Homefront Monthly April 2013

APRIL 2013

Y T I N U M M O FAITH C er es for each oth God’s Family car Od together and worships G

10 WORSHIP LET US SING FOR JOY

15 FAMILY TIME RECIPE PROGRESSIVE DINNER

21 CREATE

COMMUNITY WITHIN A COMMUNITY

CONTENTS FAMILY TIME

14

Traditions

3

Environment

15

Family Time Recipe Progressive Dinner

26

Tot Time

4

Editor’s Note

19

Conversation Starters

27

Tough Topics

5

How to Use Family Time and the Family Verse

20

Kids in the Kitchen

27

The Middle

6

Capturing the Season

21

Create

7

Prayer

22

Global

28

Marriage

8

God’s Word

23

Blessing

29

Spiritual Parenting

10

Worship

INSPIRE

30

Spiritual Grandparenting

11

Game Time

The Everyday Parent

31

10 Environments

12

Storytelling

Faith Community

Fresh Start Pinwheels

Praying for Your Community Feasts and Festivals

Let Us Sing for Joy

GloBowl

25

EQUIP

Open House

Toad in the Hole

Staying Together

God Uses Unlikely People

Use Your Words Wisely

It Takes a Community

SUPPORT

Community within a Community Italy

Sit at Home

Marriage Support Inbox

When Choices Differ

An Overflowing of Love and Support 2

FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

We believe that the Holy Spirit is God’s chosen teacher. It is He who causes spiritual growth and formation when and as He chooses. As such, we have articulated 10 distinct environments to create in your home. We desire to create spiritual space, which we refer to as an environment, in which God’s Spirit can move freely.

God designed us to live in community and to experience Him in ways that can only happen in proximity to one another. The faith community serves to create an environment to equip and disciple parents, to celebrate God’s faithfulness, and to bring a richness of worship through tradition and rituals, which offer children an identity.

In this issue, we explore the environment of FAITH COMMUNITY. The Bible refers to this community in many ways: the body of Christ, the believers, and those who walk in the faith.

Since God designed us to live in community, there are experiences with Him that can only be had within the context of relationships. In those relationships, we experience aspects of God’s characteristics that are new to us, we receive a fuller picture of who we are, we get new pictures of what our Father’s love looks like, and we learn to embrace our true identity in Christ as it is affirmed and called out by those who love us.

Michelle Anthony Family Ministry Architect David C Cook

Follow Michelle: @TruInspiration

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF FAITH COMMUNITY (an excerpt from Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony)

One morning when my son was only four, he plopped himself on my bed. Carefully he leaned forward to my face and proceeded to gently open my eyes with his tiny fingers. I heard him whisper, “Don’t close eyes, Mommy.” Half-asleep, I said, “Yes, Mommy close eyes,” hoping that he would get the idea and let me have just a few more minutes. But alas, he did not. “Mommy, today is Sunday, and my friends are waiting for me,” he said with such sincerity.

Instantly I was awake. I was surprised that my son knew it was Sunday, wanted to go to church, and understood that there was a community of friends waiting for him. Much to his delight and my satisfaction, we pulled the family together and made our way to the community that had been, for a moment, taken for granted.

Design, Layout, and Photography by Brad Claypool

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

EDITOR’S NOTE “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody—I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.” Mother Teresa God created us with an innate need to belong— to love and be loved. God didn’t create us to live in isolation. We need each other!

A faith community is a body of like-minded people aiming for the same goal and supporting each other along the way. A faith community of believers sharing dreams and history provides a powerful foundation for our children.

Debbie Guinn

HomeFront Editor-in-Chief David C Cook debbie.guinn@davidccook.com

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Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites often came together as a faith community to celebrate feasts and festivals. This month’s GOD’S WORD section focuses on these feasts and festivals while sharing the New Testament significance of each one. In these festivals and feasts, the community pauses and remembers all that God has done and worships Him together.

As we prepared this month’s issue of HomeFront, we decided we wanted to experience the FAMILY TIME RECIPE as a faith community. So we rallied our staff and their families and joined with our collaborators, the ROCKHARBOR Church families team, for a progressive dinner. All of us, ages two through 55, played games, ate great food, and shared snapshots of our lives that encouraged and strengthened each of us. We hope this issue will provide multiple ways for you to do the same.

Follow us on Twitter @HFfamily for updates and encouragement as you spiritually parent your children.

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

HOW TO USE FAMILY TIME ...

FAMILY TIME

sy as a e s a It's ONE TWO THREE

1

Start by deciding on a day and time that works well for your entire family.

It can be an evening, afternoon, or morning. Just commit to building this time into your family’s natural rhythm. It’s usually best to build this time around a meal.

FAMILY VERSE Memorizing Scripture can be an incredible practice to engage in as a family. But words in and of themselves will not necessarily transform us; it is God’s Spirit in these words who transforms. We come to know God more when we’re willing to open our hearts and listen to His Holy Spirit through the words we memorize.

Have fun with this verse, and think of creative ways to invite your family to open up to God as they commit this verse to memory.

2

Look through HomeFront and see what stands out. Choose two or three experiences you would like to incorporate into your family times each week. Don’t feel burdened to complete all the activities at once, but carefully select which ones will fit your family best. This resource provides your family with more than enough experiences to create transforming environments in your home throughout the month.

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

(1 Thessalonians 5:14–15)

3

FAMILY TIME IDEAS!

Remember to HAVE FUN! Strive to make each gathering unique to your own family as you enjoy spending time with God and each other.

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

family time

c a p t u r i n g t h e s e as o n

What you will need to make one pinwheel: • Double-sided scrapbook or construction paper • Scissors

fresh start

• Brad or pin

pinwheels Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

(Lamentations 3:22–23) Spring is here! When you think of spring, what comes to mind? Personally I think of new life, fresh beginnings, and a new start.

I love sharing with my children how loving and kind our God is. I remind them that His love and compassion will never fail them. He always gives us the opportunity for a fresh start.

This month, take some time to explain to your children about how God views our mistakes. Make sure they understand that we all mess up and that there is nothing we can’t ask God to forgive. Every day, and even sometimes several times a day, we have the opportunity for a new beginning.

These beautiful pinwheels, which bring the spring season to mind, can serve as a reminder of the fresh start the Lord gives us. You might make several of them and pass them out to your friends and family who might also benefit from hearing that God loves them and can give them a fresh start!

by Richelle Paris

1

2

Begin with a 5” x 5” square of paper.

4

Fold your square corner to corner, twice, and then unfold.

5

Cut along the fold lines, stopping at your pencil mark.

7

Bend every other point to the center and stick a pin or brad through all four points.

8

Turn your pinwheel over and make sure the pin/brad pokes through in the exact center.

Roll the pin/brad several times to enlarge the hole. This will help your pinwheel spin freely.

• Straw or thin dowel • Optional: 1–2 beads

3 Along each fold, make a pencil mark about one-third of the way from the center.

6 The head of the pin/brad forms the hub of the pinwheel.

9 Stick the pin/brad into the dowel or straw.

Optional: Separate your pinwheel from the dowel with a bead or two.

Stick the pin/brad through the beads first and then into the dowel or straw.

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

family time

p r ay e r

praying for your

community

M

y son’s world revolves around his sister. If you ask him who his best friend is, he will inevitably say “Sissy.”

His answer will be the same if you ask who is the smartest person he knows, who is the bravest person he knows, or who is the kindest person he knows. To him, his sister is his world.

connections are the first and most important community influences in their lives, we should encourage them to see the many different circles of Christian community they’re a part of through faith in Jesus Christ.

For this month’s CREATE, found on page 21, we invite you to craft an interpretation of the people in our various community circles. After you do this activity, choose one person listed on these circles. You may choose to pray for that person during the entire month, or you may alternate circles by day or week. Either way, choose just one person at a time. Help your child write a prayer for the circle of influence you choose. Then spend some time specifically praying for this person.

While I love that my children love each other, I also know how important it is for my son to learn that there is a larger community outside our doors. We need all of our faith community to worship God and to grow in faith in ways we simply could not do on our own.

It’s important for children to learn that the body of believers they’re a part of doesn’t consist solely of the believers living in their home. Though these family

by Alyson Crockett

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

family time

g o d ’ s wo r d

feasts &

festivals How DO they affect us today?

Several times a year the Israelites gathered together for a festival. In Leviticus 23, the Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed feasts … which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.’” The seven annual festivals are Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of First Fruits, the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths).

In addition, the Israelites celebrated the Festival of Jubilee on the 50th year following seven cycles of seven Sabbatical years.

They also gathered weekly to celebrate the Sabbath. During these celebrations, the Israelites took time to remember what God had done for His people and to celebrate His goodness. The entire faith community gathered without the burden of work to simply worship and celebrate. They ate, danced, sang, played instruments, prayed, and offered sacrifices to God. The Feast of Passover was fulfilled by the death of the Messiah, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled by His sinless sacrifice, and the Feast of First Fruits was fulfilled by His resurrection. The Feast of Harvest began with a great harvest of three thousand souls by the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, who continues to harvest souls today. The Feast of Trumpets will announce Christ’s return, the Day of Atonement will usher in His judgment of the nations, the Feast of Tabernacles will begin the journey to our new home in a new heaven and earth, and the Feast of Jubilee symbolizes our eternity in heaven with our Lord and Savior—living in perfection, free from the debt of sin.

The Seven Annual Feasts/Festivals Passover During Passover, the Israelites celebrated their deliverance from the Egyptians as well as God as their deliverer. Each portion of the Passover feast symbolizes a part of the narrative of the Israelites’ escape from Egypt. The meal includes lamb to symbolize the slain lamb whose blood marked the Hebrews’ doorposts on the night of the 10th plague so that death would “pass over” those homes. In the New Testament, Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb on Passover to offer deliverance from sin for all people, for all time, for those who receive it.

Feast of Unleavened Bread The Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrates God’s miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt and, ultimately, His deliverance of our bondage to sin.

Beginning with the day after Passover, the Israelites were to take seven days to eat bread without yeast and to cease working on the first and seventh days. The unleavened bread represented their quick departure from Egypt, not having time for the yeast to make their bread rise. In the New Testament, Jesus speaks of yeast (or leaven) symbolically, as sin. Jesus broke unleavened bread with His disciples and said, “This is My body.”

Jesus was without sin while His body was “broken” during His crucifixion.

Festival of First Fruits The Festival of First Fruits celebrates the trustworthiness of God. First fruits represent the joyous occasion of the first grain harvest of the spring. One sheath of grain was taken to the temple as an offering. These offerings were made on the day following 8

the Sabbath, or Sunday, and marked the beginning of the two-month spring harvest.

In the New Testament, Jesus resurrected as the “first fruits” offering on Sunday, the day after the Passover Sabbath.

Feast of Harvest This festival, also known as the Feast of Pentecost or Weeks, corresponded with the nation’s harvest season. Pentecost, which means “50 days,” lasted for the 50 days after Passover and recognized when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. During this festival, the Israelites celebrated a season of gladness and thanked God for abundantly providing for their physical and spiritual needs— including a way into relationship with Him. Feast of Trumpets This feast is the first of the fall feasts. The Jewish people call this feast Rosh Hashanah, which literally means “head of the year,” as it’s observed as the start of the civil year on the Jewish calendar (in contrast with the religious year, which starts with Passover).

This celebration focused on the faithfulness of God. It consisted of a time of rest, “an offering made by fire,” and the blowing of the trumpets. The Feast of Trumpets would occur at the new moon when only the slightest crescent would be visible. Watchfulness was a critical ingredient of the feast. This need for watchfulness and preparedness in connection with the Feast of Trumpets is echoed throughout the New Testament in connection with the Lord’s second coming.

Festival of the Day of Atonement This reflective and often-solemn festival consisted of fasting, prayer, and repentance.

The festival celebrated God’s righteousness and lasted 25 hours. Today it’s known as Yom Kippur. During this time, the Israelites rededicated the temple to the Lord and repented of their sins. The high priest passed through the veil of the Holy of Holies with sacrificial blood to make atonement for the sins of the people. The New Testament significance lies in Christ, our High Priest, who shed His blood once and for all to make atonement for our sins before God.

FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

family time

g o d ’ s wo r d Feast of Tabernacles God’s people celebrated this festival with thanksgiving to remember God’s many blessings. For seven days they lived in tents or temporary shelters they decorated with colorful ornaments. The New Testament significance of this reminds us that this life is temporary, and that all of our lifelong dreams, hopes, and aspirations will one day be fulfilled in our future home and inheritance with Jesus.

Whatever you choose to celebrate, be creative, and have fun as you remember God’s goodness with your community.

Non-annual Festivals Weekly Sabbath The weekly observance of the Sabbath is a time to refrain from anything considered to be work. This celebration occurs on the seventh day of each week and often consists of reflection, study, relaxation, and festive meals shared with families and friends of the faith community. “This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy” (Exodus 31:13).

Through the Sabbath, God instructs His people to remember who He is and that He calls them to a life different from any other.

Seventh-Year Sabbath When the people entered the land of Israel after their time of exile in the desert, the Lord directed them (through Moses) to tend the fields, vineyards, and all of the crops for six years. God said that on the sixth year, or the year preceding the Sabbath year, He would bless the harvest and yield a large enough crop to provide enough food for three years. But on the seventh year, the land would have a Sabbath for an entire year, allowing the land to rest. Whatever the land produced during this year would be food for the people and their livestock.

The Year of Jubilee The year of Jubilee occurred on the fiftieth year following the seven cycles of seven Sabbatical years. This festival celebrated God’s gift of freedom. It was a consecrated year set aside to proclaim liberty and restoration for all of the inhabitants of the land. Debts were forgiven, and those who

had sold themselves to settle a debt were set free. Through this festival God reminded His people that He would always provide for them and that He “held the deeds” to everything they held as possessions.

Because of this, God commanded His people to provide for the redemption of land and housing lost due to poverty or other similar circumstances.

HEAR IT Take some time this month to read about the feasts and festivals that God’s people celebrated. Share with your children the importance of gathering as a faith community and remembering all that God has done.

DO IT The feasts and festivals drew the faith community together for celebration and worship. They were commemorative events because they kept alive the story of what God had done in the exodus and during the Israelites’ wanderings.

As a family and a faith community, come up with a festival of your own. Name it and define what you’re celebrating. Think of as many ways as possible to remember all that God has done. Maybe someone in your faith community has been healed or has given his life to the Lord. You might celebrate the way God provided for a friend or family member or how He specifically answered a prayer. Whatever you choose to celebrate, be creative, and have fun as you remember God’s goodness with your community.

by Michelle Anthony

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

family time

wo r s h i p

let us sing

for joy

Psalm 95 invites us to worship God with others. Over and over it repeats the phrase “let us”: “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song … for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care” (Psalm 95:1–2, 7).

The phrase “let us” tells us that a group of people is coming together to worship their God as a faith community.

As we worship as a faith community, we witness others praying, singing, dancing, shouting with joy, kneeling, or lifting their hands. Watching how other people respond to God’s goodness often encourages us to worship Him in a different way.

Each week, as parents join with their faith community to worship, their children do the same with their own faith community. This month we’re asking parents to observe their child worshipping God, whether it’s at church, at home, or during a children’s worship service. Because children worship God with abandon, we can learn a lot from watching them worship.

Before you go into your child’s classroom or large group service, ask permission from his children’s or families’ pastor. If possible, see if the church as a whole can do this together for one month.

by Amanda Hunt

WE OFTEN THINK OF WORSHIP AS SINGING, BUT WE CAN WORSHIP GOD IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

ship r o W r! e h t toge

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

family time

game time

globowl

ALL PLAY

It’s important to play together as a faith community. With play comes laughter and shared memories. It’s something we adults don’t intentionally do enough. Kids are experts at play, so let’s take our cue from them. Here’s a fun and new idea for your next time bowling—either with your family or your faith community!

Materials: 10 empty 1- or 2-liter soda bottles 10-20 glow sticks (various colors) soccer ball

at t! nigh

preparation: Empty the bottles and fill them with water. Drop one or two glow sticks into each bottle.

directions: • Set up the bottles in a 10-pin bowling formation at the end of a sidewalk, driveway, or lawn.

• Get out the soccer ball and create your lineup.

• You can all play together, or you may want to form teams—kids versus parents, boys versus girls, etc.

• As each player takes a turn, she should try to knock down all 10 of the pins. Each player gets two opportunities to do this.

• To keep score, add up the number of pins you knock down.

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sto ry t e l l i n g

an overflowing of

love & support God designed us to live in community and to experience Him in ways that can only happen in proximity to one another.

Lauri Root experienced this firsthand in the midst of tragedy.

At 40, Lauri instantly became a widow, a single mom, and a single woman. Her greatest fear became reality when her husband of 18 years suddenly passed away.

“My dreams were shattered, my future was very uncertain, and my only hope was Jesus,” Lauri recalls. “Heaven became a very real place, and I longed for it.”

That day was a blur. There were the phone calls inquiring about her husband Doug’s heart condition, arriving at the hospital and walking the cold halls of the ER, and having to tell her sons that their father was gone. But she never had to walk through those difficult, heart-wrenching experiences alone. “I quickly experienced how big my God was and is,” Lauri says. “Had I not had my faith or my faith community, I don’t think I would have healed.”

Her priorities during the first six months following Doug’s death included diving into God’s Word; letting the healing process unfold; being there for her sons, JD and Timmy; and keeping her husband’s business afloat. As for life’s details—the office work, the groceries, the

daily operations of a household—that’s where Lauri’s faith community stepped in and rallied around her.

There were friends who brought flowers and scheduled meals for Lauri and the boys. There were friends who planned and organized Doug’s memorial service. Another friend, a teacher, came to the house to help JD and Timmy with their homework. And there was the close girlfriend who regularly dropped off a basket of fresh fruit and vegetables at Lauri’s doorstep for a year.

“We were known, we were loved, and we were cared for,” Lauri says of her faith community, ROCKHARBOR church in Costa Mesa, California. “They were there for anything we needed. I was so moved, so humbled by that expression of love. I still am.”

Lauri’s eldest son, JD, who was 12 years old at the time, remembers the overflow of love and support following his father’s death. “People were coming over all the time and telling us that they were praying for us,” says JD, now an adult. “Our faith community helped out with me and my brother. They extended

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family time

sto ry t e l l i n g

invitations to go on trips. They donated money for our education. People were very genuine about showing they cared.”

experience. He experienced life transformation through serving, and over the years his faith community came to mean the world to him.

Even though he was only 10 at the time, Timmy’s faith community knew exactly how to minister to him. “My friends really supported me and realized I had something different with losing my father,” Timmy, also an adult now, says. “But they did not view me differently, and I didn’t want to be treated special or different because of this.”

A faith community is a safe place. It’s a prayerful place. A loving place. A grace-filled place. And serving one another in a community of faith is a natural expression of the love we receive from God. From ashes to beauty, Lauri knew God would make something beautiful out of the pain of losing her husband.

For Doug Root, faith community was synonymous with family. “He would have defined faith community as a group of believers who are called to live out their faith in action,” says Lauri. “Sharing the love of Jesus with others and walking alongside them.” Doug was passionate about his faith community, being a part of it and inviting others into the amazing

“I knew that if I could walk with the Lord and receive the healing that I needed, I knew He would use my story to minister to others,” she says. “When we look beyond ourselves and when we see needs, it allows for my eyes to be off of myself and have compassion toward others.”

That’s the beautiful part of being a faith coummunity: giving ourselves away. And in giving ourselves away, we reflect the love we have received from God.

by Jennifer Cho Salaff

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

family time

traditions

Open

House

In many families, the tradition of sitting down together for meals is an important one. Whether it’s once a week or every night, families use dinnertime as a way to reconnect and learn about what’s going on in each other’s lives.

I grew up in a household where both of my parents worked late hours or the night shift. Sitting down for a meal as a family wasn’t common. As I grew older and the schedules in our family became busier, sitting down for a meal together became reserved only for holidays and special occasions.

Although I missed out on many family meals, God provided for me in a different way. Over the years, many of my friends invited me over for dinner and welcomed me into their families.

My friends’ parents made it a point to ask me about my life, to learn about my interests, and to just love me in a way that I otherwise would not have known.

“Through these meals, we can get to know one another better and be family with each other.”

These types of meals continue for me even today. One of my friends’ parents host family dinners at their house every Sunday night, no matter how many of their children, grandchildren, or children’s friends can attend. Their dinner table is always open to anyone who needs a place to go for a meal, dessert, coffee, and quality time.

We can invite people from our faith community to join us at our dinner tables.

Through these meals, we can get to know one another better and be family with each other.

This month, create a tradition and invite people from your FAITH COMMUNITY to join you for a meal. It doesn’t have to be anything formal, just a time to share a meal, learn about one another, and be family.

A tradition is the handing down of statements, beliefs, or customs from generation to generation.

by Amanda Hunt

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fa m i ly t i m e r e c i p e

Progressive

Dinner With a progressive dinner, a group of friends eats a meal together, enjoying each course at a different participant’s home. From appetizers to the main course to dessert, the party moves from place to place throughout the evening.

When planning a progressive dinner, you should schedule no more than three to four courses.

Plan on at least a three-hour evening, allowing 45 minutes to an hour at each stop.

Suggested courses include an appetizer, a soup or salad, the main dish, and dessert. Each home also serves a beverage to go along with the course.

Keep the ages of the children attending in mind, and be sure to include food and beverages they will enjoy.

Get creative and theme your dinner. The recipes this month come from a recent progressive dinner we did with our HomeFront and ROCKHARBOR families staff.

We themed it to match our GLOBAL country: Italy. Most Italian dishes and recipes have been created by grandmothers rather than chefs. This makes many Italian recipes ideally suited for home cooking and large groups.

We also played this month’s game together (pg.11) as a faith community at our first home. And we used the CONVERSATION STARTER (pg. 19) at our last stop to get to know each other better.

by Debbie Guinn

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fa m i ly t i m e r e c i p e

se Cour1 #

appetizer & salad Easy Artichoke Dip Prep time: 5 min. Cook time: 15–20 min. Serves: 7

ingredients: • 1 (14 oz.) can marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped (with food processor) • 1 c. mayonnaise • 1 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Combine the artichoke hearts, mayonnaise, and Parmesan cheese and mix well.

3. Spread mixture in a 8” x 8” baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.

4. Serve with a sliced baguette or tortilla chips.

gorgonzola salad Prep time: 10 min. Serves: 8

ingredients: • 1 large head romaine lettuce (or 8 c. bite-sized pieces) • 1/2 c. dried cranberries • 1/2 c. candied pecans • 1 c. crumbled Gorgonzola cheese • Raspberry or champagne vinaigrette dressing

Directions: 1. Place lettuce in a large salad bowl.

2. Top with cranberries and cheese and toss gently.

3. Add candied pecans and dressing and toss again.

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fa m i ly t i m e r e c i p e

se Cour #2

main dish

Lasagna Roll-Ups Prep time: 10 min. Serves: 8

ingredients:

Directions:

• 3 c. cooked chopped chicken, ground 1. In a medium bowl, combine meat with the cheeses, beef, or turkey milk, and pepper.

• 1 c. ricotta cheese • 1/4 c. crumbled feta cheese • 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese • 1/4 c. milk • 1/8 tsp. white pepper • 8 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained • 2 c. spaghetti sauce

2. Spread half a cup of mixture on each lasagna noodle; roll in jelly roll fashion.

3. In a 9” x 13” baking dish, spread 1 cup spaghetti sauce.

4. Arrange lasagna rolls, seam-side down, in sauce in baking dish.

5. Top with remaining spaghetti sauce.

6. Cover with aluminum foil.

7. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until hot.

• Serve, if desired, with additional Parmesan cheese.

caprese sticks Prep time: 15 min. Serves: 8

ingredients:

Directions:

• 1 pint cherry tomatoes

1. Thread a tomato, a small piece of basil leaf, and a mozzarella ball onto a toothpick. Repeat until all ingredients have been used.

• 1 (6 oz.) package fresh basil leaves • 1 (16 oz.) package small, fresh mozzarella balls • Toothpicks

2. Drizzle the olive oil over the tomato, cheese, and basil, leaving the end of the toothpick clean.

• 3 Tbsp. olive oil

3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

• Salt and pepper to taste

4. S erve immediately.

for an easy metric conversion chart, search the internet for “metric kitchen.”

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se Cour #3

Dessert For dessert, we kept things simple by using store-bought sweets to continue the Italian theme. It was a perfect way to end the evening.

gelato espresso beans Italian cookies biscotti

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co n v e r sat i o n sta r t e r s

you had a time machine that 1 Ifwould work only once, what point in the future or the past would you visit?

Grab a spool or ball of string or yarn and have everyone stand in a circle. Holding the end of the string, throw the ball to someone else to catch.

Choose a question for the person who caught the string. (See the list for some sample questions.)

With both of you still holding the string, throw the ball to another person and ask a different question. Eventually you’ll create a web—and you’ll learn some interesting things about each other!

At the end of the game, explain that everyone played a part in creating this unique web, and if one person hadn’t been there, the web would look different. In the same way, it’s important that we all take part to make our faith community unique and special.

by Debbie Guinn

you could go anywhere in the 2 Ifworld, where would you go? you were going on a trip, 3 Ifwhat three things would you definitely take with you? f you could talk to any one 4 Iliving person, who would it be and why? household chores do you 5 which like to do and which do you try to avoid?

6 o you have a pet? If not, what 7 Dsort of pet would you like? a gift you will never 8 Name forget. one thing you really like 9 Name about yourself. your favorite thing to 10 What's do in the summer?

If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

family time

k i d s i n t h e k i tc h e n

toad in

the hole CONVERSATION STARTERS: Growing up, my mom made some pretty creative breakfasts, my favorite being Toad in the Hole. It’s healthy and delicious, and I loved being part of the process—pulling the stepstool up to the kitchen counter to “help” her make it. Twenty-five years later, my two boys join me in the kitchen to experience the Toad in the Hole tradition!

It’s funny how this simple recipe can remind us of our faith community. We can choose to let the ingredients stay separate, or we can choose to let them blend together. God desires for each one of us to have an abundant faith community where we care for each other and worship Him together. by Rebekah Pogue Yields: 1 Toad in the Hole

Prep Time: 5 min.

Cook Time: 5 min.

Ingredients: 1 piece of bread (any type)

• 1 egg • 1 Tbsp. butter • Jam (optional)

Directions: 1. Lightly butter both sides of bread.

2. Have your child place a plastic cup upside-down on the bread and press down to cut out a circle in the middle of the bread.

3. Take the “hole” out of the bread and put it off to the side.

4. Heat a nonstick pan at a medium-low temperature and place the bread in the pan.

5. Crack the egg directly into the “hole” of the bread.

6. Allow the egg to cook mostly through, then turn the bread over, letting the other side of the bread toast and the egg cook entirely.

As you crack the egg into the bread hole, watch how the egg fills up the space and thickens as it cooks. Explain that we can choose to do life on our own or invite others to be a part of our lives. Just like the Toad in the Hole wouldn’t work the same if the egg and bread were cooked separately, God’s plan for His people is to do life together.

Once the Toad in the Hole is complete, observe and talk about the Toad (the egg) hiding in the Hole under the bread. Ask your child about a time she tried to do something on her own instead of inviting a friend to help her in that situation. Then tell a personal story of a time when your faith community encouraged you. Share how thankful you were that God brought just the right person in your moment of need. Remind your child that when we hide out alone, we miss learning life lessons and grace from others who believe like we do.

If you choose to put jam on the cut-out circle of bread, talk about how sweet it is to rest in Christ’s love and show others His love too!

7. Place the Toad in the Hole on a plate.

8. Add the cut-out bread circle to the pan, lightly toasting it on both sides. Add jam if desired.

9. Place the toasted bread circle on the “hole,” covering the cooked egg. for an easy metric conversion chart, search the internet for “metric kitchen.”

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KIDS IN THE KITCHEN FEATURES SIMPLE, KID-FRIENDLY RECIPES THAT ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER WHILE CREATING YUMMY TREATS. FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

family time

c r e at e

Community Within

a a community community It’s important to be able to identify your faith community so you can live out the gospel alongside them. By helping our kids to identify their faith community, we’re helping them to build relationships. This month’s CREATE focuses on just that. by Sophia Brand

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • 5 large pieces of construction paper (different colors) • Scissors • Glue stick • Black marker

HOW TO: Cut each piece of construction paper into a circle, with each circle varying in size (large circles to small). Starting with the largest, glue each circle on top of the one larger, layering the circles. Once you have your circles layered, allow your family to write the roles or titles (e.g., parent, aunt, friend) of people in your faith community on the edge of each circle.

parent aunt friend sunday school teacher pastor

Create is a time to engage your family in a collaborative response to hearing God’s Word.

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Once your child writes a title or role on each circle, ask him to think of a person who fits that role. If he doesn’t have a name for a role, encourage him to ask God to bring someone into his life who might fill that role.

Then encourage your children to hang their circle diagrams in a place they’ll see often as a reminder to pray for the people God has placed in their faith community.

FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

family time

g lo b a l

Where in the World Is ...

ITALY

Awakening a compassionate heart and a global mindset in children for people beyond the boundaries of their own neighborhoods.

SWITZERLAND

AUSTRIA SLOVENIA CROATIA BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

FRANCE

ITALY N W

E S

MONTENEGRO

ALBANIA

I taly, located in southern Europe, is a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea. It is shaped like a high-heeled boot that looks like it’s kicking a “triangle”—the island of Sicily.

Italy borders France to the west, Switzerland and Austria to the north, and Slovenia to the east.

The country also shares a border with two tiny independent states, San Marino and the Vatican, both of which are entirely surrounded by Italian territory. Italy encompasses 116,304 square miles.

SARDINIA

SICILY

POPULATION: 60,483,521

LANGUAGE: Italian

RELIGION:

91.6% Christian, of whom 87.8% are Roman Catholic

5.8% Claim no religion 1.9% Muslim

NOW THAT WE KNOW THE LOCATION OF ITALY, LET’S MEET ITS PEOPLE.

DID YOU KNOW? • Pizza was invented in Naples in the late nineteenth century. In addition, the thermometer, typewriter, eyeglasses, piano, espresso machine, and ice cream cone all hail from Italy.

Approximately 60 million people call Italy their home.

If you lived in Italy, what you might eat would vary depending on the region of the country. However, throughout the country, one staple food is pasta.

Pasta is a noodle that comes in various lengths, widths, and shapes. Pasta can also refer to a dish in which pasta products are the main ingredient.

Pizza was created in Italy and is an all-time favorite. Fresh herbs and vegetables such as basil, tomatoes, peppers, lemons, artichokes, and onions top pizza as well as pasta dishes.

• Italy has over 40 million visitors per year, making it the fourth most visited country in the world.

TO GREET SOMEONE, YOU WOULD SAY:

“CIAO”

(pronounced CHOW) To talk with your friends in Italy, you would speak Italian.

If you went to church in Italy, you would most likely go to a Roman Catholic Church.

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

family time

blessing

STAYING TOGETHER

by Alyson Crockett

Unity among the faith community can be a difficult concept for children to grasp. It’s important for them to understand that no matter our differences, God has uniquely bonded us to one another through our faith in Christ. Our blessing this month comes from Ephesians 4, where we read that although we each have unique gifts, we are one with our fellow believers.

BLESS Share these words of Scripture with your children.

[Child’s name], live a life worthy of God’s calling for your life. Be humble, gentle, patient, and loving. Be unified and at peace with other believers through the Holy Spirit.

So try your best to remain as one. There is one body. There is one Lord. There is one faith and one baptism. There is one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (based on Ephesians 4:1–6)

PRAY Pray the following prayer with your child as you bless her:

“Thank You, God, for giving us a community of people to walk through life with us. Help us to treat our fellow believers with love and respect and to appreciate the unique qualities You’ve given to each of us. May we give grace to one another because You’ve given grace to us.”

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

INSPIRE Parenting stories and devotions to spur you on and motivate you as you spiritually parent your children.

EQUIP Resources to prepare you as you navigate through tough ages and tough topics.

SUPPORT Walking alongside you to promote healthy marriages and answer your spiritual parenting and spiritual grandparenting questions.

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

inspire

t h e e v e ry day pa r e n t

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts [people] from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”

(Acts 10:34–35)

C

hildren are naturally great at connecting. They don’t care what kind of clothes their friends wear, what kind of car their parents drive, or how clean their neighbor’s home is.

It takes just a smile and an invitation to play to form a lasting bond.

Unfortunately, many of us adults lose this ability at some point during our lives. We miss the blessing of building a healthy faith community because we start to worry about what other people might think if we befriend the “wrong” person. We question whether we will disrupt the affinity of an established connection by bringing someone new into our circle of friends.

Consequently, many of us are content to allow our interactions with neighbors and coworkers to consist of shallow connections and superficial conversation.

This month, try following your child’s example of unconditional friendship by connecting with someone new. Invite that person to join a church or small group activity. You may find that all it takes is the invitation to break the ice and open an opportunity for deeper connection—and maybe even a chance to share the love and grace that Jesus offers.

by Alyson Crockett

God Uses Unlikely People

by Alyson Crockett

They had only lived there for two months and already they were the talk of the community. “Their place is a disaster,” one neighbor complained. “The kids just run wild all over the place,” another chimed in. Quick to pass judgment, nobody wanted to make friends with them. The homeowners’ association received numerous complaints about various rules they had broken.

Every afternoon, the kids would hang around outside of our house. My young daughter would look longingly out of the window and ask if she could play with them.

My answer was a resounding “No!” for as long as I could find reasons for her not to befriend the new residents.

One day, when my excuse was that I would not allow her to play outside by herself, she seized the opportunity to invite them inside. From that day forward, the kids would be over the minute they saw our car in the driveway.

Today, when asked why she became a Christian, our neighbor will credit my daughter’s kindness and willingness to bring her family into our faith community.

My neighbor’s smiling face is a daily reminder to me that God can use unlikely people—even the littlest ones—to make an impact in the lives of others.

One afternoon my daughter came home from church especially eager to see her friends. Our church was having a big event that she wanted to invite them to.

She brought an invitation for each one of them and told them all about our church. When they asked questions, she told them all about Jesus. To my surprise, the girls not only agreed to go with us, but their mother asked if she could go as well.

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

equip

tot t i m e ( ag e s 3 & u n d e r )

Repetition is fundamental to almost any learning style, so when you’re attempting to teach your children, use repetition! lie down

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

g the roa lon

d

at home sit

a

get up

(Deuteronomy 6:6–7)

sit at home

While sitting at home this month, sing this rhyme with your children to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” It will remind them of the importance of their faith community.

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

equip

to u g h to p i c s Gossip wasn’t conceived under a salon hair dryer in the 1950s; it’s been a temptation since time began. Gossiping is like using a club, sword, and arrow to attack others (Proverbs 25:18). So why is it so appealing to our sinful nature?

Use Your Words Wisely

Gossip seems to satisfy our jealousy. If we want what others have—their looks, personality, or talent—gossiping about them feels like we’re knocking them down a peg, perhaps to the place where we feel we are. Cutting off this root of gossiping may be as simple as reminding our families to gratefully rejoice in who God created us to be. Then we can begin to celebrate others’ stories rather than try to stain them.

Gossip can feel like easy entertainment, a little thrill. It puts us in the spotlight when we share “insider information.” But check out this spotlight: “I tell you that [people] will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken” (Matthew 12:36). Read this verse with your kids and explain that God is waiting and willing to forgive but that He cares how we use our words. Remind them that conversations can help or hurt, honor or injure. It’s a choice.

equip

the middle (6 t h

It Takes a Community

by Jeff Bachman

“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Sometimes raising a middle school student feels very similar. It is a huge task—so huge you might often wonder if you have what it takes to accomplish it. But it doesn’t have to be done all at once, and you don’t have to do it alone.

For children this age, it’s less about making one big, grand, sweeping decision that will change the course of their history and more about the little, day-to-day choices coming from you and many other people God has placed in their lives.

As children head into early adolescence, it can sometimes feel like you’re making less and less of an impact in their lives because of the many other influences competing for their time. Teachers, coaches, friends, youth pastors, small group leaders, and friends

to

8 t h GRADE)

all vie for a piece of them. As parents, you want to be sure you’re surrounding your kids with a community that will be positive and God-honoring.

• H ost their social gatherings, small groups, and

Most things in the adolescent’s world are changing. Physical changes, cognitive changes, social and emotional changes— everything seems to be changing during this season. But this can be an exciting season too, because with change comes the opportunity to shape and influence.

• Drive for their events. This simple step shows

As our children’s ability to live independently increases, the people we have chosen to surround them with, those who mold and shape them, become crucial. We have the opportunity to bring in a team of people around our children to ensure they receive the same message from others that they hear from us. It may feel as though your influence as a parent goes down, but that’s not true—it can be more important than ever at this age.

friends.

• I nvite their coaches, pastors, and small group leaders over for dinner.

your children that you continue to desire connection to their lives.

• Feel the freedom to still say no. As the parent,

you have their best interest in mind and are ultimately responsible for the influences in their community.

As your middle-schooler grows and matures, be thankful that you don’t have to do it alone— God has given you His Spirit and a community of believers. Use this new world that they are living in to reinforce the parenting model you have been investing in them for years—one small step at a time.

Make a point of leaning into the new elements and influences in their world. Here are a few easy steps to follow to surround your kids with a healthy faith community: 27

FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

support

m a r r i ag e

marriage

support As a pastor who tries to do all he can to ensure successful marriages, one of my immediate suggestions for newlywed couples is to seek out and get into a small group.

Finding other like-minded couples isn’t always easy. In fact, most people have to make an effort in order to find a faith community.

Scripture says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). This means we shouldn’t be passive or complacent. We have a heavenly Father we can ask for wisdom.

Research shows that couples who have support, encouragement, and prayer from others do much better in their marriages. As people isolate themselves more and more, the divorce rate increases.

If you haven’t been able to find a close community, ask the pastor of your church to assist you. Turn over every rock, but don’t give up.

My wife Becky and I have a close group of friends around us who support us, are honest with us, and pray for us. We meet regularly and even take short vacations together. We pray for each other and look for ways to make a difference in our world together. We’ve intentionally developed a faith community so we can experience support and encouragement and make a difference in our world.

by Roger Tirabassi

get i a sm nto g ro ua l l p!

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

support

s p i r i t ua l pa r e n t i n g

inbox with

michelle anthony Q: A:

Our family is beyond busy—school, sports, family, and friends fill our schedules every week. With all we have going on it’s hard to fit church into our schedules. Why do we need another community?

I would suggest a different perspective. We all often find ourselves trying to fit church into our schedules rather than seeing the faith community as a priority around which to schedule other things. Prayerfully sit down with your spouse (or another person who helps you parent) and "start from scratch" on your schedule and priorities.

Write down what outcomes you hope for your child when you launch him into adulthood, and work backward to create the time for the things that will shape those dreams.

Q: A:

Q:

We’ve attended our church for several years but don't really feel community with the people that are there. Do you have any suggestions for how our family can help create relationships with others in our church?

T his is often difficult in churches today. Many are too large to "do life with," or the structures of our lives keep us from having time to invest in anyone outside of our family. First, I'd look into avenues your church already has in place and take full advantage of them. Are they offering life groups or small groups? Parenting classes? Family events?

If so, make these a priority and use them to their fullest. Exchange email addresses and invite another family over for a play date or dinner. The next idea would be to create community in your neighborhood by using an edition of HomeFront Magazine. It makes a wonderful family night and allows you to create your own faith community with believers in your neighborhood while sharing the gospel with those who don't know Him.

A:

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My high school son is no longer connecting with his youth group at the church we’ve attended for several years. He wants to go to youth group with some of his school friends who go to a different church. What are your thoughts on changing churches to keep my son interested in attending church?

T his is a common concern for many parents. Do we force them to stay in our faith community or do we allow them to leave in order to be in a faith community that they feel a part of? Of course each family will need to make this decision based on many variables, but one thing to keep in mind is that our high schoolers are beginning to enter their independent and adult years and their opinions should be met with grace and respect. As you listen to your son, try to hear the underlying issues and address those. Try to reach a compromise that might allow him to participate in important events/services at your church while perhaps allowing him some time with friends from another community.

FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

support

s p i r i t ua l g r a n d pa r e n t i n g

when choices

differ

Many of us have experienced the pain of having an adult child turn away from the faith community that we intentionally created to surround him. Because our religious beliefs are so closely tied to our emotions, having a child choose to follow a different path can be a source of tremendous distress. Our religious beliefs truly shape how we live our lives— weddings, funerals, holidays, what is right and wrong and even what happens to us after death. When our children reject our beliefs and begin to impart their new convictions (or lack thereof) onto their children (our grandchildren), it can spark an area of great tension in our families.

So what do we do when this happens? Do we insist they believe what we believe or they can’t come visit? Or do we figure out a way to relate to them in a noncontrolling matter? With prayer and guidance from the Holy Spirit, you can choose the latter. Rather than fighting

their choices, you can show them the love of Jesus, trusting that His love is what will bring them back to the faith you instilled in them.

Should you find yourself in this situation, your faith community can be a great comfort to you. Because their core beliefs are similar to yours, they understand better than most the pain of watching your children make decisions that don’t honor God. They can be a good sounding board—a place to allow your frustrations to be heard. They can lovingly remind you that the most important thing is to keep the lines of communication open between you and your adult children. They can stand in the gap and pray for your family during the times you literally don’t have the words. And they can also show love to your children and grandchildren when the opportunity presents itself.

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It’s true that the greatest influence we have as parents comes in the first 18 years of our children’s lives, but that doesn’t mean our religious influence ends when they become adults. No matter how old they are, we can continue to guide them, listen to them, and support them as they grapple with questions. We don’t have to “solve” their problems, but we do need to listen and be a supportive mentor. Questioning isn’t bad; it’s an opportunity to have conversations and stay connected with our families.

Living a life that pleases and honors God will speak volumes to both your children and your grandchildren and will pervade their future thinking. Remember too that God is in control and wants nothing more than to be in a vibrant relationship with your family. He will stop at nothing to make that happen!

by Debbie Guinn FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

10 ENVIRONMENTS Below you'll find a brief explanation of each environment.

1. Storytelling—The power of The Big God Story impacts our lives by giving us an accurate and awe-inspiring perspective of how God has been moving throughout history. It is the story of redemption, salvation, and hope and tells how I have been grafted into it by grace. It further compels us to see how God is using every person’s life and is creating a unique story that deserves to be told for His glory.

“God has a big story, and I can be a part of it!”

2. Identity—This environment highlights who we are in Christ. According to Ephesians 1, we have been chosen, adopted, redeemed, sealed, and given an inheritance in Christ … all of which we did nothing to earn. This conviction allows children to stand firm against the destructive counter identities the world will offer.

“I belong to God, and He loves me!”

3. Faith Community—God designed us to live in community and to experience Him in ways that can only happen in proximity to one another.

The faith community serves to create an environment to equip and disciple parents, to celebrate God’s faithfulness, and to bring a richness of worship through tradition and rituals, which offer children an identity. Our love for each other reflects the love we have received from God. “God’s family cares for each other and worships God together.”

4. Serving—This posture of the heart asks the question, “What needs to be done?” It allows the Holy Spirit to cultivate a sensitivity to others and focuses on a cause bigger than one individual life. It helps fulfill the mandate that as Christ followers we are to view our lives as living sacrifices that we generously give away!

“Asks the question, ‘What needs to be done?’”

5. Out Of The Comfort Zone—As children are challenged to step out of their comfort zones from an early age, they learn to experience a dependence on the Holy Spirit to equip and strengthen them beyond their natural abilities and desires. We believe this environment will cultivate a generation that, instead of seeking comfort, seeks a radical life of faith in Christ.

IT IS OUR PRAYER THAT HOMES AND CHURCHES WOULD CREATE THESE ENVIRONMENTS FOR KIDS TO LIVE IN SO THEIR FAITH WILL GROW IN A COMMUNITY OF CONSISTENCY, COMMON LANGUAGE, AND PRACTICE. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THESE ENVIRONMENTS CAN IGNITE A TRANSFORMING FAITH IN YOUR FAMILY, WE SUGGEST YOU READ:

“God transforms me when I step out in faith.”

6. Responsibility—This environment captures the ability to take ownership for one’s life, gifts, and resources before God. A child must be challenged to take responsibility for his or her brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as for those who are spiritually lost. Our hope is that the Holy Spirit will use this environment to allow each child to understand that God has entrusted His world to us.

“God has entrusted me with the things and people He created around me.”

7. Course Correction—This environment flows out of Hebrews 12:11–13 and is the direct opposite of punishment.

Instead, biblical discipline for a child encompasses a season of pain, the building up in love, and a vision of a corrected path for the individual with the purpose of healing at its core.

“When I get off track, God offers me a path of healing.”

8. Love/Respect—Without love, our faith becomes futile. This environment recognizes that children need an environment of love and respect in order to be free to both receive and give God’s grace. Key to this environment is the value that children are respected because they embody the image of God. We must speak to them, not at them, and we must commit to an environment where love and acceptance are never withheld due to one’s behavior.

“God fills me with His love so I can give it away.”

SPIRITUAL PARENTING: An Awakening for Today’s Families

BY MICHELLE ANTHONY © 2010 DAVID C COOK

9. Knowing—Nothing could be more important than knowing and being known by God. We live in a world that denies absolute truth, but God’s Word offers just that. As we create an environment that upholds and displays God’s truth, we give children a foundation based on knowing God, believing His Word, and cultivating a relationship with Him through Christ. God is holy, mighty, and awesome, yet He has chosen to make Himself known to us!

“God knows me, and I can know Him.” 10. Modeling—Biblical content needs a practical living expression in order for it to be spiritually impacting. This environment serves as a hands-on example of what it means for children to put their faith into action. Modeling puts flesh on faith and reminds us that others are watching to see if we live what we believe.

“I see Christ in others, and they can see Him in me.”

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FAITH COMMUNITY | HomeFrontMag.com

FAITH-BUILDING

PICTURE BOOKS FROM FRANCIS CHAN

Halfway Herbert “Crazy Love for Kids” Halfway Herbert never completes anything.

Homework remains half done, his room stays only partly clean, and dinner is never finished. But when he tells a truth, he learns the importance of honesty and of following God with all his heart.

ISBN: 978-0-7814-0418-1

$12.99

The Big Red Tractor and The Little Village

Ronnie Wilson’s Gift

“Forgotten God for Kids” This contemporary parable tells of a village employing a rather difficult-to-use tractor to grow food. Everybody thinks that’s just how it is … until someone discovers a long-forgotten book. Could it reveal the tractor’s secrets?

ISBN: 978-0-7814-0419-8

$12.99

Contact a David C Cook rep at 800.323.7543 or visit www.DavidCCook.com

Ronnie Wilson’s plans to give his baseball glove to Jesus keep falling apart. Then one night, he discovers that little things done for others are gifts to Jesus too.

ISBN: 978-0-7814-0477-8

$12.99