Thursday 10 October 2013

Jim Elliot One Great Purpose {Book & Unit Study Review}

I have a confession to make.  I have a love affair with the Christian Heroes: Then & Now books published by YWAM Publishing.  I was deeply impacted when I read my first book in the series and ever since then one of my personal missions has been to collect the full set. In September YWAM blessed our family with the the biography of Jim Elliot and their new Unit Study Curriculum Guide for the book.

YWAM publishing is a ministry of Youth With A Mission {YWAM} and is a non profit organization. They started in 1972 publishing tracts for the Olympics. YWAM Publishing currently publishes well over 2000 titles, videos and CD's.  Christian Hero's is one division that is committed to sharing international inspiring stories of real people who have and continue to impact the world for Christ today.  They work with Emerald Books to provide quality resources for home school families.

We Received
CHRISTIAN HEROES: THEN & NOW
 Jim Elliot: One Great Purpose 
  • Author: Janet & Geoff Benge
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 192
  • Ages: 10+
  • Publisher YWAM Publishing
  • ISBN: 1576581462
  • SKU: 81462
  • Formats Paperback Nook Kindle 
  • Available in:  Spanish
  • Cost: US $6.99
This book has met my every expectation of Geoff and Janet. It is a twaddle free LIVING book that will take you into the jungles of South America. It is written on a ten year old reading level but is a perfect read aloud for the whole family. Sir N is eight and he is thoroughly enjoying me read this book to him.  He begs me for one more chapter every time we sit down to read it.
 
It is a story of humility and grace.  It shows how the grace of God goes before us and how He works out all things for the good of those who love Him.  From the beginning you are given a sense of Jim Elliot's deep sense of purpose. You gain an appreciation for the difficulty in learning a new language and how frustrating it can be for new missionaries to gain trust and relationship.  You follow the lives of Jim and Betty from courtship to marriage.  A marriage with the single focused vision of missions. A love so deep for each other and the people to whom they minister.

Janet and Geoff take us deep into the jungle and reveal to us the reality of missionary living. The describe in detail the jungle, the people, the physical, emotional and spiritual reality for both the missionary and the unreached people groups living there.

As you read the book you can His hand in bringing together the families that were impacted that fateful day on the beach for one great purpose: His.

In the epilog we read about how that moment in history changed the world for His glory and opened a door to hearts of a new tribe.

CHRISTIAN HEROES: THEN & NOW
Unit Study Curriculum Guide Jim Elliot
  • Author: Janet & Geoff Benge
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 62
  • Publisher YWAM Publishing
  • ISBN: 1576582043
  • SKU: 82043 
  • Target: Group and Individual study.
  • Ages: Year 1 to Adult.
  • Cost: US $7.49
A large amount of thought and careful planning has gone into this outstanding unit study. It is comprehensive and covers all the learning areas, taking into consideration learning styles, personality and the ages of the children for whom this study has been compiled. The activities have not been graded or assigned a particular grade level  but they do however progress from simple to more complex in the layout. This guide covers several curriculum areas and some of the topics are
  • Student Explorations - essay writing, creative writing, hands-on projects, audio/visual projects, arts/crafts 
  • Social Studies - reproducible maps, geography, terms/vocabulary, journey tracking, critical thinking 
  • Bible Study - scripture memorization, devotional application, spiritual concepts 
  • Community Links - meaningful field trips, guest speakers, service projects 
  • Related Themes to Explore - missions, current events, life skills, math, government, science 
  • Bibliography or Related Resources - books, movies, documentaries, magazine articles, websites 
  • Culminating Event - project displays, cultural food, music, and activities, oral presentations 
This unit study has been compiled to accompany the book Jim Elliot: One Great Purpose. It contains far too much information to possibly cover.  I like the way it offers multiple ideas so that I may pick and choose what to do that suits my student, and my learning outcome desire for our family. All the work was done for me in this unit study even the notebook pages were supplied. We had a world map, country map and country fact sheet to print off and fill in. The only thing I would change would be the flag for Ecuador as the one in the unit study is not complete.

What we did
We are still in the process of enjoying the read aloud together and are looking forward to enjoying many more of the suggestions provided, such as the meals and recommended documentaries. I have printed off the notebook pages and maps and Sir N has been colouring those in. In the weeks to come we will be doing more in depth country studies on Ecuador and completing the country profile provided in the note book pages.

We have had a look at animals of the jungles in South America in our Usborne World Of Animals book.  I found a great photo essay of a 26 Foot Anaconda and I have also manged to find some of the documentaries that are recommended and some others on YouTube which we are working our way through.  When researching Jim on YouTube I also discovered a channel dedicated to clips about him: Jim Elliot.

Sir N has also enjoyed doing leaf and bark rubbings and trying to make clay pots (out of play dough).  We are really enjoying our journey through this book and unit study.



On a side note we received the unit study as a PDF document.  It is currently only available as a book purchase from YWAM publishing.  I really do hope they bring these studies out in a digital format in the future as they would make an excellent addition to the Christian Hero's Then and Now books I already own. Many of my Australian homeschool friends who own the books would like to purchase them too.
Connect
I will certainly use this unit study again in the future when Sir N is a teen and we work our way through our Christian Missionary biography books again.

Blessings
Chareen


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A Wool Puppy {Virtual Fridge}

This Week
Sir N enjoyed making this kit set puppy.  It was an easy enjoyable project.


Featured This Week
Angels of Heart - Creation Wheels



Your Turn

I invite you to take some photo's of your children's artistic pursuits put them in a post and link up with me I would love to come over and see the wonderful art your children have enjoyed doing.
Virtual Fridge Link Up

Blessings
Chareen

The Virtual Fridge a weekly art meme where we can hang our children's art on a virtual fridge. This meme was started by Jennifer over at A Glimpse of our Life who kindly invited three other bloggers to co-host this weekly meme.

Your hosts are




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Homeschool Mom's Bible {Review}


Years ago for my 21st birthday I was given an NIV Student Study Bible which I absolutely loved.  Sadly it was stolen in 1997. When I saw that Zondervan publishing were offering to bless us with a Homeschool Mothers Devotional Bible {NIV} I honestly couldn't wait for September to roll around. Needless to say once I knew this product was in the mail winging it's way to me I stalked my post box daily till it arrived. I was over whelmed with gratitude when it arrived.

The first thing that I noticed are the beautiful covers that Zondervan have made for these bibles. This bible has been made available in two translations: New International Version and The King James Version.  They are available in hardcover with jackets, Italian duo-tone and ePub.

Product Details
A portion of the purchase of this bible is donated to Biblica to support and enable them in their mission of  Transforming lives through God's Word.


This bible contains 
  • Table of Contents - one lists all contents and one is the alphabetical order of books in the bible.
  • Foreword by Vickie Farris encourages us to spend time in the word no matter how busy our day.  "As we reorder our priorities by carving out time to enter into his holy presence, we'll find strength for what matters most. Trust me, the laundry can wait 15 min more ..." 
  • About section.  In this section there is a write up on Alpha Omega Publications who have co-published this devotional bible. Janet Tatman the author of the devotional readings. She home educated her four children for over 25 years.  The devotionals contained in the bible were borne out of her experience writing the Daily Focus encouragement devotionals while working for Alpha Omega Publications.
  • Preface. I was particularly interested in this part of the introductions. I enjoyed the insight and explanation on how this version of the WORD has been translated and updated over the years. Did you know the first NIV version was published in 1978?
  • Entire updated NIV bible text, including footnotes.
  • 365 daily devotions interspersed at regular intervals throughout the bible (there is no devotional page for leap year)
  • Table of Weights and Measures containing biblical units, approximate American and Metric equivalents.
  • Topical Index covering main biblical characters, teachings and devotional topics arranged in alphabetical order.
  • 7 blank pages for your own notes
  • Dust Jacket This is a standard paper dust jacket.  One of the crew suggested laminating to increase it's life but I am going to cover it with clear plastic film (Duraseal self adhesive covering).
The Devotionals
These are written by a veteran home school Mum Janet Tatum. She has over 25 years of home school experience and has been writing daily devotionals for home school Mom's for more than six years.  Janet writes from the heart, you can see in her devotions she has been there, felt what we as
home school Mom's feel: our frustrations, our fears, our struggles and our desperate hopes. She speaks to the very heart of our day to day struggles. I loved reading the daily devotion at morning tea time.

God's timing never fails to astound me.  I had been stalking my mailbox waiting for the devotional to arrive. I had been struggling with a self focused woe is me attitude.  Why doesn't anyone care for me! I am so tired of all of T*H*I*S ! Midday arrived and so did the Postie with my special delivery.  I excitedly opened my new devotional to the days reading.

September 6th
Homeschooling's Price ... Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me... 

 I start reading ... yes that's me that's how I am feeling. Yes today I want to have all the wonderful benefits without any of the responsibilities. Yes I am feeling trapped ...  Yes please I want a break from this constant house work ...   

 Janet challenged me: "Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. If you want your children to achieve both academic and spiritual success, you have to give 100 percent and commit to homeschooling... Yes, God knows  when you need to rest and will show you how to catch your breath, but He also asks His disciples to carry their cross. So who will you follow today, yourself or the Lord? Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23 " Then she led me in a small prayer. 

It was as though a home school Mum had sat there with me and spoken directly into my personal circumstance and feelings. She didn't lecture or shame me. She shared her struggle with me.  Challenged me to my calling. Encouraged me to look to the one from Whom all life flows. Pointed me to the plum line of His word and then prayed with me. Blessed and Refreshed is how I felt. 

Each and every devotion is this way. I would love to spend hours studying and researching the word.  The reality is that during this season of homeschooling my young one I do not have the time available to do this. Janet has done the work for me. She daily lays out a minimum of two to three scriptures pertaining to an aspect directly associated with my home school journey. Shares her experience and encourages me to look to Him. Model my life on Him and pray. At the end of each devotional page there is a little note telling me where to find the next day's devotional.

 Some days the need is different to what is being spoken about and on those days all I need to do is open up the topical index and search through an alphabetical listing of the devotional topics to find something to encourage me or point me in the direction I need to take.

 Each day at morning tea time I am learning to turn back to His Word and refocus.  I am so grateful to have this devotional and will continue reading it for years to come.  

Final thoughts
I am really happy with this bible.  If you are looking for a study bible this is not the bible for you.  It is as it's name says a Devotional bible. 

If there was one thing I would add it would be a presentation page. A group of us purchased an Italian Duo-Tone™, Hot Pink leather copy for a friends special birthday and it would have been lovely to have been able to write her name and a note about the occasion along with our names and the special date/occasion before giving it to her. 

If you have a special wish list somewhere I would encourage you to add this one to the top of the list you will not be disappointed.

Blessings
Chareen


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