Collectable cards your kids will love - CFN newsletter 77

CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK NEWSLETTER 77

> Encouragement: the continuing story of Bibliocards - the booming Christian cards going worldwide
> News:
> Cannabis move 'sends out wrong signals'
> Christian teachers magazine sent to English staff rooms
> Youth crime: the fight goes on
> Sites:
> Help your kids see through the adman's hype
> Breakaway magazine for Christian teenage boys
> Events: what's on near you
> Kate's marriage tip: How fast do you think?
> Humour:
> Members' Zone latest

Hope you're enjoying the sunshine where you can find it!

This latest CFN update includes a preview of our new summer issue of Families Together magazine, which will be coming your way very soon. There's a look at Spiderman and the whole superhero package, using the language of love at home, crossing cultures in your community with the Gospel and tips on making the most of being a grandparent, plus much more.

You'll find all the details on the magazine page on our website.

Thanks again for your responses on 'quality time' as a family - there are more to read, and goodie bags will go out shortly to all those who responded.

And here's a final thought: if God had meant life to be supremely ordered, serene and unchallenging, he wouldn't have invented families! Enjoy the holidays!

Take care

Russ Bravo
Christian Family Network
info@cfnetwork.co.uk
http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk

ENCOURAGEMENT

CARDS PUT GOD FIRST!

• George Lukemeets Graham Steel, the man behind Bibliocards, collectable cards proving a global hit with kids
  

A year ago, at the height of the Pokémon craze, a salesman from Swanley had the idea of creating a series of collectable cards based on Bible characters.

Today, there are over 250,000 Bibliocards in circulation, in 31 countries around the world. A third card series is due for release later this year, and the cards are proving just as popular with unchurched children as they are with their Christian counterparts.

"We’ve had requests from various countries asking for them to be translated,” says Graham Steel, founder of Bibliobits, who produce the cards. "As yet we’re no way near being able to fork out the amount it would cost to have that done. The Dutch are certainly interested in having them translated, but we can’t do it at the moment. We’re a small operation; God lets you have just as much as you can cope with, and not too much.

"A lot of people have put a lot of time and effort into this, many of them voluntarily. There’s Chris Watts, who works on the website and does a lot of the artwork, and other people who help promote the work. My home church – Christ Church (URC) in Swanley – have supported me greatly.

"I see myself more as an itinerant minister in children’s work, and the church is supporting me for the next year to do that full-time, and to concentrate on the Biblio side of things. Over the next year, they’re organising six holiday clubs and doing drama workshops."

Other Bibliobits products include the ‘Bibliobiscuit’ (sort of a cross between a Bible story and an Origami puzzle) and the ‘Bibliobible’ – a Bible-shaped container for keeping card collections in. The Bibliobits website has crosswords, quizzes and games, and there are plans to produce a CD-ROM compilation of all the website’s interactive material. The sharp-suited Biblioman is a recurring character in all the products, and Graham dresses up as Biblioman at Kids’ Clubs and other events.

For the rest of this article - with news of how children in schools have been using Bibliocards, details of the next series, and Graham's thoughts on Pokemon and Harry Potter, go to our Resources section at http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp

> THIS WEEK'S NEWS

> Cannabis move 'sends out wrong signals'

The Home Secretary’s move to downgrade cannabis from a Class B to a Class C drug could prompt a breakdown of law and order in our inner cities, the Evangelical Alliance has warned.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> Christian teachers magazine sent to English staff rooms

The magazine of the 2,400 strong Association of Christian Teachers of England, ACT Now, has been sent to every school staffroom in England in a bid to prove that religion is alive and well.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp for the full story

> Youth crime: fight goes on

The Wesley Owen chain is sponsoring Faithworks as its Charity of the Year for 2002/2003 and has donated funding towards the Faithworks in the Community initiative, which seeks to assess the impact of Christian community action on youth/street crime.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> MARRIAGE MOT

> Check out our archived marriage tips in the Members' Zone, plus stacks more marriage resources at http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk .

How fast do you think?

Have you ever tried to listen to someone who talks at super speed? You're left wondering what hit you and certainly none the wiser. Or perhaps you get frustrated when someone takes half an hour to say something very simple and your mind's already running on ahead, planning next year's holiday or which numbers you're going to pick for the lottery.

We're all different and we all communicate in a slightly different way. To really communicate we've got to learn how to adjust to the other person's speed. This can cause real problems in marriage, if we don't spot the cause.

Get to know the way each other thinks, the pace of talking and listening that suits you and your partner. Are you a tortoise or a hare?

Remember that when you talk or listen you're offering a gift of yourself to your partner. Try to remember that you love them, and that it's worth the extra effort to slow down or speed up and "get to the point". Try to focus on them and silence the internal conversations going on inside your head. Try to get behind the words to the special person you love. Ask them to slow down if they're going too fast. Wait your turn and then try to feed back what you think you heard to make sure you've understood. That way your partner knows you've been listening and trying to understand them and they feel loved and valued.

Did you know? Many cultures in the Far East assume the responsibility for communication lies with the listener. They speak and it's up to you to understand. In the West we tend to expect more of the one who's speaking. Surely communication is about two people - it's up to them both to ensure the communication really works!
.......................................................................
Please rate this Ezine at the Cumuli Ezine Finder
http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/ra20836.rate
.......................................................................

> EVENTS

Help your kids see through advertising and media hype and deception - point them to http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit/

Check out the site for Focus on the Family's magazine for teenage boys - Breakaway. Plenty to do and read, if you can get past the US culture ... http://www.family.org/teenguys/breakmag/

> YOU'VE GOT TO LAUGH

A new student at college was on a tour of the library, when they reached the reference section and the encyclopaedias.
The student looked at them in amazement and asked:"'What are all those?"
"Those are the encyclopaedias," replied the professor.
"What," gasped the student, "someone bothered to print them all out?!"
(This is a true story!)

I try and take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.

(From the Grove Books newsletter)

> CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK THIS WEEK
(MEMBERS' ZONE) - http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/default.asp

> Advice

> Quality Time - CFN members' feedback their tips and stories - part 2
> In part 6 of our series J John outlines the first of 10 principles on handling marriage conflict

> Resources

> Bibliocards - the collectable Christian cards for kids that are now taking off worldwide
> The Battle for Life, part 2 - more from Brian Allenby of Christians at Work
> News Extra: Churches have a crucial role in modelling family stability and teaching relationship skills, says charity

> Reviews - Books

> Life From Death Emerging, by Paul Bradbury - moving story of one family's challenges when their son is born with cystic fibrosis
> Youth in Exodus, by Geraldine Witcher - can we get young people back into church?
> Happy Even After, by Pat Edmiston with David Waite - one woman's story after her husband walked out following 30 years of marriage

> Top sites this week

> Breakaway - teenage mag for boys
> Don't buy it - help your kids see through the adman's hype
> Damaris Project - helping women explore their faith
> Songs of Praise site gets an overhaul

> Events: More of what's on near you, plus the guide to 2002's festivals and Bible weeks

> Webwatch Index: more than 500 sites at your fingertips
> Site Search Engine: the easy way to trawl our 500-page plus archives

HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS NEWSLETTER

Just send an e-mail to leave-cfn-newsletter@cfnetwork.co.uk

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.