HB 371 - Hearing Cancellation

Due to inclement weather, all house committee hearings have been cancelled for Tuesday, February 9, 2010. This includes the proponent hearing for HB 371.

The new proponent hearing date will be posted as soon as it is available.

Of Love and Martyrdom

Before the New Year celebrations are over, it seems stores begin to decorate with pink and red hearts and barely dressed winged babies. The card aisles are transformed into Love Lane and a birthday greeting is hard to find amongst all the romantic declarations. Where did all of this begin? How did people get all wrapped up in arrows and heart shaped doilies?

Ancient Romans celebrated a feast day on February 15th of each year. It was called Lupercalia and was a festival honoring Juno, the goddess of marriage and women. Young people would draw names, spend time together, and exchange gifts. Many times this event led to courtship and marriage. Somehow, Cupid, the god of love, got involved. It was believed that he shot little arrows that caused people to fall head over heels in love.

Persecution of Christians was pretty rampant at this time in history, and while the Romans were celebrating false love and romance, men and women were dying for their true love of God. Although historians do not always agree, there is a tradition that says that there were two men who shared the name of Valentine. Both were executed for their faith in or near Rome on February 14, A.D. 269. In A.D. 495, Pope Gelasius decided to honor these men and other martyrs by declaring February 14th St. Valentine’s Day. This was an attempt to replace the Roman pagan festival and instead draw attention to those who had been martyred for the cause of Christ. Although the gesture was honorable and good, it obviously did not really stick. When was the last time you walked into a gift shop in February and saw cards that honored the persecuted church?

Thankfully, we do not have to fall into the ‘new’ tradition! As home educators, we have the perfect opportunity to teach the truth in this and many other areas of history regardless of what the world tries to feed us. Consider the following activities and websites to help you shed light on the true reason for the creation of St. Valentine’s Day. Remember that there are millions of Christians today that are still being persecuted and martyred for their unwavering faith in Christ.

Source: Mystery of History, Volume 2; Linda Hobar, Bright Ideas Press

Websites:
The Voice of the Martyrs – VOM maintains a wonderful website and printed resource that keeps you up to date on the persecuted church around the world. Current news, prayer needs, and ways to minister to our brothers and sisters in Christ abound.

Kids of Courage – KOC is the children’s arm of The Voice of the Martyrs. Their website includes a spotlighted country, missionaries and people groups, languages, videos, printables, and much more. It is a free geography unit study waiting to happen!

Activities:
Choose a persecuted Christian or people group to pray for each day. Highlight the country in which they live and learn about the government and main religion.

Study Stephen in the book of Acts. After reading, be sure to make note of who held the garments of those stoning him. Talk with your children about the impact Stephan’s unwavering faith had on Saul, later known as Paul.

Write letters to a Christian prisoner. PrisonerAlert.com highlights persecuted, imprisoned believers around the world. Fact sheets and information on sending encouraging letters are also available on the site.

Many homeschool families in other countries face educational persecution. Find out more on the HSLDA international page. Pray for a different international group of homeschoolers each morning as you begin your own learning time.

Legislative Alert

HB 371 is scheduled for a second hearing next week.
Ohio House Civil and Commercial Law Committee has scheduled HB 371 for PROPONENT testimony only.
Ohio Statehouse, Hearing Room 116
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 1 pm.

This legislation makes substantial changes to Ohio's child abuse / neglect statutes by repealing these defined terms and instead more broadly defining a "child in need of protective services". The language sets up a one-strike system for state intervention and is much more intrusive in its application.

1. Please see the details described in the legislative alert posted on January 20, 2010.
2. Please contact your state representative and express opposition to this legislation.
3. Please plan to attend a future hearing expected for opposition testimony. This committee regularly meets on Tuesdays at 1pm. We will post the agenda as soon as it is received.

This legislation has a clear potential to affect most families with minor children. We will provide a summary of next week's proponent testimony after the conclusion of the hearing. Please stay tuned and prepare to get engaged on this bill!

Questions will be answered in the comment section of this post.

The Way We Learn

How does your family learn together? In a blanket tent or at the table? Upside down on the couch or behind a desk?

Join us each Wednesday for The Way We Learn on the CHEO blog. Send us a picture or two of your family's favorite way to learn. Maybe you will get inspired to change things up a bit during your school day! Send your pictures here with "The Way We Learn" in the subject line.

The "B" family from Lake County

On Mission

Saving people money so they can live better. – Walmart
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To inspire and nurture the human spirit— one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. – Starbucks
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Enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high quality news, information and entertainment. – The New York Times
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Meet with Americans every day to retell the story of Liberty
Challenge citizens to rediscover America, and
Encourage responsible citizenship by focusing on positive alternatives in public policy.
– American Policy Roundtable
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Exalting His Name, Equipping His People, Evangelizing His World – Chardon Christian Fellowship
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Most businesses, organizations, and churches have mission statements. Some are long and very detailed, while others are short and to the point. The idea is that these organizations have put together a group of words that clearly sets forth the purpose they desire to accomplish. What determines the success of the organization or business is whether or not they actually follow their own mission statement.
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CHEO’s mission statement is listed on the left sidebar of this blog and the top of the home page. The board of directors takes the mission of CHEO very seriously, praying about each activity, speaker, and topic before making decisions. That helps to keep CHEO moving forward in a purposeful, productive way.
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Just like CHEO and the other organizations whose missions are listed above*, your family can and should have a mission statement. There is no better way to make sure that every member is on the same page and working together to accomplish God’s purposes for your family. Having a mission statement will help you to choose a church, homeschool group, curriculum, activities, and much more. By including the ideas and words of each family member in your statement you will also help build family identity and unity.
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We encourage you to research family mission statements and then develop one of your own. A simple Google search of “Family Mission Statement” will give you pages of articles to choose from. Please also consider joining us for Renewing the Vision, the 26th annual CHEO convention in June. You will have the opportunity to sit under the teaching of experienced men and women of God who can give direction and clarity to this very topic.
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If you already have a family mission statement, consider sharing it in a comment on this post. You might just inspire another homeschool family to stay on mission.
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Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from that which is evil. Proverbs 4:26, 27
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Helpful articles:
http://www.knowledgehouse.info/hs_mission.html
http://www.hslda.org/docs/hshb/93/hshb9312.asp - part 1
http://www.hslda.org/docs/hshb/93/hshb9313.asp - part 2
http://www.hslda.org/docs/hshb/93/hshb9314.asp - part 3
http://www.hslda.org/docs/hshb/93/hshb9315.asp - part 4
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*The mission statements listed at the beginning of this post are for example only. Inclusion does not necessarily indicate endorsement by CHEO or their sponsors.

Convention Pre-Registration is Open!

We are excited to offer online pre-registration for the convention and graduation much earlier than previous years! Register today and start planning for the most encouraging weekend of your home school year!

Convention pre-registration ends May 22, 2010.
Graduation registration ends March 1, 2010.

Thank you for understanding that no exceptions can be made if you miss the pre-registration deadlines for either event. Although you may register for the convention on-site for an additional $15, the final deadline for graduation registration is firmly set for March 1.


Supporting Family Pre-Registration Pricing:
Individual One Day: $35
Individual Two Day: $45
Family One Day: $55
Family Two Day: $65
Family is considered a husband and/or wife, the children living in their home, and grandparents.

Pre-registration pricing for those who are not presently supporting families:
Individual One Day: $45
Individual Two Day: $55
Family One Day: $65
Family Two Day: $75
Family is considered a husband and/or wife, the children living in their home, and grandparents.

Become a supporting family today!

Legislative Committee Meeting Note

Ohio House Civil and Commercial Law Committee has posted its agenda for Tuesday, February 2, 2010. HB 371 is NOT scheduled for a hearing next week.