Thirteen years have come and gone. In some aspects it feels like a long time. In others, the time just flew by. I can remember sitting at the kitchen table going through math flash cards and it doesn't seem that long ago. But I can also remember sitting at my desk in late June wishing I was done with school so I could do things with my friends. Those days seemed to drag on forever.

My parents started homeschooling me when I was 5. Over the years I've had the choice of going to school if I wanted. I never did. I always enjoyed being homeschooled. It gave me opportunities other students didn't have. If something came up during school I'd just throw my work into my book bag and be on my way. Although I may have done this too frequently in the past few years(much to the concern of my mom) it has given me the chance to participate in ministries and activities that I wouldn't have been able to participate in if I went to school.

At our church the homeschoolers and the kids at EBA always get into the argument “Which is better? Homeschool or Private school?” The answer is neither. Although I enjoyed being homeschooled and excelled in the atmosphere another student might find it too open and not structured enough. A few of my friends have been there. The choices between the two depend on the student. I've enjoyed being homeschooled and I wouldn't change the past 13 years if I could.

The diploma I'll – hopefully - be receiving soon is the Howard Richmond diploma. Mr. Richmond is the founder of the Pa homeschool association and they offer their own diploma program. This diploma has several more requirements than the slandered homeschool diploma program. One of the more well-known requirements is the 25 books that must be read every school year. I enjoy reading so it was never much of a task for me. But of all the books that I've read over the past 4 years, one book has always been on my book list. I'd like to show you some of my favorite parts.

Romans 3:10
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

You may be wondering why these are some of my favorites. They paint a pretty bleak picture. It's because of the following verses.

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.

Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Now growing up in church I already knew all of this. I knew that I had “sinned and come short of the Glory of God” and that I needed to “repent... and be converted.” I knew that this was only possible “through faith” in the promise that “God so loved the world” - loved it so much that “he gave his only begotten Son” so that I “should not perish” in Hell but that I could accept his “gift... through Jesus Christ” and “have eternal life” with Him in Heaven. It's an amazing promise. It's an amazing gift.

The reason these verses are special to me is because I accepted this gift Jan 28th 1996. These verses can be special to you too.

If you go to Emmaus High and look at the class of 2005 you'll see a variety of things - drug abuse, murder, suicide, senseless violence, premarital sex, lies, deceit, depression...the list goes on. But because I accepted Christ's gift I'm different. I've been “Sheltered within the arms of God” like the song Tim and I sang. I've never had to experience those things thanks to God's Grace. I owe my life to my Saviour.

So I plan on giving it back to Him. In the fall I'll be attending Lehigh Valley Baptist Bible Institute and working towards my Pastoral degree. And after that I'll follow whatever God would have me to do.