Drifting, Dreaming, and Doing

(Part 2 of 3)

In our earlier installment, we came to about age twenty-five in the fall of 1967. I was about to begin my planned work that I had described earlier. Now, I shall pick this up somewhat later, perhaps at age thirty-eight (38), about the year 1980.

During this period of time, I went to school (1976 to 1979), and graduated, and then had to “drop out” since I lost my job, lost my schooling, and even lost my house. (This was not the catastrophe that was just around the corner about 1984.) I tried to redeem the time by working in selling water distillers, taking some courses at a local college, and the like. Finally, about 1979, I found work (that I didn’t particularly want), had a car wreck about 1980, and lost another house. In various ways, I was having difficulty and trials in many ways. Perhaps we could call this my “job experience” but God surely must have been using this to His glory in some way.

In about 1980 and for four more years, I did a lot of writing and even wrote the manuscript that eventually was picked up and put into book form in 1994. It was also during this time, that I lost my last house, began to stay in my car, and eventually lived at the place where I was working from about 1984 to 1989. This gives some background to what I am about to share.

I was growing increasingly concerned about the education of children. God has so planned that children are to be taught and trained, especially by parents, and perhaps (as a second means) by others chosen by parents (See, for example, Ephesians 6:1-4). As time went by, my desires for the two years of study and travel were dissipating. I could see that there is a place for children—many children. At one time (in my early twenties), I thought that because of the evil, perversity, and worldliness in the world and also because of my plans to travel and teach and preach, I thought that God was calling me to not have children. But I began to see signs in the early 1980s especially, that children could be taught either at home or taught in a “Christian” school context and thus be kept from the evil of the world surrounding them. Thus, I began to collect magazines and books on teaching children for God in various ways.

Thus, about this time (beginning about age 38), I could see that I must prepare to personally lead out in teaching children. And even having children—maybe 6, 8.10 or even 12 of them. (This, of course, would depend on God the giver.) But how? This was the question, especially since I was single and how is a celibate person my age, without a wife, to have ten children? Especially since I was very low income—and had no ability to increase this income?

As for the children, I continued to read and learn as much as I could about teaching children in a thoroughly Christian way. About this time (even while I was without housing—from 1984 to 1989), the country seemed to become more open to home schooling. We think that James Dobson and others might have had something to do with this. At first, this was considered a strange practice, then more and more time elapsed until now, when perhaps 2 to 4 million children are taught by their parents at home, we find a more hospitable experience for home-schoolers.

Sadly, this is not the case in the world at large. In some “advanced” countries, home education is totally unlawful! This may be the case in many nations of the world—where home schooling (by the ungodly state) is totally forbidden! This, of course, is not “Christian” education for even some of these are total unbelievers or steeped in false doctrine, but it did open Texas and the other states to teaching their own children.

This activity would take a special commitment since generally the parents could not work away from the house, since it would take much effort to teach 5 or 10 children at home, since the family would need to subsist on a very low income, since the father might not be able to find a good job and he may not even have training. There are many elements here as our Search engine will show you, with many problems involved. For example, one parent may not even be favorable toward home schooling. He or she may think that for a parent to teach would be totally irresponsible and must not be done. And if the family is not thoroughly committed to Christ, what if one or three or eight of the children are not even saved? Further, many parents may be saved but be very low income.  (When I was “fired” years ago, after 28 years of faithful, devoted work, I was earning about  $8.00 an hour. Perhaps this has increased to maybe $10.00 or $12.00 an hour now? But still this would be considered “low” income in the United States.)

So, in the 1980s, I departed from my plans to form a “Christian” school and have fellow-believers help teach and then I began to lead toward home schooling. I suppose it was in about the year 1989 or 1990 that I began to go to the local “home schooling” association meetings—at the convention center. This was a three day affair with about 6,000 people attending. Of course, not all attendees are saved. I continued this for maybe 26 or 27 years. Another home schooling group took over so I have attended this since the beginning. It is good encouragement for those who seek to train their own children. Just knowing that thousands of others do the same give some degree of support.

And now we return to about 1989 and my exposure to the home schooling movement. I could see that this was an option but, of course, it would take an immense amount of work. There was another option that I should mention since it was definitely in my “dreams” from perhaps 1965 or 1966 on. It was this. Besides my hoping to reach out to people who needed Christ, I hoped that I could direct them to a very important other option. I had hoped to move to the country (while continuing to keep in close contact with the millions in the city to bring them to Christ) with all of the opportunities that country-living affords. (Presently there are a number of monthly magazines or journals dedicated to this, although some of them are not at all “Christian” in nature.)

This “dream” and plan continued to be worked out in the 1960s, the 1970s, and the 1980s. We would have a country spread of maybe 20 or 60 acres, perhaps twenty to 70 miles from the city. On this parcel of land, there would be a large house, with a large room for my library, a large room for the supplies, a large room for a work room, a large room for literature and literature distribution, perhaps 6 to 10 rooms for bedrooms for my large family as well as visitors. There would be a large area for meetings, for teachings, for the kitchen, and for dining. This “house” could be built with our own labor (to save on costs), especially with the input of knowledgeable brothers who had building experience.

Along with this sort of housing, there would be acres outside for raising nutritious food, for raising some livestock, for trails through the woods, for peaceful walking, for exercising, and for other outside activities. Of course, there would be some sort of stream through the woods and countryside. Much of this would be focused on the children (mine and others). Believers could stay on the premises for a day, a week, or much longer. Of course, this description could be expanded somewhat. (Please see our extended discussion in General Topics under “Seeking God.”)

We think that this type of place could be kept lower by using our (my and fellow-believers’) own abilities. It would be far enough away from the city that the land could be purchased at lower cost. Yet it would be close enough to highways for transportation that would take us to the city or surrounding communities for outreach for Christ.

Thus, there would be a number of advantages: Land for growing food and for a pleasant retreat. (For years I have prayed for God to give a “retreat” of this nature. So often, in my prayers, this “retreat” would be on my lips—even though it has not transpired as yet.). A building for housing for my own family and other families that would be attracted to this type of living.  Since there would be plenty of work for growing things, interested brothers and sisters would have much work to do. There would be “outside” work of all sorts.  Those who would refuse to work, would need to be disciplined, according to 2 Thessalonians 3.

The main focus would be: teaching and training my family and the families of others. Christ and His Word must always come first! Plus the further focus would be teaching men how to work in many ways—painting, building, agriculture, car maintenance, and the like. Along with this, there would be the outreach with the gospel to the cities and other smaller towns nearby.  There would also need to be some interest in and outreach to other countries with the good news of Christ. There would be much to do!

As for finances, of course, I could not support and maintain all of this myself. There would need to be plenty of help from brothers and sisters on the premises as well as those who lived at a distance and only periodically would visit. Others would probably need to maintain their own places elsewhere but would come for teaching and training.  We would need to also make some provision for widows and widowers as well as fathers and mothers with children but without being married.

We think that there is a growing body of these unmarried ones who want to follow Jesus but who also want to avoid the adultery involved in remarriage or the fornication involved in living in the world. We would need to have loving but strict “rules” that would reach into the lives of these good-hearted people. This can be done—even if it were done with difficulty.

I must not continue with this description, thus I need to continue with another installment. May God be glorified!