Books (other than the Bible) that we are currently reading:

On my nightstand:  Letters of Samuel Rutherford, 1776, The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, Homeschooling With a Meek and Quiet Spirit, Lies Women Believe

On his nightstand: Symphonic Theology, Worldly Saints, Days of Vengeance, Creation in Six Days, Federal Husband, The Compendium Explained, O' Conner Collected Works, A History of Money and Banking in the U.S., The Bible and Birth Control, Repairing the Ruins, How Christianity Changed the World, Calvin's Institutes, The Case for Christian Classical Education, and at least ten others!

My second grader: The Boxcar Children, Book One

My first grader:  Blueberries for Sal

We just discovered www.paperbackswap.com and have been dispensing of our John MacArthur books and receiving some interesting works in exchange.  It's a really fun site for book lovers who are willing to part with some old favorites to get some new ones.  If you sign up please list my email address as the one who referred you and I'll get a free book credit!

Two incredibly interesting books concerning the myth of overpopulation are "The Empty Cradle:  How Falling Birthrates Threaten World Prosperity And What To Do About It" by Phillip Longman and "Fewer:  How the New Demography of Depopulation Will Shape Our Future" by Ben Wattenberg.

I just ordered "The Empty Cradle" from our library and it is so much fun to read.  The author is a (very liberal!) demographics expert who shows great concern about all the data that proves birth rates are falling in every country of the world.  It distresses him that religious conservatives are the only people having lots of children.  Most liberals are choosing not to have many (or any) children and many are also aborting their children.  So who will be the leaders, the voters, and make up the majority of our world's population in the future? 

I remain a hopeful postmillenialist.

I just got the book "Love in the House" by Chris and Wendy Jeub in the mail today and finished it in a couple of hours as it was an easy read and kept my attention!  They have 13 children and were recently on the TLC show "Kids by the Dozen."  This is a delightful book that was very encouraging to me.  If you order before Father's Day the cost is just $10 plus shipping.  More info can be found at www.jeubfamily.com  Wendy is also part of the MOMYS digest, an email digest that goes out to Mothers of Many Young Siblings (you qualify to subscribe if you have four children ages 8 and under).   See www.momys.com .

It's here it's here it's here!  Nancy Wilson's new book "Building Her House:  Commonsensical Wisdom for Christian Women" is a collection of columns from Credenda Agenda.  Now my journal won't be stuffed with loose articles because I have this handy little book on my nightstand that has all my favorite articles--which cover a range of topics from "Chick Flicks" to "In-Laws".  All of her articles are so encouraging and convicting.  You can order a copy at www.canonpress.com and they may still have some (slightly) damaged copies available for just $6.00!

Oh dear oh dear oh dear.  I just discovered that Mrs. Wilson now has a blog:  www.femina.reformedblogs.com

I'll have to be very disciplined to wait until after the dishes and laundry are done to catch-up on her recent posts!

"Getting Serious About Getting Married" by Debbie Maken is worth reading whether you are married or single.   Maken forcefully states that being single is not the "gift" so many in the church claim it to be and that Christians--particularly Christian males--need to get serious and GET MARRIED!  She recommends parental involvement as well as matchmaking services in seeking a mate and encourages women with advice they may not have heard before.

And finally there is a Reformed online matchmaking service . . . If you are Reformed and single (or know someone who is  . . . then have them) check out www.sovereigngracesingles.com 

Before it hits Barnes and Noble and other large retailers next month, you can order an autographed copy of the new children's book "Christmas Turtles" written by my college roommate Sara Ann Denson by clicking here  www.purpleskypublishing.com and then click on "order products" and "Sara Ann Denson/Christmas Turtles".  This would make a great Christmas gift for the little ones in your life.  My nieces and nephews will all be getting copies this year!

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I just browsed the latest entries here at homeschoolblogger and read a post asking what books you would stock in a church's library if someone donated money and asked you to pick them out.  In a mad dash down the stairs to browse our bookshelves I immediately came up with the following:

For children:  "Big Truths for Little Kids" by Susan and Richie Hunt and "Read Aloud Bible Stories (Volumes 1-4)" by Ella K. Lindvall and "The Big Book of Questions and Answers about Jesus" by Sinclair B Ferguson

For women in the church:  "The Legacy of Biblical Womanhood" by Hunt/Thompson; any and all books by Susan Hunt and Nancy Wilson

Theology:  "Foundations of the Christian Faith" by James Montgomery Boice

Worship:  "With Reverence and Awe:  Returning to the Basics of Reformed Worship" by D.G. Hart and John R. Muether

Church History:  "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" by John Foxe

Christian Living:  "Desiring God" by John Piper, and "Call the Sabbath a Delight" by Walter Chantry

:o),

Moms4Psalms

Here's one more exerpt from "The Valley of Vision:  A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions." 

The Convicting Spirit

"THOU BLESSED SPIRIT, AUTHOR OF ALL GRACE AND COMFORT,

Come, work repentance in my soul;

Represent sin to me in its odious colours that I may hate it;

Melt my heart by the majesty and mercy of God;

Show me my ruined self and the help there is in him;

Teach me to behold my creator,

his ability to save,

his arms outstretched,

his heart big for me.

May I confide in his power and love,

commit my soul to him without reserve,

bear his image, observe his laws, pursue his service,

and be through time and eternity

a monument to the efficacy of his grace,

a trophy of his victory.

Make me willing to be saved in his way,

perceiving nothing in myself, but all in Jesus:

Help me not only to receive him but

to walk in him,

depend upon him,

commune with him,

be conformed to him,

follow him,

imperfect, but still pressing forward,

not complaining of labour, but valuing rest,

not murmuring under trials, but thankful for my state.

Give me that faith which is the means of salvation,

and the principle and medium of all godliness;

May I be saved by grace through faith,

live by faith,

feel the joy of faith,

do the work of faith.

Perceiving nothing in myself, may I find in Christ

wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption."

A lady at church just loaned me the book "The Valley of Vision:  A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions" edited by Arthur Bennett and published by The Banner of Truth Trust.  I plan to buy it soon!

Here is one exerpt on SPIRITUAL GROWTH:

"O THOU MOST HIGH,

In the way of thy appointment I am waiting for thee,

My desire is to thy name,

My mind to remembrance of thee.

I am a sinner, but not insensible of my state.

My iniquities are great and numberless,

but thou art adequate to my relief;

for thou art rich in mercy;

the blood of thy Son can cleanse from all sin;

the agency of thy Spirit can subdue my most powerful lusts.

Give me a tender, wakeful conscience

that can smite and torment me when I sin.

May I be consistent in conversation and conduct,

the same alone as in company,

in prosperity and adversity,

accepting all thy commandments as right,

and hating every false way.

May I never be satisfied with my present spiritual progress,

but to faith add virtue, knowledge, temperance, godliness, brotherly kindess, charity.

May I never neglect what is necessary to constitute Christian character, and needful to complete it.

May I cultivate the expedient, develop the lovely, adorn the gospel,

recommend the religion of Jesus, accomodate myself to thy providence.

Keep me from sinking or sinning in the evil day;

Help me to carry into ordinary life portions of divine truth

and use them on suitable occasions, so that

its doctrines may inform,

its warnings caution,

its rules guide,

its promises comfort me."

Volumes 1-4 of the Read-Aloud Bible Stories by Ella K. Lindvall have been my children's all-time favorite books.  These volumes have large, colorful illustrations (without any images of the face of Christ), as well as simple, large text for early readers.  Both my one year old and five year old love these books!

Another great Bible story book for children of multiple ages is Big Truths for Little Kids by Susan Hunt and Richie Hunt.  We sometimes read these stories to the kids at mealtimes and even our one year old has memorized the answers to many of the catechism questions such as 'Who made you?'  "GOD!"  'What else did God make?'  "ALL THINGS!"  His favorite is using hand motions in reply to 'Where is God?'  "EV-EE-WHERE!"