Christian History Made Easy

      

Timothy Paul Jones, PhD is a vibrate speaker in twelve 30-minute DVD sessions. Interesting facts and a subtle sense of humor make for easy listening while discovering the history of Christianity. Included in the complete kit is a colorful and well organized 224 page book.  Each lesson takes a specific period of time and lists events, names, and terms every Christian should know. I have to admit history is not easy for me, it was never my favorite subject, but Dr. Jones DVD sessions and his book has taught me more history of my faith than any other course. Everyone has heard about the Crusades, but the reason behind the events and the slaughter of innocent Christians was shocking and yet knowledge that shaped the division of the Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The book has an abundance of photos and paintings for each period. Timelines, key concepts, quotes from Church founders and links to information on the web fill the pages of this resource book. “In case you are confused” “Did you know?” insert boxes are filled with explanations and fun facts that liven up the pages. History can be dry, but this book is a pleasure to pick up over and over again. Sessions with a lively lecture and special animations on a variety of topics from Joan of Arc to the legend of Saint Patrick guarantee you will not be bored. Promotional materials include banners, postcards, and fliers. A variety of learning activities from crossword puzzles to fill in the blank will help participants remember key facts. Resources to lead the study are in the back of the book as well as on a DVD. A Leader Guide and one Participant Guide is included in the kit. The “Know More About…”pages in the participants guide allows for the eager students and unlimited discussions in the group. The Leader Guide is laid out step by step: what to do Before The Gathering, Goals For The Gathering, how to Get Them Talking, Seek The Central Truth, Wrap It Up and Work Together. There are more than 300 PPT slides to expand your teaching and enhance your presentation. Definitions of terms, colorful charts and application questions provide the instructor with all they need to make this an interesting study for all ages. Rose Publishing provided this kit for my unbiased review.

Like a Hammer Shattering Rock: Hearing the Gospels Today

I have repeatedly picked up this book and tried to read it. Each week I prepare a lesson for Bible Study. We are studying verse by verse through the Gospel of John. It was a difficult resource for my layman's mind. This is not easy reading. The author Megan McKenna is described as a theologian and lecturer. She has authored more than 40 books. This book may belong in the library of bible scholars and priests. Indeed the foreword to be book was written by Vatican II Council Father, Bishop of Victoria (retired 1999). Sorry this book is not for a casual reader. I received this book from Blogging for Books and WaterBrook Press for an honest review.

Junt Hunt's Bullying

June Hunt gives some great ideas to the parents and teachers of the bullied. She describes the bully, the bullied and the bystander. Never have I realized the power of the “bystander.” As an elementary school teacher I was always the champion of the unlovely students. My heart broke as I read Hunt’s first 46 pages. I literally had to stop reading until the next day. She uses many resources to support her information. One that influenced me when I was teaching in the public school was the non-fiction book by Frank Peretti. Most of the bullied students referred to in the first half of the booklet were teenagers. What a difficult time adolescence can be, especially if you are different from the status quo. Remembering when “High School Musical” came out they highlighted that it was alright for a basketball player to sing and a smart girl to hip hop. Teachers have the perfect position to make a difference in the life of a bullied student. But peer pressure can change the whole school. Parents should use teachable moments to educate their children to be sensitive to students that are different. Rose Publishing gave me a PDF of this booklet for my review.