ve decided to share a few secrets of the trade, just in case you want to have 6-15 children but aren’t sure of the logistics.
First of all, don’t overschedule: If all the children are with me, I do not expect to accomplish 8 other errands on the day that we get 2 weeks’ worth of groceries.
Secondly, don’t try to fit 2 weeks’ worth of groceries in the cart or the vehicle when all the children are with you. This may change for us once we pick up our 15 passenger van, which is patiently waiting for us at the dealership 5 hours north. For the time being, I shop for all the small items, immediate necessities, and whatever else I think will fit in our vehicle. Then my husband can pick up a few larger items, forgotten items, and another round of perishables on another day on his way home. This leaves room in the vehicle for passengers, so I’m not forced to leave the children behind when I leave the grocery store. That might reflect poorly on large families.
Thirdly, I do my best to keep the children strictly in order. It is so much easier to keep order than to restore order! I lead the way, either pushing the cart, or steering the cart from the front. The baby rides in the seat of the cart. The children walk in pairs behind me. If I’m not pushing the cart and watching the baby, the first pair of children do it for me. Each child has a permanent partner. They are instructed to hold hands and follow closely. I glance back often.
These are the ground rules. There are many secondary rules that help maintain order, simplicity, and sanity:

  • Don’t shop hungry. This applies to anyone who is along for the trip, not just the one with the checkbook. Hungry kids are distracted, whiny, wheedling, and generally unpleasant. This can rapidly make Mom unpleasant.
  • Don’t leave the house if you or the children are crabby. There are several things you ought to do when you’re having a crabby day (repent and pray, for starters), but going out in public with 7 young children is definitely on the “don’t” list.
  • Before disembarking from the vehicle, give a pep talk and run through Mom’s Rules of Order.
  • Have them help, and vary the routine: I stop the cart at the ends of some aisles and send a pair of children for what we need. Sometimes I will go after items myself, taking along 1 or 2 small helpers to carry items back to the cart. Other times I will bark out orders as we pass through the aisles: “Lydia, grab 3 cans of spaghetti sauce.” “Natalie, get the animal crackers.” ” Deanna and Kaitlyn, choose 3 lbs. of nice tomatoes.”
  • Move quickly when possible. Make them pay attention and work (just a little) to keep up with you. Bored children are trouble waiting to happen.
  • Rules for children’s conduct: No touching, and No asking. This does not mean that they shouldn’t remind me that we’re low on diapers or make a menu suggestion, but they all know that if they ask for popsicles or a box of donuts, the answer is going to be “No.” If, on the other hand, they all stand quietly and stare longingly at popsicles or a box of donuts (especially Little Chocolate Donuts), I am easily persuaded.
I am pleased when my children garner lavish compliments from strangers, but not because my ego has been stroked. We want them to see and believe that children are truly a blessing! We don’t want to become the poster family for birth control; we don’t want people to see us and think, “That’s why I only had 1 child.”
As a large family our public appearance reflects upon Christ. Strangers see a large family and automatically assume that we are Christians and homeschoolers. Really, they do! That puts a burden on us to be sure our conduct is joyful, orderly, well-mannered, and all-things-Christ-like (Ph 1:26-7, I Cor 14:40).
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Filed Under: Bible, food, parenting 7 Comments