Some honest reality checks for the difficulties of parenting. I can identify. Can you?
Wins and Losses (as a Parent)
30 05 2013Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: kids, losses, wins
Categories : Children's Ministry, Family, Parenting
My Mallory Weiss Tear
2 05 2013I’m sure you can tell many of your own personal stories to your children. They will love hearing about them! Don’t neglect to pass on your journey to the next generation. They will benefit from your experience and the lessons you learned from it. Here’s one of my stories and a simple lesson you can teach your children.
One night a few years ago, there was some sickness going around. I got it. I started feeling a little queasy before bed. In the middle of the night, I woke up and was like, “Oh boy, here it is.” So I went downstairs knowing that I was going to throw up, but trying to think of anyway I could avoid it. You know, crackers and stuff. But nope, nothing was going to work. My body needed to throw up!
So it happened. Not cool, but something didn’t look right. What came out was kind of dark. So I was trying to figure out if I should go to the hospital or not. Cause I felt siiiick! I ended up going to the doctor and he said it’s probably just a virus. I came back home, but didn’t feel any better.
Later that morning, I threw up again. It was dark again. I’m thinking, “Now I know I threw up blood.” Ya gross right? So I went back to the hospital. I knew something wasn’t right, but there was NOTHING…I…COULD…DO! My wife came along with me and she said I looked white. I waited at emerge for somebody, ANYBODY to help me. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I knew the doctors could help me. I trusted that they knew what to do and would take care of my problem.
I ended up waiting awhile and discovered that something had gone wrong inside my body. When I threw up, the doctor told me that I tore something inside me and they had to go inside and have a look. He said it was called a Mallory Weiss tear and sometimes happens with young, strong, powerful, good looking and amazing young men. Okay, okay that’s not all true, but he did say young and strong.
So they prepared me for an operation. They put me to sleep, for which I was SO thankful! Then they stuck a tube down my throat with a camera. They found a tear, then they used water to wash it away and clean me up inside. They couldn’t use stitches or anything, but I think the medicine they gave me helped to heal my wound.
I had to recover for awhile. The doctor said later that I had lost a lot of blood and was close to needing a blood transfusion, which just means I would need to get blood put into me. I’ll tell you what, I am SOO thankful for doctors and hospitals!!!
After that experience, I hate throwing up even more. I bet you hate throwing up too. Isn’t it so good to know that when we have problems with our bodies, we can go to hospitals and have doctors fix us up?
You could say this to your children: “We have a more serious problem than our bodies getting sick, injured and even dying! There is nothing we can do about this problem on our own. We need something far better than doctors. We need Doctor Jesus!”
[Jesus] told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor–sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” -Mark 2:17
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Tags: death, doctor, health, Jesus, Mallory Weiss tear, problem, righteous, sickness, sin, sinners, story
Categories : Children's Ministry, Family, Parenting
Book Review: The Christian Parenting Handbook!
29 04 2013I’ve been privileged to get a preview of this brand new book by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, known for great parenting books based on Biblical and heart-based approaches. Their website is http://www.biblicalparenting.org. You can pre-order the new book anywhere, but here is a link to it at the Canadian Amazon site. Below is my review.
When Joanne and Scott say in the introduction, “You’re holding a book of ideas,” they aren’t kidding! If you’re looking for a treasure trove of parenting ideas that goes beyond clever quips and coy research to truly heart transformational truth, you’re going to want to pick up this book. As the title says, it’s a handbook. You’ll want it close by for quick reference relevant to almost any situation or any question you’ll face as a parent.
As a parent, you’re also looking for more than a plethora of ideas, you’re also looking for an overarching way of thinking that breathes vitality into your family life. Scott and Joanne provide the Biblical foundations that are essential for looking beyond the parenting pressures of day-to-day life and into eternally valuable insights that will sustain and energize your journey.
The authors don’t sugar coat their principles or try to make parenting seem easy. They acknowledge the difficulties, but provide more than adequate inspiration to accompany many truths that will equip parents well. They often suggest things that may take a little more work on the surface, but will greatly improve the results and increase the satisfaction and sense of purpose along the way. I love their emphasis on training, which I like to call rhythm, and their solid understanding of the Bible’s use of the word “discipline.” Here’s a quote:
“The word discipline used in the Old Testament is translated from the Hebrew word chanak. It means “to train.””
Oftentimes, we as parents feel we’re constantly in the corrective mode and trying to “get kids to behave.” This book offers a refreshing approach that focuses on building relationships, the joy of great character, building on strengths and a life of wisdom leading to success.
I feel a sigh of relief coming on and see the sun of hope rising on the horizon!
This book is super-charged with practical and easy to find advice and, more importantly, it is infused with a Christ-focused way of thinking about the parenting journey. It is a proactive versus reactive approach that will empower you to be a great parent. You’re going to want this as your go-to book in your parenting library!
Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: advice, discipline, Jesus, kids, train, transformation
Categories : Family, Parenting
Family Reading Ideas with Links!
4 04 2013Manga series from Tyndale: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga_Bible_(series)
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Tags: Bibles, books, kids, read
Categories : Children's Ministry, Family, Parenting
What to Do When We Blow Up – Connected Families
7 02 2013What to Do When We Blow Up – Connected Families.
The goal and hope of Christianity is restoration. Jesus Christ sacrificed his life so that we could be restored in our relationship with God. One day, He will restore all things and make all things new and right and good. For the mean time we have families that are broken. We can demonstrate this hope for a better future when we model humility after a blowout. Great article here. Click the link!
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Tags: anger, blow up, brokenness, hope, humility, Jesus, kids, restoration
Categories : Children's Ministry, Family, Marriage, Parenting
A Week at a Time « Orange Parents
29 01 2013A Week at a Time « Orange Parents.
Love it! Fantastic outline of the 936 weeks we have as parents to raise children before they graduate high school. Don’t get overwhelmed though. Break it down and take it one week at a time. Check out the Orange Parents blog.
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Tags: children, kids, milestones, raising kids
Categories : Family, Parenting
Creative Family Relationship Builders
19 01 2013Right Relationship Ideas (not a comprehensive list)
For ideas on improving your family rhythm visit Family Rhythm on Twitter or Facebook.
Building right relationships in your home takes a little planning. Start with two or three ideas to master. Later you can build on them. Consistent, yet small improvements are more influential than fizzled big improvements. Work this out in the context of YOUR family. Not all families are alike. When ideas fail, don’t give up, get back on rhythm!
Establish meaningful rituals and traditions
Church, family game nights, special meals, Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, stories, cooking together, etc.
Bedtime rituals: Brush teeth, bath, stories, songs, doodle pad, prayer
Remain flexible
Plan a rhythm, but understand things can change
Read together: Morning, after school, dinner, bedtime
Eat together: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, treats, when will work best for your family?
Play together: Weekends, whenever, diaper changes, getting ready, get on the floor, go on an adventure, camp, canoe, climb, hike, swim, take people with you, get out of the house
Talk together (and listen): Dinner, while walking or driving, family meetings, plan/dream together, be a student of your family
Create together: Fix something, get crafty, build something
Date each other: Spontaneous trips, regular trips, go for lunch with your parents
Affirm each other: Always look for each other’s strengths, leave home on a positive note, be a cheerleader, don’t be a downer
Show affection: Wrestle, hug, kiss, high-five, write a letter
Instruct: Formal and informal, dinner, special times, reinforce from church (place take homes in convenient locations), during times of discipline, maximize teachable moments, memory verses, book study, Bible study
Pray together: at the start of the day, meals, bedtime, crisis moments, exciting moments, teach the value of thankfulness
Work together: Team chores/projects, involve others with patience, age-appropriate responsibilities
Serve together: Volunteer somewhere, give gifts, sponsor a child, show hospitality, visit the elderly
Broader circle: Surround yourselves with others, connect to your child’s leader’s at church, get involved in the community, gain healthy relationships/small groups
Be there: Just being around communicates volumes!
Stories! Audio, visual, life, shared experiences, memories, acted, told, slideshows, etc.
God: How is he a real part of your family? Visual reminders, conversations, worship, talk about and model the Gospel EVERYDAY in different ways.
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Tags: family rhythm, kids, relationships
Categories : Family, Parenting
What’s REALLY Behind Kids’ Misbehavior? – Connected Families
10 01 2013
What’s REALLY Behind Kids’ Misbehavior? – Connected Families.
Worth a read! Sometimes as parents, we feel satisfied to just deal with the situation and move on. Raising a child is about much more than dealing with inconveniences, it’s about training a child in wisdom!
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Tags: discipleship, discipline, inconveniences, kids, misbehaviour, training
Categories : Family, Parenting
Launching Your Child’s Faith: Too Hard or Too Scary? – Focus on the Family
14 12 2012Launching Your Child’s Faith: Too Hard or Too Scary? – Focus on the Family.
Help for the everyday parent leading their child in faith.
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Tags: faith, kids
Categories : Children's Ministry, Family, Parenting, Teacher/Leader Resources
To Spank or Not to Spank? – Connected Families
4 12 2012To Spank or Not to Spank? – Connected Families.
I’ve come to appreciate this organization and having met Jim Jackson, I know him to be a man who not only loves Jesus, but has some excellent advice on this issue. Thanks Jim! Also, here’s a link to a couple of my thoughts on the issue and another blog that I find helpful: Spanking and Proverbs.
Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: connected families, discipline, Jim Jackson, proverbs, spanking
Categories : Parenting







