It all begins with Genesis...

For the past three months, we've been teaching the PFK kids about the importance of building a strong foundation for their lives. We've been teaching about the importance of a Biblical foundation and discovering together what that means. We've learned what a biblical worldview is; looked at the big picture of life; and talked about what an eyewitness is- and learned who our witness is and what He (Jesus) has given us that gives us testimony of the Truth (his word, the Bible).

We are basing everything we are teaching this year off of Answers in Genesis' "It all begins with Genesis" curriculum.  It really is a top-notch teaching tool that takes you through Genesis Chapters 1-11 and most importantly, teaches how to study the Bible inductively.

We are learning about the 7 C's in the Bible- Creation, Corruption, Catastrofe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, and Consummation. The kids are really getting it and we already are seeing the fruit of their learning. We go slow and who knows how long it will take us to get through, but we are focusing more on what the math curriculum we use for our family homeschool calls "mastery' of a subject. I'm more concerned that these children the Lord has entrusted to us go out into the world having a full understanding of what we are teaching rather than us getting through a whole range of topics or several studies never having fully grasped one entirely. So, we go slow and that's fine.

This week we began looking at the verb 'observe' and what it means and how it applies to our study of the Bible. We learned about how observation helps us understand what is going on in a certain passage and gives us the big picture of scripture before we begin really digging into it. We also looked at some different options we have when we want to learn more about something. How usually we can look at a book, or watch a video or ask someone really knowledgeable on a subject. But what is most often the very best option is to go directly to the source and spend time with the source (whether it be a person, an animal or God himself). I could actually see the kids thinking through this process and begin to apply it for themselves as we went through other examples.

So, last night, we began the homework portion of this week's lesson. (I assign the homework and then usually they do it during their tutoring time.) So, they were drawing Creation for the board we are creating in the church. I began to go over again the days of Creation we had already learned and then began to read from the Bible about days 4-6. When we got to day 6 where God creates the animals that roam and crawl upon the earth the Holy Spirit totally took over and spole for me, asking the kids what, then, about dinosaurs?

(I had NOT at all planned to talk about dinosaurs...that is why I am sure the whole thing was Spirit lead and Spirit planned).

The kids scuffled and laughed a little under their breath as if I was crazy. Of course that didn't include dinosaurs! Was I crazy? Well, what does Genesis 1:24-25 say?

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. ²⁵ And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.   

So...(my next question), if the Bible says God made every creature of the earth (the Spanish Bible version we use specifically uses the word 'todo' which means 'all.'), does that mean God made the dinosaurs on Day 6 of creation?

NO!

He didn't? What does "todo" mean- only a little or some? or ALL?

ALL!

ok...so did God make dinosaurs on the 6th day?

YES...

OK...now we are getting somewhere...

So then, did the dinosaurs live in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve?

NOOOO! more snickering and laughing under their breath...

Really? Where then did they live?

Wayyyy before Adam and Eve....

Well, when did God create Adam and Eve? Let's read some more...

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

So, when did God create man?

On the 6th day!

Ok...and remind me when God created the animals that roam the earth?

Oh yeah...that's right, the 6th day.

So, on the 6th day God created the beasts of the earth and man?

And dinosaurs were part of those beasts God created that day?

So, did Adam and Eve live together with the dinosaurs?

Uhhhh...ummmmm? Well, what about their bones? Dinosaurs bones are millions of years old...right?

The conversation went on and I wish I could tell you everything ended in total agreement. It was a really great discussion and I am so thankful to have the opportunity to teach God's Word to these kids, because they so need Truth in their lives. Absoulte Truth. Their lives are full of half-truths mixed with legend and wives-tales mixed with blatent lies. For the days when we have them with us, we have the priviliege of speaking absolute Truth into their lives. I loved their questions and the whole time was proof of several things to me.

1. The spiritual battle is real and evident. A situation occurred last night that we've chosen to keep to ourselves right now, that reminded us of just how fierce the battle is here. The darkness we are fighting against is ingrained through multiple generations. We see the evidence in father and son, mother and child, grandfather and grandson. We are bringing Truth to an area whose very idea of what Truth is is tainted and perverted.

2. I'm (we're) not fighting this battle against the darkness alone. The Holy Spirit has my (our) back and He steps in and I (we) just fall into the background- and that is just plain AWESOME!

3. The Lord's leading and guidance in selecting this exact curriculum to teach this year was painfully clear last night, especially near the end of the discussion time. This was in no way our choice - this was the Lord's plan from the get-go.

4. God's Word is strong enough - is more than enough- is just plain ENOUGH- to win this battle. I believe it!

While discouragedb y some things that happened and that I learned last night, I am greatly encouraged by the depth of the questions and the eagerness to discuss these important issues. For once, I wasn't having to ask kids to be quiet or find something to hold their attention- the Holy Spirt was present and there wasn't any room for ancyness in those kids. He had their attention! It was just about the coolest thing!

We still have so much ground to cover, but God is so good!

Please keep praying for the Lord's work here in Costa Rica. Please pray that this be true:

 ⁸⁹ Your word, LORD, is eternal;
it stands firm in the heavens.
⁹⁰ Your faithfulness continues through all generations;
you established the earth, and it endures.
⁹¹ Your laws endure to this day,
for all things serve you.
⁹² If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
⁹³ I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have preserved my life.
⁹⁴ Save me, for I am yours;
I have sought out your precepts.
⁹⁵ The wicked are waiting to destroy me,
but I will ponder your statutes.
⁹⁶ To all perfection I see a limit,
but your commands are boundless.
Psalm 119:89-96

as well as:

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path. Psalm 119:105