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Posts Tagged ‘Kids bible stories’

What is the importance of the Cross to our faith?

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

On this Easter Week, may we remind ourselves the love of God and His saving Grace. Using this article by Philip Yancey, may we rekindle our love for Our Saviour. Amen.

Since Jesus’ death nearly 2,000 years ago, theologians such as Origen, Anselm of Canterbury, Peter Abelard, and John Calvin have proposed ways of understanding it: as a Ransom paid to Satan, a Satisfaction required by God, a Moral Influence for humanity, a Penal Substitution for the punishment due to humankind. Some of these theories, referencing animal sacrifices and God’s wrath, can make for a hard sell for many in modern times.

The Cross is the central image of Christianity, and gives us vivid proof that, in novelist Flannery O’Connor’s words, the world “has, for all its horror, been found by God to be worth dying for.” Yet theologians must somehow explain how Jesus’ death differs in essence from the death of any great leader. What made it necessary, and exactly how did it affect our relationship with God?

During Holy Week one year, I found myself reflecting not so much on the theoretical rationale for the Atonement as on its practical outworking. Three insights from that week:

(1) The Cross made possible a new intimacy with God. Three of the Gospels mention that at the moment of Jesus’ death, a thick curtain inside the temple tore from top to bottom, exposing the Most Holy Place. Traditionally, only once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), could the high priest enter the fearsome Most Holy Place. Preparations involved ritual baths, special clothes, and five separate animal sacrifices, and still the priest entered with apprehension about committing an offense. He wore bells on his robe and a rope around his ankle so that if the bells fell silent, other priests could retrieve his body.

The Book of Hebrews draws a vivid contrast: the author says believers can now “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (4:16). No image could be more shocking for devout Jews than charging boldly into the Most Holy Place. Therefore, concludes the author of Hebrews, “let us draw near to God” (10:22). Because of Jesus, we need no protective curtain; God has provided a sufficient Mediator for all time.

While visiting the United States in 1962, theologian Karl Barth faced a questioner intent on pinning down exactly when he had been saved. Barth replied, “It happened one afternoon in A.D. 34 when Jesus died on the cross.” Love finds a way to overcome all obstacles to uniting with the beloved, no matter the cost.

(2) The Cross reveals the limits of human achievement. Paul wrote, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Col. 2:15). Pontius Pilate had Jesus’ “crime”—King of the Jews—posted in three languages, in ironic tribute to the travesty of justice. A public spectacle it was indeed when the most refined religious authorities of the time ganged up on an innocent man, and the most renowned justice system carried out the sentence.

Writer Thomas Merton points out that “no one saw the Resurrection. Everyone saw the Crucifixion. Everyone does see the Crucifixion. The Cross is everywhere.” It should give us pause, this sign of contradiction, when we are tempted to look to politics or science to solve the deepest problems of humanity. Christ exposed as false gods the very powers in which men and women take most pride and invest most hope.

(3) The Cross brings to light an unexpected quality of the Godhead: humility. As Paul expressed in Philippians 2: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing … he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (v. 5-8). The poor and disadvantaged respond by instinct to this personal identification: witness the sermons in Appalachia or the base communities in Latin America that center on the Cross. Novelists know it too: Graham Greene, Georges Bernanos, and Ignazio Silone all made the sacrament commemorating Jesus’ death the centerpiece of their finest works.

Whatever else we may say about it, the Atonement fulfills the Jewish principle that only one who has been hurt can forgive. At Calvary, God chose to be hurt.

Decorating the Nursery

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Choosing the baby room furniture is an vital part of planning and decorating your baby’s room. There are many options available when it comes to baby furniture, so you should to decide what functions you want the furniture to serve before you settle on the pieces for your baby’s room. How expanded do you plan to use the furniture? Do you want to use it for more than one baby? Do you want furniture pieces that will convert and grow with your child?

The baby crib is the most key piece of furniture for the baby room. When purchasing a crib, you have many options available to you. Standard, convertible, iron, round, and portable cribs are just a few of the styles available. A standard crib is typically the most affordable, starting at around $100. Round cribs have become more popular in recent years and can be great particularly for awkward floor plans but keep in mind that your bedding selections will be more limited than with a traditionally shaped crib. The same goes for portable size cribs which can be great whether you have limited square footage to work with. Hand painted and designer cribs are plus options but expect to pay more for these baby room furniture pieces. On the upside, many of these beautiful cribs could easily become family heirlooms.

A dresser and/or changing table is plus another fundamental baby room furniture item. You can get a combo piece that works as both or purchase each piece individually. The dresser is critical for providing storage for baby clothes and the changing table provides a designated changing and diapering area. whether you get a furniture piece that is a combination of the two, you can convert the changing table part when your baby outgrows the need for it and continue to use it in their room as they grow.

A glider and ottoman or a rocking chair are plus great furniture pieces to have in the baby room. They supply a place to sit not only during late night feedings but plus when you just want to spend some quality date cuddling and bonding with the baby. A toy box and bookcase are other furniture items you might consider for the baby room. Both will supply much needed storage for the many items a baby requires and will help keep the room organized and tidy.

If you plan to use the furniture for several years, considering spending a little additional on the pieces you purchase. Spending a few additional dollars now will likely get you sturdier furniture that is more likely to resist the years of wear and tear a baby and young child may cause.

The Effects of Stress on Pregnancy

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Whether we are at home, work, at the gas station or other public places, stress affects you each day.

Minor mishaps, like spilling a cup of coffee, or lost a turn on the freeway that invent you a few minutes late to work, can build apprehension. that may change how your body functions, like your heart rate and blood pressure. Of course, that only directly affects your body, beyond indirectly influencing another person physically next to you.

However, while you are pregnant, the stress that you feel may be affecting your growing baby as well. Even though, much research has been done to figure out how stress affects pregnant mothers and their unborn child, the researchers still, do not know precisely how stress affects the growth and development of the baby.

Whatever the researchers say, one thing is for certain, however, while pregnant, you should cut down the level of stress in your life, to manufacture positive your pregnancy is less painful. There are several methods, that target reducing stress and can greatly enhance your comfort during the entire nine months.

Exercise

Each day, try to exercise a little bit whether you can. You may try out low impact exercises like yoga or tai chi. Both of these, will slowly stretch your muscles, without causing your heart rate to rise to fast.

The deep breathing involved, will additionally help you take in more oxygen and prepare you for the challenging breathing during labor.

Each day, you might like to try taking a short walk. that is a simple and easy way to get exercise, without having to attend a scheduled class.

Before you start any exercise routine or class, it is a good notion to check with your doctor. The best exercise will work to benefit both you and your baby.

Food

When your are pregnant, you should avoid eating or drinking any products that contain a lot of caffeine. Why push the heart rate of the tiny baby to work harder?

On the top of your menu, should be foods that have a lot of folic acid, vitamin B6 and several others that will supply you and your baby the essential vitamins and nutrients for healthy development.

In the first trimester, your unborn child will grow all of its major organs. The heart, liver, kidneys, and several more develop, requiring much tissue to be built.

Giving your body healthy, nutritious food will help your baby at that stage and as well as during your entire pregnancy.

Breathing Techniques

Relaxation techniques will help you less nauseous, like slow breathing and stretching, and will go a distant way to help keep leg cramps, back pain, and shortness of breath to a minimum.

Finding a way to lesson stressful situations in your life is additionally suggested. Possible some simple adjustments to your daily routine may help and be a great habit to start for your mothering days ahead.

Media Releases

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Shopping for your next wedding, graduation, anniversary or inspirational gift can be done quickly and easily at a Christian book store. An online Christian gift purchase can save you money and time.

An online Christian gift can be delivered directly to the recipient and gift wrapped with a personalized card included. You can easily compare prices and styles and product lists. Another advantage is that you are able to browse at your leisure even during off hours.

Christian wedding gifts are especially nice to order through a Christian store online. This is convenient if the friend getting married lives in another state. Their local Christian store could be listed online. If they received a duplicate gift it would be easy for them to return.

Do you have a friend that is hard to buy for? You can find an unusual or one of a kind online Christian gift by searching easily through product lists. No need spending valuable gas or time running all over town.

Should you discover that the online Christian gift is broken or not what you ordered it can be easily shipped back at no cost to you or the recipient, by contacting the Christian store online. You will be instructed as to how to go about the return and getting your refund or credit.

Identity theft is always an issue when placing an order for an online Christian gift. All Christian online stores should have taken precautions and added several levels of security to go through prior to placing your order. This added security has measurably decreased these situations from happening.

If you are not sure where to find an unusual item or a particular Christian store online, insert the item description or store name in the search box and several options should appear. Just click and order and your gift is practically on its way.

A sick friend or someone who may need a little encouragement would certainly be excited to find a cheer up gift on their front porch. You could also enclose an encouraging card.

You cannot beat the ease and convenience of searching at a Christian store online for your next online Christian gift. The time and money you will save alone is a gift in itself!

Home School Schedule

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Shopping for your next wedding, graduation, anniversary or inspirational gift can be done quickly and easily at a Christian book store. An online Christian gift purchase can save you money and time.

A sick friend or someone who may need a little encouragement would certainly be excited to find a cheer up gift on their front porch. You could also enclose an encouraging card.

You cannot beat the ease and convenience of searching at a Christian store online for your next online Christian gift. The time and money you will save alone is a gift in itself!

Episode Talk

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Shopping for your next wedding, graduation, anniversary or inspirational gift can be done quickly and easily at a Christian book store. An online Christian gift purchase can save you money and time.

A sick friend or someone who may need a little encouragement would certainly be excited to find a cheer up gift on their front porch. You could also enclose an encouraging card.

You cannot beat the ease and convenience of searching at a Christian store online for your next online Christian gift. The time and money you will save alone is a gift in itself!

Christianity

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Old Skool Deliverance (i.e. I am speaking (writing ), of course, about heavy metal music of Christian influence. It’s a far cry from the thugs, tramps and homies who sing about sex, violence and money but point to the heavens when they receive their Grammy. I have more respect for the ’satanic’ bands than the Rap/R&B world considering, at least, the damned won’t thank God for it, meh.

It’s odd that in that day and age – or fitting in that day and age, depending on your perspective – that music is still labeled as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ simply considering of how it sounds. Still berated by those who would put God in a box, Christian metal music does exist – thankfully not amidst such travesties as Stryper…don’t even get me started on that Suffice it to say, many society are led to Christ considering of Christian metal…I was one of them. Deliverance, Weapons of our Warfare, What a Joke etc.) was what led me to Christ; courtesy of a guy who listened to it and shared it with me. These days my IPod runs a muck with bands like Becoming the Archetype, Living Sacrifice, Demon Hunter and…still, Deliverance – though I’m not a huge fan of their ‘new’ stuff. I plus listen to bands like August Burns Red – whose music isn’t blatantly molded to Christ (according to them), despite their publicly known alignment…they just ‘play music’…which is okay by me. Beyonce is hot, no doubt about that (so was Jezebel ) – but thanking God for her demented music should be abundant to lock her in hades, LOL.

Childrens Ministry

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Bible learning is an important aspect of every child’s growth. It is imperative that kids are introduced to the valuable lessons of the Holy Book from a young age. This will help them to have a solid grounding of the basic principles of Christianity and also give them a good base for their future life. The lessons that kids learn in their formative years make a lasting impression in their minds and stay with them throughout their lives. It is therefore required that kids be taught these important lessons when they are still young.

Children ministry focuses on gathering a group of children and imparting Bible lessons to them. Through the ministry the children will learn to relate to the Holy Book and this will feed their interest in knowing more about Jesus and Christianity. Many directors and pastors are on the lookout for innovative methods to get the message of the Lord to the kids.

Children’s ministry resources are useful to entice the kids into learning the Bible. Most kids find reading The Bible tough and uninteresting. However it is very important that they be initiated into the Christian way of living from an early age. There is therefore the need of fun and exciting ways to get the message of the Lord across to the children and in a way that they can easily understand. Christian ministry makes available a plethora of ways to make the kids know about the religion and the valuable lessons of the book.

There is always a great demand for interactive methods to impart religious education to children. Some of the interesting and fun ways to teach the Bible while engaging the interest of the children are:

Puppet ministry: Puppets are always in fashion and something that the kids have always loved. A puppet ministry can either be elaborate or simple, as you wish. These are a great way to engage the attention of kids. The skits need to be chosen carefully and the children will always want to see more. A puppet show based on Biblical principles is a fun way to teach the kids about the Holy Book.

Illusions: Illusions are able to hold the attention of the children like nothing else. Through this Bible lessons can be taught to the children easily and the kids are sure to love it!

Balloon twisting: This is another very popular method with the kids. One can learn balloon twisting from the many DVDs that are available. These teach how to create balloons that carry Biblical messages.

In the Children’s ministry ask the children what they would love to see. You can use their suggestions to reach out to them. They would have a range of ideas that would not only be fun to implement but would also help them know about the message of the Lord in a much better manner and help them integrate the religion in their daily life.

Bible Stories

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

The incredible account of the Voyage of Noah’s Ark is an inspiring faith adventure that feature’s one man’s total dependence on his Creator for his family and in fact, for all of humankind to follow. It is a story that has truly enthralled the generations and when you begin to plumb the depths of the remarkable background facts surrounding the voyage of the ark, the story becomes even more enthralling.

Here was the earth as we know it — totally covered in water – leaving a widespread historical legacy of now-fossilized life to be found in the earth’s ground. No-one in Noah’s time had ever built a seaworthy vessel of any kind. Noah depended on God for all blueprint and design details incl. size, type of wood used, pitching processes, etc.

Some modern-day scientists have determined that, given the 300 x 50 x 30 cubits (a cubit is around 18 inches) 3-level, large volume design, that to fit in every type of animal & living insect of Noah’s day would actually have only have taken up around 1/3rd of the total inside area, leaving ample room for Noah, his family, water and food supplies. Other scientists have agreed that this actual design was deemed to be practically unsinkable.

The Titanic, designed by Thomas Andrews the head of Harland & Wolff and built by over 15,000 paid Irish shipyard workers between 1908 – 1909 was by comparison also touted as the “unsinkable ship.” Yet with a double bottom design and 16 individual watertight compartments, it’s fate was very different to that of Noah’s Ark.

For an entertaining narrative of more intriguing background facts by “Pip The Penguin” of “The Animated Kid’s Bible” — watch Episode 2 “The Voyage Of The Ark,” by The Kid’s Bible Company and watch “The Fact File” within the Main Menu’s Special Features. Visit www.animatedkidsbible.com for a trailer sneak peek now.

Articles

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

The kids of today have become vulnerable to a host of vices that surrounds us all the time. A morally healthy youth population is essential for future progress. Christianity uses Sunday School to introduce the children to the Christian way of living from a very early age.

It has always been the endeavor of Christianity to take religion beyond the limitations of the Holy World. This has led to the blossoming of a number of youth congregations as well as Sunday Schools. Parents have loved the moral lessons that are imparted in the schools. The practice of Sunday school dates back to years ago. The requirement for an upliftment in ethics was responsible for the practice of Sunday schools.

The practice of Sunday school is in accordance with the sacrament of Holy Communion. After a child is recognized as a “Christian” all efforts are made to make sure that he/she is brought up to be able to lead a proper life. Sunday schools help the children in this.

At first, similar to the other major world religions, Christianity too depended on Bible reading and talks on parables. The earliest Sunday school classes were held by the missionaries. After a period of time the congregation was allowed to volunteer and individuals could share lessons learnt from experience. These days the Church allots place to hold the classes after the Sunday Mass at the church.

Sunday school for the kids involve Bible reading, story telling and coloring competitions, understanding the codes in The Bible, refresher courses and a plethora of both indoor as well as outdoor activities that help to enrich the spirit of togetherness. Each lesson in the class revolves around a particular theme. The activities, crafts, object talks, games are designed specifically to be in tune with the theme in the class.

The lessons imparted in the Sunday schools gradually leads the kids to have a healthy outlook towards life and have a wider vision.

Posts Tagged ‘Kids bible stories’

What is the importance of the Cross to our faith?

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Decorating the Nursery

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The Effects of Stress on Pregnancy

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Media Releases

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Home School Schedule

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Episode Talk

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Christianity

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Childrens Ministry

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Bible Stories

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Articles

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I am religious but have not baptized my children?