Featured Homeschooler - Sprittibee
April 12, 2009 by Nikowa
Please welcome this week’s Featured Homeschooler, Sprittibee
Where did the name Sprittibee come from?
Sprittibee is actually a nickname and a last initial put together (and here you thought it was all about honey bee obsession!). When me and my hubby were dating back in the early 90’s, he called me Spritti and I called him Spooker. Sickening, I know. The “SP” was a language addition based on that REM song, “Losing My Religion,” where he said “It’s bigger than you… and you are not me.” He slurred his words and said “Spigger”, which was somehow REAL funny to us barely 20 year old, lovesick kids who were stuck in the car part of every day together as we both ran errands for the companies we worked for. That song was on the radio a LOT back then.
Spritti is really “pretty” (glad he thought I was - cuz I was head over heels and still am). I bet you can’t guess what Spooker was. It came from a the shell necklace that Kev bought in Galveston when he went down there to buy a Yaga t-shirt. The necklace was made of puka shells. Add your S and you’ve got the original version of his pathetically dorky nickname. Lucky for him, it didn’t stick quite as well as mine. I’m sure I haven’t called him that in over ten years.
Kids are retarded. Sadly, dumb nicknames STICK. I figure it doesn’t matter if you all know this sordid secret, though. You would be amazed at how many people ask. If I had given my “brand name” a little more thought when I started blogging (on accident through commenting on someone else’s blog), I probably would NEVER have used “Sprittibee” as a blog title. Believe me, I have regretted it many times–but after four years of blogging, I’m stuck with it. I do like bees, so it’s not all bad. I have quite a collection of bee knick knacks.
Can you share a little about your family with us?
We’re complete nerds. My husband is a computer geek and very handy with electrical and mechanical stuff. We’ve been married for over 16 years. It was love at first sight. We only dated 8 months and I was barely 20 when we landed in the JP. Amazingly, we still get butterflies for each other, so I’m pretty sure that God was behind the whole ordeal - even before we were on his bandwagon. We have 2 kids and one on the way. Our son is 12 and our daughter is 10. They are super kids and I suspect they will be more than helpful when the little Viking arrives in a few weeks. When we aren’t all working, we like to spend time together. I think homeschooling has created the most awesome bonds of love and friendship in our family. I’d rather be with my husband and kids than anyone on the planet.
Have I mentioned that my man is exquisitely handsome? That helps.
You blog at http://sbees.blogspot.com How has blogging been therapeutic for you?
Blogging is just part of who I am now. I wanted to be a writer when I was a kid, and yet I was too lazy or overwhelmed by large projects to ever spend the time necessary to get something done and turned in to a publisher. Being a party-chasing heathen didn’t help. I had binders full of poetry, short stories, beginnings of novels–and life tended to get in the way. After I met Kevin and we had our first child, I pretty much gave up passionate reading and writing. Being a wife and mother was much more pressing and rewarding.
I’ve always journaled and began scrapbooking after I had my kids, so blogging was a natural transition for me. Once I figured out what blogging really was and discovered its potential (and realized it would take too much of my precious time up), I became addicted.
- It serves as a platform for sharing thoughts and ideas with other like-minded folk.
- It provides a place to share and help to encourage other homeschool moms.
- It gives me a place to create a digital scrapbook or portfolio for my homeschooling and our lives.
- It offers a way to share updates with family who want to keep in touch.
- It is a platform for whining, swollen, pregnant moms on bedrest.
What’s not to love about blogging?!
What’s your favorite self indulgence?
Blogging and chocolate are my favorite self indulgences. I consider the time I blog an indulgence since it doesn’t offer equal compensation. The friends I’ve made through blogging make it worth my while, the fun reviews and free products are a nice perk, but I’d love for someone to pay me a salary for all the work I put in to it! What blogger wouldn’t?
As for the chocolate (which is almost as important), I like Choxie dark chocolate truffles, Raspberry Dark Chocolate bars from Godiva, York Peppermint Patties, and Andes Mints. In that order.
Have you ever experienced “homeschooling” negativity?
Sure. We have plenty of naysayers in our family. I’ve always been somewhat of a rebel, though, so I’m used to the “black sheep” syndrome. I was an awful and sneaky child that stayed in trouble most of my younger years. Even to the point of tricking my mom to give me $75 for church camp and taking a bus to another town and go out all weekend - all night. My kids won’t ever get anything past me. My theory on naysayers is just to let it roll off my back like beads of water on a duck. As long as you have the support of your husband and you believe God has called you to the task, YOU GO MAMA! God will give you what you need to succeed and your children will be the proof that YOU were right in the long run.
Many of the people who didn’t agree with us homeschooling as the kids were younger are coming around, or at least acknowledging that the kids are different than public schooled kids (in a GOOD or BETTER) way. Even my husband (who was my biggest critic when I first wanted to homeschool) said just the other night to the kids, “I’m so glad you guys aren’t in public school.” Now that they are older, the proof is really there in the pudding! And since I’m a firm believer that character is more important than academics (who likes an intelligent JERK?), I’d say that that proof is more than worth dealing with any “negativity” that I’ve ever dealt with.
If you could have any curriculum on the market, what would it be?
Well, I drooled over Rosetta Stone for years and haven’t ever been able to afford it. I guess I’d take a few boxes if they offered a give-away or review! We are about to start Italian with another program soon, so I’m not as whiney about it any more. I’d also love Photoshop Design Premium CS3 or 4, but not just for school (although I would love to teach the kids digital art and photography skills, as both of them are interested in it–like mom). Those two programs are way out of my price range. I pretty much have what I need and borrow what I don’t from friends in local co-ops or the library as we go along. If I had my druthers, I’d have much more mad money for buying books that we fall in love with, though. Books are my homeschool desire when it comes to spending sprees.
You have a large blog following. Does this effect what you share at all?
I don’t spend as much time worrying over numbers of readers like I did when I first started blogging. I often forget about the site meter for long periods and I removed my blog from the ‘ecosphere’ because I’d rather worry about the content than my “status.” I realized over the years that you shouldn’t try to figure out what people want to read, you should just be yourself. If the traffic comes, then so be it. That doesn’t mean I don’t try to be part of the community and reach out to other bloggers, it just means I don’t obsess over my readership–or lack of it–but rather focus on being real, just like you would in real life!
I post pretty much whatever is on my mind - but I do consider how family members or friends might react to it before I blurt it out. I think I worry more about my family and friends who read my blog (the ones I know in person) than I do the general public. I’m sure there are other weirdos like me out there. I love reading other people’s blogs when they are candid and real… so I figure it will only run off the people who probably shouldn’t be reading, if I’m that way in my posts. Even when talking about fry-snatching, getting catheters at the hospital, and swapping snot on accident.
Could you share with us your homeschooling motto/theme/verse?
I believe what Clay and Sally Clarkson said in “Educating the Whole Hearted Child,” that homeschooling is “the right thing to do!” In their book they share so many amazing quotes and inspiring scriptures. It is hard to narrow it down to just one verse, motto, or theme.
I call our homeschool “Magnum Opus Academy” based on the book Charlotte’s Web. Magnum Opus, loosely translated from Latin in to our modern tongue is “life’s masterpiece.” Charlotte’s was her egg sack, containing the children she would share with the world after she was gone. You could also call that a legacy. Your children are your legacy. There’s nothing more important than educating them and passing on the faith in Christ that sustains you. One of my favorite verses (listed on my About Page at my blog) has the line “when Christ - who IS YOUR LIFE appears” in it. I firmly agree that He IS my life. Based on that, nothing else but a God-centered education would do for my children. Homeschooling is really the only way to achieve the type of family bonds that God desires, the worldview that God desires, and the purity of heart that God desires.
I absolutely adore my kids. I see how homeschooling (even though I am flawed and broken) has blessed their character every day. Therefore, I rejoice that in my weaknesses, God has done miracles. I am honored to be His tool.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” - 3 John 4
One day I hope to be able to say that long after I have finished my portion of the educational life experiences that my kids are to receive, that they will continue in the Truth. After all, any parent that loves their children would not sacrifice herself to make sure that they stayed alive. And eternal life is much more important than this temporal one.
How has homeschooling changed your life for the better?
Homeschooling is freedom. Freedom to think for yourself, to follow your bliss, to take advantage of quality time together as a family, to dig as deep as you want in to what ever interests you. Every day we spend with daddy when he is off work, every vacation we take, every field trip we go on, we are so very thankful for the fact that we are not strapped in to the rigid schedule (or watered-down curriculum) of the public school system. As much as we have moved, I can’t see how any other lifestyle would have worked for us. While we lived in Arkansas for two years my husband worked nights and weekends and got odd days off (sometimes not even consecutive days). If it weren’t for us homeschooling, they would hardly ever have seen their dad for two solid years.
Another blessing has been the PEOPLE we have met. Oh, I can’t even go in to this right now or this might become a novel. Suffice it to say that there are a ton of wonderful kid-loving, God-fearing, selfless and amazingly interesting and fun homeschool parents and kids out there. Friendships that will last far beyond graduation–that’s another blessing homeschooling has to offer.
Congratulations on your “future new addition.” Has pregnancy changed any of your homeschool routines?
Pregnancy has forced me to reconsider my perfectionism. It has really relaxed our style and given me the freedom to feel like God is in control (instead of me). What a blessing! The kids are thrilled with our more flexible and relaxed schedule. School and family life has been more enjoyable. Will our school schedule always stay like this? No. I’ve learned that change is still the only constant - even with homeschool curricula and schedules. However, it is a joy to go through the different seasons of your life, and we are trying to make the most of this one despite any difficulties it presents. Hopefully the infancy and toddler years will be the same–more growing, learning, adapting and bonding together.
Interview by:
Nikowa is a 2nd year homeschooling mom to two boys. With her “learning never ends” philosophy, they have an eclectic year-round approach to learning. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys photography, organizing, cooking, and reading. She is a #1 LOST fan and watches UGA football too! (Go Dawgs!) You can visit Nikowa at Knowledge House Academy.
My Family Heritage
Welcome to the Heart of the Matter Online Meme.
Every Friday we will feature a different topic for our meme. Please share with us your thoughts on the following: Video Meme: My Family Heritage
Heritage: Something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition.
When I think about family heritage I know that I am very blessed to have great-grandparents (mostly deceased) that all came to America in their lifetimes. The traditions have not faded from my family yet. I was raised with a very rich knowledge of where I came from and am able to tell my children the first and second hand accounts of where our traditions came from. I am a third generation American and being raised in Texas there aren’t many people I know that can say this. My husband, in fact, can trace his family almost all the way back to the beginning of this country, while I know where to find the Ellis Island records for mine. What is your heritage? Where did your family begin? Did they spread like the wind or stay fairly close to one another? Do you have unique traditions that each generation has upheld? What is the legacy you leave to future generations?
Blogs that Responded:
Blogs That Nurture - Nomination Form
February 15, 2009 by AmyS
It was brought to our attention that there was an error in the link to the nomination form for our new series Blogs That Nurture. It has now been fixed.
Here is the correct link to nominate your favorites.
Tic-Tac-Toe: The Valentine Version
February 13, 2009 by Angela
My daughter was absolutely delighted when I started putting this bag and its contents together. I had seen several versions of Valentine Tic-Tac-Toe online but wanted something that could be used on road trips and easily stored. Hope you enjoy what I came up with. If you are used to using a sewing machine this should be super simple for you!
What You Will Need:
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Felt/ Fabric
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Sewing Machine
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Thread
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Scissors
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Ribbon
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Dried Beans
First, cut out the bean bag shapes. You can cut out the hearts using this template. The second one on the top row is the size I used. You will need to cut out 8 hearts total to have a front and back for 4 hearts. For the squares you need 8- 3 inch X 3 inch squares. Sew each pair leaving 1.5 inch opening to fill with beans. Fill each bag with beans and finish sewing the bean bag shut. I used a small zigzag stitch.
If you have pinking shears you can trim the edges.
I used felt for the hearts.
For the bag you will need to cut two 20 inch by 15 inch pieces of fabric. I used a flour sack type material. After you have the pieces cut make your tic-tac-toe board on the front using a zigzag stitch. (You will forgive yourself easier if they aren’t perfectly straight using this stitch because it gives the bag a primitive feel.) There is a great tutorial here to make a drawstring bag.
You barely see it in the picture here but I used red ribbon to finish off the bag.
Angela DeRossett is military wife, homeschooling mother, and an advocate for autism research. Angela can be found blogging at Homeschooling the Chaotic Family and Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy.
Isn’t it gorgeous!
December 1, 2008 by The Amies
In our efforts to bring you the most resourceful, encouraging, and eye-pleasing education site on the web, we decided to redesign our website after falling in love with this template. Many many thanks to the brilliant Dawn for all her help in our transition.
Don’t forget…
Win a spot in an amazing online scrapbooking class!
Scrapbook author Tania Willis is offering one lucky scrapbooker a free spot in her new online “Get It Scrapped” class. The title of her class is Embellishments: Beautifully Handmade. To enter, leave a comment on this post by Friday, December 12th at 10pm EST.
Heart of the Matter Online’s Christmas Series!!
We are looking forward to bringing you a fantastic array of crafts, projects, and activities everyday until Christmas Eve. Our hope is that you may use some of these to strengthen family ties, not only with your children, but between your children and Jesus. Below are some projects that you may have missed:
Cookie Countdown
Punchable Homemade Advent Calendar
Christmas at Bedtime
Stocking for Jesus
Jingle Bell Wreath
Jesus Box
Home Crafted Ornaments For Little Hands
Jesse Tree Ornaments
What God Has Planned
November 22, 2008 by The Amies
Heart of the Matter has been so blessed with our amazing team, rapid growth, and the finances to provide us with a top-notch website and conferencing software. We knew from day one that God’s goal for this was to provide as much as possible for free. Both of us wanted to make a print magazine available and we encountered many of you along the way who also encouraged it. So we set it in motion. The problem was that neither of us ever felt it was God’s will and we simply ignored that and dismissed it as fear. It never went away.
We began praying fervently about it and even fasting to get answers. Neither of us knew what the other was doing but God knew and He spoke loudly. Heart of the Matter is not to go to print. It is to remain a free online resource. The magazine will continue to be made available for free online and in PDF format.
The Heart of the Matter is the family. This is a ministry before it is a business and we want you to trust that we will always do what God says for us to do with what He has entrusted to us. We both are continuing our education through personal study and online classes and we intend to bring you one of the best homeschool website and services on the web. I can honestly say that we already have some of the best writers so we just want to improve now on the services we offer.
The magazine will re-debut on January 8th as scheduled. In addition to that we have these fun events and services also debuting in the next three months:
- A Craft a Day will begin on November 28th and run through December 24th. This new feature is headed up by Angela DeRossett and consists of lots of fun and exciting craft projects that you can do at home with your children or in a group with friends. All of them will get you in the spirit of the season!
- Mom’s Night Twittering will be a fun and exciting time for us all to get together via the social network Twitter. We will meet together on a specified date, at a specified time, throw out some topics, give away some prizes, and just enjoy talking to each other! This feature will be headed up by Dana and Renae.
- Online HOTM Homeschool Co-op will begin early next year with classes ranging from home economics and internet safety to science and creative writing. Classes will be pre-recorded and all lessons and worksheets (as applicable) will be uploaded so that you can enjoy the classes at your own discretion. We will also have some live classes that will be offered.
- The News as It Pertains to You will be a video segment news feature that will be presented as often as we feel necessary to keep you informed about things that affect you. All segments will be triple fact checked prior to being published. We intend to bring you several different news reporters including some of our kids who are looking for “extra credit”! If you would like to submit a news story please contact us at: the.amies@heartofthemattermagazine.com.
- HOTM Forums and groups are coming back. You asked for them and you will be getting them. They are currently being designed and organized so get ready, ready, ready! Blog moderators and coordinators are Rachel Harris, Amy Fleeker, and Kysha from Love’s School.
- Bible Studies - More online bible studies with Lori MacMath are coming up. Be on the lookout for our announcement post so you can purchase your books at discount costs.
- Goodies Galore Carnival – Have some curriculum that you are looking to get rid of? Maybe some crafting items that you no longer use? How about giving them a new happy home? We will host a giveaway carnival once a month where you can box up a sweet package of goodies that you no longer need and bless another family. The giveaway contest will be held on your own blog and then linked to Heart of the Matter via Mr. Linky.
- So much more! Just to name a few, we have new blog widgets, Facebook applications, Kindle downloads, homeschool blog templates, buttons, Twitter skins, printables/downloads and other fun stuff to share with you and all for FREE!!
Don’t forget about the online Christian Women’s Conference, A Woman Inspired, that we are sponsoring alongside Christian Women Online (CWO) and Internet Café Devotions. We have some awesome speakers and giveaways planned so stay tuned for more information.
Heartbeat Live has been a big hit! If you haven’t checked it out yet then what in the world are you waiting for? Please join us on Tuesday, November 25th at 3:00 CST, as we welcome Sheila Wray Gregoire, the popular author of such books as To Love, Honor and Vacuum; How Big is Your Umbrella; and Honey, I Don’t Have a Headache Tonight. As a bonus, everyone who attends Sheila’s talk will be entered to win a set of ALL THREE of Sheila’s fabulous books.
If you missed the previous sessions: Stirring Up the Gift Within You While Stirring Up the Gift Within Your Child by Amy Bayliss or Hands-on Learning by Angela DeRossett then you can still download them and listen to them at your own leisure. Did I mention that this is FREE? All you need to do is register at Heartbeat Live and you will receive instructions to download those talks as well as receive an invitation to each talk, every week.
Thank you to everyone who has poured out love and support to this ministry. Your prayers, thoughts, ideas, and services are so greatly appreciated. Anyone desiring to serve in a greater capacity or join our team need only ask and submit a written proposal. All requests will be considered. We are currently specifically seeking someone to write and maintain our weekly newsletter. All interested persons should email us at the.amies@heartofthemattermagazine.com.
This is your website, for you and your family. Your thoughts are always welcomed.
On a side note, we would like to encourage you to subscribe to and or support the other homeschool magazines out there. The OldSchoolhouse magazine is currently having a sale. Check it out! We need to support each other as best as we can.
Honey, I Don’t Have a Headache Tonight
November 20, 2008 by The Amies
Trust us, you do not want to miss this talk!!
Honey, I Don’t Have a Headache Tonight
It’s 10 p.m. You want to start snoring. He wants to start snuggling. How do you break this impasse? A rip-roaring fun talk full of giggles and lots of great insight into this intimate area of our lives. Let’s get over our barriers to a great sex life, and learn how to let it be all that God intended it to be!
Women wonder why men were created with the switch always turned on, and men wonder why women were created with so many different switches and no instruction manual. If that’s been a struggle for you, listen to this humorous and practical talk on how to reinvigorate your intimacy!
Please join us on Tuesday, November 25th at 3:00 CST, as we welcome Sheila Wray Gregoire, the popular author of such books as To Love, Honor and Vacuum; How Big is Your Umbrella; and Honey, I Don’t Have a Headache Tonight.
As a bonus, everyone who attends Sheila’s talk will be entered to win a set of ALL THREE of Sheila’s fabulous books.
To register, please visit www.heartbeat-live.com.
Homeschool Blog Awards
November 10, 2008 by The Amies
Voting began this morning over at the Homeschool Post. Not only is Heart of the Matter nominated for a couple categories, many of our brilliant writers are nominated as well! So even if you don’t vote for us, please stop on over to bless your favorite homeschoolers by voting for them.
Heart of the Matter is nominated for Best Design (credit for this design goes to the AMAZING Dawn from Barefoot Blogs), Best Group/Family Blog (we really are a family here at HOTM), and Best Variety.
I want to give special recognition to our writers for their individual nominations:
Luke for Best Homeschool Dad
Robin, Renae, Marsha, Lori, Lee, Tammy, and Valerie have all been nominated for Best Encourager.
Marsha, Amy B, and Tammy for Best “Live-What-You-Believe” Homeschool Blog.
Amy A. for Best Geographical Blog.
Dana for Best Current Events, Opinions or Politics Blog.
Mandy for Best Crafts, Plans, and Projects Blog.
Kysha, Marsha, and Lori for Best Cyber-Buddy.
Robin, and Lee for Best Business or Curriculum Site.
Robin for Homeschool Methods.
Beth for Best Super Homeschooler.
Robin, Kendra, and Suzanne for Best Nitty-Gritty Homeschooler.
Halloween for Christians?
October 23, 2008 by Robin
But, Halloween is not just a time for cornstalks, pumpkins, apples and cute and not-so-cute costumes. There is much, much more. Before deciding to celebrate or not celebrate any holiday, it is important to understand the history of that holiday.
Before we look at the history and what the Bible says about pagan holidays answer these questions:
How would you feel if your spouse kept photos of his or her former girlfriend of boyfriend?
How would you feel if he or she celebrated an anniversary of special times with another after marrying you?
Our God is a jealous God demanding exclusive devotion (Exodus 20:5). Do you think He cares if you encourage your children to partake in a holiday that honors Satan, the god of this world?
Halloween’s History
Halloween’s roots come from the ancient Celts, a tribe living about 2,000 years ago in the areas that are now Ireland, Great Britain and northern France.
The Celts were first described as a fierce, warlike, terrifying people, many of whom would have strings of human heads tied on their bridles. Halloween was their main holiday, called Samhain. It was a festival that honored the Samhain, the Celtic lord of death. The celebration marked the beginning of the season of cold, darkness, and decay. The Celts related this with human death; they believed the Samhain allowed souls of the dead to return to their earthly homes for that evening. On the evening of the festival, the Druids, the priest and teachers of the Celts, ordered the people to put out their hearth fires.
The Druids built a huge New Year’s bonfire of oak branches, which they considered sacrificed. They burned animals, crops, and even human beings as sacrifices. Then each family re-lit their hearth fire from the New Year’s fire. The lighted jack-o’-lanterns used today are symbols of fires and torches. During the celebration people wore costumes made of animal heads and skins. They told fortunes by examining the remains of the sacrifices.
These pagan Celts believed that evil spirits lurked about as the sun god grew pale and the Samhain grew stronger. The Celts believed the evil spirits would come to your house and you would have to treat them or they would trick you.
The Romans conquered the Celts in A.D. 43 and ruled what is now Great Britain for about 400 years. During this period, two Roman autumn festivals were combined with the Celtic festival of Samhain. Both pagan rituals, one of them, called Feraila, was held in late October to honor the dead. The other festival honored Pomona, the Roman Goddess of fruit and trees. Apples became associated with Halloween because of this festival.
Regional Halloween customs developed among various groups of Celts. In Ireland, for example, people begged for food in a parade that honored Muck Olla, their sun god. The leader of the parade wore a white robe and the head of an animal. In England, families sat by the fire and told stories while they ate treats such as apples and nuts.
Halloween in the United States
In the United States, many early American settlers brought with them various customs such as the above. However, because of Christianity among so many of the settlers, Halloween celebrations were not celebrated until the 1800’s when several immigrants from Ireland and Scotland introduced their Halloween customs. They brought various beliefs about ghosts and witches with them. Other groups added their own cultural influences to Halloween customs. German immigrants brought a vivid witchcraft lore, and Haitian and African peoples brought their native voodoo beliefs about black cats, fire, and witchcraft.
All Saints Day, a day the seventh century church set aside for remembering early Christians who died for their beliefs, was first celebrated in the month of May. By the year 900 the date was combined with the pagan rituals to be celebrated November 1. Another name for All Saints Day was All Hallows. October 31 was known as All Hallows Eve which was shortened to Halloween.
The church made a grave mistake trying to combine pagan worship with Christianity. This is not scriptural! Because of that unwise decision, Halloween remains a holiday in America today.
Scriptures warn us that the sins of the fathers are visited upon the third and fourth generations. You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me. Exodus 20:5.
Those who disregard God’s warning and make contact with occult spirits risk terrible repercussions in the form of misery, sickness, insanity and even early death.
Why do people living in this age, especially Christians, desire to be a part of any pagan worship? This pagan belief, even celebrated by Christian churches, celebrates the union of gods and a goddess in the universe that supposedly control the seasons, bring fertility to crops and animals, and bestow magical powers on their followers.
What Does the Bible Say About Halloween?
Although the Bible doesn’t specifically mention Halloween by name, it makes it very clear that the origins and practices of Halloween (adapting pagan customs or borrowing the ways of those who worship a false god and using them to worship the true God) are detestable to God. Deuteronomy 12:29-32. The Bible clearly teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Joshua 24:14
When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who…practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium, or spiritist or who consults the dead. Deuteronomy 18:9-11
Ephesians 5:1 tells us to be imitators of God. Our Lord Jesus would not go to a party to honor the feast of the Samhain. Moses did not come down from Mount Sinai and combine the Israelites Passover holiday with the idol worship that was going on. Allowing children to dress as witches and sorcerers or hanging evil decorations in our windows is imitating that which is evil.
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people. Therefore Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.
The verse says, “come out from among them, says the Lord.” Does that mean come out from among them–but don’t deprive your children from all that fun and candy — celebrate the same pagan ritual in your church building? The Bible is very clear about Christians being involved in such celebrations. Ephesians 5:8-11 says,
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
Halloween is more than childish fun.Witches have eight special holidays during the year. Halloween is their day above all days. Witchcraft is not child’s play. It is an abomination to the Lord. Johanna Michaleson, former occultist and author of The Beautiful Side of Evil said, “For a true Christian to participate in the ancient trappings of Halloween is as incongruous as for a committed Satanist coming from blood sacrifices on Christmas Eve to set up a nativity scene in his living room singing Silent Night, Holy Night with sincere devotion to baby Jesus!”
One thing Halloween should not be for the Christian is a time of fear. It should be a time to rejoice in the fact that The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8). This is a time of spiritual warfare. October 31 should be spent in prayer for the community and children; a time of worship by singing praise to the Lord. This can be a good time to teach our children to sacrifice by not sharing in the rituals because you love the Lord. Whatever your family decides to do on this day, ask yourself, “Does it glorify the Lord?”
…they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. Leviticus 17:7.
Halloween and Purim?
Someone recently mentioned they thought Halloween came from the holiday Purim. It is true children dress up during Purim to reenact the story of Esther but it has nothing to do with Halloween. Halloween is centuries older and Purim costumes are Bible characters. Purim is observed on the fourteenth day of the Hebrew month of Adar (February-March). It is a celebration of the deliverance of the Persian Jews over one of the most dastardly plots in history to exterminate the Jewish people. The book of Esther tells the story.
More Halloween Articles
Halloween for Christians (video)
Read about the Holidays Ordained by God
Share your Halloween experience in the comments. Did your family put away Halloween? How did your children handle the decision? How does your church handle this holiday? Is there anything wrong with compromising and promoting a Christian Halloween?
Robin Sampson has been homeschooling for 20 years. She and her husband Ronnie are blessed with a “yours, mine, and ours” blended family of eleven children (ages 6 to 34) and thirteen grandchildren (ages 1 to 12). She is actively teaching the two youngest children still at home. Robin is also an author and business owner. Please visit her at Heart of Wisdom.
Would you like to submit?
Heart of the Matter is very proud to announce that our digital magazine will be going print next year. In honor of our one year anniversary, we will be releasing the first issue in January. We are currently looking for articles on the following:
- Marriage/Romance
- Beating Burnout
- Science
- Physical education
- Dad’s in the homeschool
- A “day in the life of our homeschool”
- Homeschooling methods (Trivium, eclectic, Montessori, unschooling, classical, CM, unit studies, etc.)
If you would like to submit, please email the full article along with your contact information to us by November 1st. If your article is chosen for the January/February 2009 issue, you will be notified by November 10th.
