New Growth Press Partner Review: God Made Me for Worship Helping Children Understand the Church by Jared Kennedy

This book intrigues me-- it's been a theme that I've invested in, researched, taught, created handouts for families, shared with elementary-age children, and created a "little church" for our children out of the nursery but not yet ready to sit for a 75-90 minute Big Church service.  While I do not attend a 'liturgical' church, I appreciate rhythms, routines, and practices.  Many spiritual practices are rooted in clarity and are simple, easily understood techniques to help all people, but they are repeated so they really benefit those still learning- our children.  

Jared Kennedy is a favorite author of mine has created the Beginner's Gospel Storybook Bible with 52 biblical events developed for our youngest learners.  He gets kids.  He really gets little kids, his books have questions built-in, and he expects the child/ren to answer out loud, making it so easy to build these versions of the Bible events into preschool/pre-K Sunday school.  

I do not yet own this physical book,  Before I review this book, I think it's helpful to read the note from the author on the first page of the book for parents or caregivers, it explains the intent.  

Dear Parent or Caregiver,

 I wrote this book to give you a way to introduce your children to public worship. When you think of explaining a worship service, you might say something like this: “First, we sing. Then, we listen to the sermon.” But most worship gatherings involve more than music and preaching. When the church gathers, we follow a rhythm—or liturgy—of call and response. It’s like a big game of follow the leader. We hear God speak and then we move in response to him.

 Maybe you’ve noticed this rhythmic back and forth in your own church’s gatherings. First, you hear God’s Word call to you—perhaps in what we describe literally as the “call to worship”—but then also in words of blessing or assurance and finally in the sermon’s words of instruction. Then, after you hear from God’s Word, you respond by lifting your voice in song, greeting others, giving, or by shouting, “Amen!”

 We repeat this back and forth every week when we come to church, just as Christians have for hundreds of years. During the Reformation, John Calvin saw a need to help the church rehearse gospel rhythms when it gathered for worship.1

 His liturgy followed three movements:

 • Adoration—Drawn from Isaiah 6, this rhythm reveals God as holy and calls upon sinners to respond with a cry for mercy.

 • Renewal—Rooted in the burning bush story of Exodus 3, this rhythm begins with reading and teaching God’s Word then calls for a response of reverence and humility.

 • Commitment—This rhythm, based in Luke 24, involves seeing Christ’s glory and participating in it as we gather around the table for communion.

 God Made Me for Worship walks kids through each of these rhythms. My goal is that they’ll see and learn how all the parts of worship work together to tell the gospel story. The words we use to describe the parts of worship and the particular orders of worship we follow differ from church to church. But a wide variety of traditions view gathered worship as a weekly rehearsal of the good news. And that’s my prayer, that the children who read this book will learn to love and enjoy their church’s regular gatherings, because in worship they hear Christ speak and then by faith respond.

 With joy in Christ, Jared Kennedy 

I watched this video and then contacted the publisher and was offered a pdf copy to review.  After sharing the link with friends and church leadership as I think this book could benefit the children in my home church.  

What I liked about this book: 

• Gospel emphasis. Worship works together to tell (or review) the gospel story.  
• The author's purpose is achieved- I love this book because it's clearly reminding the audience that we are to love and enjoy this precious time together!
• Biblical Connections: Ephesians 5, Isaiah 6, and Luke 22 tying together Biblical foundations of worship.  These passages are either in the book or the references given and the concepts explained- with a statement to look it up in your own Bible- this is a biblical literacy skill!  
• Too often we speak and teach of worship, as the New Testament shares and teaches, but it all started with the Prophet Isaiah, and this connection is so well done, I think many adults will make connections they haven't understood. 
• This book is reality-based, the premise is Alice asks the Pastor a question about the meeting of the church.  It's confusing to her.  Her words, his answers, and the other dialogue bring the book completely to life, and it's a realistic scenario.
• I shared the author's intro letter above, and didn't know until I read the pdf that he also has a two page on how to teach children about worship at the end of the book with more scripture to integrate and other conversations to share with your family.  
• Questions integrated into the book- and answers expected!  Engaging!
• Illustrations and print, clear, readable, uncluttered, yet warm, colorful, and engaging.  
• The main child's name is Alice- and my twin sister is named Alice which is not a common name, so when it's in a book, I love it.  
• People in the book are represented as different skin tones, ethnicities.  Not only are their faces realistic but while I own other books this illustrator has drawn- I've never noted the expressions, the paster winks, the kids have many appropriate facial expressions and emotions.

What I wonder about this book:

• If the book is listed as an ages 5-8, why does the book include 4th-grade kids whotypically are 9 and 10 years old?  I think this book could easily be used with children ages 5-11, and one of my friends watched it for me, and said her almost 3 years old sat through the author's reading and answered most questions out loud!  
• How many adults will learn something from this book?
• Will littles be confused by this book, if the worship service they attend is different than the liturgical elements the book lists?  
• Call to Worship
• Praise & Adoration
• Confession & Lament
• Words of Assurance
• Welcome
• Ministry of the Word
• Communion
• Obedience
• Tithes
• Benediction 
• Our church does not have this order, these titles, or the formality that this liturgical process implies (to me).  But we do have a Call to Worship and during our Worship, we praise and adore, and during our Lord's supper, our Ministry of the Word, Prayers, and sharing we often have mention of confession, lament, obedience, and a benediction prayer but these are not named elements of the service, and we don't have a welcome and greet one another regularly, and certainly not in a pandemic (but we do welcome and greet one another a lot before and after our meeting.) 
• Our leadership has streamlined our service so much that we do not have an offering passed during the meeting, but rather a place to give an offering as you come and go from our meeting. We also have the option to give through our website and set up a reoccurring offering electronically.  
• But I also wonder, if a parent or leader can't just explain to the child who is listening, this is a traditional formal church service plan, and every local gathering of believers plans their meeting to meet the needs of those in attendance and to worship God corporately.  So our meeting looks a little different, our meeting locations have been very different, but all of the elements in the examples are part of a rhythm that are aspects of biblical worship and corporate meetings. 
• Having seen the pdf version, many of the 'headings' that traditional churches may use are separate titles on the page, and could easily be ignored, explained, or included.  Let your children ask, wonder and intrigue is the foundation of learning!  
• Because I wondered about how this book would be appreciated in my circle of local church friends, I shared the video with a few teacher friends, a few parents, others in children's ministry, etc.  Not one of them has said anything but positive things about this book, and they all see value in it.  Several commented that this would be good for adults as well, one watched it with her almost 3 year old who actively answered the questions and stuck with most of the reading of it, and I read it to my almost 11 year old daughter, who maturely said- "It's good, and it would be useful."  

Connections:

• In the book, in the letter shared above from the start of the book, and in the two pages at the end, there are verses and passages to look up, suggestions like talk about lifting hands in worship, and several other elements that would be great and are really needed for children to grasp what is happening in your local church, perhaps a relatives local church that has a different order, structure, is more or less formal. 
• I wished before visiting different denominations of family and as a college student, I'd had a book like this that had exposed me to more information, and made it more normal, so perhaps I would have discussed it more with family or others at churches I attended in college.  
• Discussiosns of the church being the people- the body of Christ from I Corinthians could also occur, as well as an opportunity to help children understand that there are different denominations, different types of churches, but that many are like our church, centered on the good news- the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
• Social-Emotional learning- the facial expressions of characters would be great to ask children- what does it mean when her face looks like that?  Could he look like that and could it mean more than one thing?  Do we express our thoughts, feelings, and emotions in our eyes? mouth? whole face?  ... 

Thankful to partner with New Growth Press and have a chance to review the pdf of this book, I hope this becomes a new regular review partner, as I own A LOT of the books published by this group.

 And if you like this book, until November 3, 2020 it's 40% off if you buy 1 copy, or 50% off if you buy 5 copies, and they also have 50% off 5 books in the God Made Me series (by different authors) as well.  WTSbooks as always showcased new promising books and has amazing sales!  

New Growth Press has it on sale but not as discounted, but I know they will have codes and deals all throughout the holiday season, and they ship free at $25.  Sign up for their emails to learn about their books.  Also sold at amazon, christianbook, barnes and noble, and BAM.   

I am not an affiliate with any of these companies, so I do not make a profit or percent, I just love sharing books that help us be equipped to whisper the Word in natural ways with our children, grandchildren, Sunday School class, Christian school classroom, wherever you have a chance to share the Good News with the next generation.  

goodbooks partner review: Moses and the Very Big Rescue by Tim Thornborough

The Very Best Bible Story Series

Written by Tim Thornborough and Illustrated by Jennifer Davison

Every book in the series includes on the first page: "in this true story from the Bible."  This is a connection I made last year and I have started to try to change my vocabulary when sharing a lesson from the bible I try to say, today I have a biblical event to share with you.  And I've been trying to eliminate story from my teaching the Bible language.  It is easier for me to remember to tell children that each lesson from the Bible is true.  

This is a new series for me. There were four books published in November 2019- Noah, Jonah, Daniel, and David & Goliath.  In 2018, the series began with, A Very Noisy Christmas and in January 2019, A Very Happy Easter.   Next month, November 16, 2020, to be exact,  this book and Deborah are launching to the world.  These books are designed for the 2-4-year-old.  Compared to the Tales that Tell the Truth Series,  that I have reviewed a few of the books from, and that I own all of this series.  That is geared to ages 3-6, but I've used it with elementary-age children regularly as well.  I recently discovered that the goodbook company makes it easy for kidmin people to use their books in their ministry by providing all the artwork images in a file for each of the children's books they produce.  So that you can show it on a large screen while reading the book aloud.  

So on with my normal routine-- a book review.  

What I like about the book:

• Illustrations- not only are the pictures warm, friendly, modeling expression, and emotion, the illustrations include painted words, some large for emphasis.  The people and images seem to jump off the page.  The color choices are realistic yet there is whimsy present as well.  
• Developmental concepts included in the book- counting down! 
• Lots of great descriptions with active verbs, adjectives, and alliteration.  
• Fun. Vivid. Inclusive. Active. Enjoyable. True. Accurate. 
• Focus is on the TRUTH, and the portrayal for kids of this historic event is done with novelty, passion, and it is made memorable with the style of the writing and images.    

What I wonder about the book:

• Why do people capitalize God, but not capitalize the pronouns that refer to Him?  Am I just old school?  I think that God deserves to be recognized as God and respected for His character and nature with a capital letter. 
• Is it too long for the littles?  I only have the pdf, with the virus, the printed copies are not done as planned.  And while it is fun and engaging, it's hard to judge if it's too involved and wordy or not.  

Educational connections:

• As explained above, "this is a true story from the Bible."  So discussing true vs. fiction.  
• Bible is the Word of God.  It is true.  Lessons on why we know the Bible is true. 
• The Plagues- bring in darkness vs. light, different animals and insects, so many concepts. 
• Pharaoh and his fit in history (if this is older kids). His power vs. God's power.  
• Concepts: Counting down, Description, People and Sin- hard hearted, stubborn 

Thankful to partner with the goodbook company and review this book. I hope to get to read all the others.  

Tim Thornborough is the publishing director of the goodbook company.  I enjoy his article on the Gospel Coalition site.  

Chosen Partner Review: Spiritual Intelligence: The Art of Thinking Like God by Kris Vallotton

I am fascinated by brain research and how we can re-wire our brains and make them stronger.  A book about spiritual intelligence intrigued me.  Reading the information about the book, talked in concepts that I have learned about and embraced like mindset, EQ emotional intelligence, and IQ intelligence quotient and it added the component of SQ spiritual quotient.  It mentioned the book would share five dimensions of spiritual intelligence.  So it sounded like a book for me.  

I knew that it was from a smaller focused aspect of Baker/Bethany books- and the description is:  chosen publishes well-crafted books that recognize the gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit and help readers live more empowered and effective lives for Jesus Christ.  In the email, it suggests that these books will be Charismatic.  So I was not sure what to expect, but the forward is written by a neurologist.  And the vocabulary seemed to build into my background knowledge and would expand my horizon, even if it might vary from my core theology.  

In reading the book, I completed a Spiritual Intelligence Assessment.  I enjoyed the author's biblical insight, regular connections to events in the Bible, and people from history, as well as clear verses about the Holy Spirit's role in our lives.  The author's style mixes facts and his experiences and attempts to define terminology, and the concepts the author develops.  

This book stretched me, and I'm not sure that I have enough experience and background knowledge to really grasp the full intent and meaning of how the author is developing his own SQ.   The first warning was his discussion of the gifts of the Spirit, of how his pastor had typically preached about a gift in the morning, and in the Sunday evening meeting the time was spent "experimenting with one another with the Holy Spirit."  But I kept reading and recognized many concepts about familiar brain research discussed in the next two chapters, and it was grounded in concepts that made sense to me.  

As the book moved on, the next area that had me wondering was the concept of thinking like God and taking on His divine thinking.  This is where I began to search for a better understanding of the concepts, and the first time the author suggested that the reader was ready to complete the assessment and measure my Spiritual Intelligence to set goals for growth, I did.  This expanded the five areas of SQ in my understanding and matched with the examples from the book of the author's experiences and growth, I realized that this book is not one that I can give a fair review.  I need more interaction with others about how the gifts of the Holy Spirit appear in our lives, and how they are manifested.  I believe that the author is growing in SQ, and with reading over half of the book, I believe my mindset has been impacted and I'm growing spiritually.  

The book's intent is to be practical teaching on how to grow your SQ.  It is practical.  There are stories, there are metaphors, there are many biblical connections, he has the experience to share.  So it seems to be a well-done non-fiction book.  But to really grasp the intent, the areas of growth, and the SQ that the author is trying to develop in the reader, I'm not ready to measure that with my knowledge and understanding.  Nor am I ready to rate the book fairly.  so I will post it as a 3-star book- since I can't judge it as great or good, nor can I determine if it's inaccurate or unbiblical.  

Thankful to partner with Chosen Books and expand my horizons and have a new area to grow in.  

Bethany House Partner: Reach Out, Gather In by Karen Ehman

 

Bethany House Book Description:  

Reach Out Gather In

Do you long for a life of purpose and adventure? It's simple.
Open your heart. Open your home.

So, you'd love to use your home to connect with others. However, you fear you don't have the time or the ability. What if you could discover the secret to having both?

In Reach Out, Gather In, bestselling author Karen Ehman leads you on a 40-day journey that will enable you to put your good intentions into action. This book--part devotional, part practical handbook--will equip you with the tools and ideas for feeding both the bodies and the souls of those whom God has placed in your path.
On this guided journey, Karen will share:

· The biblical "why" for practicing hospitality

· Creative and practical ideas to encourage family, friends, co-workers, and strangers

· Tips and tricks for getting your house guest-ready in a snap

· Fabulous no-fail recipes, clutter-busting strategies, and clever traditions

· Real-life stories and biblical examples that will inspire you to love others well

Reach Out, Gather In includes space for you to journal your own 40-day experience of opening your heart and home to others, discovering a life of purpose and adventure along the way.

Karen Ehman is a New York Times bestselling author with Proverbs 31 Ministries as well as a writer for Encouragement for Today, an online devotional that reaches more than four million women daily. She has authored fifteen books, including Keep It Shut and Settle My Soul. You can connect with Karen at www.karenehman.com, where she helps women live their priorities and love their lives.

My Review:

The above description is accurate.  This is a biblically-based, purposeful, practical, easy to read, well explained, and illustrated with real-life examples book, that will propel the reader into action and equip her love others well.  I loved that the author explained greek words connected to her principles and the scriptures that she shared.  I learned, reviewed, and felt mentored in the process of reading this book.  

Thankful to partner with Bethany House publishing.  

Bethany House Partner: Searching for Certainty by Shelly Miller

If you find yourself hoping to feel confident in your future, struggling with uncertainty. This book is for you. The author, Shelly Miller, shares her personal stories searching for certainty. She incorporates biblical events and looking at who God is, as she helps build a case for confidence in God making life way more certain than we really recognize. I found her endings of each chapter with a few questions and passages to read and a practice stillness suggestion so supportive and engaging.  The author's style is somewhat poetic at times and her writing, not all will appreciate.  But I like the mingling of her life stories, the Word of God's influence and examples, as well as her prose that present God as the certainty in our lives.  Thankful to have an advance copy to read. 

 

Moody Partner Review: Securely Attached by Mike and Kristin Berry

 

• This book is practical.  Indirectly you learn the mindset of a parent of a child from a hard place, otherwise known as trauma, and are taught the research best practice concepts for successful interaction with adopted or foster children.  
• This book is the steps to put in place mentally, emotionally, and physically in parenting a child or children from hard places.  It is practical.  Reading it bit by bit would give you hope even if you take months to get through the whole book. 
• It is rare to find a book on how to help a child dealing with trauma that addresses multiple children in the home. Many practices focus on helping ONE child with their scenario.  
• Each chapter ends with: What Now?  and then a Remember bullet point list.  These tasks suggest you journal, chat with a friend, create a plan, basically a task or aspect of life to think through in response to this chapter's content. 
• This book is for the parents or caregivers IN the trenches, if someone who has not experienced children from a hard place, it might help, but the reader might not grasp what life is like fully from this book.  Kristin's book is a better story of living with trauma in the midst of family and life.  

Wonders

The book is an amazing practical resource.  I'm trying to think back through when I was hopeless, desperate, and needed resources, I've read and been educated by the same resources listed in their notes section and then some.  And I am trying to think through some of the biggest challenges that I needed support and resources to cope with.  This book is an easy read, as it is well written, with a good balance of facts, experience, and stories.  It is 285 pages and builds a great foundation for the reader.  

• A few practical concerns I've faced that I wish had been brought up in the book or if mentioned, most people need more information. 
• Church- attending, how to educate your leadership, connection, life group participation, resources available to support your family attending church.  
• Documentation: yes save everything.  But who do you share your notes/journals with?  
• Navigating support systems, what to seek, what to ask, what to share...like SSi, Voc Rehab, specialty care, developmental pediatricians.  
• Foster children's contact and visits with bio family members.  Preparing your child, the child's debriefing, gifts, holidays, etc.  
• To expand the above- kinship care, when you aren't in the system, but need the system.  
• Resources that this is built on and a list of books (some are in the notes, but a set of tools to extend the learning and find like-minded people)  
• What happens when the child leaves your home because the parent is ready to resume parenting.  
• Visuals-- a few good infographics, some memes of the steps to follow in connecting, some refrigerator cheat sheets to connect.  To make the practical memorable.  
• Visuals--examples of documenting- actual images or lists- they are indirectly shared, but how to write down vital things, and what is vital, as well as tips on how to do it.  
• Little faith references, a few scriptures mentioned, but this is really non-fiction how to fact-based book, and practical tips, that often a person who isn't of faith wouldn't object to reading.  It surprises me that Moody is the publisher.  But I know that believers are many of the caregivers and those who adopt children.  

Thankful to partner with Moody Publishers and read an advanced copy of the book pdf.  Wish this book was available 5 or 6 years ago.