The Priority of Making Disciples

We are all familiar with the Great Commission. However, somewhere along the road the mission became more focussed on growing the local church in numbers. Our measure of success somehow became skewed by the world and success was considered growing the local church - gaining numbers. This book is a fresh look at the Great Commission. It is a fresh look at discipleship. The book is compiled of several sermons with practical applications made by the Pastors. This will make you take a step back and re-think the passage of Scripture that we may have become too familiar with, so familiar that we may have neglected it in the most applicable way. The mission has always been about growing the kingdom - not the local church. I really appreciate this book as a Pastor's wife who is married to a Pastor whose heart has always been for the individual. Often he has sat before committees and leadership boards and even elders and been asked, "That is a great out reach but how many of those people are actually coming to this church, where is their tithe going?" This question eximplifies the misapplication of this passage of scritpure. It highlights the fact that "discipleship" has been lost in the hurry to grow the church in numbers. I have proudly sat back and listened to him reply that people were attending other churches because of the outreach. The point of the outreach was and should be always getting Jesus to people, not people into the church. The people then need to connect with a church that they are most comfortable with and we can count that the outreach is successful when we see Jesus in people. Excellent book and resource. It can be used for small groups and Bible Study which makes it an even more versatile resource. Special thanks to Masterbooks for the opportunity to review this book.

Adventures in the Physical World: Level 2

Adventures in the Physical World: Level 2 I can’t say enough positive about the new Adventures Science Curriculum!! I recently showed this to a prospective homeschool family who was exploring different publishers. As she viewed the book she was stunned by the colourful pictures and interactive set up. She kept remarking how her children would love Science if she used it. I have to agree with her!! As with the others in this series this book does not disappoint! My children love the very colourful pictures, the fun way that information is presented and how the book is so easily laid out. There is just enough information presented for this age level and the review is also adequate. Children walk away having a new appreciation for God’s creation and understanding of how the discipline of Science is not separate from a Biblical world view.

Passport to the USA

Passport to America I was so excited to see this book! If you are looking for a fun way to explore the US with your kids this is absolutely it!! The colourful images and fun layout make the book interesting, fun and attention grabbing even for the most distracted learner. We went through the book first discussing the state mottos, then we went back through looking at other fun facts; like the favourite food or the food that the state is known for. For extra fun new created a chart to show what states we had been to and if we had tried the food or been to the landmarks listed in the book. With so many discussion opportunities presented this book is one you can open and everytime find something new and interesting. It will be added to my homeschool curriculum next year along with the Passport to the World – which is equally interesting!! I would recommend pairing this with the Children’s Atlas of the U.S.A. for added information and fun as you explore the US with your child. I was given this book as a review copy for an honest review. I am not expected to give a positive review of any material.

Children's ATLAS of the U.S.A. - Master Books curriculum

And here it is - hot off the press. A new Geography and Social Studies by MasterBooks. This colorful curriculum reminds me so much of Passports, a curriculum in which children learn about other countries. The Children's Atlas could be used as part of the curriculum set but it could just as easily be used as a stand alone book to explore the United States with your children. The copy I reviewed was digital, I found that when it came to printing the pages were too large to fit a standard 8.5x12 and left the center and outer edges cut off by a fair bit. This is just enough to make printing in this form not useful. However, I reviewed this, after a failed printing attempt or two, online with my grade 1 and grade 3 sons and found it to be so much fun. I highly recommend purchasing the hard copy of this resource unless you are using it on your digital device. The colorful pictures make this so much fun! Some things I loved about this book: (1) Every state has the preamble to their constitution printed. This is interesting because children are often not familiar with their state constitutions and because children can see first hand that the founders of the states had a Christian foundation for the constitutions. (2) I like the inserts that show all the state statistics at a glance: Year of statehood, population ranking in the US, state capitol, state bird, nick-name and the highest point. (3) The historical events and memorials are set in inserts, making it easy to highlight these things. (4) The abundance of historical photos that enhance learning. Though the book is not all inclusive as far as the history of each state it is unique in that it gives children a glimpse of each state. Every state has a unique story that should be told. This story has influenced the culture and sub-cultures of that state and sometimes of several connecting states. It is great for children to be able to see the major historical events that happened in individual states that had ripple effects into others states, some of which changed the face of our nation. I found that this book is a good springboard for discussions and for further investigation into certain events or movements. We are from Texas, and Texans tend to have a great pride for our state and our heritage. It was interesting to read about our state and to mark off the places we have seen or visited (or lived in) that were highlighted in the study. The diversity of our nation is quite extraordinary. It is a nation that has unique and diverse stories that make for a grand heritage. It is important that children see how God helped the early people and how our experiences, though unique, are not isolated - our experiences shape others and have an impact on the world around us. This is a worthwhile resource!! I can not wait to purchase the entire curriculum and dive into it with my children. Like Passports around the World this one is sure to be captivating enough to make kids excited to study!!

Quick Answers to Social Issues - Master Books

Are you looking for a resource that will help you navigate difficult topics that are hot button topics in todays world? Are you searching yourself for the Biblical response to some of these questions? What about abortion, cloning,racism, slavery, sexism, feminism, genocide..... Masterbooks has added to the resources on how to handle these issues. I love the fact that this book is broken down into small sections and that issues are addressed through a Biblical Worldview that in and of itself is non-confrontational. I say this because every issue addressed in this book, by it's mere nature can be confrontational in the fact that emotions run deeply and indoctrination into our sub-culture and the world view of that sub-culture can make people defensive. However, this book systematically addresses the issue with the Bible. When some books on these types of things seem to be legalistic or denomination driven - this one is neutral and simply looks at what the Bible has to say. The dedication of this books has this in the closing paragraph, "It's my prayer that God will use this book as a tool for His glory in equipping the saints to valiantly stand on God's Word, bodly defend their faith, and lovingly share the good news of Jesus Christ to a lost, confused and dying world!" - And that is precisely what I feel this book accomplishes in a gentle, graceful way; unapologetically Biblical yet not legalistic. In the end one is presented with the Biblical stand on the issue and one must weigh for oneself where you stand and what you believe and what you will stand for. But it gives the Believer the ability to boldly answer questions and to know exactly what the Bible teaches. I will be giving this book as gifts to parents. New parents often need resources to have as they raise their own families - a way to teach them why they believe what they believe. Because if you were like me as a young parent I sometimes had difficulty articulating why it was that I believed something in a way that was gentle and filled with grace. I was given a digital copy of this book in exchange for a review. My review is an honest review.

Elementary Apologetics - Masterbooks

If you are looking for a great introduction to Apologetics for your child you've found it. Ken Ham's Answers books are the core for this great curriculum!I absolutely love the course objectives set out in this curriculum: (1) investigate biblical truths concerning the creation account, Adam and Eve, and sin, (2) Become familiar with God's Word, what He desires of them, and how much He loves them, (3) Identify insights regarding the accountof Noah, how he and his family cared for the animals , and how fossils formed, (4) Learn how to defend their faith against a secular worldview in a fallen world, (5) Study truths about the Tower of babel, the Ice Age and what is the purpose of stars, and (6) Write out text they can share with friends or family about what they have learned. These objectives are easily met in the lessons. What impressed me most about this curriculum is how excited my children were as they worked through it. Scriptures states that we must each work out our salvation; this means that God's Word must become real and relevant to each of us - applicable to our lives. It is not enough for our children to attend church and learn church culture; they must understand the Word, understand what they believe and defend it when necessary. This course is an excellent way for your young student to begin to dive into, explore, and internalize the Word. It is a way for them to own it as their own and to understand who the Truth of this Word affects every aspect of our lives. I strongly recommend this course.

Raising them Up By ISrael Wayne, Masterbooks

Israel Wayne has once again written a book that is both personable and easy to read while being packed full of Biblical insight and wisdom. I have added this to my list of baby shower gifts - it's a must read for new parents and "old" parents alike. There are only a few books that I set high on my list for new parents - and this happens to be one of the top now! Wayne writes in a way that is easy to read because it is so relateable to personal life. A reader does not feel preached at, dictated to, or talked down to; rather they feel invited into a conversation about the real life struggles in parenting and how these things can be handled. I especially like the title that relates back to Scripture which tells us to raise children up in the admonition of the Lord. Raising Arrows has long been an anthem of mine - that I am raising arrows for the Lord, I want them to fly straight and swift - direct to the point. This book is one that will empower parents to find their strength and direction in the Lord. It will remind them that their wisdom and direction comes from God and to stand firm in the parenting God has called them to. No one is a perfect parent but Wayne proves that the defining characteristic of a good parent is one who parents in Christ instead of our own strength. Thank you Israel Wayne for taking time to let us into your personal world and being so candid about your own parenting journey. God is using your life as a testimony of his grace and pouring out his wisdom through you. You will be blessed by this book.