Reformation Day books

Some books we found and love for Reformation Day!

Teacher Resources:













(novel)


Books for kids:










(chapter book)

Tech and the race issue

Really great ideas  here, some language, but still good truth and ideas expressed here. 

"Tech is smart — like really freakin’ smart. Tech wouldn’t be taking over the world if it wasn’t so smart. So I don’t buy the “I don’t know what to do” spiel. You have a growth mindset when it comes to everything else. Why do your critical thinking skills suddenly vanish when it comes to figuring out how you can contribute to this whole racial equality thing?"               http://bit.ly/29Lj6IL

"Go and do likewise" part 2

A police was going out on his regular rounds, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A police commissioner happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a wealthy white businessman, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 

But a Black man,as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, quickly and generously applying medicines. Then he put the man in his own car, brought him to a hospital and made sure he was well cared for all night. The next day he wrote a check for the entire weeks bill and and said ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

Luke 10: 36-37
Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

"Go and do likewise"

A black man was going from his job to home, when he was attacked by police. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A government official happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a wealthy business man, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 

But when an white elderly southern policeman from the south (who had worked in the Jim Crow era) came where the man was, he had compassion on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, quickly and generously pouring on medication. Then he put the man in his own car, brought him to a hospital and sat by his bed taking care of him all night.

The next day he took out a blank check and gave it to the doctor. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

Luke 10:36 - 38
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Sound bites and articles on the Christians response to race issues

Racial Reconciliation in the church:
Ordinary relationships are really important for racial reconciliation. We need to be aware of just how much the media and how we interpret that media might be affecting the way that we view people of different ethnicities. Racial harmony needs to be sought after both interpersonallyas well as institutionally. While Dr. Ware primarily emphasized the need for interpersonal—or relational—racial harmony, he also mentioned that there are some practices that institutions can take that affect the ability or inability to pursue racial harmony. For example, the institutional church can structure its corporate worship culture in such a way that it is appreciative of minorities; an institutional action that will help lead to interpersonal multi-ethnic relationships. http://bit.ly/1hCF9jh








For the church (as a body):
Now is the time to listen in all the ways we were saying you should. Now is the time to have those lunches that provide opportunities to enter into the suffering of your people. Now is the time to sympathize with those who are deeply struggling. Now is the time to implement all that stuff you’ve read http://bit.ly/29Vj6Cb






What the church alone can offer in these times - Gospel Coalition: http://bit.ly/29HcEPJ

Do you know? #dailylife #blacklivesmattertoo

Daily life in Black America

Do you know what it is like to worry when your husband is 10 minutes late?

Do you know what its like to nearly panic if your husband forgets to tell you he has a meeting after work to go to and you don't know what has happened to him?

Do you know what its like to not know who to call if the police kill someone in your family?

Do you know what its like to have a husband that could win the best driver of the year award and yet somehow gets pulled over RE.GU.LAR.LY?

Do you know what its like to worry about the massive amounts of racism your your child knows and has to navigate through at a young age?

Do you know what its like to have to have this conversation with an 8 year old?  To teach them how to be extra, over and above submission to authority, even if they are wronged, but to know that still may not be enough to save their life?

Do you know what its like to pray that God not give you a son because of the life he would have to endure as a black male?

Do you know what its to listen to your story about your great vacation and how I should take my family there, while listening and nodding politely, knowing there is NO way I could ever take my family there without serious possibilities of hurt to my family?

Do you know what its like to have your heart ripped to pieces as you watch your family struggle against the lies of the dominate culture, and the bravely soldier on in the midst of acts of terror against their people group?

Do you know what its like to not have yourself represented in children's books and movies (other than negatively or as a subordinate)?

Do you know what it's like to be treated harsher than other children for the same infraction, simply because of the color of your skin?

This is daily life in Black America.  #interracial

Black History Month

http://aalbc.org/books/children.php#

Kings Day (Dia de los Reyes)

Have you heard of Epiphany or King's Day?  We have enjoyed celebrating and studying it the last couple years.  Helps ward off any let down/depression from Christmas, especially for my sensitive and moody  child :)

Did you know the 12 Days of Christmas start on Christmas Eve/Christmas?  Then go to January 5th, with the 6th being King's day?  Do you know the meaning behind the 12 Days of Christmas song?

King's day can look different for everyone.  Here's what it looks like for us:

Activities:
- Historically, it is believed that the kings were from Arabia, Africa, and the Orient.  You can learn a little about these cultures at this time.
- Act out the journey of the kings to Bethlehem (dress up as royalty)
- Learn about and study the star patterns in January (Sky Deck is a great resource)
- Watch Dora Saves 3 Kings day
- Sing We 3 Kings, I saw 3 Ships, and other Christmas songs having to do with Kings/Wisemen.  Learn to play some of the songs
- Complete giving/ serving activities as gifts for Jesus (then we put in a special stocking just for Jesus)
- On Kings day, take down all the Christmas decorations and put up winter decor
- Bible study: learn about how Jesus became incarnation to us, who the Kings represent (non-Jews and rich), Read Matthew 2 and talk about how Jesus was now a child, living in a house in Bethlehem, the dreams, the flight to Egypt, and Herod.
- Learn about spices and essential oils - specifically Frankincense and Myrrh
- Make crown crafts or use any Christmas cards with Kings on them to make a craft
- Write a song/poem/ story about the journey of the Kings
- Learn about desert life
- Sort of an Elf on the Shelf idea: find 3 (or more) figures to represent the Kings (we use lego people) and each night move them around as search for the new King Jesus.  Often the kings are found around our house near bibles or story books, or other figures :)  My daughter really enjoys this.
- On Kings day, put a few little gifts in the child's stocking.  Have some family favorite foods.
- Make a 12 days of Christmas countdown to Kings day (more about that below)

Books to read:
- A Pinata In a Pine Tree
- Roc & Roe's 12 Days of Christmas
- A Stork in A Boabab Tree
- 12 Days of Christmas (Rachel Isadora)
- Federico and the Magi's Gift
- The Stone (A Persian Magi story)
- Istar's Odessey
- On Three Kings Day = El día de los tres Reyes Magos
- The story of the Three Wise Kings / retold & illustrated by Tomie dePaola.

- The 12 Days of Christmas: The Story Behind a Favorite Christmas Song

- The Christian Origin of the Twelve Days of Christmas: A Children's Activity Book

The Twelve days of Christmas
The 12 days of Christmas actually represent Christian truths.  The song was written both to help young children memorize a lot of biblical truths, and also truths hidden in the songs for times of persecution - no one will have any idea what the song really means.

Day 1: Partridge in a Pear Tree represents Jesus
     Read Philippians 2:3-11, Luke 2
     Activity: put Jesus, cross ornaments on the tree, look at star charts

Day 2: Turtledoves represents Old Testament/ New Testament
     Read Matthew 22:37-40 (OT), 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NT), Galatians 5:21-31
     Activity: make a bible craft

Day 3: Hens represent Faith, Hope, Love
     Read 1 Corinthians 13
     Make heart crafts

Day 4: Calling birds represents the 4 Gospel
     Read Acts 1:1-3
     Activity: Sing the books of the Gospel, watch bible videos of the Gospel

Day 5: Golden Rings represents the Pentateuch
     Read Deuteronomy 31:9, Matthew 5:17, Romans 4:15, 7:7, 7:12, Galatians 3:23
     Activity: make a scroll

Day 6: Geese represents 6 Days of Creation
     Read Genesis 1;1
     Activity: make/create something out of clay or playdough

Day 7: Swans represents the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
     Read Genesis 4:7, 1 Corinthians 7:27-31a

Day 8: Maids A-milking represents the 8 Beatitudes
     Read Matthew 5:3-12
     Activity: make gift bags to giveaway to the homeless

Day 9: Ladies Dancing represents the 9 characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit
     Read Galatians 5:22-24
     Activity: make a fruit of the Spirit picture and fruit salad

Day10: Lords A-Leaping represents the 10 Commandments
     Read Exodus 20:1-17
     Activity: make tablets

Day 11: Pipers piping represents the 11 faithful disciples
     Read Acts 1:13-26
     Activity: talk about faithfulness, play a faithfulness version of Simon says

Day 12: 12 Points of the Apostles Creed
     Read Acts 2
     Activity; Listen to Petra's Creed, and Newsboys We Believe and talk about the points heard.