Book recommendation - Crossway review

Hi all!!  Forgot to mention something in my last post.  As most of you know we are part of Crossway's book review program.  They just sent me a book last week (I haven't been so good with the others they have sent...), and I LOVE it!!

It is called "Give them Grace", and it is by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson.  I started the book and could NOT put it down.  I am afraid I didn't give in an entirely fair reading since there are discussion and application questions in it that I didn't work through, but I can honestly say that this is the BEST book on parenting I have EVER read.  I know what you may be thinking.  There are a whole lot of parenting books out there, and, like you I have read most of them.  There is just something different about this book.  There are no systems in it - no suggestions for systems.  It does have some anecdotes and some "scripts" that they give as examples of what they are trying to say, but all in all the book mostly focuses on our perspective in parenting - not our systems in parenting.  Not only that, but it explains why there are some parenting "systems" that seem to work, but something just doesn't "seem right" about them.  There was also an entire chapter on reading Proverbs rightly that really, really encouraged me.  It broached questions like "If I am raising my kids in the love and admonition of the Lord (training up a child in the way he / she should go), and Proverbs says 'when they are old they will not depart from them' , why do some kids stray?  And will mine?" with love, grace, hope, and biblical perspective.  I can't recommend this book enough!!

A book I didn't want to like....

We were given a copy of a book called "Mighty Acts of God" by Starr Meade.  This was a book I had seen over and over in my "travels" while searching for books.  It was one that had come recommended, and I actually had it in a list of books I wanted to get a hold of when we were given our copy.  When I first pulled it out of the box and flipped through it, I put it down almost right away.  For whatever reason, it seemed too involved for what I was doing at the time.  At the same time, our boys are transitioning out of the "Big Picture Story Bible" and reading it themselves, so we were beginning to look over the "next level" of book for them, since the "Big Truths for Young Hearts" book is still a little rough for them to comprehend.

I picked it up again about a week ago to look over it more in depth.  It looks like this will be the next evening family reading book.  It is basic enough for the twins, and engaging enough for Michael and Kate. It is not activity based (which was my first impression....), but instead discussion based which means we can go more in depth with the older ones, but the twins can still have a meaningful part in the conversation.  And, something that is very important to us as a family, it keeps on with the "Big Picture" theme.  One of our biggest complaints with most "children's bible story books" is the disconnect and "character study" type lessons.  The bible is a big continuing story, and although knowledge of biblical characters is helpful, without the Gospel remaining the main theme, you have a collection of "nice stories".  Meade stays true to keeping God's redemption the main theme.  It is put out by Crossway (www.crossway.org/blog). We are looking forward to using as part of our evening family worship!  

A Book Review - by Mike

We have been privileged as a family to read a book called "The Big Picture Story Bible".  This is by far, the twins absolute favorite book!!!  Mike is generally the one that leads the twins each night before bed, so I asked him, and he graciously agreed, to give he and the twins perspective on this book!  Here is Mike's opinion :)!

" I did an interview with my twins as to what particular things they like about "The Big Picture Story Bible" and I was pleasantly surprised by the answers they had for me. Christopher and Stephen both liked presentation of the creation story, but when asked what he liked about it, Christopher replied that he really like how "...it showed God's words making the world." Stephen's runaway favorite story was "A Blind Man Sees" (Part 18). When asked what he liked about the story, he replied that it showed how Jesus really loved the blind man.

Other comments about the "Big Picture Story Bible" from not only the twins but also the older two kids were;
"I really like how every story always has a part that talks about Jesus or God (the Father)  and how he loves us."
"The illustrations are really neat."
"The story about Revelation helped me know more about the new heaven and new earth."

I as the dad enjoy reading this book to my kids because the stories are constructed to keep the attention of the kids as we read. The illustrations are colorful and support the subject matter, and yet they are not too complex to distract from the story. Each part is just long enough so that important Biblical truths are communicated and all the information can be remembered. Most of all, Mr. Helm brings the amazing and wonderful story of God's plan of salvation, from Genesis to Revelation, into a simple, yet elegantly accurate form that is easy for children (of all ages ) to understand. As I have read these twenty six stories to my children, and then read them several times over afterwards, I have seen my children's knowledge of the overarching plan of God's redemption increased, and I also have been encouraged in my faith."

We loved the book so much we gave out copies for Christmas this year !!  For more info on this  book or other books published by Crossway check out their blog at www.crossway.org/blog

A Book Recommendation - Big Truths for Young Hearts

Ok - before you realize it and tell me, I know I have talked about this book before. It is really that good!!

We have recently acquired another copy of Bruce Ware's book "Big Truths for Young Hearts" - and not a moment too soon as we had given ours on permanent loan. I really can not say enough about this book! And the second reading is just as exciting as the first.

First off, I would say that the age range is a bit off. The publisher (Crossway) recommends an age range of 6-14. As someone who often does read aloud books with my kids, I really do have to "translate" to our 6 year olds as we read. It is a bit heavy for them vocabulary wise. For Kate and Michael (9 and 11) it is easier. I would say that to simply pick it up and read it as written, it would age range from 10-17. This varies by chapter as the author uses illustrations written for smaller children - but the theological vocabulary stays in that range - which is a good thing in a sense because they learn the word for the concept at a young age - it just takes some explaining.

Now on to why I love this book!!! Growing up in the OPC as a pastor's daughter, our family devotionals were very much like this book. Taking doctrines one at a time and examining them was something I was familiar with. I think that may be one reason this book resonates with me. At the same time, I am amazed at the way Dr. Ware is able to "fatten out" these doctrines. I can not tell you how many time I have been reading a chapter to the kids and tears have come to my eyes. He quotes scripture extensively as he covers each doctrine, supporting each with multiple examples and then applies them to our lives today. The two questions at the end of each chapter only reenforce that these doctrines are alive and functioning in the lives of believers currently - not just truths to be memorized and repeated. Moving from a functional understanding of doctrine, to functional application of doctrine is key in spiritual growth , and is something I want my children to grasp as they grow in their knowledge. It is also a book that reminds and teaches me as I am reading - which is great for a family devotional - we have all grown through the reading of this book.

You can read other reviews of Crossway's books at this site:

http://www.crossway.org/blog/

Big Truths for Young Hearts

WOW!!! We started the book "Big Truths for Young Hearts" by Bruce Ware this week. It is amazing! Michael Ben and Katie are getting the most out of it, although the twins sometimes surprise me with what they have caught. Here is Crossway's summary of the book:

"Equips parents to guide their young children through all major doctrines in an understandable, chapter-a-day format.
Sure, it’s easy to teach your children the essentials of Christian theology when you’re a theology professor. But what about the rest of us?
With Big Truths for Little Hearts, Bruce Ware, (you guessed it!) a theology professor, encourages and enables parents of children 6–14 years of age to teach through the whole of systematic theology at a level their children can understand. Parents can teach their children the great truths of the faith and shape their worldviews early, based on these truths.
The book covers ten topics of systematic theology, devoting several brief chapters to each subject, making it possible for parents to read one chapter per day with their children. With this non-intimidating format, parents will be emboldened to be their children’s primary faith trainers—and perhaps learn a few things themselves along the way."

http://www.crossway.org/product/9781433506017

So far, we are studying the character of God. There are two questions at the end of each chapter for discussion, and a memory verse. We are doing a chapter a day. It has been a really enriching time for our family. Definitely worth checking out. If anyone wants to look over our copy let me know!!

A Book Recommendation

We are currently reading through a book called "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross" (edited by Nancy Guthrie). It is an advent book for Ressurection Sunday. It is wonderful!! There are 25 readings by different authors. We have been using it for bible with the kids. I highly recommend it!

Here is Amazon's summary:

"This collection of readings, drawn from the writings and sermons of 25 classic and contemporary theologians and Bible teachers, focuses on the wonder of Christ’s sacrifice.
In a culture where crosses have become little more than decorative accessories and jewelry, how easy it is for even the most well-intended Christian to rush from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday without thoughtfully contemplating the cross and all that it means. Yet we miss out on spiritual riches when we do.

So that we all may linger at the cross during the Lenten season—and stay near it the whole year through—editor Nancy Guthrie has compiled this special anthology. It draws from the works and sermons of classic theologians such as Luther, Edwards, Spurgeon, Ryle, and Augustine, and from leading contemporary communicators such as John Piper, R. C. Sproul, Francis Schaeffer, John MacArthur, Skip Ryan, and Joni Eareckson Tada to help readers enter into an experience of Christ’s passion and anchor their hope in the power of his resurrection.

Each essay in this collection holds to a high view of Scripture and expounds on a particular aspect of the Easter story using the appropriate Scripture passage from the ESV Bible. These readings are sure to prepare people’s hearts for a fresh experience of the cross each and every Easter season."