I once held the belief that selecting a Christian Liberal Arts College would prevent me from being a witness to the unsaved, and jeopardize my education. Several churches that I attended and friends I respected supported a Non-Christian education for two basic reasons: Academic standards could be lower at a private college and there would be little or no opportunity to win others to Christ.

I have learned through my first few weeks here at California Baptist College in the Fall of 1986 that this theory about no witnessing opportunities is absolutely untrue. First of all, there are more rules to be broken on this campus, so the men of the world who want to be radical are going to try everything they can to break them without getting caught.

That’s where I come in. These guys may be cool with the majority of the guys on my dorm wing, but when they come around me they know I stand up for my Christian beliefs. I may have a priestly nickname by the end of the year, who knows? When guys come down the hall cussing up a storm at one o’clock in the morning there needs to be some kind of mediator. Those sources and associates that had me believing everyone in a Christian College was saved must have been on L.S.D.-”A Low on Common Sense Diet.”

The second belief that concerned me the most was low academic standards. Many students are paying almost seven grand a year to attend college, why on earth would a Christian teacher fail a student? This would lower enrollment, make the school look bad to the public, and give teachers a bad name. Academic standards must be lower in a private college, right?

Wrong! Professors who teacher here at California Baptist College have degrees from Baylor University, Pepperdine, University of Southern California, and University of Illinois, to name just a few. I enjoy listening and learning from those who have had hard core “upper class” educations and include this into their Christian faith. Also, with low academic standards it would have been very difficult to receive the accreditation that this college has obtained.

Miraculous changes can take place on a Christian campus. Continuous Bible reading and teaching leads to greater knowledge. After all, Solomon in the Book of Proverbs does state: “The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” The students, professors, and faculty that I’ve met in my first few weeks here on campus have been people whose sole purpose is to serve God with all their heart.

That’s big for me, because I believe that without the positive influence of Christian friends I do not believe that I can reach my full potential in college or in my life’s goals and dreams for that matter.

Though once led astray, I now believe that the Christian Liberal Arts Education is superior to universities that are based solely on academic standards. My decision on this issue may sound very one-sided. I have to agree with you. However, my thesis is summed up most eloquently in the book of proverbs: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge.”

Online business owner Don Alexander, http://www.leading-online-business.com writer and published poet has two online missions: Sharing his writing and “Helping ALL to Succeed” in online business. Don feels that online business is the financial answer for ALL Americans today.

http://www.leading-online-business.com
“Helping ALL to Succeed”

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What a great mission, to know that you are called to be a teacher, especially in a Christian school.

Remember this, when you stand in front of your students, at that moment in time you are the most important person in their lives. Your actions, attitudes and words can have an amazing impact on their lives.

The responsibility that comes with the designation TEACHER can be a burden… or a passion! In a Christian school especially, that passion as God’s messenger can have eternal consequences.

Your students will leave your classroom and get on with the rest of life.

When they leave, they will take part of you with them.

Will that part of you…

* direct them to God?
* encourage them to excel?
* impassion them to mission?

You do get it, don’t you?

All this God-stuff puts an amazing and awesome impetus on teaching in a Christian school. Or at least it should.

We must not be content with being “as good as the public school.” We must transcend that measuring stick and create one of our own.

It is extremely critical that we grab hold of the idea that we “are more than conquerors.”

We cannot become content with apathy, for a growing apathy diminishes the ability to think critically. Once our critical thinking becomes moldy with apathy, we run the extreme risk of becoming apathetic towards God.

That’s why we have entered this profession called teaching. Our passion is to help achieve a sense of radical excellence that makes Christian school educators unique in the world of learning and leading.

It is our passion to help those in Christian schools to catch the vision of what it will take to set a standard rather than reach a secular standard that has been shown repeatedly to be infused with fatal flaws.

To create our own unique identity in the world of learning, we need to focus on some rather foundational items.

* seek radical excellence by returning to traditional values
* develop outstanding leadership that is infused with courageous vision
* create schools that are sharply focused on and committed to scripturally based mission statements

Speaking of passion, three teachers with over sixty years of combined service in several Christian schools nationwide, both as classroom teachers and administrators, have reached one inescapable conclusion.

We have begun a journey towards creating a national movement that promotes a system of excellence, possesses a unique identity and encourages mission-focused operation. This growing action MUST be ignited and fueled by teachers and administrators who develop a genuinely professional dialogue system that works.

To that end, we are encouraging Christian teachers to join us in developing a national forum of communication that will eventually enable us to create a local voice that is respected and listened to. You can read more about our efforts by checking out the site noted in my author bio and reading a document called “The PACT Report” that develops the concept of a Professional Association of Christian Teachers.

So the charge is simple.

Keep the Faith, Fight the Fight.

John Hitchcock is enthusiastically involved in his forty-fifth year in classrooms, both in New York State and California. Half his career has been in Christian Schools and the other half in Public Schools. He is also an adjunct professor in a four-year university.

Read more about his personal and corporate mission to raise the “learning level” of students to a point of Radical Excellence by returning to the use of Traditional Values. Discover practical methods for doing this at http://education-for-excellence.com

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An online christian degree is very much the same quality as the degree that you will earn from the brick and mortar college. They are both founded on the lessons contained in the Bible and are geared towards you having a great understanding of God.

Most people are looking to be enlightened more about the teachings of the Bible that is why they are seeking to have a religious degree. Others are studying to become church workers, which is their heart’s desire. Whatever the reason is, because of the complicated lifestyle we have now, online christian courses or degrees are the most recommended way to start the soonest with ones religious studies.

Online christian colleges and universities have answered the call for providing quality christian education to the learners that have no time to attend class at the regular college or university setting. Just like the rest of the other online degrees available, they provide you the convenience of flexibility with regards to the schedule or time for the classes.

Of course, you can learn more if you are relaxed. That is why with the online christian colleges and universities, you get to dictate the time or place for you to learn your lessons. As long as you have access to the internet, you can never go wrong with the area where you choose to study.

There are no major disruptions in your life when you get your degree online. You will have time for your family as well as be able to keep your job. There will be no rigid schedules or deadlines hanging over your head that might cause you countless sleepless nights. Best thing is that you will have equal opportunities after graduation with those who earned the degree the traditional way.

Be one of the proud graduates of online colleges and universities. Entertain your thoughts about the prospects of getting your online religious degree and be well informed about how advantageous it is to you.

Find out all you can about online colleges and universities now. It is so easy to do this, you just need to go online and you are well on your way to earning a degree that will make the people you love so proud of you.

Join the thousands of successful individuals helped this year alone. Find out how here: online christian colleges.
Act Now! Avail of our FREE search tool here, christian colleges list for a limited period only.
The Author graduated with a Masters degree in Education. She’s helped thousands to attain the life they truly want with the right education and job certification.

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Christian colleges and universities offer traditional academic programs, some with almost all degree levels (associate, bachelor, master’s and doctoral). They also offer something more – many of them also have courses and degree programs that are faith driven or ministry focused. While some Christian universities put more emphasis on this than others, due to their faith-based foundation, they encourage students to earn their degree based on the basic moral principles found in Christianity.

For those who are not Christian, Christian colleges and universities should not deter them simply based on faith. Most students find that while the faith and on-campus activities like ministry or even church services are not requirements. Students find that they can attend a Christian college or university as they would a state college without the need to feel any pressure to convert or participate in Christian activities. In fact, many Christian colleges and universities encourage students of other faiths and backgrounds to enroll in their classes, even if they are basic liberal arts or business degree programs.

Christian students will also find that there are plenty of activities for them to participate in, including ministry groups that travel around the country and the world, evangelical groups, and involvement in the college church through the choir or other musical group. Students who wish to actively participate in the school’s faith-based activities will also find they will be able to take their degree further, entering the working world with more to offer based on the basic values of the Christian faith.

Christian colleges and universities offer the most for both students of the Christian faith and those who aren’t practicing Christians. These schools offer an education with substance, hoping students will walk away with more than just a degree upon graduation.

C.J. Harrison is an educational writer and editor for a number of top educational directories, including the Christian Colleges and Universities directory where students can compare accredited Christian universities offering online degrees.

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Earning a Degree from a Christian University

Online Christian Colleges allow students the ability to earn their degree from the comfort of their home, office, or at their favorite local hangout, as long as they have a working computer with a decent internet connection. The student is also expected to know how to use an online chat or bulletin board feature, send and receive e-mail, and have basic internet knowledge.

Christian Universities may also offer accelerated programs. Many schools know how busy working adults are, and that committing to four years of online learning can be a difficult and arduous task for most. Now, many colleges offer associates degrees in less than 2 years, and bachelor degrees in less than 4 years. And since Online Christian Colleges have the same level of accreditation as those found in a traditional campus degree program, graduates have the same benefits as those who enrolled in an on-campus program.

Types of Degrees Offered

Christian Universities offer degrees in a variety of fields and at all degree levels. While some schools focus primarily on faith-based degrees such as Christian Counseling, Ministry, Theology, and Biblical Studies, most universities also offer degrees in education, business, the liberal arts, and more.

Online Christian Colleges are certainly worth considering, simply based on the spiritual value it presents to the student, not to mention the convenience, flexibility, and timeframe of certain degree programs.

C.J. Harrison is an educational writer and editor for a number of top educational directories, including the Online Christian Colleges directory where students can compare accredited Christian Colleges offering online degrees.

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How can mathematics possibly be Christian or unchristian, redeemed or unredeemed? This is a great place to start the discussion of Christian mathematics. In more formal terms, the question could be phrased, “Is mathematics neutral?” Most people have assumed mathematics is neutral for so long that the question is usually phrased as a wavering statement such as “Mathematics is neutral, right?”

Neutrality implies that the knowledge and structure of mathematics is not influenced by religious belief, or that it should not be. Another way to state neutrality is to say that mathematics would be the same whether God existed or not. The claim that mathematics would be the same with or without the existence of God is an antichristian statement, because the Scriptures declare that God created and holds all things, which includes mathematics, together. …God, who created all things by Jesus Christ Ephesians 3:9 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1:17

Neutrality also denies that God can reveal truth about mathematics, where the Scriptures never represent the world as operating by laws independent of the Creator. Also, since there is one Creator, we look for and can expect to find unity and harmony between spiritual life, creation, history, philosophy, and mathematical knowledge. The Scriptures even inform us about what kind of mathematics is legitimate, the kind with the source of truth as revelation, verses any secularized version of revelation.

Since mathematics in general and Christian mathematics in particular is still under development, it is important for Christians to include mathematics in their view of the Christian dominion mandate. Just as reading, writing, and arithmetic permeate and influence a person’s life and every field of endeavor, so the impact of distinctly Christian mathematical thought has the potential to transform the student into the image of Christ for a greater influence in the Christian family, church, and society. Since most Christians desire a Biblical worldview in every other area of life, why not include mathematics?

A student fully trained in Christian mathematics has their inward thoughts and attitudes consistent with God’s Word. The student will boldly express his or her faith in their work, words, and writings; even the elusive areas where mathematics comes to bear, as in engineering and science. In other words, the student won’t be a secret believer when doing mathematics (Matthew 12:34b-37). Some say that the student who ignores God as he does mathematical tasks is not neutral, but even rebellious and ungrateful toward the Giver of all his knowledge (Proverbs 3:6;Hosea 4:6). It doesn’t take long in the Scriptures to see that God doesn’t promote neutrality in any subject (Revelations 3:15-16; Matthew 12:30; 1 Kings 18:21; Joshua 24:15).

The Christian math student is encouraged to discover and use God’s logic, attributes, power, nature, and glory (Romans 1:20 ; Psalm 111:10), while keeping logic and science subservient to revelation (Romans 5:18-19; Romans 7:17-21; Romans 8:20). Mathematics demonstrates the truth that every idea has an opposite (e.g., addition /subtraction, right/wrong) which has parallel ideas in theology (e.g., narrow way /broad way, righteousness /wickedness), which can declare the glory and attributes of God (Romans 1:20 ). Absolute truth and many other important philosophical concepts are further seen when one recognizes that mathematics reveals God’s nature through His creation. Disconnected secular math is often the cause for the dislike and even fear of math.

Christian mathematics seeks to keep mathematics connected to creation and daily reality while encouraging the student in their knowledge of God, experience in being led by His spirit (Romans 8:14 ), and discerning the times through illustrations of philosophy and truth in mathematics. This also inspires the student and properly motivates mathematical study, improve diligence, and leads to the lifelong acknowledgement of God in the details.

By the deliberate omission of creation and philosophical contexts, most mathematics teaching today denies the reality of the Creator God, where the wonder of creation and cultural implications reveal the fact that real life mathematics is not boring but exciting. One of the Christian math programs available implements the Biblical view of mathematics through special readings, real life projects, discussions, sharing of specific daily uses of mathematics, and helping students see the corresponding theological, personal, and cultural implications of Christian thinking.

Dr. James Bartlett, PhD, PE ret., is President of Bartlett University which hosts the Family University Network with its Christian business incubator. Dr. Bartlett and his wife Lynn homeschool four boys in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota. Dr. Bartlett can be contacted by calling 701-263-4574 or visiting http://bartlettuniversity.com.

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Online Christian education programs consist of non-degree courses, bachelor degrees, master degrees and PhD degrees. Certificate programs in Christian education are also available. Some free non-degree courses in Christian education are:

• Christian Personality Development
• Bible Study
• Postgraduate Diploma in Christian Apologetics
• Master of Bible Subjects
• Master of Divinity
• Master of Theology
• Master of Religious Education
• Doctor of Ministry
• Doctor of Philosophy
• Doctor of Systematic Theology
• Doctor of Letters

Is Online Christian Education Easy?
Some people think that the acquisition of an online degree in the field of Christian education is quite easy and they can earn the degree very easily. But in reality, it is not that easy. As a matter of fact, earning an online Christian education degree is way tougher than earning a degree through traditional classroom setup.

This is because of the simple reason that most of the individuals are accustomed with the traditional classroom set up where faculty members regularly update you regarding projects and studies. You will not get all these things in online education. If you are not self-disciplined, there is a good chance that you will not be able to earn your online degree.

Interaction with Faculty Members
Interaction with faculty members is quite minimal in online Christian education programs. Therefore, you need to understand all the concepts on your own. In order to understand concepts, you are going to rely quite heavily on the study material that is being offered by your online university. If the study material is not good in terms of quality, you are going to face plenty of problems in understanding concepts. Teacher to student ratio is normally quite high in an online environment, so understanding complicated concepts of Christian education is not that easy.

Accreditation
Before enrolling in any Christian education program, make sure that you check the accreditation of the online college first. If the online institution you have opted for is not accredited, not only are you going to face issues in earning your degree, but more importantly employers are not going to hire you as they normally prefer students that have earned a degree from an accredited university.

When you enroll in an accredited university, you do not have to worry about the quality of study material because accredited universities prepare study material with the help of experts. Another significant thing about accredited universities is that the faculty members of these universities are highly qualified and experienced. Therefore, if you want to earn an online degree in Christian education, make sure you enroll in an accredited university.

Tammy Greene is an educationist with decades of teaching and learning experience. Currently, Tammy is working for OnlineEduBlog acting as their advisory member and helping students with online degrees and distance learning programs and finding accredited online colleges and universities

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What does that mean for homeschoolers? Some Christian homeschoolers accept psychology wholesale, some reject it entirely, and some wrestle with which aspects to accept and which to reject. This article suggests that whatever you believe about psychology, the time to address academic psychology is BEFORE your student leaves home for college.

If your student goes to college, there is an excellent chance he/she will take an introductory (at least) psychology course. Most medical schools, liberal arts colleges, seminaries, and teacher’s colleges require students to have some exposure to psychology. Psychology is one of the most popular undergraduate majors at public and Christian colleges and universities. College enrollment in psychology courses outpaces every other scientific discipline. Christian students are often ill prepared to confront the criticisms of Christianity and the anti-Christian worldview presented by modern psychology. The material taught in introductory psychology courses WILL challenge their worldview. University level instruction in modern psychology is generally atheistic and humanistic. Psychology departments often are home to the most anti-Christian intellectuals on college campuses. As a group, psychology professors have high levels of agnosticism, skepticism, and atheism. The psychology professor is unlikely to be sympathetic to your child’s Christian worldview and may attack their faith as unscientific, irrational, prudish, exploitive, controlling, inhibitive, oppressive, and naïve.

If psychology is fraught with such danger, shouldn’t Christian homeschoolers reject it completely? Maybe. But isn’t the humble investigation of all of God’s creation part of what it means to love God with one’s mind? Do Christians, and by extension Christian homeschoolers, have a duty to explore all of God’s creation? Does that duty to explore extend to His grandest creation; Mankind? Does that duty extend to Mankind’s mind? Though the conflicts between modern psychology and a Christian worldview are many and perilous, it may be a mistake for Christians to completely reject the study of psychology.

The bottom line is this. Beginning with Darwin’s Origin of Species, all sciences, including psychology, underwent a transformation. Scientific data were interpreted in ways to exclude supernatural beliefs. Darwinian evolution imposed itself on the Christian understanding of life (biology) and then tried to exclude anything Christian. Darwinian evolution imposed itself on the Christian understanding of Man (psychology) and then tried to exclude anything Christian.

The study of the soul, the mind, the brain, and behavior (psychology) are right and proper for Christian homeschoolers. The goal of Christian education, in biology, physics, theology, chemistry, and in psychology, is to understand God’s creation and, in the words of Johannes Kepler, to “think God’s thoughts after Him.” Christians have a duty to assert the Christian worldview in academia and Christian homeschoolers have an opportunity to lead that effort. The involvement of homeschoolers in the study of psychology is an integral part of that effort.

Now browse your favorite homeschool catalogue. Count the number of biology, physics, history, and chemistry texts (and every other academic discipline) written from a Christian perspective. Lots right? Now count the number of psychology texts. Zero right? This article suggests that the absence of material for Christian homeschoolers to study psychology is a function of those critics referenced in the opening paragraph.

Those who condemn psychology cast their nets too wide. Those on the web and in Christendom who criticize psychology are generally critical of “counseling” psychology. The criticisms may be correct, but psychology is much more than counseling. It is not the purpose of this article to evaluate the criticisms of counseling psychology. Many critics seem to be thoughtful God-fearing Christians. But painting the entire discipline with the same brush used to paint counseling psychology causes many Christians to shy-away from the whole field. The study of the mind, memory, emotions, learning, development, sensation, neurons, and all the other topics that comprise psychology, is right, proper, and important for Christian homeschoolers.

Want to use this article in your website? You have my permission, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Tim Rice, D. Min. is the author of Homeschool Psych: Preparing Christian Homeschool Students for Psych 101 available at http://www.homeschoolpsych.com

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