The Warren & the World Vol 4, Issue 40

The Warren & the World is Story Warren's weekly newsletter, providing a round-up of our favorite things from around the web as well as a review of what was on our site over the past week. We're glad you're here!

Hi folks… I'm Andrew and I'm subbing in this week for Carolyn C. Givens. Every time I jump back into the newsletter process, I'm reminded just how much work goes into this. Carrie does it week in, week out, finding great content and sharing it with you and your family. I'm so thankful for her consistent good work. Be sure to check out her site!

Around the Web

God's Little Mercies: One Family's Diagnosis and God's Faithfulness

October is Spina Bifida awareness month, and Trillia Newbell has a wonderful interview with a family caring for their child born with Spina Bifida.

As we get started, I imagine there are some people who aren’t familiar with Spina Bifida. Could you fill in the gaps for us?
Sims: Spina Bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States. Spina Bifida happens when a baby is in the womb and the spinal column does not close all of the way. Every day, about 8 babies born in the United States have Spina Bifida or a similar birth defect of the brain and spine.
My daughter, Anne-Marie (AM), had the most severe form of Spina Bifida called a Myelomeningocele. It happens when parts of the spinal cord and nerves come through the open part of the spine. 70-90% of children with this condition also have too much fluid on their brains because fluid that protects the brain and spinal cord is unable to drain like it should. Without treatment, a person’s head grows too big and they may have brain damage as a result.

More than Fun: 5 Intrinsic Values of Video Games

Christian culture often doesn't know what to do with video games. After Tim Challies kicked off a positive discussion, Drew Dixon continues the discussion. Maybe video games aren't just for fun?

Most people play videogames because they are fun and this is fine, good even. Where Challies falters is in his assertion that there is little value inherent in gaming. Challies himself doesn’t actually believe this. He goes on to encourage Christians to avoid the “bad” (as in morally suspect) games in order to “find many that are . . . beautiful, and at times even brilliant.” Beauty and brilliance, are themselves, intrinsic values.

Let's Talk about Nurturing Empathy

Over at Imagination Soup, Melissa Taylor's talking Empathy:

I want my children to be kind — now and as adults. Kindness grows from understanding both ourselves and others which leads, very importantly, to empathy.
So how do we nurture kindness and empathy in our children?
Books. Start with books

I love this! Read more .

Help Your Kids Say 'No'

This is a topic that is a little outside our ordinary milieu, but a serious one facing every parent: how do we help our children say no to pornography. Jen Wilkin has great help for us over at The Gospel Coalition:

I’m not a fearmonger when it comes to parenting. In fact, I think fear is a terrible motivator for making parenting decisions. But if children are being exposed to porn at young ages, the loving thing to do as a parent is to equip them to know how to respond. The most frequent parenting question I’m asked is, “When should I talk to my child about sex?” My adamant answer is, “Much earlier than you might think.” If you’re concerned about your child being exposed to porn, you have to talk about sex, and you must do so early.

Around the Warren

Jesus Wept

Julie Silander started our week talking about that famous verse, Jesus wept.

There are plenty of scenes from my childhood of which I’m not terribly proud. And then there are those scenes of which I shouldn’t be proud – yet I am. Recently, I was cleaning out our library and discovered a Bible that led to the discussion of one such occasion.
The summer after fifth grade, my best friend and I took a mini tour-de-VBSs. I wish I could say that we were drawn to the spiritual nourishment offered or to the biblical literacy promised, however, I cannot. As is true with most elementary school students, we attended Vacation Bible School for the plethora of fun and food.

Read on!

Just for Laughs

Liz Cottrill checks in with a reminder that it's okay to laugh:

Remember Mary Poppins’ sage advice? “A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down” and King Solomon’s wisdom: “A merry heart does good like medicine,” not to mention, “There is a time to laugh?”
Are you, like me, often so consumed with the execution of daily duties, you forget that life should have a bit of levity thrown in to keep us from taking ourselves too seriously? Think of how a silly movie can make you forget your pressures or how a joking friend can lighten your load if you enter into his humor and let yourself giggle.

Something to Do with Your Kids

It's that time of year: leaves are changing colors, temperatures are dropping, football is on TV all day Saturday and Sunday. And there are unending lists of fall activities. We'll start you off with 50 from Today's Parent. I like #19 best, but that's because I never met a sugary treat I didn't like! Read more.

And Something to Watch

It's a good time to be praying for all our friends in the path of Hurricane Matthew. Here's a quick video from National Geographic to help your kids understand the power of a hurricane: