Homeschool Review: The Wars of the Jews #hsreviews #memoriapress #simplyclassical #classicalchristianeducation

I have the utmost respect for all things published by Memoria Press and appreciate that they offer quality resources to help parents provide a classical CHRISTIAN education for their children.  The Wars of the Jews is a high school curriculum in the Christian Studies program of Memoria Press and serves as an excellent introduction to Christianity as a whole.  Based upon the book The Fall of Jerusalem, written originally by Josephus, a Jew and Roman citizen in the first century A.D., and translated for modern study by William Whiston, The Wars of the Jews offers personal insight into the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent spread of Christianity. 

Although it is considered a "short course" that can be completed in only a few months of study, it is not one to be taken lightly.  The amount of history discovered and discussed is amazingly in-depth as it comes from actual eyewitness account.  Reading through the pages of The Fall of Jerusalem is like taking a peek into a series of personal journals.  You can see, hear, and feel the battles raging around you.  How cool is that?

The Wars of the Jews set consists of the following three parts:

• The Wars of the Jews Student Guide (26-pages) serves as a workbook to make sure that students understand what they read in the text.  It gives the breakdown of chapters and offers a space to fill-in-the-blank as you read and study. 
• The Wars of the Jews Teacher Guide (35-pages) is a replica of the Student Guide with the answers for all of the lessons included.  The pages are numbered exactly the same for easy reference.  Additionally, it includes a 30-question Josephus Test and Answer Key.  This comprehensive test has students fill in vocabulary words, identify imporant people, places, and things from the book, recall specific quotes and who said what, complete short answer discussion, and label and draw on a map.  There is even an opportunity for Extra Credit.
• The Wars of the Jews text (141-pages) begins in Book V, Chapter 6 of The Fall of Jerusalem.  The text is illustrated throughout with black and white pictures and contains endnotes for further clarification. It ends with Book VI, Chapter 10.  Each paragraph within a chapter is numbered for ease of translation.

All three books are softcover.  The Student Guide has a glossy finish for durability.  There are no designated lesson plans so students are able to work at their own pace through the set.  There are 10 lessons, a comprehensive review, and a final test included in this curriculum.  The lessons specify which chapter(s) are to be read in order to complete the corresponding pages.  Each lesson contains a Facts to Know section (pictured below) and 5 - 10 short answer Comprehension Questions.  Several lessons also include a short Vocabulary section.

The translated text was not a difficult read once we became accustomed to the writing style.  Since the translated text begins with Chapter V of the original text, there is a bit of a learning curve to reading it, but once you have begun you will step easily into the story and have no problem following along as the action transpires in the Roman/Jewish war.  An earlier study of this portion of history  whetted our appetite for more information, so we were enthralled from the very beginning of the text.  I think that you will find it just as interesting as we do.  The constant reminder that GOD takes care of mankind offers encouragement to us as we walk through the day-to-day that is our crazy life. 

As always, Memoria Press has given us well thought out resources that encourage a Kingdom focus.  The early history of Christianity is one that we should all be more familiar with and reading about the early struggles help us to better appreciate our freedom to worship.  I am using this set as a personal study so that I can help the middle schoolers in my ministry to better understand GOD's Word for themselves.  Knowing that GOD was right with HIS people through the darkest of times helps us to hold onto the faith that HE is with us always today.

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I was given the opportunity to review the The Wars of the Jews:  The Fall of Jerusalem from Memoria Press as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   Make sure that you visit the  Crew Review to see what other members of the Crew thought of this Christian Study resource (and others), too.  You can click on the picture below to jump right over there.  

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Homeschool Review: Pathway to Liberty Homeschool Curriculum #hsreviews #homeschool #homeschooling #homeeducation #education #liberty #biblicalworldview #foundingfathers #history #curriculum

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, then it will come as no surprise to you that history is my favorite.  I look forward to reading, studying, and talking about historical events and the importance of all things history with my family each year as part of our schoolwork and aim to make it relevant to daily life.  I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review the Pathway to Liberty Homeschool Curriculum and to choose the topic that would most benefit my Senior.   

Pathway to Liberty offers intensive study in Universal History Year 1), The Middle Ages (Year 2), US History (Year 3), and World History (Year 4).  After perusing the website and discussing together, my daughter and I chose to dive into Pathway to Liberty's History Curriculum with a study of US History.  We were in agreement that we had covered the other histories quite sufficiently throughout her high school years and thought that a discourse on American liberty would be the perfect way to end the year.  I truly believe that this is an instrumental foundation that must be studied over and over again.  I want to make sure that my daughter knows the truth about the history of our country as we are faced with the potential re-writing of historical events in the years to come.  

Written by a homeschool momma who has been-there/done-that, the entire curriculum is designed to meet students right where they are and bring them to where they should be.  As a home educator for over 20 years, Jayme McCullough found history curriculum to be lacking in truth and substance and decided to make a change that would benefit her sons.  Lucky for us, she developed Pathway to Liberty and offers to share her extensive knowledge with others.  As a result of teaching her own children, she knows what works and what doesn't work.  Early levels are more teacher-intensive than the high school level.  My daughter was able to follow along and progress at her own pace with very limited assistance needed from me.  

We began with U.S. History Year 3/Level 4.  The Year simply designates the particular history to be studied.  You do not have to study these in order, but students will receive a great benefit if you can.  The Level designates the grade level and is written accordingly.  Level 4 is used for 10th - 12th grades.  The beauty of this is that if you have multiple students in your homeschool, you can use the same year with different levels to teach collectively.  When all four of my children were in school at the same time, this was exactly the type of curriculum that I preferred.  

For review purposes, we received the following:

• U.S. History Student Guide -- 297-pages, laminated cardstock cover with a spiral comb binding.  The Student Guide contains 26 weeks of lessons.  Each week has 4 lessons and these lessons can be completed in 20 minutes to an hour.  
• U.S. History Teacher Guide - 231-pages, laminated cardstock cover with a spiral comb binding.  The Teacher Guide directly corresponds to the Student Guide but includes the correct answers and teaching helps.
• The Chain of Liberty:  Do Men Have a Right to Think for Themselves? book -- 172-pages, softcover.  This book contains 13 chapters that lay out the founding principles of the United States through a chronological timeline documenting mankind from slavery to freedom.  I have found this book to be just as interesting as my daughter has.  It is a marvelous read for us all.
• The Chain of Liberty:  Do Men Have a Right to Think for Themselves? Study Guide -- 98-pages, softcover.  The Study Guide offers corresponding questions for each of the 13 chapters in the book with correct answers found in the back of the Guide.

In addition to these resources, we used several other books and made extensive use of videos and materials online as directed within the Study Guide.  Additional books needed for Level 4 are the Bible, Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary (available online), The Light & Glory, The Bible & the Constitution:  A Primer of American Liberty, Teaching & Learning America's Christian History, Christian History of the Constitution, Boys of '76, and From Sea to Shining Sea.  Other recommended (but not required) titles are The Church in History, Stories of the Pilgrims, The Story of Liberty, Trial & Triumph:  Stories from Church History, Streams of Civilizations Volume 2:  Cultures in Conflict Since the Reformation, and Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule.  We already owned quite a few of these.  Others were available from our library. 

My daughter really enjoyed watching YouTube videos as part of most lessons.  She was excited to find links to help bring history to life within the pages of her textbook and I liked that she was being directed to research multiple sources of information.  This helps prepare her for next year's college classes.

With an immersive approach to study, Pathway to Liberty offers history written from a Biblical worldview.  Each week students are directed to write out the Scripture, Principle, and Leading Idea that they will be studying.  I absolutely LOVE that we begin with GOD's Word.  Ample opportunities are provided for writing that aid students in reasoning skills and relating what they are learning to others.  It is not enough to merely read the pages assigned.  Students must also be able to process what they've read and write about it in such a way that others can understand.  I like this.  

Each week's series of lessons is divided in the same basic way.  My daughter began by reading through the Weekly Overview and Teaching Objectives, going over the Scripture, Principle, and Leading Idea, and copying those into her notebook. She then looked up the daily lesson on the chart provided and followed along as directed.  For example, in Week 7, Lesson 1 she is learning about John Locke, Charles de Montesquieu, and William Blackstone.  She first visited the All About Philosophy website and read the article suggested (Shown below).  After that, she read through the pages assigned in Teaching & Learning America's Christian History and began to work on a provided chart in which she compared Locke, de Montesquieu, and Blackstone.  

When she had completed her comparison chart, we spent a few minutes discussing each of the men and looking at the similarities from their preaching and philosphies.  This assignment was followed by a research assignment in which my daughter was instructed to choose a preacher or philosopher and 3-5 topics to research about her choice.  She will spend other days this week learning about the childhood, calling, and preaching of William Blackstone -- and will also have the chance to see exactly how GOD used Blackstone to advance HIS kingdom.  Books and websites are included in the Student Guide to give her a starting point for her research and there is a suggested outline with worksheet for her to use to make sure that she gathers enough information to write her paper.  Truly everything she needs is right here at her fingertips which makes Pathway to Liberty user-friendly for us both.

You can find out more about Pathway to Liberty Homeschool Curriculum on the following Social Media outlets:

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There is something here for every family.

I was given the opportunity to review US History from Pathway to Liberty Homeschool Curriculum as a member of the   Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this history curriculm as well (or just click on the banner below.)

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Homeschool Review: Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation" #hsreviews #drivethruhistory #drivethruhistoryadventures #adventurelearning

If you've known me for any time at all, then you know that Drive Thru History® has long been one of our family favorites.  We started out watching the original series on television way back in the day based on the recommendation of a homeschooling friend and it still remains at the top of our list -- we happily share our DVDs and recommend Drive Thru History® to others now, too.  I always loved that the videos were so complementary to Social Studies, History, and Geography lessons and offered easy tie-ins to add a little something extra to our studies.  I truly do consider all things Drive Thru History® as some of the very best homeschool resources available.  The videos help make places and events come to life.  They are simply head and shoulders above the rest.  Because we have enjoyed watching the quirky travel epiosodes for years, I couldn't wait to get my copy of Drive Thru History® “Acts to Revelation”.     

Drive Thru History® “Acts to Revelation” is an 18-part miniseries (3 DVDs) that begins right where the last miniseries ended, but stands alone to make history come alive in a new way.  The previous miniseries, The Gospels, chronicled the life of JESUS from the historical landscape surrounding the announcements that a SAVIOR is coming to HIS birth, life, ministry, and miracles.  It was a most excellent teaching tool to learn about and celebrate all things JESUS.  “Acts to Revelation” begins with the resurrection of JESUS and takes us on a journey throughout the Mediterranean region looking at the people, places, and events that launched the Christian faith.  Over the course of more than NINE hours of mesmerizing video, we get a first-hand look at the world of the first Christians.  (For example:  I have read the account of Pentacost numerous times, but to watch it play out onscreen gave me chills.  By the same token, "standing" nearby during the stoning of Stephen made my stomach churn and seeing John in exile on Patmos offers a new appreciation for the meaning of relationship.)

Here are the logistics that I think you should know:  Housed within a hardback cover (pictured above), the 3- DVD set includes a Study Guide broken down for each of the 18 episodes.  The Study Guide contains a brief Summary of each episode, five Discussion Questions to help you grasp each episode (answers to these are found in the back of the guide), a Reading list that points to the biblical text for context of each episode, and a Side Road section that shares more detailed information about one of the places or events discussed in the given episode.  Further logistics that you will find interesting are that the runtime for each episode is between 27-30 minutes long.  This is perfect for a daily lesson and discussion.  At then end of each video, you see the following message:

This show hopes to provide some illumination to the history of the New Testament, but there is NO SUBSTITUTE for reading the SCRIPTURES yourself.  [emphasis added mine]

Y'all . . . I cannot even begin to tell you how happy that makes my heart.  THIS is what it is all about.  Watch the video, enjoy the scenery, love the journey -- but READ YOUR COPY OF GOD'S WORD.  Obviously, the target audience for the Drive Thru History® videos would be Christian families, but please, please, please feel free to share them with friends and family who may not yet know the grace and love JESUS.  While your ENTIRE family will find something to enjoy in this set, middle schoolers and older students (adults included) will reap the most educational benefit from it.  And please use it as an ADDITIONAL resource with your Bible right there, too.  

That said, let me tell you how “Acts to Revelation” -- The World of the First Christians is impacting me and my personal Bible study.  We are big "series bingers" at my house and I began by watching through the videso on a "play all" setting.  I wanted the big picture and knew that I could watch a few episodes at a time to get an overall look at the history of the New Testament.  That completed, I knew that I would NEED to go back and watch at a slower pace with my Bible open and pen ready to take notes.  From the very beginning when Dave Stotts (he's your tour guide on this journey) establishes the credibility of the primary source of the book of Acts by explaining that Luke was not only a historian, but also an eyewitness to some of the history himself, I was enthralled.

I have taken tons of notes right on the pages of my Bible and I am constantly pushing pause to underline, highlight, and write something else down that I did not know or did not put together from my own reading.  I love being able to SEE the Cenacle (did YOU know that's what the Upper Room is called?  I didn't.) as I read about the 120 followers prayerfully awaiting for their next instructions.  I needed to write notes about the birthday of Christianity—Pentecost — and wanted to add flames above the words when the followers of THE WAY began declaring the words of GOD in their own tongues. May I boldly proclaim the gospel of JESUS right where it is least expected.  May I wait CALMLY to hear from GOD just as those early Christians did.

The middle schoolers at church really enjoyed our studies of The Gospels last year during Lent and I am happy to now share with them The World of the First Christians.  The Discussion questions make small group times so easy for me to put together and they encourage the students to listen carefully as we watch the videos in class.  What I am most excited about, though, is that they are learning why the Bible matters.  Thefast-paced design of the videos holds both their interest and their attention.  They ASK to continue watching and they are LEARNING while they watch.  Drive Thru History® makes GOD's WORD personal and that old Stevie McQueen jeep helps make it real.  My kids now see the Bible in relevant terms and not just as some unappealing long ago text.  That, my friends, is a win any day of the week in my book.

My family has always enjoyed sitting down to watch an episode (or three) of the fast-paced adventures led by tour guide "extraordinaire" Dave Stotts and it has been my pleasure to review both Drive Thru History® – “The Gospels” (The Extraordinary Life of JESUS of Nazareth) and Drive Thru History® Adventures in addition to this new series.   For more information about Drive Thru History® “Acts to Revelation”, please make sure to check out the following Social Media pages:

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I was given the opportunity to review Drive Thru History® “Acts to Revelation” from Drive Thru History® as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this resource (or just click on the banner below.)

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Homeschool Review: FOR THE TEMPLE (Heirloom Audio) #hsreviews #HeirloomAudio #FortheTemple #LiveTheAdventure #BringingHentyBack #AudioAdventures

Did you know that there is a brand new G.A. Henty audio adventure from Heirloom Audio and it just may be my favorite one yet?  FOR THE TEMPLE is a fascinating listen that will have you anxiously awaiting what comes next.  There's a little bit of everything packed in this story -- travel, romance, war, peace, and JESUS.  What could be better?  Voiced by a host of family favorites like Brian Blessed, Cathy Sara, and George Blagden, the 2 1/2 hour production will fly by as you join in the adventure and learn to follow the WAY.  It makes for the perfect car ride companion -- and there's even a Study Guide to help you turn it into a more in-depth learning tool at home.

You know how I know?  I recently enjoyed the rare occasion of being in my vehicle all by myself -- weird, right?  Both of my parents had separate surgeries out-of-town, so I spent a few days riding up and down the interstate alone.  I knew from our past experiences with Heirloom audio theatre that For The Temple would keep me interested and awake in the wee hours of the morning drive, and I was absolutely not disappointed.  I had no idea what this story was about before I put it into my CD player and turned it on, so I hung onto every word from each scene as the story of a young man named John unfolded.

For The Temple began quietly enough with the introduction of John (the son of a vineyard owner who is content with growing the best grapes around and producing the finest wine possible) and Mary (the girl who is slated to be his wife) working the grapevines and preparing for harvest together.   It quickly intensified when mischeivous Mary tricks John into an "easy" boat ride on the Sea of Galilee as a storm brews.  Interestingly enough, as the storm raged on John and Mary, rain poured down on my vehicle as I drove so I felt like I was right in the middle of the Sea of Galilee with them.  As the rain beat down outside, I turned up the stereo and leaned into the storytelling of Mr. George (Henty).  Through the providence of GOD's plan, John and Mary are rescued by Josephus who then invites John to join him for military training.  This is a pivotal point in the young man's life as he realizes that indeed "the time is coming when every Jew who can bear arms will be needed in the service of his country."

John becomes quite the leader as the story continues and he tricks Roman soldiers, saves towns and cities, and fights when he must for the love of the Temple -- and home.  The dark moments of history come to life around you as 3,000 Jewish people are crucified when they attempt to flee Roman invasion, but the light of JESUS shines as you hear testimony from Nicodemus about his late-night meeting with LOVE.  It is amazing to take part in some of the very first church meetings and hear the Scripture taught from those early believers.

I firmly believe that For The Temple should be required listening (and studying) for all students today.  As I listened, I couldn't help but think of the political climate we now find ourselves in as compared to the evil of that day and time.  It reaffirmed my commitment that we stand with Israel.  In my opinion, this is an important piece of  history that MUST be remembered.  I'm sharing this CD set with my family, but not just for entertainment purposes.  We must remember.  We must learn.  We must take a stand.  Y'all, this one really is that important.  That's why it is my very favorite.

And did you know that Heirloom Audio offers a super-cool extra in the form of their Live the Adventure Club?  It's an online masterpiece that includes bonus downloads for all of their audio theatre productions and gives you the opportunity to listen right along online.  These digital components have included study guides and quizzes to go with each of their extraordinary adventures, as well as read-along scripts and resources to make your "listening" time an educational treasure.  There are kid activities for each of the stories (coloring sheets, scavenger hunts, word searches) and daily devotions and articles for parents to use on this journey.  It's a great community to be involved with and will greatly benefit your homeschool world.

The 51-page Study Guide for For The Temple is available and it will help younger students really grasp the lessons in the storyline while it helps older students more deeply explore the history of the Zealots and learn more about the new followers of The WAY.  The Study Guide aids students in understanding the literature behind the audiodrama. All of the Heirloom Audio dramas are based off of books by G.A. Henty and the Study Guide helps you find the connection between entertainment and education.

Dividing each track of the CD into three main sections, the full-color Study Guide directs students to Listen Well, Think Further, and Define Words.  Listening Well questions simply ask students what they've heard and makes sure they are hearing key points in the story.  Thinking Further questions take things a step further by asking students to describe and compare what they are learning and require that students move beyond the surface and dig in to the lesson being taught.  It offers map skill opportunities and a more in-depth study of things discussed on the CD.  For example, students are encouraged to describe the armor worn by the common Roman foot soldier and draw a sketch of a Roman soldier in armor.  To do this, they'll need to do independent research and explore history on their own.  Defining Words offers vocabulary words to be learned and studied.  There is also a book list included for older students to learn more about the destruction of Jerusalem and then, there's my favorite part, three Bible Studies that complement the production. That's what I love most about Heirloom Audio.

For more information about this drama or any of the others lovingly produced by Heirloom Audio, please visit the following Social Media sites:

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We have thoroughly enjoyed listening to and learning from each of the audio dramas that we have reviewed (Under Drake's Flag, In Freedom's Cause, With Lee in Virginia, The Dragon and the Raven, Beric the Briton, The Cat of Bubastes, In the Reign of Terror, Captain Bayley's Heir, Wulf the Saxon and St. Bartholemew's Eve) -- and FOR THE TEMPLE is no exception.  We enjoy sharing all of our audio theatre productions with our friends and family.  We've actually made Heirloom Audio an integral part of our homeschool life and we think you should, too.

I was given the opportunity to review FOR THE TEMPLE from Heirloom Audio as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this audio drama and see how they are utilizing the Study Guide in their own homes (or just click on the banner below -- it will take you right there.)

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Homeschool Review: Heirloom Audio's St. Bartholomew's Eve #hsreviews #HeirloomAudio #LiveTheAdventure #BringingHentyBack #AudioAdventures

Mr. George (G.A. Henty, himself) ends the telling of St. Bartholemew's Eve by saying that there will always be more stories and more adventures to be had and we are ever so thankful that this is the case.  We've been huge fans of Heirloom Audio for quite some time now and have enjoyed listening to all of the audio dramas they have produced thus far.  We have always found them to be delightful and educational, but I daresay that this adventure is the most exciting to date.  I will admit that I did not know very much about the French Wars of Religion and I was unprepared for the realistic battles throughout the story, but I am thankful that by listening along we are now more appreciative of our right to worship with friends in the manner in which we choose.

St. Bartholomew's Eve shares the story of the persecution of the Huguenots that led to a civil war between the Catholics and the Huguenots and the devastation of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.  The story is told to friends Ned and Sebastien by extraodinary adventurer, Mr. George Henty, on the occasion of their being caught skipping the morning worship service.  I love how Mr. George gently reminds the boys that they have a right to worship GOD in the way that HE has put it in their hearts to do so -- and that many have fought and died for that right.

Divided into two CDs with a playing time of over two hours, St. Bartholomew's Eve introduces us to cousins Philip and Francois and allows us to journey with them as they fight for religious liberty, protect themselves and others, and secure peace.

By one spirit we are all baptized into one body.  When one is persecuted, all are persecuted.

Isn't that the way we should all look at the body of CHRIST?  Philip arrives from England to serve alongside the French Huguenots even knowing that he might have to fight to the death.   He is willing to train in new techniques of defense so that he can stand beside fellow believers on the battlefield when he could very easily have stayed at home where he was safe and sound.  He realizes that there is a bigger picture, though, and more is at stake.   "This is a cause worth dying for because my SAVIOR died for me."  As we listened, I couldn't help but think about my own reluctance to "get involved" sometimes.  GOD doesn't call us to sit silently by on the sideline.  HE calls us to take up arms, rebuke the enemy, and fight -- together.  Our battle is as real today as it was then and the great deceiver prowls around angrily looking for someone to devour.

What I like most about Heirloom Audio is that they make sure to offer Christian heroes through the telling of stories from history -- and that they tell those stories truthfully even when they aren't pretty.  From the battlefield to an arranged wedding celebration, we find a shattered hope of peace in St. Bartholomew's Eve.  Unfortunately, the markings on the doors lead to destruction instead of redemption this time and Philip stands poised to protect.  The St. Bartholomew's Massacre is gruesome and horrific and is depicted as such in the audio drama.  You can feel the anxiety as the attacks begin and you can "see" the bodies strewn across the streets and beaches as Philip works to return to his family.  You know the pain of bloodstains on special medallions.  It's tough to hear, but it's necessary as it heightens our appreciation for the freedoms that we gained because over 70,000 gave their lives.

Be prepared as you listen because your emotions will be all over the place.  There is a power in the depiction that helps us to realize that many fought for the rights of the generations to come and what they did hundreds of years ago affects us today.  The stories must be told.  We must always keep vigilant against tyranny.  We live in a fallen world where there will always be people who try to keep us from honoring our SAVIOR.  Love always protects.  We have a right and duty to love GOD -- and we should do that in community with other believers.

For more information about this drama or any of the others lovingly produced by Heirloom Audio, please visit the following Social Media sites:

Heirloom Audio Facebook

Twitter

Google +

Instagram: @HeirloomAudioOfficial 
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We have thoroughly enjoyed listening to and learning from each of the audio dramas that we have reviewed (Under Drake's Flag, In Freedom's Cause, With Lee in Virginia, The Dragon and the Raven, Beric the Briton, The Cat of Bubastes, In the Reign of Terror, Captain Bayley's Heir, and Wulf the Saxon) and St. Bartholemew's Eve is no exception.  We enjoy sharing all of our audio theatre productions with our friends and family.  We've actually made Heirloom Audio an integral part of our homeschool life and we think you should, too.

I was given the opportunity to review St. Bartholemew's Eve from Heirloom Audio as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this fascinating audio drama (or just click on the banner below.)

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Homeschool Review: The Brinkman Adventures, Season 6 #hsreviews #AudioDrama #MissionaryStories #AudioMissionaryDrama #BrinkmanAdventures

I fell in love with the exciting Brinkman Adventures years ago, and I am always looking forward to the release of new stories.  For purposes of review, we received the Digital Version of Season 6: Underground Rising and we couldn't wait to jump in and get started to see where we would be traveling on mission this time.  How perfect was it that this season started us off with a visit to World War II since that is exactly our focus in history this semester?  GOD's perfect timing -- I love it!

Season 6:  Underground Rising contains six missionary stories in just over 2 hours of listening time.  This is perfect family listening for a long car ride together (headed on vacation or to visit family for the holidays?  Don't forget to take your CDs.) or can even be used during your family devotion time.  Listening to one episode each evening would make for some great discussions about how much GOD loves each and every one of us and would be a beautiful way to incorporate mission education and prayer into your family time.   Be forewarned though:  Once you start listening along, you may not want to stop.  And you are definitely going to want to have a map handy to mark all of the neat places you learn about.  In Season 6 alone, we visited the Netherlands, Wisconsin, India, Thailand, and Myanmar/Burma.


Each episode of the Brinkman Adventures is based on true accounts of real missionaries in GOD's service on the mission field.  Although some names and details must be changed in order to protect their calling and keep their familes secure, all of the stories are true.  The stories are active and draw you right into the midst of them.  As we "listen", we "see".  That said, it makes it tough to choose a "favorite" story.   Each and every episode tugs at my heartstrings -- and quite often bring me to tears as I listen.  The first two episodes of Season 6 take us underground in Nazi-occupied Holland where Jewish families need help to survive and episode four reminds us to trust GOD's plan -- even when it takes you far away from home to India -- where you know no one.  Episode three reminded me that I am offered grace because I am a follower of the KING's SON.

Hearing a roomful of children and teens pray to accept JESUS as their SAVIOUR as they begin to realize what unconditional love truly is brought me to tears.  Y'all . . . this is what it's all about.  Only JESUS can change the hearts of people and these audio dramas put us right in the midst of GOD at work.  Following GOD is not always easy, but it is always, always the right path.  I need the reminder for myself -- and I want my children to hear it often.  More than anything else, I desire for my children to give themselves fully to JESUS.  I appreciate the engaging way the Brinkman Adventures encourage us to wholeheartedly follow GOD.  Every time.  Even when we don't see how.

The last two episodes grabbed my attention immediately as they introduced us to Dave and Karen Eubanks -- a Green Beret and Special Education teacher.  My brother is a Green Beret and it was a perfect calling for his life.  Listening to Dave's call to full-time missions was intriguing and I appreciate so much how GOD prepares us for HIS ultimate plan in ways that we least expect.  It is the perfect reminder that GOD works through our lives and only HE sees the big picture.  I also appreciate that when listening along might get tough or intense, the Brinkman Adventures suggest that families listen together.  The gunfire is real, the danger is evident, but what a blessing that the focus is always on the health of the family unit.  These are mission stories that you will want to hear over and over.  They never get old and they remind us what our mission at home should be as well:

Love each other.
Unite in a work for freedom, justice, and peace.
Forgive and don't hate each other.
Pray with faith.
Act with courage.
Never surrender.

One of my favorite things about the Brinkman Adventures is that you can find the backstories of each episode on the website, follow the family blog, and meet the real-life missionary family that the adventures are based upon.  There are pictures, videos, and more detailed information about each person and location mentioned.  This is a great resource that helps us put faces to the missionary stories.  It helps us to remember that they are real people sharing JESUS in real time.

I especially enjoyed reading through the Real Stories for Season 6 and seeing the beautiful pictures of Omie's special tea cups because I have been an avid collector of all things tea party for as long as I can remember.  Some of my very favorite teacups and teapots (pictured below) belonged to my grandmother, too, and I love holding them close as I remember the stories that she used to share with me.  What a precious memory brought to mind while listening to the first two episodes.

The "extras" provided in the Real Stories section are fascinating and cover a wide variety of information that really makes a huge difference in how you listen to the audio dramas. Don't skip this section.  It is an invaluable resource for your homeschool.  There are videos, recipes, maps, and more.  It's fun to journey along with real-life people as they visit the same places the Brinkman family has taken us.

You are going to want to make sure and check out the Facebook page, too.  I think you'll enjoy the podcasts links and featured articles there that direct us all to a life of on-mission service.

And finally, jump on over and order up some adventure for yourself.  Brinkman Adventures is offering a 10% discount for my readers this month.  What a great way to kick off Fall!  

We love every episode we've listened to and are always anxiously awaiting the next.  This is a the perfect time to share it with your family -- and stock up for Christmas, too.


As always, I'd love to hear how GOD speaks to you through the Brinkman family escapades.  Please, please share with me what HE is sharing with you and yours.  Let's speak life together.

I was given the opportunity to review Season 6: Underground Rising of the 
Brinkman Adventures as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of these adventures by clicking on the graphic below.

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