Heaven Help the Home!

Recently, I went to my favorite place to get books. It is the Salvation Army thrift store in Salina, KS where you can get children's books for $.25. I like to browse through the shelves of books at this store. Yesterday, I found Heaven Help the Home! by Howard G . Hendricks. It was in the children's section so I got the book for $.25.

This book was originally copyrighted in 1973. Then it went through several printings. In 1990 the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association published the book again through special permission of the original publisher, Victor Books. I read this book in the 1970s when I was just starting my family. Since it is an older book there is no mention of computers or the Internet. Also, there is no mention of homeschooling. However, the entire book is on the importance of the home. I recommended this book for any homeschooling family.

In chapter five Hendricks tells of a great preacher of God named Richard Baxter who took a new parish. He preached with great passion for the God to bring revival for three years but no results. Finally, one day Baxter threw himself across the floor in his study and cried out to God to do something or else he would die. God seemed to say to him that revival starts in the home not the church. Baxter then went home to home and helped the individual families start family worship. Finally, the Spirit of God started to light spiritual fires all over the congregation and true revival came.

Howard Hendricks, having spend many years with Dallas Theological Seminary, states that there is a big difference in the students who came from Christian homes and those who became Christians in their young adult lives with no Christian upbringing. Those without a Christian upbringing have so many struggles. Without doing so intentionally Hendricks is a good spokesman for homeschooling. Homeschooling from a Christian perspective involves much of what Hendricks talks about in his book.

Just what does Hendricks talk about in his book? Hendricks gives much practical advice starting with Psalm 127. " Unless the LORD builds the house they labor in vain." In chapter three Hendricks talks about Joseph from the Book of Genesis. Joseph was a man of convictions who was very consistent in living out his faith. Joseph is what we want our children to be liked. He is the standard we strive for with our children. Hendricks, also, talks about discipline, finances, roles, relationships, attitudes, and sexuality all from a Biblical worldview. This book is chock-full of practical advice about your life at home with your family. This book is worth your time to read it.