What are you reading, watching, thinking about this week? Anything special with some time off or is there too much going on with the holiday?
As usual, here’s a few which have been on our mind. Let us know your thoughts on any/all of them. In addition, if you have items you’d like us to consider for the top five, add them in the comments or send them to Tom or Mike.
1. In Star-Studded Wise Men: Rethinking the Christmas Story (December 7, 2009), Ben Witherington delivers a strong corrective regarding some popular renderings of Christmas. Ben has a similar post focused upon Luke 2:1-7, No Inn in the Room (December 09, 2007). (HT: Arlene)
2. More stocking stuffers? Stan Guthrie and John Wilson, Christmas Books, Part 3 (Podcast, posted 12/08/09). Forward the link to Buster Keaton’s College (1927) and have a laugh. Any additional suggestions you have for our Christmas Wish List?
3. Even more stocking stuffers! Don’t forget about the discounts you receive with your ESN membership from IVP and Eerdmans. Books make great gifts (hint, hint).
4. This is a time of year when many interviews and job searches are conducted, so take a few minutes to read this good advice from David Perlmutter about “Avoiding a ‘Nuclear Veto’ in Hiring” from the Chronicle. Perhaps it will make next Christmas a bit merrier! (HT: Kim)
Books
5. From Mike: Laura Vanderkam in the WSJ recently wrote “Seen and Not Heard in Church,” about the tension between the ideals of intergenerational worship and the messy realities of crying babies, restless toddlers, and bored children of all ages. May I recommend a couple of that my wife (who teaches music to very young children) has found helpful?
Parenting in the Pew (IVP) by long time IV staff, current John Brown U. faculty member, and Dead Theologian’s Society founder Robbie Castleman – a very practical, and compact, book on training your children to worship
Teaching Kids Authentic Worship (Baker) by Kathleen Chapman – a guide with 52 ideas for “worship moments,” in and out of church
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder (Algonquin) by Richard Louv – not about worship per se, but about children encounter reality around them – which, in a way, is what worship does, too
And there’s one more that I can’t find right now. You’ll just have to check back later today when I add it to the comments!
12/5/2012 8:15 AM Editors note: For ESN’s developing Advent archive click here.
About the author:
Tom enjoys daily conversations regarding living out the Biblical Story with his wife Theresa and their four girls, around the block, at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church (where he teaches adult electives and co-leads a small group), among healthcare professionals as the Northeast Regional Director for the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA), and in higher ed as a volunteer with the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN). For a number of years, the Christian Medical Society / CMDA at Penn State College of Medicine was the hub of his ministry with CMDA. Note: Tom served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA for 20+ years, including 6+ years as the Associate Director of ESN. He has written for the ESN blog from its launch in August 2008. He has studied Biology (B.S.), Higher Education (M.A.), Spiritual Direction (Certificate), Spiritual Formation (M.A.R.), Ministry to Emerging Generations (D.Min.). To God be the glory!
Mike’s wife here…
The fifth book he was thinking of was “Chatter With the Angels: an Illustrated Songbook”. Thanks to Barb Trevethan for recommending it to us! It has fantastic, playable arrangements of traditional hymns — many of which children are no longer exposed to, even at church. It also comes with a well done CD of each song. It’s a fantastic alternative to “Barney’s Greatest Hits” for car rides!
On a side note, the Richard Louv book is not written from a Christian perspective. It is, however, friendly towards Christianity, and has a chapter devoted to spirituality and nature, from which Christians can glean information. 🙂
— Elizabeth