Advertise on podcast: Raising Joyful Children In An Angry World

I have released in print a new children's book titled "God's Big Plan - Earthly Kings To King Jesus."  I am also releasing the book in audio form in October. This book and hopefully more to follow require me to end the podcasting activity. I am convinced that as the prophet Joel talked about old man dreaming dreams and young men having visions, we old men are here to help the young men see and understand the visions God has given them, through the lens of the God's Kingdom.  There is something special about becoming a grandfather, you see things in kids that as a busy parent you missed.  You have the time and life experience to reflect and plant seeds in their hearts that will benefit them.

We hit our 100th episode last week and at the same time I launched this summer a publishing company called Seize The Story which will place the first Children's book. "God's Big Plan" on Amazon August 13th. The podcast has run its course and it is time to stop advising and start giving parents books and stories that they can give to their kids.  Jonathan Eldridge talked about the story that is true and the story people want to be true.  This is the great battle of Christianity .  My new goal is to build Bible and biblically themed stories that help kids grasp the story that is true, in their hearts, and minds, by God's grace and power.

How humility and faith are required to yield courage and confidence.

A young boy during VBS spoke some important words for parents and teachers as to our expectations in teaching our children the Bible. This recap of the Bible I hope to help you understand the reality we work in with our kids.

Is Vacation Bible School an inoculation to the influence of "AI" artificial intelligence on smart phones. Monitoring and regulating has limits, you kids need wisdom. Biblical education informs our epistemology, and informs our experience, logic and testing methods, to know what is true, good and beautiful. What brings joy and what brings self-destruction.

Parents raising kids in the modern evangelical traditions appear to be anxious about kids continuing in the faith as the reach adulthood. Barna Group and others report a huge decline of young adults raised in evangelical homes, leaving the church at college age.  This week I want to suggest that the emphasis on individual faith in which we place more importance on what we agree to instead of what God has promised, is the root of the issue. Kids raised to see Christianity as a transaction with terms and conditions are not getting the gospel.  The church over states testimonies, over values the rational capacity, and personal contribution. The scripture tells us a different story, that we and our kids were dead in our trespasses and our God gave us life.

This week I look at the latest parenting description the Beta Mom.  Why the Tiger Mom or Beta Mom is not the question, when it comes to the soul of your children.

Validation your children seek must be delivered with care and balanced with helping see their value in Christ more than performance.

This week I want to share my confession that baby boomers who grew up in churched America, a country that most people attended church, was not as effective as we boomers would like to believe. This message should serve as a reminder to parents that church is not enough, your kids need to know the dramatic stories of scripture that teach them about God and their mission in the kingdom.

I had a debate with my grandsons about Poke Mon vs The Ninja Turtles. It taught me a great deal about the what these stories teach and how advanced our kids are in picking up the story lines. I learned that Biblical themes are often copied, that kids learn faster than we think, and they need us to help them see the great stories of the Bible. So many people in children's literature reject the idea of teaching kids lessons from stories. We are told to avoid complex plot lines, yet the most popular trading card game of our age, says the opposite. Understanding the basics of Poke Mon and how much two first graders understood about it, convinced me Christian kids by the power of the Holy Spirit can grasp the gospel.

Kids as young as middle school being encouraged to walk out of school is a joy wrecking activity. This week we cover what Isaiah says about justice and conspiracy.

The world of film and novels is loaded with realm stories, everyone wants to be the next Tolkien or Rowlings. The Bible offers realm stories of kings and thrones with a more comprehensive view of our humanity, kings and God. This episode encourages parents to read these stories to their children, so they will have discernment.

Peer pressure starts young and the young see the world as everything important is right now. This part of our nature leads us to decisions that trip up our kids. This week I want to suggest the basic bible principles our kids need and where to find a multi dose of wisdom.

Many parents get the kids through the church check list and leave it to the professionals. I believe if you want your kids to have deeper faith walk you need to get beyond the church checklist. This week I make a couple suggestions from studying the kings of the Bible.

The prince of this world offers many memberships   to our kids, in an attempt to rob their Christian identity. The most common is seeing yourself as belonging to a unique generation that is superior to past generations. The benefit of this club is you don't have to follow the boundaries or values held in the past. At best you ignore your citizenship in the kingdom, at worst you deny it.