Praying with your kids is a great thing to do but it can be hard.  For a while our kids were in a prayer rut, praying the same things over and over again (much of which made no sense).  Something that has helped is a family prayer box.  We took a shoe box and put in missionary postcards, family photos, photos of friends, sponsor kid etc.  Each night after Bible reading we pull out the box and the kids take it in turns to pull something from the box.  Now they love it and protest when we don’t get out the box!  So I can recommend it - post a comment if you give it a go!

I wanted to share a segment of an email I received from one of our church members tonight…

“Just thought I’d let you know that I have (finally) written a letter about the Scripture/ethics classes to send to the various people on your list - I have 4 envelopes stamped and sealed and ready to post! I kept feeling a certain reluctance to sit down and actually write the thing, which I’m not sure can be wholly attributed to laziness (though I’m sure it’s a factor!). But once I did, the letter came very easily. I’m sure the devil uses our laziness and apathy. Thanks for providing the guidelines for the letter so it was really very easy once I got around to it… and be encouraged!”

I was enormously encouraged by this and I thought it might encourage those of you who have really wanted to send a letter yet have not written the letters to act!

I pray that you won’t let laziness or apathy get the better of you… why not write your letter now?

Well here it is… Scripture vs Ethics #3.

If you are passionate about seeing Scripture in schools then come to my place TONIGHT!! 7.30pm let me know if you need my address. We will be hearing some encouraging Scripture stories, praying and being informed on the Ethics versus Scripture debate and praying some more.

I would love to see you there.

Here is a document which will help you write a letter to voice your opinions on the Scripture vs Ethics debate…

Crafting a letter

I have also included in the above document names and addresses of the relevant people involved so you know who to write your letters to!

I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if you do decide to write a letter - it would be enormously encouraging for me to hear.

See you tonight!

I’m nowhere near a “raising boys” guru… there’s good chance that I might look back on this post and freak out, but I thought I’d share my thoughts about how I send my boys off to school.

Every morning, when my two boys (yr1 and yr2) hop out of the car to go to school, I tell them the same 4 things, again and again, everyday.

1. Be good
   (not “learn lots”, or even “do what your teachers say”, but “be good”)
2. Be nice to the mean kids
3. Protect the weak kids
4. I love you!

I hope that by the time they’re in yr4 & yr5 and have become the “older kids” in primary school, they’ll have those words always ringing in the back of their minds as they interact with other kids. And I pray it’ll have an effect on their classmates and the whole school too, for God’s glory.

Today, Mitchell asked me why we should “be nice to the mean and protect the weak”. I couldn’t think of any better reason than to say that’s how Jesus has treated us; We’re weak, and we’ve been mean to him! But Jesus has been kind to us by protecting us. We should want to be like Jesus.

photo credit: freeparking

Psalm 78

¹ O my people, hear my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.

² I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

³ what we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.

⁴ We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
his power, and the wonders he has done.

⁵ He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our forefathers
to teach their children,

⁶ so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.

One of the amazing privileges of living in Australia is our public education system. Not simply that children have the opportunity to read, write and add but even more importantly children in our public schools are educated about the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.

Week by week we have teams of Scripture teachers ascending on some of the local schools (both primary and high school) in the area. Each week they open the bible with these kids and help them to access the truth that will set them free.

Recently there has been a push to have ethics classes replace the current Scripture time slots or at least stand in opposition to them. Sadly there is a trial beginning this term in a number of schools around the state whereby parents and children had the choice to withdraw from their current Scripture classes and commence ethics lessons delivered by staff from their school.

Not surprisingly about half the numbers of Scripture children in these trial schools have been withdrawn. How devastating for the future of children in Australia if these ethics lessons are passed. This generation and following generations of children will live in even greater ignorance of their creator and saviour.

What can we do? How are we to respond to the changes in our local schools? Can I give you three suggestions…

1) PRAY - pray that these trials will not be successful. Pray that teachers and students are unsatisfied with the ethics lessons. Pray that God would continue to use Scripture in our schools to bring glory to his name.

2) WRITE - letters to our state government showing your opposition to the cancellation (or decrease) of Scripture teaching in schools. If you are a parent - write to the principals of the schools and areas supervisors showing your opposition to these changes.

3) TEACH - our time in schools teaching this generation about the good news about Jesus may indeed be limited. Why not give Scripture teaching a go! Make the most of the opportunities we have now…have no regrets!!!

My prayer is that these trials will not be successful. My prayer is that children would so love their Scripture classes that when given the option to change to ethics classes they choose Scripture. My prayer is that we would continue having the freedom to go into schools and teach of the praiseworthy deeds of our Lord. Won’t you pray that with me?

Check out a little video we made of all the Wave Summer Sites stuff…

In Ephesians Paul speaks unpacks God’s great purpose in our world. God gives a clear view of the world through his own eyes and what becomes clear is that God’s purposes are all about bringing glory to himself through Jesus. In chapter 3 Paul is able to say…

10His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That’s both a humbling and terrifying statement! God in his infinite wisdom has chosen to make his wisdom known to the whole universe through the church. It’s humbling because God has included us in his work - we are to proclaim what he has accomplished in Christ to the world. And terrifying because he has included us in his work - what a responsibility. We’d love you to join us in prayer. Pray that through Kids Club, Adults section, and the coffee tent, God in his infinite wisdom would be making his wisdom known to the people of Newcastle. The team will spending some time praying for this @ 7.30pm on Saturday 9th January, Lambton High School. Please join us!

There are some more specific prayer points attached here if you are unable to make it that evening….

Teaching your kids about Jesus at Christmas can be as hard as getting them to read their birthday card before they open the present- the important gets overwhelmed by the exciting!

I reckon you need to start early in your children’s lives and build into your family various traditions that will get the message through year after year.  One of these could be making an advent calendar (which our family is trying this year).  Each day we’re going to open a box which will have some Christmas type stickers, the occasional treat, and a bible verse.

This year, with the kids being young, we’re only doing 14 boxes.  Here’s the verses I’ve chosen if you’d like to try them yourself- or you could choose your own!

Try to make Christmas a great time where Jesus not materialism rules your home!

Verses

Recently during Kids Club we ran a training evening for parents. It was such a helpful time as we thought about the internet: it’s benefits and dangers. There was only a small turn out on the day but I thought the information was so beneficial that it was important to pass on what we heard…

Can I recommend that you listen to the talk, no matter what age your child is(!!!!). I think it is really easy to listen to and enormously helpful.

The points below are from the handout we were given.

THREE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES

1. Your kids know more about the Internet and technology than you do.
2. The Internet is morally neutral: it can be used for great good, but also great harm.
3. You have a responsibility to be the parent.

TOP TIPS

1. Communicate, communicate, communicate.
2. Work hard at understanding the online world
3. Protect your computer
4. Computer in public (e.g. lounge room not bedroom)
5. Agree on a rules for Internet use
6. Shoulder Surf - discourage secret keeping
7. Remind to be cautious
8. Learn the features of new devices
9. Talk to teachers and Christian leaders about the latest useful websites for children
10. Model how the internet can be used for good.

My prayer is that you will find this helpful for your family and that it will enable you to responsibly lead and guide them in their use of the internet.

The internet can be used for great good, but also great harm. Most children know more about how to use the internet than their parents. It’s incredibly important that parents work hard at understanding the potential dangers and develop strategies to protect their children online.thurs 29th oct 4.30pm -6.15pm (during kids club)

new lambton community centre
front meeting room

alma rd - new lambton

guest speaker…dave miers

cost… FREE

(kids club normally costs $3… this week any guests will be free!!!)

questions?…email jen

jenshadwick@bigfoot.com