Christian Book Notes

Starr Meade stopped by this week to discuss the many children’s books she has written.  You can read reviews on a few of them here.  Enjoy this interview.

Christian Book Notes (CBN):  Please share your testimony of how you came to know Jesus as Lord and Savior

Starr Meade (SM):  I grew up in a Southern Baptist church and I don’t remember a time when I didn’t know that being right with God required faith in Jesus Christ and what he accomplished through the cross. I asked to be baptized when I was around 9 years old. When I was just entering my teens, my parents divorced and I went through a time of bitterness and of questioning the truth of Christianity. God, in his providence, moved my father and me into the neighborhood of a Christian family who took me in. I spent most of my time with them, doing whatever they were doing: eating, working, having fun with their teenage kids—and going to their church. At their church, I met other loving Christians who also reached out to me. That meant everything to me, because I lived alone with a father whom I almost never saw, and I was very lonely. I learned to appreciate something of the infinite love of God for me through the love of these ordinary Christians in my teen years.

(CBN):  Please share some more about yourself and your ministry. (This is more an informational, get to know you question. I usually change the question depending on the answer given.)

(SM):  Most of my adult life, I’ve been involved in teaching children or teens and in writing as ministries. I began teaching Sunday School when I was 16. Once my own three children were in school, I served as Director of Children’s Ministries in our church for 10 years. Part of what I did there was to write curriculum for our children’s programs and devotionals for our families to use at home. (Several of my books are those devotionals rewritten.) When I stepped away from that position, I began teaching Bible and beginning Latin at the Christian school the church had. I taught in the school for eight years, and then began teaching home school students at my house. I teach history and literature classes for junior high and high school students, and one Latin class for younger children. I still teach Sunday School with my husband—probably will all my life! Working from home gives me more time to work on my writing.

(CBN):  I was first introduced to your writing ministry through your book Keeping Holiday. In my review, I said that it was Pilgrim’s Progress meets Chronicles of Narnia. What was your inspiration for that particular book?

(SM):  Those are very kind words!! Keeping Holiday was one of those Advent devotionals for my church, rewritten. The inspiration came from my love of the Old Testament prophets and my love of Christmas as the celebration of what those prophets promised. The coming of Christ into the world makes such a tremendous difference that the biblical writers use all kinds of strong metaphors to describe it: light instead of darkness, life instead of death, fruitfulness instead of barrenness, joy instead of sorrow. I had researched many of the symbols used at Christmastime and learned how they pictured those very concepts—and out of that came an Advent devotional which turned into a children’s book.

(CBN):  You wrote a Family Bible Story Book entitled Mighty Acts of God. What prompted you to add to the growing list of quality children’s and family Bible story books?

(SM):  I was asked to do it by the book packager and publisher. I wondered myself at the time: Do we need another Bible story book? As we discussed the idea, though, I could see the value of a book that (1) demonstrated the overall story of the Bible instead of telling stories as isolated incidents, (2) focused on the character and actions of God in each story, rather than on the human characters, and (3) explained doctrinal concepts that are apparent in each story.

(CBN):  After publishing Mighty Acts of God, you started on a series entitled God’s Mighty Acts… What is the purpose of that series? Does it build on the stories found in Mights Acts of God?

(SM):  The same book packager suggested follow-up books that would follow the same pattern of material for families to read together, a key verse for each reading, and questions for further discussion. God’s Mighty Acts in Creation focuses on how creation reveals to us something of the wonder of who God is. It uses Bible stories, metaphors for God drawn from creation that we find in the Bible, and interesting facts about creation itself—all to highlight the wonder of God’s character. God’s Mighty Acts in Salvation takes children (and their families) through highlights of Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, which stresses so strongly justification through faith alone.

(CBN):  What has been the most influential books (assuming the Bible) in your life? Why?

(SM):  I love literature!! I love stories, so I love all kinds of fiction, especially classics and children’s fantasy. George MacDonald and, of course, Tolkien and Lewis are special favorites as far as fantasy from a Christian perspective. As far as influencing my Christian life: I’ve read so much in my lifetime and my memory is so sketchy! I’ve always thought that we receive and receive and receive from so many gifted teachers and writers, all of them repeating the same important truths from various angles. Little by little, all that receiving adds up to those truths becoming truly part of us—but to whom do we give the credit, with so many contributors? The Puritans are tremendously helpful, as far as being able to diagnose the sin in my heart and guide me in dealing with it. But I’d have to say the most influential book for me is probably Knowing God by J.I. Packer. I read it early in my Christian life, along with A. W. Pink’s The Attributes of God, and have longed ever since to stay focused on the character of God himself, more than on anything he gives or on anything I do.

(CBN):  Of the books that you have written, which was your favorite?

(SM):  First favorite: Keeping Holiday. It was highly enjoyable to me to let my imagination go for the purpose of inventing characters and situations that would express my deep, deep gratitude to “the Founder” for finding me. Second favorite: Grandpa’s Box, because I marvel at God’s sovereign ability to overcome all opposition and carry out his eternal purpose to have a people who will be his own people. Grandpa’s Box follows that theme through the stories of the Bible, and it was a joy to focus on it while writing the book.

(CBN):  How can we pray for you and your ministry?

(SM):  When you write about Christian truth, you realize as you write what a long way you have to go in faithfully living out what you’re writing about! My biggest prayer request would be for God’s work in my heart to cause me not just to know his truth, not just to love his truth, not just to write about his truth, but to daily live my life in the light of his truth.

Meade, Starr. God’s Mighty Acts in Salvation. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2010. 96 pp. $10.99. Purchase at Westminster Books for $7.80.

Introduction

Starr Meade is no stranger to Christian Book Notes. We have reviewed her resources Keeping Holiday (an excellent book to read to your children during Christmas) and her family Bible story book, Mighty Acts of God. You can purchase most of Starr’s books at Wesminster.

This particular book, God’s Mighty Acts in Salvation is based on the book of Galatians and found its origin in her children’s ministry when her senior pastor was preaching through the book of Galatians during “big church.” (You know what I mean!)

Summary

The book is divided into forty chapters beginning with Galatians 1:1 and ending with Galatians 6:18. Each chapter has another verse from a different part of Scripture that supports the main theme of the passage being studied in Galatians.

At the end of each chapter, there is a section entitled, “As for me and my house…” This section offers discussion points and activities to be done at home that reinforce the biblical lesson learned. It also engages the parents to be active in their children’s spiritual well-being and development.

Review

Once again, Starr has struck pay dirt. This resource is theologically sound and age-appropriate. That is tough to accomplish. I greatly appreciate the verse by verse approach that led to the writing of this book. It is important to note, however, that Starr says that this book is not meant to be a commentary for children on the book of Galatians. Rather, this is more of a thought provoking, teachable moments type of book.

Recommendation

As she used this material to teach a children’s church at first, it can readily be used as a resource to that end. Another use for God’s Mighty Acts in Salvation is for family worship. It seems as though there is a trend towards family worship/devotions in the church today. For that, I am thankful. The resources that have been coming across my desk lead me to believe that this is more than a trend. Add Starr Meade’s name to the flow of invaluable resources to that effect. Pick up a copy of this book and teach your children about the magnificence of God’s salvation offered to all.

Meade, Starr. God’s Mighty Acts in Creation. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2010. 112 pp. $10.99. Purchase at Westminster Books for $7.80.

Introduction

This particular book, God’s Mighty Acts in Creation, offers a peek at a biblical theology of creation. Starr not only looks at the days of creation in Genesis 1, but all throughout Scripture to help the child (and adult) better understand how God’s creation better reflects His glory.

Summary

The book is divided into forty-five chapters and covers the six days of creation. From Day 1, Light and Water, the reader will look at what complete darkness means to how God owns the light (see the 9th plague on Egypt) and how He also owns the water (see where an axe head floats on water). Day 3 (note the absence of Day 2) looks at the land and the plant life. Here, the child will see the sovereignty of God through geological and botanical features.

Throughout the rest of the book, we look at a God with no limits (creation of sun, moon, and stars), a God who is sovereign even over the birds (think about the ravens feeding Elijah) to God’s image and wisdom on display in both animals and people.

Review

I am convinced that the best person to relate deep theological truths to children is a grandma who has grown in the Lord for years and years. Starr Meade offers insight into what that looks like as she takes every day common instances of life and directs our attention to the deep theological truths of Scripture. You meet Christ on practically every page and see the glory of God on every single page.

She also offers an “As for me and my house” section designed to cultivate family worship and thinking throughout the week or day on God’s creation.

Recommendation

This resource offers so many analogies and examples to use in every day life, that I would be remiss not to recommend it to anyone with children. I continue to be amazed by Starr’s ability to bring theological truth into everyday conversation and do so in such a way that all can understand. We are indebted to Starr for making these resources available to us and perhaps even more indebted to Crossway to publishing them in a way that is affordable to most everyone.

Meade, Starr. Illustrated by Tim O’Connor. Mighty Acts of God: A Family Story Book. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2010. 288 pp. $24.99. Purchase at Westminster for $13.39.

Introduction

Starr Meade has written one of the best children’s fantasy novels I have ever read. It is titled Keeping Holiday (you can read my review here.) In that review I said that Keeping Holiday was “like Pilgrim’s Progress meets Chronicles of Narnia.” Now, she has written a children’s Bible designed with Family Worship in mind.

Review

I am not going to offer a summary of the Bible even if it is in a children’s format. Rather, I will offer a review and critique of this children’s Bible in light of the multitude of Children’s Bibles published in recent years.

Starr makes it a point to hit the major highlights throughout both the Old Testament and New. She spends more of her time in the New Testament than the Old which is actually quite remarkable given she has forty-one chapters in the Old Testament!

At the beginning of each story is a key verse from another part of Scripture showing that the truths in the particular story are supported elsewhere in the Bible. Bold words appear throughout the book indicating words or theological terms that are probably unfamiliar to children (and maybe even the adults). Words in red indicate historic, Reformed Christian doctrinal teachings.

My favorite part of each reading is the “As for Me and My House” section at the end of each day (if you read a story daily). These provide excellent discussion points for the family after reading the story. Sometimes this section even includes activities to further drive the lesson home into the children’s heart.

Recommendation

I realize it may be sounding like a broken record, but I highly recommend Mighty Acts of God to be used as a children’s Bible. Given the multitude of children’s Bibles recently published, I would recommend this one above the others–which is not to say that the others are great in their own right! Rather, the added emphasis on doctrine, introduction to theological terms and discussion points simply makes this particular children’s Bible that much better. I think the best course of action, if you can afford to do this, is to purchase a few different children’s bibles and use them on a kind of rotational basis.

Meade, Starr. Keeping Holiday. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2008. 192 pp. $14.99. Purchase at Westminster books for $9.39.

Introduction

Starr Meade was formerly a director of children’s ministry for ten years. She also used to teach Latin and Bible for eight years in a Christian school. I am not sure if she did those at the same time, but it does show her wide range of experience and education. She is that author of Training Hearts, Teaching Minds and currently teaches in a home school program.

Synopsis of Keeping Holiday

Dylan is on a quest to figure out how he can keep the charm of Holiday all year long. One day on the way home from church in Holiday he discovers a flier asking him if he wants to learn how to keep Holiday all year long. This sets young Dylan off on a quest to understand what the flier means.

Three years later, he has talked with his cousin, Clare, about Holiday. Finding a sympathetic ear, they head off on vacation to Holiday determined to find how to keep Holiday all year long.

You are brought along on a journey of epic proportions with twists and turns at every corner. Although you never know what is going to happen next in the novel, you really do know. Each path is different but you learn quickly that every path along this journey leads to one conclusion: “He’s not just the Founder, he’s the Finder too.”

Critique of Keeping Holiday

When I first picked up the book, I noticed that men like R.C. Sproul and Michael Horton had written blurbs for the back cover. Sproul described the book as “spellbinding” and Horton stated, “There is more to this book than a story.” With those two comments by those two men, I was immediately interested in the contents between the covers. I quickly realized that both men were incorrect. Words do no justice to the contents of this book.

I started reading this book during my children’s naptime and finished it after their bedtime on the same day. This book has shot directly to the top of my list of recommended books. About the only way I can describe this book is that it is like Pilgrim’s Progress meets Chronicles of Narnia. I am very reserved when it comes to comparing anything with John Bunyan’s classic. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I have ever compared another work to Pilgrim’s Progress. Keeping Holiday contains the doctrinal elements of John Bunyan along with the vivid story telling of C.S. Lewis.

Recommendation

This book is meant to be a Christmas book. I think it is a book that should be read all year long. Children will be captivated by the story and the vivid descriptions while parents will be blown away by the depth of theology contained within. This book would make a great evangelistic resource for children who attend church without their parents.