Thursday, January 23, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Esperanza Para El Corazon
"Hope for the Heart" is available in the Spanish language -- here's the link:
Esperanza Para El Corazon
Esperanza Para El Corazon
Bible Radio Broadcasts in Many Languages!
Good news, today, for a number of language groups: we have another resource to present: the BBN radio network -- also available on Internet and Android, et cetera, has broadcasts, and, I believe, Bible courses, in many languages. Click on your favourite link, below:
Russian
German
Korean
Japanese
Chinese: traditional
Chinese: simplified
Portuguese
Spanish
EnglishI'm sure a number of other languages will be added, as time goes on. Enjoy!
Friday, August 30, 2013
A Worthwhile Pamphlet: "Anger: Aim It in the Right Direction"
Review of Anger: Aim It in the Right Direction," by Rose Publishing
The first thought that came to me, as I began to peruse this pamphlet, was that it might contain God-talk with great-sounding spiritual platitudes, but that it might not, in the end, quite jibe with the actual experience of "life-on-the-ground." I was pleasantly surprised at the transparency of the persons in the examples given, who, as one person expressed it, wanted to follow, in their anger, a different trajectory than that of merely "pasting on a smile."
The opening story deals with the very real pain of betrayal in a case where a spouse has not only committed adultery with another woman, but has, beyond that, decided to leave her, and to live with that other woman. This story illustrates the fact that anger often moves beyond being directed at the betrayer, only, to being directed at God, inasmuch as He, obviously, has not prevented this horrible experience.
The pamphlet proceeds: Joni Eareckson, a paraplegic known to many, relates a story from her early days in hospital, when anger of this type turned into despair. She documents her journey -- helped by a sensitive but tough-love nurses' aide-- from despair to feeling.
The latter part of the pamphlet reviews for us the kinds of prayers that people in the Bible prayed during their toughest moments -- prayers that were totally realistic and that came from the space in which they, at those moments, found themselves in.
One or two of the Psalms are cited as particularly good examples of how to pray. A quotable quote from the pamphlet is one that tells us that these ancient songs of praise and worship, and, sometimes, despair give us the nouns and verbs and grammar to go through the process of anger, and even rage, and to come up and out of it into a better space.
The author of the pamphlet, nonetheless, cautions us against railing against God, against accusing Him of plotting evil, and against bringing down His name before friends, but, at the same time, encourages us to find, in these same Psalms, for example, prayers that express our situation -- often rather precisely--and to then use the language of the Psalms to direct our own feelings and petitions towards God.
The author exhorts us, furthermore, to direct our indignation against the real enemy--Satan--and reminds us that, out of such real and even extreme anger against evil have come movements such as "Mother Against Drunk Drivers," and the like.
I found this pamphlet to be genuinely helpful, well-grounded in reality, yet, even more, based in Scripture, and, in particular, the Psalms and would have no hesitation in giving the pamphlet to a suffering Christian friend, since I do not think that the friend would say, "But they don't understand."
We are encouraged, in this pamphlet, to see that God meets us where we are at, not at some place, where, fictionally, we are supposed to be. And, by the way, for those who don't, at this moment, find themselves in extreme dilemmas, there is a small section at the end dealing with the anger that comes from small, daily irritants.
N.B.: Rose Publishing has provided me with an advanced reader copy.
The first thought that came to me, as I began to peruse this pamphlet, was that it might contain God-talk with great-sounding spiritual platitudes, but that it might not, in the end, quite jibe with the actual experience of "life-on-the-ground." I was pleasantly surprised at the transparency of the persons in the examples given, who, as one person expressed it, wanted to follow, in their anger, a different trajectory than that of merely "pasting on a smile."
The opening story deals with the very real pain of betrayal in a case where a spouse has not only committed adultery with another woman, but has, beyond that, decided to leave her, and to live with that other woman. This story illustrates the fact that anger often moves beyond being directed at the betrayer, only, to being directed at God, inasmuch as He, obviously, has not prevented this horrible experience.
The pamphlet proceeds: Joni Eareckson, a paraplegic known to many, relates a story from her early days in hospital, when anger of this type turned into despair. She documents her journey -- helped by a sensitive but tough-love nurses' aide-- from despair to feeling.
The latter part of the pamphlet reviews for us the kinds of prayers that people in the Bible prayed during their toughest moments -- prayers that were totally realistic and that came from the space in which they, at those moments, found themselves in.
One or two of the Psalms are cited as particularly good examples of how to pray. A quotable quote from the pamphlet is one that tells us that these ancient songs of praise and worship, and, sometimes, despair give us the nouns and verbs and grammar to go through the process of anger, and even rage, and to come up and out of it into a better space.
The author of the pamphlet, nonetheless, cautions us against railing against God, against accusing Him of plotting evil, and against bringing down His name before friends, but, at the same time, encourages us to find, in these same Psalms, for example, prayers that express our situation -- often rather precisely--and to then use the language of the Psalms to direct our own feelings and petitions towards God.
The author exhorts us, furthermore, to direct our indignation against the real enemy--Satan--and reminds us that, out of such real and even extreme anger against evil have come movements such as "Mother Against Drunk Drivers," and the like.
I found this pamphlet to be genuinely helpful, well-grounded in reality, yet, even more, based in Scripture, and, in particular, the Psalms and would have no hesitation in giving the pamphlet to a suffering Christian friend, since I do not think that the friend would say, "But they don't understand."
We are encouraged, in this pamphlet, to see that God meets us where we are at, not at some place, where, fictionally, we are supposed to be. And, by the way, for those who don't, at this moment, find themselves in extreme dilemmas, there is a small section at the end dealing with the anger that comes from small, daily irritants.
N.B.: Rose Publishing has provided me with an advanced reader copy.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
A Set of Lessons for General Audience Secondary School Students
Here is a set of lessons from Australia for secondary students. These lessons were designed to be taught in schools, I believe. The link is:
The Good News Beads: Lessons and Activities
I am sure that everybody reading has heard of the "Wordless Book," and even Spurgeon preached, using that illustration.
However, here is another "wordless" set of lessons, and, like the others we have posted from Australia, it has a corresponding set of Activity Sheets -- printable, as usual.
Here are the lessons:
However, here is another "wordless" set of lessons, and, like the others we have posted from Australia, it has a corresponding set of Activity Sheets -- printable, as usual.
Here are the lessons:
Here are the Activity Sheets:
The Gospel Pack for Children
Here are five gospel lessons for children, again, from the Australian Bible Society:
Here are the activity sheets that are designed to go along with these lessons:
Five Bible Lessons for Primary Children: "Jesus: Who is This Man?"
Here are five Bible LESSONS from the Australian Bible Society: the visual aid suggestions, et cetera, are given, and a lot of suggestions are also included.
Here is the link to ACTIVITY SHEETS for children, which accompany the lessons, above:
Christmas Story Animations for Child and General Audience
Here are some more animations from Australia: the link is below:
The videos can be downloaded at Vimeo for free.
IMPORTANT: be sure to download the ACTIVITY SHEETS for children at this site. They are available for four different age groups!
An Australian's Methodology for Teaching Bible Lessons to Kids
Here is a presentation by an Australian who teaches Bible stories to kids: the link is below:
Easter Story Animations: Designed for Australian Schools: Also in Chinese
Here are some interesting Easter story animations. They appear designed for a general audience, including the 'unchurched.' In fact, they were designed for use in Australian schools. They are also available in Chinese -- click on the LINK that is available at this site.
There are additional animations at this site for a less general audience. I think that they are called "What Happened Next?"
There are additional animations at this site for a less general audience. I think that they are called "What Happened Next?"
Bible Apps for Kids: in English and Spanish
Well, there are apps for everyone, and, here is an Bible-based app for kids! It does have a price, but, it is only, at the moment, $1.99 USD, so, is possibly accessible for many. Here is the link:
Recommended for ages seven and under, it contains 10 stories and 10 games, plus various other interesting activities.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
With Hungarian Subtitles: The Last Sin Eater: Film -- Online
Here is Francine Rivers' novel about a Welsh community of 1850, brought to life in a movie which can be watched online:
"The Sin Eater"
"The Sin Eater"
Friday, June 28, 2013
PERSONAL TOPICS: Anger, Confrontation, Et Cetera: also in Spanish
Not all of the topics that arise during a Sunday School lesson are general ones. Some are specific and personal, and we, as teachers, do not always know how to address these in great detail. They may also be topics specific to a given student.
Hope for the Heart is a ministry that has many free downloads in PDF form that address, at least in part, such topics. It is also a ministry that publishes various books and other media, if a person wishes to read or study a topic further.
You would go to the following website to inquire further. Hope for the Heart
Hope for the Heart is a ministry that has many free downloads in PDF form that address, at least in part, such topics. It is also a ministry that publishes various books and other media, if a person wishes to read or study a topic further.
You would go to the following website to inquire further. Hope for the Heart
Sunday, June 16, 2013
YaHero: A Bible-Based, Multi-Player Online Video Game
Here is something offered on the website of the Canadian Bible Society. It will be of particular interest to kids who like video games. The link is: YaHero
Friday, May 31, 2013
The Lamb - eBook (Yakut)
Do you need the e-book by John R. Cross called "The Lamb," in Yakut. Here it the link to it:
The Lamb, by John R. Cross, in YAKUT
The Lamb, by John R. Cross, in YAKUT
The Lamb - eBook & AudioBook (Russian)
Would you like to read "The Lamb" in Russian, or listen to it in that same language? Here is the link: "The Lamb," by John R. Cross, in the Russian language
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)