Jonathan’s Quip & Help for Parents

After church services yesterday, I called Jonathan to come to the car so we could drive home.  He approached with a pensive look on his face.  He went on to clarify the “new terms” of our relationship. 

“Daddy, when you don’t tell me what to do, I’ll do it.  And, when you tell me what to do, I won’t do it.”

…Sigh…  Part of me wanted to crack up laughing.  Part of me wanted to weep. 

I love my little boy so much it hurts.  Jonathan, like all of us in our fallen nature, does not want to have an authority over his life.  He wants to be the captain of his own ship. 

I went on the explain to him that God made him.  God is his authority.  God has entrusted him to Kristy and I as authorities over his life as well.   And God has called  him to live in the circle of obedience to his parents. 

In Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Tedd Tripp has identified objectives for parenting during three stages of a child’s life.  This book and these principles have been very helpful to Kristy and me as we lead them in God’s ways.  We recommend the book to you for further equipping and support.  

~Jeff

Here is a glimpse of these three stages and objectives for each stage: 

Parenting Seminars

Covenant Life church, the flagship church in the Sovereign Grace family of churches (CJ Mahaney and company), recently hosted various parenting seminars. I’m expecting them to be excellent. Here they are:

Parenting Ages Infant to 5 (by Brian Chesemore)

• Training, Discipline, and the Rod | Outline (PDF)
• Biblical Principles of Parenting | Outline (PDF)

 Parenting Ages 6 to 10 (by Kenneth Maresco)

Overall Outline (PDF)

• Biblical Principles of Parenting
• Shepherding Toward Conversion
• Shepherding Your Child’s Heart

Additional Resources:

• “Sowing Plan” (PDF)
• Plan to Overcome Complaining (PDF)

Parenting Ages 11 to 14 (by Greg Somerville)

Overall Outline (PDF)

• Changing Relationships
• Emerging Convictions in a Changing World
• Changing Bodies and Minds

Parenting Ages 15 to 18 (by Kenneth Maresco)

Overall Outline (PDF)

• God’s Role and Our Role
• A Teen’s Relationship with God
• The Importance of Relationships in a Teen’s Life
• Question and Answer Session

Parenting Ages 19 to 22 (by Bob Kauflin)

Overall Outline (PDF)

• Hopes and Goals
• Rules and Relationships
• College and Careers
• Question and Answer Session

~ Donovan

HT: Justin Taylor

A smorgasboard from around the web

It’s been a busy week, and I haven’t had a chance to post anything. I have come across several good posts on-line though, and since I don’t know which to link to, here’s a smorgasboard of good stuff from around the web (as usual, I found most of this stuff thanks to Tim Challies and Justin Taylor!):

• John Piper wrote a thought-provoking post entitled, “Why I Don’t Have a Television and Rarely Go to Movies” . This post also includes a wonderful example of humbly confessing sin. 
• Keith and Kristen Getty have released a new album of modern, celtic-style hymns. Their lyrics are saturated with Scripture and their music is beautiful! You can listen to samples and/or order the CD here.
• Sovereign Grace Music has released another children’s album entitled, To Be Like Jesus. Read about it here.
• Tim Challies asked John Bell, pastor of New City Baptist Church in Toronto, to share about his experience sharing the gospel with the gay community in his city. It is well worth reading - to help us think biblically about homosexuality, and to help us in God-honoring evangelism and church life. There is also some very interesting discussion in the comments, especially involving a number of men who struggle with homosexuality but turn from it because of their commitment to Christ. Read this post here. 
• If you’re compiling a summer reading list, you might find these 2 posts from David Powlison to be of interest. Powlison is a bilical counselor, professor, and author, and he spent some time this week discussing some of his favorite literature with CJ Mahaney. You can read part 1 here, and part 2 here.  
• What does Kurt Warner, a Christian who plays quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, like most about being a professional football player? His very encouraging answer is here.   

Blessings…

~Donovan

Purposeful parenting over the summer…

Al Mohler:

“A teenager I happen to know quite well (seeing that he lives in my house) announced last week that summer is time off for his brain. Well, nothing fires up the parental learning plans like a teenager who announces his plans to learn as little as possible over the summer. Suffice it to say that the young man has a wonderfully enriching summer on his way. And — I promise you this — he will enjoy it. Like I say, I know the kid.”

This article is full of good ideas for maximizing parenting over the summer. The principles presented are excellent and apply year round… Read it here.

~Donovan

HT: Tim Challies 

New Children’s Book by Noel Piper

Noel Piper has written a new book for children entitled, “Do you want a friend?”

Justin Taylor:

“Written for kids ages 3-7, it shows that there are potential friends all around us, but leads to the truth that Jesus is the best friend we could ever have…

You can browse the book online for free.”

Thabiti Anyabwile recently blogged about few things he really appreciates about this book. Read them here.

~Donovan

HT: Justin Taylor

Adopted For Life Book Review

Russel Moore’s much anticipated  and widely endorsed book, “Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches“, has just been released.

 Tim Challies:

It might be easy to write off a book like this one, assuming that it only has relevance to families who are actually considering adopting a child. But Moore’s ambition goes beyond asking young families to adopt orphaned children. “In this book I want to call us all to consider how encouraging adoption—whether we adopt or whether we help others adopt—can help us peer into the ancient mystery of our faith in Christ and can help us restore the fracturing unity and the atrophied mission of our congregation.” As Moore explains, “The gospel of Jesus Christ means our families and churches ought to be at the forefront of the adoption of orphans close to home and around the world.” It is the gospel that calls us to adopt but it is also the gospel that teaches us how to understand adoption. In fact, “as we become more adoption-friendly, we’ll be better able to understand the gospel.” And so this book is for anyone and everyone.

Read Tim Challies’ full review here.

I’ve ordered a copy and look forward to reading it.

~Donovan

Jelly Telly

Ministry-To-Children.com:

“Phil Vischer, the creator of VeggieTales, has a new web-based ministry for children. It is called Jelly Telly. The essence of the website is to provide a safe-haven for children to “surf” the web. There is a daily “television” show with puppets, computer animated characters, and live actors teaching a God-centered lesson… Ultimately, this is a resource worth checking into for your children in your home as well as an aid in your children’s ministry.”

You can read their whole post about Jelly Telly here. 

The video below will give you a glimpse into what is offered by the Jelly Telly website:

~Donovan

Seeds Family Worship

Seeds Family Worship:

“Seeds Family Worship was planted when worship leader, Jason Houser, was asked to write some songs to help kids remember the verses from his church’s summer Bible school. Jason began writing songs and singing them for the kids and families at church. The songs were well-crafted, catchy, and taken straight from scripture. Families liked them… a lot. From just a handful of songs, Seeds Family Worship was planted – providing God’s Word set to music for thousands of families all over the world. We are gladdened by stories of worship times at home, scripture memorized, and object lessons taught using Seeds songs. The fifth Seeds Family Worship album – The Power of Encouragement – has just released. In total, Seeds has grown to 58 portions of scripture set to music!”

A Seeds song, from Psalm 55:22:

 

~Donovan

HT: Tim Challies

Big Truths for Young Hearts

Justin Taylor recently interviewed Bruce Ware about his new book, “Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God“. It looks excellent! Read the interview here.

~Donovan

Chosing to love even when hurt is guaranteed…

The Together for Adoption blog:

“What would move a Christian couple to adopt when adoption means walking a path of deep suffering and profound heartbreak? Read this post by Zach Nielsen to find out.”

Please do read the post linked to above – it’s powerful, and the truths it delves into are applicable for all of us.

~Donovan

HT: Justin Taylor