Our Young People

[pastorables]

Pastor Ables I too work a lot but found an online homeschool that is totally free. I took my son out of public schools for the same reasons mentioned. The student can work at their own pace at any time. Check this site to see if they operate in your area. It is funded by the public school system. They send you all the books and materials totally free.

www.k12.com

I do not find Alabama listed. My son is very intelligent for his young age. He is far ahead of most in his class and actually enjoys learning. We are doing our best to instill Godly values in him.

pa

[Steve]

We have found a new curriculum called My Father's World that is EXCELLENT, but not free.

There is a literature based curriculum called the Robinson Curriculum that is downloadable, and I believe, free that produces high scoring students, but there is a LOT of reading involved.

[Tracy]

We are using a curriculum called "Tapestry of Grace" in our homeschool and it is absolutely wonderful. It encompasses History, Literature, Geography, Writing, Bible survey/church history, Philosophy, Government and Fine arts.

It is solid, complete, rigorous, and from a robust Christian worldview.

Go here to see it. You can also request a free cd of the first three weeks of the curriculum called "Go to Egypt"

Here is the link:

http://www.lampstandbookshelf.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=G2EgyptCD&AFFIL=TOGNIGHT

You can also view and download the free three weeks.

Here is a link to view/download a sample three weeks from year two:

http://www.lampstandbookshelf.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=REDIRECT&AFFIL=TOGNIGHT

Enjoy!!

Tracy

[Pastor Gary]

Pastor Ables I too work a lot but found an online homeschool that is totally free. I took my son out of public schools for the same reasons mentioned. The student can work at their own pace at any time. Check this site to see if they operate in your area. It is funded by the public school system. They send you all the books and materials totally free.

www.k12.com

Can you link to the actual page within that site that says it is free? I can't find it, but do find mention of charge-backs, cancellation, credit cards, etc.

[Jennifer Smith]

Florida has an online virtual school which is free for Florida residents, and those outside Florida pay a fee. We used this one year for our son, he had teachers who planned his lessons for each class and who corresponded by email and phone with him. Something similar was planned to be launched this year in Indiana, but it got flattened by our state government.

[broken]

PG it's the virtual academy by state ( virtual public schools). My state Georgia only goes to the 8th grade until they expand. I have had my son in the program and I have not had to pay one cent. It's funded by the public school system. All teaching materials including science projects etc. is free. They sent me teachers manuals for every subject. The student has to go take the state tests still, which k12 sets up in the nearest school to you.

[Dar]

Thanks so much for the GREAT feedback! I will try a few of these out next Sunday -- and, ...er..., yes, I do need to liven the class up.

Thanks again and God Bless!

[Kenya]

I can honestly and truthfully say that not all teenagers are like that at heart. If our youth were to tell us that stuff that you just described, they would just be "messin' with us" to get a reaction out of me and "Joe".

Our kids really care. They have compassion about others. We have many mentally challenged people in our church and they are always friendly to them. And they have a desire to try and reach the lost - they are still sprouting wings though. They help with the younger kids and are willing to do whatever we ask of them to contribute to the betterment of our church. If someone goes to the altar to pray, they are right there with them.

They also know when they mess up (sin) and they know that it is their weakness and bad choices that causes them to do that. But also that God offers forgiveness when they do.

Most of our youth group is on my top friends on my myspace and you can check all of their websites. Most of them are very decent and respectful. Most of them are not afraid to say how they feel about God. All of them are in public schools, btw.

Sorry - momma bear here when it comes to teens.

[Joey]

Dar,
In order of your comments...

1. The same Paul that wrote the popular “predestination” passage of Romans 8:28-30 also wrote 1 Timothy 2:3-4 that says “…God our Savior, - wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” While it is true that God KNOWS what our final decision will be because He created time itself, the ultimate choice of Salvation rests on humans.

2. Compassion is not a sign of weakness, but it shows that we are acting like Christians. Consider how God treats us. While we are not deserving (selfish, cruel, hateful, etc) God still shows us compassion by offering His Son for us. If it were not for God’s compassion through Jesus, we probably would not fully understand it. But since He shows us this characteristic through His son’s sacrifice even though He was without sin, then we can know it is the ultimate way to Love and be God like.

3. As for the homeless (and the like) – there will be suffering (Revelation 21:4) until the end of this earth. People will hurt, be poor, go through wars, and we will eventually die. This is all part of the planet’s curse that was introduced in Genesis 3:17 and will wrap up in Revelation 22:3. In the meantime, the present sufferings are an important part of the plan of God. This is apparent through Jesus’ comments in John 9:1-3. Whether we are temporarily healed or not, our pains are meant for our gains – they are meant to bring us closer to God by ultimately realizing that this place is not our home.

Most youth do a lot of “mouthing off” before they think things through. Some of what they say is just stupid stuff and can be ignored, while other stuff is from their confused hearts and makes us realize the times ahead “will be perilous.” As for Kenya and I, our goal as a youth minister’s is to challenge their thinking in that small window we have on Wednesday’s and Sunday’s so when they are in the real world, they will hopefully remember what was discussed in your class and see it all through God’s perspective. It's an uphill battle, but eternally worth the fight. Keep it up.

[Alan]

Dar, I can truly sympathize with how you feel. I'm a youth leader and I teach a teenage Sunday school class, and I see the same attitudes. Our teenagers seem to be indifferent about everything. It seems that we can get through to a couple of them, then they get around their friends and they are right back where they were.

[Kenya]

then they get around their friends and they are right back where they were.

I think you may have found the difference. Our youth group are each other's friends. They hang out together all the time OUTSIDE of church activities. So they are good influences on each other.