Window on the World

Last year I wrote a homeschooling post at the end of each month summarizing what we had fun studying.  I don't think that's going to happen this year.  At least not is such organized fashion.  But I definitely will still be sharing because I love reading about what others love about school and I'm just going to go ahead and assume that you do, too.

I am absolutely smitten and impressed with several of our school books this year.  The first one I want to tell you about is Window on the World by Daphne Spraggett with Jill Johnstone.  Each chapter introduces you and your child to a different people group.  It highlights parts of a map to show you where the group lives, tells you about them (often through conversations involving children) and then...get this...it gives you ideas of what you can thank God for relating to this people group and how you can pray for them.  I had no idea a book like this existed.  This book also includes sections on six major world religions.

Let's back up a second and talk about "people groups".  You know how in the Bible it says at the end of Matthew (28:19), "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." ?  Well, when we read the word "nations", we often think of nation states or countries, right?  Well, the original Greek word is "ethne" and is more completely translated as "an ethnic or cultural people group".  This is the Greek word that we get our English word "ethnic" from.  So, Jesus is not talking about countries in this verse, He is talking about people groups- a group of people who share a distinct language and culture (as well as specific social, economic, and geographical traits).

 

There are many more people groups than there are countries and we need to be aware of that so we can understand the scriptures properly- so we know not only what Jesus was talking about at the end of Matthew, but also what He was referring to when He said in Matthew 24:14, "And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come."  I've let on before that I want to be a part of this.  This book is showing us how to pray for these other people groups!  Can you tell I'm a little bit excited about it?

The kids and I have looked into the eyes and faces of peoples we never knew existed.  Oh, it's so amazing how we can love people we've never met!  More than once, I have bawled my through our closing prayer after reading a chapter- particularly the chapter on street children.  The kids can't help but stare at me instead of closing their eyes.  Some good conversations have followed our reading of this book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get to know and pray for people throughout the world.  You don't have to homeschool or even have children.  This is a powerful tool for prayer and will open our eyes to the world beyond our little towns and culture.

At least that's what I hope it will do for our kids. Pin It