Homeschooling-How we started

Homeschooling is not for everybody, but it is the right fit for some. Since the video below came out, more people ask us how we started homeschooling. I can still remember back in 1998 when my wife mentioned homeschooling to me. My response was, "What is that?". The first thing I pictured was a bunch of people dressed in old clothes sharing tattered text books between each other. Seriously, I had never heard of the concept nor knew anyone that did it. Needless to say, we started exploring it.

I was skeptical, but it all began to turn around when we met a nice family from Texas. We were visiting their church and they were our host home for the week. We entered their kitchen and began to talk for about thirty minutes. At this point, I didn't even know they had children. Then a young boy came from around the corner and sat in the family room, then a young girl came in the room and sat down to read a book, then two more children came from around the corner and didn't say a peep.

Ok, I have to pause here and give you the backdrop of mine and Lisa's experience with parents and children to this point. We had just graduated from college, so we didn't know many married families with children. The parents we did see always looked stressed out, broke, busted, and disgusted. When we went out to public places we seemed to always run into "Bebe's Kids" (Watch this trailer if you never heard of them.) These are kids that flip you off in stores, smack their parents, and demand candy to the extent of tantrums in the check out lane. Most of our classmates that we graduated with were telling us how they were going to delay having children and how it was going to be hard once they took the plunge. One thing was common, most people only wanted one or at most two children, because it would be entirely too expensive to have more. It was repeated to us, that children could hinder our new careers that we were starting with our hard earned degrees. We were told we didn't spend four-six years in college just to have children. Yes, we had some intruding in-laws, out-laws, aunts, and grandmothers. It seems that when people reach a certain age they will just tell you anything that's on their mind. After we conceived our first child eight months into marriage we heard, "Tell Jonathan to slow down", "You're not going to have anymore are you?", "I mistakenly had children too young you should of waited!". People talked about raising children as if it they had been through eighteen years of a concentration camp. All of this, with a few experiences from our own upbringing, was our early view of children.

Well, back to my story. I saw all four of their children come from the back of the home and sit in the family room. I was amazed! I didn't hear any screaming, fighting, or crashing before they came out. I was doubly amazed to see one of them come out reading a book. I mentally left our conversation for a minute as I looked at the kids, then I interrupted the dad and asked him, "Did you just give those kids a whoopin' right before we came, what's wrong with them?" Everyone burst out in laughter (except my wife, she cringed).

From then on they began to explain about parenting, home education and the Bible. They were our first impressions of a home schooling family and what I saw was impressive. It really blew all my misconceptions about homeschooling out of the water. I will explain more in future post. As the video shows below, we ended up homeschooling and we still do to this day. This is a preview video to a cover story published by Home Educating Family. We are so grateful that our friends Gus and Shirley Solis introduced us to Scot and Becky Keliher who own the magazine. We are grateful to God how he orders our steps. Click here if video is not below:

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S.P.A.R.K. your World-Servant Evangelism

We started an exciting campaign at Church Ablaze back in June. It is called S.P.A.R.K.-Spontaneous, Purposeful, Acts of Random Kindness. We are asking everybody in our church and all other believers we know to go out and S.P.A.R.K. your world with acts of kindness that reflect the love of Jesus. Practical things done with great love can have an eternal impact.
Every Sunday we have been taking a part of our service and celebrating all of the ways that people are spreading the love of Jesus to others. In Acts 14:27 it says, "And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles." The sharing time is so powerful. We have called the reports that people give, "Ablaze Reports". An ablaze report is a short description of how they shared the love of Jesus with another individual or group. There are five ways you can submit an ablaze report:
1) Text it: 405-633-2636.
2) Email it: ablazereport@churchablaze.tv
3) Tweet it: @churchablaze #ablazereport or #SPARK
4) Facebook it: www.bit.ly/churchablaze
5) Write it: Come and visit us on Sundays at 11:00am and fill out the report. It will be displayed on our bulletin board. They are all anonymous.

You can listen to the message and get a pdf of the ablaze reports here: Click here

It is so inspiring to hear the simple ways that people are sharing God's love. Here are a few that have been submitted so far:
1) A man, after seeing four garbage truck drivers stranded on the side of the road, went to 7-11 and purchased four ice cold drinks and gave them to the drivers along with a pass it on card.
2) Every Wednesday a team of four families have been serving free meals to the apartment complex next door to the church (over 200 served so far).
3) Every Friday a family has been giving cold bottled waters to 300 children and parents at a local youth summer camp.
4) A man took time to sit on the porch and encourage his elderly neighbor during a tough time.
5)A child took time to share the gospel with his salvation bracelet to his neighbor.

The list goes on and on. Will you join us? It's simple. Small Groups can do it. Families can do it. It is not limited to age, experience, or knowledge. Just simple, practical acts that can open up doors to people's heart. Some people don't care what you know until they know that you care.

GO and SPARK your world!

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I'm a failure

I'm a failure. I fail often as a man. I fail often as a Dad. I fail often as a husband. I fail often as a Pastor. Failure is saying you are going to do something and not following through. Failing is creating expectations in others and then not meeting your own standards. Failure is setting a goal and not meeting it.

Some people try and dress up failure and make it feel good, failure stinks..no matter how you slice it. When something goes a different way than you expect, you feel like you have failed. Period!

Despite the fact that it stinks, I am glad that I have failed at being a man, failed at being a husband, failed at being a Dad, and failed at being a Pastor because that means that I am trying and not giving up. That means that I care enough to pursue those things.

One example of my failure as a dad is my inconsistent attempts at leading my family in Bible devotions. I tried mornings and I would run late to work. I tried Saturdays and couldn't find the time. I tried before the kids went to bed and was too tired. Each time my new plan didn't work I fealt terrible and wondered would I ever be consistent. There are two key words in each of my attempts, "I-TRIED". Trying exposed my weaknesses and God loves our weaknesses. His strength is made perfect in my weakness (II Corinthians 12:9). After twelve years of trying and not giving up we eventually found our family niche after mealtime. Don't celebrate yet, I am still failing at consistency. However, I have realized that as I continue to fail at being consistent we are on our third time reading through the new testament verse by verse, half way through the old testament, inscribed fifty-seven of our favorite biblically rich hymns on our children's heart, enthusiastically told every major bible story, seen all of our children cry their eyes out in repentance and forgiveness at the reading of his word, and the list goes on. I blogged about it in 2009 called the Family Dinner Table. So although failure still stinks if you keep trying, the process will yield beautiful fruit.

We need to minimize the cultural image of failure as a bad thing and reshape our thinking. Things that are bad we natural tend to avoid. The implications of trying to avoid failure will lead to unfulilled dreams , stifled ideas, and quenched passion. Embrace failure as part of your growth process and you will welcome one of the greatest catalyst to fulfilled dreams, flourishing ideas, and burning passion known to man.
I am determined to push the envelope of failure by applying continuous momentum in the direction I feel God is leading. My goal to become the greatest failure that ever lived. In that pursuit I will become the best me that God ever created. With the fear of failure now harnessed as a tool for my development I am now free to become who I am in Christ. Being uninhibited by failure gives Me freedom to try new things, tackle new approaches.

I am a failure, but I overcome the failure because I REFUSE TO GIVE UP on being God's man, God's kind of pastor, God's kind of husband, and God's kind of father. My failures are superseded by God's grace and getting back up again and again (Proverbs 24:16). I'm a failure how about you?

Audio Sermon here: http://bit.ly/failure-audio

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Silent Fathers

Father's your silence can get misinterpreted as rejection, disapproval, and lack of love to your children. Most of us or aware of the silent-father type; he is the one that is present in the home but really doesn't have much to say. There are several reasons why these fathers appear to be muted. A few are:

1. Some were raised in a culture where males did not communicate their heart. So they really don't know how.


2. Some ended up marrying a controlling, nagging wife that does all the talking any way so why do they need to speak.


3. Some are just removed and believe they work and provide so that is all they need to do.

Regardless of the reason, fathers we have to speak up in our families. Don't delegate all of the communication to the children to your wife. Ten things your children need to hear from you.

1. Your daddy loves you


2. God loves you


3. I need your help


4. That was a great job


5. You are very pretty and your heart is even prettier (for girls)


6. You are a handsome and your heart is even more attractive (for boys)


7. Good effort, let me show you and even better way


8. I am so proud of you


9. I am here for you


10. You can do anything you put your mind to

The words listed above, along with others, coming from your mouth will be forever inscribed on your children's heart. You can never repeat these things enough. Don't forsake the rights you have been given by God to be a voice in your children's life. Don't allow anyone or anything to rob you of this privilege. Open your mouth fathers and be a blessing! Your words in your home carry so much weight. A book I read years ago was called "The Blessing" by Gary Chapman. It is a good book that talks about the power of spoken words. Fathers we can be silent no more! When you are silent it leaves room for other voices to communicate lies to our children. Children wrestle with identity all the time and your voice can trump those lies with the truth. Never make the assumption that your child knows how you feel about something. Speak it out of your mouth often to be sure to clear up any ambiguity. Fathers let's be silent no more!

Happy 40th Anniversary Mom and Dad Hill

My parents will be celebrating 40 years of marriage this Sunday, May 15th. It's interesting that in the bible the number 40 represents a period of testing, trial, or purification and ends with a period of restoration, revival or renewal. My parents have been through alot over forty years and it will be great to see what the Lord has in store for them as they enter a new season.
I have four words for the four decades of their marriage that describe them.
1) Perseverance-I have seen them go through financial problems, health problems, and family problems. Regardless of the problem, May 15th, 2011 marks a generational milestone that they endured all trials.
2) Dependence-There is not one time in my lifetime I have not seen them display complete dependence on God to bring them through.
3) Sacrifice-I am a byproduct of their sacrifice. I am fully aware of most of the things my parents have forgone to raise their children and invest in others through ministry.
4) Succession-To watch them raise two of their grandchildren at age 71 and 62 puts action to what they teach. They teach leave a legacy by instilling Biblically rich values into at least two generations behind you.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad Hill. Six children and seventeen grandchildren later and still in love. If you know my parents email me a message I will pass it on to them at a reception we are having in their honor this Sunday. Email: jhill1972@gmail.com

Hidden Idols: Are they really hidden?

Those things in our life that we think are mere small matters to God, actually can cause a breech in our fellowship with God and our effectiveness as a believer. I just want to pass on my devotion from this morning from His Utmost for his Highest titled: Failure to Pay Close Attention (Please click the link to the left). Often when we think of idols we get some image in our mind like this picture of this wood idol I included in this post. We need to be aware that God sees the small hidden things in our lives that we have put in our high places and need to be removed. As I was looking for an image to include in this post, the funny thing was I ran into more images of people than I did of things. Yes, the show American idol has popularized one of the biggest idols we have always had in our culture and that is talent and people. We often put people in places only God should be. When God reveals an idol in your life, no matter how small it seems to you it is a BIG DEAL to God so take proper steps to see to it's removal. I meet christians day in and day out that have the facade and speech of Christianity but no power to live an abundant life. Some really think they are doing God a favor as they succeed in life, all while they are really stroking their pet idol. God is aware of our hidden idols, let's be radical and destroy all of the idols in our life. Take some time and and ask God, "What are some things in my life I have dismissed as no big deal but are really causing a breech in our relationship?" God will answer..will you obey? It could mean losing income or status, but the gain far out ways the losses. It says in Matthew 16:25-27, "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done." So what are some of our idols?

Wedding Anniversary Countdown

So thankful that God has blessed us to make it to our 15th year of marriage. Fifteen days before our anniversary, which was Mar. 23rd, I decided to update my Facebook status with a countdown of the 15 reasons I am married to Lisa. Here they are:

#15 She cooks some mean spaghetti
#14 The way she tilts her head and says “I just love you"
#13 She accepted me as I was
#12 The grace-filled, tender tone of her voice
#11 She gives me the privilege to wipe her tears when she cries
#10 the way she walks caught my eye early
#9 The way she snaps her fingers when she is happy
#8 She has helped me reach every goal in my life
#7 She is so genuine and creative, I have never met another woman like her
#6 The way she uninhibitedly yields in worships to God
#5 She has unashamedly embraced motherhood as her career and given herself wholly to it.
#4 She has NEVER offended me without apologizing and reconciling
#3 Her sensitivity to God induces me to draw closer to her and God
#2 She puts the interest of her family above her own
#1 Our love is secure because she loves God more than she loves me

The number one reason mentioned above is what keeps us connected. God is the third chord in our braid of marriage. With him intertwined with us we know that we can overcome and beat the odds. I will never forget, before we got married I called her and she was spending time with God. She asked if I could call her back. I said, "sure" hung up the phone and JUMPED FOR JOY, because I knew I was second and God was first. When we both keep God first in our lives only then do we have the power to love each other without conditions.

If you happen to be going through a Marriage Crisis know that there is hope. God can help you overcome the toughest trials. If you would liked to be a part of a growing group of couples that focus on building Godly marriages. Go to www.eyetoeyecommunity.com also join us on Facebook