For alot of evangelicals the concept of spiritual journey seems unorthodox yet for the Eastern Orthodox a guarantee that you're "saved" is unorthodox. Have you been journeying with Christ or did you make a decision and your journey ended or something in between? When Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, no man comes to the Father but by me..." what did He mean? A path, a road, a how-to, a guarantee?
I'm reading another book: Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey: Nurturing a Life of Faith by Catherine Stonehouse. So I went to Bible Gateway's lexicon looking for that word "way" in the passage where Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. . . I expected to see a word used infrequently, or some Greek word for "path" or "road" or "journey". But, apparently, that word for "way" in John 14 (from the Gk "autos") appears 530 times just in John ... looking at the first definition with my non-Greek student understanding - I am himself, the truth, the life . . . which says to me, "a person" embodying truth, embodying life ... Without knowing the Greek, the passage itself paints that picture ... how often did Christ (who is the way) say "Follow me"?
...I'll be revisiting John 14 ...
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
I wonder...
Puppies disconnecting my internet connection . . . here we go...
While I'm reading the book, here's a passage of scripture where children encounter Christ. I added my wonder questions instead of comments and you can come up with your own ... [The concept of "wonder questions" comes from Young Children in Worship.]
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
While I'm reading the book, here's a passage of scripture where children encounter Christ. I added my wonder questions instead of comments and you can come up with your own ... [The concept of "wonder questions" comes from Young Children in Worship.]
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."
Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.
"Bring them here to me," he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray Mt. 14: 13-23 (NIV)
You already know I ask alot of questions... Out of my 30+ wonder questions, I decided to leave you with just this . . .
I wonder what the children experienced that day? Would they remember? Would they hear their parents tell the story over and over?
Friday, August 26, 2005
Emerging kids?
...just for the record...
I was thinking tonight that the name of this blog is Emergingkids...but it's probably more about the j0urney of emerging adults looking for ways to engage their children in this journey of faith...and our quest to think differently about faith walking in the way of Jesus...
I was thinking tonight that the name of this blog is Emergingkids...but it's probably more about the j0urney of emerging adults looking for ways to engage their children in this journey of faith...and our quest to think differently about faith walking in the way of Jesus...
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Puppies and exponential challenges
Taking a break...
Ellie's leash slipped out of my hand yesterday so she seized the opportunity to trot down the slope prancing into morning traffic which, thankfully, was slow. I followed of course, Nyah in tow. She came willingly for a change eager for the adventure. Sun in my eyes, I could only see the black puppy, not the cars slowing and stopping. I finally caught the leash. Luckily she wasn't running. She runs like a bullet.
But there is a point... increased numbers doesn't neccessarily mean that the challenges only double for two or triple for three. (If I was a math expert. . .) Let's try this: sometimes challenges multiply exponentially? Is that the word?
And never try to reach in between two combative puppies hoping to lure them out of their struggle for dominance with a treat. It's a good way to get bit and I don't mean puppy nipping either...Someone warned me about that...but those puppies had been listening so well...They've since returned to their gentle selves. Probably the long walk . . .
It's safe to write about puppies. They can't read so they won't mind!
Ellie's leash slipped out of my hand yesterday so she seized the opportunity to trot down the slope prancing into morning traffic which, thankfully, was slow. I followed of course, Nyah in tow. She came willingly for a change eager for the adventure. Sun in my eyes, I could only see the black puppy, not the cars slowing and stopping. I finally caught the leash. Luckily she wasn't running. She runs like a bullet.
But there is a point... increased numbers doesn't neccessarily mean that the challenges only double for two or triple for three. (If I was a math expert. . .) Let's try this: sometimes challenges multiply exponentially? Is that the word?
And never try to reach in between two combative puppies hoping to lure them out of their struggle for dominance with a treat. It's a good way to get bit and I don't mean puppy nipping either...Someone warned me about that...but those puppies had been listening so well...They've since returned to their gentle selves. Probably the long walk . . .
It's safe to write about puppies. They can't read so they won't mind!
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
more from YCIW
I want to offer you some more quotes from Young Children In Worship because I really appreciate the insights and whether or not we actually use the program, some of these insights are valuable in their own right.
A brief synopsis of the things I found most interesting: The begining is a combination of how and why. The rest of the book includes a wealth of specific stories enacted by a leader with wooden figures or felt and laminated characters with actions, materials, and patterns. The time is set up very much like a traditional Order of Worship. All is quiet, slow, low key. The use of repetition and ritual will appeal to some but not to others. But they've found that many many children (even those who you wouldn't expect) really respond to this kind of quiet and order. I also expect it's especially good preparation for liturgical (high church) worship and just directing a child's attention to God at a time when they are still so easily awe-struck. After the Word is presented (as story) the leader may ask "I wonder" questions. The children gather their materials and go to their own space (a towel or rug) and respond creatively or through play. The leader and greeter don't interfere or interrupt unless a child asks. They save their work in a folder - a spiritual journal. They also share a feast at the time in the order of their young worship when adults would take communion. They receive an individual whispered blessing when they leave.
There's also a second book with more stories from scripture.
Quotes:
"...listening to God's word is not enough; the word of God invites response." p. 20
Children can learn simple benedictions and portions of scripture (p 21):
"The Lord be with you..."
"and also with you."
or
"Christ has risen...
"He has risen indeed."
p. 24 "In educational settings the Bible is primarily used as a means of instruction...In effect God is talked about...In worship, through the power of the Holy Spirit, God is made known to us in the hearing of the Word. God is experienced and known as we enter into the story."
The chapter on story telling and the Biblical narrative is especially interesting to me, perhaps because I write but maybe because often a person's silence says more to me than their words. "Biblical stories tell only the actions and description essential to the story. The omission of definitions and unnecesary detail provides silences, time and space through which the listener experiences the mystery, awe, and wonder so characteristic of sacred story. . ." (p. 25) "...silence serves another function, it gives space for the Holy Spirit to act in the imagination. .." (p. 29)
Pages 26-27 talk about children experiencing the story kinesthetically. I've read other places and it's probably obvious that children learn through their senses (touch being one) and many many children process life through imaginary play. You'll see them take what they've seen on TV or in a story...why not God's stories?
Another element I found enticing is "I wonder" questions which get you pondering the passage.
When you have a quiet moment, take a passage of scripture, a story, a parable read it out loud to yourself and ask "I wonder. . ."
I've ordered JOINING CHILDREN ON THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY: Nurturing a Life of Faith by Catherine Stonehouse - my next reading assignment. Someone recommended it to me ( and one reader wrote a glowing review on Amazon. We'll see...) I'm also entering into dialogue with some other Covenant Children's Ministry leaders with lots of questions, of course!
A brief synopsis of the things I found most interesting: The begining is a combination of how and why. The rest of the book includes a wealth of specific stories enacted by a leader with wooden figures or felt and laminated characters with actions, materials, and patterns. The time is set up very much like a traditional Order of Worship. All is quiet, slow, low key. The use of repetition and ritual will appeal to some but not to others. But they've found that many many children (even those who you wouldn't expect) really respond to this kind of quiet and order. I also expect it's especially good preparation for liturgical (high church) worship and just directing a child's attention to God at a time when they are still so easily awe-struck. After the Word is presented (as story) the leader may ask "I wonder" questions. The children gather their materials and go to their own space (a towel or rug) and respond creatively or through play. The leader and greeter don't interfere or interrupt unless a child asks. They save their work in a folder - a spiritual journal. They also share a feast at the time in the order of their young worship when adults would take communion. They receive an individual whispered blessing when they leave.
There's also a second book with more stories from scripture.
Quotes:
"...listening to God's word is not enough; the word of God invites response." p. 20
Children can learn simple benedictions and portions of scripture (p 21):
"The Lord be with you..."
"and also with you."
or
"Christ has risen...
"He has risen indeed."
p. 24 "In educational settings the Bible is primarily used as a means of instruction...In effect God is talked about...In worship, through the power of the Holy Spirit, God is made known to us in the hearing of the Word. God is experienced and known as we enter into the story."
The chapter on story telling and the Biblical narrative is especially interesting to me, perhaps because I write but maybe because often a person's silence says more to me than their words. "Biblical stories tell only the actions and description essential to the story. The omission of definitions and unnecesary detail provides silences, time and space through which the listener experiences the mystery, awe, and wonder so characteristic of sacred story. . ." (p. 25) "...silence serves another function, it gives space for the Holy Spirit to act in the imagination. .." (p. 29)
Pages 26-27 talk about children experiencing the story kinesthetically. I've read other places and it's probably obvious that children learn through their senses (touch being one) and many many children process life through imaginary play. You'll see them take what they've seen on TV or in a story...why not God's stories?
Another element I found enticing is "I wonder" questions which get you pondering the passage.
When you have a quiet moment, take a passage of scripture, a story, a parable read it out loud to yourself and ask "I wonder. . ."
I've ordered JOINING CHILDREN ON THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY: Nurturing a Life of Faith by Catherine Stonehouse - my next reading assignment. Someone recommended it to me ( and one reader wrote a glowing review on Amazon. We'll see...) I'm also entering into dialogue with some other Covenant Children's Ministry leaders with lots of questions, of course!
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