Coffee and Cavities

Earlier today, I was excited to learn that the coffee grinder I ordered 2 days ago arrived at our home safe and sound. Unfortunately, late this afternoon, the dentist told me I had four cavities and a cracked filling. Instead of getting upset, I choose to enjoy a hot cup of joe with my new teeth.

Thanksgiving Messages 2010

Abraham Lincoln Offers Thanksgiving to God by Randy Alcorn

What are your thoughts on celebrating God during the Thanksgiving holiday? by John MacArthur

Why Thanksgiving Matters by Albert Mohler

Thanksgiving  by R.C. Sproul

Floating Water Vapor

During my trip to Malaysia earlier this month, I was captivated by the blue skies and the amazing array of clouds. Blue skies are not common in Tianjin, and clouds like these simply can't be seen in this neck of the woods.

Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge? Job 37:16

Saving His Brother's Life

Ryan Arnold saved his brother Chad's life by donating part of his liver - but died doing it

By PAULINE ARRILLAGA

 

     

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 1 John 3:16

Bathroom Signs

Several days ago, I had the opportunity to visit another international school, and I was very impressed with their facility. I especially liked their creative signs outside of their bathrooms. This school not only does a wonderful job of integrating art, English, health, math, science, and social studies into dynamic lessons in the classrooms, but they are also reaching the students during the passing periods. Signs like these need to be posted at every bathroom in the world!

Reviewing Kenneth O Gangel's Called To Teach

Dr. Gangel was one of the most significant Christian educators in the last century. A leader in Christian education for over forty years, he wrote or edited nearly sixty books. He strongly believed that studying God and His Word are the foundations of Christian education. Dr. Gangel stated, "If there is no integration of faith and learning, there is no Christian education." This was a man who was driven by the gospel and truly lived out his philosophy of education.

In Dr. Gangel's 186-page book, Called To Teach, he provides a compilation of 18 keynote addresses that he delivered from 1978 to 1995 at ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) conventions. Although the book covers some of the practical aspects of teaching, Called To Teach focuses more on the what and why of Christian teaching. The book provides a great deal of Scripture and highlights important events in the history of ACSI. I did not always agree with Dr. Gangel's interpretation of the Bible and felt he could have quoted more theologically sound people, but I still believe Called To Teach can help teachers teach Biblically. It is of the utmost importance that teachers teach Biblically integrated units, but many teachers simply do not understand how to do this. There are many teachers who believe adding a Bible verse to a lesson is Biblical integration. Dr. Gangel shows us that this is not Biblical integration.

Another issue related to improving instruction is that educators often forget that all teachers, not just Bible teachers, are to share the message of Jesus with others. However, Biblical teaching must permeate everything. God has called teachers to be different. Dr. Gangel reminds us that teachers are to be His teachers in His school system in His world in preparation for the coming of His Son.

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 

Reviewing Nancy Pearcey's Total Truth

Nancy Pearcey, former scholar for worldview studies at Philadelphia Biblical University's Center for University Studies, wrote Total Truth in 2004. The 512-page Study Guide edition was published the next year and won a Christianity Today Award of Merit and the ECPA Gold Medallion Book Award in the Christian and Society category. Total Truth is one of seven additional books you must choose from to read to complete the ACSI Christian Philosophy of Education requirements. It is a book that helps the reader understand how to develop a Biblical worldview and is a follow-up book dealing with the worldview themes in How Now Shall We Live?. Pearcey shows us that there are many, including Christian educators, who are dividing matters into sacred and secular. This is even happening at Christian universities across the United States. Many Christians fail to see that all truth is God's truth. Christianity is not just religious truth, but total truth. I have met in small groups on a couple of different occasions to discuss the contents of this book, and more meetings are planned for the future. Total Truth is not light reading, and much can be taken from it. I found the last two sections to be more enjoyable than the first two sections, primarily because I had already read a lot of information from the first two sections. Despite that, I benefited greatly from reading Total Truth and would recommend it to others.

Racist Candy

        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Earlier this month, some chocolate-covered peanuts and raisins at the Kota Kinabalu airport in Malaysia caught my eye. Unfortunately, they're called NIPS, which can be a derogatory term for someone of Japanese descent (a shortened version of Nipponese, from the Japanese name for Japan, Nippon). In an attempt to learn more about candy produced from Jack'n'Jill, I discovered that Jack'n'Jill is not the only company using this four-letter word. Nestle makes some hard candy called NIPS. There are Nik-L-Nips syrup-filled wax bottles, and let's not forget about Kraft's Cheese Nips. What up with this? Why everyone be attacking Japanese people? In all seriousness, I feel confident that these companies are using the late Middle English form of the word and not the mid-20th-century version. It's time to nip off to bed now.

Don't Read and Drive

A young Canadian man is charged with careless driving after reading behind the wheel. Unwise.

Books or TV?

Deliberately Uninformed, Relentlessly So (A Rant) by American entrepreneur, author, and public speaker, Seth Godin - "Many people in the United States purchase one or fewer books every year. Many of those people have seen every single episode of American Idol. There is clearly a correlation here...

Mr. President, Please Read My Book!

Book Hurled at President Obama

ABC News' Ann Compton reporting.

A Modern-Day Job

Joni Eareckson Tada on Something Greater than Healing: Now facing breast cancer and chronic pain, the author, speaker, and advocate talks about the blessings of suffering.

Interview by Sarah Pulliam Bailey

How Not to Read the Good Book

The Wrong Way to Read the Bible by David Dorr

Not With Gross-Out Books and Video-Game Bribes

Thomas Spence, President of Spence Publishing, writes in the Wall Street Journal How To Raise Boys Who Read.

New Technology in ye' Old Days

Bio Optical Organized Knowledge

Book (Bio Optical Organized Knowledge device...) is a revolutionary product. Find out about its amazing advantages!

Books I Read in July 2010

Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom (Shelly Cashman Series) - Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom is a huge book that contains an abundance of information. I did not read every word, but I did skim over every page in this 578 pager. Much of the information is very easy to understand, which is why I glanced over portions of the book. A lot of people who are scared of technology will not be scared of the information found in this sixth edition. There are a ton of colorful pictures and helpful lists found throughout the book.

There are only eight chapters in this volume, and each chapter ends with a list of key terms and a checkpoint. The key terms are in alphabetical order, with each term having the page number where it is found next to it. This is extremely helpful when looking up the definitions of the words. The checkpoints have exercises to check your knowledge level of the chapter. The checkpoints are very simple and comprise of three sections. The first section is labeling, the second section is matching, and the third section is short answer. There are also special features at the end of each chapter. Some of the topics in the special features include learning theories and educational research, the changing face of education, and a buyer's guide to purchasing computers and mobile devices.

Furthermore, the book contains three appendices - A guide to professional educational organizations, a guide to state and federal government educational websites, and references. This is not exciting reading, but it is a reference that is quite extensive. If you are interested in educational technology, I recommend this book.

Guiding Faculty to Excellence: Instructional Supervision in the Christian School by Gordon Brown - Last month, I took a supervision course taught by Dr. Brown at Columbia International University. His excellent book, Guiding Faculty to Excellence, is 215 pages and is organized into three sections. The first section provides a framework for supervision. The second section focuses on supervision for teacher growth, and the last section covers supervision techniques. The third and final section covers half of the book. Each of the 18 chapters begins with a Bible verse and ends with a prayer. Verses are scattered throughout the book. 16 classroom observation forms in PDF format are provided on a CD-ROM that will allow you to differentiate your supervision. Most of these forms I have never seen before, and they are great tools to collect data to improve instruction and enhance student learning. I will be entering my first year as a principal, and I am so thankful that I read this book before the school year. Dr. Brown and his book have provided me a foundation to build from and an easy-to-understand approach to instructional supervision that I hope will help the teachers and students at the school I work at.

Instructional Supervision: Applying Tools and Concepts by Sally J. Zepeda - I also read this book for the supervision class I took at CIU. This 366-page book is divided into 15 chapters covering formal and informal instructional supervision, motivation, peer coaching, mentoring, professional development, and more. I found the early chapters instrumental in helping me understand how the clinical supervision cycle works. One of the last chapters is focused on confronting marginal teaching, and this is a topic I needed to read about, for there is a great chance I will be applying the information at a school one day. Several of my classmates have been principals for a few years, and they, too, learned a great deal from the book. My only knock against the book is that the motivation theories were clearly unbiblical, and there was a crummy reflective tool called Zen that was introduced.

Books I Read in June 2010

Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan – Last year, when I learned that Pastor Chan was writing a book about the Holy Spirit, it did not get me very excited. I had absolutely no interest in reading or listening to the book. That is pretty sad; however, earlier in the month, I received a free audio version of this book from http://christianaudio.com/. The audio version of Forgotten God was a little less than four hours - almost the same length as Chan's popular first release, Crazy Love. I am so glad that I received Forgotten God. Had I not, I do not think I would have ever given it a chance. I enjoyed Forgotten God a great deal more than I thought I would. I enjoyed Crazy Love, but I found Forgotten God to be even better. It made me really think. Because I have placed my faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit resides in me. I have known that for many years, but I often fail to remember how amazing it is that I have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. I so often fail to tap into the Spirit's power. I am thankful that Pastor Chan has reminded me of the power of the Holy Spirit and what a relationship with the Holy Spirit can be like. Unlike An Introduction to the New Testament by Carson and Moo, Forgotten God is a small book that can be understood and enjoyed by many. Each chapter ends with a short biography of someone who is driven by the Holy Spirit. These accounts are encouraging and help us see the glory of God. I definitely give Forgotten God my endorsement.

An Introduction to the New Testament by D.A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo – I purchased this book last summer for a New Testament Introduction course I took at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. Another book that was required for that class was The New Testament: Its Background and Message by Thomas D. Lea and David Alan Black. Both books are excellent books designed for seminarians, but Carson and Moo’s book is much more scholarly. Carson and Moo’s book is divided into 26 chapters and includes some special chapters such as Thinking about the Study of the New Testament, Paul: Apostle and Theologian, and The New Testament Canon. Some New Testament books are combined into one chapter. This includes the Pastoral Epistles and 1, 2, and 3 John. The contents, author (s), origin, date, destination, purpose, text, adoption into the Canon, recent studies, theme, and contribution of the New Testament books are examined. A Scripture Index, Name Index, and Subject Index are found in the back of the book. This is a great resource to help you accurately understand the New Testament message within its historical setting.

Books I Read in May 2010

Everyday Talk: Talking Freely and Naturally About God with Your Children by John A. Younts - I purchased this 150-page book several months ago, but I read most of it over the course of a couple of days earlier this month. I should have read the book sooner. Everyday Talk is divided into 14 chapters and provides Biblical principles for conversing with your children in the normal routine of life, every day. Younts believes that everyday talk is the most powerful personal influence in your child's life - more powerful than Sunday School, friends, and parental discipline. Younts makes this conclusion using Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and backs up his argument using Scripture throughout the book. Some of the themes of Younts' book include...

1. How much is your appreciation of the gospel a part of your day-to-day conversation with

those around you?

2. What kind of listener are you?

3. Do you use pleasant words in your everyday talk with others?

4. Are you ordinary or holy in the way you react when others hurt you?

5. Do you have your own list of big sins that really set you off when you see them in others?

Although this book is geared toward parents, the practical applications can be used by anyone who desires to communicate with others in a God-honoring manner. I particularly like the chapter on music. The application questions at the end of each chapter could greatly aid a book study.

Gospel-Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting by William P. Farley - This was another book I purchased several months ago that I thought Megan and I would benefit from and enjoy. Initially, I misunderstood a couple of Farley's statements in his introduction. They sounded as if the spiritual depth and sincerity of parents, particularly that of fathers, determined whether children became vibrant Christians or people who lacked faith. I got the impression that if you just followed Pastor Farley's parenting methods, all would be good with your kids. However, this is not what Pastor Farley is saying at all. He clearly states that it is God who opens our eyes. Farley is merely stating that parents who keep the gospel message of Jesus Christ at the center of their lives have the answer to all parenting situations. We must proclaim this message to our children at all times.

Gospel-Powered Parenting was not what I expected. I thought I was purchasing a how-to book that would give me lots of practical advice, but what I received was much better - a 230-page book with not only lots of practical advice but also a theology book on parenting. Like the Book of Ephesians, the first half of Gospel-Powered Parenting is more doctrinal, and the second half is more practical. We must first have a clear understanding of who God is, who we are, and what our roles are as parents before we can be effective fathers and mothers. This is what the book provides, not worldly counseling, but the gospel of grace and truth.

Gospel-Powered Parenting is written from a conservative perspective grounded in the Word of God, so if you are not a Christian or you possess some liberal views, you will probably not like this book. If you believe spanking children is child abuse, that submission is a curse word, that babies are little angels who do not sin, and that we are all going to Heaven, this book might flat out bother you. Be that as it may, I would still highly recommend that you read Farley's book. Pastor Farley is a humble man who admits that he is far from perfect. I really appreciated his openness and his focus on fatherhood. Although I do not agree with everything I read in Gospel-Powered Parenting, I feel it is the best book I have ever read on building the right kind of families. I highly recommend it.

A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper - A Sweet and Bitter Providence is Pastor Piper's newest release and is a short book that examines the Book of Ruth. Like the Book of Ruth, Piper's book consists of only four chapters - Sweet and Bitter Providence, Under the Wings of God, Strategic Righteousness, and May My Redeemer Be Renowned. I chose to read this book because I wanted to read an examination of a specific book of the Bible, but not a volume as heavy as the recent commentary on Ephesians I finished. I do not want to give the impression that this book does not discuss deep matters. It does, but you do not need to be an academic to understand Dr. Piper's interpretation of what the Book of Ruth communicates. Pastor Piper introduces A Sweet and Bitter Providence with seven reasons why you might want to read the book. He concludes the book by turning the reasons into seven appeals.

1. The Word of God/Study the Scriptures
2. A Love Story/Pursue Sexual Purity.
3. (Pursue Mature) Manhood and Womanhood.
4. Ethnocentrism/Embrace Ethnic Diversity.
5. (Trust) the Sovereignty of God.
6. Risk-Taking Love/Take the Risks of Love.
7. (Live and Sing to) the Glory of Christ.

If these reasons and appeals matter to you in the least bit, you might want to read the book.

Books I Read in April 2010

Stuff Christian Like by Jonathan Acuff - I received this free book earlier this month in an audio format from Christianaudio's website. Jonathan Acuff does an excellent job reading his collection of more than 120 ideas from his Stuff Christians Like site. I was not very familiar with his blogs prior to listening to this audiobook, but I am a fan of his now. A good mix of satire and seriousness about American Christian culture is told in 4.5 hours. It's the type of book where I would really enjoy sharing favorite portions with a group of friends. I can't say that about too many books. I think people need to laugh more, and this book is a great start.

Ephesians: The NIV Application Commentary by Klyne Snodgrass - I purchased this book a few years ago for a hermeneutics course I took at Colorado Christian University. Although a couple of the consulting editors of the NIV Application Commentary Series have some different understandings of Scripture than I do, I had absolutely no problems with Professor Snodgrass's exegesis. The book starts off with an introduction to the NIV Application Commentary Series, a general editor's preface, an author's preface, a general introduction to the Book of Ephesians, and an annotated bibliography before providing 330 pages of rich text and commentary on what is one of the most influential documents ever written. A Scripture index and a subject index are provided in the back of the book. Every passage of Ephesians has the original meaning examined, the original context and the contemporary context bridged, and the significance of the passage discussed in a way that engages life today. Snodgrass's book is 14 years old, but the contemporary significance is not outdated by any means. Meaning that is found in literal versions, such as the ESV or NASB, that is lost in the NIV, is properly addressed. This book was a great help in writing a paper focused on Ephesians 2:1-10 and will continue to assist me in my studies of Paul's letter to the Ephesians.