An article by my friend Jeff Strickland about Family Worship

Here is a link to a very good and simple reminder of our need to lead our families in worship--beyond Sunday mornings--from Deuteronomy 6. I echo everything he says in this short article:

Worshiping Christ as a Family

I particularly want to encourage you to read the Christmas story...either from Matthew or Luke with your families this week. It would be a good time to start this tradition. And by tradition, I don't mean an annual tradition. I mean a daily--or at least a-few-times-weekly--tradition (of reading and praying together).

Answers in Genesis for Kids

Answers in Genesis -- Kids

I'm not sure if I have ever referenced this site on here before, but I wanted to recommend it to your families. Answers in Genesis is the organization that is famous for its Creation Museum just an hour or so south of here. They strive to show how the biblical account of Creation and the origin of humanity are true, trying to debunk the secular philosophies that underlie much of the science that is taught and adopted into our American culture. The site linked above is one that has fun activities and extremely simple articles that children can look at.

Adopting for Life Conference

http://events.sbts.edu/adopting-for-life/

The seminary Pastor John and I graduated from is hosting a conference called "Adopting for Life" in February. See the link above for information about it.

I think this conference would be great for any couple that is considering adoption (whether in the near or distant future) or who wants to be more supportive of those who are. The speakers at this conference are absolutely phenomenal (they have greatly impacted my understanding of and heart for adoption), and apparently there are going to be some great organizations there which help Christian couples with the adoption process.

If you register by the end of this year, it's 125 per person or 200 per couple. I am really considering going and hope that you are as well.

Let God stir your heart to have a greater interest and involvement in adopting the boys and girls who are without parents both here in Ohio and around the world. Remember that God has adopted us into His family as sons, who have received all the benefits of sonship! How this should motivate us to adopt sons and daughters of our own.

Let's do some gospel re-enacting or at the very least help others do it.

Tedd Tripp Parenting Videos

http://theresurgence.com/featured-media-biblical-parenting

The link above will take you to a series of videos featuring Tedd Tripp, who I very highly regard as a biblical counselor. He wrote Shepherding a Child's Heart, and speaks all around the country. He does a great job of biblically challenging parents to instruct and discipline their child toward godliness--helping them really get to the heart of behavior issues. He is extremely wise, and I think watching these videos would be a great help to any parent, regardless of the number or age of your children. Prepare to be challenged and encouraged.

The topics are:
Helping Kids Understand Authority
Helping Kids Understsand the Heart
Overview of Corrective Discipline
Giving Kids a Vision for God's Glory
The Call to Formative Instruction

You can watch the videos or just listen to the audio.

For Those Whose Kids Like Tiger Woods

http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/Blog/post/Hunting-Tiger-Woods.aspx

This is a short and insightful entry about how we should respond as Christians to the stories we hear like the one about Tiger Woods...Very humbling, and would be a good conversation piece with your children.

It makes me think of what God said to Cain--that sin was crouching at the door, desiring him. But God challenged him to rule over that sinful nature and the temptation he faced. Cain wasn't able to do it. Neither was Tiger Woods. Neither was I. We ALL need a Savior, because we ALL are sinful.

Tiger Woods' actions are completely unacceptable. But, they are no less deserving of hell and God's wrath than mine. I can not look at him with arrogance or pride that I am better than him just because I haven't cheated on my wife. Apart from God's grace, I'd still be ruled by sin. But I am thankful that Christ died for me, and when I turned to Him for salvation, God put His Spirit in me to teach me to rule over my sin. I am SO thankful for the victories He has given me and remind myself often of just how far He has led me.

Use this news story as an opportunity to talk to your kids about the universality of sin but also the necessity of placing our faith in the One Savior.

The Blind Side

I mentioned in the closing of my sermon the story that has now been made into a movie--about Michael Oher. He is a young man adopted by a Christian family late in his teens who has since become an NFL player. You can read more about his story here:

The Ballad of Big Mike