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Review: You Are a Writer by Jeff Goins

I like reading Jeff Goins’ blog and excitedly jumped at the chance to read and review his most recent book You Are a Writer. I went through Jeff’s writing tutorial email course last winter and it pushed me to write and publish my ebook Finding Joy in Depression.

You are a Writer by Jeff Goins

I like Jeff’s writing style. He’s straight to the point without a lot of fluff and he’s funny. Even better, he gives practical tips and is inspirational. Here’s just one example of how Jeff inspires:

Remember: The fear of something is always scarier than the thing itself. Yes, there is pain and rejection. But the greatest failure is to never risk at all.

Jeff gives a lot of great information about building a platform, a brand, and channels. He includes really helpful sample letters near the end of the book.

You Are a Writer is a must have for anyone who wants to do something with their writing – from bloggers to book authors and more.

{Material Disclosure: Jeff sent me an a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received.}

Reflections from Apologia Live: Education and Religion – Your Child’s Potential with Zan Tyler

This is the final post in a series of sharing quotes, tidbits, and reflections from the various sessions at the Apologia Live Retreat which I had the opportunity to attend recently.  Start here to read about my over all experience at the Apologia Live Retreat and head over to this post to read reflections from other sessions.

Your Child’s Potential with Zan Tyler

Zan Tyler is such an inspiration. She literally paved the way legislatively in the state of South Carolina for homeschoolers. She was homeschooling at a time when there were obstacles at every turn. She humorously described homeschooling in this way:

Homeschooling is like building an ark in your backyard and hoping no one will notice.

Zan went on to share this classic definition for education:

The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties. From Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary.

In this definition, education and religion are intertwined. It was assumed, that education and religion go hand in hand. Somehow, our society has slowly ripped the two apart. We now live at a time where education and religion are so far removed from each other that our children have lost the ability to integrate their faith into their everyday lives and careers.

What are you doing to help you child(ren) integrate their faith into everything that they do?

I’m so excited to be partnering with Apologia and hosting a book club using Zan Tyler’s book 7 Tools for for Cultivating Your Child’s Potential. More details are coming soon, but in the mean time, read these 10 reasons that you should join the 7 Tools Book Club. Sign up for the 7 Tools Book Club newsletter and sign up for my daily email so you don’t miss a thing!

Kids in the Word Wednesday: Sneek Peek of Child Training Bible

The Pelsers

We’ve been struggling to get back into a good routine following our vacation. I decided to put together the Child Training Bible that I received at the 2:1 Conference and see what Jonathan thought. I’ll be doing a full review soon, but I thought I’d give you a sneak peek today:

I used an old Bible of Josh’s. Jonathan thought it was really cool that he was getting Josh’s special Bible. He’s been so excited about the finished product, he’s been sleeping with this Bible! We’ve had an opportunity to use the Bible to look up Ephesians 6:1-3 and talk about obedience.

Once we’ve have a little more time to use the Child Training Bible, I’ll bring you a full review and a giveaway!

Have you used the Child Training Bible? How have you kept your kids in the Word this week? Fun activity? Favorite resource? Story you read? Share in the comments and/or link up a blog post!

Gluten Free Banana Bread and Muffins

I made some gluten free banana bread and muffins this weekend. The boys were so excited – to help and to eat. Jonathan and Jacob stood on the stool together watching, dumping, and stirring. I’m sure there was batter licking going on when I wasn’t looking. I’ve had this recipe from Josh’s mom for many years, but I’ve tweaked a couple things recently as I’ve experimented with new-to-us gluten free flour options.

Gluten Free Banana Bread and Muffins Recipe

Ingredients

  • ½ C. oil
  • ½ t. salt
  • 1 C. sugar
  • 1 ½ t. baking soda
  • 4 eggs, separated
  • 1 t. baking powder
  • 1 C. mashed bananas (2-3)
  • ½ chopped nuts (optional)
  • 2 C. brown rice flour

Instructions

In a small bowl combine dry ingredients and set aside. In a large bowl mix together the oil, sugar and egg yolks – reserve the egg whites in a medium sized bowl. Beat the egg whites until stiff and set aside. Add the mashed banana to the sugar mixture with the beaters. Mix in the dry ingredients. Stir in the nuts if desired. Fold in the stiffened egg whites. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake 325 for 1 hr. 15 minutes or until done. May also be made as muffins.

Modifications

I substituted 1 cup of sorghum flour for 1 cup of the brown rice flour. This in combination with using good baking powder made the bread rise well and have a great texture. Josh’s litmus test is always how gluten free baked goods compare to their gluten counterparts and this sorghum substitution passed with flying colors!

Jonathan approved:

Jacob climbed the stool and helped himself to this second muffin. I think he approved too.

My boys love banana bread! Do you have a favorite banana bread recipe? Have you ever baked with sorghum flour?


Shepherding a Child’s Heart – Chapter 12 and 13

Today we’re in chapter 12 and 13 of Shepherding a Child’s Heart.  Get all the details of the Shepherding a Child’s Heart Book Club in the kick off post and join us!
  • He knows that the rod gets the attention, but the conscience must be plowed up and planted with the truths of God’s ways.
  • To see them deal with issues of their Godward orientation, you must take correction beyond behavior to addressing the issues of the heart. You address the heart by exposing sin and appealing to the conscience as the God-given adjudicator of right and wrong.

I like these two quotes from chapter 12 because they show us that the “rod” has a purpose. All of communication and discipline has a purpose. It’s to bring our children to a self-assessment based in God’s law. It’s comparing ourselves to God’s law – a law that we cannot possibly keep – that brings us to understand our need for Him. We need the forgiveness that Jesus provided through His death on the cross.

It is our job as parents to create an environment where our kids can reflect and dig into their heart issues. We create teaching moments where they can properly assess themselves and come to an understanding of their need for God. Correcting outward behavior is only half the issue. Without reaching their hearts and directing them God-ward, they will continue to revert their course and be forever stuck in a cycle of trying to correct wrong actions.

These chapters wrap up the first part of the book. We’ve read off of the theory and principles. Next week we turn our focus to learning how to apply what we’ve read in the first section.

It’s your turn! What struck you in these chapters?What have you learned in the first section of Shepherding a Child’s Heart? Share in the comments and/or link up a blog post.

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