Perspective

A gransdon, James Alexander Crawford, born just over a week ago, is responsible for adjusting my perspective on life, ministry, and family. How does this little guy do all this? Easy, he looked into my eyes.

As I looked into his little eyes I saw clearly that he is special, he is loved. I saw a little boy who is so utterly dependent on his family ... in that moment his dependence was on me. He needed love, comfort, and care -- he'll need that for all of his life. Who doesn't need that? Can I be there all the time ... can anyone? Jesus can. Children need love, children need Jesus!

And that's where little James did his work, he looked into my eyes and he stopped crying because I had cared enough to show him I care. It makes a difference for a little guy, but it also makes a difference when we show we care to people around us. As an individual I can do this in many ways, and as a church we can show we care to individuals, and even to an entire community. How important is it? It makes all the difference in the world.

Friends (not the TV show)

How many of your child’s friends do you know really well? When your child spends time with friends, is your child the ‘influencer’ or ‘influenced’ (or both). Ask yourself the question, what good (or bad) things have I seen in my child’s friends which should clue me in to whether this friend is good for my child to be close with.

In raising our kids we always wanted them to have friends who were unbelievers … friends they could influence ...friends they could reach for Christ. BUT we were careful that their closest friends, the friends with the greatest influence on our kids, were friends who would help them to serve Christ. It still makes a difference.

Worship as a lifestyle

WHAT! You mean "worship" is more than singing slow songs at church? Of course it is more than that. Worship describes the attitude of your HEART. You can sing the slow songs and not worship, or you can worship while doing the laundry (ok, that's a tough one, but it is possible). When we worship together as a body of believers, I'm glad we choose to do it by singing (don't need to see each other's dirty laundry).

On an everyday basis, how do you model worship for your children? Having an attitude which shows love for God is key. Helping our kids have this attitude is essential. I'd love to see some responses to this note telling me how you do this at your house.

Made for a purpose

God made the world and everything and everyone in it. He made each with a purpose. That means God made YOU with a purpose. What is it? He wants you to serve Him.

OK, that's simple and soooo generic. True.
But are you doing the simple part yet?
Start here: give your life to Jesus.
Next step: Find out specifically how He wants you to serve Him.

It may be through a career choice which leads you into opportunities to do amazing things that help others. It could be through using your talents to inspire others. It just might be through the little things you do to encourage others. AND it might be one thing now, and something different a few years from now. As we learn and change as individuals, the things we can do also change. As we gain new skills or abilities, we also find new ways we can impact those around us.

Our kids are learning about how God made each of us for a purpose. Over the next several weeks we'll see that God's purpose is always a NOW thing, meaning that there is something we're to be doing NOW. If someday you're going to do FEED HUNGRY CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD that doesn't mean you wait until then to do anything, but you might still MAKE SNACKS FOR A CHILDREN'S CLASS on Sunday, or provide a meal for a family in need this week.

If you want to make the world a better place for the next generation, start by making today a better day for one child.

Helping kids grow

As parents and teachers, our goal is to help kids grow ... but what are they growing into? Well, that depends on what we're doing to help them grow. We can spend time with team sports, or gymnastics, or academics and someone might think we're trying to grow superstars or scientists. Then, we might skip all the extra-curricular activities, even minimize the schooling, and just keep the kids in church stuff all the time, thinking that means we're growing good Christians. Well, it doesn't work out that way.

Children need to be involved in various activities which challenge their abilities and cause them to put forth effort. They need opportunities to succeed in areas where they are talented and which they consider fun. But what they need is parental connection in each of those activities so that each one becomes a learning opportunity and a place for character development.

AND they need to be connected to and involved with we offer at Kids Rock. Children need opportunities to grow body, mind, and spirit. There is no better time to shape their beliefs than when they are young. In fact, according to studies by the Barna Group (www.barna.org), children develop their beliefs about God and just about everything related by the time they are thirteen (many of these beliefs are set by the time they are NINE! This means that by the time most parents think their kids are ready for a serious conversation about what they believe, its almost too late for them to change anything.

Look for opportunities in everyday life to help your kids grow in character. Whether it is by insisting on a solid effort when they are playing ball, or by expecting them to complete daily tasks around the house, you are helping them develop responsibility (among other good qualities). Some of the best growth opportunities come from knowing what is being taught to the kids at church (whether its in Kids Rock or HighPoint). When you know what the kids are learning, you can reinforce those concepts and help your children apply the lessons to everyday life. In doing so, you'll be helping them grow both in mind and spirit! (OH, did I mention growing in body? Good nutrition and exercise.)

See the need ... (ask your child what comes next)

For the past few weeks, we've been talking and learning about "See the need ... " My question is, "What do your children remember from each Sunday?" When I think about how we learn I realize that one hour on Sunday can do little to shape a child's life unless it is somehow integrated into the child's every day. Will your child remember what they learned on Sunday, maybe not. But will they remember IF they read the story with their parents on Monday, review the memory with their parents on Tuesday, find another story which is related on Wednesday, review the verse again on Thursday ... you get the idea. It's not about learning Bible trivia, it's about seeing lives changed. Your kids need to have your involvement if they are really going to learn to live like Jesus. "See the need ..."

Character

Character: Its what's inside that shows on the outside ... Its what makes you do the right thing when there's no one watching ... Its qualities like FAITHFULNESS, GOODNESS, KINDNESS which are so lacking in our society ... Its what kids (and families) need to show the world Jesus! Without character then we're no different from people who don't know Jesus. But, when we have the character in us that comes from the Fruit of the Spirit, we're different from people who don't know Jesus. When we show this kind of character, we're showing others what Jesus is like.

People see character when they see it in your life, in your actions. Its more than W-H-O you are ... its also H-O-W you are.