Finish Well

In “The Birthday That Cut History in Two” with Meredith Curtis, episode #054, we explore the most significant birth the world has ever experienced. Meredith shares the way God set people, events, and hints in place for 4,000 years to prepare the world for the birth of Jesus. The Lord weaved together an amazing celebrated to welcome Jesus to earth and display His glory. Since His Birth Day, Jesus impacts and continues to impact the world stage in a powerful way. In light of these things, how can we celebrate this Wondrous Birthday and experience the Birthday Gift for all eternity.

Merry Christmas from Merey & Laura. We want to bless you this Christmas with a copy of our Christmas devotions, Curtis Christmas Family Devotions. Download your copy FREE on our JoyfulandSuccessfulHomeschooling.com website on the Free E-book Gifts Page.

 

Special Thanks to our Network Sponsor, Kiwi Crate!

 

We'd like to thank our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network sponsor, Kiwi Crate!

KiwiCo has monthly subscriptions of hands-on projects that make learning fun! Their core offering is projects that make learning about STEAM -- science, technology, engineering, art, and math -- accessible and are designed to spark creativity, tinkering, and learning. Some recent favorite crates are the Slime Lab, Physics Carnival, and Paper Circuits.

Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network is excited to be able to offer you the chance to try them for FREE. To learn more about their projects for kids ages 2 to 16 AND to redeem this exclusive offer, click here to get your first month free today (just pay $4.95 for shipping)

Show Notes

Travel back in time with me to the most spectacular birth announcement ever sounded. Best of all, God Himself is announcing the birth of His Son.

What Made the Birth Spectacular?

The miracles

The Singers

The Trip

The Complications

The Gifts

Who was Excited about the Birth

Who was Scared by the Birth

How Did The Lord Prepare Over Time?

This birth was planned for over 4,000 years.

God was so excited about it that He dropped little hints during that entire 4,000 years, starting in Genesis.

Hints throughout Old Testament History.

How Did God Get Everything Ready for the Birth

The Lord got everything ready for the arrival of His Son.

Language & Reason

Roads & Reason

Pax Romana & Reason

How Jesus Made History for 33 years.

The Teachings

The Miracles

The Foundation Laid

How Jesus Made History for over 2,000 years.

Good News

Glorious Family

How Jesus cut History in Two and what that Means

Christmas Resources

DG: The Secret to Success with Meredith Curtis, podcast #053 looks at a missing ingredient in the lives of many young people, and older folks, too. Meredith discusses how delayed gratification can impact our personal lives and professional lives, helping us to experience joy and success. Meredith will explain what delayed gratification is, how it works, and how to build the DG muscle.

 

 

 

 

 

Show Notes

The secret to educational success is quite simple! DG!

The secret to a close relationship with Jesus is simple and includes DG!

The secret to having a happy marriage one day: DG!

The secret to financial success is another simple plan! It is two little words that pack a big punch. The secret to financial success is....delayed gratification.

Delayed Gratification? What is that? Well, it means to postpone what you want, to wait and work for what you desire to obtain.

In Our Imagination

Example of the Airline Owner.

But we live as if our little scenario is possible because we want a successful life, but we sabotage ourselves with instant gratification.

What We Do To Shoot Ourselves in the Foot

See, here is what we do. We want something right now! We have to have it so we take what we have and spend it all on something we kind of want.

Examples.

Delayed Gratification in a Nutshell

SO basically, in a nutshell, delayed gratified is doing the hard work first and the fun stuff we long for second.

Examples

Let’s meet some people who took delayed gratification seriously.

Hall of Fame for Delayed Gratification

Hebrews 11:13-16

Relating DG to Trusting God’s Goodness and heart to bless us.

Have We Prayed?

Examples of Waiting on God and Praying.

There are so many "quick and easy" ways out for us to take.

How difficult it is to set our eyes on the Lord and wait. This act of waiting is delaying gratification.

We experience delays in what we desire, building self-control and godly character in our life.

While We Wait on God

What do we do while we wait? We cry out to God, listing our petitions with Him, knowing that His heart is to provide our needs and bless us with our desires too.

Examples

Building the Delayed Gratification Muscle

Ways to build that delayed-gratification muscle.

The bottom line is this: Now you know the secret to success in every area of life. What will you do next?

Special Thanks to our Network Sponsor!

We'd like to thank our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network sponsor Sony and their new movie, The Star, the Story of the First Christmas - Coming in Theaters November 17th!

Visit TheStarMovie.com to learn more.

Where Have All the Heroes Gone? with Meredith Curtis, podcast #052 looks at the fascination with Super-Heroes in today’s culture, how they’ve changed, and why we love Heroes. Meredith discusses Christian heroes, how they can impact our personal lives, and how they can inspire us to greatness. As a special bonus, six Super-Heroes drop in to tell their story. You will meet Pope Gregory, Lady Jane Grey, Lottie Moon, Brother Andrew, Elisabeth Eliot, and Nicky Cruz. We will end with instructions to host your own Heroes for Jesus Party.

 

 

 

 

Today’s sponsor is Powerline Productions. Powerline Productions wants to equip you to be a world changer and raise world changers. They offer curriculum, unit studies, high school courses, Bible studies, cookbooks, and How-to-Homeschool books. Find them at PowerlineProd.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Show Notes

There are so many super-hero movies out now. I have to stop and wonder what makes them so popular.

There are so many familiar heroes from my childhood, but boy; have they changed.

Different in values, morals, humility, respect for authority.

Relating to broken heroes and why we need heroes.

We are broken, but fixed by the One True Super-Hero.

Who are Christian heroes from the past?

How can they impact us?

How can they inspire us to greatness?

Let the Heroes Speak: Pope Gregory, Lady Jane Grey, Lottie Moon, Brother Andrew, Elisabeth Eliot, and Nicky Cruz.

One way that we learn about heroes is by having a Heroes for Jesus Party.

How to have a Heroes for Jesus Party: monologues, costumes, and games/activities.

Resources:

Celebrate Our Christian Heroes explains how and why to celebrate Christian heroes, as well as discussing reasons the author’s family stopped celebrating Halloween. Step-by-step instructions are given for planning and hosting your own Heroes For Jesus Party with monologues, costume ideas, and game/activity ideas for over 40 Christian Super-Heroes. A special bonus resource is the instructions and template to make your own Paul’s Journey to Rome Board Game! Enjoy!

 

Another resource is The Forgotten Podcast, a collection of hero stories that will inspire you!

Learning with Little Ones Around with Meredith Curtis, Podcast #051, speaks to teens who are wondering how on earth to get any schoolwork done with their noisy brothers and sisters around. Meredith goes on to speak to teens (and their parents) about how to establish quiet school hours (with parents’ help), how to learn more by imparting knowledge and wisdom to younger siblings, and how to learn with younger children in family and co-op settings. You will see younger brothers and sisters in a whole new way.

 

 

 

 

Today’s sponsor is Powerline Productions. Powerline Productions wants to equip you to be a world changer and raise world changers. They offer curriculum, unit studies, high school courses, Bible studies, cookbooks, and How-to-Homeschool books. Find them at PowerlineProd.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Show Notes

So often, I talk to teens who are struggling to get their schoolwork done in a bustling home filled with younger siblings. My own older children struggled with this issue.

Examples of specific problems and solutions to helper teens in big families get their schoolwork done in a stress-free situation.

Perspective

How do you we view our younger siblings? As a gift? Or as a burden?

Getting God’s perspective on why you have younger brothers and sisters. God places us in families to bless us, prepare us, and fill our lives with joy.

How to change your heart toward your siblings.

How to be a Hero

God calls you to be a hero to your younger siblings.

Example of virtue, love, and courage

Extending grace, mercy, and help

Teach Younger Children

One of the best ways we can learn material is to teach it to someone else. You have a captive audience at home.

What to teach.

How to teach.

Examples in our Life Skills courses.

Learn with Younger Children in Co-op

We always have one or two classes in our homeschool co-op that are age-integrated (babies to seniors in high school).

Why we do it.

Where did age segregation come from? Why is it harmful?

How to learn with little ones in a group setting.

Serving younger children & allowing younger children to serve you.

How teens can impact younger children and change the world

God bless you.

The Real Kingdom and The Counterfeit with Meredith Curtis, Podcast #050, is a tale of two kingdoms. The Kingdom of God, established by the Lord, will last forever. In opposition is the kingdom of darkness who reign is doomed. Take a trip back in time to the Tower of Babel to discover some recognizable patterns that have been repeated throughout history in a futile attempt to undermine the Lordship of Jesus Christ. You will never see history the same again.

 

In “The Legend of Atlantis and Bull Leaping,” Podcast #049 Meredith Curtis asks, “Could the legend of Atlantis be true?” And does it involve the bull-leapers of history, the Minoans. Let’s meet the people who build the 600-acre Knossos Palace on the island of Crete.  Meredith Curtis loves uncovering exciting tidbits from the past. Ancient History and Scripture collide to pass on wisdom as we learn another Life Lesson from Ancient History.

 

 

Today’s sponsor is Powerline Productions. Powerline Productions wants to equip you to be a world changer and raise world changers. They offer curriculum, unit studies, high school courses, Bible studies, cookbooks, and How-to-Homeschool books. Find them at PowerlineProd.com.

 

Show Notes

Legend of Atlantis

Plato, who heard it from his grandfather, who heard it from Solon, wrote down the story of The Lost City of Atlantis.

In 355 B.C., Plato wrote down the legend of Atlantis and the noble people who gave up their virtue for greed and other sins; eventually being punished by the “gods” and sunk to the bottom of the sea by a violent earthquake.

Could this be the Minoan Island of Thera?

Crete

The buzzing hub of the Minoan civilization was located on the island of Crete.

Arising 2-3 centuries after the dispersion from Babel, the Minoans were a sophisticated, highly advanced civilization. Stone roads connected their cities. Each city had a beautiful palace.

Palace of Knossos.

Artwork.

Architecture.

Trade

A nation of merchants who built sturdy ships and traveled all over the world.

Exports: barley, wine, currants, olive oil, cypress wood, artwork, ships, wool, cloth, herbs, and purple dye

Imports: gold, silver, copper, ivory, precious stones, and tin

There is evidence that they made it to North American to mine copper.

Fashion.

Writing. Alphabet.

Religion.

Bull Leaping

Along with worshipping idol/goddesses and idol/gods, the bull was worshipped. Along with worshipping bulls, bull leaping was a popular sport that required athletic skill and fearlessness. Athletes leaped over bulls, or possibly leaped on top of them.

Minoan Town of Thera

Description of wealthy town.

Volcanoes, tsunamis, and earthquakes weakened the Minoan city-states. In 1600 BC, the island of Thera experienced one of the worst volcanoes eruptions in all of history. The town of Akrotiri was buried. After destroying the entire island of Thera, the volcanic ash spread to neighboring Crete. The volcanic eruption also triggered tsunamis that destroyed most of the homes and buildings along the coast of Crete.

Economy ruined. All their sturdy ships were lost, along with their ability to travel port to port, making money.

Though the Minoans continued to live on Crete, their wealth was gone. They were weak and vulnerable to the invasion of the Mycenaeans, or Greeks.

Though they were one of the most advanced ancient civilizations, the Minoans fell completely, forgotten until an archeologist uncovered their remains in 1900. For centuries, they were forgotten. Why?

Welcome to another installment of Life Lessons from Ancient History. In Life Began in a Garden with Meredith Curtis, she shares the creation story straight as it is written in the Bible. We can all learn many lessons from this first week. There are some patterns, habits, mandates, even laws which were started then. Join us to hear Meredith describe what they are and why it matter to you and me.

 

Walking Teens from Doubt to Faith with Pastor Mike Curtis takes you to our Finish Well Conference. Most of our children, especially teens, experience a time when they must come to grips with who God is. Pastor Mike shares important techniques to help parents guide their children from following Mom and Dad's faith to embracing a vibrant faith of their own. This workshop will inspire parents to show their children a genuine faith that is real and practical. It will help parents to field difficult questions like, "What assurance do I have that I am actually saved?". Pastor Mike even lists great resources which answer tough questions like, "How can I know that God really exists?" We hope you enjoy this small sample of the Finish Well 2014 Homeschooling High School Conference.

 

Meredith Curtis answers the question “In our world of sex, graphic violence, and trashy talk, can we find movies the whole family can enjoy together?” in Choosing Family Movies in an X-rated World. Many homeschooling families have a wide range of ages and interests. We each have our favorite genre. In spite of this, there are many wonderful movies out there you can enjoy together. Our sponsor today is Sony Pictures, featuring their new movie Smurfs, The Lost Village. You can can download a free Christian study guide for this film at affirmfilms.com/resources/ .

Thanks to our Network Sponsor

Sony Pictures: AffirmsFilms.com and the latest movie with great values and message – Smurfs: The Lost Village.

I’d Rather Be Texting with Julianna Curtis, Shine Curtis, Jimmy Curtis, Phoebe Nolette, and Joshua Nolette takes you to our Finish  Well Conference.

 

This workshop is led by a homeschool grad as well as four homeschool high schoolers who looked at all the times they thought, or even said, “I’d rather be texting than do that.” They each share some great insight into the benefits of doing just the opposite. Listen in and enjoy some of the wisdom that these young speakers shared at Finish Well 2013.

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