Category Archives: children

Readings for Advent and Christmas from Gutenberg

One of my favorite and often-visited websites is that of the Project Gutenberg. There are over 20,000 free books (electronic texts) in the Project Gutenberg Online Book Catalog, a bibliophile’s dream! It’s been a great source of reading material for … Continue reading

Posted in books, children, liturgical seasons | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book review: Thompson, Family: The Forming Center

The central thesis of Marjorie J Thompson’s Family: The Forming Center. A vision of the role of family in spiritual formation (Nashville: Upper Room Books, 1996), is that, for good or evil, the home is the primary context in which … Continue reading

Posted in books, children, development theory | 1 Comment

Educating Nomads

One of those “Aha!” moments came to me twenty-some years ago while staring at the blank computer screen where Sunday’s sermon should have been making its appearance.  Unfortunately, my thoughts were elsewhere; I had been dealing with the parent of … Continue reading

Posted in children, Christian Education, congregational life, discipleship, leadership, Sunday school, worship | Comments Off on Educating Nomads

Just the facts, please

As a former principal of a private school I suppose I can be accused of being biased on the issue of private “vs.” public schools, parental choice, vouchers, etc. The school I served was in Miami with a 93% minority … Continue reading

Posted in assessment, children, teaching | Comments Off on Just the facts, please

On mentoring

I continue to be fascinated with how people are enamored with the idea of mentoring. It seems to have a romantic hold on people’s imagination. I recently received an e-mail from a friend who is a college program director. She … Continue reading

Posted in children, discipleship, personal growth, teaching, vocation | 1 Comment

The Good Ole Days

Remember the good ole days? As a young lad growing up as a sand-lapper in Beaufort, SC I have fond memories of mosquitoes, Spanish moss, red bugs, marshlands, and even that strange Gullah dialect that was embedded in the people … Continue reading

Posted in children, Uncategorized | Comments Off on The Good Ole Days

Myths about Penicillin, Bacteria, and Baptism

The following is from the book Myths: Fact and Fiction about Teaching and Learning by Israel Galindo. How well do you know fact from fiction? MYTH: Penicillin kills bacteria.

Posted in children, ecumenical, theology, worship | Comments Off on Myths about Penicillin, Bacteria, and Baptism

Cop-at-the-door (contest)

When we were young my siblings and I would often receive a warning from our mom whenever we ventured from home. With a somber voice and a straight face (but not without a twinkle in her eye) she would admonish … Continue reading

Posted in children, personal growth | 3 Comments

How to make silly putty (a ministry skill)

Despite the serious and lofty education most of us clergy receive in seminary (theology, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, hermeneutics, philosophy, etc.) ministry has, decidedly, a pragmatic skills component to it. As one person put it, you have to “know stuff” (and … Continue reading

Posted in children, games, humor, movies and films | Comments Off on How to make silly putty (a ministry skill)

Book: Perspectives on Children’s Spiritual Formation

Michael J. Anthony, Professor of Christian Education at Talbot School of Theology is the author of Perspectives on Children’s Spiritual Formation (Broadman & Holman, 2006) presents in counterpoint form four contemporary views of children’s spiritual formation and four related methods … Continue reading

Posted in books, children, Christian Education, curriculum, theology | Comments Off on Book: Perspectives on Children’s Spiritual Formation