FUN Preview

Welcome to the the Family University Network preview. This page is intended to provide a glimpse of where Christian learners autonomously assembly the resources, experiences, knowledgeable people, and peers to accomplish their desired learning objectives. The possibilities are unlimited and range from single topics to complete professional curriculum, research programs, political projects, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurships.

Each seminar, course, curriculum, and experience is briefly introduced with the title, description, outcomes, prerequisites, teacher qualifications, location, cost, time commitment, schedule, contact email, website, and contact phone number. Member learners contact the FUN advisor for general questions and the respective content teachers for further detail. Member teachers email learning opportunity details to the FUN advisor for review and posting. The FUN recruits both peer learners and teachers, therefore, members are asked to make their interests known to the FUN advisor.

The entire family can participate in the FUN as service learning, which increases knowledge, wisdom, and understanding using the family and church knowledge base to build strong multi-generational family dynasties. In the FUN, there is no discrimination against the young (1 Timothy 4:12) or knowledgeable people (Philippians 3:4-8), which opens up a wealth of learning opportunities. Learning portfolios are presented as a good medium for documenting the progress of each learner.

This preview page introduces or lists the FUN seminars, courses, curriculum, and experiences available to date. We are continuously adding courses, curriculum, experiences, and peers. Check back or sign up for the free newsletter to keep abreast.

Who would have thought that the Bible has so much to say about gun control. This modern issue is explored in theory and the news during this course. The textbook is titled: The Bible and Gun Control by Patrick and John Henry.

Power for the Jurors (FIJA)

True or False. When you sit on a jury, you have the right to vote your conscience? True, but is is extremely unlikely the judge will tell you this, because the law doesn't require it. Instead, expect the judge to tell you that you may consider "only the facts" of the case and you are not to let your conscience, your opinion of the law, or the defendant's motives affect your decision. As a result, many people don't get fair trials and the jurors end up apologizing to the person they've convicted.-- or to the community for acquitting when the evidence clearly establishes guilt.

Advancing the Kingdom (DWS)

This is a course the Biblical view of the Kingdom of God, Theology, History, Biology, Philosophy, Authority, Civil Law, Education, Government, Mathematics, Geography, Sociology, Language Skills & Literature, Psychology, Economics, and the Arts. More details coming soon.

The Reformation period of Christian history produced some of the greatest theologians and doctrinal studies the world has yet seen. One of the most pressing concerns of the Reformers was that the articles of the "Protestant Faith " should be passed on to the children of believers and new converts. Using a commentary on the Westminster Shorter Catechism as the main text, students will learn the classical outline of systematics in theology. A few of the main headings are: the Doctrine of God, the Doctrine of the Person and Work of Christ, and the Doctrine of the Application of the Work of Redemption.

Throughout the course of church history, the evidential approach to apologetics has undermined God’s Word by elevating the authority of external evidence. This course shows the Christian apologist how to put the unbeliever on trial, rather than God and His Word by utilizing the pre-suppositional and transcendental approach. Basic Bible study methods are examined as the foundation for effective apologetics. Students will learn to sort out doctrinal truth from error, giving them the ammunition to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ".

How is God revealed in mathematics? Is math a neutral subject and therefore to be taught and learned the same by Christians and non-Christians? How can we acknowledge God as we learn and use mathematics? Is mathematics still evolving? This is a course that can be taken by high school students, college students, or others that will open eyes to see mathematics as the language which God uses to communicate the details of creation. Students will learn to do math in a manner which transforms one's secular view of mathematics, and related technical subjects, to an view that continually giving glory to God in the details of math. More...

The text for this course is Cultural Literary: What Every American Should Know by E. D. Hirsch, Jr., Vintage Publishers, 1988.

Provides presuppositional and historical knowledge for understanding the modern culture and implementing the Biblical worldview in politics, economics, education, religion, and social issues. Students publish a FUJ paper demonstrating the impact of Biblical thinking in their field of interest. Mr. Smithwick wrote the online book and is President of Nehemiah Institute. James Bartlett developed "Progeny! The Worldview Board Game" and is implementing Biblical perspectives in higher education. An online course. $64. 32 hours. Start and end anytime. James@bartlettuniversity.com, bartlettuniversity.com/courses, 800-477-8626.

POLITICAL SCIENCE

Political Science 101: God and Government

Political Science 102: God and Government

Political Science 103: God and Government

These lectures are the basis for understanding Politics from the standpoint of the

Scriptures. An in-depth discussion semester through the use of probing questions.

Each Semester: 6 weeks - 6 conference call lessons - Total hours: Approx 6 hrs

Requirements: Reading Assignments from the Book Series God and Government by Gary DeMar.
One written final essay exam. Class participation and discussion.

Course Fee/Session:$150.

THE COVENANT: The Practical use of God’s Law in society.

This resource is vital for those desiring to understand the nature of the Covenant and the Law of God and how they are used in everyday circumstances. This single video contains a series of 3 individual lectures (approx. 1 hr each), originally prepared for a group of Reformed Russian Pastors. A great primer on the Law and the Covenant.

SERIES INCLUDES: 1 Video, study Guide, resource and further study list, a 4 week email correspondence allotment, final exam, completion document. $50.

THE CENTRALITY OF THE FAMILY

Every family is responsible and accountable to God. In a series of 5 lectures, Pastor Paul Michael Raymond outlines the structure of the Covenant and its relationship to the family unit. This series thoroughly engages the student in a doctrinal and practical understanding of God’s requirements of the Christian Covenant Family. In lecture 5, Pastor Paul points out the central nature of the family, its authority and its purpose. These lectures, and extensive study guide, are especially pertinent to every parent of the Christian home.

SERIES INCLUDES: 5 Audio taped lectures, 6 page study guide with questions, Appendix and resource study list.$50.

The Doctrine of Totalism

These lectures accompany an extensive study and resource guide. The comprehensive claim of the Almighty is the over-riding and underlying doctrine of the entire Word of God. Sovereignty is the issue of the Scriptures. Lordship must always be placed upon the Lord Christ.

SERIES INCLUDES: 2 lectures, study guide and resource list. Available on CD or Audiocassette. $50.

The booklet by the same title written by Darrel Smith will serve as a springboard into this interesting topic. Did you know that indian reservations were only intended to function for 25 years? What did the treaties actually say, and who kept their word? Why do 70 percent of American indians leave the reservation? Is the Great Spirit the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Are the indian reservations really soveriegn? These topics and many more are studied in this course which prepares students for serious dialog and influence in American's Indian Policies.

Categorical and propositional logic are primarily systems of representation and analysis; in other words, they turn language into symbols that can be analyzed according to certain set forms. While this kind of activity is an inescapable part of the study of logic, sometimes the jump from speech to symbol is made too quickly, and forces language into symbols that imperfectly reflect the actual meaning. This course presents a system for dealing with logic in language that tries, as much as possible, to leave the language as it appears naturally and still provide the student with a helpful and consistent analysis of the argumentation. This course sets forth a positive biblical perspective on reasoning, as contrasted with autonomous and pagan perspectives that turn human reason into an idol. We must take this discipline captive to Christ.

Studying medicine is a formidable and difficult undertaking, but a noble one. Freeing children and parents from medical ignorance and giving famlies the medical tools needed to become independent medical scholars will be a blessing to your family and future generations. Medical education is not for the personal advancement of a few elite, but for service unto God. This course liberates people from enslavement to medical assembly lines and enables them to treat common conditions using natural treatments where possible and having the equipment to diagnose and treat many medical issues. By taking medicine captive to the obedience of Christ, families can also save thousands of dollars in medical expenses. Taught using the trivium approach by Pete and Maribel Hernandez, medical researchers and homeschool parents to seven children.

A colloquium level course offering an overview of western art music history and appreciation from ancient times to the present. Covers the six main musical periods: Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern. Students will become familiar with many musical styles and common musical forms such as the symphony and the concerto. They will be introduced to over fifty influential composers and the cultures in which their music was written and performed. The class periods are designed to include large amounts of listening to and analyzing classical repertoire, additional instruction on topics relating to the weekly lesson, and a high level of student interaction.

Building on the foundation of the Bible survey courses preceding, this class concentrates on the fulfillment of the promises and shadows that are found in the New Testament as it reveals the ord Jesus Christ. With Dr. J. Gresham Machen's "The New Testament: An Introduction to its Literature and History" as the text, the student learns the glorious conclusion to the outworking of God's covenant plan to redeem fallen mankind. From the birth of the Christ, His life, His death, His resurection and Ascension to His present reign at the right hand of the Father and finally, to the defeat of all Christ's enemies at the Resurrection, this course endeavors to encourage the student in the "Faith, once delivered to the saints."

Crucial to understanding the many details of the Bible is having the right framework to help those details make sense. This Old Testament survey course uses " A House for My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament" by Dr. Peter Leithart to assist the student in gaining an appreciation and love for the "sweep and beauty" of the Old Testament Scriptures. A further benefit in this course is the emphasis on the continuity of God's revelation to man in both testaments.

The course materials convey Biblically based advice on modern dating, courtship, and betrothal with practices to maintain emotional and physical purity, modern examples, and personal discussions. Students write FUJ papers to their children (present or future) on obeying God and the marriage implications. Israel and Brook Wayne authored the course materials, speak at home school conferences on this topic, were betrothed, and promote Biblical betrothal via biblicalbetrothal.com. James and Lynn Bartlett led Christian ministries for college singles and married couples for over seven years, developed and advised college campus Christian ministries, and see godly marriage as foundational for Christian education and maturity in the Body of Christ. An online course. $59. 16 hours. Start and end anytime. James@bartlettuniversity.com, bartlettuniversity.com/courses, 800-477-8626.

Psychology is essentially the study of the human soul. Secular, naturalistic, scientific psychology attempts to understand and treat the problems of the soul based on the assumption that the soul is an evolved electro-mechanical-chemical machine. This is the reason modern psychology is so ineffective in its treatments. Biblical knowledge about human behavior has been replaced, and Christians have been seriously outmaneuvered in this field of study. The result is a tangle mess of conflicting theories, where even Christian psychologist and teachers are agreeing with the enemy, and proscribing drugs, surgery, tips, and techniques based on an evolutionary philosophy. Biblical psychology considers the true sinful nature of man, the presence of body, soul, and spirit, and the demonic world. The Biblical psychologist or student of psychology looks to the Scriptures to understand human nature. Memorizing Proverbs and the Biblical cures for human soul vexations is where this course of study begins.

“Developing a Christian psychology. As part of the Christian’s response to God’s mind in creation, he or she is called to be re-creative. Christian psychologists have more to do than parasitically sift the writings of their secular colleagues. The Christian faith has its own agenda that may or may not resemble the agenda of any secular psychology. Within the kingdom of God , the Christian psychological community is set free to chart new territory in psychology. By becoming immersed in Scripture and the Christian tradition, Christian psychologists may be enabled to discover new facts and theories, devising new lines of research to more accurately understand human nature the way it really is, the way God sees it. Christian psychologists are free to take more seriously the reality of human choice and personal responsibility; agape love, hope, joy, humility, and other distinctively Christian virtues; sin and its development, guilt, and hypocrisy; the demonic; biblically-influenced definitions of abnormality and maturity; spiritual formation according to grace; the indwelling and power of the Holy Spirit; the development of saving faith; the impact of union with Christ on one’s self-understanding, self-efficacy, and locus of control; and theocentric motivation; to name a few. Doing so would likely lead to a body of research and theory that is qualitatively distinct from the production of modern psychology. Christians in psychology must do more than simply contribute to the field of psychology as it is. They have an obligation to God and his people to work towards a psychology that is thoroughly consistent with a Christian framework, regardless of its acceptability by secularists. Because of its difficulty, this part of the task has been little realized thus far; however, some promising work has been done in various quarters (e.g., Adams, 1979; Anderson, 1990; Benner, 1988; Crabb, 1988; Evans, 1989; Narramore,1984; Oden, 1990; Powlison, 1988; Roberts, 1990,1993; and others).

Eric L. Johnson, “Christ, The Lord of Psychology,” Journal of Psychology and Theology 25, no. 1 (1997): 21-22.

A review of Peter Roise's "The Power of Persuasion" with an emphasis on practical application. The three exercises for each chapter involve theory, imitation, and practice. This class starts with the classical definition of rhetoric and progresses to a discussion of how rhetorical theory applies in our own day and age.

The Biblical convictions which led millions of families to home educate their children, also apply to "higher education." When Christian families first hear about home schooling, they often wonder whether they possess the needed ability to home educate. Similarly today, Christian home school families wonder about their ability when they first hear that they can home school through college, significantly beyond even Christian distance education. Home college conveys the same family, learning, faith, and economic advantages as elementary home schooling. This course begins by helping people understand the college stumbling blocks along with the appropriate place for Christian distance learning and short term apprenticeship and entrepreneurship experiences. Further, the course discusses: the connection between college and the scattering of the family, the unlawfulness of public higher education, the rate at which born-again Christians renounce their faith while at college, the worldview of Christians in Christian colleges, the dumbing down of college students for the pliable workforce agenda, comparing Christian distance education dependence with family university development, the Christian philosophy of education, the fallacy and detriments of degrees and credentials, the agendas behind university research, the economic value of a degree, and the need for the family and church to take dominion of higher education in a decentralized manner. The teacher, James Bartlett, developed and served many Christian ministries while teaching courses at a secular university for 16 years. This is an online course for distant participants and a Bartlett house course for those able to come. $59, pre registration required one month before the start of the semester. Offered each semester. Minimum course participants is 10. 10 hours of contact time at 1 hour per week for ten weeks. Starts at the beginning of each semester. Time to be announced. James@bartlettuniversity.com, bartlettuniversity.com/courses, 800-477-8626.

Christian manufacturing engineers use science, mathematics, technology, engineering, and management knowledge to develop products, processes, and systems to build family businesses (1 Corinthians 7:21). Learners make products as the natural place to begin the study of all types of engineering. The body of knowledge is accomplished through study, apprenticeships, and an entrepreneurship. All aspects of this curriculum are integrated with Biblical presuppositional analysis of the histories and philosophies which motivate science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. Students write FUJ articles to disseminate their accomplishments and develop their own manufacturing enterprise. Most of the body of knowledge can be accomplished from the learner's home. Weekly personal and or web meetings. Apprenticeships can be near the learner home location. $499 per semester. More...

There are several proven strategies which Christians understand and are using to change modern politics and society using the "spiritual-political army" consisting of home schooled young adults, with their thousands of committed, responsible, informed, and courageous homeschool parents. This course with experience involves first learning the Biblical worldview of law, government, and social action followed by implementing this knowledge through prayer, distributing literature, sharing smiles, waving signs, writing letters, managing campaign details, drafting bills, lobbying legislators and more. Being doers of God's word in this arena is an exciting outworking of one's Christian faith, in effect seeing how our faith applies to all of life. Besides benefiting the student, this experience leads to the election of godly Christian statesmen at the state and local levels while seeing more of His Kingdom come (Matthew 6:10). One of the effective political strategies aims to get godly Christian statesmen elected to a majority of seats in state legislatures by 2020 AD. This movement was started in California and South Dakota with one forming in Nebraska. It calls for each state to have a home-schooled young-adult political-spiritual army led by local "elder statesmen," who have years of political experience. A "Pastors Council" serves this army towards promoting moral change. Students choosing this course will be a part of this army. Additionally, students will rub shoulders with another political army focused on the immediate state home school association goals of monitoring bills, introducing legislation, phone communications, writing campaigns, lobbying, and more. Lastly, students will also be encouraged to initiate another godly political change of their own choice by drafting a bill and taking it to a state legislator for consideration and publishing it in some manner. There appears to be many homeschooled young adults that could become more influential and effective with just a little more scholarly and political engagement. This course should be fun and exciting enough to get their interests and talents engaged, while earning college credit and experience to motivate lifelong political engagement and godly influence.

TEACHERS

Pastor Paul Michael Raymond (Executive Director, Institute for Theonomic Reformation)

Pastor Paul Michael Raymond is the Executive Director of the Institute for Theonomic Reformation http://www.hisglory.us and the Founder and Executive Administrator of the Reformed Bible Church Home Educators Academy in Central Virginia at Appomattox. Since 1987 Pastor Raymond has been involved in Biblical Education. In 1991 he was ordained into the ministry under the oversight of the Christian Reformed Church and in late 1992 founded the Reformed Bible Church. By 1995 he began a church based home educators academy in Suffolk County, New York and maintained the work there until his move to Virginia in 1998, with is wife and three children. Once in Virginia he continued his work as pastor of the Reformed Bible Church in Central Virginia, overseeing pastor of the New York sister church, and Administrator of the RBC Home Educators Academy.

In 2002 pastor Raymond began The Institute for Theonomic Reformation, a non-profit Theologically based Christian empowerment resource and learning center. Currently pastor Paul serves as the senior pastor of the RBC in Virginia and the overseeing pastor of the RBC in New York. In addition to his full time duties as pastor, he teaches Theology, History and Political Science at the Academy, is a conference speaker,has authored several monographs and articles on various Biblical World View topics and is both honored and humbled to be a part of The Bartlett University World View training experience.

You can listen to pastor Paul Michael Raymond on www.sermonaudio.com and read his work at www.hisglory.us and www.hisglory.com. The ITR Academic Page has the latest schedule for the listed coures at: http://www.hisglory.us/Virtual_Learning_course.htmhttp://www.hisglory.us/Virtual_Learning_course.htm

Pete and Maribel Hernandez (Co-founders, Alternative Phyto-Med Researchers)

Alternative Phyto-Med Researchers is committed to the formation of a medical system that bring glory to God. Our work involves demolishing secular claims to medical informatics, building a medical system along Biblical lines, and practicing medicine that is from a Biblical perspective. Our medical research direction has been family focused with specific work in Adenocarcinoma of the Prostrate, breech birth obstetrics, upper respiratory infection, veneous thrombosis, torticollis of the neck muscles, acromion fracture, homeopathy, formulation of phyto-pharmaceuticals, repertorization of phyto-phamaceuticals for oncology, clinical applications of minerals & botanicals, and incurable diseases. Our essays, thesis, and research papers include: A Medical Education: Separation to God for His Service; At Least Five Logical Fallacies with Cancer Staging; Axiological Ethics; Biblical Foundation for the Study of Medicine; Cancer: Trivium Applied; Characteristics of the Pulse; Christian Physician: Know What You Believe; Classes of Fever; Fever: Trivium Applied; Considerations for a Breech Parturient; Track Your Own Medical History; Dietary Restrictions for Gallbladder Removal; Divisions in Medicine; Emergency Medical Care Supplies for the Home & Specialized Fields (Checklist); Symptomatology of the Endocrine System (form); Exercises in Medical Copywork (form); Galactosemia; Grammar of the Fundus; Head Lines (chart), Prescription Recipies for Medicinal Purposes (form), Intellectual Medical Ammunition; Learn Internal Medicine through the Trivium; Logic, the Bible and Medical Language; Medical Axiom Defined; Medical Fallacy of Denying the Antecedent (form), Medical History Taking (form); Medical Marksmanship; Medical Questionaire (form); Medicine Clerkship Objectives for our Children (Checklist); Medical Discovery Process (outline); Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (outline); Prognosis (form); Hierarchical Structure of Medical Informatics; Medical Life Skills for Homeschool Families; Optometry Looks the Other Way; Selected List of Reference Works in Medicine; Medical Student Planner (Checklist); Table of "Cellular Phases" (chart); The Rise of the American Medical Establishment and Fall of American Health; Trivium Applied: Phyto-Pharmaceuticals; Understanding Types of Cough; Why Study Internal Medicine from a Biblical Perspective.

Pete and Maribel Hernandez are homeschool parents to their seven children, ranging in age from 24 months to 20 years old. They reside in Amarillo, TX.

Dan Smithwick (President, Nehemiah Institute)

Dan received a B.S. degree in mathematics/education in 1972 from North Dakota State University. He subsequently entered into business management with AT&T for 20 years and then with several small business firms in upper management positions. In addition to his business career, Dan has been active in Christian education work for over 20 years. He served as board member of several Christian schools and taught in a private school one year. Dan also worked for Dr. Pat Robertson's Freedom Council doing grassroots training on Christian worldview principles. In 1986 Dan founded the Nehemiah Institute and authored the first version of the PEERS Test. Dan continues to serve as president of the Institute with particular focus on new product development and CFO responsibilities. Dan also serves as a member of the executive committee of the Coalition on Revival (COR). COR is a ministry providing high-level worldview training in all major areas of society.

James Bartlett (PhD, PE ret., President, Bartlett University)

Dr. Bartlett is developing a network of family colleges and universities to build Christian family businesses (1 Corinthians 7:21 ) and transform the culture (Matthew 6:10 ). Dr. Bartlett taught mechanical, industrial, and manufacturing engineering subjects while performing related research at North Dakota State University from 1987 to 2004. Dr. Bartlett now provides engineering and education services while also developing a family farm, business incubator, and private university system.

While at NDSU, his teaching and research foci included lean manufacturing, design for manufacturability, aircraft structures certification, failure analysis, electronics manufacturing, medical device development, nano-scale process engineering, family-based rural economic development, and implementation of the Christian philosophy in science, mathematics, engineering, technology and education. He was safety officer for the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at NDSU for many years.

Dr. Bartlett and his wife Lynn have been happily married for over 15 years and home school four boys. The Bartletts have led Christian ministries for college singles and married couples for over seven years, developed and advised college campus Christian student and faculty ministries, and see the Biblical worldview (Isaiah 55:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:27) as foundational for Christian education at all levels of learning and for maturity in the Body of Christ.

Dr. Bartlett learned secular humanism in automotive technology (AAS, NH Vocational Technical College, 1979), mechanical engineering (BS General Motors Institute & Purdue University, 1983 & MS, North Dakota State University, 1989), and Engineering (PhD, North Dakota State University, 1992). He received Christ in 1983 and began his true education (Proverbs 1:7) with the decision to home educate their boys in 1994 (Deuteronomy 6:7).

Dr. Bartlett taught and performed research in bone biomechanics, aircraft manufacturing, and electronics manufacturing engineering for 15 years at North Dakota State University . His 10 years of industry experience derive from General Motors, Northwest Airlines, and his engineering consulting business. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers awarded him the prestigious Sargent Americanism Award for innovatively teaching the business of manufacturing in 2003.

As God revealed to Dr. Bartlett that western culture had been secularized by Christian educators, the Holy Spirit led him to depart the secular university to pursue the implementation of a thoroughly Christian philosophy of education in his teaching, research and service, as an example to his own children and others (John 13:15; 1 Timothy 4:12). He integrates the Christian faith with his teaching as exemplified in his papers titled Corrosion Illustrating Sin, Learning Pedagogy from the Master Teacher, Learning Biblical Business, Learning Through Entrepreneurship, Secularization by the Christian Educator, The Family University and Network, and smaller articles such as The Solder of Life and Eliminate the Teenagers. He is also writing a book to demonstrate how God’s word was confirmed, during the last few decades, in the history of North Dakota home schooling

Dr. Bartlett was a leader in the development and implementation of a three million dollar National Science Foundation grant (2000 to 2004) to improve science and math education in the public schools of Minnesota and North Dakota . This experience further convinced him that large amounts of money are not needed to improve math and science education. Instead, the Biblical view of math, science, technology, engineering, business, and education (Matthew 6:24 ) are needed to optimize the learning of science and math.

As a certified online faculty, Dr. Bartlett has developed and taught many web-based technical courses to complement in-person classes. He emphasizes the importance of the student hearing the Holy Spirit teach and guide him or her, even through technical content, toward the development of Christian leaders (John 14:26). The inherent freedom of web-based or web-assisted courses encourages this aspect of personal diligence (Proverbs 10:4; Hebrews 11:6).

The Bartlett family Christian history over the past 30 years has included membership and or leadership experiences in churches with the following characteristics: Congregational, Lutheran, Evangelical Lutheran, Christian community, Plymouth Brethren, Baptist, non-denominational charismatic, Assembly of God, and reforming house assembly. The Bartletts embrace historic Christianity as declared in the Scriptures and repeated in the Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed, Westminster and other confessions.

Peter Roise (Author, Brightrock Press, Logic and Rhetoric Teacher for ClassicalFree). B.A. from New St. Andrews college in 2000. Currently in ministerial training with Greyfriars Hall in Moscow, Idaho. As the main tutor for Studium Discere Online Tutorials, Peter has recently authored a classical rhetoric textbook, published by Brightrock Press, and he is in the process of writing a logic course. He also plans to co-author a series of children’s stories about church history. Peter and his wife and daughter attend a CRE church in Moscow Idaho.

Peter Leithart (PhD Div, Ordained minister - Presbyterian Church in America, Classical Free faculty) Also, teaches theology and literature at New St. Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. He holds two Master's degrees in theology from Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, and earned his Ph.D. in divinity at the University of Cambridge. He has written books on ancient literature, Shakespeare, and Dante, as well as several books of theology. He and his wife, Noel, have nine children. Dr Leithart reports that in spite of the fact that his undergraduate degree was in English literature, "it wasn't until I started teaching a group of home school students in Birmingham that I fell in love with Shakespeare." Combining his knowledge of Christian theology with some of the recent Shakespeare films, he found that he was able to bring the bard to life for his students. No longer were they forced into "the dreadful experience of wading through hard-to-read English that they couldn't understand." It is that potent combination of theology and literature that Dr. Leithart now shares with students at ClassicalFree Academy. In addition to Brightest Heaven of Invention, his commentary on Shakespeare, his classical works include Heroes of the City of Man, a Christian guide to select ancient literature of the Greek era, the newly released Ascent to Love, a commentary on Dante's Divine Comedy.

Mr. Brian Baugus (MBA, Senior policy analyst for budget for the State of Maryland). He regularly testifies on budget matters in front of legislative committees and provides technical information to legislators regarding the State budget throughout the year. He has also is a visiting faculty member at Chesapeake College (MD) teaching economics and finance courses for since 1996. Brian also has significant experience in banking and politics. He holds a Masters degree in finance (Vanderbilt University), a bachelor's degree in economics (Western Maryland College), is a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon (the international economics honors society), and the Association of Christian Economists. Brian has been accepted and will begin working towards his Ph.D. in economics at George Mason University in the fall 2002 semester. Brian resides in Easton, MD has been married to the former Ildiko Lengyel since 1993 and has two children (who are home schooled) and another expected in the fall of 2002. He and his family are members of the First Baptist Church of Easton where he is a deacon, adult Sunday school teacher, and a member of the finance committee.

Miss Susan Beisner (Classically trained pianist and organist with special training in the art of interpreting hymns for congregational singing). She serves often as substitute pianist or organist for churches. She teaches piano, recorder, music history and appreciation, and theory privately. She has had several fine private teachers and mentors in music and is an avid reader and constant learner whose studies have taken her well beyond her formal instruction. Her areas of expertise include hymnody, music history, and music appreciation; she hopes to pass on her love for these fields to her students. Miss Beisner is a homeschool graduate and is currently taking courses as a non-degree candidate at Knox Theological Seminary. She is heartily devoted to the Classical Christian approach to schooling. Throughout her years in high school, she acquired extensive experience in homeschooling through designing schedules and curriculum for her family. She resides in greater Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where she is assistant librarian at Knox Theological Seminary and stays heavily involved with area musical activities, including workshops and choral programs. In her spare time she enjoys writing, reading, and working on her first solo piano album.