Children’s Book Review: The Story of King Jesus by Ben Irwin

   “The Story of King Jesus” by Ben Irwin is a great new book brought to us by David C. Cook publishing! It is a refreshing perspective of the Bible in a nutshell that incorporates Creation, the calling of Israel, the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and why all of that is important for people today and in the future – God is renewing creation with his love (including humankind) and we are called to help further this mission to the time of completion that will occur when king Jesus returns. Ben Irwin, of course, doesn’t use as big of words to communicate his interpretation of Genesis through Revelation with young and elementary age children.

I read this to my own daughters (ages 7 and 10 years) and my seminarian theology-geek heart was filled with joy because it sums up what I’ve been learning about through my masters of divinity classes (canonical approach!) and the perspective of God that I’ve for so long attempted to communicate to children and their parents as a children’s minister.

Parents and children’s ministry (kidmin) leaders – Sometimes it is hard to teach children about Jesus’s death without instilling fear of death or scaring them with images of nails and blood and violence. Let’s be real – violence happens all throughout the Bible and is an important part of the story and the reason why God is wanting to reclaim and redeem the world. Bob Irwin does excellent work explaining certain situations – people fighting, Israelites being thrown into captivity because they didn’t follow God, wrong doings of many of Israel’s kings,seeming silence of God, Jesus arrested in the garden and death on the cross – in a way that says “This is/was not OK, it hurts and is sad, BUT THERE IS HOPE”. The illustrator of “The Story of King Jesus” – Nick Lee – also does beautiful and amazing work portraying these scenes in a powerful, meaningful and not-overbearing manner.

My 10 year old is an aspiring artist (loves to draw!) and she was highly impressed with the illustrations in this book. Her only dig was “why does everyone draw Adam and Eve as naked behind the bushes?”. Silly girl! My seven year old daughter was able to understand the story and even tell other parts that weren’t specifically mentioned, but she could look at the pictures and without reading the words and understand what is being depicted.

I highly recommend “The Story of King Jesus” to anyone looking for a good solid canonical theology of Genesis to Revelation children’s book and for folks looking for artwork to depict the Bible as well. I thought it would be thicker than it was but it is a thin 24 page book, which I then assumed would be simple and cute – yet it is packed with information and it is not too overwhelming unless you have a wiggly child – then you might break it up into parts reading over a few bedtime story sessions.

Check it out – Bob Irwin’s “The Story of King Jesus” today, comment on this post today and WIN A COPY of “The Story of King Jesus” by Bob Irwin!!

If you’d like a copy of this book, I have an opportunity to give away one free “The Story of King Jesus” book to one special random drawing winner.

How to Enter (now through Sunday, April 19th):

1. Leave your name and reason why you’d like a copy of this book in the comments below for one entry.
2. Share this post via Facebook, Twittter, Google+, and even pin to Pinterest and then leave a comment telling me where you’ve shared.

I’ll draw a name at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 19th, 2015 – get your entries in and if you think of someone else who might love this book, be sure to share this post with them so they can enter as well.

In the meantime, if you’d like to purchase the book you can find it at:

ChristianBooks.com  | ThoughtfulChristian.com | Barnes and Noble | Amazon.com

or your local independent bookstore!

BTW – the only compensation I receive for this post is a copy of the book to use for review and promise of a giveaway book to my readers upon review.

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to comment to enter the drawing!!

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Bible Stories Book Review and a Giveaway Drawing – Treasury of Bible Stories: Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times by Kelly Pulley

I was given opportunity to review a new a new children’s Bible stories book while it is on a blog tour for David C. Cook.

Here is a video trailer featuring Kelly Pulley’s rhyming Treasury of Bible Stories:

And here are my thoughts and impressions on the Treasury of Bible Stories by Kelly Pulley

Definitely a book for 4-8 year olds… if you have a child ready to snuggle up and read or listen to a story, you can start right in. I have a wiggly 7 year old daughter, she is just learning to read and I asked her to help review the book with me. She read the first page on her own – outloud to me – and then she said “This is good, but I think preschoolers and kindergartners who aren’t reading yet would like it better.” I think it also was the timing – if I had her attention and read it as a bed time story or as a children’s sermon story where I already have her as a captive audience then maybe she would have been more receptive.

I have to say I was surprised by how few stories are covered in this book – the author seems to have chosen quality over quantity, which is not a bad thing – making it easier to read through the book with your children. The stories are more like long poems that are very rhythmic – think Dr. Suess style and fun to read outloud. When I first received the book I had hoped to use it with our upcoming Sunday School lessons on the Jesus feeding the 5000 with a few fish and loaves shared by a young child. Sadly, the story was not in the book. I have tried to figure out if there was a pattern to the stories chosen, and I’m not sure there is – perhaps these are some of the author’s favorites or stories that were designed to follow a set of Sunday school lessons.

So who do I recommend pick up this book??

• If you or your child like rhyming – this book is for you.
• If you are looking for a new Bible stories book to share with your young child – give this one a try.
• If you are wanting to read rhythmic stories to children in a nursery or preschool setting – this is a great book to engage little ears.
• If you’re wanting to add a book to your church or Sunday school’s children’s ministry library – I’d recommend you consider this for your shelf.

WIN A COPY of TREASURY OF BIBLE STORIES by Kelly Pulley!!

If you’d like a copy of this book, I have an opportunity to give away one free Treasury of Bible Stories book to one special random drawing winner.

How to Enter (now through Sept 20th):

1. Leave your name and reason why you’d like a copy of this book in the comments below for one entry.
2. Share this post via Facebook, Twittter, Google+, and even pin to Pinterest and then leave a comment telling me where you’ve shared.

I’ll draw a name at 10:00 a.m  on Saturday, Sept. 20th, 2014 – get your entries in and if you think of someone else who might love this book, be sure to share this post with them so they can enter as well.

In the meantime, if you’d like to purchase the book you can find it at:

David C. Cook  | ChristianBooks.com  | Lifeway Christian Books

Family Christian Books | Barnes and Noble | Amazon.com

BTW – the only compensation I receive for this post is a copy of the book to use for review and promise of a giveaway book to my readers upon review.

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to comment to enter the drawing!!

Inspired by “Ministry Matters™ | Helping people transition to another church”

I’ve come across an excellent post describing how one can help a person in transition when they need to leave the church. Ministry Matters™ | Helping people transition to another church. It discusses how to address a congregational community member when they leave for life changes like college, marriage, new jobs, etc.

What I hoped it would but doesn’t address, is those who are simply looking for something different in worship service or a different type of worshiping community – locally. This is where I often  have continuous conversations with parents and teens in children and youth ministry in a smaller church.

In our church a few things might cause people to want to try  something else (at the same time, these might draw people in!):

• We don’t have the exciting thrills of the mega-churches around us in the Seattle area when it comes to children, youth, or adults.
• Our children’s and youth minsitry various from 1 to 20 children/teens on any given Sunday.
• We have women in leadership – the pastor and myself (whom the church has chosen to call in to these positions).
• Much of the staff and much of the congregation is (not officially) affirming to LGBTQ parishioners and families – our pastor will perform same sex marriages.
• We are trying to figure out the best use of our large, beautiful building that we can’t afford to keep to ourselves.
• Staff salaries have been cut recently including hours of availalbility which affects programs and plans.
• For now church polity requires that in order to be an elder or deacon you must be an official ‘member’ of the church – and some people are not keen on membership to anything really hindering some excellent folks from holding various leadership roles in the church.
• We have and use an organ (among other instruments) and sing songs from hymnals (among other types of music)

These and other concerns are reasons I’m continually having conversations beginning with “We are trying out some other churches…” . In a smaller church you really notice when someone or some family is missing for any number of weekends. Other parishioners get nervous and constantly ask “Where are they? do you know if they are coming back? What can you/we do different to bring them back?” . I sometimes know the answer to the first question and usually have nothing for the other two.

To be honest, I decided several years ago that people are going to make their choices, we can do the best we can to involve them in the life of the church and then it is up to them and God’s holy spirit to figure out the rest. My brain will get tired trying to keep track, but it isn’t up to me to decide whether they will stay or go. It is up to me not to let my heart be jealous and angry at people for making their own choices.  We all have seasons in our lives where we need to try something a little different or experience something for ourselves to see to even know if where we are at is what we want and need. I’m of the opinion that we pray for folks and give our blessing to let them wander and try new things and let them know should they choose to come back and stay we are here and have a place for them. I will be sad if it is a person or family that has been a “pillar” of sorts in the congregation community, but it isn’t fair to make people feel guilty or hold them back from something God is calling them to do for themselves and their families.

I have the same opinion when it comes to working with volunteers. Sometimes volunteers want to try something else and they feel stuck in having made a commitment to a particular ministry. I love my volunteers and generally it is few and far between with children and youth ministry – but again we need to let the Spirit lead. If they have gifts and talents and interests they want to try somewhere else for a period of time or they simply are having some tough times in life  – release them, give them permission, and trust that God will work within the ‘gap’ seemingly left in your ministry. We have to trust that God isn’t just working in the life of that one person, but yours as well.

We are called to be people of the spirit – the one Jesus’ sent to work in and through and with us. That means it is important having the tough conversations and giving permission and blessing to allow God’s spirit to work in all people – even if it stings our heart a bit.

Help me: Children Verbally Abused by Peers

This happens in communities all the times – I see it in the children/youth ministry and I see it among my almost 10 yr old daughter and her friends – and it breaks my heart.

Child # 1 just happens to be friendly to others and tries to be understanding in tough situations and then by chance and sometime “on purpose” because she gets along with others well – she gets paired up or simply stuck in a group with Child #2.

Child #2 is maybe jealous , can’t handle the niceness or Child #1, or maybe gets frustrated in their own shortcoming but knows Child #1 won’t lash back so passive aggressively blames the failings and frustrations on Child #1 – privately or in a group setting.

I’m in an odd place in trying to figure out how to be the adult in these situations – because:

1) often the children come to me to report, Child #1 is hurt by child#2 and doesn’t like it and needs it to stop. Child #2 claims they’ve done nothing wrong and it is the fault of Child #1.

2) I don’t always see or hear the interaction.  Other friends chime in to support child #1, and no matter what Child #2 keeps up the shenanigans.

3) Child #1 knows all the others are on their side, but that doesn’t matter when you are a tween or a teen = because you’ve been embarrassed in front of them, so there must be something wrong that you are the one verbally abused.

In church, school playground, and “team work” related activities parents have committed children to participate in Child #1 has no real way to get away from or ignore Child #2.

So what do you do? I can see why child #1 might actually love participating in a ministry program or attending church, or avoid going on the playground during recess, or not want to be in an extracurricular they really love – becasue if they go it is more than likely they will be attacked (in a way the adults won’t see) by child #2.In a few cases, I KNOW it is NOT the fault of the parents and in other cases , it is more than  obvious the parents have modeled this behavior for their children.

Also what do you do in group settings where child #2 gets ostracized by others, after they have repeatedly been reprimanded by the community of friends of child #1.  In church, the school playground, other activities — these kids need the interaction with others, but they become unwanted after damaging the hearts of other one too many times.

How do we love Child #2, while protecting/supporting/empowering Child #1? How might both be engaged without  both dropping out  because they’ve been hurt.

When is it OK to talk to parents as an adult who hasn’t been an eye-witness but has children eye-witnesses?

How do you talk withthe parent of Child #2 when they are a leader of the group, or not willing/to embarrassed to  admit their child could have been so hurtful to another?

I get stuck in the middle as a parent (my kiddo is so often the Child #1 and it breaks my heart). Tough when I am usually the leader of what ever program Child #1 and Child #2 are participants of…. “Your child is picking on my child” – They see me as the leader who thinks their child is perfect and can do no wrong.

Please share your suggestions and similar experiences in the comments below.

5 Traps That Can Catch The KidMin Leader | Kidmin360

Taking me longer than I expected to process the promised “next” post.

I couldn’t help but share this link for my KidMin (Children’s ministry) inclined followers. I’ve been in a conference workshop session or two led by Greg Baird and I respect his thoughts and ideas when it comes to minsitry leadership. He has great words and adapts his posts to the context of small, medium, and large size churches. I especially appreciate today’s post on “Traps”. True-to-Life situations and excellent questions for us to ask to keep ourselves and our ministries in check. All apply to me, but applaud #5… something that has been meaningful for me to realize over the years as a small church faith formation leader.  Take a peek, it is worth the read:

5 Traps That Can Catch The KidMin Leader | Kidmin360.

Please!! Let the Children Lead!!

I drove into my daughters’ school drop-off zone yesterday morning pnly to drive out angry at how adults sometimes treat children who are trained and designated to be community leaders.

I confess – we were in the “5 minutes to the last bell”crowd. As I pulled up closer to the five designated drop-off-and-drive-off spots, I immediately noticed some heavy drop-off congestion. Five cars were all vying for the same spot. Just beyond the parking lot, safely on the sidewalk and wearing her patrol gear what a child who looked frustrated but kept doing her job – holding out her hand for cars #6 and beyond to wait and directing other cars to pull out. Parents in cars #1-5 and even #6 #7 were ignoring this poor young lady and just driving up to other spots and causing the crazy congestion that stopped the entire parking lot from working as smooth as it could.

Now these drop off spots are very clearly marked by numbers and heavily publicized policies in parent/school  communications). Often there is an adult – parent or teacher – helping out, but these patrol students are well trained. I’m guessing it was “5 minutes to the bell” and the adult helpers needed to get to their classrooms, etc. There really shouldn’t be an issue here. Had the driving “adults” respected the leadership and training of this student – rather than simply dismissing her as “only a child” perhaps the drop-off area would have run more smoothly.

I was really frustrated for this little girl and need to send a note of thanks off to our principal to let them know what I observed. I was so frustrated that parents of a community pledging to come together to raise our kiddos up as leaders in this school system can decide to one-up the system and take things into their own hands. Not only does it clog up our parking lot and drop-off system – it degrades the very thing we are trying to teach and deflates an individual child’s confidence in their abilities.

Here are my thoughts when it comes to children and leadership in churches (or anywhere really):

* When provided training and given responsibility we need to let the children go and let them lead – especially the ones who really get it. Sometimes they may need assistance etc. But let them lead.

* When being led by a child – we need to let them lead. Adults simply need to respect and trust that if another adult has left a child (11,12,13 yr old child) in charge then they likely are responsible enough to lead. IF there is an issue – bring it to the team leader, rather than take things into your own hands [unless it is a viable safety issue of course].

Please let our children and youth be leaders – they need it, we need it, and sometimes they are just better at the job!

And to that young patrol student – this is what I want you to hear: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”  – 1st Timothy 4:12

Hope Tank on Empty

I know there were people listening to my side today and supporting me through my failures.But sometimes I just mess up and feel like the lowest most hopeless person in the earth.

Ever had a day where you were having a great time, then it all sort of fell apart? That happened to me today.

My scripture for tonight “I lift my eyes up, to the mountains, where does my hope come from? My hope comes from you, maker of Heaven, creator of the Earth. Oh how I love you Lord, you are my only hope, you are my only prayer”. Psalm 121

I used to pray this psalm on a regular basis in college, through depression and other crazy life happenings. It has been awhile since I have thought of these words I am thankful for God’s spirit flowing psalms of hope through my “saddened and disappointed in my self” heart.

The Action Bible – Win a FREE copy this week!

“The Action Bible”. Have you heard of it?? A mother at my church gifted this Bible to every child in a Sunday school class of upper elementary children because it was her son’s birthday. What an awesome gift!

I received a copy of The Action Bible, from David C. Cook,  to review and I’ll admit my first impression was, “This is definitely for boys, I don’t know what that says for my review”. I’m not a comic book fan – although I do love the Sunday newspaper comics and I was a big fan of Archie and Garfield comics as a child.

I needed some help and brought The Action Bible home to my family and handed it to each one for their reaction:

* Eight year old daughter in 3rd grade – “Whoa! This is awesome!” and she kept reading it for a good 30 minutes. (By the way this is my pink princess who loves dresses, dolls, knitting, and nail polish – but enjoys reading Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings).

* My husband, in his mid-30s, immediately turned to see if there was a drawing of the Seraphim described in Isaiah 6:2, because he has always wondered what they really look like. He was slightly bummed because there are not Seraphim, but impressed with the interpretation of Revelation at the end of the book. Overall, he really likes The Action Bible.

* 5 year old daughter in Kindergarten- at first glance “Yikes! Too scary mommy.”. Ok – so she is definitely not included in the Action Bible demographic. But that’s OK!

The Action Bible is great for upper elementary children who are eating up every book in sight because they love to read – it is also for those older children (pre-teens/teens) drawn to comic books and intense story lines. The Action Bible brings out the action and intensity of God’s almighty power and let’s you know there is no doubt Jesus is God’s son. This is the powerful message some really want to know in this time where we are focused on God’s love and peace for the oppressed and pained in our world.

Below is a fun video sharing more of what you’ll find in The Action Bible.

FINALLY – if you’d like to win a FREE copy of The Action Bible leave your name and how you’d use this Bible in your ministry or home. I will randomly select a winner on March 31st. 

Dignify Anyone in a Few Seconds

Photo courtesy of NBC

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/disney-world-security-guard_n_1695034.html

I love the photo in this article! Not because it is DisneyLand, or a princess, but because someone is taking their job just a step further out of the box (in a positive, non-creepy way) to tell children they are important and loved.

My mind just naturally starts asking:

* What if we could make sure every child knew they were noticed and loved (not necessarily a famous prince or princess) simply – acknowledged?

* What if we did this with everyone – teens, young adults, middle-age adults, older adults, the “untouchables” in our community?

How much better a place this world would be? Give some one a smile, hello, hug, or high five today!

 

Teaching children about Peace at Advent – a real life experience

Our home Advent Wreath

 

So I came up with an original idea for a children’s sermon yesterday. So often I am   pressed for time and drained of creativity that I lean on the inspiration and wisdom of others for a 3-5 minute children’s sermon. I’ll share my fave resources later in this post. It was the second Sunday in advent and I live to educate the children (and congregation) about the happenings of the liturgical church year. The second candle in the advent wreath is often a symbol of peace – the first candle symbolizing hope.

I have a lot of “quirky” favorite hymns/songs for Advent and Christmas and one particularly beautiful song was running through my mind. I realized it would be PERFECT for talking about Peace. Looking at the words of “Before the Marvel of this Night” I read it as a poem describing God’s commissioning of his angels before they visited the shepherds and the world with their message of “Jesus is born! To God be the glory!”. Is also read it as a commissioning for believers to go and tell our world about the gift of peace that comes to all of us through Jesus. So I crafted a children’s talk where I asked the kiddos to imagine they were Angels on a mission and to hear God’s instructions to them before going to the world.
I was so excited, it was awesome and beautiful all at the same time.

Fast forward to real time and actual giving of children’s sermon – I start up and their are a few usual distractions – of other people’s children – just the littlest ones getting used to coming up for a talk, etc (which by the way – if the parents are reading this – does not bother me at all!!).

Then I read the poem.

As I am reading I look down at my feet and see my two daughters (one is 5 years old and one is 8 years old) fighting over a pencil. I finish reading and as I am commissioning the children and adults to go out into the world as agents of peace, I calmly reach down and pluck the pencil out of their hands, and keep talking. I’m puzzled because my 8 yr old is still very frustrated squealing in a whisper “mommy she won’t give it back” over and over. I can see there is something my 5 yr old is guarding with her life but I don’t know what it is. They keep playing keep-away while I continue to talk about being agents of peace. My girls clearly are not getting what wisdom their mother was attempting to impart to them (perhaps God feels this way often?). So to make sure they are listening I stress ways we can bring peace – including to our brothers and SISTERS and PARENTS. (Insert congregational giggle here) and they keep on fighting. I swear they were oblivious. So I wrap it up with a prayer and sending children off to class — and then, in the hallway, help my daughters make peace with one another over a satsuma orange one swiped from the other.

I’ll have to introduce them to the musical version of “Before the Marvel of this Night”, maybe they’ll finally understand peace??