Poll Question: Should parents prohibit their kids from participating in church and youth group activities as a method of discipline?

Yes: 26%
No: 74%

Selected Comments:

I have to say that I struggle with this sometimes. Sometimes my daughter doesn't spend enough time prepping for tests/quizzes & I feel guilty for letting her go off to church related youth activities for 1 1/2 hrs - when I know that she is not prepared for the test or quiz the next day.

Spiritual training is very important. Not all youth group activities involve spiritual training, but the ones that do should not be prohibited. In fact, I believe we should encourage kids to hang around Christians.

"Homeward" Survey

5 Tips for Helping Busy Parents Re-Prioritize Their Lives:

1. Ruthlessly Eliminate Stress No one can get their priorities straight if they’re constantly living “under the gun.” If there’s so much stress in your life that you’re finding it difficult to keep your priorities in order, lighten your load first – and now!

2. Make Daily Solitude a Priority Don’t feel guilty or like you’re “avoiding your family” for making time for yourself each day. It’s a must... even if it’s just 15 minutes in the morning for “quiet time” with the Lord. No one will miss you if you “take 5” for yourself every now and then... so do it.

3. Develop a “Blank Slate” Approach In other words, begin and end each day with no agenda. Come before the Lord with open arms, hands and an open mind and heart each morning. Let Him set your day in motion and then give everything back to Him at the end of each day – all your worries, cares, successes, failures. Exchange them for a good night’s sleep. (Psalm 91:1)

4. Give Your Family Your Best – Not Your “Emotional Leftovers” It’s very noble to “give your all” at work. But, what does that leave for your spouse and kids? Not much? Not good! Your family deserves the best you have to offer. They need you healthy, rested, happy, or perhaps more importantly, content. No “table scraps” from your heart for them. Give them the main course. Then, watch how your priorities change by themselves!

5. Don’t Wait for Someone Else to Do this For You This is your life – these should be your priorities. If you’re waiting for someone else to come alongside you and tell you how to live your life, you’re in for a long wait. The time to make the changes is now – so get to it!
Reprioritizing your life doesn’t have to be difficult. But, if you’re like most of us, it does need to be done every now and then. And, with God’s help, you can do it!

(Excerpted from the book, The 10 Building Blocks for a Happy Family by Jim Burns, Ph.D.)

Unprecedented Confusion, Uncertainty, and Fear

Check out this relevant letter I received this AM from my friend Tim Ramseier (Executive Dir. of Vigo Co. YFC)... Talking about timely for today. Let us hold fast to the wisdom and security of God and the hope we have in Christ!

My Dear Brothers and Sisters…
“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:17-18

There is unprecedented confusion, uncertainty, fear and polarization in our country today. The volatility in the stock market is becoming an appropriate proxy for what has long been the story of many souls.

It is with this situation as a backdrop that I write, knowing that many of you/us are facing deep and difficult challenges. It is against this canvas that we paint the picture of hope and certainty. Our Lord and Savior is not panicked, He is not wringing His hands in worry. He needs not call any emergency meeting of the Godhead.

These are wonderful days to be a part of the ministry of Youth for Christ. The stakes are high. The test is intense. The opposition is sharp. The problems are daunting. But when, in the midst of all of this, we are able to catch a glimpse of the sovereignty of God, then we will begin to find the joy of our salvation.

I treasure your partnership in the Gospel. I treasure your commitment and sacrifice on behalf of Youth for Christ.

I am honored to serve for you and with you. I am praying for you as you resist the urge to fold or cave or retreat. Courage my friend. You are not alone. There is great comfort in the companionship of battle. And so today I wanted to shine a light on that partnership. “I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” Be dispensers of this hope to the many individuals in your communities that are hurting, unraveled and broken by the times in which we live.

I love and appreciate you.

Soli Deo Gloria.
Dan

Daniel S. Wolgemuth
President/CEO

Photo from Yahoo.com

Cell Phone vs. Bible

(Checkout the new "LIVE" Bible--NLT)

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several time a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we us ed it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go... hmm... where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being
disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!
from my friend Micheala