Mt. Sophia Ideas» Stories

Praise and Raise Night

Vicki Tillman — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 02:17:17 +0000

Thanks to all who came and to all who donated (cash, school supplies, baked goods) to help our sister schools- Urban Promise High School and Elijah School.

Mr. O'Sullivan's Team

Thanks also to our 2 praise bands. Both bands gave us great praise songs and lots of fun.

Caitlin's Team

“I am very proud of our musicians AND our students. They understand the school mission of maximizing their potentials and creating a culture for Christ!”- Mrs. Tillman (notice, I enjoy quoting myself. *smile*

Winners of MSA Speech Competitions

Vicki Tillman — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:56:46 +0000

MSA has sponsored 2 speech competitions in the past couple of months. The winners of each of these competitions will now go on to state level and compete against peers from numerous schools.

Poetry Outloud winner: Noah Taylor

English Speaking Union’s Shakespeare Competition: Keri Betters

We’re proud of all the students who participated in the competitions and rooting for Noah and Keri as they move on the states.

A Season of Pictures- Karen Medeiros

Vicki Tillman — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 02:56:29 +0000

Again this winter, we will be sharing stories of Mt. Sophia students or alumni who are working to change or create culture. This is the first post of the season.

Karen Medeiros is a graduate of Mt. Sophia Academy. Her first children’s book has been published:

The Christmas Lights ( penname Jobiah Kit) through Amazon or Barnes & Noble. ISBN-10: 1456008986.

Here is her story about the book:

I started out looking for a way to symbolize the meaning of Christmas through some routine Christmas tradition not necessarily associated with Christ.

I love Christmas and I’ve often thought that to keep the celebration of Christmas pure, every tradition could be symbolic of Jesus or one of His values or gifts. Why lose the spirit of Christmas as we grow older when God’s miraculous power never weakens with age?

Christmas lights are such an eye-catching, celebratory tradition well adopted by both Christian and secular families, so that was an easy choice. As far as choosing what to compare them to….my own journey with God always draws me to thinking about how He has healed, protected, and, especially, created a new person in me.

For instance, I came from a very dark place spiritually when I became born-again but the depth of the darkness allowed me to appreciate the brilliance of God’s light….as the dark basement where the father and son in my story find the box of lights is such a beautiful contrast to the lighted tree on the last page.

I know so many of us can identify with these themes and life lessons from God- our Father in Heaven who works on us, never leaving our side.

A Season of Pictures- Feb 12

Vicki Tillman — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:31:42 +0000

The O’Shaughnessy family are culture changers for sure. Angela’s story:

You’ve probably heard this old story, but it bears repeating because it sort of sums up the O’Shaughnessy approach to culture-changing:

A man is walking along a beach when up ahead in the distance, he notices another man picking up starfish, stranded on the shore by the retreating tide, and throwing them back into the water.

Curious, the first man asks, “What are you doing?”

“I’m saving these starfish,” comes the reply. “They won’t survive in the sun until the tide returns.”

Taken aback, the first man says, “Don’t you realize there are hundreds of starfish lying here, and that throwing a few back will make very little difference?”

The second man says nothing but remains unfazed. He picks up yet another starfish and throws it out into the waves. He hesitated for a moment, then looks back at the first man and says, “I just made a difference for that one.”

When Mrs. Tillman asked me to write about our family’s venture into culture-changing, I back-pedaled, because my husband and I don’t think of ourselves as culture changers.

We like to keep things low-key. We aren’t demonstrators, protestors, or activists. We’ve never built a school, a hospital or an orphanage, nor have we donated enough money to have our names on one. When we die, it won’t be a high-security event.

We think of ourselves more as people who just get up in the morning and say, “OK, what needs doing today.” Well, apparently five years ago, we got a Holy Spirit nudge that adoption needed doing. It was just one of those, “we-can-make-a-difference-for-this-one” procedures.

After a family vote, we started out looking for one small girl to add to our family. Turns out, we flew to Brazil in 2006, spent six weeks there and came home with two sisters, then 12 and seven.

It sounds all warm and fuzzy and noble.

It wasn’t. Read Luke 17:10.

We know that our choices have made a difference for the girls. They now have more opportunities than they ever would have had if they had stayed in Brazil. They have a family and stability.

They’ve also lost their family of origin, their culture and much of their language. They’re stuck with a family who looks different than they do. They were disappointed to have to share our attention with our birth kids, and to learn that we aren’t rich and won’t buy them everything they want. They are sometimes confused by the language and culture.

We gave up a lot of privacy and money. We opened up our family to scrutiny, not only through the formal process of home studies and such, but also because so many people wish to impart their opinions about adoption. We learned that our belief that “love and limits” are enough, isn’t. We learned that we can do the best we can, and sometimes it still doesn’t appear to change things. We learned that spreading our money thin and doing without is by no means the hardest part. As much as we tried to educate ourselves, there were still things that about the girls and adoption that astonish us, stump us and amaze us.

We also experience the joy of hearing a little girl tell people she has the best family. We get to chuckle at her not wanting people to know she is adopted, as if they can’t tell that her brown Latina face did not come from our pale Irish genes. We learned that there is so much that is alike about people, no matter where they come from. We get the fun of kids experiencing things that they never would have had the opportunity to experience.

We get the pleasure of knowing that we’ve done one thing to fulfill the scripture: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27). Most of all, we’ve learned a great deal about the love of God, who “while we were yet sinners, … died for us.”

Dr. Gerald Culley Wraps Up His Story and Gives the Object Lesson

Vicki Tillman — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:54:26 +0000

Before we start, all of the Mt. Sophia family and I send our condolences, love, and prayer to Mr. Culley at the homegoing of his daughter, Heather. (Also to her sisters, Sabrina Justison and Allison Thorp- and all their families.) May God bless and comfort you all.

Plato’s great experiment, noble as it was, came to nothing.

But that was then. This is now.

Here you sit, almost 2400 years after Plato, students in another academy. And one dedicated, as its name says, to wisdom. The influence of Plato is still strong at Mount Sophia. He believed that society would never become just and good until the character of its citizens was changed; until they began to acquire virtue and, in their wisdom, to permeate and renew the fabric of life.

Mount Sophia’s goals are not all that different from Plato’s. Its founders saw the ills and injustices of our own society, but they were convinced- and still are- that its situation is not hopeless.

What is needed?

People who are committed to the pursuit of wisdom and justice, who understand that noble actions come from noble character, and noble character from a noble soul.

That far, we are with Plato, but he needed once crucial element to reach his ideal.

For a soul to become noble, intellectual excellence must be combined with a transformation that only God can bring about through one’s faith in Christ.

Mount Sophia breathes some of the air of Plato’s Athens, but it breathes the air of Heaven as well.

Plato’s great experiment failed, at least in part because it lacked the transforming power of Jesus. Mount Sophia’s experiment, so like Plato’s, but richer and deeper, need not fail.

That experiment is you.

Dr. Gerald Culley Teaches on History, Philosophy and Mt. Sophia- Part I

Vicki Tillman — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:47:52 +0000

Dr. Culley recently blessed Mt. Sophia’s World Literature and Latin students by teaching for a couple of days. It was a great experience for them to have a university-level teacher in the classroom and to gain from his years of wisdom.

I was so blessed by his World Lit lesson, that I asked if I could post some of it. He said, “sure”.

So here goes (speaking of Athens in ancient times):

What had happened to Athens’ splendid experiment with Democracy? (It) finally degenerated into mob rule. Every form of government, it seemed, had been tried in the century just past, and all had failed.

What could be done? What was needed? Here Plato turned for inspiration to his mentor, Socrates. What was needed was virtuous people. People who understood duty and goodness. People who could put the welfare of all ahead of their own selfish desires. And because one could never hope to have a whole population rise to that level of excellence, the need was for leaders who did.

The state will never become stable, tranquil, just and good, Plato argued, until either philosophers become kings, or kings, philosophers. That, as you have seen or guessed, is where his great dialogue, The Republic, is headed.

It’s all very well to sit in an ivory tower somewhere and talk about such ideals, but the real world is out there waiting for real solutions. Some of Plato’s own students at the Academy that he founded must have raised that objection, because the time came when the teacher decided to face the world.

Events provided the raw material for his great experiment… (Plato was invited twice to Syracuse to work with the local ruler on establishing a philosopher kingship. The first time, the ruler, Dionysius, got irritated by Plato’s ideas and sold him into slavery. He was rescued by friends, but returned 20 years later when Dionysius II was ruling.- editor)

This time civil war broke out and Plato had to flee for his life. Syracuse, instead of becoming Plato’s ideal state, descended into decades of chaos and violence. Plato’s great experiment, noble as it was, came to nothing…

What is to become of it all? Stay tuned next week for the exciting conclusion (and actual point) of this important lesson.- Vicki

What’s All the Hollering?- Sabrina Justison

Sabrina Justison — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:54:54 +0000

As I sat in my sister Heather’s condo in Florida, I kept hearing all this hollering.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning, and the condo is in a high-rise overlooking the channel between downtown Tampa and the beautiful Harbour Island. I was puzzled as to who would be causing such a ruckus in such a lovely residential area. Looking out the over the balcony, I saw a rowing crew practicing on the channel in the sunshine.

The hollering was coming from the coxswain in the boat. (I know this because I googled it to find out; I don’t row. If you know me, is that any great surprise?)

According to an article I found on competitive rowing, the job of a coxswain is to:

Steer the boat
Provide motivation to the crew
Inform of where they are in relation to other crews and the finish line
Make race strategy calls

Coxswains have historically communicated to the crew by shouting or through a megaphone that was strapped to their head. That’s why I was hearing all this hollering on a sunny Saturday morning.

Sometimes I feel like there is too much noise in my life. Urgent tasks scream my name; needs of loved ones call to me in the midst of my daily routine; my own weaknesses speak up when I least expect it, trying to instill fear in my day.

Do I have a good Coxswain to hear above the rest of the noise? Who is riding on that little seat at the front of my boat, steering me in the right direction, motivating me to keep rowing, letting me know how the competition and the finish line are looking, and changing my strategy if it’s not working at the moment?

I am so glad that the Holy Spirit is bigger, louder and rowdier than the other noisy voices in my life! Sometimes we think of Him only operating with a still small voice (and He most certainly does that!), but He is also good with a megaphone.

When I am drifting into danger, his voice steers loud and clear, “This is the way; walk in it!” When my arms are growing weary, He hollers, “My strength is made perfect in weakness!!” When sin is close to ensnaring me, He sizes up the competition and hollers, “All who despise you will bow down at your feet!” If my rhythm is off and I can’t win the way I’m trying to row, his counsel is sure, “Behold, I am doing a new thing!”

Every day we are in a race, obstacles in our way, competition all around, and a finish line ahead. We may have awesome biceps, but those alone won’t row us to victory. We need direction, motivation, perspective, and strategy. Listen to the Coxswain; be a champion!

Saying Yes Ain’t All It’s Cracked up to be.- Angela O’Shaugnessy

Vicki Tillman — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:53:05 +0000

Saying Yes Ain’t All It’s Cracked Up to Be

I’ll say yes, Lord, I’ll say yes

To your will, Lord, I’ll say yes.

Where you lead me, I will go.

I’ll say yes, Lord, I’ll say yes.

When I enter into the presence of the Lord singing this chorus, my zeal for God seems so strong that I could go to the darkest places for Him. Then I walk out into the sunlight and realize that I just have to go back to the life He gave me.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m grateful for the life God gave me. I made a conscious decision to say “yes.” But I blush when I tell you that sometimes I’m just like Peter in the courtyard, saying, “Who me? Nah, you got it wrong; I don’t know that guy.”

You have to hand it to Peter; he understood the price was high. He was past the romance and into the reality. Sometimes saying “yes” just stinks.

Have you ever arrived at the fulfillment of a dream, then realized that instead of living an episode of The Cosby Show, it was more like Better Off Ted? I have.

When I put on my hiking boots and marched off to “homeschooling adventure camp,” I had pink-cotton-candy dreams of accelerated children learning to read at the age of four, quoting Shakespeare at the age of eight, reading Tolstoy in middle school, getting their doctorate at 16, winning the Nobel Peace prize at 21…

Don’t be laughing at me, people. You’ve had those kinds of fantasies too, even if you don’t go public with them.

Click here for the sound of screeching brakes. (Jk, just use your imagination.)

In my world, the screeching brakes came in the form of dyslexia. I spent years in self-blame. I’ve invested hundreds of dollars and hours. I’ve spent many days crying in frustration, many nights lying awake wondering if I’ve ruined my children’s futures.

Eleven years out, I can say that my eldest began reading somewhere around fourth grade. He is now a high schooler studying ancient history and world literature. My eighth grader still struggles with reading. (Gasp!) But he can read when he must, and he loves science and music.

As if I didn’t have my hands full, three years ago we went to Brazil and adopted two girls, ages seven and 13. When people ask what made us decide to do that, I tell them “temporary insanity.”

Looking at a doe-eyed photo of an adorable orphan is simply not the same as having damaged, wounded children in your own home. Sometimes we say “yes” because we can’t see everything down the road. I guess that’s a good thing, because if God revealed all at once, we’d be huddled in a corner somewhere.

Why haven’t I given up? Why not send the boys to school and the girls to a good foster home? (Believe me, I’ve wondered if I should.) When you know that you are called, and you say “yes,” you don’t back down. You pray up, you suit up, and then you stand up.

I write transparently because I want anyone who is struggling and looking at someone else with envy to know that the object of that envy labors too. Any amount of success starts with “yes.” Saying “yes” ain’t all it’s cracked up to be, but sometimes it’s so much more.

How the Blog Was Born

Vicki Tillman — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:46:11 +0000

Once upon a time, long time ago there was a community of homeschoolers who knew how to do everything. Do you remember them?

All the moms used A Beka and longed for alternatives and NEVER took the kids to the grocery store in the daytime.

They rehearsed answers to thought provoking questions like:
“Is that legal?”
“What about socialization?”

They did not have to wonder about their philosophic basis for what they were doing- a handful of deep-thinking authors and speakers had already figured that out. These powerful folks educated the families on “the right way” to homeschool. That was nice, but soon the moms found that they felt they were forced into a mold AND when they showed up at events all were wearing the same denim jumpers- ugh.

They also found out that there is not a “right way” to homeschool. God made each child to be unique and to have unique educational needs.

So, some folks got together and founded Mt. Sophia Academy where the students could maximize each of their unique potentials. Each family had the responsibility to teach their children in the best way for their own needs and the family’s own ideals. (No “one right way” to homeschool.)

The children began to grow up and become influencers in their culture. (This is what happens when unique potentials are maximized- God uses them for good things.)

But what they began to miss guiding ideas- philosophies, pictures, stories, practical tips- that knit the community together in old times.

Respecting the fact that there is not one “right way” to homeschool- the community invited idea spinners to share. Old timers and those still wet behind the ears. Philosophers, photographers, poets, parents, penny-pinchers, event preparers and others. All together to share ideas. That is how this blog was born.

Join us.