|
| |
The Teaching Home
E-MAIL NEWSLETTER
Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
Volume II, Number 22 Christmas Issue Dec. 9, 2002
Cindy Short and Sue Welch, editors
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
You are welcome to forward this newsletter in its entirety.
Table of Contents
Christmas
Christmas Focus
A Time for Giving
Christmas Bible Study
Christmas Evangelism
God's Gift of Love: The Incarnation
Recommended Home-School Products & Services
Tea & Hospitality Unit Study
Christmas Carols Sweet and Clear CD
HomeschoolBookworm.com
The Teaching Tank Science
Sunny Side Up: Humorous Anecdote
Christmas Greetings!
We trust that your family will have a wonderful time of
celebrating Christ's birth in a way that honors our blessed
Savior and draws attention to Him at a time when the world is
open to hear the wonderful Gospel message.
The celebration of Christmas is an opportunity to teach
spiritual truths to our children and to share the same Good News
to our world today that the angels proclaimed 2,000 years ago.
May the Lord bless your family at this Christmas time!
Sincerely,
Sue Welch
for Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian Welch
The Teaching Home is a home-school family business
produced in our home since 1980.
http://www.TeachingHome.com
P.S. We are taking a break from our 15-part Basic Skills series
in this Christmas issue.
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
Success Story
I have been a Christian home-schooled student since the second
grade. I recently took the SAT for the first time and scored 1560.
I attribute my success to prayer and hard work.
Over the years, my mother has received much inspiration and
support from The Teaching Home, and we thought you might like
to hear our happy news.
Thank you and God bless.
Michael R., New York
Find Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement
Buy Teaching Home Back Issues Online
http://theteachinghomen.goemerchant7.com
Select from 51 Never-Out-of-Date Back Issues
Search for Topics You Need
Each Issue Is Pictured and All Articles Are Listed
Practical How-Tos & Teaching Tips
Inspiration & Encouragement
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
Christmas Focus
Christian home-school families typically evaluate thoughtfully
each activity in which they participate. Christmas should be no
exception.
Regardless of objectionable practices of past and present
Christmas celebrations, Christian families can create their own
meaningful family celebrations by prayerfully seeking to honor
the Lord in all they do.
The world's focus on commercialism is usually rejected in theory,
yet Larry Burkett warns that "Many families literally indenture
themselves to creditors for a whole year just to buy some useless
junk at Christmas." See practical alternatives in articles at
http://216.52.177.33/library/articleview.asp?id=5002
http://216.52.177.33/library/articleview.asp?id=1128132026
Our focus clearly should include responsible use of our finances
in giving only within a reasonable budget we can afford without debt.
Some positive focuses, addressed in this newsletter, are:
* Celebrating Jesus' birth by reading and studying Scripture,
singing hymns, and sharing the Gospel of His coming.
* Celebrating family and friends by spending time together,
feasting, working, playing, talking, praying, singing.
* Celebrating giving and hospitality by giving what is most needed
to those who most need it.
("Christmas" is continued below.)
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
Fun Unit Study Teaches about Tea and Hospitality
What a fun way to learn! Study guide: accoutrements,
vocabulary, activities, and resources. Activity book: "A Time
for Tea, Then and Now." Teaching tape: history of tea, types
of tea, and tea etiquette. Magnolia & Ivy: 1-800-233-2619,
info@magnoliaivy.com.
http://www.magnoliaivy.com/html/unit_study.html
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
A Time of Giving
1. God's Gift List
Talk to your family about those God told us to give to:
prisoners; widows and orphans; our "neighbors"; the poor,
handicapped, hungry, thirsty, or sick; strangers, those in need
of clothing, and those that cannot return our gifts. (See James
1:27; Luke 14:12-14; Matthew 25:35, 36.)
2. Types of Gifts
Discuss ways to meet the different needs of people.
* Some need material things. Give food, clothes, or money for
housing, utilities, or transportation to a needy family or
individual.
* Some need friendship, companionship, time, or service. Make
a short visit to a nursing home, take a meal or a "tea party" to
a shut-in from your church, or help serve a meal at a rescue
mission.
3. How To Reach the Needy
There are several ways that you may become aware of the
needs of others and give to them.
* You may know someone to give to directly. This may be extended
family, neighbors, friends, or acquaintances. (See the story of
the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37.)
* You may give through your local church, an example given to us
in Scripture. (See Acts 6:1-7.)
* You may give through an organization that ministers in parts of
the world with which you would not come into contact.
4. Developing the Character Quality of Generosity
* Model a free and happy generosity.
* Teach your child to be thoughtful of those in need and
understand how to meet their needs.
5. Practice Hospitality
Hospitality is a gift that money cannot buy, and it is
something that God tells us to give to others (Romans 12:13).
You do not need to do an elaborate dinner or party.
* Ask a neighbor in for tea.
* Do not wait until your house looks "perfect" to practice
hospitality.
6. Always Include the Best Gift
* True love will offer the best gift, the Good News of salvation,
along with any gift that ministers to physical needs (Acts 3:6).
* Give in the name of the Lord so that He gets the glory and
others are pointed to Him.
("Christmas" is continued below.)
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
Christmas Carols Sweet and Clear CD
By Joy Marie Dunlap and family. Gentle, harmonious, relaxing
music, classical in style. No rock beat! Order soon for
Christmas listening. Also Joy Marie’s Family Discipleship
Magazine, curriculum, and a magazine each for boys and for
girls. To hear our CD, go to
http://www.familydiscipleship.net/playsong
or http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cajdunlap/playsong.
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
Christmas Bible Study
Teach the account of Jesus Christ's birth to your children
from three perspectives. Read and discuss Matthew 1:18-2:23
and Luke 1:5-2:38:
1. As Accurate History
* Use a globe, timeline, and history book to place the events of
Jesus Christ's coming to earth.
* The exact location, the city of Bethlehem, is a place where
people live today.
http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/dod/bvt/jer.html
* The time of His birth was perfectly planned by God on many
levels. One that is obvious to us is the Roman peace and the
Roman systems of roads that aided the spread of the Gospel.
2. As Theology
* Read the Christmas story in John 1:1-18.
* Look up the following verses and discuss the 21 answers to
"Why Did Jesus Come?" by Dr. Roger Congdon.
1. To fulfill prophecy. Matthew 5:17; Romans 15:8
2. To abolish the law. Ephesians 2:13-15; Matthew 5:17-18
3. To seek the lost. Luke 19:10
4. To save the lost. Matthew 18:11
5. To serve. Mark 10:45
6. To give His life as a ransom. Matthew 20:28
7. To give more abundant life. John 10:10
8. To reveal the Father. Matthew 11:27; John 14:9
9. To do the will of God. Hebrews 10:9
10. To preach. Luke 4:43
11. To bring fire. Luke 12:49; Matthew 3:11-12
12. To bring judgment. John 9:39; Luke 12:14; John 3:17; John 8:15
13. To be king. John 18:37a
14. To bear witness to the truth. John 18:37b
15. To save sinners. I Timothy 1:15
16. To be a faithful high priest. Hebrews 2:17
17. To put away sin. Hebrews 9:26; I John 3:5; John 1:29;
Leviticus 16:20-22; Isaiah 53:6; II Corinthians 5:21
18. To destroy the works of the devil. I John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14;
John 12:31; John 14:30
19. To send a sword. Matthew 10:34-36
20. To bear our sins. I Peter 2:24; Hebrews 9:28
21. To provide a pattern of holy living. I Peter 2:21; Matthew 11:29
http://www.teachinghome.com/EM-Elements/Christmas/21reasons.cfm
3. As the Story of God's Love
* The coming of Jesus Christ is more than just history and
theology. It is the story of a loving God who is seeking a
personal relationship with you and your family through belief
in Jesus Christ, His substitutionary death for you, and His
subsequent resurrection.
* Read the Christmas story with lights dimmed to help children
imagine the happenings and concentrate on the story.
* Read "God's Gift of Love" (below) with your children and talk
about their response to it.
* Thank the Lord for His gift of salvation.
("Christmas" is continued below.)
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
HomeschoolBookworm.com
Your source for new and used curriculum on the web! Find
quality materials at family-friendly prices. Check out online
specials like the dramatization of Dickens' "Christmas Carol,"
for $12.99. Free shipping on all orders over $75.
http://www.HomeschoolBookworm.com
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
Christmas Evangelism
Sharing the Greatest Gift of All!
At Christmas time, it is appropriate to include a witness
for Christ in our greetings to extended family, neighbors, and
co-workers in keeping with the holiday. We have a ready-made
opportunity to explain the Good News of the Gospel.
Your presentation of the good news of God's gift may be as
simple as:
* A sentence such as "May you know the eternal love, joy, and
peace that comes from trusting Christ the Savior, Whose coming
we celebrate at Christmas."
* A verse such as, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
* Include in your card or plate of cookies: a Christmas gospel
tract, a Scripture portion, or an audio tape of a book of the
Bible.
* Include your personal testimony in your family's Christmas
letter or newsletter.
("Christmas" is continued below.)
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
The Teaching Tank: Science for Homeschool Families
Help feed your child's thirst for knowledge; encourage
his/her natural curiosity; and make hands-on science a reality.
150 great science lessons. A very visual and more exciting way
to learn science. http://www.tchg.com
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
God's Gift of Love
The Incarnation of Jesus Christ
Jesus is God's gift of love, celebrated at Christmas.
"But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold,
I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the
people; for today in the city of David there has been born for
you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’" (Luke 2:10, 11).
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have
eternal life" (John 3:16).
Because of the incarnation, Jesus is fully God and fully man.
God the Father calls His Son "God" in Hebrews 1:8 "But of
the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and
the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.’"
At the same time Christ is fully man. "By this you know the
Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has
come in the flesh is from God" (I John 4:3).
Receive God's Gift This Christmas
God's gift of forgiveness and eternal life cannot be yours
until you accept it as an undeserved gift by faith. You must
personally receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to
become children of God, even to those who believe in His name"
(John 1:12).
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of
works, that no one should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9).
Gain Assurance of Heaven and Live the Christian Life
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and
undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you"
(I Peter 1:3-4).
To grow in your knowledge of, love for, and obedience to the
Lord God, faithfully read your Bible each day and pray for
understanding. Seek out a church that believes and preaches God's
Word where you can worship, fellowship, and serve with other
Christians.
("Christmas" is continued below.)
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
Please Thank & Support Sponsoring Advertisers!
These Free Newsletters are made possible financially by the
fine suppliers who advertise. Please remember those that have
advertised in our last issue (below) as well as the ones in this
issue. Thank you!
Make a Family Heirloom with Punched Paper Needlework Kits
http://www.VintageNeedleworks.com
Save Money on Home-School Materials at Children's Books
http://www.childsbooks.com/teachinghome.htm
Clean Faster and Smarter with Don Aslett's Help
http://www.CleanReport.com/ad.cfm?code=teachome
Teach Child Safety with Safety Tots Interactive CD ROM
http://www.SafetyTots.com
Use DVDs and Teacher's Guides from Mentura
http://www.mentura.com/home.aspx?&RC=115
Make Bible Memory Easy with Bible Memory Flashcards
http://www.biblememory.org
Benefit from the Reading Program from Christian Light Education
1-800-776-0478, info@clp.org
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
Christmas Links
Joel's Lamb. An original Christmas Story by Ruth Grant.
http://www.teachinghome.com/EM-Elements/Christmas/Joels.cfm
Annie's (many!) Christmas Pages. Also in Spanish.
http://www.annieshomepage.com/christmasindex.html
Meaning, purpose, and information of Christmas.
http://christiananswers.net/christmas/home.html
A Christmas Message by Jack Crabtree
"As the magi and the shepherds and Mary and Joseph looked
down on a baby lying in the manger, what brought them joy was not
the vision of a world where everyone was as gentle and innocent
as a baby. What brought them joy was the vision of the final and
ultimate defeat of sin and death. They did not see a gentle baby;
they saw a fierce warrior, a mighty king. . ."
http://www.mckenziestudycenter.org/theology/articles/xmas.html
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
Sunny Side Up: In the Christmas Spirit
We had just watched our older son's Christmas program and
were cleaning up afterwards with his younger siblings, Mark, 5,
and Debra, 1. When I didn't see Debra, I asked Mark to help me
find her.
Mark came running back a few minutes later and said, "I have
good news of great joy. Debra is with Dad!"
Sent by Paula D., North Carolina
You are also invited to submit your humorous anecdote.
~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~
To Unsubscribe. Please reply to this message and type
Unsubscribe in the subject line.
Change of E-Mail Address. Please send your name, old e-mail
address, and new e-mail address.
Sign up for a Free Newsletter Subscription at
http://www.TeachingHome.com/custserve/e-mail/signup2.cfm
For Information on Advertising in this newsletter, reply to
Publisher@TeachingHome.com
Newsletter Archives.
http://www.TeachingHome.com/newsletters
E-Mail Newsletter Reprint Policy. This newsletter is
copyright 2002 by The Teaching Home. Permission is given to
forward or to print and distribute this e-mail in its entirety.
Individual articles from this E-Mail Newsletter may be reprinted
unedited in their entirety.
Print the following at the end of the article(s): "Copyright
2002 by The Teaching Home, www.TeachingHome.com. Reprinted
by permission."
We do not give permission to post articles on a website.
Reprints from The Teaching Home Magazine. Fill out a
Request Form and note the reprint policies.
http://www.teachinghome.com/groups/reprint_form.cfm
|
|
