On this first episode of 2024, Daniel and Schelleen reflect on the last year's learning. They share some of their best and worst reads from 2023. Daniel shares how true learning goes deeper than gaining information; it's about changing as a person. Schelleen and Daniel reflect on some of the hacks that have helped them develop a lifestyle of reading.

Daniel's 2023 Reading List

Completed

• Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning: An Approach to Distinctively Christian Education - Doug Wilson
• The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School - Neil Postman
• Fidelity: How to Be a One-woman Man - Douglas Wilson
• Excused Absence: Should Christian Kids Leave Public Schools? - Douglas Wilson
• The Seven Laws of Teaching - John Milton Gregory
• Ploductivity: A Practical Theology of Work and Wealth - Douglas Wilson
• The Other Side of the Coyne: A Review of "Why Evolution is True" - Douglas Wilson
• Pomosexuality - Douglas Wilson
• The Church Impotent: The Feminization of Christianity - Leon Podles
• The Covenant Household - Douglas Wilson
• Fight by Flight: Why Leaving Godless Places is Loving Godless Places - Joel Webbon

Still in Progress

• Messianic Nature of American Education - RJ Rushdoony
• The Philosophy of the Christian Curriculum - RJ Rushdoony
• The Doctrines that Divide: A Fresh Look at the Historic Doctrines that Separate Christians - Erwin Lutzer
• Creation in 6 Days: A Defense of the Traditional Reading of Genesis One - James B. Jordan
• Repairing the Ruins: The Classical and Christian Challenge to Modern Education - various authors
• Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms - Justin Whitmel Earley
• 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos - Jordan B. Peterson

Did not Finish

• Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives - Siddharth Kara
• (A)Typical Woman: Free, Whole, and Called in Christ - Abigail Dodds

Schelleen's 2023 Reading List

Completed

• The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in our Post-Christian World - Rosaria Butterfield
• A Lucky Child - Thomas Buergenthal
• All About Heaven - Dave Oliver
• Reflections on the Psalms - C.S. Lewis
• Psalms, the Prayer Book of the Bible - Bonhoeffer
• The Seven Laws of Teaching - John Milton Gregory
• Bittersweet - Shauna Niequist
• God, Sex, and Your Marriage - Dr. Julie Slattery
• Guardians of Ga’Hoole (series) - Kathryn Lasky
• Psalms in 30 Days - Trevin Wax
• Seeing Beautiful Again - Lysa TerKeurst
• Empty Cradle, Broken Heart - Debra L David Ph.D.
• Buried Dreams: From Devastating Loss to Unimaginable Hope - Lindsey Dennis
• Choosing to See - Mary Beth Chapman
• Empty Arms - Pam Vredevelt
• The Covenant Household - Douglas Wilson
• Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms - Justin Whitmel Earley

Still in Progress

• Hope when it Hurts - Kristen Wetherell & Sarah Walton
• Lead - Paul David Tripp
• Fight for Love - Rosie Makinney
• Mathematics in Western Culture - Morris Kline
• Partner Betrayal Trauma - Douglas Weiss
• Lead Like it Matters - Craig Groeschel
• 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos - Jordan B. Peterson
• A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 - W. Phillip Keller
• The 13th Gift - Joanne Huist Smith
• Breaking Free from Body Shame - Jess Connolly

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intro/outro music by Alan Floyd

On this episode Daniel sits down with Deann to discuss her journey of learning how to effectively meet the educational, developmental, and spiritual needs of her children. Deann and David Kelly are the parents of 4 children in Missouri. As Christians, the Kellys take the education of their children very seriously. When their kids were young, the Kellys strongly believed in homeschooling and completely opposed public schooling for any reason. But now, they have a more nuanced perspective, even to the point that 3 of their children either have attended, or are attending, public school now.

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Note: A small portion of this recording has been omitted to protect the privacy of an individual that was briefly discussed.

On this episode, Daniel and Schelleen discuss chapter 3 of Justin Earley's Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms. The topic is discipline. How can Christian parents discipline their children in such a way that reflects Christ's nature to their children?

Daniel highlights the idea that the goal of discipline should not be to simply inflict consequences for misbehavior, but rather to seek reconciliation between those who have done wrong and those who have been wronged. Schelleen digs into the idea that discipline is not about controlling our children, but rather about training their hearts to love the right things. All this and much more! Enjoy.

Amazon Link: Habits of the Household

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intro/outro music by Alan Floyd

Daniel sits down with Schelleen to process his thoughts on recreation. We all want to develop healthy habits, but is it appropriate to occasionally neglect healthy habits- at least temporarily? Are there areas of our lives where it's never okay to loosen up from our regular discipline? Also, are there objectively better and worse ways to recreate (particularly for Christians), or do our patterns in recreation simply depend on the person and the situation?

This is a deep-cutting conversation, and it's probably the first of many times this topic will come up on the pod. We hope you enjoy!

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intro/outro music by Alan Floyd

In this episode, Daniel sits down with Schelleen to discuss a book they've started reading together. The book is Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whittle Earley. They're only a few chapters in but this book is already changing their lives. Daniel and Schelleen have been thinking a lot about habits lately, for different reasons. Daniel's history with addiction gives habits a deeper meaning, and Schelleen's desire to raise healthy kids motivates her to establish healthy habits now.

Today's discussion covers habits of waking and habits of mealtimes. When we wake up in a physical sense, we also wake up in a narrative sense. We awaken to a “story of reality”. This story of reality represents our priorities and our place in the world. Our “story of reality” needs to align with God’s version of reality. Regarding meals, Christians must understand that meals have spiritual meaning. Meals are about communing, not consuming. In our families, our mealtime habits can foster relationship building or relationship atrophy.

Book Website

https://www.habitsofthehousehold.com/

Devotional: Psalms in 30 Days

https://www.amazon.com/Psalms-30-Days-Trevin-Wax/dp/1087749026

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intro/outro music by Alan Floyd

Daniel discusses homeschooling with his friends Jason and Alejandra Guenther. They homeschool their 4 young children (preK to 4th grade) in California. The Guenthers share why they chose to homeschool and how they collaborate with other families to make it work. Daniel asks how their Christian faith influences their views on parenting and education. Jason shares several stats on the academic and social benefits of homeschooling. Alejandra shares her passion for being directly involved in educating her kids, rather than sending them off to someone else.

Research Facts on Homeschooling

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intro/outro music by Alan Floyd

We have some returning guests on this episode- Jake and Kailene Coffin! These two are educators in Arizona, and Daniel wanted to continue a previous conversation with them about different models of Christian education and Christian curriculum. In their discussion, they reflect on their experiences in different school models and debate what the purpose of a Christian education should be. They also get into the question of what makes a curriculum "Christian" and whether there is a meaningful distinction from "non-Christian" curriculum. We believe more educators need to be talking about this stuff. We hope you enjoy!

Please don't hesitate to share your thoughts and questions.

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intro/outro music by Alan Floyd

This episode is a recording of a talk that Daniel gave at a regional church conference on September 15th. This discussion was the last of three talks on education from a Christian perspective. Daniel addresses the question of whether the Church, broadly speaking, should uphold the public school model or abandon it altogether in the interest of building alternative models of education.

In this talk, Daniel looks into the history and origins of American public education, the philosophical framework that undergirds the public school model, and ultimately what Scripture says about education. The talk is followed by a Q&A panel discussion with all the speakers from the morning meeting.

Presentation Slides

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Schelleen and Daniel sit down to discuss a theme they've noticed in their lives recently- decay. They unpack the recent slew of unexpected home improvement fiascos they've had to navigate. Schelleen shares a journal entry where she reflects on the reality that everything is decaying- even us. They discuss Romans 8, The Fall's result of separating "God's space" from "our space", and the hope of heaven reuniting with Earth. Daniel highlights the way in which humans imitate God by combatting the decay around them.

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On this episode Daniel is joined by friend and colleague Shawn Meintz to discuss public education from a Christian teacher's perspective. Shawn is a dad of 3 and social studies teacher who works in the same high school as Daniel. He and Daniel discuss whether Christian parents should enroll their kids in public school. Shawn discusses the value of Christian students having influence among their peers, but Daniel shares his concerns about the humanistic philosophy behind public education. We hope you enjoy this compelling discussion!

First Amendment

https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/

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intro/outro music by Alan Floyd