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Stephen Griffith gives a personal glimpse into the life of Ruth Bell Graham.

One of the great pleasures of my life was knowing and working with Ruth Bell Graham for more than 20 years . . .

Over the years I served Ruth as book developer, editor, agent and occasionally as the collator of her notes into rough chapters. We spent many hours talking books, poetry, theology, as well as details of her life. She also always asked, and showed interest, in the mundane details of my life.

Besides my time with her, I’ve spent weeks and months combing through her writings and poetry, changing and rechanging her edits. She could never leave well-enough alone. One week she would add a comma to a poem only to take it off a week later. Without fail, just days after a book was published, I would receive a copy of the book from Ruth marked up with changes for the next printing . . .

I realized, in the two days between her death and her funeral, that I knew Ruth Bell Graham better than I knew anyone else in my life.

I’ve also learned more from her than anyone else . . .

Griffth goes on to share about Ruth’s humility, hospitality, sense of humor, compassion, love of reading, and loyalty in friendship. I encourage you to read the full article here.

HT: Historia Ecclesiastica

In the latest entry over at The Chronicles of Narnia Blog, storyboard artist Mike Vosburg gives you an inside look at the process behind creating storyboards for the upcoming Prince Caspian movie.

The storyboard artist takes the script … and starts to translate it into a series of pictures. A simple phrase (…the hero rushes in and saves the girl…) might turn into a sequence of several hundred frames, while a page long description of a characters internal distress might be capsulated in a single drawing if the expression is right. But in successful collaborations, the storyboard artist enables a viewer to “look” at the story rather than “read” it.

Not all movies use storyboards … But on Prince Caspian, like “The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe,” we storyboarded the entire film so that it could be viewed on an animatic. Then Andrew is able to watch a test version of the film. He can suggest changes..so we draw new frames…he makes more changes…we draw more frames…he makes more changes…we draw more….well, you get the picture. His goal is to solve whatever problems there are in the story and visualization of it before any of the movie is shot …

The actual process of working is fairly simple. Watch any five year old lying on the floor with a box of crayons and a couple action figures and you get the idea of what happens.The only difference is that we’re working from a script.One of my mentors once told me, learning to draw is a prerequisite for this job, but the drawing should always be secondary to telling the story. I use of lot of reference to make sure things are accurate, but I also simplify everything in the pictures so that not only can they be drawn quickly, but that they read quickly.

Click here for more Narnia and Caspian related posts.
Click here for Narnia sermon series.

Who says modesty can’t be cute and trendy? That’s the question Christa Taylor asks at her website for women and girls that are looking for fashionable yet modest clothing.

Our Mission: At Christa Taylor we’re pioneering a modest clothing revolution. Our team is committed to designing trendy and modest clothes that match your unique style. We are fashions for the empowered traditionalist; offering chic, feminine, and modern modest clothing options that are carefully selected to bring you premium quality and a totally modish [chic+modest=modish] flair that allows you to keep up with all the latest trends. We love creating those modest skirts, trendy tops, modest dresses, modest swimwear, and accessories that you had previously only dreamed about.

Okay, I am way out of my area of expertise here. I am not even going to attempt to tell you whether this site has good clothing for women or not. I only know that as a pastor, whenever I speak about issues of modesty, mothers and teens always tell me that, yes, they would like to adhere to biblical principles of modesty, but it is just so hard to find nice clothing today that is also modest.

So, I am glad that someone out there is at least designing clothes with modesty in mind. I will have to let my female readers visit the site and evaluate the clothing for themselves. Let us know what you think in the comments section. (HT: Tim Challies)

See related post: Guidelines for Modesty

Today’s Washington Post has an article discussing the lack of outdoor play for many of today’s children:

“Kids don’t think about going outside like they used to, and unless there is some scheduled activity, I don’t think they know what to do outdoors anymore,” Pelzman said.

Pelzman’s view is shared by a growing number of children’s advocates, environmentalists, business executives and political leaders who fear that this might be the first generation of “indoor children,” largely disconnected from nature.

Concerns about long-term consequences — affecting emotional well-being, physical health, learning abilities, environmental consciousness — have spawned a national movement to “leave no child inside.” In recent months, it has been the focus of Capitol Hill hearings, state legislative action, grass-roots projects, a U.S. Forest Service initiative to get more children into the woods and a national effort to promote a “green hour” in each day.

I have seen a number of articles in recent weeks expressing concern about this trend. For example, last week’s Daily Mail had an interesting article tracing the loss of children’s ability to roam over four generations in Sheffield, England. Here is a map showing the difference in “childhood roaming territory” for a great-grandfather, a grandfather, a mother, and her son.

When I was a kid I remember being outside a lot – playing basketball, running around in the woods, riding my bike all over town, fishing, etc. My mother often kicked us out of the house for the whole afternoon until supper time. And then there were many nights playing tag or kick-the-can outdoors after supper.

Why do you think kids today are “getting lost in the great indoors?” Is this a problem? What do kids miss by not spending more time outside?

HT: Instapundit

58% of the U.S. adult population never reads another book after high school. (Church Leader’s Intelligence Report; via Dr. Sam Lamerson)

Can you imagine never reading another book after high school? If you are a book reader, how would your life be different without books? If you do not read books, is there a reason why not? You are reading this, so I know that you are at least a blog reader. What is it about books that keeps you from reading them?

Note: According to the US Census Bureau, 27 percent of U.S. adults age 25 and over had a college degree in 2003. I am assuming that all 27% of them read at least one book after high school. (It’s hard to get through college without reading a book.) I wonder how many of them have read at least one book since graduating from college?

Related post: Thieves of Their Own Imaginations

W. Bradford Wilcox, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Virginia and the author of a recent study on fatherhood, discusses a father’s importance in five key areas of children’s lives:

Studies suggest that fathers play a particularly important role in five domains of children’s lives:

1. Providing financially for their children,
2. Protecting their children from abuse and neglect,
3. Teaching their children how to regulate their bodies and emotions through play (including “roughhousing”),
4. Disciplining their children (especially their boys), and
5. Modeling good male-female relationships to their sons and daughters.

When asked, “Do churches help men be good fathers and husbands?” Wilcox responded:

In a word, yes … I find that churchgoing dads spend more time with their children, praise and hug their children more often, spend more time socializing with their wives, and are more emotionally engaged with their wives.

HT: Al Mohler

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is offering the commemorative book, Sitting by My Laughing Fire, by Ruth Bell Graham, free of charge for the asking.

Ruth’s love for the written word and her devotion to family and God often flowed together. Of this collection of her poems, Ruth Bell Graham wrote, “I have always loved poetry. … [These poems] span nearly half a century of living, beginning with a thirteen-year-old’s impression of the ever-present graves in China, through high school in Korea, college in America, early love poems, marriage and motherhood, and on up.”

We are pleased to offer—at no charge—this classic volume of her poetry, chosen and assembled by Ruth herself. It is our prayer that you will encounter all of Ruth’s passion for words, friends, family, and her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ within its pages.

Just follow this link to order: Ruth Bell Graham – Commemorative Book

HT: Eclexia

Note: For samples of Ruth’s poetry, see Ruth Bell Graham – Poems.

Yesterday’s message was the ninth in the Doing Church Together series from the book of 1 Timothy. The message was called, Teaching By Example, taken from 1 Timothy 4:11-16.

1 Timothy 4:11-16 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (NIV)

The main idea of the message was that we should teach others by example in the church. Here is a brief recap of the message:

How many times have you heard these words before? “Do as I say, not as I do.” When a person’s actions do not match his words, that person lacks integrity. And when a person lacks integrity, he loses credibility. We do not trust or respect the person who says, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

There is no teaching that is more important than the teaching of God’s word in the church. And that is why it is essential that those who teach about God never take this attitude of “Do as I say, not as I do.” Even though God’s word is true, if those who teach God’s word lack integrity, they lose credibility, and people will not take God’s word seriously.

So, how do you teach and minister effectively in the church?

1) Set an example for others (verses 11-12)

Authoritative teaching requires a credible teacher: a teacher with integrity; a teacher who backs up his words with his life; a teacher who sets an example. This was especially important for Timothy because Timothy in his mid-thirties was considered young to be a leader. Paul knew that it was possible that some people in the church might not take Timothy seriously because of his age. And so it was even more important for Timothy to set an example for the others to follow. We should all set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

2) Do not neglect your gifts (verses 13-14)

Timothy had been given gifts for leadership in the church. Notice that the word of God is central to the ministry of the church. Timothy’s three main responsibilities as a leader of the church were the reading, preaching and teaching of Scripture.

If you are a Christian, then God has also given you gifts for service. Whatever you gift or gifts may be, you must be careful not to neglect your gift. When you use your gifts for God’s glory, you are teaching by example. When you do not, your life betrays your words.

3) Make visible progress and persevere (verses 15-16)

Are you making progress in your Christian life? As you examine your life as a Christian, are you standing still, going backward or moving forward? Paul says not only should you be making progress in your Christian life, but you should be making visible progress that is evident to all. You are not really setting an example unless other people can see your progress.

Not only should you be making visible progress as a Christian, you should persevere in your faith. Perseverance is part of setting a good example. If you quit halfway, that’s not much of an example.

There are two things you should watch especially closely. Your life and your doctrine. Once again, your life should match the teaching of God’s word. Watch your doctrine closely to make sure that your beliefs line up with God’s word. Then watch your life closely to make sure that your life lines up with your beliefs.

Think about one or two people who have influenced you for Christ. Do you remember the specific words they spoke to you? Or do you mostly remember a person? Their example? Their deeds? Yes, we teach by words. But we also teach by example. Now go and be an example for others.

Note: To read the complete message, go to the Sermons tab at the top of the blog.

Joe Carter from the Evangelical Outpost has gathered the following family facts relating to a father’s influence on his children.

1. Fathers’ religiosity is linked to higher quality of parent-child relationships.
2. Fathers who regularly attend religious services are more likely to be engaged in one-on-one activities with their children.
3. Civically active fathers are more likely to participate in youth-related activities.
4. Fathers’ engagement in their children’s activities was linked to higher academic performance.
5. Among adolescent boys, those who receive more parenting from their fathers are less likely to exhibit anti-social and delinquent behaviors.
6. Among adolescent girls, those who have a strong relationship with their fathers are less likely to report experiencing depression.
7. Close father-adolescent bonds protect against the negative influence of peer drug use.
8. Adolescent girls who have a close relationship with their fathers are more likely to delay sexual activity.
9. Adolescent girls whose fathers were present during their childhood are less likely to become pregnant.
10. Adolescent males who report a close relationship with their fathers are more likely to anticipate having a stable marriage in the future.

Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there. Please know how important you are to your children.

Note: All of these facts come from the Heritage Foundation’s Family Facts page, where you can find much more research on family, society, and religion. You can visit Joe’s page here for links to sources for each of the specific facts cited above.

Space baby monitor. Natalie Meilinger’s baby monitor is acting strangely. Instead of monitoring her children, the baby monitor is picking up live video from inside NASA’s space shuttle Atlantis. The mother of two is fascinated with the video feed. “I’ve been addicted to it and keep waiting to see what’s next,” Meilinger said.

World wide web. More than 1.1 billion of the world’s estimated 6.6 billion people are now online. Nearly 300 million people, almost a third of those online, access the internet on high-speed lines. The US has the most broadband users with more than 60 million subscribers. China is in second place with with more than 56 million and quickly closing the gap. South Korea has the world’s greatest percentage of broadband users with nearly 90% of households online. Internet usage in developing countries, especially in Africa, lags behind the rest of the world. Many of these emerging economies lack basic telephone service, never mind access to the internet.

There is too much information on the Grahams flying around the web right now to post it all, but I really liked these two quotes that Matt McCarnan posted over at PastorBlog.

I have been asked the question, ‘Who do you go to for counsel, for spiritual guidance?’ My answer: my wife, Ruth. She is a great student of the Bible. Her life is ruled by the Bible more than any person I’ve ever known. That’s her rule book, her compass. Her disposition is the same all the time–very sweet and very gracious and charming. When it comes to spiritual things, my wife has had the greatest influence on my ministry.
—Billy Graham

I saw a sign on a strip of highway once that I would like to have copied on my gravestone. It said, “End of construction. Thank you for your patience.”
—Ruth Bell Graham (from “A Hearing Heart,” InDecision Magazine, January 1970, ©1969, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)

Related articles:

• Billy Graham – The Song
• Ruth Bell Graham – Poems
• Ruth Graham Passes Away
• Billy Graham Museum Opens in Charlotte, NC
• The Day I Met Billy Graham

Update 1: The poem Ruth wrote at 13 about the man she would someday marry is found in comment #4 below.

Update 2: The poem “Home Address” has been added to the comments below.

Update 3: Free commemorative book of Ruth’s poems – click here for more information.

Noel Piper shares the following poems from Ruth Graham over at the Desiring God blog. They are both from Ruth’s book Footprints of a Pilgrim.

The first poem is about choosing to love through the difficult times when Billy would have to leave her and the children to go on the road.

Love
without clinging;
cry
if you must—
but privately cry;
the heart will adjust
to the newness of loving
in practical ways:
cleaning
and cooking
and sorting out clothes,
all say, “I love you,”
when lovingly done.

So—
love
without clinging;
cry—
if you must—
but privately cry;
the heart will adjust
to the length of his stride,
the song he is singing,
the trail he must ride,
the tensions that make him
the man that he is,
the world he must face,
the life that is his.

So
love
without clinging;
cry—
if you must—
but privately cry;
the heart will adjust
to being the heart,
not the forefront of life;
a part of himself,
not the object—
his wife.

So—
love!

The second poem is about losing a loved one and reflects what the Graham family must be experiencing right now with the loss of Ruth.

A house
is not the same
when she who made it home
is gone;
it looks
as it has always
looked
and yet
forlorn.
There is an emptiness
within,
a silence
where her chuckle was.
From now on
it is me alone
who once was “us.”

Related articles:

• Billy Graham – The Song
• A Quote from Billy and a Quote from Ruth
• Ruth Graham Passes Away
• Billy Graham Museum Opens in Charlotte, NC
• The Day I Met Billy Graham