The Kingdom-Driven Family

The Children God Didn’t Give Us

Andrea Schwartz

December 19, 2014

Over the years, my hair has become grayer and the forces of gravity have helped establish me as an older woman, one who is deemed wise. Thus, I’ve had the opportunity and privilege of being consulted for advice when home schooling parents experience difficulty in the raising and rearing of their children. Having made a point of being a good student of the Bible and having studied the principles of counseling from a Biblical perspective, I have been able to help parents “put on the glasses of Scripture” in order for them to see situations more clearly and be better able to deal with their difficult times.

In my own life, I have had more than one rude awakening regarding the perspectives and behaviors of my own children. The question remains, if I was able to give sound counsel to others in adverse circumstances, how come I wasn’t prepared to see similar things happening within my own family? Now that a number of years have passed since I am no longer parenting minor children, I am better able to assess my conduct in dealing them; what was in line with Scripture and what wasn’t. It is all too easy when in the midst of conflicts to “baptize” what we do as parents because we know our motives and intentions are good. There are times when frustrations and upsets can make us unable to see the forest for the trees. Continue reading

The Three “R”s of Building the Kingdom

Andrea Schwartz

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December 16, 2014

Nothing is quite so distressing as witnessing brothers and sisters in the faith at odds with one another. Even those who are not part of the disagreement can get pulled into the conflict because the parties in disagreement want mutual friends and acquaintances to side with them. I can tell you I have been on all sides of such turmoil and there is no enviable position in the lot.

Social media tends to aggravate such conflicts because “liking” the post of another seems to indicate that you are in full agreement with every aspect of that person’s life and views. Likewise, it is so easy to click the “post” button before you have had a chance to measure your words and possibly “sleep on” your response. For something called Facebook, people tend to hurt each other without confronting each other face-to-face. Continue reading

Until the Nets Are Full

Andrea Schwartz

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December 11, 2014

The apostle Peter certainly ranks as one of the most colorful persons portrayed in Scripture. Here was a married, hard-working man who was full of passion, impetuosity, and love for the Lord. Yet, like us, he was a flawed man, governed at times by fear, pride, and anxiety. How fitting that the Lord of lords would choose this man to be among those who would lead a small band of disciples to change the world.

In Luke 5, there is an account that has a profound lesson for all of us who claim the name Christian. Peter, having just had a fruitless night fishing with no catch at all, has Jesus in his boat preaching to an eager crowd. Now, I can tell you, having been married to a salesman for almost forty years, nothing quite discourages a man like the reality that despite his efforts, he has nothing to show for them. I imagine that just as a salesman evaluates himself according to the number of sales he’s made in a day, a fisherman evaluates himself by the fish he catches. Continue reading

Never Waste a Good Crisis

Andrea Schwartz

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December 8, 2014

The difference between my 99% blocked right coronary artery and what it looked like after the clot was removed.

Recently, I had reason to look up the word “crisis” in preparation for my webinar “To Your Health: Prevention Before a Crisis.” I found the definitions to be quite applicable to some recent medical issues in my life. They included:

~ a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger.
~ the turning point of a disease when an important change takes place, indicating either recovery or death.
~ a time when a difficult or important decision must be made.

I had a heart attack the last day of June 2014, and, while that would definitely fall under the first definition, my time of “crisis” came a month and a half before that. In the middle of May, I experienced some pain in my lower right abdomen. I was pretty sure I wasn’t having appendicitis because I wasn’t experiencing other symptoms that go along with it. But, to satisfy my husband, I made an appointment with the doctor. During the visit she was fairly certain I wasn’t having any problems with my appendix (temperature was normal and a physical exam seemed to point to a pulled muscle), but just to make sure, I had a scan done. She sent me home and told me she would call me with the results. Continue reading

Teach Doctrine, Not Conclusions

Andrea Schwartz

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December 4, 2014

Teaching is a risky business. What if your students do not really learn the truths you wish to convey? Worse yet, what if they come up with the “wrong” conclusions about what you have instructed – perspectives quite different from your own?

If you are a teacher in a day school setting, you might file this under the category of the cost of doing business. But if you are a home educator, your graduates don’t migrate away only to return for periodic reunions. As a parent/teacher you get to see them and interact with them on a regular basis for the rest of your life. You may even be playing with their children someday! Continue reading

A Tribute to My Mother

Andrea Schwartz

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December 2, 2014

{Note: This essay was penned over eleven years ago as a tribute to my mother. Today, December 1st, would be her 95th birthday. In looking back over how much I’ve changed since the time I wrote this, I realize more than ever that my appreciation for my mom has only grown. }

Fifty years ago, I was traveling in comfort in my mother’s womb preparing for an October birthday. This upcoming half-century birthday is significant for me, because my mom didn’t live to see hers. Back in September of 1969, she died in the middle of the night in a hospital not far from our house. I remember my dad coming into the living room where I was asleep on the couch saying, “Your mother is gone.” This was the culmination of years of being bed-ridden and unable to speak or care for herself as a result of the numerous strokes she had suffered. Continue reading

Start Them Young

Andrea Schwartz

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December 1, 2014

As your children grow and begin to manifest the talents and gifts God has given them, it is a good practice to help them understand that they have been given these blessings to use to further the Kingdom of God. Not only is this a theologically accurate perspective, but it is a way to combat the natural tendency for us to become prideful in the abilities we have. Emphasizing that God intends us to use what He has given us (Matt. 25:14–30) for our good and His glory is a lesson that cannot be repeated too often. I self-consciously taught this to my children. Since each of them had different giftings, I did my best not to apply a cookie-cutter approach, but helped each individually identify how he or she could best use his or her God-given resources.

In the case of my youngest, her ability in music, specifically singing, manifested itself quite early. I love to recount the story when she was just over six months old, and heard my son practicing his Christmas recital piece, Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. She began to hum the tune. Totally shocked, I looked at her and said, “Do that again!” as if to prove to myself it wasn’t a fluke. Of course, she didn’t understand what I was saying, and I had to wait for the next time she imitated music that she heard. Continue reading

A Webinar for Women

Andrea Schwartz

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November 24, 2014

Women tend to minimize warning signs when it comes to serious health issues. In fact, women are more likely than men to dismiss pain or symptoms of heart problems, and to delay seeking medical help.

Researchers found that women were more likely than men to wait for symptoms to become more severe and more frequent before consulting with a doctor. They report that when women experience even a small improvement of symptoms, they tend to dismiss the problem for a longer period of time.

Why is this? Women tend to prioritize their concern for others and focus on care-taking over concern for their own well-being. With the responsibility of running a household, caring for and educating children, and being a support for their husbands, this is understandable, however unwise it may be. Continue reading

In Freedom’s Cause ~ An Interview with Bill Heid

Andrea Schwartz

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November 19, 2014

So much of our history has been sanitized to remove the Christian elements from historical accounts. A good example is the movie Braveheart, which depicted the life of William Wallace as portrayed by Mel Gibson. And although it was a beautifully shot film, with a rousing score, and plenty of action, it missed the true motivation behind the Christian faith of this larger than life character.

The team at Heirloom Audio Productions has decided to set the record straight by putting together their second audio drama, In Freedom’s Cause, complete with an inspiring script and a vibrant cast, bringing to life real story of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Continue reading

Present Yourself Approved

Andrea Schwartz

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November 17, 2014

The response to God’s gift of salvation should be an overwhelming desire to please God in obedience to His commandments. If this is not present, it is safe to assume that one has not been visited by the Holy Spirit, even though a person may be influenced by the Christian culture around him. But for those who have the Holy Spirit, there exists a drive to establish oneself truly on the path that leads to life.

Educating oneself and one’s children in the ways of the Lord must be a primary concern for those who are called by God into His Kingdom service. Not only must they acquire a godly perspective and worldview by adhering to the Scripture, they must also unearth the lies, myths, and deceptions attendant to their past humanistic education. This can be a daunting task, but one that, if not undertaken, leads to the impotency of a shallow faith and inconsequential cultural transformation efforts. Continue reading