Parenting is inconvenient. Yes, I just said that. Once you have a child, your life will be forever changed. You will be humbled. Humiliated. Screamed at. Loved with abandon. Squeezed with unimaginable strength by those little arms. Amazed. Shocked. heartbroken. Overwhelmed with love. Filled with a newfound awe for your own parents. Unfortunately, once the baby… Continue reading Is Your Parenting on Cruise Control?
Tag: #GenNext
Why we need to pray for GenNext (Part 2)
This is the final article in the series “Raising GenNext.” You can read the previous post by clicking here. Yesterday, we looked at why prayer is so critical in the effort to raise GenNext. Remember, GenNext is not just children; GenNext also includes new converts and current Christians. Like Jesus, we long for the growth of those who… Continue reading Why we need to pray for GenNext (Part 2)
Why we need to pray for GenNext (Part 1).
This article is part of the series “Raising GenNext.” You can read the previous post by clicking here. What do you believe about prayer? Do you think praying is a rote activity? Is prayer an active or passive endeavor? Does it have value? Is it helpful? Does it actually work? It is my opinion and observation… Continue reading Why we need to pray for GenNext (Part 1).
Edify: Building a Strong Generation
This article is part of the series “Raising GenNext.” You can read the previous post by clicking here. Edify comes from the Greek "oikodomḗ" meaning 'the act of building.' We often use this word as a reference to spiritual encouragement. Edification is more than perfunctory praise; it is the endeavor to construct something strong. To date, we have covered the first… Continue reading Edify: Building a Strong Generation
Expanding the Core of Workers
This article is part of the series “Building GenNext.” You can read the previous post by clicking here. The preacher looked wearily at the building as he shifted into park. When he had begun the work here, he'd had such high hopes of helping the tiny church grow into a massive group of believers. Over… Continue reading Expanding the Core of Workers
Entrust: Involving Children in the Important within the church (part 2)
This article is part of the series “Building GenNext.” You can read the previous post by clicking here. Somewhere in the past, someone concluded the primary reason children were leaving the church was somehow related to it's boringness. There was a slow movement toward making entertainment more important than education and edification. And yet, in spite of the hyped up… Continue reading Entrust: Involving Children in the Important within the church (part 2)
Entrust: Involving Children in the Important (part 1)
This article is part of the series “Building GenNext.” You can read the previous post by clicking here. It is a valuable exercise to read books such as Little House in the Big Woods and In Grandma's Attic. These stories reveal how children used to be entrusted with so much more than cleaning up their rooms. They had cows… Continue reading Entrust: Involving Children in the Important (part 1)
Sharpening Christians
What happens when you use a knife repetitively? Over time, the blade starts squishing tomatoes instead of slicing them. Pencils need sharpening. Pens need refills, drills need charging. Tools have to be maintained in order to be effective. In a similar way, we are instruments of God. Are we sharpened, filled, and charged for action? Or, are we gunked up, run down and dull?
Converting Converts into Strong Christians
Water rolled down her cheeks as she was lifted from the cool water. A thrill of joy sang within her. Her sins were gone! She was no longer lost! She wished Jesus would come right at that moment so she wouldn't mess up this new life into which she was entering. After drying off, she re-entered the auditorium where a small crowd was waiting to hug and congratulate. One older lady, embraced her tenderly and said, "The angels in heaven are rejoicing for you, dear." Yes, the angels were rejoicing! "And so am I!" she thought. Two weeks later, the same girl lay curled up on the floor of her bedroom crying. She had made so many mistakes since her baptism. Was she really saved? Did she have to lose her best friend, be humiliated in science class and lose her temper with her mom? She thought being a Christian would mean that she would make fewer mistakes.
How to Equip Your Children to be Future Christians (Raising #GenNext)
Elisabeth Elliot has mentioned in multiple books how her family had devotional time every morning. Corrie Ten Boom noted that her father read a chapter from the Bible every morning. In both cases, all the children in their families grew up with a love for the Lord. That tells me that consistent, active teaching is of great value.
Elihu's Corner 