19May2008

Forgetting the Sunday School Lesson

Posted by Michelle under: Attention; Using Questions.

Today I asked David what he learned in children’s church. Try as I could, I could not get an answer out of him. I asked him whether he was being a wise listener. He insisted he listened, but he could not remember a single detail about what happened.
It is possible that fatigue had something to [...]

Popularity: 81% [?]

13May2008

Define “Gloating” Biblically

Posted by Michelle under: Communication and Meaning.

How do I frame gloating in biblical language?
Here is the conversation: “I have the Richard Scarry book. I’m so glad I have the Richard Scarry book.” and the unstated “you don’t have it.”
It’s not exactly rejoicing when your enemy falls, although I think that’s close.
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let [...]

Popularity: 40% [?]

25April2008

Preventing Christian Nerds

Posted by Michelle under: Child Development.

I remember quite clearly when I was in high school an unsaved coworker “interpreted” a conversation on popular music for me, explaining references that were beyond my knowledge. At the other person’s puzzled look, my friend said, “She knows a lot about classical music, but she knows nothing about pop or rock.” The exact response [...]

Popularity: 28% [?]

19April2008

Four Parenting Links

Posted by Michelle under: Child Development; Family Devotions; Obedience.

Four links for today:
The first two are by occasional commenters at As4Me.
Addy writes about repetition in teaching children. I had missed the article she references, so I was thankful she shared its significance to child rearing.
Jay Younts asks how we can teach our children to have an intimate relationship with God. He states the very [...]

Popularity: 44% [?]

17April2008

Prioritizing Lessons for Baby

Posted by Michelle under: Communication and Meaning; Getting Along.

This morning, baby (18 months) cried because Bethel picked up the book she had put down. She wanted the book back.
I was faced immediately with the thought that I had to choose what lesson I wanted to teach.

I could have dealt with screaming to get what she wants.
I could have dealt with helping her [...]

Popularity: 35% [?]

3April2008

Diagnosing Fear: Bible Deficiency

Posted by Michelle under: Fear.

Do you ever worry about whether you’re doing things right? Worry about the next assignment or deployment? Worry about family, worry about finances?
I found myself worrying last night, and this is what I read.
And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was [...]

Popularity: 25% [?]

28March2008

Still Thinking about Courage

Posted by Michelle under: Communication and Meaning; Emotions; Fear.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines courage as: “The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery.”
You can probably see a resemblance to the Latin cor, for heart.
Notice that courage could come from self-reliance or pride rather than from remembering our God.  [...]

Popularity: 42% [?]

27March2008

Bravery and Fear

Posted by Michelle under: Communication and Meaning; Emotions; Fear.

On the way home from church last night, one of my fascinating children talked about being afraid a year ago watching fireworks on July 4. I’m still interested in knowing how they understand fear, and I was particularly fascinated to wonder why this memory was brought up at that time. (We were merely looking at [...]

Popularity: 64% [?]

25March2008

Easter Story Not Understandable

Posted by Michelle under: Communication and Meaning; Discipleship.

Last week one Pastor gave an alert that a curriculum his church uses omits the Easter Story, the crucifixion and the resurrection. The authors gave two reasons; the first was that the Easter story is too violent for preschoolers. We talked about this objection on Friday. The second objection was that preschoolers don’t understand death [...]

Popularity: 36% [?]

21March2008

Easter Story Too Violent

Posted by Michelle under: Communication and Meaning; Salvation.

Authors of a Sunday school curriculum explained recently why they were omitting the Crucifixion and Resurrection from their preschool curriculum. They made this choice for two reasons: first, that the crucifixion is too violent for preschoolers, and second, preschoolers are unable to grasp what it means to die and be raised again.
Apart from the emotional [...]

Popularity: 38% [?]