IN THIS ISSUE

Free Giveaway: Journal in a Box!

Homeschooling Teen Profile: Brynne Larson, Tess Scherkenback, and Savannah Scherkenback

College-Bound: Shorter University

NEW COLUMN! Generation Lost, by Leah

NEW COLUMN! In The Bible Q&A, by Sydnee

Stepping Stones: by Michaela

The World Around Us: by Adrianna

His Story, His World: by Aubrey

The Razor's Edge: by Madeleine

Your Fashion Signature: by MaryssaJoy

Ashley's Advice Column: by Ashley  

Laughter, Tears, and Our Teen Years, by McKennaugh

The Sports Report: by Caela

Bookshelf of a (Maybe) Teen Author: Diary of a Teenage Girl

Anime Review: by Xbolt

Game Review: by Josh

Cartoon: "Know Brainz," by Savanna and Devin

Homeschooling High School: Copyright Quiz

Career-of-the-Month: Criminal Justice

Catherine's Column: by Catherine  

Readers Write: Millennia, by Tessa  

E-Mail Etiquette: Tip-of-the-Month

And much more!!!

Father's Day

Daddy, Dad, Da, Papa, Pop, Pa, Paw, Father...no matter what you call him, he is special! Fathers are our providers, protectors, leaders, teachers, coaches, counselors, role models, and so much more. Father's Day is a good time to express some gratitude and appreciation for all that your father does for you. Even though dads are not always perfect, they need your love and respect. Don't forget your grandfathers, too. Also, be sure to honor our heavenly Father. :)

College Bound 

Now is the time for high school juniors - especially if they dream of attending a highly selective college - to start thinking about taking the SAT and/or ACT. Besides good transcripts and letters of recommendation, entrance exams are an important part of the admission process. While some colleges have waived these tests as a requirement, many colleges and universities still rely heavily on SAT and ACT scores to help in admissions decisions. A typical applicant to a competitive college might boast section scores in the upper 20s for the ACT and above 600 for the SAT.  

  Read more by clicking

HERE 

Sponsored in part by

 

 

Sylvan SAT/ACT� Prep can help you prepare.  

Find a participating Sylvan below 

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JUNE IS...

Homeschool Copyright Month

Great Outdoors Month

National Rivers Month

National Rose Month

National Safety Month

National Candy Month

National Dairy Month

National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month

National Iced Tea Month

Children's Awareness Month

Skin Cancer Awareness Month

National Fireworks Safety Month

D-Day - June 6 (1944)

Flag Day - June 14

Father's Day - June 17

Summer Solstice - June 20

Click here for more June days:

http://www.knowledgehouse.info/month_06.html

SAT Word of the Month

Tell us about your favorite homeschool-friendly college, and we will feature it in an upcoming issue! [email protected]    

E-mail Etiquette Tip of the Month

Never give out phone numbers or personal information without confirming you are communicating with a reputable party.

Never give out personal contact information of others without their specific permission to do so.

Never provide credit card information via e-mail to anyone--ever.

Never provide credit card and personal information to any Web site without first reading their Privacy Policy.

Never provide credit card information through a Web site if the URL doesn't start with "https://"

This E-mail Etiquette Tip is provided as a courtesy by:  www.NetManners.com

"Minds are like parachutes; they work best when open." ~Lord Thomas Dewar

Learn more about  famous homeschoolers at www.FamousHomeschoolers.net

We want to hear from you! If you are involved with an amazing project, volunteer in your community, have a special interest that you're passionate about, possess a unique skill, talent or ability, or have accomplished something positive and extraordinary for a person your age or in your situation - be sure to tell us about it and we will feature you in our magazine!   

Contact: [email protected]   

Send your book reviews to: [email protected] 

Exciting News!

We have a new Homeschooling Teen FAN PAGE on Facebook!

Here is the link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Homeschooling-Teen/119237994780935

Please join us and let's keep in touch!

Laughter, Tears, and Our Teen Years, by McKennaugh

The following is a little story that I created and scribbled in my diary a few months ago. I've decided to share it here.

The Path

A man walking along the road met a king. The man bowed down before him and asked if he could be of any service.

"Oh, yes, indeed!" the king cried. "But let me warn you, my friend, it won't be easy."

"I will do anything, no matter how hard," the man responded.

"Alright then, here is my request." The great king pulled a tattered map out of his coat pocket and handed it to the man. The king pointed to a trail that wound over mountains and twisted through dark valleys. "You must follow this trail. Rain or shine, you must follow it. Do you understand?"

"Yes! Yes, of course, master."

"The journey is very far."

"I know."

"Whenever you meet someone, though, please tell them of me and my kingdom. So many people don't know of it. And I want to offer all I have to them. Ask them to come along the trail with you."

"Certainly."

"At the end of the trail you will find my palace."

"I will?"

"Yes. And if you do all that I asked you to do today, I will let you live there with me for the rest of your days." With that, the king walked away, leaving the man holding the map.

The man was very eager to be on his way. He looked at the path on the map. True to the king's word, it was terribly difficult to accomplish, but the man was not dismayed... even though the trail stretched on for a thousand miles. Around the first bend, he found himself in a slum. He remembered the king's words about telling everyone he met about the kingdom-but surely the king could not have meant these people! He hurried on without saying a word. Finally, dusk began to fall. Tired and hungry, he tried to find a place to stay. A woman was standing near the path, so he called out to her, "Tell me, will you, where is the nearest place to stay the night?"

The woman frowned. "There isn't a place for miles, but if you would like you may stay with my family and I for the night."

"Where do you live?" the man asked.

She pointed to a small shack built mostly from scraps of tin.

"Never!" the man snapped. "I could not stay in a place like that! Don't you realize you foolish woman-I am doing business for the king!"

"No," she responded, "I did not realize, because the last people who traveled this path for the king gladly accepted my offer."

Grumbling, the man continued on his way until it was too dark for him to see. He crouched in the woods waiting for daylight. When it finally came, he looked at the map again. Why hadn't he seen it before? There on the map it showed the king's castle and it was only ten miles away! All he had to do was step off the path onto a highway! It was so simple! And the king would be so happy that he had reached the palace so soon!

The man gleefully leapt off the path and found the highway with ease. Along it, there were many respectable people and he made sure that he told each one about the kingdom. In turn, they all politely nodded and waved him on his way.

Later in the afternoon, the man saw the palace in the distance-and it was a sight to behold! "To think I will soon live there!" he thought to himself. When he reached the gate, a woman opened it for him.

"I've come to see the king!" he announced importantly.

"Yes, yes, I know," she said sadly.

"Do not feel sorrowful," he told her, "you may not be as great as I, about to live with the king, but even a gatekeeper is a good thing to be."

"Aye," she answered. "However, sir, that is not why my heart is broken. My heart is broken for you."

"For me?" the man gaped at her. Suddenly, he recognized her as the woman who had offered to let him stay in her shack. But now she was clothed in the most beautiful clothes, not rags. Before the man could say anything, though, the king stepped beside him. "Ahhh," he said. "Back so soon, are you?"

The man knelt to the ground, "Yes, master."

"Did you tell all you saw about my kingdom?"

"Yes, sir. All those fit to enter."

"Fit to enter? Who is not fit to enter?"

The man suddenly felt uneasy. "The-the sinful ones, the lazy ones in the slums, the..."

"Did I not tell you to proclaim my kingdom to everyone you met?"

"You did."

"And you did not, did you?"

"No. No, sir."

"Did you follow the small path?"

"Yes! Yes! But... but there was nowhere to stay, no good food and...and my feet were already hurting on the first day! Master, the path you mapped out to your palace would have taken me through over a thousand miles of trails! Yet, I found this shortcut. This highway! It would have been very senseless of me to walk a thousand miles when I needed to walk only ten!"

"Ahh, yes. You are one of the ones who left my path. Here, give me the map."

Reluctantly, the man handed the king the map. "Master... you promised me a place to stay when I arrived here, did you not?"

"Indeed, I did. That was, I promised you a lifetime with me, if you obeyed what I asked of you."

"Sir!" the man cried out, realizing he was no longer welcome. "Forgive me! Give me back the map! I will follow the path!"

With tired eyes, the king replied, "Your chance had been given, your instructions were clear, yet you chose-you chose-not to follow." Walking over to a lame child clothed in rags, the king handed the boy the map.

"Master!" the man shouted. "You cannot give the map to him! He's not even capable to take the first step of the journey!"

The king turned to the man, "What you cannot accomplish, this crippled child will! What you could not do with your strong, straight legs, he will do with his bent, weak ones!" The king then walked back through the gate and motioned for the woman to shut the man out. With great sorrow, the king cried out to the man, "How I loved you! How I loved you!"

In the story I wrote, it's very easy to see where the man first disobeys the king's instructions. It's easy to think, "Uh-oh. What a brainless thing to do; not listen to the king!" But in real life, it's not that easy to see. Lots of times we come to God burning with excitement to serve him. Then, for a brief amount of time, we keep our promise. Maybe you had an event in your life that made you leap from the narrow path to the highway in one great bound. Or maybe you just eased away little by little, thinking: it's not bad; it's okay; God understands why I have to do this, it'd be foolish if I did it His way. All of a sudden, you realize that you aren't on the path at all, anymore. In fact, you might be so lost that you aren't sure how to find your way. You can always ask for forgiveness-always wipe your slate clean. But be careful. Once you reach the palace, there's no starting over.

The Razor's Edge,by Madeleine Richey

Exposed: Dangers in Our World of 'Free Choice'

When was the last time you picked up a book, watched a movie, or flipped through pictures to get a glimpse of something-anything-to do with sex? Okay, next question: when was the first time?

For just a minute, let's put all religious views on the matter aside. Whether you're Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish, Baptist, Buddhist, Muslim, Atheist, or anything in-between...whether you think sex before marriage is wrong or not: let's look at the facts.  

First let's look at the primary fear that goes through your head when you think of sex; pregnancy. A survey taken in 2010 indicated that 34.4 teens out of 1000 gave birth. A teenage pregnancy is defined by the pregnancy taking place and ending before the mother has reached the age of twenty. The teen pregnancy rate in the USA has dropped, but the United States and the United Kingdom are still among the highest in the world for teen pregnancy rates. Almost a third of teen pregnancies end in abortion. It's shown that in teen pregnancy, the mothers are less likely to finish high school and attend college, and the rates for poverty among teen mothers and their children are high. It's not an inviting future.

In America, birth control is widely accepted and promoted, but it's not as effective as it's marketed to be. Let's take a look at some of the most common forms of birth control. Birth control pills are not magic; they have an 8 percent failure rate with typical use. Pills have to be taken every day, and can often be forgotten. A condom is great, but it only works if you remember to use it. And even if it is used with every act of intercourse, it has a 15 percent failure rate. An IUD has only a 0.2 to and 0.8 percent depending on the type used, but an IUD can potentially cause dangerously heavy periods, grow through the uterine wall, enter into the womb, and cause miscarriage in the event of failure and pregnancy. A contraceptive sponge has a 32 percent rate of failure, and spermicidal gels or foams have a 29 percent failure rate. None of them are perfect.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) are a risk former generations never had to worry about. But in this day and age there are at least 20 STDs, including HIV/AIDS. Sexually Transmitted Diseases are more common in girls than in boys. That is because women have what is called a 'transformation zone' on their cervix, which decreases as they grow older, but leaves them open to infection with STDs. The vagina is actually very well protected against infections, with elastic like fibers and walls over 20 cells thick, described by Dr. Miriam Grossman (author of Unprotected: A Campus Psychiatrist Reveals How Political Correctness in Her Profession Endangers Every Student) to be like a self-cleaning oven.But the transformation zone is where we are open to infection, along with anal sex. Have you ever wondered by STDs such as HIV/AIDS are so common among the gay community? The walls of the rectum are only 1 cell thick, easily damaged and wide open to infection.

For women, we are often obsessed with our "choice" in our reproductive health, but women are built differently than men. Should we be infected with an STD, it could cause serious damage to our reproductive tracts, such as scarring, which can close the fallopian tubes and render us unable to bear children later in life. We are also severely uneducated when it comes to our biological clock. Childbearing is easiest in the early to mid twenties, but as women get older, the chances for conceiving become less and less, and our chances for miscarriage or birth defects doubles when we reach somewhere around the age of thirty.

Our culture is obsessed with sex. Everywhere you turn there is an ad promoting birth control, abortion, sex, and all manner of sex related materials. But when it comes to actually holding an educated conversation, we stammer and blush, and hurry from the room. Parents who do not educate their children on safer sex leave them to their own devices, and the material they will find widely available preaches only of sexual exp

loration and freedom.

I was at the library a few weeks ago, and I picked up several sex education books targeted at middle-school children and teens. The first thing I saw when I opened one book to a random page was "what to do when you decide to bring the baby home". That told me everything about what the book was telling our children; feel free to explore your sexuality, make your own choices, use birth control, abortion is an option, and...if all else fails, do you want to keep the baby, or give it up for adoption?

The problem with abortion (despite any religious views) is that is can cause scarring, an incompetent cervix in a later pregnancy (where the cervix gives out and cannot carry the baby to term, resulting in a miscarriage), and emotional scarring. Women who have suffered abortions report that they often bled for days, and in the case of chemical abortions, held fetuses in their hands, and suffered for the rest of their lives with memories of the child they were told did not exist.

That brings us back to the beginning. When was the last time you picked up a book, watched a movie, or flipped through pictures to get a glimpse of something-anything to do with sex? When was the first time?

Children are exposed to sex from an early age; encouraged to be beautiful, sexy, to explore, exercise their freedom...but when pregnancy, the very thing the sexual act is designed for, occurs, there is scandal and shame. STDs can cause infertility, and even death, not to mention the emotional trauma that comes with it. Pornography? Forget about it. Even in this over-sexed culture, it's sinful. Prostitution is outlawed. Who needs it anyway? We're selling ourselves, and you don't even have to pay.

You can turn on the TV, go to the mall, or even to the library, and find anything you want about sex. And I have no doubt, that opening that first misguiding book as a nine or ten-year-old, leads us to this: to slavery to sex, and our own free will. Just because you have the right to 'make a choice' to do something, doesn't mean you have to do it.

Author's Note: "I want to share this information with people because I believe that ignorance is a danger to us and to others. The religious influences in our lives, which I believe are a great help shaping us morally... don't give us the practical information that, let's face it, could possibly come in handy for a lot of people."

Play it Safe in the Sun
 

TRUE OR FALSE?
 

1. About 50% of an individual's sun exposure occurs by age 18. 

4. The sun's rays can reach through three feet of water.  

5. Sunlight coming through a window or windshield can damage your skin.  

6. Small daily doses of UVA rays can cause long-term injury to your skin, even without any sunburn.  

7. Dermatologists agree that there is no such thing as a "healthy tan."  

8. Children and adolescents who experience a single blistering sunburn are twice as likely to develop skin cancer later in life.  

9. A sun-sensitive person can get a minor sunburn in approximately five minutes on a sunny midday in June.  

10. Arizona has the highest rate of skin cancer among the fifty states and one of the highest rates in the world. 
 

(Even if you are being more careful than ever about your exposure to the sun, you may be surprised at the answers to some of the above questions. All of them are true!)

New Column! In The Bible Q&A

My name is Sydnee, I am a homeschooled sophomore this year. I am interested in Biblical Counseling when I get out of high school. I love being in Church, and being a part of the Great Commission!

Question: Hey my name is Madison. What does the Bible say about being separated from the World? Like how far can you be of the World and still be considered a Christian? I mean I want to do both, but sometimes it's hard. What does the Bible say about this? Can you please help?

Answer: Madison this is a great question, and you are in good company. Cause the Bible does have an answer to your question. See Madison, we as Christians are lights of this World of darkness. We are supposed to stand out, and be different from everybody else, and be like Christ! When Jesus lived on earth, in no way was He like anybody, no He wasn't in fact, He was different. He had a purpose on the earth. To tell others about this great gift of Salvation, and to one day die for you and me! And so He was not like the World! See in Matthew 5:14-16 we hear this: "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." So you see what I mean? How could we be a light of the world if we were exactly like the World? Instead of saying how far can I be of the world and still be considered a Christian, why not say how can I strengthen my relationship with Christ? Or even how can I be more of Christ and less of the World? In it all, we can know that Christ is truly worth it!

Have a question? E-mail me at: [email protected]. Hope to hear from you!

Anime Reviews by Xbolt

Angel Beats!

Angel Beats! (what is it with exclamation points in titles?) was written by guys from Key Visual Arts, who made Air, Kanon, and Clannad. It fits somewhere between Air and Kanon in regards to how much I enjoyed it. Angel Beats! was good, but it could have been better. The visuals and soundtrack are amazing, regardless. The random English-speaking TK is far and away my favorite character in the show.

The setting is a school in the afterlife, where kids who haven't accepted their deaths go. The series is 13 episodes long, and while some stories can fit that length, Angel Beats! feels somewhat rushed in the second half. A lot of mystery is set up in the first half, but in the second half, new plot points are added and other ones are just... dropped. Nothing more about them, they just disappear. I think the story could have been much cleaner and flowed better if the show had been a full 24-episode series instead.

That's not to say it was bad. The story was definitely above average. There was a lot of great comedy in the show, but my favorite parts were actually the more depressing parts that moved the story forward, when we learned about the characters' different backstories and how they ended up in this place. But again, the limited length of the show meant that not a lot of characters got this treatment, and were forced to remain comic relief characters. So if it sounds like I disliked the show, that's wrong. I did like it; I'm just disappointed it had to be simply "above average" instead of stellar, like it should have been.

Visit Xbolt's blog: http://blog.xboltz.net

Ashley's Advice Column

Living Gluten Free: The Guide to the Celiac Diseased

I recently found that I most likely have Celiac Disease (allergies to gluten and wheat). I always hoped I wouldn't be allergic to these things, but it turns out, I am. You don't realize until you're allergic to them, how few items have no gluten in them. It's really hard to find foods that taste good and you can eat. So, I decided to make a list of some of the foods I review, so you can go through finding good foods, easily! Whether you're like me, or are doing it to be healthier (which I wouldn't do!), I hope this column helps!

Foods I've tried this month:

Pizzas

Cookies

Chicken

Noodles

Crackers

And More.

Pizzas

Hodgson Mill - Has strange seasoning, not my taste.

King Arthur Flour - Is kind of flavorless, but edible.

Gluten Free Pantry - Delicious! Thick and yummy, the best kind.

Betty Crocker - Kind of has an oatmeal texture, but is still good.

Chicken

Hol-Grain Coating Mix - This stuff coats your fried chicken, and is good, yet stills a tad different.

Health is Wealth - Chicken Nuggets that taste like they have gluten! They're delicious!

Noodles

Sam Mills - Pasta d'ore - This stuff is the only spaghetti I've tried so far, so it's the only one I can comment! The first time you try it, it can be quite strange tasting, but you get used to it.

Annie's Pasta - This Mac & Cheese has a strange rice texture, and if you don't have the right mixture of cheese, it can taste strange too. But, it's definitely the best Mac & Cheese.

Breakfast

Bisquick - Yummy! Still not your regular Bisquick pancakes, but the best kind I've tried.

Muffins - King Arthur's Flour makes some good blueberry muffins, but make sure you cook them long and good!

Glutino chocolate wafers - Real yummy, taste just like the real wafers!

Kinni Kritters Animal Cookies - These taste kind of like Annie's Bunny Grahams, (healthy version of Teddy Grahams) and so are pretty good.

Back to Nature Crackers - White Cheddar crackers. These crackers have a really strong flavoring to them, which isn't White Cheddar. You can really only eat a few before your taste buds go numb. They're still nice to eat when you don't have anything else to.

Gluten Free Pantry Bread - Really good! Fresh, it tastes like French bread, with gluten!

This is all I've tried so far, but I'll keep eating! You'll find that quite a few foods already are gluten free.

Gogurts

Yogurts

Plain ice cream (No cookies)

Pudding

Jello

Fruits

Fries

Cheetos

And more!

If you need help on your diet, or want tips, or want to add to my column with your own recipes and ideas, please email me at [email protected]. I'd love to have more gluten free friends! -Ashley

Bookshelf of a (Maybe) Teen Author, by Emily Russell

Becoming Me (Diary of a Teenage Girl: Caitlin, Book 1) by Melody Carlson 

When I received an invitation to review this book, I couldn't believe my luck! The original Diary of a Teenage Girl book by Melody Carlson was available for review? Of course I immediately requested it, and after much impatient waiting my paperback arrived. I read through it much faster than most review books; I wasn't disappointed. The great reviews and talk surrounding this book are definitely earned. 

In Becoming Me, a newly sixteen-year-old girl writes about her struggles with new friends, boys, family problems, and life in general. As she climbs the popularity ladder at school, gains the affection of the most popular boy in school, and discovers a secret that could destroy her family, she shares her innermost thoughts and feelings with her diary. Through this book, readers gain a peek inside one teenager's heart and laugh or cry along with her. 

Just like her other books, Melody Carlson deals with important but touchy and often taboo topics. Issues teenagers deal with on a daily basis, from the minefield of friendships and popularity to the often ignored problem of teen pregnancy, are brought into the light rather than tiptoed around. Carlson writes clearly but kindly, not avoiding or celebrating the sins and struggles mentioned. 

The characters are easy to believe for the most part, and readers can definitely relate to them. The storyline isn't dramatized past reality, but it isn't simple or flat, either. In this book, realness is key. Real Christianity versus tradition. Real friendship versus popularity. Real relationships versus using people to get what you want. I give this book five stars, and hope to see the next installment available for review as well.

I received this book for free through Glass Road Public Relations in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. [Editor's Note: You can read an excerpt from Chapter One at http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Me-Diary-Teenage-Girl/dp/1576737357 ]

Emily Rachelle is a homeschooled sophomore in love with Jesus and the color green.  You can read more book reviews, as well as poetry, opinions, and everyday chatter at her blog, Struggles of a (Maybe) Teen Author (www.maybeteenauthor.blogspot.com).

/know brainz/

By Devin and Savannah Hicks

You can be a Homeschooling Teen reporter or columnist! Please send information about what you like to write about, the reason you want to take on the challenge of a monthly column, and an example of your work to: [email protected]

Career-of-the-Month: Criminal Justice

A degree in criminal justice can lead to a career in law enforcement or government. Whether you're interested in working for the federal government, your city's police department, or a private detective agency, a criminal justice degree will prepare you to assume these roles. Most people working in criminal justice have at least a bachelor's degree, while high ranking officials almost always possess a master's degree.

There is a lot to learn when obtaining a criminal justice degree: communication skills, analytical and problem solving skills, public policy, computer security, technicalities of the law, criminology theories, and how the criminal justice system works. Those skilled to work in security utilizing the latest technology will find more job opportunities than those without tech skills. A background in psychology comes in useful when working with criminals and creating profiles for the police.

Depending on your area of interest, you can pursue many different career options in the criminal justice field such as: police officer, detective, private investigator, or lawyer. Related jobs of interest include: counselors, social and human service assistants, social workers, correctional officers, and fire investigators. Popular criminal justice degrees include: criminal justice, criminology, homeland security, law, legal studies, political science, psychology, and public safety.

The criminal justice field can be exciting, but you should be prepared for long hours, exhausting cases that go nowhere, and working with uncooperative suspects and witnesses. Criminal justice jobs offer great opportunity for growth, compensation, and visibility. Graduates of criminal justice programs often assume leadership and management roles in their communities.

For more detailed information about criminal justice careers and a complete guide to schools with criminal justice degree programs, be sure to visit: http://careersincriminaljustice.net

Dear Parents,   

Thank you for taking the time to view Homeschooling Teen Magazine. We hope that you and your homeschooler enjoyed reading with us. That is our goal, after all! It is also our goal to provide homeschooled teens a place of their own, to highlight their accomplishments, talents and thoughts. Here at Homeschooling Teen Magazine, our articles and information are written exclusively by homeschoolers, for homeschoolers. We strive to make this a safe place for your teens to join in and express themselves in accordance with Philippians 4:8. We will never share or sell your information with any third party. Content is a top priority for us and articles will always be age appropriate. Our magazine will only allow sponsorship logos and links that are family friendly. However, the opinions expressed in our magazine are not necessarily those of Homeschooling Teen Magazine and we cannot be held responsible for any information listed or actions from our sponsors. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Our magazine is free to all homeschoolers. If you know someone who would like to view a sample copy, please have them send us an e-mail to request one. If you would like to forward this issue, please feel free to do so; however do advise the person you are sending it to that all the links may not work when forwarding. If this copy has been forwarded to you and you would like to have Homeschooling Teen Magazine sent directly to your inbox each month, just click on the link below:

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Copyright 2012 - Homeschooling Teen Magazine

Homeschooling Teen

June 2012

Welcome... Homeschooling Teen is a free e-zine for homeschooled high schoolers and young adult alumni. Published once a month, much of the content is written by our subscribers, and there are many opportunities for readers to participate - whether it's writing book or movie reviews, sending in original short stories and poems, or submitting other articles of interest. Additionally, in each issue we feature a profile of a Homeschooling Teen and a Homeschool Friendly College. Write to us at [email protected] 

Journal in a Box {Giveaway}

Have you ever kept a journal? Why or why not? If you do, what purposes does it serve? If you don't, would you like to? If you're like most students, summer is a busy season that revolves around fun, friends, and family. But one of the best things you can do for yourself this summer is to keep a journal. A journal lets you record your thoughts and activities while exercising your brain at the same time. Your journal will become a treasured keepsake and writing it will be a rewarding experience.

Our friends at Journal in a Box are debuting a new product - a downloadable home study course titled JournalUp: Teaching Teens and Tweens the Power of Journal Writing for Life Enhancement. When you use JournalUp, you will be able to learn firsthand why journaling is one of the most accessible self improvement tools around. The book contains six interesting and informative lessons:

*Lesson 1: Why Should I Keep a Journal?

*Lesson 2: What's Your Journaling Style?

*Lesson 3: How am I Supposed to Journal?

*Lesson 4: Okay, But When and Where?

*Lesson 5: One More Question - What's In It For Me?

*Lesson 6: But I'm Stuck, I'm Still Unsure What to Write About.

These lessons will answer all of your questions, including: When should I journal? How often do I need to write? (The answer may surprise you.) What should I write about? Can I journal without writing? How can writing in a journal make a difference in my life?

JournalUp was written by Yvonne Root and Tonya Schulte, a homeschool mom and daughter team. The book's introduction states: "People often ask about the best way to teach their teens and pre-teens the principles of journaling....But, the absolute best 'trick' we know of to encourage regular journal writing habits in the lives of those young people is to build that habit in yourself....That is why you will find assignments meant to be used by both adult and teen in every section of this study....The unexpected benefit of this approach is that not only will you be teaching your teens a life-long habit that will serve them well in the future, you'll be building the same habit - one which has the power to change your life in ways you never even imagined. So grab a journal, grab a pen and grab your teens' attention. Now, get ready to learn a fantastic new life skill!"

JournalUp is the perfect book for a journaling novice, but will still hold up well for a more experienced journal writer. JIB Productions - homeschool publisher of guided journals, home study courses, and online courses on the subject of journaling - were kind enough to offer a FREE copy of JournalUp to share with one lucky reader!

HOW TO ENTER: Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway widget at http://www.homeschoolingteen.com/2012/06/journal-in-a-box-giveaway for your chance at winning JournalUp: Teaching Teens and Tweens the Power of Journal Writing for Life Enhancement, a downloadable home study course (retail value $27). Simply log in using Facebook or an email address. Mandatory Entry: In the comments section, state why you want to win this book. YOU MUST LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE COUNTED. To increase your chance of winning, you can receive additional entries for "liking" Homeschooling Teen on Facebook and following Homeschooling Teen on Twitter. On June 12, the winner will be randomly selected from among all the entries. Good luck!

Please share your story! If you are involved with an amazing project, volunteer in your community, have a special interest that you're passionate about, possess a unique skill, talent or ability, or have accomplished something positive and extraordinary for a person your age or in your situation - be sure to tell us about it and we will feature you in our magazine! Contact: [email protected] 

MILLENNIA

By Tessa McDaniel, 14

Some millennia ago,
We here on earth were
Charged with keeping ourselves
Pure and clean.
Not just with water,
Not just with soap.
But with the water of life,
But with keeping our souls
As pure as the whiteness of snow.
As pure as the whiteness of the dove.

Harder than it sounds,
To keep a soul white.
We must mold and shape
Our hearts to keep out
The threatening armies
Of black and red.
The one who helps is
Above the blue sky,
Above the bright stars
In the swirling galaxy of mystery.

The dangerous dance of the world
Is for certain kinds of souls.
The weakest, the strongest,
The fastest, the slowest,
The curious, the scared.
No place for the arrogant,
None for the proud, the great.
The humble and timid will
Win this war. The war
Fought here on earth.

The war fought here on earth
Started some millennia ago.
When will it end?
When will the greediness and
Bloodshed of mankind stop?
When will the leaders of our earth
Realize when enough is enough?
When will they know when to stop?
The saddest part of living is realizing
They won't.

You can be a Homeschooling Teen reporter or columnist! Please send information about what you like to write about, the reason you want to take on the challenge of a monthly column, and an example of your work to: [email protected] 

MOVIE QUOTE - Can you guess what movie this quote came from?

"Ma'am, there's only one God, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that."  

(Answer: The Avengers)

Homeschooling Teen Profile: Meet the Teen Exorcists

A trio of Christian homeschoolers from Scottsdale, Arizona, have taken up an unusual extracurricular activity on top of their academic studies - they perform exorcisms! Brynne Larson, 17, TessScherkenback, 17, and SavannahScherkenback, 20, are all black belts in karate, fans of musical theater, and members of the Mars Hill Speech and Debate Club. These pretty, eloquent, and well-rounded young women enjoy hanging out with friends, riding horses, going to the mall, and styling their hair - that is, when they're not busy chasing demons. "We're just normal girls who do something extraordinary for God," Brynne told an ABC reporter. "There is a war going on every day, being waged against us. Satan hates us. We know how the enemy is, we know what he's attacking and we can fight back."

"When a demon comes into someone," explained Tess, "its desire is to steal, kill and destroy that person's identity, that person's life." The Bible clearly affirms the reality of demon possession, and exorcism has been a legitimate practice throughout the history of the church. The Roman Catholic Church developed specific teachings for priests assigned to perform exorcisms. In Protestant practice the exorcist is often a member of the church, or an individual thought to be graced with special talents or skills. Although many people think the teens are too "unprepared" and "unqualified" to be performing exorcisms, there's no real reason not to believe that these girls couldn't be genuinely good at it. The three young women were mentored by Brynne's father, Rev. Bob Larson of the Spiritual Freedom Church.

Rev. Larson is a self-taught expert on cults, the occult, and supernatural phenomena. He has also performed thousands of exorcisms during his career. After discovering that his own daughter Brynne (pictured on the far left) was a gifted exorcist, he went on to train the other teens, and believes them to be particularly effective at the art of overcoming demonic possession. But not everyone is suitable to become an exorcist. Rev Larson says that "you must have had a calling from God.... Once you have proved that becoming an exorcist is your God-given path, intensive training can take weeks and possibly months." While there is a lot of skepticism about what the girls do, Brynne insists, "After seeing an actual exorcism in person, led by us, you will walk away with no doubt, whatsoever."

There is no set protocol for performing an exorcism. The exorcist may use rituals, sacred objects, or prayer. The teen girls come armed with Bibles, crosses, and holy water. The exorcist often invokes the names of God, Jesus, a litany of saints, and/or several different angels and archangels while commanding a demon to depart. Backstage on the Anderson show, Brynne made it clear that "It's not us casting demons out, it's God's power working through us casting the demons out." Tess says, "There are two parts to an exorcism. Firstly, you must deal with inner healing, to get rid of traumatic experiences from childhood and beyond, and secondly, deliverance from demons." As for safety concerns, "We do this under Dad's supervision," Brynne emphasizes. "We never do it alone. He's been doing it for 30 years. He would know if something was going wrong."

Rev. Larson carefully interviews each client and a 12-page psychological profile must be completed to determine that the nature of the affliction is not actually a mental or medical illness before proceeding with an exorcism. According to Rev. Larson, the telltale signs of demonic possession include an extreme aversion to anything having to do with God, Jesus, or the cross. He says that he can often tell just by looking into a person's eyes (the mirror of the soul), and notes that possessed individuals will speak in a low growling voice when confronted. Since a possessed person can also display superhuman strength and violent behavior, the girls need to be accompanied by strong men to hold the person down while they work on purging the demons.

Rev. Larson says he's aware of the danger the girls are in by performing exorcisms, but says: "The Christian life is risky. Ministry is risky. Taking on the devil is risky. What's riskier? Saying no to God." On Inside Edition, Laura Larson described her daughter Brynne's enthusiasm for learning how to perform exorcisms: "It was something that she really wanted to do. There was a natural interest in it. I love that it was something that she initiated. It was something that she believed and is committed to." Jenny Scherkenback, the mother of Tess and Savannah, is also content with her daughters becoming exorcists. "I feel more at ease about where they are in their lives than ever before," she told 3TV, "because they are doing God's work and that's a great place to be."

Brynne Larson - Brynne, 17, is known by the other girls as the "enforcer" and is said to be the leader of the group. She is a homeschooled junior in high school and is planning to attend college. The redhead competes on the beauty pageant circuit, is active in speech and debate, takes a leadership class, and is president of the honor society. She also loves quiet leisure time activities like reading, studying and writing. Brynne is dedicated to serving God and one of her greatest joys is to tell others about Him. Brynne began to travel the world with her exorcist father when she was just a child. "We have travelled all over the world performing exorcisms. I have been to Africa, Australia, New Zealand, China, Korea, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia and even the Bahamas, saving souls along the way." While her father is the family's spiritual leader, Brynne's mother believes that homeschooling is an essential part of her calling and commits a great quantity of time to its fulfillment. This includes daily homeschooling duties with her three children, and rushing from one activity to the next.

Savannah Scherkenback - Savannah, 20, a homeschool graduate and college student, is known as the "compassionate one." Since she was very young, she has wanted to help people and to serve God as a missionary and evangelist. Her dream is to complete her college education and then travel the world sharing the truth of the gospel, encouraging and motivating other young men and women to take a stand and let God use them to change the world. Savannah doesn't watch television and isn't a big fan of popular culture, declaring "I think Harry Potter and the Twilight films are instigators of evil." Savannah revealed that she herself underwent an exorcism at age 18 after suffering from extreme depression and sickness. When doctors couldn't find anything medically wrong with her, Savannah's parents took her to the local ministry. There, Savannah claims an evil spirit was cast from her. Savannah was so grateful and amazed that she signed up to become a trainee exorcist.

Tess Scherkenback - Tess, 17, is known as "the middle man" because the others say she can play both good cop and bad cop roles. She and her friend Brooke Larson (Brynne's sister) often work as a team in Homeschool Speech and Debate tournaments. Tess and her older sister Savannah are really close, too. They love to do everything together including spending time with their family, going hiking and running, and watching old movies (especially musicals). Tess also performs in local musical theater productions. A junior in high school, Tess is a lifelong homeschooler with a passionate heart for God. She reads classic literature such as the works of Jane Austen, C.S. Lewis, and of course, the Bible.  

Brynne, Savannah, and Tess have been featured in national and international media including Inside Edition, ABC's Nightline, Anderson Cooper, Good Morning America, National Geographic, Fuji TV (Japan), 60 Minutes (Australia), and Fabulous Magazine (England's most-read magazine). There are also rumors of a reality show in development starring the three girls, tentatively called "All-American Girls Fighting Satan." After taping the Anderson show, the teen exorcists had a lot more to say about their work, how they're helping others, as well as a special message for teens: "When you limit God, nothing big happens [but] we want to empower teens to change the world." Take a look: http://youtu.be/kbbNHVNEnIk