From Plato to Playdough

The Princess Dilemma

2012-01-18T23:13:00.002-05:00

With my literature class on Monday we discussed George MacDonald’s book “The Princess and the Goblin” first published in 1872. This is a fantasy story he wrote to introduce children to the idea of faith and the difference between good and evil. Within the story he contrasted the prevailing cultural definition of rich equals good and poor equals bad with a more biblical view that a person’s character defines them, not their breeding.

Providentially, on my way out the door to class, I happened to glace a section of the newspaper on its way to the recycle bin. The section's cover page included, a full page, full color, photo of a dressed-up princess entitled “Princess Dilemma: Are we sending a wrong message to little girls?”

The report provided great fodder for a discussion with the kids. Not only did we enjoy the humor in the newspaper writer’s thinking that the “princess phase” in a little girl’s life is a new phenomenon but we talked about why the desire to be a princess even exists in the hearts of little girls and big girls. And, why boys want to be the rescuer of the princess. That’s the plot of MacDonald’s story. And the Cinderella stories of every culture. It provided a delightful opportunity to discuss how the entire Bible is the story of Prince rescuing a dirty waif, dressing her up and taking her as His bride. Truly the perfect “happily ever after.”

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-28

Westward Ho!

2012-01-13T15:40:00.001-05:00

Lured by the promise of paradise on earth, thousands of families loaded small wagons and headed into the great unknown. They counted the farewells to family, friends and most of their worldly goods a small price to pay for the promise of the good life painted by the tales of politicians, wagon train masters and printed advertisements. Living life as sojourners for a short time would surely reward them with health, riches and happiness.

Our studies of the Oregon Trail and Westward Migration this week brought me face to face with a reality that repeats itself over and over in tales historical and fictitious: Humans long for home. And home is beautiful, plentiful and satisfying. The extremes we will endure for this promise astound me. While at the same time they clarify the knowledge that deep within our nature, all humans know that we were created for something else. It’s that remnant of the Imago Dei. We know were meant to live in a garden without thorns in our fields or our relationships.

As believers the challenge is for us to focus on the example of Abraham, to sojourn as an alien and foreigner in this world while looking forward with joy to a city that has foundations whose designer and builder is God. To fix our eyes on the One who is the way, the truth and the life; the One who is preparing a place for us.

These studies humbled me this week. The sacrifices of emigrant families for the promise of a good life now make my sacrifices for the sake of eternity look paltry. At least one in every ten emigrants died on the journey, never reaching their reward. Yet, I know that nothing will separate me from the love of Christ Jesus my Lord. I know that my reward is sure. I know that He who began this good work in me will carry it to completion. I know that when I am home there will no sickness, no dying, no poverty, no tears.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

To Desire God's Kingdom

2012-01-04T23:41:00.000-05:00

A quick trip about the blog-o-sphere sent me meandering through the 2011 book reviews of my cyber-friends. Not an unpleasant journey, quite the opposite. I am a booklist junkie. My favorite store is Amazon.com. I wish they were not-for-profit because my contributions to their cause each year would make a great addition to our tax deductions. I’m not writing my own book list. However, one book does stand out in my own personal year-end review: James K.A. Smith’s book, Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview and Cultural Formation.

As our family has journeyed together through these last ten years of education, my conviction that the end of education is nothing short of disciple making continues to grow. Followers of Jesus Christ are honored to participate in Christ’s mission by going into all the world and making disciples. Growing disciples means that Christ-followers know more than the elemental truths of the gospel, but that they are able to handle the strong meat of the Word: the Word that claims Christ preeminent in all things. All things including history, math, language studies, grammar, writing, science and even laundry.

Smith agrees. Of course that’s why I loved the book. But, he helped me flesh out my thinking in this area through his discussion about the nature of being human. Smith argued that intellectual reason is not the motivator of a human’s actions. Rather, humans are motivated by the desires of their hearts. We do what we love regardless of what we say we believe.

A major premise of the book claims that our desires are shaped by our actions. If we physically immerse ourselves in a kingdom whose practices and images define the “good life” by any means other than finding satisfaction in Christ, we are in danger of pledging our souls to a counterfeit king. Some of his examples include the typical western world’s shopping malls, the stadiums of our sporting events, and the halls of our academies. This time, these activities and the images connected with them shape the desires of our hearts.

Augustine claimed that the goal of education was to teach students to love that which is lovely.

The remedy Smith offers to the counterfeit-kingdom loyalty is to intentionally re-connect our hearts and our intellects through the pattern of worship defined by the Scripture and practiced by the local church. The physical acts of gathering together, listening to the Word together, praying together, singing together and breaking bread together shape the desires of our hearts. As our intellectual understanding of these practices grows through the transforming power of the Word, so our hearts are set to find their satisfaction in the person who is Truth.

Christian education is the work of making disciples of Jesus Christ. God has ordained that this single mission be mediated through his church. There is no doubt that pragmatically, it would seem much easier to make disciples outside of the context of the church thus the plethora of para-church organizations. But I am convicted that the only hope I have that my children will learn to love the Kingdom of God is to cultivate that desire for Jesus Christ through the means that he ordained.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Heb 10:19-25 ESV

A New Focus for 2012

2012-01-02T11:39:00.002-05:00

"May mornings be advents
Each coming a mercy..."

Some of my favorite lines from a favorite poet, Kathleen Nielson. They fix the eyes of my heart on the wonder of God's never failing faithfulness and his mercies, new every morning.

The first mornings of a new year are extra special, a time to review, a time to renew, and a time to begin again.

I'd abandoned this blog last year as preschool plans no longer filled as much of my days. I've decided to re-envision the purpose of this space and broaden it's content to correspond with my current circumstances.

My desire is to post at least once a week and record insights our family is learning on this journey of being transformed by the Word as we look for evidence of Christ's preeminence in every area of our lives.

Rom 12:2
...be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
ESV

From the Gift to the Giver

2010-11-26T22:26:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago as I was catching up on the ironing I listened to a recorded discussion about Jonathan Edward's teaching on the practice of gratitude. I was shocked to hear that it wasn't a discipline he encouraged. Why not? Well, from the discussion I gathered this: Edwards felt it was not good enough. He was concerned that if we fix our gaze on the gifts, we could miss the beauty of the Giver. He believed that the beauty of Christ should so captivate our souls that if we were never to receive a single gift from His hand, He alone would be enough for our souls to be fully satisfied.

Yes.

Isn't that Job's story? "Though He slay me, yet will I trust him." In the midst of his pain, when he would cry out to God with that "WHY?" question, God always answered WHO. Over and over and over and over again. Always God pointed to Himself. And in the end, God was enough!

When the pain in my life is so great that it feels like hypocrisy to "look for the silver lining," is it possible to train my mind to gaze instead on the beauty of Christ himself? He is the One who never changes. He is the One who is always, always, always good. He is the One in whom all the promises of God are YES! He is the One who will transform me from glory unto glory.

As I've been pondering this I remembered this little story from C.S. Lewis:

I was standing today in the dark toolshed. The sun was shining outside and through the crack at the top of the door there came a sunbeam. From where I stood that beam of light, with the specks of dust floating in it, was the most striking thing in the place. Everything else was almost pitch-black.

I was seeing the beam, not seeing things by it. Then I moved, so that the beam fell on my eyes. Instantly the whole previous picture vanished. I saw no toolshed, and (above all) no beam. Instead I saw, framed in the irregular cranny at the top of the door, green leaves moving on the branches of a tree outside and beyond that, 90 odd million miles away, the sun. Looking along the beam, and looking at the beam are very different experiences.
Originally published in The Coventry Evening Telegraph, July 17, 1945

And I wonder if I can discipline myself, with each counted blessing, to turn and look up the beam to the Source of the gift. To see more of Him. To know Him better. This really does happen sort of automatically as I count my many blessings, but what if I shifted my own focus just a bit to see the blessing as just the wrapping of the gift in which the Giver makes more of Himself known to me? What if it was my intention to let every undeserved gift be simply the means by which I learn more of Jesus? What if I worked at looking for specific ways that every gift helped me cast my gaze upon the beauty of the Lord? Couldn't this take the already transformational practice of gratitude journaling to a whole new level? Couldn't this truly transform my mind -- from glory unto glory??

Am I crazy to think that maybe even the Beauty Hunters might learn this next step? What it might look like I'm not sure, but maybe something like this:

J: "I'm thankful for my new puppy."
Me: "Why do you think God blessed you with that new puppy?"
J: "I don't know, 'cause I wanted it?"
Me: "Did you know that God's Word tell us that when Jesus was here on earth he had every feeling that we ever have -- and yet he didn't ever sin? Do you think that maybe because Jesus knows what's like to need a friend who is always with you -- that maybe that's why he gave you a dog? Did you know that more than a dog can ever be -- Jesus promises that He will never leave you, never forsake you? That puppy is a very special gift, but Jesus is an even greater gift isn't he, J?"

Or maybe I'm crazy to think that I'll have to help them see this. It is they who teach me so often.

Maybe, with habitual practice, we will all learn, with every gift, to shift our gaze - from examining the beam of light, to examining its Source. May we be so captivated by the beauty of Christ that our souls are satisfied in Him -- with or without the gifts.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

Welcome Back!

2010-09-28T23:19:00.000-04:00

These little guys bubbled with praise! We counted 37 things to give thanks for and it was our first day of class! Here are some of my favorites:

JM: For gold treasure. I don't have any but I have a gold penny!
HB: For mom and dad because they snore when they sleep.
HO: For my litte sister because she is so cute.
IS: For sparkly shoes.
KS: For treasure hunts.
JS: For my class. I have helpers. Three of them. If someone is being mean to me I can just to to one of them.
JM: I get to do school and I turned 5!

All She Knows is Thanks

2010-07-06T08:26:00.001-04:00

It happens every time. Little heartaches or great joys. Big desires or small requests. Her heart translates the words. And every time she converts them to praise.

I'll say, "Let's ask God." Or she'll say, "Will you pray with me?" And every time she just says, "Thank you..."

"Thank you that You will help me to obey."

"Thank you that You will keep my daddy safe."

"Thank you that You will help my sister find her shoes."

"Thank you that You will help my friend to get well."

Is this what faith as a little child looks like? Does it just believe with such absolute confidence in the power and goodness of God that it expresses its requests in thanksgiving all the time? Is this what giving thanks in everything looks like?

Oh Lord, thank you that You move mountains with such seeds of faith!

"For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 17:20 ESV

Look! Nemo and Dorie are really real!

2010-07-04T12:18:00.002-04:00

The Beauty Hunters and I got to explore the zoo one day last week. I can't begin to describe what a gift from God it was to spend the day with these little people. Two years ago I would have never guessed that God would give me such delight in these little ones. But, I have learned so much from them and this zoo trip was no exception.

If only you could have heard the joy and excitment in their little voices when they saw these fish in the aquarium! "Nemo and Dorie are really real!" their joyful shouts echoed through the hall without regard for others trying to quietly observe these creatures made to silently sing their Creator's praise.

I've been processing this reaction ever since and I've come to realize something: we all long for authenticity. It is part of our nature. We want to know what's really real.

This can't be all bad -- but it is certainly stained by sin. This desire to know whether something was really real existed in Eve prior to the fall. Satan knew it. He used it against her. "Did God actually say that?" "Do you think you will really die?" Satan challenged this creature, made in the very image of God himself, to disbelieve that God would be faithful to His Word!

She doubted the Creator. She fell for the lie. And we've been struggling to determine what is really real ever since.

Oh what grace Jesus brings when he says,

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life."

John 14:6 ESV

And when he promises,

"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:32 ESV

And when he boldly declares in the high court of Pilate,

"For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth."

John 18:37 ESV

He is the truth. Truth is a person. His name is Jesus.

But do we really believe? Do we live in such a way so as to declare to our wandering soul day after day that God is faithful to His promises? That we can know Him who is really real because He has revealed Himself to us in His Word? That His Word is the very breath of the Holy Spirit?

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

John 1:14 ESV

O Lord, we believe! Help our unbelief!

She doesn't die, right Mommy?

2010-07-03T00:04:00.001-04:00

On Wendnesday night as the sun was going to bed and the mosquitos were coming out to play, my 5-year-old little girl and I headed out to watch The Wizard of Oz on the blow-up screen in the city park. Loaded with blankets and our folding chairs we joined the small-town crowd gathered to watch this long-standing favorite.

One chair really did work better as a footstool and we snuggled together on the other one. Smart move. We'd forgotten the bug spray and two bodies are warmer than one. Repeatedly throughout each intense scene in the film she would lean in tight and say, "She doesn't die, right Mommy?" Each time I would answer, "No, she is going to be OK." And she would turn her eyes back to the screen and hold her breath till the tension passed.

As her racing heart pressed into mine the words of Hebrews 11 echoed in my soul. How amazing is our God. He knows we are but dust. He understands our infirmities. He knows that we could not bear the sanctification process of suffering and pain if we did not know that in the end the promises are fulfilled! Christ is the victor! Death HAS been swallowed up in victory!

Abraham lived out his days, as did Isaac and Jacob after him, in tents. They believed that God would give them the place he had promised. They were looking forward to the city that has foundations whose designer and builder is God.

Sarah considered him faithful who had promised.

Moses endured as seeing him who is invisible.

We know the end of the story. No, He doesn't die. He wins!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

Rescued to Rescue

2010-05-07T14:21:00.002-04:00

With fetal alchol syndrome his mother abondoned him to a Russian orphanage where the workers lied to him and told him that "monsters would get him" if he didn't stay in the bed. One day he brought in a picture of his beautifully decorated Noah's Ark bedroom for the gratitude journal because he wanted us to know how he thanked God for his new mom and dad.

But it was a little incident in class this past week that has been replaying itself in my head since it happened. The children, as little ones learning the art of self-control are apt to do, struggled to sit still, agitating one another as we circled to write the week's gratitude notes. "Ok little ones, since we are having trouble teaching our hands to obey -- let's sit on them! Everyone's hands under your bum."

After a quiet moment he giggled, "I only have to sit on one hand cause the other one's too short!"

Yes. Yes. Yes. His left hand and the lower part of its arm have been missing since birth.

But God,

who sees so different than we do, allowed his adoptive parents to resuce him so that he might be exposed to the Grace that lets us see with new eyes. Through their patient and firm but gentle love he has learned to see his arm as God's special gift.

It is this little one who, having received no love for his first four years of life, is so anxious to be good. His heart breaks if he's done wrong.

It is this little one who thanks God week after week that "Jesus died on the cross for our sins."

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

Ephesians 1:3-6

And a Little Child Shall Lead Them

2010-04-30T14:49:00.002-04:00

J: “I’m thankful that its not my birthday.”

Me: “J, don’t you like birthdays?”

J: “Yes, I love birthdays. Its just that I haven’t had one in a long time so I’m saying thanks anyway.”

He will be five in about a month.

In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.

1 Thess 5:18

Living Books

2010-03-24T07:33:00.001-04:00

“Never lose your confidence in the ability of the living text to tell its own story and make its own point. Don't let the scientific presuppositions of modern education distract you from the spiritual realities that bring so much joy to true learning!” Andrew Kern

I've been thinking much about Andrew's comment over the last couple of days.

And then Ann's post this morning .... its one you don't want to miss.

Oh that the Beauty Hunters would learn to listen to the Living Text -- and hear with their hearts the story that it tells!

Good Gifts!

2010-03-03T09:58:00.001-05:00

Every good gift

and

every perfect gift

is from

above,

coming down from the Father of lights

with whom there is no variation

or shadow due to change.

James 1:17

The Wedding -- My Favorite of all Literature's Themes

2009-11-05T00:12:00.002-05:00

"The world over, stories with happy endings end with weddings. 'They lived happily ever after' is almost invariably preceded by 'They were married.'" Peter Leithart made this statement in his introduction to Heroes of the City of Man and then proceded to question "Why?".

He ended the paragraph with this: "Try to imagine a better happy ending than a wedding. I believe we find imaginative satisfaction in stories that end with weddings because we live in a world that will end with a wedding. The Bible tells the story of history, a story that is mysteriously 'built into' the structure of our minds and practices, so that even writers who resist this story cannot help but leave traces of it - faint and distorted as they may be--on every page."

This was my favorite of our mission conference books. Ellie's headed to South Africa and when this book fell open, we fell in! Niki Daly carried us into Jamela's delightful world through this beautifully illustrated story. I have no idea whether the author knows the greatest story ever told, but she sure imitated some of its wonder with this book!

Jamela's given the responsibility of caring for fabric that her mother purchased for a dress to wear to a special wedding. Jamela can't resist showing it off and while she loved the attention that she recieved, the ruined fabric broke not only her mother's heart but hers as well.

In Jamela's fun parade through town wrapped in the beautiful fabric, a photographer snaps her photo and ends up winning enough money from a photo contest to surprise her and and her mother with new fabric -- and mama shows her love by making a new dress not only for herself, but for Jamela, too.

We've blown it haven't we? We have sinned and ruined our clothes. But God, in His great love, sent one who would buy us new clothes. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law on our behalf. He earned God's favor. And then the Savior turned and took our filthy rags and dresses us (day after day after day) in His perfect ones. One day we will be presented to His Father as a radiant Bride. Clothed in spotless white.

The parallels in this book aren't exact. But they are rich and provided wonderful discussion with the little ones. For decoration, I had picked up some fun, brightly colored strips of fabric. The adult session was running pretty late that night and the gal that was helping me started a game with the restless children by getting them dancing while waving the fabric through the air. Of course! The perfect way to end a celebration.

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:25-27 ESV

Hope

2009-10-30T07:47:00.004-04:00

Wednesday I completed my 39th trip around the sun. I remember as a child wondering if I'd ever complete another year. Knowing all the while that I most likely would -- but it just took so long time for that next birthday to come. (The fact that now they go screaming by is beyond the scope of this post!)

Hope is a concept that little kids can't describe. They just have it. They know that their birthday will come. They believe that you will keep your promises. They wait for the new adventure just over the horizion.

Our first story for missions week, Butterflies Under Our Hats, was written by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso and delightfully illustrated by Joani Keller Rothenberg. Based on a Jewish folktale about the town of Chelm, Poland, it recounts the town's loss of luck and, with the help of butterflies, their discovery that hope was better anyway.

I debated about using this book. The pictures are cheerful and bright and the story is charmingly told. The message of the book is that life is better if we just have hope. And that is true. Very true. But, hope must have an object. Hope in hope alone is futile.

I decided to go ahead and use the story as a launching pad to talk to the children about the need that we and the Polish people have to know the Living Hope. Not butterfly dust left under hats - colorful as they might be. We gazed at the pictures and talked about real butterflies -- creeping creatures transformed to beauty in flight. We talked about how the Schick family was going to Poland to tell the people about Hope that is for real. Hope built on the Word of the One who never fails. Hope that anchors our soul.

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Heb 6:17-20 ESV

Coming Soon... I promise!

2009-10-29T23:53:00.000-04:00

OK -- I said that I'd write about the books that we read. And I'm working on that. Really I am!

But...in the meantime, check out this article that my friend Moncia wrote on selecting great children's literature.

Blessings!

Tell Me A Story

2009-10-23T23:15:00.008-04:00

I've gotten to spend a lot of time with the children during this week's missions conference. We've followed each evening's missionary presentations with a geography themed class. The goal has been to help the children see that though little ones in other lands might have differences in food, language and clothing -- they are really just like us -- sinners in need of a Savior.

I'm growing in my conviction that logic or reason has no bearing on the soul unless it is rooted in story. It is the story that gives life its meaning. God designed our souls to learn this way. He spent thousands of years writing a story, painting pictures, giving illustrations in narrative and poetry so that there might be a foundation laid for the explanation that would come when the story was finished. After Jesus's death and resurrection the apostles revealed the mysteries that had been hidden in the story all along. The logic of salvation as laid out in Romans and Galatians would have been meaningless to our finite minds without a context. As illuminations of a well-known story, its beauty is unspeakable.

God is the master story teller. All men, though marred by sin, bear the image of their Creator and can only imitate His grand themes and ideas. Therefore, from every story, in one way or another, our eyes can be drawn to Christ. And, because He chose to tell us of Himself by means of a story, isn't it part of our nature to be drawn to stories? Is that why children, little ones and grown up ones, love stories?

I decided to practice on the Beauty Hunters this week. I found, through a simple library search, an illustrated picture book set in the country of the night. Each evening I read a story to the children. It did not matter whether we had 23 kids or only 9 -- the story was like magic. The noisy, not-quite-always-obedient group of mostly boys were quickly caught up in the story's spell while stillness and silence settled in our midst.

Over the next few days I hope to post about the books that we read and the ways that the stories drew my heart, and prayerfully also the children's hearts, to Christ. My goal is two-fold. I'd like to communicate to those of you who are parents of Beauty Hunters the things we discussed. I'd also like to open a discussion and learn from all of you how to better point the eyes of preschoolers to Jesus by utilizing the power of stories. Are there particular books that you have found surpass all others? By what criteria do you sift good stories from mediocre ones and thereby cultivate a taste for excellent literature? How much discussion do you attempt to engage in with the children after reading the book? Or, should the stories just be left to stand on their own, laying a foundation for discussion at a later time?

Feel free to chime in with ideas even before the first book post. I'm all ears!

He established a testimony in Jacob

and appointed a law in Israel,

which he commanded our fathers

to teach to their children,

that the next generation might know them,

the children yet unborn,

and arise and tell them to their children,

so that they should set their hope in God

and not forget the works of God...

Psalm 78:5-7 ESV

Practice, Practice, Practice

2009-10-12T01:20:00.009-04:00

My Mom often corrected the cliché “practice makes perfect” by saying “practice makes permanent.” Repetition forms deep ruts in the soil of hearts. The older I get the greater my appreciation grows for the thinking patterns God used my parent's often repeated words to form in my soul.

Some of my mom’s favorites:

“If you don’t prove yourself faithful in the little things, God will not trust you with the big things.”

“…as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

“We make plans, but God directs our steps.”

Or the line of my dad’s that rings loudly as I gaze over my mess…

“The condition of your room indicates the condition of your heart.”

These words, and many more like them, are the places to which my mind drifts as the frustrations of the day mount – their words so often echo through the darkness when I am frustrated, struggling or confused.

Studying children’s learning processes opened my eyes to the power of intentionally cultivating soul habits. I’ve reflected with deep gratitude over the habits of mind that Mom and Dad gifted to me.

As I have prayed about how to use my few minutes on Wednesdays to cultivate in the Beauty Hunters soul-habits that will draw their eyes to Jesus, the Lord has been giving me insights into the purpose and gift of liturgy. Deemed dull, repetitious and even mind-numbing by much of the contemporary church, many of these rich, oft repeated truths represent centuries of soul training tools for Christ followers.

Paul Goble, in a book entitled Song of Creation, sets a prayer from The Book of Common Prayer in beautiful illustration. Page after beautiful page calls out for Creation to “bless you the Lord: praise him, and magnify him forever.”

In class on Wednesday I used the book for a little game. I read the first line: “O all you works of the Lord, bless you the Lord.” Then we jumped from our chairs, threw our hands into the air and exuberantly proclaimed “praise him, and magnify him forever.” I read the verse, together we declared the joyous refrain and repeated this pattern nearly 30 times calling for ice and snow, foul and fish, lightning and clouds to join us in praising our Lord.

I was hooked! Here was a tool that we could use on our Creation explorations, our Beauty Hunts, to remind ourselves over and over again that every aspect of Creation was designed to sing the praises of the one who has called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light! We can even make up our own verses:

“Oh you splendid red berries, bless you the Lord: praise and magnify him forever.”

"Oh you lovely changing tree, bless you the Lord: praise and magnify him forever.”

"Oh you beautiful little friend, bless you the Lord: praise and magnify him forever.”

"Oh you tiny pinecone, bless you the Lord: praise and magnify him forever.”

If we faithfully practice repeating this refrain on our walks and in our conversations, if every delightful aspect of Creation we behold becomes a new verse in the song, if we play the joyful game, might you O Lord, graciously plant the seed of the habit of praise permanently in the souls of these little ones?

Ps 107:8

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,

and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Ps 107:15

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,

and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Ps 107:21

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,

and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Ps 107:31

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,

and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Children's Ministry Demands Authenticity

2009-10-04T21:33:00.003-04:00

“No man can give the impression that he himself
is clever and that Christ is mighty to save.”
James Denney

My eloquence doesn’t amaze the Beauty Hunters Band.

I’m finding the work of teaching little ones far more challenging than I’d expected. I’ve run in fear from children’s ministry all my life because I didn’t think my patience was up to the challenge of training them to sit still, to obey, to pay attention, to learn. Behavioral stuff.

What I didn’t anticipate was the demanding work that it would be to communicate great big truths to really little people.

It is not that they cannot understand.

Jesus said,

“Let the little children come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

And again,

"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ESV

The temptation I faced Wednesday night was to teach Noah’s ark as an exciting story of an obedient man, a big boat, a cool animal parade, and a happily ever after ending complete with a rainbow.

But what of the heart of that story as the foreshadowing of the wonder of Almighty God’s merciful hand offering to us, through the door of the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the most gracious rescue from judgment the world has ever known? A rescue that makes Noah's big boat floating high above mountians seem minor.

How do I break that down for a 3 year old? Or even the "big kids" that have graduated to 4?

I didn’t do so hot Wednesday night. I wasn’t prepared enough. I hadn’t studied hard enough. I had not prayed and waited on the Lord for direction. My lack of ability to communicate to those little ones pointed directly back to my own incomplete understanding Noah's story. I realized, even as I was dramatizing the event for the children, that in order to communicate in a way that they could understand the story first had to be woven into the very fabric of my soul.

Three points, a poem and a great conclusion are totally lost on this crowd. (Maybe they are lost on adults too and this is why God has me in this training camp – but that’s another story…) Kids interrupt. They ask questions. They run down hilarious rabbit trails. They try to get up and play with toys. How to draw them back? How to let their heart-eyes see? Their heart-ears hear? How to go with the flow and incorporate their thoughts and questions, maintain some sense of order and still draw them to the heart of Jesus?

Impossible.

But God.

His Spirit dwells within His servants. Me. He is the one that must first draw my heart to His. Change it. Make the story live in me! Only as the truths of the story have changed my heart will they flow from my lips as a means of wooing grace to these little ones so precious in His sight.

O Lord, the wonder of your ways!

From the lips of little ones

You have ordained praise.

God, how grateful I am that Your work in their lives is not dependent on me ~ but Oh that you would see fit to use me as a lens through which they see You.

It Ain't Natural

2009-10-01T00:53:00.004-04:00

My New Year's resolution of sending one thank you note a day failed before I'd even begun. By the end of January I'd sent only one note.

In February, my friend Monica introduced me to her friend Ann. Ann's "Endless List" has been an equipping tool in God's hand -- resetting my vision for developing a grateful heart -- opening my eyes to thousands of things for which I'd never considered giving thanks. But, its been hard work. I have been far from faithful.

So -- to help myself really -- I started a Gratitude Journal with my little Beauty Hunting Band. Today was our second gathering of thanksgivings. Do you know what? This was a tough assignment for the kids. They had a hard time coming up with things for which to be thankful. I was totally surprised. I had envisioned not being able to write fast enough for all the praise that would spill from their little souls. But no. Aside from Jesus and the Cross (which was a precious, reoccurring theme!) the lauding streams did not overflow.

I've been thinking about it all evening. Here's the meandering path...

Worshipers express praise. We must. We praise the one we worship. Our nature, because of man's fall in Eden, is bent to usurp the praises due to the Almighty by turning them on ourselves.

Only a soul redeemed, blood bought by Jesus, can truly offer praise to the Almighty. The nature of our flesh calls for praise to be turned inward. Giving praise to another calls us to humble ourselves. Humility is not natural, nor is it instantaneous upon regeneration. Rather, humility is cultivated by a mind continually being transformed by the Truth of the Word of God. As we grow in our understanding of the life giving truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our actions express our gratitude. Our actions -- even Bible reading and prayer -- don't earn more of God's favor. But oh what a savory blessing is returned when we gaze upon the face of our Beloved in grateful communion! He refreshes our vision to see His benevolent hand in every tiny detail, of our days.

Why then this work of thanksgiving? Shouldn't it be a natural byproduct of a transformed life? Yes! But ... its lack is a symptom of mind transformation yet undone. Isn't laboring over lists of praise just another form of legalism? Hardly. To say "thank you" is to purposefully and intentionally turn my face from the gift to the Giver of all good things. He who is always faithful promises:

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 2:18 (ESV)

So what about these little ones and our Gratitude Journal? I must model thanks. My heart has been redeemed. Theirs? Only God knows. But -- I can point the eyes of their hearts to the one who transforms all of us, me and them, into His image as together we behold His glory!

We're beginning with the basics. Here's our current poetry memorization:

I'm Glad

I'm glad the sky is painted blue

and earth is painted green

with such a lot of nice fresh air

all sandwiched in between.

Oh Lord, thank you that you are faithful. Even when I am not. Give me heart-eyes to see Your glory, the humility to give you the praise, and the courage to guide the children to you! May the habit of gratitude be a rut deeply trenched in their souls.

When We Don't Understand -- We Write Stories

2009-09-24T17:25:00.003-04:00

Isn't that what mythology is really all about?

In our history discussion yesterday Mrs. Dorman brought this up. It is so true. It's not that the Egyptians were stupid. Their mastery of logic still boggles the minds of our best engineers. But they didn't know the Creator and all their logic couldn't explain the consistency of the rising and setting sun, the changing of the season, or a sick person getting well.

They were created in God's image. God roots these mysteries in story -- so they had to do it, too. They didn't have a choice. It was how they were made.

After this discussion I saw this with my own eyes -- alive in our "enlightened" world.

With my little band of beauty hunters we were exploring the front lawn of the church on our way to the pond to collect cattails. With a burst of excitement one of the boys discovered something really cool. Right there in the middle of the grass they found this:

The ants made it -- I'm sure of it! JS

I think something fell from sky and broke the ground. JM

I think that a big bird with a strong beak traced his foot in the dirt. GS

I think a bear made it. KS

Oh how I wanted to laugh with joy at their delightful imaginations! Here they were -- my own little mythologists -- telling stories because it was the only way they could explain this new thing.

Of course, there are scientific explainations for spots of cracked dirt in the middle of the lawn. We can study and learn of them in our age of information. But can those explainations make sense everything?

What about the beginning? What of the mysteries of Beauty, of Truth, of Wisdom? What of faith, of hope, of love?

In His goodness, God gave us logic to make sense of much of our world. In His love, He gave us a God-breathed story - our very own mythos - to make sense of the rest. In His grace, God gave us a Comforter to teach us to see Him as the source of it all.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

Hebrews 1:1-3 (ESV)

The Name Changes Everything

2009-09-22T22:53:00.001-04:00

I’m not a nature person.

Oh, don’t misunderstand – I love being outdoors. The grandeur of the vistas overlooking the purple mountain majesties call my soul to sing. The mystery of the fog slowly lifting off the Montreal River on a cold Canadian morning fills me with joyful expectancy of new mercies. The splendor of sunset giving way to starlight in the gentle Lake Michigan breeze evokes humble gratitude for a Sovereign who never sleeps. Creation: Ever drawing the eyes of my heart toward its Source.

But nature? That’s the stuff of zoology, biology, and botany. Identification and classification. The stuff called science and filled with Latin words I can never remember. Nature. Just the word calls to mind failed gardening attempts and indoor plants killed by nourishment neglect.

However, good homeschoolers study nature don’t they? God made it didn’t He? So, loaded with the “how-to” books, I committed to nature studies this year. Preschoolers must, of course, invest in nature studies. So, I’ve dutifully planned an entire section.

But God (my favorite words in all of Scripture) providentially intervened. Martin Cothran’s consideration of the differences between the words nature and creation transformed my perspective. Doesn’t a name make all the difference?

Call it “Creation Studies” and duty is swallowed up in delight. Every aspect of creation’s every part (not just the big stuff) reveals the invisible attributes of my glorious Creator. Creation studies result in wonder. What will we see when all of creation is released from this bondage to decay? There is so much redemptive beauty already evident!

Seeds die to bring life.

Thorns blossom.

Backyard swamps burst with beautiful color.

Oh I can’t wait till tomorrow when I get to gather my little band of beauty hunters and join all creation in praising the King of Kings!

Let heaven and earth praise him,

the seas and everything that moves in them.

Ps 69:34 ESV

New Eyes

2009-09-18T07:31:00.008-04:00

"It has crayons all around it. And it would break if I stepped on in it."

J's answer to my question about the timepiece suspended on a nail in the classroom wall. I saw only utilitarian purpose. Unstained by pragmatism, he saw a colorful and fragile piece of art.

What else do I miss?

Lord, thank you for using these little ones in my life to open my eyes to beauty in a whole new way! Give me eyes to see people like this -- works of art from the hand of the magnificient Creator, each one fashioned in your own image.