James Firthfountain Teaches Lesson 12: Bricks & Mortar - Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem

This Sunday we bring the Old Testament to a Chronological ending as we focus on Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem after the captivity!  Pastor Kevin will be preaching to the adults this Sunday, so James Firthfountain will be teaching the lesson along with Rebekah and the rest of the Playhouse Players!  They will be having all the same fun as usual (minus a couple of puppet characters) so don't let your kids miss out!  They won't want to miss the ending of the Old Testament Story that we've been working towards for 4 years now!

ALSO: We will still have Christmas Musical Rehearsal for early service!  Aimee Robinson will still have that rehearsal while Pastor Kevin is preaching during that service!

The Gratefulness Principle

Gratitude increases closeness in relationships. As you parent your children, look for opportunities to take advantage of gratefulness to draw closer to your kids. Give your children small gifts of love day after day. Be careful, though, that you don’t confuse the gratefulness principle with the overindulgence trap.

Some parents, wanting their children to like them, recognize giving gifts opens the heart, so they overdo it by giving them too many things. Giving to your kids must be tied into relationship, or the gifts feed selfishness instead of gratefulness.

Overindulgence is giving your children more than their character can handle. When children lack gratitude, then the more you give them, the less they appreciate. Parents must restrain themselves or they’ll exceed their child’s ability to manage the blessings.

Overindulged children rarely become grateful when you give them more things. They grow to be more demanding and selfish. Parents then feel unappreciated and become resentful. The hearts of both parents and children harden toward each other, and closeness becomes a thing of the past.

If your children become overindulged rather than grateful, then pull back on the area where you’re giving too much. Look for creative ways to give differently to your child. Giving gifts of time rather than physical gifts can be one idea. Giving the gift of affirmation rather than advice can be another. Teaching the heart gratefulness can be a challenge. Having a child say thank you is just behavior. Gratefulness comes from the heart.

Monitor your child’s response to gifts of love to determine if you’re growing gratitude or overindulgence. As gratefulness increases, you can slowly give blessings in a way that will produce more gratefulness. You’ll know if you’re moving too quickly by your child’s response.

This tip comes from the book, Parenting is Heart Work by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

The Benefit of Reporting Back

One way to teach children responsibility in the everyday work of family life is to have them report back after completing a task. Many parents give assignments, assuming that their kids are completing the jobs, often resulting in frustration when they later find out that the jobs weren’t done, or were only done part way. Most children don’t naturally feel an internal sense of responsibility. You can help develop responsibility by requiring kids to report back. Children who do a job part way, easily get distracted, or don’t complete tasks need closer supervision, smaller tasks, and more frequent times of checking in.

Even older children sometimes have a problem with irresponsibility. Yelling isn’t necessary—more accountability is. It takes work to require kids to report back, but your investment now will give your children a valuable gift. Reporting back after completing an assignment is an adult skill. Employers appreciate it when employees report back. Whether children are three, eight, twelve, or fifteen, they need to learn this valuable skill.

Responsibility can be defined in different ways for different children. For the child who is easily distracted, responsibility could be defined as “sticking to a task until it’s completed and you report back.” For a child who tends to do a halfhearted job, you might define responsibility as “doing a job thoroughly without being reminded.” For the child who tends to do what you said and not what you meant, you might say, “Responsibility is completing the job up to the expectations of the person giving the instruction.” In each case you’re teaching children what it means to do a job with a sense of obligation to complete it well.

When receiving an instruction, the child should feel a little uncomfortable. That uncomfortable feeling is what responsible people feel when they have an unfinished assignment. Just imagine your own to-do list. If the time is ticking away and your to-do list isn’t getting smaller, you feel a bit uncomfortable and put in more effort. The uncomfortable feeling is lifted once kids report back and their work is checked.

Many parents start instructions well but don’t end them effectively. Instead of a feeling of satisfaction of a job well done, the child feels guilty, wondering when Mom is going to find out that he pushed the clothes under the bed or didn’t sweep the walk. Parents give their children a gift by requiring that the child report back.


This parenting tip is from Chapter 44 in our NEW RELEASE book, The Christian Parenting Handbook by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN. Find 50 practical strategies to equip yourself as a parent.

Awana Clubs Theme Night: Crazy Sox Night!

Clubbers wearing any kind of sox other than plain,

Single-color sox, will get extra points for their team!

Extra credit for more than one pair worn on hands, feet, pinned to clothes, draped over heads clothes-pinned to noses or ears etc. Dump the “lost sox” basket over them!

Construction Zone 5: Hard Hats - The Faithful 4 Take a Stand

This Sunday we finally move beyond the Captivity into the book of Daniel as we focus on the FAITHFUL FOUR who stood up for the God of Israel no matter what and God rewarded them for their faithfulness. This week we will focus on their first test as they are carried into captivity as young men and told to eat unclean foods. Of course, Construction Carlo, Rowdy Raccoon, Packard the Platypus, and Crumpler Kangaroo will all be a part of the lesson! And we’ve got some great games and awesome worship planned! Don’t let your kids miss the action!

Team Color Theme Night!

Remind your kids to dress in clothes that match their color team for extra points tonight!  But they won't win if they neglect the basics like wearing their uniform, bringing a Bible, handbook, offering, visitor, and showing up on time before 6:15pm!

8 Ways Screens Are Ruining Your Family's Life

For her new book, The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age, Catherine Steiner-Adair EdD -- a clinical instructor in the department of psychiatry at Harvard, a school consultant, and a therapist in private practice -- interviewed more than one thousand children between the ages of 4 and 18 to find out how technology was impacting their relationships and their social and emotional lives. What Steiner-Adair discovered was neither surprising, nor comforting: Technology is becoming a kind of “co-parent;” too much screen time is impeding childhood development; and parents’ obsession with their devices is harming communication with their children and even fracturing families.

Just in time for back to school, The Huffington Post asked Steiner-Adair to tell us the eight essential things parents with children of all ages need to know about screens.

1. Don’t put your baby in front of a screen. Ever.

If you’re not convinced by the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics, then consider this: “We don’t know yet the chemical interaction between a smartphone and a baby’s brain," says Steiner-Adair. One 2010 Danish study of 28,000 children found that exposure to cell phones before and after birth seemed to lead to an increased risk for behavioral problems. Beyond that, one of the most important skills a baby needs to learn, Steiner-Adair says, is how to calm herself down. “If you hand [a young child] a screen of any kind when they’re frustrated, you’re teaching them how not to self-soothe,” she says. “You’re handing them a stimulant. Your baby’s brain is brilliant and what it needs is good stimulation and soothing from you. You are the best app for your child.”

2. And think hard about putting your toddler in front of one, too.

“A child only has from 0-5 to develop neurologically what we call the sensorium -- that’s the part of the brain where pre-literacy, kinesthetic movement, and language development happens,” says Steiner-Adair. This kind of brain development takes place through outdoor play, building, dancing, skipping, coloring -- all activities involving multi-sensory engagement. This kind of healthy engagement is basically the opposite of passively swiping a finger across a screen, says Steiner-Adair. While she acknowledges that decent games and apps exist -- Steiner-Adair directs parents toCommon Sense Media’s website for recommendations -- she insists that replacing play “IRL” with play on a screen is not what children this age need.

3. Teachers can tell if your child is getting too much screen time.

Educators interviewed for Steiner-Adair’s book said that kids who spend too much time in front of screens play differently -- and less creatively -- than other children. Those who act out “Mario Brothers” or “Angry Birds” in the school yard aren’t tapping into their capacity to create their own narratives, says Steiner-Adair. “Instead of saying ‘look how high I can go’ when they’re on the swings, they say ‘look, I got to the next level!’” she says. Teachers also told the author that students who play a lot of video games don’t seem to have as much patience to sit still in the classroom, especially when they are being read to. “The capacity for attention doesn’t develop as well when kids are used to interacting with a screen that’s instantly gratifying, instantly stimulating, and provides them what the answers for the next level,” says Steiner-Adair.

4. Your kids hate your screens.

Steiner-Adair says that what came up again and again during her interviews with hundreds of kids was how frustrated, sad and angry they were about having to compete with screens for their parents’ attention. “Children hate it when their parents pick them up and are on their phones and don’t even turn to say, ‘Hi honey, how was your day?’ Instead they’re giving them the shhh one minute signal which basically says ‘you’re not as important to me as whoever this other person on the phone is.’ Car rides to and from school as well as dinner, bath and reading time -- parents should be present and phone-free for all of these daily rituals, she says. “Kids do not need our undivided attention all day long, but they do in those real-life moments of talking and reading and doing the hard work of parenting -- dealing with meltdowns, teaching them how to pick up their clothes.” The bottom line: If you think your kids don’t notice that you’re distracted, you’re deluding yourself. One of Steiner-Adair’s subjects told her, “I miss the olden days when families were more important.”

5. Just because we can be connected to work 24/7 doesn’t mean we shouldbe.

Many parents argue that part of why they’re plugged in during family time is because they feel they have to be available to their employers. “You either sacrifice being a good mother or father and the very limited time you have to raise your children -- or you sacrifice and risk your job to support your ability to live,” says Steiner-Adair. “This is not healthy for anybody and it’s a no-win choice.” Being constantly on call or being afraid of missing something if you don’t check your work email means you’re preoccupied and stressed when you should be enjoying your family. Steiner-Adair says that if the modern workplace is ever going to change, parents must ask employers for modulated schedules and speak up about their need to unplug.

6. Screens aren’t good for your marriage. And that’s not good for your kids.

Steiner-Adair asks parents to answer this question honestly: “First thing in the morning, do you roll over in bed and look at your phone and scroll through it -- or do you roll over and cuddle your partner?” Kids are acutely aware of their parents’ disengagement from each other. In her interviews with children, many spoke to Steiner-Adair about their parents’ constant bickering over screen rules (such as no phones at the table) and said that they view their parents as hypocrites when they see them flouting the family guidelines they’ve set up. “Kids see parents talking to each other about something important and then one of them answers a call mid-conversation,” she says. “One parent has dropped the other parent. What does it say to kids about how we connect to the people we love the most?”

7. In order to be a good parent, you need to take care of yourself.

“Adults use screens the same way kids do -- to avoid interaction and to avoid relying on our own inner resources," says Steiner-Adair. Increasingly when parents have a few minutes to recharge they are using that time to browse Facebook, send texts, etc. “It’s so much easier than picking up a magazine or putting your feet up on the couch and having a mini moment of relaxation -- or going for a walk and getting some fresh air-- all these things that we know actually make us feel better.” Some parents may feel that browsing Instagram or scanning the news is actually a calming way to take a break, but Steiner-Adair is skeptical. “Checking your email is not relaxing,” she says. ”Holding a tiny little hand held screen is not visually relaxing.”

8. Sorry, but you really don’t know what your kids are doing online. But that doesn’t mean you should give up trying.

Steiner-Adair points to a June 2013 McAfee study, “Digital Deception: Exploring the Online Disconnect Between Parents and Kids,” as evidence that parents are often clueless about what their kids are doing online -- and says that their ignorance is seriously harming their kids. Among the study’s findings: 80 percent of parents don’t know how to check up on what their kids are doing online. Not only that, 74 percent “simply admit defeat and claim that they do not have the time or energy to keep up with their children and hope for the best,” according to the study’s authors. But Steiner-Adair says defeat is not an option when you consider all of the damaging content kids can easily stumble upon online. While interviewing kids for her book, Steiner-Adair says, several teen boys asked her questions about sexual scenes they’d seen online. “They would say, ‘can you help me understand why a woman would want to be choked while having sex? Why would she want to be peed on?’” Indeed, the McAfee study found that over 57 percent of 13-23 year olds use the Internet to search sexual topics while only 13 percent of parents believe they do.

But Steiner-Adair sees hope in at least one of the McAfee stats: Nearly half of the teens surveyed said they would change their online behavior if they knew their parents were watching. “This means we can have an impact,” Steiner-Adair says. In addition to making sure that all computer use is done in a public place in the home, Steiner-Adair recommends that parents and kids sign an agreement that clearly states acceptable and unacceptable online behavior – and post it prominently. “The reason you’re supposed to sign it and post it is to remind kids, but also so that when other kids come over it makes it easier for your child to say, ‘oh no, I’ll get in too much trouble if I go to that site. See, I have the worst parents in the word," Steiner-Adair says. “That’s what you want your kids to say. You want to be that worst parent in the world.”

By Lori Leibovich

Construction zone lesson 3!

Building Codes: Warnings of Danger!

I will faithfully follow God’s building code, the Bible.

This Sunday at 10:30am!

Tomorrow in the C.H.R.I.S.T. WORKS Playhouse our Construction Theme continues but with a bit of heroic twist as we focus on some key prophets who warned the people of Israel and Judah about the coming judgment.  They were like super heroes of their time trying to rescue a foolish people bent on sin.

Teaching Through Decision Making

Families make decisions and solve problems on a daily basis. Parents must make some decisions, and in those cases children need to learn to follow. At other times parents can involve children and help them make wise choices.

Money, for example, provides opportunities for children to make decisions. Parents can teach children how to save, be generous, and plan for purchases. In one family, Kari, age twelve, and Joel, age thirteen, were each given ten dollars for babysitting. Kari saved her money but Joel spent his right away. A few days later when the family was at a museum, Kari and Joel both wanted to buy something at the gift shop. Kari had money but Joel said, "I wish I would have saved my money so I could buy something here."

It's better for children to learn their lessons with small amounts of money early, than to wait and make a costly mistake later on. Joel's parents honored him by allowing him to make mistakes. They didn't say, "I told you so." They simply allowed him to learn from his own experience, but they didn't rescue him either.

Developing good decision-making skills gives kids the ability to define a problem, look at consequences of various alternatives, and then choose the best solution among the options. Having open discussions about decisions and then allowing children to solve some problems for themselves communicates honor to them. It says, "I believe in you. You have what it takes."

For more practical ideas on developing honor in your family consider the book, Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes, In You and Your Kids by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

Awana Clubs Launch Tomorrow Night at 6:15pm!

6:15pm

Notice, that’s NOT 6:30 but 6:15pm!!

Kids clubs start 15 minutes before the adult prayer service & everything else so don’t make your kids late! They get team points for being on time! Every night when kids check in they get points for:

Bringing their Bible,

Bringing their achievement book,

Wearing their uniform,

Just showing up,

AND for being on time!

Also points for every section they memorize in a week,

And VISITORS!

So start the year right and be here on time for the first night!

Doors open at 6pm!

SPECIAL NOTE: We turn NO ONE away for lack of $$ for Awana!

If you are struggling let us know when you register your kids and we will work something out to help you! We may ask you to cover what you can over a longer period of time or cover part of the amount to help cover the cost of supplies (we just put in an order for $800.00+), but we do not want anyone to miss out!

Not Anyone!

Be a Coach to Your Children

I'm sure that as you look around you see other families who have rather interesting relationships with their kids. Some parents seem to have a boss/servant relationship with their children, as if the parents own their kids. They order them around as if they were slaves, being demanding about obedience and respect. Others act like a policeman allowing children to do anything they want within boundaries. When the children move outside the boundaries then the parent blows the whistle to get them back in line. Other parents have a little prince relationship with their children. These parents go out of their way to make their children happy, sometimes trying to make up for their own unhappiness as a child.

A better analogy is the one that views the parent as a coach. Your children need training every day, involving teaching, correcting, firmness, and encouragement. A coach builds a relationship with the child, recognizes weaknesses and equips the child to succeed. When a runner falls down, a good coach doesn't condemn but motivates to excellence through support and encouragement. The coach and the athlete are both on the same side, working to make that young person successful.

Don't let childish problems like anger, impulsiveness, or meanness motivate you to become an opponent to your children, allowing the problem to come between you. Instead, partner with your children, moving the problem to the side, with you and your child working together to conquer it. Your attitude in conflict will mean all the difference for a child who needs to be coached out of immaturity. Children need to know that their parents believe in them. It helps them in the deepest areas of their hearts.

This parenting tip comes from the book Home Improvement, the Parenting Book You Can Read to Your Kids by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

THIS SUNDAY!! SPECIAL AUTO SHOW LESSON WITH JAMES FIRTHFOUNTAIN!

THE BIG CAR EVENT HAS FINALLY ARRIVED! 

This Sunday Lake Speed will be in the house and there will be show cars everywhere!  Pastor Kevin & Family will be in the Dells on Vacation, but your kids will be in great hands with James Firthfountain bringing the word from Philippians in a NASCAR themed special lesson during the 10:30am service!  James is a young college graduate who has already worked with kids for over a decade doing various Good News clubs in the public schools throughout his teen years, even running the program and putting together curriculum.  So he's no stranger to what kids like and how to teach them God's Word!

So come for the cars!  Come for the food!  Come for the BOUNCE HOUSE!  

AND COME FOR THE AWESOME KIDS SERVICE THIS SUNDAY!!

A Clear Warning

One of the tools of discipline is a clear warning. It can actually be a teaching tool because it helps children know how to anticipate consequences of their actions. Furthermore a clear warning clarifies for your children that what you have said wasn't just a suggestion, but that you meant business.

When you give a warning, it’s important to obtain eye contact, speak calmly but firmly, and clarify both the instruction and the consequence that will come if the child doesn't respond. A clear warning says: "If you don't finish your homework you won't be able to watch TV after dinner." Or, "If you can't play nicely with your friend, he will have to go home."

A warning is different than a threat. Threats are emotional responses usually spoken out of anger or desperation with an exaggerated or ambiguous consequence, rarely leading to a consequence. "If you don't clean up these toys right now, I'm going to throw them all away!" Or, "If you don't come with me now, I'm going to leave you here!" These are threats, not warnings.

Warnings aren't always necessary. If a child hits another and you've already established a rule for such things, then it's understood that that this is wrong and you can move directly to a Break or other follow through. If you do use a warning, just give it once. Instead of a process like this: instruction, warning, follow through, some parents have a process that looks like this: instruction, warning, warning, warning, warning, explosion with anger.

Make a clear warning part of your discipline strategy and you will teach children important lessons about life and help them predict their own consequences for their decisions.

This parenting tip comes from the book Home Improvement, the Parenting Book You Can Read to Your Kids by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN. 

Awana Early Bird Registrations Going On NOW!

It's time to register your kids for our school year mid-week clubs: Awana!  There's something for all ages from Pre-school through 6th grade at Awana and if you register by Sunday, August 18th you will receive a considerable discount because you will help the church to receive a huge discount on shipping!  So please help us make this a win/win situation and sign your kids up today!  There are also discounts for families with multiple kids and with parents who helped out all year last year!  If you have any questions or want to sign up right away, stop at the table in the foyer this Wednesday or Sunday and talk to Pastor Kevin or Aimee.

It's gonna be a great year!  Don't miss out!

VBS: Kingdom Chronicles Finale Tomorrow Night at 6:15pm!

Tomorrow is the grand finale to our Kingdom Chronicles VBS already!  FIVE weeks have come and gone and it all culminates in a final epic lesson tomorrow!  Don't let your kids miss out on all the fun.  We will be giving away more prizes than usual since it's over!

Come and find out who will win the Ark Encounter giving contest, BOYS OR GIRLS?


Will it be Sir James that gets hunted down by a pack of howling princesses with water bombs?  Or will it be Lady Rebekah surrounded by a posse of water-gun-toting barbarians?!  That will all depend on who brings in the largest final offering tomorrow!  Only $5 separates the two sides so it's still anyone's game to win!

 We'll also find out who brings the most visitors and give away the awesome dragon book we have for that reward!  Of course, there is the final episode of our Kingdom Chronicles drama as well!  So join us tomorrow night for the finale!  Doors open at 5:45pm!

"But My Anger is Justified!"

Some view their anger as justified because they are right and others are wrong. They believe that being right is the only ticket required to launch into an adult temper tantrum. But saying "He made me angry" implies that external events require emotional intensity. The dad who links the trigger (what "made" him angry) and response (what he does with his anger) too closely ends up believing that others have made him the way he is.

When parents do this, they often blame their kids for problems and rarely take responsibility for their own emotions. In many cases, of course, the child is indeed wrong. It isn't helpful, though, to expect our children to bear the responsibility of our anger in addition to what they did wrong. The mom who says, "I wouldn't have to get angry if my kids would listen the first time," has fallen into the trap of blaming her children for her angry responses.

The truth of the matter is that it doesn't take much intelligence to see something wrong, but it takes wisdom to know how to respond to it. There's a big difference between a button that pops up on a turkey to announce that it's done and a cook who knows how to make a great dinner. Some people are like those little turkey buttons—whenever something goes wrong they pop up with angry reactions and they try to justify abusiveness because they see a problem.

It's not enough to be right in life; parents also need to be wise. Real wisdom knows how to respond in a way that brings change, not revenge. As parents, we don't just want to punish our kids for doing something wrong; we want to help them change their hearts. Anger may reveal what's wrong, but it's rarely a good solution to a problem. Once you identify an offense, it's best to consider how to motivate change.
To learn more about emotions and parenting, take a look at the book Good and Angry, Exchanging Frustration for Character In You and Your Kids, by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

Kingdom Chronicles Launches Strong!

VBS launched with much chaos and wonder as we doubled our pre-registration numbers at the door with nearly 20 visitors!  1 Down & 4 nights to go!  We hope to start on time this Wednesday and encourage everyone to arrive well before the starting time of 6:15pm.  REMEMBER: Doors open at 5:45pm and kids get points for giving to our missions project: The Ark Encounter, as well as memorizing the lesson Bible verses and BRINGING VISITORS!  See you Wednesday night!

 The Herald, Sir James & Aaron Esquire

welcome the kids to the Kings Manor.

 

 Lady Rebekah, House Minstrel, arrives!

 The Cook's Kitchen w. Lady Darlene

Learn-a-Lot Chambers w. the Ladies Lou Ann & Tammie.

 Sir Richard of the Whistle!

10 Ways to Teach Your Children to Be Honest

“Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom,” wrote Thomas Jefferson. When it comes to small children and honesty, it’s not usually hard to find. The word “brutal” comes to mind. “Aunt Becky, did you know that your belly is huge?” With older children and teens, the truth sometimes becomes more elusive. Here are a few ideas to help guide your children on the correct honesty path:

1. Reward The Truth

As parents we are often quick to scold. Sometimes we aren’t always so quick to praise. Reward honesty with loads of praise and hugs. It will build self-confidence and reinforce the positive behavior. Plus a child can never get too much love.

2. The Art of “Spin”

The brutal truth should not always be spoken. Such as the hurtful comment towards Aunt Becky mentioned in the opening. We have all heard the saying, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” One needs not lie and say Aunt Becky is skinny. Just don’t say anything. Or find something else about Aunt Becky that is positive. “That sure is a colorful shirt.” Spin. People make a lot of money doing it. Spin works two ways, but when done for good, it’s a wonderful tool to learn.

3. The Hard Truth

Correct morals and purity of spirit always trump protecting the feelings of someone who is doing wrong. Wrong is always wrong. For instance, your son’s best friend is cheating on tests and your son is fully aware. He has a duty to go to his friend and advise him to quit. He’s hurting himself and cheating the others who have honestly studied. If he refuses, then your son would have to tell the teacher about what is going on. That is called the hard truth. Nobody wants to be put in that position. Yet, life constantly puts us in these types of situations. As adults, we are faced with all kinds of scams, rampant adultery, and general dishonesty. Teach your children to stand strong on the side of righteousness.

4. The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree

As is always the case, you are the role model. You do not want your child to hear you telling a lie. To see you perform a dishonest act. Yes, you could enter the national park for free since there is no attendant. But the sign says $5 dollars. Put your money in the slot and move along. Yes, it would make your life easier if Grandma didn’t know you were in town this time. But your child is listening to you on the phone telling her you don’t know when you’ll be there again. Are these the traits you want to teach your children? Clean up your act. Those little eyes and ears are always open.

5. Do Not Lead The Witness

Though it’s tempting to test them, try to avoid asking questions that give your child a chance to not be honest. You saw your daughter spill red juice on the couch. No need to ask, “Did you just spill your juice on the couch?” This leads her to believe she might have a way out and could possibly pass blame elsewhere. Just tell her to clean it up. She’ll have enough opportunities to tell the truth.

6. Truth Or Consequences

We all sin. Even children do. They will eventually lie to you and you will eventually catch them. It’s important that there be consequences for their actions. Appropriate discipline should be carried out and followed through. Make it so not worth it to lie.

7. Correct Mistakes

Catching your child being dishonest is a good time to break out your teacher hat. Help him correct the mistake. Talk about how he could have responded or reacted differently. An example would be that your son came home with an Evan Longoria rookie card. He obtained it by trading his friend two Pat Burrell cards. Obviously, his friend knows nothing about baseball or really likes Pat Burrell. Either way, he got swindled. Explain to your son that trades should include fair value on both sides. Preying on the unaware is not a desirable character trait. Return the card and work out a fair deal.

8. Your Word Is Gold

The most important character trait a person can possess keeping and following through on promises made. This one thing alone will take a person very far in life. To be trusted and deemed honorable is a crown even a king would envy. Teach your children to be people who consider their word gold. When they give it, they don’t break it. It is much harder than it sounds. Fool’s gold is easily found. The real thing takes a lot of digging. Gold is highly sought after and is extremely valuable. Just the kind of person you want your child to be.

9. What’s Yours Is Yours

Possessions can create all sorts of problems. The best policy is to teach a child early on that what they have belongs to them. What other people have belongs to that person. It is not OK to borrow a game and never return it. It’s awesome to share, but the item must always be returned. We all have that neighbor who borrows our trimmer and never brings it back. You don’t want your son to be that guy. It might sound harmless, but honesty does not take days off. Value your own possessions and keep your hands off your neighbors’.

10. Look for honest friends

Show me your friends and I will show you your future. If your child’s friends lie and cheat, so will they. But if your child’s friends are upstanding and honest clean through, your son or daughter will be that much better off. Keep an ear out for any of your children’s friends who lie. They’re a terrible example for your children.

The Medieval Adventure Continues this Summer!

All Spring we've been focusing on the Kings of Israel & Judah through a Medieval theme on Sunday morning, but the Medieval theme doesn't end there.  This Summer your kids are invited to join us for the KINGDOM CHRONICLES, a VBS adventure by Answers in Genesis where they will learn to stand strong in the battle for truth as they put on the full armor of God learn the heroic tale of Kingdom history and their part in it!

Though the adventure doesn't begin until July 10th, it isn't too early to register your kids.  Just click on the link below and follow the prompts.  Also, if you are interested in helping out with VBS as an adult volunteer, contact Pastor Kevin.  You can e-mail him at revkev@prayerhouseag.org or through Facebook or call the church office during business hours 262 595-0500.  (You must be at least a Jr. High graduate or 15 years of age to volunteer.)

VBS will run for 5 weeks on Wednesday nights from 6:15pm to 8:15pm.  Doors will open at 5:45pm and most adult volunteers must be able to arrive no later than 5:30 each week for pre-event prayer and final instructions.  God bless and welcome to the Kingdom!

VBS 20137-10-2013

VBS 2013

T&T CLUBS: Bring-A-Hero Theme Night!

The Theme night for tomorrow is ONLY for the T&T clubbers!  (Remember, Sparkies were last week.)

So remind your kids to invite their hero to clubs tomorrow night.  (If you are getting the blueprints newsletter, hopefully that hero is YOU!)  But it can be any relatives, siblings, teachers, etc. that they consider special.  And we're not opposed to multiple heroes coming with one kid (so they don't have to choose between you and someone else.)  We just want to see adults join us for T&T clubs tomorrow!

The fun starts at 6:15pm!  See you there!

Understanding Obedience

We live in a society where an emphasis on teaching obedience sounds to some like heavy-handed authoritarianism. Parents don't want to be dictators so they sometimes move far away from anything that looks like being controlling. This is unfortunate since God is the one who gave the instructions for children to learn obedience. Hidden within this quality are the principles that will make children successful as they get older.

When children learn to obey they learn to give up their own agenda for someone else. They learn to listen to an instruction and follow through with it. They learn how to be responsible, check back, and complete a task. In short, when children learn obedience, they not only make family life easier but they also develop the character that will make them more valuable in the work place, the community, and the world. In fact, learning to obey parents teaches kids what they need in order to obey God.

We say that obedience is "doing what someone says, right away, without being reminded." Children as young as three years old can memorize this simple definition and understand what it means. Parents sometimes think that obedience is the same as compliance. When a parent says, "I can get my children to obey eventually," that's not obedience. Compliance is only part of obedience. When you say to your son, "It’s time to go to bed now," and he says, "As soon as I'm done with this game," that's not obedience; it's an excuse for disobedience.

As parents, it's okay to negotiate and compromise with our children sometimes, but too often children aren't mature enough for this. In fact, they may be demanding, unable to give up their agenda for someone else. Cooperation requires that both people give and take. In order to get to that stage, children must first learn how to sacrifice or follow. Once they learn that, true cooperation can take place.

Teach obedience and you’ll give your children a valuable gift that will be used for the rest of their lives.

This parenting tip comes from the book Home Improvement, the Parenting Book You Can Read to Your Kids by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.