Project Organize 2013

Hi, my name is Taryn and I am a packrat. I come by it honest, though. When my grandma gave me the first cookbook she purchased after her wedding in 1951, it still had the receipt in it - she keeps everything!
We're not talking an episode of Hoarders here - let's just say I'm sentimental and have a keen sense of future creativity. I have my piles and I know what's in them. Plus, it never fails that when I get the nerve to throw something away, a week later I realize I needed that!
However, to honor my husband (who is a neat freak, compared to me) and to better care for my home - I hereby dub 2013 as "Project Organize". I have everything I need to get started - a Pinterest board full of organization tips and ideas, my Kindle is cluttered with ebooks on organization and I have a really big trash can in the garage. I hope maybe by posting my goals and progress here, it will help me stay accountable to the task! Great ideas and encouragement are very welcome and needed - so please share!! So, here's to organizing my life - may the new year bring a successful endeavor!

Ruth: From Bitter to Sweet

Image credit: Amazon.com

Ruth: From Bitter to Sweet, by John Currid would be an excellent addition to the library of  any preacher or Bible teacher. I wish I would have had this resource when I taught through the book of Ruth earlier this year.  I found his explanation of the text thorough and yet easy to understand. Most importantly, he points to Christ as the reason for this beautiful narrative.

Currid gives a detailed analysis of the Hebrew language and practices good Bible interpretation by cross-referencing Scripture to make his points. But he also explains the text in a manner that someone without a seminary degree can understand. I appreciate that his "Points to Ponder" at the end of each chapter are easily applied to people today and stay within the context of the storyline.

The author clearly has a great appreciation for 17th and 18th century writers and preachers, as he often uses quotes and anecdotes from their lives. These quotes and stories make nice transitions to the point he will make about the text and would be easy to insert into a sermon or lesson. However, I found that having a prior knowledge of these men helped in gaining the full impact of the author's purpose in quoting them.

Too often, when using a commentary to study, I find that there is a huge gap between the theological interpretation of the Scriptures and the level of understanding of the ladies in my Sunday School class. It is then left up to me to "translate" great insights into understandable application to my students, and I often wonder if I'm doing the writer justice. I think Currid has done a beautiful job of filling in that gap with his commentary on the book of Ruth.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Cross Focused Reviews as part of the From Bitter to Sweet – Ruth (Welwyn Commentary Series) Blog Tour in exchange for my honest review.

Christmas Letter

I gave this to the ladies in my Sunday School class today. I thought is was a wonderful reminder of who we are in Christ.

My precious daughter,

I choose you according to my will (Ephesians 1:5). You are not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book (Psalm 139:16). And it is my desire to lavish my love on you because you are called my child (I John 3:1). Every good gift you receive comes from Me (James 1:17). I will meet all of your needs according to my glorious riches (Philippians 4:19). My thoughts toward you are precious and outnumber the sand (Psalm 139:17-18). Delight yourself in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). I am able to do more for you than you can even ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). I will give you comfort and strength (II Thessalonians 2:17). I will comfort you in your troubles (II Corinthians 1:4). When you are brokenhearted, I will be near (Psalm 34:18). I love you even as I have loved Jesus (John 17:23) For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed (John 17:26). His death shows my love for you (Romans 5:8). Remember the reason I sent My only Son is so that one day we will be together forever (John 3:16).

                                     Merry Christmas,

Your Heavenly Father            

Mom Connection - Disconnected

I was very disappointed after reading Mom Connection by Tracey Bianchi

I find this book random and confusing. It was meant to be a devotional for MOPS but there is nothing inspiring to share with the group - just random thoughts and cliches. I love the idea of a  guide to creating mom friendships with "Mom tested-tips" at the end of each chapter - but they are repetitive and wacky.

The most disappointing part was Chapter 12 "Flannelgraph". The subtitle: Here comes the Jesus chapter. This is ironic because she only mentions Jesus by name three times in the whole chapter. She has the perfect opportunity to explain the gospel and instead compares God to "a giant tambourine-playing hippie" (183)
There is no mention of repentance or salvation - just a journey of faith. If someone asks if she's a Christian her answer depends on the adjectives used: horrible - no; good - yes(182). What about telling us what a Christian is suppose to be?
Her Christian experience has a very New Age feeling:
"Motherhood - divine dance with God"
"What is your dance like with God?"
"Will you get up and dance?"
Unfortunately Bianchi doesn't understand the gospel and treats God very disrespectfully.
I am shocked MOPS endorsed this as their Recommended reading/Devotion book for the year!

Image credit: Amazon.com

Missional Moves

Image credit: Amazon.com

I opened Missional Moves by Rob Wegner and Jack Magruder expecting "hey, we're a megachurch, look at us and copy what we did." In some ways it is that. But more than that, I found this book to be full of challenging and thought-provoking ideas about how the methodology of church that seemed to work in the past needs major renovation.
With creative examples and personal anecdotes, the authors present 15 reasons why and how the local church's view of missions needs to change. I was impressed with many of their ideas, such as:

•  Instead of just throwing money at missions organizations, we have to learn how to build relationships that will transform lives with the gospel of Christ.
• With an understanding that missions is not just for "professionals" but the job of every member of the local church, everyone needs to know the vision of their local church and how to be involved.
• Our gospel impact will be much deeper if it is focused in a few areas instead of spread thin across many ministries.

I think every Christian should read this book to truly understand the extreme makeover needed in today's churches to reach the lost. However, with it's visionary thinking and technical jargon, it appears to be geared toward church leaders and most people probably will not attempt to read it. I think their "Seven Metaphors of the Fractal Core"(p. 215-217) are a good summation of the major points they are teaching and would be helpful to everyone trying to catch the vision. So, I would recommend this book to church leaders who are ready to think outside the box and lead their local church in creative, yet focused ministry.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Cross Focused Reviews as part of the Missional Moves Blog Tour in exchange for my honest review.
For more information on Missional Moves, visit their website at: http://missionalmoves.com/

Organic Outreach For Families

Image credit: Amazon.com

I am so thankful for the opportunity to read and review this book. My husband, as the pastor of our church, has been teaching that sharing the gospel with your family and friends should be a natural part of daily living. In Organic Outreach for Families, Kevin & Sherry Harney give practical advice for doing exactly that.

The goal of their book is to encourage and equip you to reach your own family with the gospel, then to create a home that is a lighthouse of truth for the world around you.

I greatly value the local church for worship and discipleship but, for too long parents have depended solely on church programs to evangelize and disciple their children and youth. I know many people who don't understand why their grown children don't attend church anymore. I truly believe it is related to a gospel focus not being at the center of their home life.

"Something is very wrong if we reach our neighbors with the love of Jesus but our children feel forgotten and marginalized. We have confused our priorities if we invest more time in our church than we do in our own children." (17)

After thoroughly discussing the priority of reaching your family with the gospel, the authors transition into creating a home that is that is welcoming not because it is physically attractive but because it is a safe haven filled with love, prayer and fun.

Too often people expect churches to be a community center of programs and events in the hope that people searching for God will come through their doors to find Him. In contrast, the Harneys suggest that our homes and our family's involvement in the community be the natural place people see the hope of Christ lived out.

I appreciate how the Harneys are gentle and kind in helping us rethink our approach to outreach and evangelism, unlike some parenting or outreach books that come across as bossy and finger pointing. At the end of each chapter they give practical ideas to move your family toward "becoming a lighthouse". They also include testimonies from their sons of the effectiveness of the organic outreach lifestyle in their own home.

They have clearly done much research and study on parenting and personal evangelism as they quote many well known writers as well as personal friends who have lived out the truths they are promoting. My only complaint of this book would be the over use of the words "organic" and "lighthouse" - but I get it, that's their theme.

This book has been encouraging and enlightening to me as I have been reminded about the great responsibility I have to my children in sharing the gospel with them. I have also learned about making my home a refuge for my kids and welcoming to those I hope to reach with the gospel in my community.



*Thanks to Cross Focused Reviews for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
For more information on Kevin & Sherry Harney check out their websites at:
 http://www.kevingharney.com
http://www.sherryharney.com

Homeschooling with Humility

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)

 I thought I was a good teacher, after all I have been homeschooling for 7 years. My oldest daughter learned to read just fine. My third child, a boy, learned to read very easily before starting Kindergarten. But for some reason, my second daughter is really struggling with learning to read in 1st grade this year. As part of a Virtual Academy, my daughter's advisor has to do state standardized testing with her and had serious concerns about her progress. I was humbled to admit that maybe we needed some help and should back up and reteach.
Of course I want what's best for my little girl. I know every child learns differently. I want to work at her pace and make sure that she comprehends the material and feels confident in her abilities. But I took the adviser's concerns as a stab at my ability to teach. I mean, how dare she question my ability and devotion to educate my children? I took it personally. But after some prayer and wise insight from my husband, I had to confess she was not attacking me or my abilities - she had the same desire I did - the best education for my daughter.
Although for awhile I struggled with submitting to the reteaching plan, God's grace has enabled me to admit a need for extra support. I have no doubt that my little one will become an excellent reader, but my real prayer for her is that the Lord will use this refining moment for me to teach her respond to advice and correction with humility and grace.