from y’day sermon:
Ira Glass interviewIra Glass Interview Clip On Christian “Pitch”
Start at 3:51 if you are in a big hurry.

This Jewish atheist is so intriguing to me. Reminds me of Woody Allen a little bit.

Though he was rich, so rich,
Yet for our sakes how poor he became!
Even his garments they parted
When he hung on the cross of shame.
All that he had he gave for me,
That I might be rich through eternity.

–E. H. Swinstead

Sunday Philippians 2 brings us to the glorious Carmen Christi, or Hymn of Christ. While studying I came across a John Milton excerpt from “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity.”

That glorious Form, that Light unsufferable,
And that far-beaming blaze of Majesty,
Wherewith he wont at Heav’n’s high Council-Table,
To sit the midst of Trinal Unity,
He laid aside; and here with us to be,
Forsook the Courts of everlasting day,
And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay.

“The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is a great literary resource when teaching children to think critically. Its use of symbolism is profound, even for the ages of 8 and 9 year olds. In my teaching experience with it, I have used this particular text to not so much teach symbolism, but to teach children to visualize what they are reading. If you think about it, all letters, words, and sentences are just symbols we have given meaning to form certain sounds and ideas. My struggling students were particularly able to practice visualizing techniques with great success while reading this novel. I think it is because it is so descriptive with its characters, setting, and conflict, yet not overbearing so as to hinder the reader from grasping what the story is about. And there is the rub. By understanding the story, through visualization, my readers where not only able to comprehend what was going on, but enjoy what it is they were reading. Always when we arrive at the first meeting of Aslan in the book, I have my students draw what it is they “see” from the book in that scene. I am not so much worried about how well they draw, or how well they sketch that scene, but I am more interested in them explaining to me, in their own words, what it is they see. What sounds do they hear? What things they might smell? What is the temperature like outside at that moment? Its in these moments a teacher can informally assess 1) if the child has comprehended what they have read 2) They have practiced the skill of visualizing the text, and 3) They can have their thinking extended by asking “How” and “Why” questions in relation to the text.

In the end, it always makes for a great story to read out loud with my students. Their use of different voices for the different characters, as well as their facial expressions, serves as just another way to practice visualization, but also to just have fun reading a good book 🙂 ”

Make sure you turn up for the discussion at 9 AM on June 30.

Brittany French is an intern with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at the University of Florida and one of our local mission partners. This Sunday we’ll pray for Brittany as she heads to Ukraine.  She shared this update with us recently:

I’m excited to tell you that the Ukraine team has asked me to help with their English Camp for the fourth time! I’m so pumped to return for an event that brings so much growth in Lviv, Ukraine’s church and university ministry.

Although this is only a short trip (June 28-July 10), I don’t want to approach it alone. I’d greatly appreciate prayers for our time with students, and that their hearts would be open to hearing and believing the Gospel.

Have questions? Email me! I always love to hear from you. [ frenchbritt AT gmail.com] Want to see more about the camp? Check out their new web site!http://www.lvivcamp.com/index.html