I have some good news and some bad news. I’ll start with the bad news first. Joshua’s House is no longer a non-profit organization or an official incorporation of any kind. Due to my new teaching job, I am unable to keep up with the demands of the paperwork and logistics connected with running an organization, and there is no one to take that job on. However, the good news is that the board of directors has strongly encouraged me to keep the ministry moving forward, and that’s just what I intend to do. The hope is that some day we can pick up again and keep right on plugging away.
What does all of this mean for you? Have no fear! God is still working. The only difference for you is a financial one. Donations and purchases are no longer tax deductable. While this is a bit of a bummer, it is certainly not something that should get in the way of anything here at Joshua’s House. There will be a few changes to the website over the next few months to update everything with the organizational change.
Thank you for continuing to visit our website. It is my prayer that you continue to find a blessing as you and your family strive to grow closer to God.
And that means it’s time for summer reading! Take a look at our summer reading program for your kids this summer. Also, keep a lookout for our reccommended summer reading booklist. Feel free to leave a comment with any books you think should be added below.
As I mentioned in my post on Creating Space for God, I am going to be posting Bible Study ideas for kids of all ages. In fact, the first one has already been published (you can check it out here.)
I thought it might be nice to put a post up explaining some of the different types of activities I will be posting. Each activity falls into one of four categories: reviewing what we read, studying the passage, applying the message and memorizing the word. Here is a little explanation of each one
Reviewing What We Read
Have you ever read something that went in one ear and right out the other? I know I have. This section is filled with activities that help you stop and think about what you are reading. You may even be surprised how many of the stories you remember several months from now.
Studying the Passage
Reading the Bible and remembering what is says is one thing. It’s another to truly study the stories to try to learn more about what God is telling us. If we study carefully and prayerfully, we can read the same part of the Bible again and again and learn something new each time.
Applying the Message
The Bible is like God’s letter to us. He created us, so it is almost like an owner’s manual and He wants to use His letter to change our lives and bless us. When we read and study the Bible it’s important that we prayerfully ask questions like “What does this have to do with me?” and “What can I learn about God from reading this?” This category gives you some tools to help make the Bible real in your life and the lives of your children.
Memorizing the Word
If we have the Bible available to us, why is it important to memorize the verses? I’ll let the Bible speak for itself on this topic:
“How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.
1With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
~Psalm 119:9-16
This category is filled with activities and ideas to help you and your children hide God’s Word in your hearts.
Keep an eye out for a new category of Family Fun Ideas. We will still be adding quick and easy ideas along with other fun ideas for your family. Our new category is called Family Fun Ideas for Family Worship, and they are just that: perfect ideas for family worship time.
While many of the Family Fun Ideas can be used for family worship time, the activites in this category were designed specifically with family worship in mind. Hopefully these ideas will help you strengthen the time you spend together worship God as a family, or maybe they will help you start the tradition of family worship for the first time. Either way, I’d love to get your feedback as we start posting these new ideas.
Wow! It sure has been a long time since I’ve posted - nearly three months! That’s pretty awful! Well, guess what. I’m back. Over the past few months I have been adjusting to some pretty big changes. Now that things have settled down a bit, I’m back and ready to move forward with Joshua’s House. To be honest, I’m still praying about and trying to figure out what my next immediate steps will be, but I know God will guide and direct me. In the meantime, I thought I might give you guys a peak into what I’ve been up to lately. Take a listen to this sermon I recently preached on Families and Children.
I was recently at my mother-in-law’s house when she introduced me to a new kind of Bible - something I had never seen before. It’s called a topical Bible. It has complete Bible verses, but they are listed by topic. This struck me as a fantastic tool for anyone, but especially for anyone who works with kids. If your child comes to you with questions about how to deal with a bully at school, you can look up the topic “enemy” and find out what all the Bible has to say about enemies. It can even be helpful to look up topics like money, peace, patience, fear and many more.
It is similar to a concordance, but you don’t have to wade through unrelated verses or search all over the Bible to string together similar verses. They are all in one place.
Here are a few topical Bibles you can check out for your home library:
Hooray! If you look on the left side bar under categories, you will notice a new section called “Just for Kids”. Today we posted a great interactive story for kids. It’s called the Bantam Rooster. The kids can read on their own, or press the play button on every page to have the story read to them. Not only that, but you can download the discussion guide for questions, activities and Bible stories that go right along with this fun new story.
Oh, and if you want to add the story to your own website, just click the share button on the lower right side of the story window.
Christmas is a busy time for us here at the Joshua’s House offices, as I’m sure it is for you in your home as well. This is a video a friend shared with me, reminding me to keep my focus on the truly important things this holiday season. I thought I would share it with you. I hope it brings you a blessing as well. Merry Christmas!
I have been exploring some important questions with Joshua’s House. I am working hard to discover what it is that parents really need as an encouragement as they seek to do a very important work - raise their children- while at the same time providing that information and support in a way that will be meaningful and useful to them.
While I have much work ahead of me in this quest, I am discovering that I will have to reach people through more mediums. I am considering making more things available through audio - maybe even creating a Joshua’s House podcast. There is also the thought of making a quarterly newsletter or magazine available for a fee (to cover printing costs). This publication would include many of the articles on the website, but would be an easier format for some.
This week I plan to spend some of my time wrestling with a few of theses issues.
What do you think? I would love to hear your feedback.
If you’re in the Chattanooga area, come out the Family Fair and Expo at the LCA school gym and ball feild. Joshua’s House will be there with give aways and free tickets for some of the booths. This is a fantastic family event with activities that include facepainting, inflatables, a dunking booth, hayrides, science demonstrations, food and more.
