"What chapter are we reading," my wife asks. "John 7," replies my four year-old. Every morning, my wife sits down on the couch for her Bible reading while the kids eat breakfast. After breakfast, she reads a chapter to the kids.
Children thrive on a schedule. You'll be surprised how much growth you'll see just through reading a chapter a day to your kids. Young children make connections constantly, as they try to piece reality together. If you read the word in the morning, read their Bible story book at night, and take them to church regularly, you'll hear your children make surprising connections. You'll be helping them create a truthful picture of the world by giving them a Biblical worldview - one chapter at a time.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Baby Steps to a Cleaner Me
As I was washing our parquet kitchen floor - top on my list of to-don'ts - I reached over and cleaned the side of the stove. You know - the dried drips of victuals past that mysteriously grace the sides of appliances. In the midst of my half-hearted scrubbing, a spiritual truth reflected from the glistening white enamel. And, no it wasn't Mr. Clean. Instead a realization splashed across my thoughts. Instead of trying to do just one thing well, I should add a few other chores too. While polishing the parquet, I should also make a few swipes at the cabinets.
My spiritual life is like this. Instead of trying to tackle one lousy, ingrown sin at a time, I should put the kabbash on a bunch of sins. Frankly, I can multi-task a bit with my sanctification. Take out one sin thoroughly and cut out a few of my other pet rebellions at the same time as well. Jesus was pretty serious when he talked about amputations in the context of tackling sins. One at a time really doesn't fit into the "if your eye offends your gouge it out and if your hand offends you cut it off" paradigm.
Maybe, I should deep clean some areas and tidy up others at the same time. The idealist in me either wants to deep-clean or no-clean. The problem with that is that what usually happens is... well, I'll let you figure that out. :-)
My spiritual life is like this. Instead of trying to tackle one lousy, ingrown sin at a time, I should put the kabbash on a bunch of sins. Frankly, I can multi-task a bit with my sanctification. Take out one sin thoroughly and cut out a few of my other pet rebellions at the same time as well. Jesus was pretty serious when he talked about amputations in the context of tackling sins. One at a time really doesn't fit into the "if your eye offends your gouge it out and if your hand offends you cut it off" paradigm.
Maybe, I should deep clean some areas and tidy up others at the same time. The idealist in me either wants to deep-clean or no-clean. The problem with that is that what usually happens is... well, I'll let you figure that out. :-)
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Help, My Toddler Tantrums!
Yesterday morning, a question was posed on Focus' Weekend Magazine that went like this: "My two year old tantrums up to six times a day for 45 minutes each time and even hits his head on the wall. I put him in his bedroom but that doesn't work. What do I do?"
Dr. Kevin Leman, author of Have a New Kid by Friday responded with authority saying, "Don't say a word. Put him in his room and hold the door closed. He'll throw stuff. When he is quiet and only when he is quiet, open the door to ask if he is ready to come out."
Kevin advised a manipulation technique that will manipulate the tantruming child's self-centered human nature. The technique is to NOT gratify the motivation of the tantruming child, which is usually to engage attention.
What's wrong with that? In part, nothing. As a stand-alone, everything. God's way is not to manipulate the human nature. True, God would not have you gratifying the child's out-of-control selfish nature by giving it what it wants - you undivided attention.
Instead, God wants you to spank your child for his rebellion. You have told your child to stop the tantrum. He has rebelled. The Biblical consequence for deliberate disobedience is spanking on the bottom.
Now, I've been at my wit's end with two-year old tantrums before, and I've used a "phone a friend' lifeline. The advice I received worked. God's way works over time. You won't have a new kid by Friday. But in God's timing, you will see progress over a period of a few weeks to a few months.
There is no magic formula. You may doubt that it is having any effect. Here's something to try:
1. At the first sign of a tantrum, calmly say, "no - stop your tantrum."
2. Without showing any emotion yourself, put your child over your knee and spank his/her bottom three or four times.
3. Pray over your child. If possibly, have your child say "Please forgive me for tantruming." Hug him. Quote Ephesians 6:1 to your child.
4. Sit your child in a safe place.
5. Wait for a while, maybe 8 to 10 minutes.
6. Repeat steps 2 through 6.
7. After about 45 minutes, you can call it a draw and start again with the next tantrum. But, it is better if you persevere until the tantrum is under control and your child is obeying.
You may not bring your child's will into submission the first day. Over a period of time, you will see these tantrums shorten and you will see your child willingly start to submit to your command that he/she use self-control and stop the tantrum.
WARNING: Don't show ANY emotion except love. Your lack of self-control will cause your child to escalate more. Be very calm and don't worry about the tantrum not stopping right away.
Remember, Never discipline or spank in anger. The reason why you want your child to obey is because you love him/her. The reason why you spank is because your Creator tells you to.
Dr. Kevin Leman, author of Have a New Kid by Friday responded with authority saying, "Don't say a word. Put him in his room and hold the door closed. He'll throw stuff. When he is quiet and only when he is quiet, open the door to ask if he is ready to come out."
Kevin advised a manipulation technique that will manipulate the tantruming child's self-centered human nature. The technique is to NOT gratify the motivation of the tantruming child, which is usually to engage attention.
What's wrong with that? In part, nothing. As a stand-alone, everything. God's way is not to manipulate the human nature. True, God would not have you gratifying the child's out-of-control selfish nature by giving it what it wants - you undivided attention.
Instead, God wants you to spank your child for his rebellion. You have told your child to stop the tantrum. He has rebelled. The Biblical consequence for deliberate disobedience is spanking on the bottom.
Now, I've been at my wit's end with two-year old tantrums before, and I've used a "phone a friend' lifeline. The advice I received worked. God's way works over time. You won't have a new kid by Friday. But in God's timing, you will see progress over a period of a few weeks to a few months.
There is no magic formula. You may doubt that it is having any effect. Here's something to try:
1. At the first sign of a tantrum, calmly say, "no - stop your tantrum."
2. Without showing any emotion yourself, put your child over your knee and spank his/her bottom three or four times.
3. Pray over your child. If possibly, have your child say "Please forgive me for tantruming." Hug him. Quote Ephesians 6:1 to your child.
4. Sit your child in a safe place.
5. Wait for a while, maybe 8 to 10 minutes.
6. Repeat steps 2 through 6.
7. After about 45 minutes, you can call it a draw and start again with the next tantrum. But, it is better if you persevere until the tantrum is under control and your child is obeying.
You may not bring your child's will into submission the first day. Over a period of time, you will see these tantrums shorten and you will see your child willingly start to submit to your command that he/she use self-control and stop the tantrum.
WARNING: Don't show ANY emotion except love. Your lack of self-control will cause your child to escalate more. Be very calm and don't worry about the tantrum not stopping right away.
Remember, Never discipline or spank in anger. The reason why you want your child to obey is because you love him/her. The reason why you spank is because your Creator tells you to.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Adoption Camp in Oregon August 28-30, 2009
Adoption camp for teen adoptees gets rave reviews from past campers and parents alike. Chosen International puts on a yearly post-adoption camp for adoptees from any adoption background. This camp equips adopted teens to find answers to their unique challenges in the person of Jesus Christ. Kids attend from all over - some are even signed up from overseas for this year's camp.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Word Choices in Parenting
Being strategic in your vocabulary as you work with your children will kill two birds with one stone. Learning is all about experiencing vocabulary. Kids build their vocabulary as they experience the moments when meaningful experiences intersect with words.
As you train, use Biblical vocabulary to describe behaviors. For example, when your toddler is uncharacteristically not sharing, you may take advantage of this teachable moment to talk about the meaning of love. Use the Biblical definition and the specific vocabulary of "patient, kind, does not envy,... is not self-seeking." Teach your children to sing the verse song for 1 Cor. 13:4-7.
When working through a tantrum or hyperactivity moment, use the words from Galatians 5:22-23 that a fruit of the Spirit is "self-control".
1. Find verses in the Bible that have to do with character development.
2. Identify key vocabulary from those verses.
3. Teach your kids those verses throughout the day. (songs are great - email me if you need a free Bible verse song CD)
4. Consistently use the Biblical vocabulary throughout the day.
Tedd Tripp has some good ideas for Biblical child training in his book: Shepherding A Child's Heart.
As you train, use Biblical vocabulary to describe behaviors. For example, when your toddler is uncharacteristically not sharing, you may take advantage of this teachable moment to talk about the meaning of love. Use the Biblical definition and the specific vocabulary of "patient, kind, does not envy,... is not self-seeking." Teach your children to sing the verse song for 1 Cor. 13:4-7.
When working through a tantrum or hyperactivity moment, use the words from Galatians 5:22-23 that a fruit of the Spirit is "self-control".
1. Find verses in the Bible that have to do with character development.
2. Identify key vocabulary from those verses.
3. Teach your kids those verses throughout the day. (songs are great - email me if you need a free Bible verse song CD)
4. Consistently use the Biblical vocabulary throughout the day.
Tedd Tripp has some good ideas for Biblical child training in his book: Shepherding A Child's Heart.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Hurricane Aila Hands Out Havok
300 people dead and 8000 missing across India, Bangladesh and Burma, reports Christian Freedom International.
Countries like Burma are still reeling from the massive hurricane last fall. These hurricanes cause flooding and put hundreds of thousands out of homes and jobs with just a few days of wind and rain. It takes years for 3rd world countries to recover. Many Christians will not receive government help because of the hostility of their respective governments. Christian Freedom International is assembling care packs to jump-start homeless families in the Islamic country of Bangladesh. You can sponsor a care package of clothing, food, water, and medicine for only $25.
Countries like Burma are still reeling from the massive hurricane last fall. These hurricanes cause flooding and put hundreds of thousands out of homes and jobs with just a few days of wind and rain. It takes years for 3rd world countries to recover. Many Christians will not receive government help because of the hostility of their respective governments. Christian Freedom International is assembling care packs to jump-start homeless families in the Islamic country of Bangladesh. You can sponsor a care package of clothing, food, water, and medicine for only $25.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Make Home School Real Life School
Science without context is merely a list of facts or a meaningless process for investigations. Here is an idea that will give your kids an authentic reason to research.
1. Assign your child an ecosystem to learn about.
2. Have him/her research three main topics: 1. Life Cycles (producers, predators, prey) 2. Plants 3. Animals in the chosen ecosystem. All of these need to be viewed through the lens of God's design for inter-relationships.
3. After writing a book, brochure, or essay on the ecosystem, have him/her identify three organisms from the ecosystem.
4. Your student must find God's design in the three organisms chosen. This is the easy part because God's genius is easy to find.
5. Final Project:
Camcorder and produce a 3 minute video that speaks of God's design in three features from the ecosystem.
6. Post it on Youtube as an evangelism tool.
Here's an example of a short creation science video that I shot in a riparian and forest ecosystem. Watch it to see which organisms I talk about to show God's design and troubleshooting.
1. Assign your child an ecosystem to learn about.
2. Have him/her research three main topics: 1. Life Cycles (producers, predators, prey) 2. Plants 3. Animals in the chosen ecosystem. All of these need to be viewed through the lens of God's design for inter-relationships.
3. After writing a book, brochure, or essay on the ecosystem, have him/her identify three organisms from the ecosystem.
4. Your student must find God's design in the three organisms chosen. This is the easy part because God's genius is easy to find.
5. Final Project:
Camcorder and produce a 3 minute video that speaks of God's design in three features from the ecosystem.
6. Post it on Youtube as an evangelism tool.
Here's an example of a short creation science video that I shot in a riparian and forest ecosystem. Watch it to see which organisms I talk about to show God's design and troubleshooting.
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