Parenting: A job never finished!

I had the opportunity to attend two Conferences at the end of last month. At both the Amor Ministries Advisers Meeting and the Covenant Youth Worker's Connection, speakers were brought in to talk about how vital it is that Youth Pastors see themselves at pastors to the parents of youth. One quote that I wrote down was striking: "when it comes to faith, parents tend to get what they are."

So, with that in mind, I would love to hear from you as to how I (we) could do a better job of encouraging and equipping you in your role as the number one spiritual influence in your kids lives.

One place I thought I would start is in communicating better what is going on at Youth Group. So please continue to read my blog! The most recent post (Eph 4) is from Jr. High Youth Group (ACTIVATE) last night and the second (Eph. 2) is what we will be covering at The CORE, High School Youth Group this Sunday. You could use the passage for a family devotions time this week, or use the points that I made as a jump off point in a discussion around your dinner table. While you're at it, why don't you click on the "follow" button and boost my ego a bit.

I thought I would also write down some quick notes about a few things Wendy and I do in our role as spiritual guides of our kids:

1. We always try to have a reasoned and Biblical basis for every decision that we make. We never say "because I said so," but instead we're careful to include our kids in decisions (where appropriate) and have a solid reason. This also means every decision is negociable if the reason is good. Ultimately, we are not the authority in our family, God is.
2. Saturday is family day (very few exceptions). We have breakfast together, do our weekly family devotions, and spend the afternoon with our family or with other families, usually in some activity enjoying God's creation.
3. We see every part of life as something to be done "as unto the Lord" (Colossians 3:23) So a major component of our family spiritual life is the countless hours Wendy spends working on homework and going to school with our kids.
4. Our evening routine includes prayer with each child and often asking the question "where did you see God at work today?"
5. I spend 1.5 hours every Thursday with Caleb and his guy-friends leading them in curriculum that looks at what it means to be a godly man at Christian Service Brigade (CSB)
6. Wendy spends 1.5 hours every Thursday with Brianna, Erica, and their girl-friends leading them through curriculum that looks at what it means to be a godly woman at Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior (GEMS).
7. We are intentional about debriefing every church service, school day, music lesson, swim practice, etc. around the table and finding out what we're all learning and how it applies to our spiritual lives.

Well that's all for this morning. Have a blessed and wonderful week.

In Christ,

Bob