PrincipledMom™

I thought I'd update on the Rudiments course I'm taking from Pilgrim Institute. It's a correspondence course, which can be even better than a seminar because you have time to really digest what's being said and formulate your thoughts to submit for feedback. Of course I'm not nearly to the point of answering questions for even lesson one yet--and there are lots of them...The first section consists of 4 lessons and comes with a binder, notes/handouts and 4 cassettes. It outlines the course and gives details like how to send in your lessons. When you complete the course (11 lessons) they send you a certificate of completion and an album to put the cassettes in.

• Lesson 1:--the American Christian vocabulary (lots of definitions!)--Why a course in Rudiments of America's Christian History and Government is needed--The importance of the Word of God in all areas of life (Along with the 12 or so definitions she gives in the lecture, there is a list of 44 words to define, among other reading and question answering)
• Lesson 2:--Providential approach to history
• Lesson 3:--the pilgrim story
• Lesson 4:--How to use the two basic volumes of America's Christian history and gov't

I'm listening to each tape twice because she gives so much information I can't get it all in one dose. I began with the list of definitions and got halfway through the 44 words from Webster's 1828 dictionary. I arranged my notebook with dividers for each of the 7 principles and other topics she will be covering.

When I was listening last night I got half of the tape done because I had to stop it so many times. She says so many great things I wanted to get them down verbatim. That was so good. Some things she said that I want to highlight follow here.

• Why America's Christian History? Because all people, not just Christians, benefit.
• Is America better than other nations? NO! Can other nations have a Christian history too? YES! "America took principles from the Word of God and reasoned from them in their lives and it brought forth a nation in its form of government; in the acknowledgement of individual liberties that has been done by no other nation." Any other nation can put their name there--France's Christian History, Kenya's Christian History--if they will simply reason from the Word of God and relate its principles to their nation.
• We must think in two spheres: internal and external. Everything works from internal to external, from cause to effect. History must be viewed in this light. We must look to men's tcharacter and how that affected their actions.
• Government begins internally. When we hear the word "government," we should think about internal, not civil, government. The founding fathers understood that distinction and we must renew our minds to that idea also. What is important is being internally governed/self-governed (by God's Word), not externally governed.
• History is God's autobiography. It tells His story through the actions of men (cause and effect).
  Webster's definition of education doesn't list anything about school or academics. It deals with the internal--instruction, formation, discipline, enlighten correct. These internal things are vital. Of course studies are important but they must be "fit for usefulness in their proper stations." In his example at the end of the definition he makes his thoughts known concerning education: religious education is paramount.
• Why has Christian ministry increased and quality of society decreased? Is it because we have forgotten something? That is a question to ponder and 4-R.

She said so many other things that I could write on all day but I want to give you some insight into the course and the kinds of things she addresses. If you want to order the course or want to ask questions, contact Pilgrim Institute (scroll to bottom of page).

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