From code-breaking, to clue gathering, to scientific analysis — the All-American Boy loves to make discoveries and uncover mysteries, because in his heart he is a problem solver. Like Solomon, who once proclaimed, “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter,” he knows that finding answers to the complexities of creation is one way he fulfills the Genesis command to take dominion over the earth. His love for justice and his passion for truth compel him to oppose evil and to seek to thwart it at every turn. He learns code-breaking, how to listen, to observe, to analyze, to memorize, to search for clues . . . and he has fun in the process. The following discovery tools have been carefully designed to help inspire and entertain the “Boy Detectives” in your own home!
All-American Boy’s Secret Spy Cipher
Through our various home school adventures, my boys and I have been studying the use of secret passageways, code-breaking, and spy techniques used by some of the heroes of the Bible and American history. We learned that from Moses, to George Washington, to the scientists during the Second World War who saved thousands of lives thanks to their code-breaking — intelligence and counter-intelligence have always played a legitimate and important role in the defense of Christian peoples.
So when my son asked me, for his ninth birthday, if I would tell him about any secret passageways that might be hidden in and around our home, I viewed his question as a golden opportunity. I answered him in code by giving him a letter with an encrypted message only decipherable by use of a Caesar Cipher. Over two thousand years ago, Julius Caesar invented this encryption technique that bears his name. The standard algorithm Caesar employed was simple, yet it perplexed his enemies. In communication to his generals in the field, Caesar shifted each of the letters of his messages by a given number of places in the alphabet. To help my son, and thousands of boys and girls like him, to learn the simple art of code-making and code-breaking, we designed our own Caesar Cipher. Our pocket-sized disk is a replica of the Caesar Cipher used by signalers in the army of the Confederacy. It comes with a soft velvet bag to keep it scratch-free and a set of detailed instructions on how you can encrypt and decode secret messages.
Click here to purchase the All-American Boy’s Spy Cipher.
Our Favorite Adventure Gift of 2004:
Genuine Buried Roman Treasure
Buried across Europe are treasure troves of ancient Roman coins. To hide their wealth, Roman citizens often buried their coins, but many died before recovering them, leaving the coins hidden for centuries. Now, with the help of modern-day treasure seekers, these coins are available to you. With this kit, you can discover, clean, preserve, and study your very own ancient coins.
As you remove centuries of dirt from these coins, you will be the first person to look upon them in more than fifteen hundred years. Over the course of days or even weeks, the true identity and value of your coins will slowly be revealed. They will captivate you as you wonder how they were lost, and who may have last held them. Were they held by a third-century Christian? A martyr?
The coins you will find in your kit parallel the history of the early Church. Will your coin carry the visage of a tyrant who persecuted Christians? Will it belong to the Christian Constantinian dynasty of the 300s? In any case, these will probably be the oldest man-made items you have ever held. With your Roman treasure in hand and a little historical research under your belt, you can use your coins as a platform to tell others about the growth and spread of Christianity during the times your coins were minted.
Click here to purchase the Roman Coin Kit.
Ancient Coin Pouch — with a Chance to Find a Real Gold Coin!
We have worked with dealers of ancient coins to put together this unique leather pouch filled with seven uncleaned Roman coins of undetermined value, approximately 1,500 years old and beyond. One valuable find could pay for ten of these pouches. A phenomenal deal! Just for fun, we have placed one genuine gold coin (not necessarily Roman) in every batch of 250 Ancient Coin Pouches. Find the coin and send us a picture of you and the coin, and we will announce you on our Web site as a treasure winner! Different sizes.
Click here to purchase the Pouch of Ancient Coins.
God bless each of you. Together, let us encourage and build a culture of courageous boyhood, virtuous womanhood, and joyful family life for the glory of God.