Posts filed under 'Family Ministry'
A Parent Privilege Small Group
I’m so excited to let you know about the new A Parent Privilege small group starting this Wednesday at 6:45. This group will be lead by Rocky Lawless and will be for 45 minutes in the Adult 2 class.
You might remember I posted about this book when it was first released here and here. I hope you have had a chance to read the book already. Whether you have read it yet or not this will be an awesome group for discussing the ideas and principles the book presents. You will have an opportunity to get your own copy of the book in the class.
Please plan on being here this Wednesday for the first group meeting!
2 comments September 8, 2009
El Paso Mission Trip ‘09
June 20-26…You don’t want to miss this! This trip is for you and your kids. Could there be a better way to spend a week together as a family? I don’t think so. Get details here.
Add comment May 6, 2009
Journaling For My Daughter
I was first introduced to the idea of journaling for my daughter after reading Steve Wright’s ReThink several months ago. This is a common practice in Steve’s youth ministry and can be an incredible way to leave a spiritual legacy for our children. I left the book fully intending to begin this discipline for my daughter. I even have two brand new journals sitting at my desk. But it’s become one of those things that sounds like a great idea, but I haven’t practiced the discipline it takes to make it work (kind of like jogging everyday).
Today I was reading and came across a brief essay on the subject of Solomon and Proverbs. I never realized, but the book of Proverbs is actually a journal Solomon wrote to his son. Take a look…he calls the recipient of this book “son” 39 times, and 23 of those times actually reads “my son.” It was a not so subtle reminder for me of the intentions I had of journaling for my daughter not so long ago.
The beautiful thing about keeping a journal for our kids is that there are no rules. We can be as creative as we would like. I’ve heard of a dad that kept a journal for his daughter that he presented to her when she got married, of parents that gave a journal to their children when they graduated high school, and of parents who kept a journal and gave it to their kids annually (first of year, birthday, Christmas, start of school year, etc.) It can be done for specific purposes over a short period of time, such as band camp or a mission trip. Or it can be done over a long period of time. I personally like the idea of journalling knowing that my daughter will read these words when she is older, more mature, and will appreciate the significance more than she might as a child. I also like the idea of sharing my thoughts and prayers for her on a regular basis as she grows and matures.
Have any of you practiced the discipline of journalling for your kids? How is it going?
Add comment January 19, 2009
Finally Got my Copy!
I had pre-ordered this book as soon as I found out about it and I finally got my copy last weekend! Steve Wright wrote ApParent Privilege as a follow up to his book reThink, which challenges pastors and student ministers to rethink the way we approach student ministry. The new book is written for parents as a source of encouragement and practical application in the opportunity and responsibility we have to be the primary influencers in our children’s lives.
I have only gotten through the first chapter. One thing stood out to me in some of the research Wright has been conducting. He surveyed about 900 teenagers in 16 different states and shared the top responses to one of the open-ended questions: “I wish my parents __________.”
The answers that appeared over and over were:
I wish my parents…
- would take my Christianity seriously.
- would pray with me every night.
- would start family devotions.
- read the Bible with me more.
- helped me understand the Bible.
- would stay faithful to each other and God.
- would spend time together.
- would relate problems in life to Christian stories.
- would read the Bible with me more and pray with me more.
- did more things with the family.
- would stay the same forever.
Does it surprise you what didn’t show up in the responses? Nothing about friends, cars, rules, money, or other material possessions. Wright answers the question “Why?” “Because God wired our children to hunger for it [a family spiritual emphasis].”
I look forward to reading the rest of this book and sharing more with you. If you would like a copy of the book, they are available now. If there is enough interest, I can order them in bulk and make them available for as little as $13 apiece.
Add comment December 9, 2008
Family Devotion Ideas
This is by no means an all inclusive list, but here are a few ideas and resources for family devotion and worship times:
A book for Parent/Teen Devotions: Fuel: 10-Minute Devotions to Ignite the Faith of Parents & Teens
Creative ideas for Parent/Teen Devotions: Teen-Proof Devotions
A guide to help parents facilitate discussion with teens about their media choices (I am ordering these and will have them available soon): How to Use Your Head to Guard Your Heart: A 3(D) Guide To Making Responsible Media Choices
Take the John Newton Challenge
Probably one of my favorite ideas for having devotional times with teens is to throw out a current news topic or controversial theme (i.e. Proposition 8 in California) and use that to start a discussion. I would warn parents to make sure that teens know their thoughts and comments are going to be heard and valued. Teens need to know that they are “safe” before they truly open up. Make sure the discussion ultimately points towards understanding what the Bible says about the issue. Sometimes the Bible doesn’t directly speak to an issue…do your best to discover what biblical principles apply. This type of discussion provides an avenue for open conversation with your teen, provides an opportunity for you to get to get a glimpse into the worldview of your teen, and provides a time of digging into scripture together with your teen.
What other ideas have you used for your family devotion times?
3 comments November 18, 2008
Carpe Diem
As I am writing this, I’ve got about 4 more hours left. That’s right, in just 4 short hours I’ll be another year older. Where has all the time gone?!?
I am a huge fan of Facebook. I keep up with friends from all over the world with a simple click of the mouse. I have a lot of my friends from high school on my Facebook. They are all so old! It’s like I should still be 17 and they are all old. What happened?
And the problem…the older I get, the faster time goes by. Isn’t it weird how that happens, but when we were young time would move like a slug covered with an entire salt shaker full of salt (seriously, try it sometime).
OK…here’s the deal. My daughter is 3. In 15 years she’ll be 18 (that’s the extent of my mathematical expertise). If those 15 years go by anywhere near as fast as these past 15 years…Wow! I don’t want to come to the end of these next 15 years and have to sit and write on my blog about how fast that time flew by. And I don’t want to have to think about all the missed opportunities I had.
I’m not talking about just the time to be with her and do fun things. I love those thing and I want those things, I really do! But more than anything else in the world I want my daughter to know what it is to be a godly person. I want her to be deeply and intimately in love with Jesus…even more–a lot more–than I want to do fun things.
God, may I use the time You’ve given me with Isabel wisely.
How about you? Are you seizing the day?
3 comments November 13, 2008
Christmas Shoeboxes
Wednesday at Escape our students will be preparing Christmas Shoeboxes for the Operation Christmas Shoebox Ministry.
I hope your family will plan on preparing a shoebox together as a family also! What a great (and simple) family ministry.
Our youth group will be going to Mardel in Lubbock on Saturday, November 22 to load trucks with the shoeboxes. We will take vans and leave at about 8:15. Then work from 9-12. We’ll stop for lunch before we come home.
Add comment November 11, 2008
