Too many people operate under the misconception that the Christian life is boring. Having been a child of God for over a quarter of a century, and having been a pastor for 18 years, I can assure you that the Christian life is anything but boring!

Have you noticed that our kids tend to love the things that we love? I’m a rabid Red Sox fan, so are my children. Staunchly I remain committed to the Dallas Cowboys, as do my children (Hannah excepted, of course). Our kids generally share our appreciation for avocations because they see in us (1) a passion for it, (2) a willingness to invest time in it, and (3) a sense of enjoyment because of it.

As a matter of fact, I never endeavored to formally “convert” my children into Red Sox fans. We never sat around the table for 15 minutes a night and read articles about the team. Nor did we memorize important statistics to be recited on queue. No, we kind of just talked about it a lot, and watched a lot of games, and played a lot of ball ourselves.

Too many parents make the mistake of compartmentalizing the Bible and Christian activity to certain predefined times and locations. Lest you misread, I am for faithfulness to church and its programs, and I am for a regimented devotional time with the kids, especially when they are younger. But I am concerned about the “going through the motions” way by which we often conduct these activities. Read more…

admin Parenting Parenting

One of the purposes of this blog is to deal with issues that are both important and relevant to the family. Of paramount importance to any family is the topic of child rearing.

We’ve all been unhappy bystanders at the “supermarket meltdown.” Some cute, precious toddler has been told that he can do without the tantalizing and strategically placed candy bar next to the checkout counter. In mere seconds a transformation takes place! The toddler suddenly morphs into a Tasmanian devil with an amplifier for a voice box. You know what I’m talking about. Sometimes the kid is even related to us.

Trying not to stare, but deriving a certain voyeuristic pleasure, we watch as the predictable drama unfolds:

Mother: “No, Sweetheart, Mommy doesn’t want you to have that.”

Toddler: “But I WAANNNTT it!!”

Narrator’s comment: Kids don’t play fair. Often they employ the time-honored weapon of embarrassment. They know that their increased volume level has attracted curious onlookers, and they sense your growing level of discomfort. In fact, they take an almost sadistic delight in it. Read more…

admin Parenting Parenting

For those of you who have not had a chance to read Tedd Tripp’s excellent book on child rearing, I would encourage you to put this one at the top of your list. Child rearing books tend to lean unnecessarily to one side or the other. They sound either like a warmed-over psychology tome on sensitivity, or like a “Bless God! Just spank the kid till the fire alarm goes off” kind of book.

Tripp emphasizes the aim of child training as that of the heart.  After all, the heart is the soil from which actions grow. Sometimes in our well-meaning zeal to implement high standards of conduct for our children (a noble and right goal), we make the sad mistake of being satisfied with mere adherence to the standard without regard for the heart of the child in obedience.

For example, we can force our children to share their toys or suffer the consequences. Consequently, children may learn to share because they fear the retribution of not sharing. But have they learned how to deal with the below-the-surface selfishness and resentment that often attach themselves to such outward obedience?

A provocative statement Tripp made in the book was this: The genius of Phariseeism is the setting of an achieveable standard. God gives His children impossible goals to achieve in order that they might run to Him for the power necessary to complete them. Children that have not been consistently brought to face their sinfulness and the life-transforming power of the Cross are doomed to the slow spiritual death of self-sufficiency.

With a refreshing emphasis on training and a balanced defence of corporal punishment, Tripp provides parents with an excellent workbook for the greatest job on earth: parenting! You will be refreshed by his  thematic approach to embracing and applying Biblical methods in dealing with children of any age.

admin Book Reviews book, Book Review, child rearing, Parenting, shepherding a child's heart