Some Favorite Books

I don't usually write about the books I've been reading either on my own or with the kids because I don't think that what I have to say about a book is really that important.  Also, books are personal.  What someone loves about a book, another person may not.  What speaks to someone or touches their heart may not make the same impact on another person.  But sometimes you read a book that you just want to share regardless if the individuals on the other end are even interested.  

The book Give Them Truth by Starr Meade was one of those books for me.  As a family we have pretty much read every book written by this author and have come to love the truths that they contain whether they are teaching catechism or sharing truths from stories in the Bible.  Our all time favorite is still Grandpa's Box.  

This book, however, is not for kids but for parents and teachers who instruct and train children.   The book is set up to explain why teaching our children the truths of God and his Word are important, what truths our children need to know, and then how to help our children know these truths.   Even though I appreciated all aspects of this book, the parts that have stayed with me are the two chapters on  God and His attributes and the practical illustrations and activities used throughout the book to explain to children "difficult" doctrinal truths.  

Here are a few favorite quotes:

"Christianity based on experience or emotion or good behavior will crumble in the face of life's trials."

"Learning theology is like studying for exams--when we're tested we want to be ready"

"Suffering is often the path (God) chooses for his children, wanting their holiness more than their happiness"

"The 'downside' to the sovereignty of God, from the perspective of sinful human beings, is that if God rules, we don't."

"(People of our day) want to imagine something a little more powerful than they are, as eager to serve them as they are to serve themselves, and call that God"

Starr Meade has provided us with many resources to instruct our children.  I already mentioned Grandpa's Box, but she has also written Mighty Acts of God and Wondrous Works of God which are Bible story books.  Training Hearts, Teaching Minds and Comforting Hearts, Teaching Minds are devotionals to help instruct children in the truths contained in the catechisms.  She has also written smaller devotionals entitled God's Mighty Acts in Creation and God's Mighty Acts in Salvation.  

I can also recommend two other resources we have recently enjoyed or are enjoying.  We are currently reading The Ology at our evening family worship time.  I like the book because you can expand the teaching by reading all the Bible passages or keep it shorter by just reading the key verses depending on how much time you have.

Since Russ is preaching a sermon series on the book of Mark, we bought a case of Mark's Marvellous Book to give to the families in our church that have children eight and under.  Prior to a short retelling of a Bible story from the Gospel the author has a quirky short story that explains the main key word in the Bible story such as "pleased," "amazing," or "growing."  We don't have anyone under eight, but we all still enjoyed the book!