Here’s a good website that also provides excellent, Gospel focused email helps for families.
Solving a Child’s Big Spiritual Problem – Connected Families.
Solving a Child’s Big Spiritual Problem – Connected Families
25 05 2012
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Tags: connected families, discipline, grace, hypocrite, spiritual problem
Categories : Family, Parenting
New Cover Photo
22 05 2012So I’ve put a new cover photo up for this blog that I think captures the purpose of my blog well. We had some shots done of our family (by Katy Hersey, www.picturemefoto.com) and I liked the idea of showing our feet in action. My boy is running, one of my girls is dancing, my other girl’s feet are in the air and my wife and I are just enjoying the moment. Family life is never boring, always active and a wonder to behold. I hope you like the new picture!
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Tags: katy hersey, photography
Categories : Family, Uncategorized
Inside Out Families-A Brief Impression of the Book
22 05 2012
This book by Diana Garland is a good read that has a good focus on families who give more than receive. In this impression I look at the purpose of the book, stories that move us to action and a simple plan for empowering churches to empower their people to serve.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the book was clear: “the heart of family ministry is equipping families together for a life of Christian service to others beyond themselves, to turn themselves inside out in a calling larger than their own daily life together” (11). This helps families stay stuck to the church. The goal is “to focus your attention on ministry through families more than ministry to families” (11). While it is true that we do need to minister to families, there is a profound difference here I think. As families determine to put aside a victim mentality where the church and community must serve them, they can put on a mentality of service that ushers them into God’s grand narrative of restoring all people to himself. This gives me tingles!
STORIES Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: church, community, diana garland, faith, God, inside out families, Jesus, ministry, service, stories
Categories : Children's Ministry, Christian Life, Family, Teacher/Leader Resources
The Life Rhythm You MUST Groove To
9 02 2012The little choices you make today shape your life. They establish habits and rhythms that will lead you down a path you may or may not want to go. The over-arching rhythm I am going to urge you to adopt must be checked and re-checked daily or you will settle into nothingness. But if you stay in tune with this rhythm, you will find what you’ve always wanted.
A rhythm is a pattern, best seen in music. It is a repeated pattern of movement or sound. It’s systematic, not haphazard. It is designed, developed and purposeful. The author puts it together and arranges it artistically. A good rhythm is filled with beauty, power, strength and inspiration. You see it in poetry that challenges your thinking and moves your emotions. You find it in wonderful colour combinations, lines and shapes to form stunning artwork.
You also find it in life.
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Tags: cycle, God, Gospel, Jesus, life, pattern, rhythm
Categories : Christian Life, Family
6 Ways to Foster Early Language Development
21 01 2012
The following is from Development Through the Lifespan, by Laura E. Berk.
- Respond to coos and babbles with speech sounds and words.
- Establish joint attention and comment on what child sees.
- Play social games, such as pat-a-cake and peekaboo.
- Engage toddlers in joint make-believe play.
- Engage toddlers in frequent conversations.
- Read to toddlers often, engaging them in dialogue about picture books.
Put these into practice and your child will develop their language skills well. They will experiment “with sounds that can later be blended into first words.” They will learn turn-taking for conversation. Their vocabulary will develop faster. They will grow in their conversation ability, develop language earlier and likely enable greater academic success later. Reading “provides exposure to many aspects of language, including vocabulary, grammar, communication skills, and information about written symbols and story structure.”
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Tags: books, conversation, development, development through the lifespan, infants, kids, language, Laura E. Berk, reading, toddlers
Categories : Children's Ministry, Family, Parenting, Teacher/Leader Resources
FamilyTimeTogether.com | Building A Courageous Home
17 01 2012FamilyTimeTogether.com | Building A Courageous Home.
Based on the movie Courageous, comes a website designed to equip dads and families with tools for building a courageous home. Check out some great ideas!
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Tags: courageous, dads, family time, fathers
Categories : Family
Human Trafficking Awareness Day
11 01 2012
Human Trafficking is a worldwide problem. Canada is not exempt and neither is my home town of Sarnia, ON. Take a moment to pray for these children and young women who are being forced into prostitution and other forms of slavery right under our noses. Click the link for more information specifically for the Sarnia Lambton area.
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Tags: prostitution, slavery, trafficking
Categories : Children's Ministry, Family
7 Family Habits to Strengthen Relationships
10 01 2012The book called Parenting Beyond Your Capacity has a chapter discussing family rhythms. Every family has a rhythm, but not all rhythms are deliberate and strategic. Not all families have a plan, but every family settles into patterns, habits and rhythms that shape their lives together. I want to have a family that doesn’t drift off into eternity, but one which paces itself with planned persistence. Part of the plan includes training and specific habits to guide our growth and journey together. The following is not a complete list, but just some standouts that the Bourque family tries to hold to:
- Breakfast together including a Scripture verse to memorize.
- We use Foundation Verses on my iPhone (from Fighter Verses adapted for kids). You can also access it from the web.
- Prayer before school.
- Just a short, simple prayer to send everyone off with a reminder that God goes with us throughout the day.
- Walk to school, word of encouragement.
- I walk my oldest to school on purpose.
- I enjoy the relational moments, the fun conversations, jumping over the cracks and making footprints in the snow!
- I try to think of ways to encourage her for the day ahead.
- Exs: What will you talk about with your friends today? How can you give your best? When someone is mean to you, how can you respond like Jesus?
- Play with kids after work
- Love this part of the day.
- I get to act like a kid, be a horse to ride, wrestle with my boy to show off his tough side, watch my girl dress pretty and tell her how lovely she is.
- See You Have What is Takes by John Eldredge for using life as a way to help answer your kids’ primary questions. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: bedtime, habits, rhythm, rituals, training
Categories : Family, Parenting
How Everyday Moms and Dads Influence the Future
22 12 2011
For one of my classes in seminary I wrote a paper inspired by the Biblical passage in Exodus 20:5-6 and repeated in Deuteronomy 5:9-10, which says,
…I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
I asked myself the question, being a dad of three young children, “How does what I do affect my kids and their future kids down through the generations?” So for all dads and moms, the questions that arise from this passage are extremely urgent. If how I brush my teeth affects future generations, how much more so will the way I treat my wife, work at my job and love my God! And if there is an affect, what kind of affect is it? How severe is it? How lasting? Then also, how important is it that I make very intentional decisions right now about how I live my life and raise my kids, because it will dramatically alter the course of history!? Our sin does have profound penalties on future generations, but do not be crushed by this thought. Rather, relish in the wonderful reward for those who love God: steadfast, unbreaking and forever love in everlasting covenant friendship with God!
If you’re up for it I challenge you to read the research paper I put together in the attached pdf. Doing so may shakeup the course of your life and future family history in incredible ways! While it will require some serious thought, the process will deepen your commitment to God and your family’s future legacy.
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Tags: children, collective retribution, consequences, dads, decalogue, generation, generational curse, generational sin, God, history, legacy, moms, sin, steadfast love
Categories : Children's Ministry, Christian Life, Family, Parenting
A Philosophy of Children’s and Family Ministry (Part 2)
15 12 2011(For part 1 click here.)
Challenges
Of course there are many challenges when it comes to ministry with children and families. As mentioned in the rationale, people have sinned and are separated from God and therefore, need that relationship repaired. So sin is the number one challenge. Leaders, parents, extended families and children are tempted to go after the pleasures of this world while forsaking the eternal pleasures in the next world. This leaves the whole world and our local communities in one large mess. To attempt to minister to children and families and not prioritize countering this human problem is folly.
So I believe one of the greatest truths we can teach our families is repentance. The Bible, over and over, calls people to turn from their sin, back to their Creator. Children are no exception. In fact, if this habit of repentance can be instilled from infancy, it will take hold as a pattern for their life that will lead them to finding hope in God, to fostering healthy relationships, to establishing strong life skills and give them peace for their souls.
Another challenge is to be aware of each child holistically. Dr. Wess Stafford proposes a solid model for this. His perspective is from that of moving children out of extreme poverty, however, it is relevant for all children as well. We cannot be satisfied to only attend to one aspect of a family’s life. We must consider the whole person including economics, health, social, spiritual, learning as well as environment. To do this well we need to know a child’s story, become familiar with their history, their family, their location and their interests. This is critical for positive ministry. This is massive and one leader can’t possibly know all these things or be able to minister in all these areas. Therefore leadership training is essential.
Stafford gives his solution to the challenge of children in poverty. He writes, “I still say that the most loving and strategic thing that can be done for children in poverty is to bring them to their heavenly Father.” That this is true for all children is clear.
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Tags: challenges, children's pastor, church, kids, ministry, roles, volunteers
Categories : Children's Ministry, Family, Teacher/Leader Resources
