July Parent Link -- Hosting a BBQ

Welcome to our monthly parenting piece. Parent Link is designed to help parents understand the key elements of our Orange Strategy for parenting. While the angle and content of each month’s Parent Link is different, each month’s podcast and outline are based upon one of five family values:

1. Widen the Circle
2. Imagine the End
3. Fight for the Heart
4. Create a Rhythm
5. Make it Personal

Here is the July 2011 edition of ParentLink.  I talk about the responsibility of being a parent to a newborn and to an adopted child and how they are different but the same.  I also talk about how its our responsibility as a parent to ensure that there are other voices in our child's life that are saying the same things we say when we are not around.

Bottom Line: You are the greatest influence in your child’s life, but not the only influence your child needs.

Application: Host a party this summer in honor of the adults who influence your child’s life.

This Coming Weekend in KQ and FL (Feb. 27)

Every 6th and 13th lesson, we pause to remember and celebrate, just as God instructed His people to do. This weekend is one of those weekends. For tips on how to talk about this at home, download the HomeFront Weekly that we handed out on Feb. 20.

Old Testament Significance

Several times a year the Israelites gathered together for a feast or festival. In Leviticus 23, “the Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed feasts … which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.’” These seven feasts and festivals are: Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Festival of First Fruits, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths). In addition, the Israelites would gather weekly to celebrate the Sabbath. These were times to remember what God had done for His people and to celebrate His goodness. They were a time for the entire faith community to gather together without the burden of work to simply worship and celebrate. During the feasts, the Israelites ate, danced, sang, played instruments, prayed, and offered sacrifices to God.

New Testament Significance

The Feast of Passover was fulfilled by the death of the Messiah, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled by His sinless sacrifice, and the Festival of First Fruits was fulfilled by the resurrection of the Messiah. The Feast of Harvest began with a great harvest of three-thousand souls by the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, who continues to harvest souls today. The Feast of Trumpets will announce Christ’s return, the Day of Atonement anticipated the Messiah’s perfect sacrifice, and finally, the Feast of Tabernacles begins the journey to our new home in a new heaven and new earth.

This month, we are highlighting the Feast of Harvest. This feast, also known as the Feast of Pentecost or Weeks, corresponded with the nation’s harvest season. This feast is preceded by the Festival of First Fruits, during which the barley was harvested and ushered in the time when wheat was harvested. During this feast, the Israelites thanked God again for His provision for their physical needs. In addition, they also thanked Him for providing a way into relationship with Him. Pentecost was set in motion as a remembrance of when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. Pentecost means “fifty days.” The 50 days leading up to Pentecost (after Passover) were a season of gladness, abundance, and thanksgiving for God’s provision.

For more information on biblical feasts and festivals,  or visit
http://www.shamar.org/articles/godsplan.php
http://www.maranathalife.com/teaching/jew-hol.htm

Creating and Environment of Responsibility in our Homes

We all want our children to grow up and be responsible right?

What is the best way to teach them this responsibility? Should we just give them everything we think they need to make the right decisions or should we allow them to work towards responsibility by giving them little and letting them earn more and more as they show they are responsible for little like in vineyard parable of Jesus?

I don't know what is the correct answer for your kids in your home, but I have a selection from a book I have been reading that sums of the need to build an environment of responsibility.  The book is called Spiritual Parenting and is written by Michelle Anthony.  The book is very good and I recommend it to any parenting looking to parents with a model that includes God.  Here are her words about creating an environment of responsibility in our homes.

"Ultimately, the concept of creating an environment of responsibility in our homes is a charge from God that encompasses a variety of areas. First, it captures the ability to take ownership before God for one's life, gifts, and resources. Second, it challenges us to take responsibility for those in our family and our spiritual family in Christ, for their well-being. Lastly, it calls us to see out in love those who are hurting, poor, and spiritually lost, recognizing our responsibility to those who don't yet know Jesus and His forgiveness.

The early church described in the book of Acts took these three things seriously. As they were awakened to their new life in Christ through the Holy Spirit, they lived radically different lives. With great sacrifice, they generously gave of their time, talents, money, homes and meals to anyone who was part of their new family in God. In addition, these same people sought to take care of the poor, the outcast, the lost, and the homeless in their towns. They lived what they believed, and it was compelling to those who were watching. In this environment where each person took responsibility for himself and for those around him, the church grew like wildfire! It was unstoppable!"

Imagine Wentzville if we would teach our kids how to be responsible to God, their family, and their community!  What a world of difference it could make.  The church of Acts did this without hesitation in a world where they should have feared for their lives as new believers in Christ.  However, they did not fear and instead they reached out with everything they had to serve others. What a great attitude we should have and we can teach our children.

With the busyness of the holidays almost done, take some time to slow down and look for teachable moments in and around your community were you can serve the people you live with.  Maybe its someone from WCC or maybe its a complete stranger in your neighborhood.  Whoever and whatever it is, take the time to not only do the deed for someone but to also have a conversation with your kids about our responsibility to those who we are helping because we believe in God.