What a great book. As a new to homeschooling, and new to America mum, I find this book gives me not just varied & interesting craft projects for my 5yr old daughter but also suggests reading books that blend well with the chosen craft.
For those that are not the best at artistic & creative thinking this book is a must.

This book is full of great craft ideas. My favorite is the materials and activity indexes at the end. Say you have some extra paper towel rolls you want to make a craft with, just look it up, turn to the pages listed and there are several ideas of how to use them in a fun and creative way with your child. This book has inspired me to try some new things - it's bringing out the artist in my child and I. Each craft project has a list of supplies you'll need, steps to make it, and activities you can do with it. Music, movement, dramatic play, math, language, etc. are included with craft ideas. The author also lists related books you can read along with your project to make it a real learning experience. This book is so much fun! It's not just for teachers; it's a must for parents who want to do arts and crafts with their kids.

This is the most complete book I've ever read about the Mother of God. Saint Alphonsus Liguori analyses with great detail and precision, but always using a perfectly clear language, the decisive role of Saint Mary in the salvation of human souls and her essential contribution to keep them away from sin and eternal condemnation. It is deplorable that the post-Vatican II modernist Church has almost forgotten these fundamental teachings.

This is one of the richest and most vivid Marian texts I have read in a long time. I highly recommend this text to anyone interested in Marian theology or anyone devoted to the Rosary and Marian piety. It is a classic.

It includes meditations on the mysteries of the Rosary, sermons on the primary liturgical feasts of Mary and prayers to Mary. It is thorough. Each expositional section concludes with a prayer and example.

If you enjoyed Thomas A Kempis' Imitations of Christ, you will love this book.

I enjoyed reading this book about Old Tom Morris who, I discovered, sculpted golf into the game we play today. I always thought that the Old Course at St. Andrews was created by nature, but Kroeger's book showed me that Old Tom did a lot of design work to it in his 40 year stint as greenkeeper. I would highly recommend this book to anyone traveling to Scotland to play Old Tom's courses or to those interested in the history of golf or golf course architecture.

I found the book to be well written and well organized. It showed me how important the old man in the white beard was to the game of golf. Not only was he instrumental in establishing 18 holes as the standard number of holes in a round, but he also had a hand in starting the British Open, the first major golf tournament. I enjoyed reading about the many courses he designed and I would like to play some of them when I visit Scotland. I think anyone going to play golf in Scotland or Ireland would benefit from reading this book.

As a person just starting my own exploration of the early history of the Christian Church, I found this book an absolute joy to read. Mr. Jeffers is a historical author of the highest order.

As a history major in college, I found that the greatest historians were the ones who could pull together complex themes, ideas, and stories into an approachable tome. Mr. Jeffers has done all that and more. He kindly places New Testament references in the body of his text to highlight the point he is referring to.

The effect of his writing is to give the New Testament a more "three dimensional" feel. No longer is Paul's admonition in I Corinthians 16:15-18 simply about treating a fellow named Stephanas with more respect. It is about the Church showing more appreciation for all their patron - Stephanas - has done for them. This guy wasn't just an average schmoe; he was the money guy who opened his house up for the organization.

When Paul writes to the Philippians that they are citizens of Heaven living in a foreign country, the people he is writing to know EXACTLY what he is talking about. They know the benefits of Roman citizenship (which they have been denied), and the hardships of living as foreigners inside Rome. Gems like these are laced all througout the book

Jeffers also does a tremendous job at explaining Roman governance. I now understand that the Roman Senate wasn't anything other than a group of really really rich guys who pulled the strings of the government that they set up.

It was especially gratifying to read about how certain societal customs became the undoing of the Republic, and the key to the emergence of the Empire. In fact, if I could offer any advice to a reader, I might suggest reading Appendix A right after the first chapter.

It is Appendix A that connects the dots in all that I have read. Jeffers explains (in broad terms) the rise of the Republic, the Republic as conqueror, the fall of the Republic, and the Rise of the Caesar. It was, to me, the most gripping part of the book. So many of the names, wars, events, and legends that I had bouncing around my head like pin balls, came together in one unified story. It was thoroughly enlightening.

I can tell you that The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament will be a reference book for me as long as I live.

This is an excellent book. I recommend it for every Christian, and for those interested in the roots of Christian history. Basically, the author gives us a glimpse of life in the first century. From the four voluntary associations in roman culture to what a person would experience in daily life to how religion was understood in ancient times, this book gives great insight into understanding key concepts and he relates those concepts to Scripture, showing how certain passages reflect a particular theme in society. This is not a theology book, but a book to educate people about the environment that the Scriptures were written in. The author also describes some common fallacies modern people have about life in those times. For example, he explains how the catacombs were not secret Christian meeting places and that the romans had profound respect for the dead (in general). But that Christians organized as burial associations. He also shows the patron-client relationship in culture and how some of that type of relationship is expressed in Scripture. And perhaps one of the best features of the book is a detailed history of the major cities in Biblical times and notable facts about them. All in all, this book is good reading. I recommend it highly.

Post Scriptum:

The ISBN for Kontosopoulos's book is 960-333-257-7. I hope this helps you find it; it's well worth getting.

This book, originally called Introduction to the Study of the Greek Dialects, is the simplest and best book for getting into the subject. All the others, if you can find them, are large, complex, and almost always in German (or worse--Latin!). Buck (author also of the superb Dictionary of Selected Synonyms in the Principle Indo-European Languages, q.v.) writes in a pleasant and easy-going English all throughout. (Because he kicks it old-school...)

The book however, even though it's the fullest and most accessible one in English, is rather hard to get in the United States; but there's an exact reprint by Bristol Classical Press (ISBN 185399556-8) and you can get it quickly "dispatched" (id est, "sent") to you from amazon.co.uk. The price is fair and the overseas Royal Mail is way worth getting your hands on this very important book (which I started reading as soon as I opened it).

There are two parts to it: "Grammar of the Dialects" (Phonology, Inflections, Word-Formation, Syntax, Summaries, and Survivals; 180pp) and "Selected Inscriptions" (by region, 120pp). There're also some appendices, including a nice little glossary.

For modern Greek dialects--which are honestly much more interesting--the standard and best work is N. G. Kontosopoulos (also spelled Kondosopoulos), Dialektoi kai Idiomata tis Neas Ellinikis (Dialects and Idioms of Modern Greek, 1981--ISBN?), though you may have to go to Athens to get it.

Albert Thumb though, who wrote the Handbuch der griechischen Dialekte (on ancient Greek) also wrote a Handbuch der neugriechischen Volkssprache, which is excellent (though NOT for beginners) and has been translated into English as Handbook of the Modern Greek Language (Library of Congress Catalogue Number 64-23434). After a Smyth-like (but not nearly so boring) description of grammar, there are a hundred pages of "folk" and "artistic" texts, with thirty pages in dialect (incl. Pontic, Magna Graecian, Cypriot, and even some Tsaconian) and a glossary.

For the ancient stuff though, go with Buck; you'll love it.
I hope this helps. Best of luck!

A well-written reference book which provides an in-depth look at Greek grammar. It serves as a wonderful aid in research or sermon preparation. Recommended for a specialist or someone with considerable familiarity with Koine Greek.

BDF is still the standard Greek grammar of the New Testament even after four decades. It is in the process of being revised (by a revision committee of eight members), but the revision will take several more years to complete. We felt it needed revision because BDF presupposes that the average reader has had much exposure to classical Greek prior to working in the New Testament. This is part of the reason that BDF is so hard to use: most NT students have not had exposure to classical Greek nowadays. Another reason is its cryptic nature, Teutonic abbreviations, and omission of 'normal' grammar. Nevertheless, even with these shortcomings, every responsible exegete of the New Testament must own a copy of this goldmine of information.

Daniel B. Wallace, Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

I have just loved reading this book because the author has provided us with essencial knowledge which means being closer to one's self,and finding God in happiness and sadness. The moving way he writes make us closer to ourself's , stimulates us to meditate about our shadows and lights and slowly incorporate everything that comes to us, transforming it all into a higher dimension.Finally, I would say that I have come to feel and experience God closer after reading this book.

An Outstanding book, that we can incorporate into our daily lives, even though we are not monks. The practical knowledge is extremely useful in dealing with the human condition. It offers a fascinating perspective that wholeness with God can be obtained by exploring the depths of the human soul, instead of trying to reach the hights of God by our own works. The advice can certainly give us a new alternative to our debilitating habbits of unforgiveness and judgement. When something is over, it's over. These are words to live by. Also who am I to judge another when we are all so uniquely different. A tollerance and a compassion can be achieved with our fellow human beings with this new compelling philosophy. I highly reccomend this book.

In "Heaven Below," Grant Wacker takes the reader on an exhilarating and informative romp through the early years (1900-1925) of American Pentecostalism. Through extensive research and superior storytelling, he demonstrates how these religious pioneers brought together the clashing impulses of the "primitive" and the "pragmatic" to "capture lightening in a bottle" and launch an explosive movement. Potential readers need to be warned in advance that the author is a social historian and academician. If you are looking for stories of romanticized heroes of the faith or glowing partisan historiography, you'll be disappointed. What you will get is a consistently fair, sometimes surprising, and always interesting account of the early Pentecostals.

In the book's fifteen chapters we get a glimpse into the character, temperament, and daily lives of these adventurous and hearty souls. You'll discover the keys to their effectiveness and the areas where they stumbled. Included among many subjects covered are the movement's leaders, the theology and practicality behind the prominence of women, their changing views on war, the persecutions they faced, and even the "gift of tongues" that helped make their faith distinctive. The stereotype of the poor, illiterate, and disinherited Pentecostals is dismantled. Instead you will meet a representative slice of early 20th century America. They were a people genuinely sincere, deeply committed to their beliefs, and fully convinced that they were instruments in the hands of Almighty God, empowered by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

"Heaven Below" is made up of 269 pages of fascinating reading, followed by an appendix, and 82 pages of footnotes. It also includes a valuable index. I had some difference of opinion with Wacker's conclusions and occasional qualms with his assumptions, but as a social history, I highly recommend "Heaven Below." Grant Wacker is Associate Professor of the History of Religion in America, Duke University.

Grant Wacker has written a wonderful book. His scholarly treatment of early pentecostalism (1900-1925) is matched by his ability to write for a general audience with insight, sympathy for his subject, and a tremendous wit and appreciation. His views are balanced, his anecdotes are well-selected, and his writing is first-rate. He covers all aspects, races, and gender issues in early American pentecostalism. Anyone interested in American religion in general or penetcostalism in particular MUST read this book. A professor told me in grad school that the explosion of new books would only get worse. He advised me to buy only those books that would either change or advance my life: this is such a book.

Buy this book for every child in your elementary school, and then have the children teach this book to their parents. You will raise decent and celebrant human beings who are ready to engage life rather than be repulsed by those who are complex or different. This reminds me of a Flirtations song: "I will sing you a story no one sang to me; let it keep you in good company."

I dream of the day when this book will replace "Dick and Jane" in the primary schools. Until then, I hope you give it as a present to every friend or loved one graduating from high school or college. It shows what human existence could be like if we lived it with courage and imagination. It would be like not anything we had ever known. Humorous and sincerely hopeful at the same time. It's bound to be at the top of the American Library Association's list of most challenged books, as it cleverly challenges our most cherished truths.

Before echinacea and homeopathy there was Hildegard and her medieval herb remedies. Hildegard's Healing Plants provides a natural healing manual by a woman who used herbs around her convent in the early 1100s. Listings from her medieval Physica book provide reviews of the various herbs and their properties.

Hildegard Von Bingen was a mystic, a musician, a moralist, as well as a poet, playright, and prophet. She added a little science in there, too, and some believe she must have been a physician. She follows the tradition of the time in that created things are composed of four elements: hot or cold, and wet or dry. She then goes on to tell the medicinal uses for over 200 plants. From aloe to oats to valerian, even an opinion on St. John's wort, it is amazing that the same plants continue to be a part of natural healing over 800 years after this book was written. That alone makes the book very interesting...