Christian Parenting Today articles from June 2005

Christian Parenting Today archives from June 2005

Discovering community.(From My Home to Yours)(Editorial)
June 22, 2005... My favorite ministry never gets mentioned in any church brochure or on the website, it receives no funding, and is probably unknown to a good chunk of the congregation. But if you've ever walked out of a church service with a crying baby, you...

God and Me.(book by Penny Boshoff )(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 22, 2005... God and Me by Penny Boshoff (Authentic), $14.99, 380 pages (ages 3-8). What would it take to accomplish a family devotional with young kids? It would have to be short, stimulating, and meaningful, and that's just what this daily...

Little One, God Loves You and Little One, God Made You.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
June 22, 2005... Little One, God Loves You and Little One, God Made You by Amy Warren Hilliker (ZonderKidz), $6.99 each, 12 pages (ages 0-4). Inspired by the best-selling book The Purpose-Driven Life by her dad, Rick Warren, Amy Hilliker has...

Duke and the Great Pie War.(Video Recording Review)(Brief Article)
June 22, 2005... Duke and the Great Pie War (Big Idea), $12.99 VHS, $14.99 DVD, 50 minutes (ages 2-8). Brotherly love is the theme of this latest VeggieTales offering. Based on the biblical story of Ruth, the tale follows Princess Petunia, a...

The Little Kids' Audio Adventure Bible (New Testament).(Brief Article)(Sound Recording Review)
June 22, 2005... The Little Kids' Audio Adventure Bible (New Testament) (ZonderKidz), $24.99, 6 CD set, 6 hours (ages 4-10). If a long car ride is part of your family's vacation plans, this six-CD set could help quell the chorus of "Are we there...

A Faith to Grow On and A Faith to Grow On Journal.(book by John MacArthur )(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 22, 2005... A Faith to Grow On and A Faith to Grow On Journal by John MacArthur (Tommy Nelson), $16.99, 191 pages; journal: $12.99, 96 pages (preteen). John MacArthur, one of today's leading Bible teachers and author of dozens of books, clearly...

Wake Up and Smell the Pizza.(book)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 22, 2005... Wake Up and Smell the Pizza by Todd and Jedd Hafer (Bethany House), $10.99, 192 pages (teens). Sometimes when I sit down to enjoy my favorite pizza (a "Mama's Special" with sausage, bacon, onion, and barbeque sauce), I will suddenly...

The Busy Mom's Guide to Prayer.(book by Lisa Whelchel)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
June 22, 2005... The Busy Mom's Guide to Prayer by Lisa Whelchel (Howard), $11.99, 201 pages (moms). This spiral-bound journal is one of the first releases from The Motherhood Club, which features parenting, devotionals, and fiction for moms. Whelchel,...

Boredom buster.(Ask Lisa)(how to entertain children during summer vacations)
June 22, 2005... Q. I narrowly survived spring break with my three kids who constantly complained about "being bored." Now I'm dreading the approach of summer when school's out for three months. How can I teach them to entertain themselves? A. My kids...

Choices and consequences: your response to negative behavior can bring positive results.(Discipline Matters)
June 22, 2005... If your kids are in elementary school, by now you've given literally hundreds of negative consequences. That's a lot of groundings, time-outs, and early bedtimes. Not to mention headaches. And what's worse is that you've got hundreds more...

Just the two of us: Laura Cockrel faces the challenges of single parenting with the help of her family--and her faith.(Family)(Interview)
June 22, 2005... Laura Cockrel Age: 25 Occupation: Mom, full-time college student, and part-time barista. Morgan Pearlman Cockrel Age: 4 Ottawa, Illinois CPT: What do you like most about being a mom? Laura: Morgan and I share the same...

Do dogs go to heaven?(Tough Question)
June 22, 2005... Q. Our beloved dog recently died. Should I correct my kids when they say they can't wait to play with Rocky again in heaven? A. Humorist Will Rogers said, "If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."...

Fun stuff.(Family Time with God)
June 22, 2005... May Mischief (May 1) Your kids can make their friend a May Day basket. You need: * Construction paper * Crayons/markers/paints * Yarn or ribbon * Stapler * Hole punch Paint, color, or sponge-stamp shapes...

May perseverance.(biblical literature)(Calendar)
June 22, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday Week 1 Gratitude I Chronicles 29:13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 1 2 3 ...

June encouragement.(bibilical literature)(Calendar)
June 22, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday 1 2 Read Recite your ...

July a true friend.(Calendar)
June 22, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday Week 1 The Characteristic of Love Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 3 4 ...

Love lessons: what living with my mother's Alzheimer's taught our family about heartbreak--and joy.(One Family's Story)
June 22, 2005... One Friday afternoon, my 15-year-old son John and I were in the kitchen preparing after-school snacks. My mother, who lived with us, was there too. My younger sons, James, 10, and Jaron, 8, were playing outside when I asked John to get the...

That's what friends are for: spend time with other moms and get you the encouragement and support you need.(The Parenting Center)
June 22, 2005... I once heard someone say, "There's no one lonelier than a new mom." Then I lived it. After my husband, David, and I pinched pennies for four years so I could stay home, our first daughter was born. It should have been my "happily ever after,"...

Quiet time.(prayers)(Brief Article)
June 22, 2005... Dear Heavenly Father, I want to spend this summer season enjoying your presence. Help me to carve out times of quiet amid the chaos of daily life. Let me be aware of the sacred in the ordinary: the music of a child's laugh, the...

Have you heard of the four steps to friendship with God? The Alliance for Christian Fellowship International.
June 22, 2005... These four steps are supported by many verses in the Bible - Some of them are listed with each step. STEP ONE Know that God loves you with an ever-lasting love and wants to bless you and fellowship with you. The Bible says that...

Planned purity: reeling from the pain of personal experience, Dannah Gresh set out to equip teens to say "no" to sex.(Interview)
June 22, 2005... It's summer--the season of warm weather and, unfortunately, revealing fashions. Take a stroll through your local department store and once again you'll be confronted with the challenge to find modest--yet fashionable--clothing for your child....

A fruitful summer: when I set out to teach my family the fruits of the Spirit, I learned a valuable lesson.
June 22, 2005... If you walked into my family room, you might be too polite to ask, but you'd certainly be wondering, what are those brown things on the wall? You might think I had three brown ghosts hanging around our fireplace, but the enlightened (my...

Second chances: every day, foster parents are giving kids the opportunity for a new life. Could your family become one of them?(Special Report)
June 22, 2005... Seven-year-old Angela stared out the window, pressing her face close to the pane. She watched as her mother opened the door of the taxi and climbed in. The taxi driver tossed suitcases in the trunk, and the car sped away. There were no...

Family pride: show your kids the treasure they have in belonging to one another.
June 22, 2005... OK, I'll admit it. The Lion King is one of my all-time favorite movies. Even though I'm in my 50s, something about that animated Disney classic just warms my heart every time I watch it. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] My favorite part of the...

Beach blanket bedlam: how four families vacationed together--and lived to do it again.
June 22, 2005... Every year about this time I open the mailbox and there they are: the beaming, bronzed, and beautiful young family frolicking joyously in the waves of a sandy beach. Above their smiling faces are the words "Summer Rental Guide." And...

"No" know-how: help your kids accept their limits.
June 22, 2005... I hate to say "no" to my kids. I don't like to be the unpleasant voice of reason, and I dread the prospect of battle. I don't think I'm alone. Our reasons may vary, but few parents enjoy opposing their kids or denying their desires. I...

Tailgate tales: how to have the perfect getaway when you can't get away.
June 22, 2005... Summer vacation! My kids were ecstatic. But I, sensing imminent anarchy, was less enthusiastic. I'd read articles featuring families on cruises, families at dude ranches, families at theme parks, families at resorts. However, I knew none of...

A few choice words: how even small affirmations can impact your child's life in a big way.(A Father's Heart)
June 22, 2005... One of the best things about doing seminars is getting to hear people's stories--in this case, the story of a little girl and an incredible gift her father, James, gave to her. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] James had two daughters. One was...

Knit one, purl you! Discover what God has to say about you through your creativity.(Mom's Journal)(Column)
June 22, 2005... I just took up knitting. I squeeze it in between shopping for support hose and cleaning my dentures. But seriously, knitting seems to be the "in" thing now. Every time I hit the craft-store yarn sales, I end up garnering color advice from...