Why Americans Should Care about the Wunderlichs

A week ago, the German police raided a home in Southeast Germany with a SWAT-like team and stole away the family’s four children. The parents' crime was believing the Bible. Deuteronomy 6 instructs each of us that we should teach our children when they sit in our house, when they walk by the way, when they lie down, and when they rise up. We call this "homeschooling" or "home-based education". It is God’s biblical design for education, and after being rediscovered, it has been a remarkable success here in the United States.

But why should Americans care about what is going on in Germany? After all, it is a different culture. Aren't they just trying to control the Muslims with mandatory schooling? Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, though in some states, like Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, the laws are less than ideal. But isn't America the land of the free and Germany the land that long ago traded liberties for socialized healthcare and 30 days of mandatory vacation?

• Obviously, we should care because it is simply inhumane to have police break into a family’s house and take well-cared for children away from their parents. Germany is a major economic power and world leader that should, frankly, know and be better then this. Their own history should make them abhor this type of action.

• The second reason is the Romeike family. The Romeikes arrived in the United States from Germany, fearing that this exact same thing would happen to them. In 2010, an immigration judge granted them political asylum. However, Eric Holder and the Obama administration specifically took up the cause against the Romeike family by appealing the judge's decision. They convinced the courts that coming to America to escape persecution and to follow Deuteronomy 6 in educating children was not worthy of refuge. The justice department apparently must have been educated in the public school system; a system which missed a major part about the founding of modern America. I refer to the historical event in which some people called "Pilgrims" landed from England to escape religious persecution in 1620.

All homeschoolers and all who believe in parental liberties should be concerned about this event. Even if you aren't a Christian and don’t believe in Deuteronomy 6, what if the political tide were to turn some day? Do American Muslims or atheists want police breaking into their home to take their kids off to Bible school?

Not worried? Hasn't homeschooling gotten to be too big of a force to stop in the United States? In one fell swoop that may be true, but who would thought that the U.S. government would force large companies in America to give birth control pills to their employees? Every parent needs to be vigilant. There are many in America who no longer believe that America is about liberty, but is instead about mob rule. This is a philosophy which states that  "as long as we can get the majority opinion, we can do whatever we want", including controlling your children. Why else would the justice department have made such a great effort in the Romeike case to deny that controlling the education of your own children is a human right that all should enjoy?

What can we do about this?

1) We need to pray. We will not be able to win this battle on our own cunning, strength, and ability.

2) Support HSLDA as they fight for the Romeikes and the Wunderlichs.

3) Support parental rights wherever you can, including supporting the parental rights amendment.

4) Don’t participate in government school programs which pose as homeschooling programs here in the US. These programs will be the easiest avenue for those opposed to homeschooling to get control of homeschooled children and put an end to parental control of education. We know the money is very nice, but don’t sell out hard-fought rights for a laptop.

5) Support politicians who believe in individual rights, justice, and freedom more then short term economic development, special interests, and “crony” capitalism.

6) Become a member of a Bible-believing church that supports parental discipleship, training of children, and persecuted Christians around the world.

Four Books: Gratitude, Vision, Attitude, and Ability

If you want to have the gratitude required, vision and attitude needed, plus the ability to really succeed in homeschooling over the next 16 years these are four books you need to read. They probably aren't ones that you have seen listed together before.

Gratitude: Home School Heroes -This book by Christopher Klicka gives the history of how homeschooling became legal in the United States by giving the stories of the individuals and the battles they fought to make it possible. As more and more homeschoolers look to the government for support of their efforts, it is helpful to remember that homeschooling was made possible by those trying to avoid a monopolistic government education system that wanted to arrest them for doing so. This education system that has only gotten worse sense the first homeschoolers started.

Vision: The Second Mayflower - This book by pastor, radio host, and avid homeschool promoter Kevin Swanson does the best job I have seen of the possible nationwide impact home discipleship could have on a nation that is in rebellion against the Word of God. When times are rough, it is always good to know that  your efforts are part of a bigger picture and home discipleship can have great impact on not only your family but society.

Attitude: One Thousand Gifts -This smash hit nationwide best selling book by Homeschool Mom Ann Voskamp is the most famous of the four books. It uses the background of tragedy and hardship to turn our hearts to see the joy that is right in front of us all. You will need this ability to succeed at homeschooling. Everyone needs this, that is why it has sold so well.

Ability: A Praying Life -This book by Paul E Miller is the only one not written by a homeschooler but is one the best books I know of on the helping us connect to God in a distracted world with daily prayer. It most importantly helps us understand the hindrance's to prayer. The author shares his own successes, tragedies, and challenges with a real and honest heart. If you think you will succeed by your own skills, abilities, without the power of God...think again.

What Do You Mean My Grandchild is a Dog?

Recently, we just had our seventh baby. This time we did something a bit strange. We waited two days to officially announce the name. We had a good idea of what the name would be, but we wanted to make sure it was going to fit. But since we couldn’t use this name during the "waiting" time in case we had a change of heart, we had to use names that came up at the moment. We typically chose names that reflected the characteristics of our baby itself. It struck me that this was a lot like how one might name a puppy. A child notices that your new puppy has a spot on its back and for the rest of its life its name is spot. I started to think what would the most popular baby names be if we named children like we name a new puppy.

We came up with names like Peanut, Red Squash, Cutie, Noisy, Red Tomato, and our favorite Mr. Scrunchy. But then I began to question myself, do people really name their dogs like this any more? I checked. And guess what? They don’t. Sure enough, just as plentiful as there are baby name sites. Their are top puppy name sites too. The top name right now is Max. This is the name of the boy who lives next door to us. And sure enough all the rest of the top puppy names are names that could pretty much pass as people. Names like Jake, Charlie, and Buddy are are all on the list.

A while back while I was in church, and the pastor made a comment that struck me as bizarre. Maybe it was not that bizarre considering we are living in a city with more dogs then children. He mentioned something about children and then he added on after that, "I guess now some of you have dogs instead these days." I was a bit dumbfounded. Not that I don’t like dogs, I like dogs. I don't own one because I would don't have time to properly take care of a dog as it should be taken care of. However, I wanted to shout or at least whimper, as I was sitting in the back row of the sanctuary with a squirmy child on my lap, hold it a second. Where does it say in the Bible that blessed are those who have a quiver full of pet dogs?

When we were visiting the small resort town of Leavenworth in Washington a couple summers back, and I ran across a sign in a gift shop that seemed to sum up an attitude that is creeping into our culture. Do you mean to tell me that my Grandchild is a Dog? What a world we would live in if instead of pandering to the crowd, and making an observational comment about dogs now being the new kids, the pastor instead had implored, begged, and encouraged the congregation to have children! And if you can’t have children adopt. If you can’t adopt, support those who have children, support the crises pregnancy center, support efforts to make adoption easier. Then please bring your well cared for and happy dog and let it play with the children, but don’t treat it and pretend it is a child. As the sign of the pleading grandmother points out, everyone know that dogs really can’t replace children. Has our society slipped so far that we don't get this anymore?

Yes, yes I know having children does not make you a superior Christian. There are no superior Christians. What is important is being a faithful Christian  “like a child”  following His "commands". Each of us serving God in the place we are called, in the situation we are in, serving him as the Bible instructed as we go forward no matter what mess we have gotten ourselves into in the past. That is what is important. And for a lot of us still capable. That means having children…possibly even lots of em. See Genesis if you doubt me or check out one of my favorite Psalms.

Psalms 127

"Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he gives his beloved sleep. Children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

Here's hoping you have so many children you run out of good names!

Five Dangerous Homeschool Parenting Stereotypes

If you are like me, you may feel that you have read enough "how to" parenting books to fill several bookshelves. And you have been to enough homeschool conventions and been part of enough homeschool cooperatives that they begin to blur. (But we are always happy to go to or join up with one more!) You may also have noticed that homeschool families can start to fall into certain categories. I wanted to share five dangerous stereotypes we can find ourselves falling into if we don't pay attention:

Attack Parents: These parents want to control everything and live by the philosophy that their children can easily be turned into small miniature robots. These robots will later be used to cure every social ill in the world and will achieve great things simply by recognizing the errors of other generations and applying to correct formula of superior parenting. Often, those of us in this category forget to fix ourselves first.

Surrender Parents: These parents feel sorry that their children will not have the opportunity to live the "high life" that is the American Public School education. They believe that all children must be given as much rope as possible or they will rebel. These parents will usually follow all worldly patterns, lifestyles, and educational philosophies but tattoo on (literally sometimes) a little Jesus sticker to worldly activities and events. Those of us in this categories live in terror that our children will not be "cool" or "relevant."

Overload Parents: These parents have tried to create there own private schools by signing up for every program, co-opt, and extra curricular event that they can find. Their children, and more importantly themselves, can not be allowed to get bored! There is a 50- 50 chance that you will see these parents shortly dropping out and enrolling their children in school because that is what they really wanted anyway. After all, it is hard for us to go to the gym and participate in Rotary the same time you are supposed to teach Chemistry.

Post Modern Parents: These parents live by the philosophy we only do what we like. We only study what we like, show up when we like, participate when we like, believe what we like, go to church when and where we like. Those of us in this category have a deep envy of the Rainbow People and would like to make a living studying Indian Basket Weaving or driving at Nascar depending on our liberal or redneck tendencies.

"Harvard or Bust" Parents: These parents believe that Plato, Jesus, and Mark Zuckerberg are kissing cousins and that success in college, or at least attending the right college, is the ultimate success in homeschooling, life, and pretty much everything else. Those of us in this category  have a Harvard application for admittance stapled to the back of the Bible and a Stanford application tucked in just before Revelation.

Biblical Parenting: These parents try to find the balance of providing correct daily discipleship, good peers and activities, and leading our children in the direction and blessing of our child's design.  Our parenting and our lives should be most marked by Joy despite sometimes very trying circumstances and our own failures. Our Bible is our blue print and our goal is Heaven. Christ is the center and purpose of our lives. Let us repent and move forward toward the goal!

A Cartoon from the Old Days

Here is a cartoon I drew a long time ago with some questionable "artistic" quality, but I believe its message is still very true.

A "Vision" Statement

Awhile back, we did a Family Vision Statement. After all, doesn't Proverbs say that where there is no vision the people perish? This was something to let our Family know what we are supposed to be about. In some ways, this is a futile attempt. A complete Vision Statement would be a Bible with the words Family Vision written on it. But this was our effort to bring out what we want to focus on. I thought I would share it in case someone wanted a template to build on.

Our Family Vision is...


To Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 3:16-18

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.


To Follow all Scripture and not just Pick and Choose what we Like
2 Timothy 3:16

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

To Walk in the SpiritGalatians 5:16-26

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

To Love Others, Keep Ourselves Unspotted from the World, and Make Disciples
1 John 2:9

9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

James 1:27

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Matthew 28:19

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

To Train our Children Daily
Deuteronomy 6:4-9

4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

To Have our Children Honor Their Parents

Exodus 20:12

12 “ Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

To be Parents that don't Aggrevate Their Children

Ephesians 6:4

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

To have a Biblical Marriage (and be who we want our children to be)
Ephesians 5:22-33

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body,[d] of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

To be Joyful, Prayerful, and Thankful
1 Thessalonians 5:16

16 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

To have Our Treasure in the Right Place
Matthew 5:19-21

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

A Response to Home Educating Family

Home Educating Family recently published my response to an article they ran painting the Family Integrated Chruch movement in a fairly negative light. I would like to thank them for publishing the below alternative view point.

"I will assume by “Family Integrated Church” you are talking about a church that has searched the scriptures and has determined that they do not see a Biblical model showing churches broken up by age group for separate teaching of the scriptures. And because of this, they have deliberately eliminated the more traditional type of Youth Groups and Sunday Schools (except for care of the youngest children) commonly seen in most churches here in the United States at the moment.

Overall, I think the Family Integrate Church movement is a natural outgrowth of changes we have been seeing among more conservative Christians here in the United States over the last 30 years; when individuals began searching the Bible asking themselves the question, “Now why do we do that and why do we believe that?” This question caused Christians to begin waking up in the 80’s, and they started asking themselves where in the Bible does it show us we should send our children to Government Schools? Maybe Deuteronomy 6:7 really means what it says? Perhaps we should be with our children throughout the day training them? In the 90’s, a lot of these same people began looking at the church and asking themselves, why do we have a humanist educational format for our training and discipleship on Sunday morning also? Christians started to form churches that they felt were more Biblically based in its mode of teaching and discipleship. Mostly, they had to start new churches because as we know traditions are very had to break.

Recently, your magazine ran an article that called these churches more dangerous to homeschool families then the traditional church. Having seen families abandon homeschooling due to influences in their church, I was a bit surprised by this comment. Of course, the author could be right. The individuals in the churches she may have known and visited may have very well been dangerous. I am sure it could be very possible that there are some people out there who claim to be Christians who are isolationistic, preach bad theology, and worship the family over Jesus Christ. (This can be a very popular mode of operation as the Mormon Church has proven.) But just because someone misapplies Biblical principle, doesn’t make the Biblical principle wrong. I believe the principle behind the Family Integrated Movement is very solid and needed in the American church today.

Our personal experience with the Family Integrated Model has been good. Of course, we all know that that there are no perfect or superior churches. I do think these churches will continue to gain a footing as a whole among Christians in the United States. It will take a lot of them awhile to mature and gain more acceptance among the general Christian community at large. But the reality of poorly performing Youth Groups will continue to cause some to seek out a more Biblical approach. We have seen growth recently in the Family Integrated Church we attend from people outside the homeschool movement. Though I think we should be weary of judging success by growth only in numbers. I don’t see anywhere in the Bible where Christ judges success in this manner."