Renewing the Mind Flexible Online Course

August 11 – October 17 EST

If you enjoyed Renewing the Mind Live, I think you’ll love this course. It uses the same text, but you will have access to the PDF version and access to on-demand videos from other Certified Master Teachers such as Dr. Max Lyons, Dr. Mike Myers, Laura Caruso, Martha Shirley, and Dan Smithwick. There will be three optional zoom meetings: August 21, September 11, and a final session on October 16.

This Renewing the Mind course is online and may be completed on a flexible schedule from August 11 – October 17, 2025 with no specific log-in times.

Renewing the Mind for Teaching and Learning is a study in the Principle Approach, an Historic method of thinking that views all life and learning through a Biblical lens, as our Founding Fathers did.

A Biblical philosophy of education begets a fresh approach to both curriculum and method. Start by “renewing your mind for teaching and learning” with a group of like-minded patriots and educators. This study is the first step in the process of restoring true Biblical education, the source of liberty and Christian self-government.

This version has more writing assignments in canvas that pulls out what you were able to learn and meditate on in the Renewing the Mind LIVE course. Hopefully you were able to complete the chart, but if not there is a second opportunity in this course. I find that most of us that are new to the Principle Approach® and Biblical Worldview methodology need it! If you have not taken the LIVE Renewing the Mind, you can still join this one.

I will not be teaching in this version but will be proctoring the course. I will be checking in each week to see how you are progressing and will offer feedback continually. You may reach out to me at any time during this course. I hope that if you feel that you have not quite mastered the “4R’s” and the Word Study methods that you will join us on another adventure to do so.

For His Glory and Honor!

Bren

Sign up HERE          Sign up for the course on the right!

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A1 S9 C4 Direct Taxes

[No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.]* ~ A1 S9 C4

“No Capitation… tax” means that the Framers did not want a tax directly on each person. They chose to give the states power to raise taxes and then each state would pay for the Federal government based on its population. Some states chose to charge each of its individuals a poll tax to cover the costs of elections. The 24th Amendment was passed to forbid this charge as the poor were discouraged from voting by this fee.

A “direct tax” means that the tax is laid directly on one’s person, property or income. An indirect tax would be charged on a product and would be born by the market. This makes the final buyer free to pay the tax or not based on whether he chose to purchase a product.

The thinking of the Framers was that the cost of the federal government expenses should be kept small through their limited and enumerated powers. These costs were originally expected to be paid by charging other countries tariffs. This method prevailed until 1913. At that time, the 16th Amendment was passed negating this clause and creating a direct tax on every American through income taxes. Wealthy individuals had their Foundation set up before this amendment even passed. The middle class has born the weight of this unjust, unconstitutional tax. This amendment should be repealed.

Thomas Dawes explained, “That Congress, however, will not apply to the power of direct taxation, unless in cases of emergency, is plain; because, as… inhabitants will elect a representative… it will be their own faults if they are not represented by such men as will never permit the land to be injured by unnecessary taxes.”(1)

Father, forgive us for ignoring the stewardship of our civil government. Help us hold our representatives accountable to Your Word and the original intent of our Constitution. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

(1) Elliot 2:60.

I have learned many of these quotes from The Making of America by Cleon Skousen.    You may purchase it here.

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Have you taken the Renewing the Mind Flexible online course? More information here!

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“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NIV

© 2025 Mrs. Brenda MacMenamin, All Rights Reserved. Permission given to share pages and posts in entirety.

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