Why Do Christians Celebrate Advent?
Prepare
for the Coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas
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Hollywood Halloween: Explore music from scary movies
Friday, December 14, 2018
What Is Advent All About?
Giving thanks when you're suffering...
By Jack Zavada
Updated November 20, 2017
Giving thanks when you're suffering seems like an idea so far-fetched nobody could take it seriously, yet that is exactly what God asks us to do.
The apostle Paul, who knew more than his share of sorrow, counseled the believers in Thessalonica to do just that:
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV)
Paul understood the spiritual benefit of giving thanks when you're hurting. It takes your focus off yourself and puts it on God. But how, in the middle of our pain, can we possibly give thanks? … (Click HERE to continue readings this article by J. Zavada.)
Joseph Mohr and his poem “Stille Nacht”
Reposted from A. Mayberry's weekly web-post.
In December of 1818, a famous rendition of the most popular Christmas hymn was presented at St. Nicholas Church in Austria. Because of a broken church organ, assistant priest Joseph Mohr gave his poem “Stille Nacht” to organist Franz Bruber to arrange for guitar, two voices, and a choir. (Click here to Read more »)
The Age of the Earth and the Bible
This is the first of five posts dealing with the question of ‘The Age of the Earth and the Bible.’ It is taken from the Is Genesis History? Bible Study available in the Answers in Genesis store.
“I have no gospel unless Genesis is history.”
– D. Martin Lloyd-Jones
Genesis when thinking about Christmas
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| https://isgenesishistory.com/5-ways-see-christmas-genesis/?goal=0_052697a034-144cafd367-149818745&mc_cid=144cafd367&mc_eid=36fadad954 |
Most people don’t think about Genesis when they think about
Christmas. The first book of the Bible is not normally quoted during Advent
services. Handel didn’t even include Genesis in the Messiah.
Friday, November 16, 2018
Lumpy, Drippy Pumpkin-Gourd in Progress
The Drippy-Gourd Experiment
For fun, and to get rid of some recyclables around the house this year, we began making MANY trash-bag /baby-wipe artificial pumpkins.
For fun, and to get rid of some recyclables around the house this year, we began making MANY trash-bag /baby-wipe artificial pumpkins.
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Bible Articles for Young Adults
Bible Articles for Young Adults
The links below come from the ThoughtCo online, and while these articles all have Christian perspectives to them, please keep in mind that depending on your denomination, or personal morals, you may interpret some of these concepts differently than what is portrayed in the articles. Take what you need, and leave what you don’t.
Friday, November 2, 2018
Making Friends When You HATE Meeting New People
for Making Friends When You HATE Meeting New People
Photo: Stocksy/Good Vibrations Images
Content Written by ERIN BUNCH, JULY 6, 2018
Content Available through https://www.wellandgood.com/good-advice/how-to-make-friends-introvert/
Rubric for Successful Writing
Rubric for making sure your writing and the writing of your children/students have met the 'satisfactory' mark for writing.
Mastering the art of small talk
While not everyone values the art of small talk, it is an essential skill for friendship-making and community. Furthermore, it is important as an exercise in approaching a known (or unknown) audience and finding ways to connect. As I'm an English instructor, I am always looking for ways to assist my student in becoming better writers. One way to become a better writer is by being able to connect with your audience.
When writing essays, you are writing to an external audience, and if you do not know how to connect with that audience through various social contrivances and trending scenarios, you will not have an audience for very long.
See the article about mastering the art of small talk—below—to learn more ways to enhance this personal and academic skill.
6 Steps to Master Small Talk
Content Written By and
Owned By
Updated December 11, 2017 and
Available through THIS link
The ability to make "small talk" is highly valued. In fact, many English students are more interested in making effective small talk than knowing correct grammar structures — and rightly so! Small talk gets friendships started and "breaks the ice" before important business meetings and other events.
What Is Small Talk?
Small talk is pleasant conversation about common interests.
Why Is Small Talk Difficult for Some English Learners?
First of all, making small talk is not difficult only for English learners, but also for many native speakers of English. However, small talk can be especially difficult for some learners because making small talk means talking about almost anything — and that means having a wide vocabulary that can cover most topics. Most English learnershave excellent vocabulary in specific areas, but may have difficulties discussing topics they are unfamiliar with because of a lack of appropriate vocabulary.
This lack of vocabulary leads to some students "blocking." They slow down or stop speaking completely because of a lack of self-confidence.
How to Improve Small Talk Skills
Now that we understand the problem, the next step is to improve the situation. Here are some tips to improve small talk skills. Of course, making effective small talk means lots of practice, but keeping these tips in mind should improve overall conversational skills.
Do Some Research
Spend time on the internet, reading magazines, or watching TV specials about the type of people you are going to meet. For example: If you are taking a class with students from other countries, take time after the first few days of class to do some research. They will appreciate your interest and your conversations will be much more interesting.
Stay Away From Religion or Strong Political Beliefs
While you may believe in something very strongly, beginning conversations and making small talk about your own personal convictions may abruptly end the conversation. Keep it light, don't try to convince the other person that you have the "correct" information about a higher being, political system, or other belief system.
Use the Internet to Gain Specific Vocabulary
This is related to doing research about other people. If you have a business meeting or are meeting people who share a common interest (a basketball team, a tour group interested in art, etc.), take advantage of the internet to learn specific vocabulary. Almost all businesses and interest groups have glossaries on the internet explaining the most important jargon related to their business or activity.
Ask Yourself About Your Culture
Take time to make a list of common interests that are discussed when making small talk in your own culture. You can do this in your own language, but check to make sure that you have the English vocabulary to make small talk about those subjects.
Find Common Interests
Once you have a subject that interests both of you, keep to it! You can do this in a number of ways: talking about travel, talking about the school or friend you have in common, talking about the differences between your culture and the new culture (just be careful to make comparisons and not judgments, e.g., "The food in our country is better than the food here in England").
Listen
This is very important. Don't get so worried about being able to communicate that you don't listen. Listening carefully will help you understand and encourage those speaking to you. You might be nervous, but letting others state their opinions will improve the quality of the discussion — and give you time to think of an answer!
Common Small Talk Subjects
Here is a list of common small talk subjects. If you have difficulties speaking about any of these topics, try to improve your vocabulary by using the resources available to you (Internet, magazines, teachers at school, etc.)
- Sports - current matches or games, favorite teams, etc.
- Hobbies
- Weather - boring, but can get the ball rolling!
- Family - general questions, not questions about private matters
- Media - films, books, magazines, etc.
- Holidays - where, when, etc. but NOT how much!
- Home town - where do you come from, how is it different/similar to this town
- Job - once again, general questions not too specific
- Latest fashion and trends
- Celebrities - any gossip you may have!
Here is a list of topics that probably aren't very good for small talk. Of course, if you are meeting a close friend these topics may be excellent. Just remember that 'small talk' is generally discussion with people you don't know very well.
- Salary - how much do you make? - That's none of your business!
- Politics - wait to you get to know the person better
- Intimate relationships - only for you and your partner - or maybe your best friend
- Religion - tolerance is the key!
- Death - we need to face it, but not the first time we meet someone new
- Financial - related to salary above, most people prefer to keep financial information to themselves
- Sales - Don't try to sell something to someone you have just met.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
In Honor of Reformation Day 2018
Does God Really Save Us by Faith Alone?
The first great Reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli never summed up their teaching with the tidy set of five phrases we now know as the five solas. The solas developed over time as a way of capturing the essence of what the Reformation was mainly about in its dispute with the Roman Catholic Church.
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