As parents, our God-given role is to slowly train our kids so they will, God willing, mature into Christian adults (Eph 6:4). We aren’t to teach them to depend upon us. No do we want them to become selfish individuals.

This requires lots of things; caring for and spending time with them, talking and listening to them, teaching them God’s word and praying with them. It helps to plan to do this. Use this tool from Fatherhood by Tony Payne.

It will also require disciplining our children.  We’ll teach, urge and encourage our kids to walk on the right path (1 Thes 2:11-12). Show physical affection. Visually pay attention when listening. Look for ways to express verbal approval.

And because we love our kids, we’ll punish them when they wander off the path (Heb 12:5-11). We need to have realistic expectations of them. When they’re young, start with only a few simple rules. Explain what you want and give clear rewards and consequences. As they grow, teach them why this is good and right - that you and God want this. At the same time, increase your expectations of their behaviour.

We primarily want to develop their characters, not their gifts. Praise growth in godliness. Punish character failures rather than flawed efforts; defiant motives, deceitful words, delayed obedience or, when young, dangerous actions like running on the road. Ask them to explain their actions and motives. Your goal is real remorse and efforts to change.

Work out a system of punishment appropriate for each child. Be consistent in applying it. Watch your anger so you don’t over-react. Be willing to change when it no longer works. Don’t issue empty threats. Don’t give into pleas or tantrums.

One of our kids hated time outs in his room. When we started toilet training, he would deliberately wee on the floor. So we moved his time out to outside the house. Another of our kids is very active. He would entertain himself, if he was given a time out. But he hated having to sit still against the wall and watch others do things.

If possible make the punishment fit the crime. Escalate the punishment based on severity of sin. Some actions only need a verbal rebuke, reminding them why you and God expect certain behaviours. Others require you to remove the cause of the trouble. then you may need to give a time out or deprive them of a desired treat or toy. The worst sins may need a restrained smack (limited in number and force) to a set part of the body (bottom or leg).

Monday mornings are one of the highlights of my week. Every Monday Steve, Ben, Roz, James, Fiona and I gather in Steve’s house. After a tasty breakfast (ricotta and honey on toast this week - delicious), one of the church staff arrives to train us. Every Monday morning during term is MTS Training.

This year we’ve looked at so many things: expectations for MTS, integrated kid’s ministry, time management, ministry across genders, visitation, caring for international students and the powerless in society, what worship is, what church is, the appropriate and inappropriate things for a church service, and many, many other things.

This picture (right) is from training a few weeks ago. Sam was teaching us about youth ministry. He encouraged us to look for godly and keen people to be youth group leaders, rather than the ‘cool’ hoodie-wearing stereotype. To seek the people who love God’s word and who are committed to sharing their lives with the kids of a youth group.

MTS training is a highlight of my week because we are trained to think through ministry situations and issues. It’s also encouraging to hear the struggles and joys of each other’s ministries. It’s great to have dedicated time to think through and work on our understanding and abilities, so that we can serve God more effectively.

Why not ask one of the MTS Apprentices about some of the things we’ve been learning. We’d love to tell you more!

Over the long weekend about 50 people from HBC went along to the Spur 09 conference in Katoomba.  Spur 09 is a conference run by MTS (mts.com.au) to challenge people to think about living for Christ with their whole lives (full time ministry being a definite option).

As we drove up to Katoomba, fog covered the mountains.  Visibility was almost zero, the mood was oppressive and I was sure one of us would have an accident.

Thankfully we all survived.  It got me thinking about how life without the light and clarity of God’s world is like driving through fog.  Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Over the weekend, Phillip Jensen and Greg Lee opened God’s word to us, blowing away the fog of worldly thinking.  Some highlights for me were…

We are ‘creatures’ and so therefore have a purpose.  But we are created and owned by another.  It is God therefore and not us who defines our purpose.  Consider Acts 13:36 ‘For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.’  (Phillip Jensen, talks 1 and 2).

‘The only valid reason to do full time ministry is because you want to give everything to God’ (Greg Lee talk 1 preaching from Romans 12:1-8).

‘Christians don’t have a career, just a job’ (Phillip Jensen talk 2).

Word ministry is more important than general ministry but the ‘minister of the word’ is no more important than anyone else (Greg Lee talk 2 from Romans 12:1-8).

Two questions to ask regarding your gifts:  ‘What does the church need?’ and ‘Does good come from my contribution?’ (Greg Lee talk 2)

Christ comes before your family and parents.  ‘If your children come before Christ they will think they are God’ (Phillip Jensen talk 3)

The fog of worldly thinking was blown away.  We were challenged to live for Christ.  Where is the fog blowing over your eyes?

The Boxes are one of the families who we support as a church, who are serving Jesus throughout the world. Click here to download a copy of their latest newsletter “Letter Box”. Read about some of the challenges Kingsley has faced in leading Bible studies in another culture, as well as some of the upcoming evangelistic events they have planned on campus. All of this helps us to better pray for, and support, our missionaries.

I had never heard of the movie Collision before a blog pointed me to it today today.  It is a discussion between Christopher Hitchens (famous Athiest) and Douglas Wilson (pastor and Christian writer), and looks like it has been done in an engaging and entertaining manner.  Check out this clip…

YouTube page:  

With the rise of Athiesm throughout the world this is a movie worth watching.  But more than that.  Why not make an event of it.  Buy it online and invite a bunch of friends over to watch it together and debate the hot issues that come from the video.  Here is why Douglas Wilson reckons Christians and atheists ought to watch.

Contact me if you want us to organise people to come and speak at your event…

To be honest I hate making budgets. This may sound surprising since my last job was working as an accountant. But I find doing budgets tedious, time-consuming and boring.

However, we need to budget. It saves us from wasting and frittering money away. If its there, I will spend it on essentials and on things I want until my pay is gone. Budgeting stops me foolishly spending every dollar I earn, and teaches me to be patient.

More importantly, when we budget, we have to plan how we will use the money God has given us. We have to make choices about what we buy, according to our priorities. Will I buy a new plasma TV or pay the rent? Will I save for a deposit on a house or give money to support a missionary? Our budgets express what’s important to us.

This means its essential we go to our church budget meeting. Being part of a church family means being involved in the life of church. We care about the priorities and plans and direction of our church. We want to be part of deciding how church plans to spend the money God gives us; to ensure our expenditures express our priorities as God’s church.

So come along on October 28th to Hamilton Baptist Church at 7.30pm. Hear Greg Lee talk about our plans for next year, and see how what this means financially for us as a church.