Dream For Your Children

September 14th, 2010

Imagine this scenario for a typical teenager: He’s separated from his family and sent to live in a hedonistic, no holds barred culture. He’s stripped of his spiritual support, left alone and treated unfairly. Then, at his most vulnerable point, his ego is stoked with power and success. Throughout this roller coaster ride, would he continue to serve God?This was the very test given to the Old Testament figure Joseph, whose faith remained rock solid. It is our goal through the next 11 weeks to put together a simple, yet comprehensive plan (target) to build into our children the very same biblical values that served Joseph. We will mine the biblical account, and draw from these timeless truths to forge ahead with a biblical plan for growing children who know, love and serve Jesus Christ. So we can be confident that when our children walk into a culture that attacks the very values we hold dear, we can know the probable outcome will be that they will remain close to God.Remember, the text book is organized in terms of ages and may seem to imply that you could skip over or be concerned only about the age bracket of your kids. But the truth is that these Life Threads that we have extrapolated from the Joseph narrative weave themselves throughout your kids lives. This will be an ongoing conversation through out their lives, so be sure to read through the entire book.Next week we begin to unpack “RESPECT” I want you to really think about the concept of respect. What is it? Why is it important? When is it important? This will begin our discussion next week.Feel free to join us this week for our Equipping U class, Sunday nights at 5:00 in room 232-234Keep Dreaming and Praying,CLW

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Three Ideas for Good Communication

September 1st, 2010

The following is a parent tip from “The National Center for Biblical Parenting”:Learn How to StartThe way you present an issue often determines the response. Sometimes it’s best to address a problem immediately, while other times waiting a few hours is more appropriate. Wisely choose a time, place, and approach with the goal of not just rebuking, but correcting, and finding resolution. “Lisa, I’d like to talk about the way you treated me earlier. Is now a good time or should we talk after dinner?”Learn When to StopOnce a dialogue has developed, have discernment to know when to stop. Some parents feel like they must win an argument or come to resolution by the end of the conversation so they end up pushing too hard. Other times emotions get too involved. Still other parents end a simple correction with preaching, bringing up the past, or making exaggerated statements about the offense.In any case, it’s important for parents to know when to take a break or simply stop the conversation. “I think we better stop here. Things are getting pretty tense. We need to continue this conversation, but let’s take a break for now. Maybe we’ll think of some other ideas in the meantime to help resolve this problem.” Learning when to stop during conflict is a very important skill.Learn How to ListenConflict represents opportunity. Children watch parents handle conflict and observe how they resolve differences. Listening and affirming a young person’s thinking is an honoring step in conflict management.“I understand you’d discipline your sister differently. Your ideas make sense. At this point, I have to make the decision and I’m going to emphasize something different, but I appreciate your ideas.” Affirming or validating a child’s thinking or reasoning is helpful for their development.As you dialogue with your kids, you must learn to tolerate criticism. Many discussions you have will open the door for your teen to criticize you. Don’t feel threatened or take these jabs personally. Use them to discuss issues and explain your decisions. If you can be transparent enough to use yourself as an example, your children will learn much more about life.This parenting tip is taken from the book, Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes, In You and Your Kids by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN. It’s a book about honor and talks about how we treat one another inside and outside the family.To receive these parenting tips at home, you can sign up at www.biblicalparenting.org.

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How To Build A Faith Talk

August 31st, 2010

Step 1. Select a Bible Biography. (I use this term because every act in the Bible is true, not a made up story).Step 2. Read the Bible Biography to your family, take turns, reading or spice it up and act it out as a family using things right there in the room as props.Step 3 Ask: what is God saying to me/us in this passage?Step 4 Ask: what am I going to do about this biblical truth God has shown me/us?Step 5 Ask God to help you make these changesLet me show you:Act out 1 Samuel 17, the story of David and Goliath, using living room pillows as shields and a smaller pillow as the stone. Take turns letting each child be David or Goliath. Then ask the questions:What is God saying to me?What am I going to do about it?How will we live this out as a 1st, 2nd, 3rd grader etc.For example what is God teaching here: The fact that Goliath has no covenant or deal with God to even be in the land, he actually should never have been born, Judah was supposed to follow God’s command and take out his ancestors. So what we can learn is that, this young boy from the tribe of Judah, steps up to do what the tribe should have done way earlier, because he believed that God would be true to His word or covenant that the land belongs to Israel. This is showing that David is the leader his tribe was supposed to be.The big idea: Only those who believe God’s Word are qualified to lead God’s people. But in the case of a child, only those who believe God’s Word and live like they do will please Him, so list several ways that you can live like you believe God’s Word?Don’t lie.Treat others the way I want to be treated.Obey with respect our parents and others in charge of us.This can all be done in less than ten minutes, will you begin to have regular Faith Talks with your children?CLW

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I’m Getting Dizzy

August 18th, 2010

When I was in college I did a lot of fishing on the Kansas River.  One night my friend and I parked on the side of the road and prepared to walk down to the river.  The only thing that separated us from where we were at and the river was a patch of woods about 1/4 mile deep.  It was filled with small trees spread out every 4-5ft.  So we made a bee line for the river only to find out we went in a big circle and ended up right back where we started.  With each tree came a decision, go to the right or the left.  After many small poor decisions we ended up with one big problem; no river.I felt like I was going the correct way the entire time only to find out that I was lost.  I repeated this process several times until I plotted a course, used my compass and accomplished my goal of getting to the river for some fishing. Sometimes I think this is what we experience as we try to guide the spiritual lives of our kids.  We have good intentions, we take off on the journey and the destination we arrive at is right back where we started.  This is why we need a solid plan and a map of how to get there.  Let me encourage you as parents to plot out a simple discipleship map for your children.  It doesn’t have to be complicated or extreme but you will have to be committed to the map.How many times are you going to continue walk in circles in the woods?  Why not get started with a discipleship plan that will lead to successful discipleship?  Chris and I would be happy to sit down with your family and help you lay out a plan that will keep you on the path of discipleship for a lifetime.  We will have a WayPoint Parent Summit Nov. 13 which will focus on putting together your personalized discipleship plan.Don’t be discouraged start simple, start together and start with a plan. Pastor Kent

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How do I begin?

August 11th, 2010

Have you ever thought “I want to get started building God’s word into my kids lives but I just don’t know where to start.”  And then you went on to think, even if I knew what to do when would I do it? Sometimes the busyness of everyday life can become overwhelming and our good intentions gradually become our guilty feelings of lost opportunity and failure.Let me encourage you to take another shot at discipling your kids but start out simple.  How about committing to one activity per week with your child where you purposely talk about what you have learned about God this week.  This could be on a walk, around the table or even during a short car ride.  Name it something (our “Walk and Talk” time) and have some fun with it. Example: You take a walk once per week around the block and call it “Walkie – Talkie Time.”  Take the radio’s and talk to each other as you’re walking. Now you have created a WIN-WIN for your family.  The kids will have fun and they will come to expect this as a time you will share with them the things you are learning and applying from God’s word.  Don’t make this “Discipleship” thing harder than it has to be.  Start simple. Create some “Wins” for your family and your off and running.

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Teaching About Sin And It’s Ramifications

July 30th, 2010

What Would Happen If…While riding in the car, make up a continuing story by asking, “What Would Happen If?” and think about consequences.At first, start with an outlandish idea. (What if a rhinoceros were driving the car?) Let the next person add a sentence or two. Then move on to the next person until each person has a turn.After several stories, introduce a situation such as “What if Joey stole a pack of gum from the store?” Continue letting each one add a sentence to the situation.Conclude with the thought that sin brings bad results and must be punished.There’s No “Getting Away” With SinAs you are watching TV with your kids, point out situations where someone does wrong and what happens. (For example: a child lies and nothing happens)Ask:What do you think should happen to this person? (He should be punished)Why is it wrong to do this? (It is breaking God’s command/rule; it breaks relationships with others)Why is it even worse if someone sins and appears to “get away” with it? (A person’s conscience is hardened; a person might be tempted to do other sins)Caring CorrectionWhen your child disobeys or does something wrong, talk to him or her privately and ask,  “If you were the parent, what would you do?”Ask:If you really loved someone would you let them do something wrong and ignore it? Why or why not?  (He might get hurt, he might do other wrong things thinking that it didn’t matter, you want to teach him the right way to go)Read Hebrews 12:6 to see that God punishes and corrects those who are His children—those He loves.Assure your children that it is BECAUSE you love them that you punish and correct themCLW

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Family Discipleship

July 20th, 2010

Family DiscipleshipWho is responsible for the discipleship of children? Is it the church, is it the parents or is the responsibility of the children to seek out those things their selves?Many Family Ministries in the church today are based on Deuteronomy 6:4-9. But is this correct theology? Can these instructions that were given to the Israelites on the banks of the Jordan River thousands of years ago really apply to the church today? After all, God made a covenant with that group of people specific to entering the Promised Land and what their actions should be in that foreign land. Are we to use these same verses to challenge families to disciple their children in their own homes instead of counting on the church for the spiritual development of their children?I challenge your family this week to dive into God’s word together and study Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Determine as a family what God’s calling is for the family and seek to apply those truths to your family. When you have completed this task please post your findings to help us all grow together.DKH

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Teaching The Concepts of Salvation Through Discipline

June 24th, 2010

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