Carl’s passion is to proclaim the authority and accuracy of the Bible and to engage the minds and hearts of believers and unbelievers in today’s culture. Carl was a founding Board Member of Answers in Genesis and served there for over 15 years before stepping out in faith to become President and Founder of Reasons for Hope.

When did Gregg Harris first come to Illinois to speak at a homeschool convention? Were you there? If you've never heard him speak, you have a chance to now -- he'll be speaking next month at the ICHE 2013 State Convention. In the comments below, tell us if you were present when Gregg Harris first came to Illinois (don't forget to leave your name and email). One of you will win a book!

My wife always wanted to take a big trip out west in a motor home.  Seven years ago her dream became a reality.  I loaded up our then seven children and all the paraphernalia that goes along with them as well as a seven-months pregnant wife and took off to the Wild West.

“Thank you, God, for this wheelchair . . .”

Have you ever received a gift that you really did not appreciate? Were you desiring something “wanted,” yet were delivered something “needed”? The gift of grace in salvation is free (Ephesians 2.8), but it is not cheap! In fact, Paul writes, “. . . work out  your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2.12). There is a cost to discipleship. One extraordinary couple who epitomizes this “giftedness” is Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada.

Joaquin Fernandez is a veteran producer/director of documentaries, television commercials, and educational and marketing videos. He has worked in the U.S., France, Italy, Russia, Israel, Portugal, Japan, the Philippines and the Caribbean. Originally from Miami, Florida Joaquin worked for several multinational ad agencies in the 90’s, and provided video solutions for higher education. He is a media consultant for The Exodus Mandate Project and president of The Lighthouse, a video production and graphic design firm. Joaquin lives in North Carolina with his wife and four children.

UPDATE: Our four winners are -- 

If I'm Diapering a Watermelon -- Carissa
Learning Styles -- mousegirls
Prodigal -- Amy A
How to Get Your Child Off the Refrigerator -- Teresa M

Today we're giving away four books, one of each of the books listed below. To win a book, tell us which book you'd like and why. In a few days we'll pick the four winners. 

Embark on a voyage through the lungs! Dr. Lainna Callentine will be your tour guide! Dissect lungs and witness live demonstrations of lung functions at the Illinois Christian Home Educators 2013 Convention.

Dr. Lainna Callentine demonstrating a dissection.

Please help us strengthen homeschooling in Illinois. Like our Illinois Christian Home Educators Facebook page and comment on our blog -- this helps get info out to new homeschooling families in Illinois.

Common Core K-12 State Standards have been adopted by the state of Illinois, along with 45 other states. All the public schools and many private schools have aligned themselves to the standards of Common Core.

Why should Common Core alarm Illinois homeschool families?

There are four main reasons:

I remember when I was growing up in the late 60’s and early 70’s; more than one evangelical preacher predicted the apocalyptic day when our Bibles would be taken from us Christians.  Believers were encouraged to memorize scriptures, goaded not by the Spirit of God, but by the intimidating threat that God’s Word would one day be unavailable.  Now, some three decades later, the plethora of Bible translations as well as Bibles on cd’s, dvd’s, downloads and the internet could easily generate a long and hearty laugh at those fearful prophecies of old.&nbsp