A Life of Faith Starts at Home

I read an interesting quote recently that has really set me thinking:

“... the next generation is abandoning Christianity at an alarming rate despite some of the best teaching, worship, student ministries and coffee shops in church history. Churches have never worked harder; yet generational transfer is in decline. Something doesn’t add up”

This was from “It Starts at Home” by Kurt Bruner and Steve Stroope.

I grew up in the era that preceded all the excitement of modern electronic music, professional student ministries and coffee shops. Our youth leaders were somebody’s parents or big brother and any food consumed was at the home we invaded that night.

The funny thing is, our youth group, and most of the others in our area were well attended and very healthy. So were the Sunday Schools.

Something doesn’t add up.  What’s changed in the last 50 years.

Bruner and Stroope make the point that a child’s spiritual training ‘starts at home’. "Satan does not fear a religion that merely stencils words on a stone wall or even preaches them in a sermon. What he dreads is when the Word becomes flesh and blood in the tangible context of a God-honoring marriage and family.”

Or

“If you want to make the Devil cringe, celebrate 50 years of marriage or enjoy laughter with your children around the dinner table”.

Do we expect the church to take care of our children’s spiritual training?

Have we bought the devil’s lie that our children will get bored with Christ’s teaching if we don’t jazz it up a bit with bright lights, deafening music and constantly changing images?

Did we get too busy to just have dinner together around the table every night, and talk?

Sobering figures: The likelihood of someone becoming a believer is 32% before the age of 13,  4% as a teenager and 6% during the remainder of life.

Don’t leave your children’s spiritual training to the church, youth group or Christian school. Don’t wait until their tender hearts have become set like concrete. And don’t let the Devil fool you into thinking that ‘being SO busy” is some kind of brilliant achievement or noble virtue.

Psalm 78: 5-7…”He commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them( His statutes), and they in turn would tell their children, so they would put their trust in God…and keep His commands.”

Check out the above book for some really great ideas on raising children of faith. Also, www.drivefaithhome.com

What Makes a Good School

Choosing a school for your children has become one of parents’ most important decisions, whether for preppies or high schoolers. Factors high on the list usually include curriculum, values, discipline and VCE results.

If  I had a preppie ready for school, this is what I would be looking for and asking about:

• A literacy program that teaches the names and sounds of the alphabet (phonics) and how they fit together to make words. (VERY important)
• Classrooms that are bright, stimulating, quiet and orderly
• Children’s work all over the noticeboards (as opposed to instructional posters that no-one reads)
• A visionary principal who is proud of his/her school and his staff
• User-friendly, plain English reporting

If I had a child entering high school, this would be my priority list:

·         Strong Discipline, including high standard of uniform

·         Good VCE results

·         Strong focus on academic subjects (English, Maths, Science, History, Geog, LOTE)

·         Good Arts programs (music, creative arts)

·         Good PE and sporting program

·         An emphasis on spiritual development (devotions/chapel) and a chaplain  on staff.

The rise and rise of private school enrolments of late has had a lot to do with parents moving their children to schools where they will be safe from bullies. Discipline is often the first priority of parents, with a caring environment a close second.

Here is a simple test to gauge the level of discipline in a school:

            Sit outside the school gate at 3:30 and watch the children leaving school. Are they wearing their full uniform, properly. Are the girls modest (thighs covered) and well-groomed, the boys clean cut?

Why is uniform so important?

It is a clear indication of who is in charge. If teachers believe in and enforce good dress standards, the result is uniformity, with no child standing out as different or special. If students decide the dress standards, they can be exceedingly cruel in the way they enforce their codes, giving bullies a free hit with any child who doesn’t fit in.

If you ask for a school tour by the principal, note carefully the features of the school of which he/she is most proud. What has the school spent a lot of money on, and why? These clues speak of its values and priorities.

Good schools prepare young people for future study or employment by focusing on learning and eliminating distractions. Parents who decide to invest in private education get the best value for money when they give the school their total support and make the journey a team effort. It can even make the journey very enjoyable for the child.