Review: The Garden Children's Bible

I was given the opportunity, as a member of Bible Gateway Blogger Grid, to review a complimentary copy of The Garden Children's Bible. This Bible is available from FaithGateway Store and on Amazon.

Okay, so, first impressions. I recall carrying a hardcover, cumbersome Bible to and from church each week --and that's exactly what I did, carried it to and from, and did absolutely nothing with it Monday through Saturday. A) because it was "so nice" I was expected to keep it that way, and B) because it was so heavy, with pointy, rigid corners, I was happy to do so. Sadly, The Garden Children's Bible reminds me of those days. I can see parents oohing and aahing over this "beautiful new Bible," and children receiving the message that it is just that, a relic, a keep-it-nice sort of thing that they are happy to leave sitting on a shelf. Add to that the very thin pages which are difficult to turn and easy to tear, and an 8YO (it's recommended for ages 8 & up) might have a hard time doing anything but turning to the heavier stock pages that contain colorful cartoons and other illustrations. 

On the inside cover, front and back, are opportunities for a child to color, to enjoy the fun artwork of Butch Hartman (think Fairly Odd Parents and T.U.F.F. Puppy). Personally, I think that's great. God's Word should be a personal thing for each of us; children should be taught to "own" it, and if this gives them an outlet to personalize it in a tangible way, a reminder that they should make the truth of God's Word a part of who they are, have at it!

It's important to know that this is a Bible. The text is from the International Children's Bible. It is not a book of Bible stories, so nothing is omitted. From Judges 5:26, Jael reached out and took the tent peg. Her right hand reached for the workman’s hammer. And she hit Sisera! She smashed his head! She crushed and pierced the side of his head! From Song of Songs 1:13, My lover is like a bag of myrrh that lies all night between my breasts. With parental involvement and proper explanation of Scripture, this is totally appropriate for the recommended ages (8 & up).

The Garden Children's Bible contains some of the typical "helps" we see in most copies of the Bible targeted toward older readers. Intro pages at the beginning of each book contain the who, when, and why of its origin and mini outlines of the book for quick reference. There are maps, a dictionary, and a topical index which is organized by virtue rather than being "correction focused;" in other words, the topics are listed as Obeying rather than Disobedience, or Telling the Truth vs. Lying. There is a Why Should I Read the Bible page, which I think is great. There are helpful hints for memorizing Scripture and a Bible reading plan --important, but they do add to the girth of the book. Perhaps some links with more interactive web-based stuff would be better? 

Additionally, there are comic strips based on The Garden cartoon series which teach principles alongside biblical accounts: a cartoon encouraging patience expands the record of Abraham and Sarah waiting for their child of promise, for example. I love this concept, however, I am not so in love with the voice from the cloud giving the characters instructions, the voice they call "The Boss." Is this supposed to be God? Another rendition of "The Big Guy Upstairs?" There are other illustrations, of course, but if you feel a little meh about an illustration of the devil with a pitchfork and a long tail, as I do, skip the graphic for Jude 9. Throughout the text, there are blurbs of wisdom (from The Boss) which I think are helpful: Do the Lord's will and I will punish evil and You are made in a wonderful way, among others. A child can latch onto those brief concepts (or they can latch onto your child) with little effort. 

With the proper parental discipline, enthusiasm, and guidance, I think this can be a fun resource for any child who is a fan of Butch Hartman's work. But I encourage you to prayerfully do your homework when it comes to training a child in the way he should go.

Are You Spreading Gossip or Grace?

When was the last time you really thought about or heard a message on gossip? Let's face it, our society treats gossip as acceptable, and sadly, so do many Christian circles --providing it's about "someone else." In my younger years, housewives craved the latest details on some celebrity's affair from STAR magazine. Today, it's TMZ and paparazzi that seem to keep our 20-somethings riveted to their phones. And prayer requests --yes, I said prayer requests-- become an outlet for some of the juiciest tidbits on others. So, before I dive in, let me just say, I am preaching to myself here. I have found myself listening to things, saying things, and telling myself, "It's not gossip." Well, Girlfriend, if you've gotta take that second to tell yourself what it 'isn't,' perhaps it is. 

Tim Cameron, in his book, The Forty-Day Word Fast, defines gossip as: sharing information with someone about a problem or person when the person we are sharing it with is not part of the problem or the solution to the problem. The Bible says that gossip is sinister, invasive, destructive:

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape. ~ Proverbs 11:9

 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. ~ Proverbs 16:28

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts... The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. ~ Proverbs 18:8,21

There is no middle ground. I only gossip occasionally, or I don't spread it, but I listen to my neighbor talk about her family all the time. Scripture says:

A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much. ~ Proverbs 20:19

Did you catch that? Avoid. Don't even stand there "uh-huh"ing while you think about your grocery list. Get out of there!

And this:

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. ~ Matthew 12:30

If we are gossiping, or even entertaining or encouraging it with our silence, we are not gathering. Jesus longed to gather Israel together; He calls us to Himself; in Him we are His body (singular). If we are not building others up, encouraging unification in Christ, we are not gathering with Him and therefore, we are against Him.

There is no "innocent" gossip. You might think that because you don't even know the person or because it's some big celebrity who doesn't care what you think gossip is meaningless. [And, just as an aside, all of that gossip about our public officials: what he said, what she did in contexts other than how they serve their constituency? Gossip. If he is constantly tripping up the stairs, what does that say about his leadership? I agree, if he is leading a step aerobics class. If she had multiple affairs, what does that say about her character? Did you have any illusions about her character to begin with? We are to be praying for those in authority. We are to submit to them(!), as their authority was given to them by God.] Gossip is wrong whether it is discovered or not, whether it does any "real damage" or not.

I'm sure the Adversary just loves prayer groups. I'm pretty sure that when he sees people start to gather to "share their requests," he sits back, rubbing his hands together and waits: It won't take long for this to devolve into gossip. And he's right. And it does. The who, the what, the where, the why. Doesn't God already know what's going on? Imagine how our prayers would go if we didn't know all the dirty details! Imagine how God could use those moments to shape our vision and our prayers into fortresses, the places where our desires meet His, the bedrock upon which we come to Him on behalf of this concern day after day in victory! And the negativity that we can breed in requiring and supplying all the info! Tell me just how badly you feel, or Let me give you my opinion about the situation before you pray. We moan and lament, focusing on what we see with human eyes and hear with human ears, inserting ourselves into the issue rather than trusting God to be God. When God does move in that person or situation, we are still entrenched in the natural realm: Well, You know his track record, God, or I'll wait and see if this lasts. We position ourselves to be a part of what the Enemy wants to do rather than what God will do.

Gossip is a habit we develop. If we listen just out of courtesy, if we just say this one thing, if we talk about people we don't know who don't know us, if we share juuuust a little too much in the name of "discussing a prayer concern" (we shouldn't be discussing, we should be praying, btw) we are cultivating a habit. A habit that sets itself up in our innermost parts, that separates good friends, that divides the body, that is antithetical to the oneness and wholeness Christ purchased with His blood at Calvary.

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. ~ Ephesians 4:29

Photo courtesy LuAnn Martin

You Can Die of Failure, but You Don't Have To

It doesn't require much time in Bible study to know: the people of Israel were a "stiff-necked people." We read it over and over in Scripture. But have we been any less stiff-necked in our day? Perhaps we are stiff-necked still. Easy to Monday morning quarterback as we read the narrative like the best-seller it is, but what if the same type of account was being kept on our lives. Thank God it's not! In fact, if we are standing on the righteousness of Christ, if we are one with Him and trusting in His saving work at the cross, there is no record of wrongs being kept on us at all! When we stand before God one day, He will see Jesus. There is a crystal clear picture of this in the account of Israel as they wandered through the desert, as some waited to die, and others waited to enter the land promised to them by God.

In Numbers 17, God desires to give the people of Israel a sign. They had continually questioned the authority of those God had hand-picked, Moses and his brother, Aaron. God tells Moses to get the twelve leaders of each of the tribes of Israel together and to have them put their name on the rod (of authority) belonging to them. God tells Moses to place the twelve rods in the tabernacle, and He will cause the rod of the one He has chosen as high priest to bud. (These rods were dead. Think: walking stick. But God says He will cause one to bud as a sign.) Then, said God, I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you. Because God was sick of their obstinance? Well, God is a just God, a God of balance. Sin requires punishment, and we know that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Israel's sin was forcing God to take action, to levy the required punishment for their constant rebellion. God was being merciful in showing them, once and for all, that His favor rested on Aaron, and they needed to stop all this grumbling and evil-doing, for their own sakes.

God did cause Aaron's rod to bud; but not only bud, bloom and produce almonds! Once and for all, right? Not really. The people begin to wail, We're dead men! Whenever anyone comes near the dwelling place of God, he must die! Are we all going to die? Pretty dramatic, right? Especially since they brought whatever punishment they'd received on themselves! But even in this short account, we can see the Gospel of Jesus Christ clearly spelled out for us:

1. The sign God chose to give Israel, the budding of the rod, was an offer of mercy to prevent further sin among the people, and by extension, further death. God loved people then and He loves people today. He desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9).

2. It is true: all have sinned (Romans 3:23), no one is righteous in and of himself (Romans 3:10), and no one can approach God in a state of opposition (as an enemy, sinful and condemned, hating righteousness) and live. The words of the people: Whenever anyone comes near the dwelling place of God, he must die! point to their need for the Aaronic priesthood and our need for Jesus Christ.

3. Will we all die? is a question that could only be answered by the people of Israel in that day and by those who have, as yet, rejected Christ today. Will we all die, or will we approach the presence of God through the Mediator He has appointed, the High Priest, Jesus Christ? Will we approach God in the way He has mandated, or will we attempt to earn our way to heaven through good deeds, count on our own "kind heartedness," rely on the "Christian home" in which we were raised, hold up our Certificate of Baptism or the family Bible, or any of the other myriad things (other than a relationship with Jesus) people believe will save them, and die of failure?

If you haven't already, I urge you today: seek the Lord while He may be found, call on Him and be saved. Now is the day of salvation!