The SG Notebook

For my Father’s Day meditation on a Christian hero, I chose Jonathan Edwards, who not only selected a good wife, but teamed with her to make a Christian home which we all may admire. While this was not a perfect home–where might that be?–it was a fine example to those who visited. I like their story; maybe you will to.
There is much on Christian History Institute to read about the Edwards family, I happened to pick this particular article.

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers out there!

Talk to you soon.

Maxine (a/k/a Nanna)

NOTE (5/29/09): I noticed that this particular article is no longer available at CHI. Sorry about that.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Do your children know these words? No doubt they’ve sung them at church. Do they know anything of the man who wrote them? His name was Thomas Ken, who lived in the years 1637-1711. This would be a nice homeschool research paper for them, as well as Christian History project: Let them find out all they can about this man and his musical contributions to the Church. Let them study his childhood and his later trials in the time in which he lived in England. Let them learn about this unsung hero. I think they’ll benefit. They can find some information here.

Don’t forget–many of our publications are available at wholesale prices. Look for the asterisk (*) after the product name. Needless to say, our biggest seller is our Bright Gems book and we strongly encourage churches with bookstores or book tables to purchase some. A store or church needs to purchase just 5 copies to get 30% off and just 10 copies to get 40% off. Feel free to email us if you’d like our wholesale price breakdown.

Busy weekend here–so no new Christian hero until next week. If interested, click on the “Christian Heroes” category on the right where you can read our past entries.

Blessings for the weekend. Drive carefully! Enjoy your parade! Enjoy your cookout!

Remember those who have given their lives for our country.

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

According to Wikipedia, a superhero is a fictional chacter noted for feats of courage and nobility. These heroes come in all kinds of elaborate costumes and have for long years captured the imaginations of myriads of children and adults. Which one did you like as a child? Was it Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman, or some lesser known one?

Well I have a hero for your children. He never jumped off any buildings or flew through the air. All this hero did was go to a foreign land to share the gospel with the people. He went to this land, India, and performed no great feats. In fact, he labored there for years with no results. But I’m wrong. He did accomplish great feats. By the time his life ended, this man, William Carey, had translated the full Bible into six languages as well as translating other parts of the Word of God into 29 other languages. Hundreds of Indians came to Christ through his work. He inspired many missionaries who were to follow to go into all the world and preach the gospel, becoming known as the “Father of Modern Missions.”

I think it’s safe to say that this is a hero for you to present to your children. Read the story at Glimpses for Kids during family time one night. It’s a better story than that of any comic book or movie character anywhere.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you mothers. To those who are loving the Lord, and teaching your children, as best you can, to do likewise, I am considering all of you to be the Christian hero post this week.

Keep pressing on. Your reward is in heaven.

God Bless You,

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

Disappointments and failures can be good things. Often these things are God directing the steps of His children. So it was for Nate Saint. His hopes for a career as a fighter pilot were dashed by a leg infection, resulting in what was to be a far greater service for his Lord. Flying a missionary supply plane was his calling and the jungles of South America were his mission field.

Some people give their money to Christ’s service; some give their talents; some their time; but some are privileged to give their lives. Even though his story ends sadly, he was an inspiration to others. Go over to Glimpses for Kids and read about this man who was fit to fly for God, and like all the other heroes we have and will be glimpsing, may he inspire you and your children, as he did others.

Phyllis Wheatley is one of my favorite heroes of the faith. I think it’s not just the fact that she and I are of the same ethnicity. More than that, it’s because she was a writer. And much of her heroism, in addition to her sterling character, was in her writing. There are many people who I admire because of their writing. It’s close to my heart, you know, because I want to serve the Lord in written words above all else. What I have and hope to commit to paper will never measure up to that which was penned by this little “lowly” slave girl who accomplished so much above all the odds against her.

Please, read her story to your children. Hers is an important account of what can be achieved by human tenacity and will. I’ll let you read this tremendous tribute to this wonderful person at Glimpses for Kids. Ask your children what they’ve learned after you read it to them. Or as a great homeschool language arts or social studies assignment, print out the story and have them write a paragraph or two about what they have learned after reading the story of this remarkable American who was a Christian hero.

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

Over at my other blog, I’ve been talking about Sunday school quite a bit this week. I love teaching and always develop a special affection for the children who are in my class. Do your children like to go to Sunday school? If you’re in a church which, for whatever reason, has decided not to have one, that’s certainly not a sin. Nowhere in Scriptures are we commanded to do so. But many Christians feel that it does bring a wealth of benefits to the young, and so do I.

Many folks don’t know how or where or when the first Sunday school came into existence. It’s quite a story, born in the heart of a man named Robert Raikes, who was concerned about poor ragged children in his native England. At first, these children were taught to read and write as well as the things of God., because it was the only school these particular children attended. When others heard of the success of this school held on Sundays, many more such schools cropped up all over England and the eventual spread throughout the world is history.

Read more about Mr. Raikes at Glimpses for Kids on the CHI site. Tell your sons and daughters about this man who believed that the world marches forth on the feet of little children. I agree with him.

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

At the dawning of a new day, He arose.

I wanted to mention that there won’t be a Christian Hero posted this week. Let’s focus on the resurrection and the One who gave His life for us. (See last post.)

Blessings.

Maxine , a/k/a Nanna

There once was a young man who wanted to learn to do something which was vital to his existence. He wanted to learn to read. George Washington Carver was that young man with an insatiable desire to learn. And learn he did. All of his life. It all began with a Bible given to him as a teenager, and a habit developed which set the course of his life: He read it every day.

I invite you to read about his life, which was one of perseverance and resourcefulness. As you read, you’ll find the life of one born black at a time when that meant getting an education was a rarity. Read, and let your children read, about a life that resisted suppression and embraced hard work and achievement. Read about how we’ve all benefited from this one life. And it all started by reading his Bible. Go to Glimpses for Kids for the full story.