Teaching of God

In my last blog I shared my passion for teaching children about God. This passion in my life was not a passing phase or a job-related necessity. I truly believe we must put time, effort, energy, creativity, substance and finances into preparing our children to receive the torch of life from us and sprint into the future.

One way I followed my heart was to teach children the true meaning of Christmas. (it is not too early to prepare or to tell. The Christmas season will consume us with activity and meaningless tradition unless we prepare ahead!)  While in ministry I would begin planning for the Christmas season as soon as fall activities were functioning, generally toward the end of September.

The activities I planned for the Christmas season were personal for my family, and were shared with others. The plans made revolved around the idea that time given to my children is the best gift of the season, and that the time is only worthwhile if it furthers their faith in God. The object of the plan was to provide, lead, and/or join my children in at least one activity each day to enhance the Biblical story.

Our activities included eating birthday cake (for Jesus’ birthday), going on trips, making and sending Christmas cards (they announce our faith in Jesus, just as the angels announced His coming), eating at Burger King (and wearing crowns like the magi), visiting sheep farms and serving our neighbors and other community members in service. Each day of Christmas was carefully planned around a theme and given a scripture to set context. Many of these ideas can be found under the Advent Tab on www.KosherCopy.com. My best ideas for daily activities are on my website.

I also published a devotional entitled “Advent Journeys”, a book containing six weeks of devotionals. The devotionals are written like short diary entries and spoken by the people of our Biblical story. The diaries help the people of the Bible stories, who can at times seem two-dimensional, become three-dimensional as the reader gets a look into what their daily lives were like. Each diary entry links to the ideas found under the Advent tab on www.KosherCopy.com.

Readers of Advent Journeys remark that the diaries make the Bible come alive. The favorite chapter seems to be the first week’s journal about Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father) at the Temple; the chapter has even been awarded. When a reader embarks on, and finishes the week’s journey with Zechariah, he will experience with Zechariah what it is like to serve in the Temple and tend the altar of incense in the Holy Place. The reader will see the pure joy Zechariah and Elizabeth experience when they find out about their baby.

On the second week, the reader will meet Joseph and Mary and walk alongside them on their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. During the third week the reader will join the shepherds in the fields tending sheep. He will find himself there the moment the Angel announces Christ’s birth. In the fourth week the reader will experience the anticipation and adventure of the Magi as they travel across the desert and through the throne room of King Herod in search of the newborn king.. The book, Advent Journeys, also contains a week of devotions for Chanukah. The book is meant to be read by either individuals, groups, or families: your family will enjoy reading the book together each day.

Last year I did a giveaway for a short time on Kindle. This year I am asking people who read the book to share the experience by giving Advent Journeys as an Advent gift (before Thanksgiving) or a Christmas gift. My goal is for children and their families, at least for a moment, to leave the schedule and demands of the Christmas season and escape into the world of the Bible in order to seize the wonder of the first Christmas.

Children & Education

As the month of August draws to an end, families across the United States focus on the beginning of the new school year. A good education is often the key to a successful life. Children are taught math, reading, languages, social studies, and science with a dose of physical education mixed in. Curriculum is developed to help children and youth find success in their careers and in life.

With the dawn of a new school year it is time to note that the most important place for a child’s education is at home. Children from the time they are born depend on their parents for all things in life: for food, for shelter, for teaching, for comfort, for security and for life.

The Bible, recognizing the importance of parents in the lives of their children, instructs parents on many occasions to teach their children. Moses instructed parents, “be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” (Dt. 4:9-10) Jewish parents repeat this every week as part of the Shema (Dt 6:4-9). Other imperatives include Deuteronomy 11:1-2129:11-29; 31:12.

During my childhood I experienced my parents share the Biblical injunction as part of the Passover Seder: “When your son asks you … tell him.” (Ex 13:14; Dt. 6:20) My mother read me the Bible and my family attended synagogue together. Memories were forged which remain in my heart today.

Jesus, according to his Jewish heritage, told his disciples, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:16-17) It is the obligation of the church and of each parent to personally teach their children about God.

All too often parents today, as the disciples of the Bible, send the children away. Across our nation churches put time and effort into children’s worship service “so children can understand the gospel on their own level.” But this brings irreparable harm, for through this act the church has removed responsibility for spiritual development from parents and from the family.

Parents kindly say, “but my children won’t understand the pastor.” Or they share their children will get bored. Some parents have also told me the truth: “I don’t want my children to attend the service, because they bother me with questions and I cannot worship myself.” The last statement is one of extreme selfishness and displeases God (Mt 18:1-10).

My wife and I took my children to worship, and throughout the years we have encouraged parents to sit next to their children in worship service. Here are some ideas to help children “grow into” worship service:

First Grade: teach children to sing in worship service. You can do this by playing CDs of music sung or singing them in the car. I would sit while my children stood so they could hear me singing behind them and follow my example. During the sermon we gave our children a book or coloring book to keep them quiet, and taught them to sit during the sermon.

Grade two: By this point children are reading. When the pastor read the scripture we would follow along in the Bible. Otherwise they had their book and remained quiet.

Third Grade: We asked the children to share something from the sermon in the car as we left church. Through this activity we were teaching them to listen. Third graders have an 8-10 minute attention span, so asking them to hear something is totally fair.

Fourth Grade: We asked the children for the theme of the message. We expected them to know what the pastor was talking about.

Fifth Grade: We began to work with them on listening for the points of the sermon and the outline so we could talk about what the pastor said on the way home.

My children learned what worship was about. To this day my children love the Lord and remember early lessons learned at home and in church. The Bible tells fathers to bring their children up “in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4).

One of the things I enjoy speaking about in church is how to share our faith with our children. As a Minister of Education I have studied, trained and applied time tested principles with preschool, children, and youth teachers and parents. I would be glad to come and help your church teach and reach more children. I have learned through experience that a church where the Bible is taught on the level of its students generally grows and experiences great blessings.

A Dyslexic Author

The fact that I can proof my own book (sɘɘ yɘsterday’s blog - I am awaiting a proof copy of my new book Advent Journeys) is an amazing thing, for I am dyslɘxic and ɘxcept for early intervɘntion just rɘading (not to mention writing) would bɘ with great difficulty  I “was” backwards so my reading “saw” incorrect.  What I “was” “saw” always a great problem.  

OOPS! did it again.  I always had problems when a word appeared with those three letters: “asw” and read the word I “was” incorrectly 100% of the time.  And sometimes what I “was” could not be detected correctly by context.  This “saw” always a problem.

I “bah” problems with other words also, and sometimes with the letters “d” and “b”. How do you know which way they are pointing when your eyes won’t tell you.  I like the word “ɘyɘ” because there is no way to see it backwards.

I knɘw I “bah” qrodlɘms dɘcausɘ by thirb gradɘ I spent more tiɘm in the princiqal’s officɘ than in the classroom.  By fourth grade my parents “bah” mɘ in a spɘcial school.  I learned to typɘ in the spɘcial school (thɘy colored the kɘys by where my fingers should hit) in ordɘr to sloooowwww down my rɘading to hɘlq me see lettɘrs in thɘir proqɘr order.  I attɘnded the spɘcial school for tow yɘars, and it hɘlqed immɘnsely.  I began to see words properly, and slowly began to rɘad. What I “saw” “was” corrɘct.

By sixth gradɘ I “was” enrolled in rɘgular classes.  But was vɘry bɘhind in English.  I learned the diffɘrence betwɘen nouns and vɘrbs.  I coulb genɘrally idɘntify advɘrbs and pronouns.  But to this day I do not know which participlɘs are hanging and which arɘ sitting or standing.

Which rɘally doɘs not matter, bɘcause I have friɘnds with grɘat patiencɘ who proof-rɘad most of what I right in ordɘr to hɘlp me gɘt words writɘ.  The main point of all this is, when I was young people laughed at me, so I learned to laugh at myself, and have fun.  I have tried to includɘ this fun in my latest book: Advɘnt Journeys.