7) Children in the Worshipping Community by David Ng & Virginia Thomas John Knox Press, Atlanta, 1946, 1952,1971, 1973. ISBN 0-8042-1688-6. Yes, it's an old book and I just happened to see it for 75 cents at a book sale but how interesting! I don't even think I finished it when I got to the part about children holding hymnbooks but the wonderful perspectives and attitudes of people who love to worship and to bring children to worship are always inspiring. Lots of how-tos for more traditional worship.
8) I AM: This is My Name: The God of the Bible and the Religions of Man by George A. F. Knight.
Eerdmans: Grand Rapids MI, 1983. ISBN 0-8028-1958-3. Ok. This doesn't have a lot to do with kids until they're in High School learning about other religions and say, "so Christianity and all the other religions aren't that different. . ." When they say that, this is the book to read. Why? He talks about how the God of the Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament is different from all the other gods. He talks about who He is. The writer of this book is my very favorite Hebrew scholar maybe because of his obvious love of Jesus, maybe because he's the only Hebrew scholar I've read :-). This was my first initiation into the realization that Hebrew thinking is different from Greek thinking and most evangelical thinking. ie the Hebrews didn't divide a person into body, mind, and spirit. The whole person wasn't just body, mind, soul, heart, spirit, but family and other relationships, too. This has shaped my thinking about Jesus, faith, and children. Only 90 pages but a lot to chew on.
9) Reimagining Spiritual Formation by Doug Pagitt and the Solomn's Porch Community.
Emergent YS/Zondevan: Grand Rapids, MI 2004. ISBN 0-310- 25687-9. Narrative with community journal (as in diary). Ivy Beckwith mentioned Solomon's Porch in her book. This is a radical but engaging look a spiritual formation that isn't teacher/classroom centered in any way, shape or form. They are highlighting formation that happens through people rubbing their lives up against each other, sharing their questions, their wrestlings, their faith journeys, and sharing community. I was hoping to read more about their kids. There were snippets here and there. But perhaps the beauty of this is that they've made their children less separate. It's absolutely worth reading. Read it looking for Jesus...
10) The Invisible Child: on Reading and Writing Books for Children by Katherine Paterson . Dutton Children's Books: New York, 2001. ISBN 0-525-46482-4. Ms. Paterson is a child of Christian missionaries and wife of a pastor, a writer, and a Newberry Award winning children's author. This book captures her faith, her experiences with children, her insights as a writer and in particular a children's writer. It is a collection of speeches and articles. Her insights and anecdotes are inspiring and thought provoking for anyone who loves God, children, and books. Some (one?) of her books have been banned from various schools and libraries.
11) The Younger Evangelicals by Robert E. Webber. Baker Books: Grand Rapids, MI, 2003, ISBN 0-8010-91-52-7. Now, I waded through this one. (You can also borrow one from someone who has already highlighted the important parts. There are also compartive charts at the end of each chapter.) I didn't wade because it was hard to read but because I could only chew on a little at a time. This is a good comparison of pre-postmodern and postmodern perspectives. It's written by a professor who includes the voices of many of his students, the "younger evangelicals".
Next!) Children's Spirituality: Christian Perspectives, Research, and Applications Donald Ratcliff, Sr Editor. Cascade Books: Eugene OR, 2004. ISBN 1-59244-711-2. Next on my list! 24+ contributing authors. I expect to be reading this one for a long time!
I think Solomon in his wisdom said, of the making of many books there's no end and studying them all makes you tired. (Eccl 12:12) :-)
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