One topic of debate this time of year for Christan Families centers around the issue/person of Santa Clause. Do we tell our kids about Santa? Do they get gifts "From: Santa?" What's the harm in pretending that Santa does exist?
Here are some of the issues so that you can decide.
Cons
1) Santa Claus is often given the same qualities as God: Omniscience and Omnipotence, specifically.
2) Santa keeps a list of our rights and wrongs. God does not.
3) Telling kids that Santa exists, when in fact he doesn't, sets up your kids for disappointment (not to mention you are lying to them).
Pros
1) Saint Nick was a real person and we could teach about him and his ministry.
For those of us over the age of 30, you may remember a sketch on Saturday Night Live called "Deep Thoughts.....by Jack Handey." They were quotes to either show the absurdity of a situation or intentionally be stupid. Here is one of this quotes:
“If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let'em go, because, man, they're gone.”--Jack Handey
Or you can watch some by heading over to this site.
Well, this is:
Random Thoughts....by Dean Butterfield
Why is it that when I start looking for volunteers, I think I hear crickets chirping in the background?
How one spends their time and money communicates values to our kids. What values are we communicating?
As a Christian, I believe the Bible is the ultimate authority for all of life. But do I really live and think that way?
How do you communicate grace and truth in one sentence, with using the word "...but..."?
Have you ever seen horse fly, a horse fly, a horse fly?
I am amazed nearly everyday how God has gifted His people for the work of the Kingdom. Now, only to use those gifts by answering the call......
Well, I got tired of the old coffee house look, and my wife told me I need to update my book, so I decided to change it up a little bit. I found some great Blogger Templates sites in the process, if you are interested:
I haven't felt like blogging much recently as I have a lot on my heart and mind recently. There are a couple of families in our church that my wife and I would consider friends (they are also volunteers) who are on the brink of divorce. I have had 3 volunteers recently let me know they need to step out of ministry. Then last week I got sick for a couple of days. I feel like my spiritual and emotional tank is run dry!
I have no idea if this will help any of you with where you are in life with your kiddos but I ran across this site today, and I'm just gonna pass it along.
The Porn Talk site is a comprehensive site for helping parents have difficult conversations with their kids about sexuality and pornography.
I know this is going to be a huge shock for you, but it appears the Gosselin children are beginning to act out! Duhn, duhn duhn....... The last few months have been wracked with pain, jealousy, anger and bitterness between John and Kate; and all is not well in the perfect little world of Kate. OK, you've got to read this quote:
"'I'm trying to give them the grace to see, if they’re acting out of line, I'm trying to look deeper into why that is," she says in the article. "Why the kids are acting out. Cause it’s all inter-related. I mean, they don’t see it, but it’s all interconnected'."
What???? Why are the kids acting out???? IT'S BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS ARE MUD-SLINGING AT EACH OTHER AND YOU'VE TORN THEIR WORLD APART!!!
It doesn't take any analyzing or seeing how things are inter-related!!! The only thing that is going to make it any better (besides a complete miracle of God) is to let them say what they want to say and grovel for their forgiveness!!! Once you've done that, then you can begin to rebuild their trust in you as their parents - and with that trust will come obedience!
There is a bigger purpose for this post, though. There are families in churches all across our country that are right now going through divorce and CHOOSING to ignore Biblical truth for their own selfish desires. I know this is messy, ugly and nasty stuff, and from a human and emotional perspective, I get it! But long before divorce papers are filed, long before bitterness and apathy forms - married couples must be willing to step and say "Enough is enough! I don't like living this way and I want to make this work!!!" If you are on that edge in your marriage, talk to someone who will encourage and help you bring peace and reconciliation back into your relationship.
Dean
PS - Sorry about the "rawness" of this post, but I am pretty passionate about this topic - especially right now.
Let's be honest - it is HARD to find God in our public school system. With groups like the ACLU, National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers - God has a lot of competition! But, the one thing that liberal school boards (and not ALL are liberal) and these groups can't do is limit the power of God in His people! Take a look at this video, that a Facebook friend referred to me:
God CAN and WILL use us if we seek to walk like Jesus in every aspect of our lives! God can change students, teachers, administrators, school and districts if we seek to make Him 1st in our lives! Will U B the 1 to answer the call?
This coming Sunday, October 18th, at our 10:45 AM service we are having another Take-It-Home event with 1st Graders and their parents. We will be looking at "How to Cultivate a Servant's Heart" in our children. It is going to be another wonderful time of being encouraged in and learning more about passing down faith to our children. In fact, the families will be given another great Family Time Virtue Pack to use in their times of connections as a family.
We have been doing these TIH events for nearly two years now, so I thought it might be beneficial to take a quick look, again, at the purpose of the Family Journey in Faith. [Because, it's not about giving something ELSE for the family to do in an already busy schedule.]
So, let me ask you a question: What is THE most important thing if life? As parents, since our time is precious, what one thing should we MAKE SURE our kids learn? Take a look at Matthew 22:37-40:
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
We are to teach our children to Love God above everything else!!! Above athletic ability and accomplishments, above academic success, above a positive self-image.....Loving God, and then Loving others, is THE most important thing. The bummer....that does NOT happen naturally. We are bent towards sin; and in order to help our kids to learn this commandment we MUST be intentional. That is why we have the Family Journey in Faith ministry: To assist, encourage and inspire parents to be intentional in their passing faith to their children.
One topic of debate this time of year for Christan Families centers around the issue/person of Santa Clause. Do we tell our kids about Santa? Do they get gifts "From: Santa?" What's the harm in pretending that Santa does exist?
