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It Could Be CatchingI was expecting our seventh child and
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Because we have been separated from God by
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Savior and Lord, He will forgive our sin and
give us eternal life. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
(John 3:16)
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Seasonal Tips
1.
Proclaiming the Good News
2. Following
God's Gift List
3. Viewing
with Discernment
4. Current
Movies
5. Learning
Online
6. Keeping
Safe & Healthy
Greetings,
In this issue we offer you six timely tips
that we hope will be helpful at this season. May the Lord bless you and your family for
His glory.
Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching
Home is a home-school, family-run
business operated in our home since 1980.
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¡Feliz Navidad! Bonnes
Fêtes! Merry
Christmas!
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1. Proclaiming the Good News
Christmas is a wonderful opportunity to
share the same Good News with our world today
that the angels proclaimed 2,000 years ago
— the "good news of great joy which
will be for all the people, a Savior, who is
Christ the Lord!" Your presentation of the good news of
God's gift may take many forms:
1. Hand Out Gospel Tracts
These tracts use Scripture to show that
Jesus came to die for man's sin and invite
readers to accept Him. The
True Meaning of Christmas Christmas
Blessings to You The
Gift Wise
Men Still Seek Him
2. Include the Gospel in Your Cards and
Letters
•
Send cards with a biblical message and/or
Bible verse, write out a verse such as John
3:16, or include Christmas tracts with all
your Christmas cards. •
If you mail or e-mail an annual family
letter, include a personal testimony of the
Lord's working in your life, your
gratefulness for His salvation, and a Bible
verse.
3. Give Christmas Goodies Plus a Gospel
Message
•
Prepare a plate of goodies for your
neighbors, friends, and/or family. •
Include a Christmas tract, a Scripture
portion, or an audio tape or CD of a book of
the Bible. •
Pocket Testament League offers free copies of
the Gospel
of John with different cover designs and
translations. 1-866-626-8106
2. Following God's Gift ListBesides our own family, brothers and
sisters in Christ, and everyone (our
"neighbors"), God asks us to love and give to
prisoners; widows and orphans; the poor,
handicapped, hungry, thirsty, or sick;
strangers, those in need of clothing, and
those that cannot return our gifts. "Let us not love with word or with
tongue, but in deed and truth." (1 John 3:18)
1. Those Near YouLook for someone that is in need of love
or the basic necessities of life and find a
practical way to meet their need. You may
give through your local church or an
organization that ministers to those with
whom you would not come into direct contact,
such as a rescue mission, rest home, or
crisis pregnancy center.
2. The Lowest and Poorest Caste of People
in IndiaGospel for Asia offers you the opportunity
to give the Gospel as well as a practical
gift to meet urgent needs of a Dalit
("Untouchable") family, showing them a
tangible expression of God's life-changing
love. Send your gift online and be informed and
inspired by watching the short
online video.
GFA has more than 16,000 native
missionaries working throughout Asia.
Atommate: The Chemistry Card Game
 49 cards with names,
symbols, and facts about 32 elements of the
Periodic Table, designed by a Ph.D. chemist.
Instructions for 7 games for ages 10+.
• Beginning: learn elements'
names and symbols.
• Intermediate: combine elements
for molecules, compounds.
• Advanced: enhance understanding
of simple reactions.
Reg. $12.95 / Sale $9.95, Free Shipping
www.AtommateCards.com
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3. Viewing with Discernment
1. Christian Review Sites
Check out a Christian perspective on any
movie you consider viewing at one of these
websites: Plugged
in Online Christian
Spotlight on Entertainment by
ChristianAnswers.net
2. Decisions & Discernment
Hone your family's media discernment
skills by reading "God's
Own Words on Discernment," a study of
Scripture such as Colossians 2:8, "See to it
that no one takes you captive through hollow
and deceptive philosophy . . . " Includes links to:
That Was Then, This Is Now
The Power of the Media
Does Life Ever Imitate (Dangerous) Art?
Which Nature Are You Feeding?
Five Steps to Safeguarding Your Family
Six Keys to a Healthy Entertainment Diet
Confusing "Truth" and "Reality"
Confusing "Tolerance" and "Love"
Setting a Family Standard for Entertainment
Getting Family Discussions Started
God's Own Words on Discernment
Be sure to consider the "Family Covenant
for God-Honoring Media Choices" which you can
print
and use for your family.
3. Evaluating Movies
Movies can be evaluated in the same way as
books, although movies' greater visual
impact might warrant more care in choices.
Consider the following criteria:
•
Truth (consistent with God's Word)
•
Morality (upholding Godly standards of
behavior)
•
Accuracy (correct factually)
•
Realism (portraying life as it really is)
•
Validity (arguing logically without
fallacies)
•
Value (important, helpful, relevant,
edifying)
•
Excellence (skillful, thoughtful, thorough)
•
Beauty (the choice and arrangement of words,
images, and ideas are attractive, touching,
moving, appealing to the senses, emotions,
and mind) See more in Newsletter
#26.
4. Using Movies for Study
Movies can provide motivation and
opportunities for study — even a
one-day unit study. •
Book/Movie
Read and study the book associated with the
movie to learn more. You can use ideas in
literature study guides for book and/or movie.
See ideas in Newsletter
#30. •
Movie
Nights for Kids
Discover 25 entertaining films that you can
use to teach powerful lessons to your
children. Each selection includes engaging
activities, a plot summary, and discussion
points. •
Movies
As Literature
by Kathryn and Richard Stout, Design-A-Study.
This complete, one-year high school English
course uses classic movies on video/DVD to
introduce and study the elements of literary
analysis. Teacher's guide and student
workbook.
Mr. Button Family Video: 6 Films -
Just $17.97
 Delight Your Children This Christmas
with Exciting, Christian Adventure DVDs!
Six action-packed adventure
films on 3 DVDs.
Only $5.99/DVD! 5-3/4 hours of quality,
Christian, character-building, family
entertainment.
These live-action dramas are a gift your
family will
enjoy all year.
See a preview of "Lost in
Silver Canyon" and order at
www.mrbuttonfamilyvideo.com.
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4. Current Movies
1. Amazing Grace – Now
available on DVDThis story of William Wilberforce is an
inspiring account of a Christian who made a
great impact on the world. For more information on William
Wilberforce, see Newsletter
#178. See information about the
movie. •
Available at movie rentals or to
buy. •
Amazing Grace, Audio Drama
The Inspirational Stories of William
Wilberforce on a 6-CD set by Focus on the
Family Radio Theatre. Hear
a sample and buy online. •
Lesson Plans
Download
free 28-page, online Educator's Guide
Lesson plans, information, graphics,
timelines, activities, questions and a "Faith
Guide." •
"Lessons from William Wilberforce" Bible
Study
Order
a download of this six-session course
that looks at how a passion for social change
can change the world in which we live. Download
First Lesson Free.
2. The Golden Compass – in
Theaters
Much has being written and discussed about
"The Golden Compass," a movie that introduces
children to a series of three books by Philip
Pullman. See free
Sparknotes study guide online for an
overview. ChristianAnswers.net
says, "This film is an adaptation of part of
an objectionable trilogy of novels (10
million copies sold). Titled "His Dark
Materials," the books were written to be an
influential atheistic counterpart to "The
Chronicles of Narnia" and "The Lord of the
Rings." They are aimed at children and were
written by anti-God activist Phillip Pullman.
"Pullman said in an interview, "My books
are about killing God." Read articles by Mark
Dinsmore and "Sympathy
for the Devil."
5. Learning Online
1. Visual Dictionary OnlineFrom the image to the word and its
definition, the Visual
Dictionary Online is an all-in-one reference.
Explore the 15 major themes to access more
than 6,000 images and see words like never
before.
2. The Library of CongressLooking for information? Start at the
mega website of the Library
of Congress — the largest library
in the world, with over 134.5 million books,
recordings, photographs, maps, and
manuscripts in its collections. Through its
website, it provides access to resources,
services, and over eleven million of its
multimedia primary sources.
•
The
Virtual Reference Shelf is a directory,
listing selected web resources in hundreds of
areas.
•
Ask
a Librarian is an online reference
service from the Library of Congress. Send a
question and receive an answer by e-mail. •
Or you can Chat
with a Librarian online Monday-Friday,
2:00-4:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
3. Ancient Rome Reconstructed DigitallyArcheologists and computer experts have
created a digital
reconstruction of ancient Rome. It shows
the city in A.D. 320, the peak of its power.
About 7,000 buildings are included. Visitors
can explore the interiors of 30 of them. The
project cost $2 million and took 10 years.
Order Now for Christmas (Just $21.99)!
 Gift Pack: 5CDs / 30 Bible Stories
Beautifully and professionally
dramatized stories of Noah, David and
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 Listen for free online to the story of Queen
Esther by clicking on this image.
Purchase
the set of 5 audio CDs for the special price
of $21.99
with no shipping charges. Call toll-free:
1-800-634-0234.www.BibleInLivingSound.org
|
6. Keeping Safe & Healthy
1. Avoid Poisonous Plants and
DecorationsProtect your young children and pets from
plants brought into your home for decoration,
such as lilies, holly berries, Jerusalem
cherry, mistletoe, and Rosary Pea (Jequirity
Bean). Hazardous decorations can include angel
hair, bubble lights, fireplace color
crystals, wrapping paper and ribbons, snow
sprays, etc. Read
more. See more tips for keeping your pets
out of danger during the holiday season. ASPCA Animal
Poison Control Center, 1-888-4ANI-HELP. Print out "First
Aid for Poisoning" to keep by your phone. Quills Up - Stay Away! is a free online
poison
awareness program for young children
featuring Spike, the porcupine puppet.
2. Protect Your Family from a Fire or
Carbon MonoxideA smoke alarm reduces the risk of dying in
a house fire by 50 percent. •
Install smoke alarms on every level of your
home, especially near bedrooms. •
Test all smoke alarms monthly. •
Vacuum over and around smoke alarms
regularly. •
Replace smoke alarms after 10 years or as
recommended by the manufacturer. •
Post emergency numbers on your telephone and
make sure your children know how to dial
them. •
Organize and practice a family fire drill. More
information.
Activities for
children. •
If you have any nonelectric source of
heating, cooking, or clothes drying (i.e.,
gas, oil, or wood), you need carbon
monoxide detectors, either separately or
included on your fire alarm.
3. Stay Well by Washing HandsThe simplest and most effective thing that
you can do to keep from getting sick
yourself, or spreading your sickness to
others, is to wash your hands well and
often.
How To Wash
•
Wet hands with warm water and ordinary soap. •
When you don't have access to soap and water,
use non-alcohol baby wipes. Use of
antibacterial soap can promote growth of more
virulent germs and viruses. •
Teach your children to scrub all parts of
their hands for 20 seconds. (You could teach
them a hand-washing
song that lasts that long to sing.) Handwashing
curriculum. •
Dry hands well. In a public restroom, turn
off tap with a paper towel or back of wrist,
and open door with a paper towel or a corner
of clothing.
When To Wash
•
Wash hands immediately upon returning home
after being out in public or playing outside. •
Wash hands before preparing food, eating, or
handling clean dishes. •
Wash after using the toilet, changing
diapers, sneezing, coughing, blowing nose,
and eating. •
Poster
showing how to cough, sneeze, and wash hands.
Hand washing poster #1
and #2.
•
For Older Students:
Chemistry: How
soap works.
History: Why
handwashing is important. Read "Teach Your Children How To Prevent
and Treat a Cold or Flu" in Newsletter
#176.
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Your Child Can Memorize