Monday, August 1, 2011

Don’t Check Your Brains At The Door

_240_360_Book.452.coverDon’t Check Your Brains at the Door
Written by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler
Published at Thomas Nelson

About the book

“Seven in 10 Protestants ages 18 to 30—both evangelical and mainline—who went to church regularly in high school said they quit attending by age 23, according to the survey by LifeWay Research.” (USA Today)

Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door gives teens answers that make sense, even for the toughest of questions. Internationally known defender of the faith Josh McDowell and co-author Bob Hostetler offer clarity laced with humor to expose common myths about God, the Bible, religion, and life to show how Christianity stands up to the test of fact and reason. Teens will be better equipped to stick with their faith as they begin to understand why they believe and why it’s important to make a lifetime commitment to Christ and the church.

My Thoughts

When I was young I was raised in the Catholic faith.  But we were occasional Catholic.  Somehow, I sensed that there was something more than just Christmas, Easter and going to church while visiting my maternal grand-mother who was a devout Catholic.   I wish I had a book like this one when I was growing up.  It would have given me basics tool to come to Christ at an earlier age. 

I find this book very useful for me as a parent who wants to make sure that my kids will be able to stay strong in their faith as they grow up.   So often, the youth leave the faith when they hit high school and college/university.   I want to make sure that my kids have all the tools/books at hand to help them deal with doubt and questions when the need arise.

The book covers various myths believed by many youth these days.

  • Myths about God: The Cosmic Cop, The Luke Skywalker God, the Vending Machine God
  • Myths about Jesus: Prophet Jesus, Superstar Myth, Wimpy Jesus, Plastic Jesus, Lily-White Jesus
  • Myths about the Bible: Just-Another-Great Book Myth, Bible and Swiss Cheese, Telephone Game, Changing Fact to Fiction, Archaeological Myth, Coincidence Myth
  • Myths about the Resurrection: Swoon Myth, Wrong Tomb Myth, Stolen Body Myth
  • Myths about Religion and Christianity: Relativity Myth, The God-Will-Grade-on-a-Curve Myth, Universalist Myth, Ideology Myth, unintellectual Myth, Blind Faith Myth, Unscientific Myth, Brainwash Myth, Thomas Myth, Subjective Faith Myth, Elmer Gantry Myth, New Age Myth, Rose Garden Myth
  • Myths about Life and Happiness: Consumer Myth, Nice Guy Myth, Pharisees’ Myth, Manhood Myth, Egoist Myth, Cover Girl Myth, Conformist Myth, Puritan Myth, Anachist Myth, Love-at-First-Sight Myth, Humanist Myth, Heaven-is-a-Place-on-Earth Myth.

Each chapter ends with with a Brain food section where the youth can dig in his/her Bible and find answers to questions asked.    The chapters are easy to read within 5 pages each and will definitively highlight the obscure questions that any young person might have about God, Jesus, the Bible, the Resurrection, Christianity, life and more.  

My son, who is 10 years old, wants to have this book on his iPod.   I am planning to go through this book with him during our upcoming school year.   Having the opportunity of homeschooling my kids I enjoy including this kind of book into our daily routine.   This book is perfect as each chapter are quite reasonable and there is a section at the end to encourage discussion.   

I highly recommend Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door for anyone who have a young person wanting to deepen their understand of what it means to be a Christian.

Don’t Check Your Brains at The Door is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: I received the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

My First Hands-On Bible

imageMy First Hands-On Bible
Published at Tyndale

About the Bible

First Hands-On Bible is the preschooler version of the popular Hands-On Bible, which has sold over a half million copies. Jesus taught with hands-on lessons and illustrations; My First Hands-On Bible uses the same experience-based learning to communicate God’s Word in an active, understandable way. My First Hands-On Bible is a fun and simple yet meaningful way to engage preschool, pre-K, and K children (ages 3-6) with the Bible while helping them build a solid faith foundation. Each lesson focuses on a specific Bible point through a variety of activities in order to reinforce and help young children remember the stories and lessons. Using common household items, you can help your children have a “hands-on” learning experience while engaging them in 85 key stories from the Bible. My First Hands-On Bible doesn’t just retell the Bible stories; it also includes actual Scripture from the easy-to-understand and easy-to-read Holy Bible, New Living Translation. In addition to the stories and activities, there are fun illustrations, prayers, and a special Jesus Connection feature.

My Thoughts

Last year, I had the privilege to review the new edition of the Hands-On Bible.   We had this Bible at our church and I loved the way the activities were incorporated in the Bible.   So when the opportunity rose for me to review the preschooler edition of the Hands-On Bible, I didn’t think twice and jumped on it.

My First Hands-On Bible is exactly what I picture and more.   Not only will you read the Bible to your kids but you will experience it as well.    It literally brings the Bible to life with activities, games and discussions tied to the story read.  Pockets and Cuddles (the kangaroo and the lamb) will guide you for prayer and activities to do with your preschooler.  

In all there are 85 Bible stories written in the New Living Translation to which you will have activities and games created by the same people who brought the Hands-On Bible to life.    You will also experience the “Jesus Connections” which will help your kids to discover Jesus throughout the Bible from the Old Testament to the New Testament.  Throughout the pages you will see handprints.   When you see one, it is suggested that you stop the reading and do an activity with your child.   Doing so will involve the kids in the story by moving around, acting out, looking for things in the pictures, and enjoying all sorts of fun activities.   Talk about bringing the Bible alive for little ones! 

My First Hands-On Bible has beautiful illustrations that will grab the attention of your child.   I find this jewel of a Bible to be a wonderful tool for homeschoolers who wants to teach the Bible to young children.    I am personally planning to use ours for the homeschool time with my daughter who is three and a half years old this year.   With this Bible, preschoolers will get into the Bible and the Bible will get into their hearts.   I find that it is a good way to instill a solid foundation of faith in God.

I highly recommend My First Hands-On Bible (and the Hands-On Bible) to everyone who wants to discover the Bible through fun activities.  

My First Hands-On Bible is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: I received the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

365 Project–Day 209

PhotobucketI am participating in the 2011 Mommytography 365 Project! For this year long project I will be posting an image a day, to get me out shooting, using my camera and learning new things with it daily. Anyone interested in photography can join, no need to be a Mommytographer. We have teens to adults, male and female, as well as people from all over the world. Come join the fun!

 

Not sure from which tree this comes from but it was sitting on the wooden cross at our campsite.

 

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