Combat Fear / Catechism / Reading Journals
Lots of fear flying around the city and the country of Madagascar. With cases of bubonic and pneumonic plague popping up around us, schools are shut for now, and people are living carrying a burden of the unknown. What's going to happen? What will we do if we start to get sick? Much of the fear is fuelled by lack of knowledge about the disease itself, but a large part of the fear is also due to their lack of resources to deal with it if and when it strikes their family. So many are living on the edge of resources, with no extra to spend on anything that comes up unexpectedly. We are praying that even though this is a scary time for many, it will be an opportunity for the gospel to reach more people, and the hope of something better to penetrate the lives of those needing this message.
While I was in Canada, my mom came across this fantastic app called New City Catechism. It's a tool by Timothy Keller that teaches solid Bible doctrine in a question and answer format with supporting verses and commentaries by contemporaries like John Piper, Kevin DeYoung, and well-known historical figures like Augustine, John Calvin, Martin Luther....
The kids and I have all started reading journals this week. We'll see who it works for, and who it doesn't. Basically the idea of a reading journal is to keep track of the books we read, to save passages of books that we want to remember, and perhaps record a thought or two of our impressions of the books we read.
The day the journals were purchased, all 4 of the kids were busily copying sections of books they were currently reading. It was so cute. I hope we can keep their passions alive! Because I am also keeping one, I hope the act of modelling this kind of record-keeping is also somewhat inspiring for them. We'll see. ;)
Life
This past week we had to make a trip to the dentist. My youngest child has a permanent tooth growing in behind his baby teeth on the bottom row. No wiggly teeth in site yet. So it needed pulling. He was super brave. I was a bit sad for him that his first lost tooth had to be forced out by the dentist, but it was a positive experience and I think will set him up well to be courageous in the coming years in the dentist chair if need be.
Online Finds
While I was in Canada, my mom came across this fantastic app called New City Catechism. It's a tool by Timothy Keller that teaches solid Bible doctrine in a question and answer format with supporting verses and commentaries by contemporaries like John Piper, Kevin DeYoung, and well-known historical figures like Augustine, John Calvin, Martin Luther....
Years ago, I had wanted to do a catechism-type practice with my children, as an add-on to their regular Scripture memory work. But I had yet to find something I really liked.
This app has meshed two great things together
- Foundational doctrines of our faith laid out in 52 questions and answers
- Easy-to-learn songs for children to aid in memorization
We have been using this program as part of our daily devotional times, learning one new question each week. The songs are simple and catchy, and I hear the kids humming them during play. We have already needed to recall truths we've learned to combat questions about life and God that have arisen over the past several weeks in our discussions throughout the day.
In My Garden
Agapanthus are starting to bloom. These bulbs are amazing.
On My Side Table
The kids and I have all started reading journals this week. We'll see who it works for, and who it doesn't. Basically the idea of a reading journal is to keep track of the books we read, to save passages of books that we want to remember, and perhaps record a thought or two of our impressions of the books we read.The day the journals were purchased, all 4 of the kids were busily copying sections of books they were currently reading. It was so cute. I hope we can keep their passions alive! Because I am also keeping one, I hope the act of modelling this kind of record-keeping is also somewhat inspiring for them. We'll see. ;)
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