Love each other - just the way we are.

Wow - this is a great message from Steve and a really outstanding application at the end. 

 

You all know I love family meetings - we had "formal" family meetings three times each year (start of school year, new year and start of summer).  We talked about chores, curfews, driving, sleep overs, dating, jobs, college, responsibilities, attitudes - all kinds of stuff.  We talked about consequences for poor decisions/behavior and consequences for good decisions/behavior.  We talked about family rules and values.  We talked about family priorities.  Everyone got to talk and there was no time limit.

 

But Steve has gone one better (like he always did when he worked for me!!!!!!!!!).  What a great exercise for each family member to confess their #1 family sin.  If I were using that in one of our family meetings, I would open it up by saying, "At our family meeting, we are going to tell each other something you think you could do better in being part of this family."

 

Then, I would go first.  By going first, I could set up the expectation that this is pretty serious and we want something of substance.  I probably would have said something like this, "I need all of your help and  God's help in being more patient with Kasey and Keeley.  Far too often, I interrupt or jump to a conclusion or stop listening or start preaching or do something that cuts them off and makes them feel unimportant.  I am so sorry I do that and I really need your help to stop doing that.  You have my 100% permission to say, "Dad, you are not being patient with me." and I will shut up and pay attention!"

 

It's very important for our kids to know that we are not perfect.  We make mistakes and we mess up.  And, WE ARE NOT BETTER THAN THEY ARE.  Read that again, WE ARE NOT BETTER THAN THEY ARE.  We have more wisdom and experience.  We have a God directed job to teach our kids and train them in the way they should go.  But we also have a God directed job to not frustrate them and to 1 Coninthians 13 love them.   How we deal with our own disagreements, poor decisions and behaviors sets an example for our children to see that 1.  Mistakes and disagreements are allowed.  2.  We learn from them.  3.  The sun still comes up tomorrow and 4.  We still love each other.

 

We ended every family meeting with a group prayer and then had Kasey and Keeley's favorite dinner (it changed as they grew older - from mac and cheese, to pizza, to crab legs to fondue - it's still fondue).  Kasey and Keeley would take turns getting to choose.

 

Love your kids, listen to them, spend time with them.  When we do that with our kids, they will do it with their kids.

 

Scott

 

LOVE ONE ANOTHER: Day 8 > > > Just as you are.
 Romans 15:7
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

If the President of the United States were coming to your house for dinner, I’m pretty sure your family would clean the house, take showers, brush & comb your hair, and put on some nice clothes. Not so with Christ. He accepts you and loves you just the way you are…and calls each of us to do the same for one another.

Accepting one another does not mean that we ignore unloving behavior…it means that we love each other well despite our unloving behavior. Christ forgave you and loves you even though you were and continue to be a sinner. Doesn’t it make sense that we should turn around and do the same for each other? After all, unlike Christ, each one of us far from perfect…so who are we to refuse to accept someone because of their imperfections?

We all do things wrong on a daily basis. Hopefully, as we get older and closer to Christ, those things will decrease and the loving things will increase. That is a road that we all must travel, so why not make the journey as pleasant as possible? It starts by loving and accepting one another, just as we are.

APPLICATION: Take time together as a family to confess your biggest family sins. Dad gets angry too much. Mom doesn’t have much patience. Sister is too quick to criticize and brother teases too much. You get the drill. After that, make a commitment to love and accept one another despite those sins, and pray that God would help all of you overcome them. 

I'm right - you're wrong! Really?

Good Day Families!

 

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul writes that love "keeps no record of wrongs".  I don't know about you, but I didn't always put that into practice when Kasey and Keeley were younger.  As a matter of fact, there were times I had a REALLY GOOD LIST of stuff they did wrong!   But, of course, I was perfect.  I never messed up. 

 

I was so off base! 

 

 

We are all sinners, we all make mistakes and bad decisions and do stupid things.  But our heavenly Father does not love us less nor does he point the finger of blame.  None of us are righteous, not even one; we all fall short of God's glory.  But if we are faithful and confess our sins, we will be forgiven and our sins will be thrown into the deepest ocean and totally forgotten.  (How is that for some combined theology!)

 

Sometimes we don't do that very well in our families.  We fall into the "blame game" working harder to assign fault than to work together in love to reason and resolve the issue.  Love is so much about putting the needs of others ahead of our own needs.  Love is about finding and rejoicing in our commonality rather than arguing over our differences.  One sure thing we all have in common is our sinful nature.  Another is that we have Jesus Christ.  His death on the cross freed us from our sins and made us pure again.   Isaiah 1:18 tells us  "Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

 

As we have discussed many times, parents and children mess up.  They do stupid things and make bad decisions and mistakes - AND there are consequences as a result.  But love will endure before, during and after.  Our love for one another can get us through even the most difficult situations.  Rather than pointing out what we did wrong and assigning blame, let's point to God's word for a better way to build our families and get through tough times.

 

 

Scott

 

LOVE ONE ANOTHER Day 7 > > > Finger Pointing

Romans 14:13

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

There is plenty of finger pointing going on in most of our families. “She did this!” or “He did that!” or “He did the other thing first!” Sometimes we try to minimize our sin by criticizing the actions of others, but it only makes things worse. Proverbs 15:1 teaches us “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stir up anger.”

When was the last time finger pointing brought peace into your home?

If the Apostle Paul were to show up in the middle of a finger pointing session at your house or mine he would say in a stern voice, “Stop that! Stop passing judgment on one another! Instead, help one another be more like Jesus!” Paul knew that the only thing that comes from this condemnation of one another is disunity, disharmony, and disrespect…or to put it simply, the opposite of loving one another. So when conflict arises, how should we as Christians respond?

First, we must decide ahead of time that we are going to pursue love and peace in our homes above all else. Second, we have to be compassionate with each other. Perhaps your sibling or parent or spouse is having a really tough day and what they really need from you is just to love on them rather than point your finger at them. Finally, we must avoid stirring the pot of hard feelings by being as loving towards one another as we possibly can. It helps to remember the acronym JOY: Jesus, Others, Yourself.

APPLICATION: Discuss how your family needs to handle conflict when it arises. Think of some recent examples and then apply Romans 14:13 to them to see how you could have resolved them in a Christ like way. 

Good Vibrations - Love One Another

If someone placed a hidden tape recorder in your kitchen, what would your family sound like.  Would the listener hear the sweet sounds of harmony (like on the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations") or would they hear the sounds of chaotic noise?  Let's return to 1 Corinthians 13 where Paul writes, "No matter what I say, if I do not have love, it is like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."

 

Works spoken in love have beautiful harmony - even admonishments and correction.  However, there is never harmony when words are spoken in anger, pride, retaliation or self interest - just the sounds of  noisy gongs or clanging cymbals.

 

On top of that, I'll remind all us of something Lisa and I learned when Kasey and Keeley were young: kids are more attentive to a quiet voice in a calm setting than a loud voice in a chaotic setting.

 

Have a blessed day!

 

S

 

LOVE ONE ANOTHER (Day 5) > > > Harmonize

Romans 12:16 (NLT)

Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

If you like music at all, you already know the value of harmony…and how nasty it can be if it’s not there! Bad harmony is like dragging your fingernails down a chalkboard or scraping your fork across a plate; it’s downright painful, isn’t it?

Harmony is a state that God would have all of His children enjoy, but especially within the confines of our own homes. Harmony arises when different parts work together in unity, while retaining their individuality at the same time. As parents, we have to make sure we don’t give one of our children the impression that we want them to be more like another one of our children. That’s favoritism and it’s a sin, not to mention the fact that God didn’t create any of us to be “like” each other…He wants us to be like Jesus.

Pride hurts our families when we refuse to take second place, or insist on having our own way. Pride takes over when we won’t admit we were wrong. Pride keeps us from rejoicing in another person’s victories…and it makes us happy when others fail. Pride is a singular focus on self rather than a focus on God and others. Pride is at the root of virtually every sin, and parents can be just as guilty as their children.

Finally, most of us tend to act like we know everything, including us parents! It is true, of course, that we actually do know more than our children in most cases, but we should never use that in an arrogant way. Children, on the other hand, need to respect the fact that their parents are much older and wiser…but that doesn’t mean that children can’t add to family life with their input, too!

APPLICATION: Pick a song that your entire family likes and listen to it together. Listen for the harmonies, and then discuss how your family can come together like a song made up of different parts…yet works together to create something beautiful. 

God first, family second, what is third?

Interesting story a few weeks back from the sports world relating to Steve's Love One Another message.  Charles "Peanut" Tillman, 10 year All Pro cornerback for the Chicago Bears (the greatest sports franchise of all time!!!!!) and his wife were expecting their fourth child .  Problem is that the Bears had a BIG game on Sunday in Chicago with playoff implications!  Yikes!

 

 

Tillman had been in the news because he said he would miss the game if the baby was coming.  Lots of sports talking heads debating his decision and Tillman responded from his Twitter account - God, Family, Football.

 

That is a great picture of honor and devotion and can be an inspiration to all of us.  Charles Tillman has his priorities straight - he is honoring God in his devotion to his family.  He is putting the needs of his family ahead of his own and in doing so, is living the scriptures.  I know there are times when I fall short in both honor and devotion but I will work with re-newed passion to keep God First, Family Second and the issues of world - work, politics, hobbies, and even the Bears - third.

 

LOVE ONE ANOTHER (Day 4) > > > The One-Two Punch.

Romans 12:10

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

“Devoted” and “Honor” are two words that we don’t hear much in today’s world…and that’s a shame. Devotion denotes loyalty and honor means to show merited respect. When you take these words into a biblical context, like in today’s verse, they become all the more powerful and worthy of our consideration.

Being devoted to one another as family members brings with it an almost tribal or communal feeling; we stick together through thick and thin. You’ve got my back and I’ve got yours. Add to it the dimension of brotherly love and you’ve got yourself an incredibly powerful combination. Devotion + Love = Christ on the Cross.

Honoring one another inside the family shows a proper respect for one another on a few levels. First of all, we are all made in the image of God and that gives each of us inestimable worth. Secondly, the fact that you are part of a family is an incredible blessing! There are nearly 30 million children worldwide who live life everyday without a family.  No mom. No dad. No brother or sister.

Finally, Paul tells us to honor one another above ourselves. It’s hard to take a back seat…to go to the end of the line…to watch somebody else get all the attention. However, this kind of a lifestyle comes a promise from the lips of Jesus Himself: He who is first will be last, and he who is last will be first in the Kingdom of God.

APPLICATION: Talk about what it takes to be a successful team. What role does devotion play? How does honoring one another help the team? How does your willingness to take a back seat help the team? Finally, discuss how your family is like a team…then APPLY what you are learning

Don't give up hope!

Parent Tips from Mark Gregston » Finding Hope … When It Seems Hopeless

 

I love this message from Mark - we parents, particularly during the teen years, can find ourselves wondering if our teens (and ourselves) will make it though in one piece. 

 

The teen years are a time of significant change - both in our kids and in our role as parents.  Change is often messy and painful - but it is very necessary.  Our faith can be put through some real tests during our time as parents but perhaps that is part of our Father's plan for us and our children.

 

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, "For I know the plans I have for you." says the Lord.  "Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

 

Through our faith, we need to trust in God's plan.  His plans are not to harm us but to prosper us AND to give us HOPE!  He never said we would always have smooth sailing - but He did promise He would always be with us and never ever forsake us.

 

The teen years can be wonderful as we see our children reach toward adulthood, but they can also be very confusing and difficult.  When we get at our wit's end and we think our situation is impossible, it is our faith in Jesus Christ that can get us through.  Even in the most extreme situations, it's so important to remember Christ's words in Matthew 19:26, "With man, this is impossible.  But with God, all things are possible."  There is always hope - Christ is with us always and will guide us through even the most difficult times.

 

Love you all,

 

Scott

How does your family love one another?

I am so thankful for Steve Noble and his wonderful ministry - Called 2 Action.  We have all been blessed to share in his Love One Another series these past weeks.  Thank you, Nobes, YOU ROCK!"  (Remember, you can check Steve out at c2athisweek.org.

Let's take a final look at the core issue of Steve's series - what does our heavenly Father tell us about how families should  Love One Another.

How does your family define love?  How does your family show love to one another?  Would your love for each other be visible to a casual observer?   Is loving one another something your family talks about or do you just let it take a "natural" course?    All good and important questions.  Take a moment to think carefully about each one.  Ask your family what they think.

Now, let's take another look at what God's word has to say:  1 John 14:8 tells us that God IS love, "Whoever does not love God does not know God, because God is love."  That if we do not love God, we do not know God because God is love.  Then, if we do know God, we know his two most important laws as told us  in Matthew 22:36-39:  Love God and Love one another.   God is VERY intentional on making sure we know that He IS love and He loves US and it is our duty to love God and people.

It's pretty simple - our Christian faith is all about love.  When we know God, we know love because God is love.

So, is your family intentional on loving one another? Is it part of your families mission and one of your core values?  Because love is a big part of our Father's mission and it is His ONE core value.

OK - so how do we do it?  Remember the Native American legend of the battle that rages between the two wolves inside all people?  One wolf is full of love and the other is full of hate - which one wins the battle?  The one that we feed.  The one we emphasize.  The one we are intentional about.  We need to make loving God and loving one another our two most important and intentional family values. 

As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:2, "....if I don't have love, I am nothing."  We need to "feed the wolf of love".

And let's look at the same chapter one more time for God's definition of EXACTLY what love is:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Now, take a serious look at how you show your love to your spouse and children:

Are you patient?  (for patience is a sign of love)

Is your love kind? (for kindness is a sign of love)

Do you brag about what a great person you are? 

Are you full of pride at what a great parent/spouse you are?

Are you rude? (thoughtless, inconsiderate, mean spirited, dismissive, judgemental  - you know, RUDE)

Do you put the needs of your family before your own needs?

Do you get angry easily?  Use harsh words?

Do you hold grudges?  Do you stir up old events?  Do you refer back to past issues?

Where are your thoughts in your private moments - evil or truth?  Where do you find your joy?

Do you always protect all aspects of  your family?  Do you always trust?  Do you always hope? Does your resolve lessen depending the the fickle winds of life, stress, behavior and outside influences?  Do you ever give up and give in to the "dark wolf"?

Love never fails, never.  God has promised He will never leave us or forsake us.  That He will be with us always until the very end of the age.   He has proven His love by giving His own son to die a horrific death that our sins may be forgiven and we may have eternal life.  His love for each one of us never fails - for we are His children.

Is that how we are with our children?  Always?  Loving one another needs to be intentional.  We need to lay it out for our families and for the whole world to see - we love one another and we define that love according to God's word -  not in the cheap, superficial, feel good way that the world defines love.

As parents and spouses, we need to continually ask ourselves, "Which wolf am I feeding?  For if I am feeding the wolf of love, I know God for God is love but if I am feeding the wrong wolf - I am nothing."

Let the world see that you love your spouse.   Let the world see that your love your children.  Let your spouse and children see that you love them.   For God shows us 24/7/365/lifetime that He loves each one of us just the way we are - warts an all.  And nothing brings more glory to our heavenly Father than when we love one another.

Thank you, Father, for loving us.  Help us to show that same love to our families through all seasons.  Amen.

Scott Mennie

Love One Another (Day 50) > > > The Proof

1 John 4:19-21

We love each other because he loved us first. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.

This verse makes it pretty simple as we wrap up our 50-verse journey: the proof of our Christianity is found in how we love one another. If we love God, how can we NOT love one another? When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He gave them back two: Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself (Mth 22:37-39).

If you slip up once in a while and are unloving towards your parent, sibling, or child, that doesn’t mean you aren’t a Christian. However, if you do it over and over again and don’t recognize it as sin and don’t feel bad about it, your salvation may not be real. As this verse says, “…if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?” It’s impossible to truly love God but not show love towards each other…it’s like trying to get apple juice out of a lemon.

So here at the end of our journey, it might be a good time to affirm your salvation, or perhaps, acquire it for the first time. Becoming a Christian isn’t about a prayer – it’s about being changed by the incredible power of God’s love when you place your faith in Him as your Savior. Christians should love one another well and regularly, simply because God has loved us so much more!

APPLICATION: Talk about the things you can do that prove you are a Christian. Not merely the “what” you can do, but the “why” you would do it. When are we acting like Christ…and when are we not? Finally, go around the room and see if each of you can clearly explain what it takes to go to Heaven in your own words. Parents – make sure it isn’t about “being a good person,” but about accepting God’s free gift of salvation, made possible through the forgiveness of sins by: confession, repentance, and turning to Jesus in faith. 

What comes out of my mouth? Love One Another

When I speak to parent groups, I always get their attention when I tell them I can provide a technique to eliminate 100% of their arguments with their kids.  That's right, 100% of them!!!   The parents look at me incredulously so I always have to remind the group that: 1. I have not lost my mind. and 2. I actually raised two daughters of my own.

So at this point, I really have their attention and they are really interested.  I then extend the message by asking the group of parents, "Are you sure you really want the arguments to stop?"  and "Are you willing to do something really really simple to make the arguments stop?"  Universally, I get the answer "YES!" to those two questions.

None of us likes the arguments we have with our kids (particularly teens) but there are times in our parenting journey when it seems like the only conversations we have with our kids are harsh words and arguments. 

Well, I really have the technique to stopping all of them and it is only two words - but you have to really want to stop the arguments......  You have to be willing to follow the wisdom of two simple words.

Those two words?  Shut Up.  Really, just shut up and the argument will be over. No fuel will be added to the fire and the sparks will fizzle and go out.  But you really have to shut up.  Totally.  Be quiet.  No more words.

There are certainly issues in parenting that we cannot shut up about - there are definitely battles worth fighting.  We will fight tirelessly to guard our kids from destructive, dangerous or defiant behavior.  We will fight to defend our family core values and beliefs.  But other than those two areas, most arguments are simply a matter of wanting to have the last word or wanting to take/keep control of our kid's decisions.  Not only are those battles that are probably not worth fighting about, we can never win!    We are not going to come to closure or agreement on any discussion when our objective is to have the last word or to have our son or daughter (particularly teens) let us make a decision for them.

We parents need to remember that the same mouth that speaks words of love, support and encouragement is used for harsh and insulting and demeaning and belittling and angry words.  That can be very confusing to our kids.  If they don't know what kind of words are going to come from our mouths, they will be reluctant to voice their opinions or ask questions.   Even when we  have a disagreement with our kids, we do not want to attack and destroy.  We want to teach and explain -  we want to build our kids up, not tear them down - that is our God given job. As James writes in today's Love One Another series from Steve Noble, "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."

Most of us learned when we were young to count to ten before we responded to something that upset or angered us.  What a great suggestion for parents.  It is so easy to say to your child, "I am not ready to talk about this with you right now.  I want to make sure I have a chance to calm down and think about it for a little while.  Let's talk about it in an hour."  (Make sure you follow through!)

Words have such immense power.  Words can build nations or start wars.  Words can heal the most painful wounds or cause unspeakable damage.  When we speak, we need our words to build our children up, to help prepare them for adulthood and to bring glory to God.  Generally, when our words are harsh or angry or prideful, the opposite is accomplished.

I love 1 Corinthians 13 as a guide to parents on how to show love.  I love just as much Galatians 5:22-23  as a quide to parents on what personal qualities to model to their kids:  "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." 

Those are nine wonderful qualities for us to instill in our kids BUT they are also qualities that our kids look for in their parents.  Character is caught, not taught.  We are constantly shaping and training our sons and daughters by our own actions and words.  "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."

Have a blessed week!

Scott

Love One Another (Day 49) > > > Big Mouth

James 3:9-10

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

The third chapter of James is one of the most convicting chapters in the entire Bible because it deals with “the tongue,” which it describes as “fire,” and “poison,” and a “world of evil.” One minute we are praising God and encouraging one another and the next we are hurling insults and using bad words. Indeed, your mouth can provide the spark that lights an entire forest on fire in your relationships.

I often tell my kids - and anyone else who will listen - that the more we speak, the more we sin (Proverbs 10:19). Additionally, I tell them that sometimes, the most Christ-like thing we can do is to just shut up. I don’t think most of us realize just how powerful our words can be, and so we don’t treat them with the care they require. If I handed you a glass filled with a dangerous chemical, odds are good that you would carry it with great care, right? We need to think of our tongues in the same manner.

APPLICATION: Think of some words that really hurt your feelings and share them as a group. Don’t take this as an opportunity to point your fingers at each other, but simply to realize how powerful a few little words can be. Pray and ask the Lord to forgive you for your careless use of words and to help you take control of your mouth for the glory of God and for the good of your family.

Love One Another - Wisdom according to Thumper

Good Day to All!

Steve's verse today is one that all of us should review on a regular basis - our kids would probably agree!  One of the great things about listening is that when we are listening, we can't talk.  When we are listening, we don't criticize, we don't lecture, we don't say something we will regret.  In Disney's 1942 classic, Bambi, Thumper summed it up perfectly, "If you can say nuffin nice, don't say nuffin at at." 

Interesting aside, in the movie, it is Thumper's mom who teaches that lesson to Thumper when Thumper makes a remark about Flower the skunk.  Disney had it right, we parents need to model proper behavior to our kids.  When we are slow to speak and slow to anger our kids will follow suit (eventually ).  When we are quick to anger or interrupt or don't really listen - our kids will mirror that behavior.

Additionally, when we don't listen well and are quick to lash out, the message comes across loud and clear to our kids - "what you are saying or asking has little value - I have more important things to do".  And their reaction is loud and clear, "I am going to stop talking to dad - he only criticizes and never listens to me."

Slow to speak, slow to anger but quick to listen - such wise words from James and so hard for me when Kasey and Keeley were younger.  I so regret being short tempered or too busy or disinterested - not just because I minimized something that was important or exciting or troubling to them, but more because now that they are grown up and have moved out of the house, all I want to do is talk to them - and I missed so many opportunities when they were young - ouch! 

Kids spell love T-I-M-E.  And when we are spending time with them, we need to spend as much of it as possible on their terms and in their world.  Let's listen to our kids - their voices are beautiful.  Let's not be too critical - their hearts are tender and they so desperately need our approval.  And let's remember to say something nice or say nothing at all because we love them so dearly and we want (and need) them to keep talking to us.

Have a great Friday!

Scott Mennie

LOVE ONE ANOTHER (Day 47) > > > Take it easy!

James 1:19a

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…

We all tend to react in the heat of the moment. When accused, we defend. When insulted, we insult back. When angered, we retaliate. Things seem to happen so fast, even at home, and before you know it…feelings are hurt and relationships are damaged. We feel sorry, but it’s too late to erase what has been done.

Can you hear James calling to us from the past? “Slow down!” “Take it easy!” “Hold your tongue!” If we could learn to take a breath in the heat of the moment, our families would be much better off. Give your sibling or parent or child some time to explain their actions or words. Take a minute or two to cool down and get control of your anger. Don’t be so quick to say something. Take a moment to collect your thoughts and get your emotions under control before you speak.

As a rule of thumb, after there has been some sort of conflict in your home there should be a few moments of quiet contemplation before you get to a resolution. Have a seat. Collect your thoughts. Calm your spirit. Ask thoughtful questions…and then listen. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this for the sake of your family!

APPLICATION: Discuss a recent conflict that occurred in your home. Act it out how it could have been handled by applying today’s verse. Agree as a family to take a few moments to calm down, collect your thoughts, and then listen before you speak your peace…then pray and ask the Lord for the strength to do it on a daily basis.

Love One Another - Be a Cheerleader!

Hi sports fans!

 

This is a great message from Steve and it has a sports link.  I love sports analogies!  When watching a football game, we hear the announcers talk about the "12th man" on the field.  That "12th man" they refer to are the fans.  They talk about the impact the fans can have on the outcome of the game simply by cheering!  The fans cheer their excitement when the team is doing well and they cheer their support when the team is facing tough situations (except in Philadelphia when the fans boo all the time).

 

 

It works in our families, too.  I love the concept of "God first, family second and everything else is third".  We need to show our support for our family ALL THE TIME.   We have to be the #1 fans of our spouses and children and we need to let them know that we are their #1 fan.  We are going to cheer for them when they are doing great to show how proud we are and we are going to cheer them when things are tough to show our never wavering support. 

 

The message is crystal clear - "I love you and I am proud of you in the good times and I love you and I proud of you in the tough times. I am your number one fan always."

 

We talk often about the importance of "catching our kids doing something good" and then when we do, give them praise!   I doing so, we reinforce the positive performance which will "feeds the good wolf".  We spend so much of our parenting time focusing on what our kids could do better. Our kids want us to accept them and like them and see the good in them - they want us to love them, they need us to be their #1 fans. 

 

Blessings to your family!

 

Scott

 

 

LOVE ONE ANOTHER (Day 46) > > > Cheerleaders!

Hebrews 10:24 (NLT)

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

Everyone likes to be cheered on, even if it’s just one person doing the cheering! It makes us feel appreciated and supported and it motivates us to try harder or to just finish the race. Unfortunately, sometimes we spend more time talking each other down than we do lifting each other up.

The author of the Book of Hebrews was writing to a crowd that needed some good cheerleading. It was incredibly difficult to be a Christian back in those days. Jewish people were mad at you for following Jesus and the Romans thought you were a potentially dangerous, up-and-coming religious movement. The Christians back then really needed to stick together and cheer one another on…and we still need that, today.

The Christian life can be really hard, and that is why the Bible has so much to say about how we treat one another. We all need to be encouraged to do the right thing because our sinful nature always wants to do the wrong thing. We all need some cheerleaders in our lives…so why not start that at home?

APPLICATION: Come up with some ways that your family can “motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” Take a few minutes to write encouraging notes to each other, and then go put them on each other’s beds or dressers. Finally, do a family cheer together, like: “Give me an N! Give me an O! Give me a B! Give me an L! Give me an E! What does it spell? Noble! Say it again! Noble! Gooooooooo Noble!”

The Honest Truth about Teen Dishonesty from Mark Gregsston

Parent Tips from Mark Gregston » The Honest Truth About Teen Dishonesty

Hi Folks,

One of the great challenges for all parents in today's complex world is raising our kids amidst the relentless attack on absolutes.  Basics of good or bad, truth or lie, right or wrong have been examined and distorted through the lens of relativism so that we think we are free to make up our own minds on what previously had been an absolute.  "What is right for me may not be right for you."  "What is true for me may not be true for you."   "It is all relative."  Well, that my be "true" for how long you cook pasta - but it is so far off base for issues dealing with morality and ethics.  There is no absolute right or absolute wrong - it is all relative to the time and people and circumstances involved.  Wow - that kind of thinking sure makes our parenting job difficult.

As as aside, I believe strongly that one of the problems with violence in our society- including so many horrific massacres that have been so often in the news - is that through relativism, we have devalued life.  We have said that it is all right to disagree on your thoughts and my thoughts on the value of life.    With abortion and assisted suicide, with suicide bombers, with children being bought and sold, we have determined that some lives are worth more than others.  When we devalue any life, we devalue all life.  When we devalue any live, it does not mean as much to take a life.

I cringe at the hypocrisy of a demonstrator holding a  "Save the Whales" sign and then having a "Right to Choose" bumper sticker on their car.  In my opinion, that is relativism in a nutshell.   Don't get me wrong - I am absolutely for saving the whales but I am also absolutely for saving babies.  That is an absolute truth - life is precious and we should all do everything we can to protect and preserve it.  It is one of the unalienable rights in one of America's most important documents - The Declaration of Independence - "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." 

We hold these TRUTHS to be self evident.  Do we?  Isn't the TRUTH relative?

One of our most important jobs as parents is to BUILD children of character - children with strong values and solid ethics.  One of the most elementary is the ethic of truth.  I wrote in a previous entry of a document I wrote for Keeley when she graduated from college - "Did I Ever Tell You...?"

In that document, I included, "Did I ever tell you to always be truthful.  Honesty is one of the most important (and fragile) virtues.  An honest life is one full of hope and light.  Dishonestly brings darkness and despair.  Honesty assures that you will always like the person who looks back at you in the mirror."

As parents, we need to be extremely intentional and persistent in teaching and modeling truth and honesty to our kids.  We need to start at a young age and praise them when they are honest and have clear, laid out consequences for dishonest behavior.  It is hard, and sometimes messy, work but our kids are worth it.  We are dealing with what kind of lives they will have.  We are preparing them to be adults and parents.  Husbands and wives.  Employers and employees.  As I wrote to Keeley - an honest life is one of hope and light, dishonesty brings a life of darkness and despair. 

And let's all endeavor everyday to teach and train that truth is absolute.  There is no such thing as a "partial truth" or a little lie.  We all want our kids to have lives of hope and light - let's work hard to raise honest children. 

Scott Mennie

Love One Another - The Good Book

Good Morning Friends!

 

All scripture is inspired by God  - really?  The Bible is so old and the world has changed so much so how can it be applicable - I mean, they didn't even have cell phones back then!  Maybe we can just pick those parts of the Bible that apply to me TODAY - would that be OK?  Plus some of that stuff in the Bible is so hard to understand. 

 

I don't know about your situation, but I am continually amazed at how current the Bible is on just about any topic you can think of.  From relationships to politics, from science to ethics, from parenting to business - the Bible is an incredible guide on how to make decisions large and small on just about any topic.

 

I cannot imagine teaching a parenting class or business session without using God's laws, wisdom and direction.

 

When my daughter Keeley graduated from Indiana University, I wrote her a document I titled, "Did I Ever Tell You".  This was one of the items: 

"Did I ever tell you to always seek God’s will for your life?  “Thy will be done.”  Not “My will be done.”  Trust God’s plan for your life in the good times and bad.  Trust God’s timing, His paths, His wisdom, His word.    Everything you are, everything you have, everything you love is through the grace of God.  Your burdens are lighter, your joys are greater, and your life has true purpose through a life centered on Jesus Christ.  And because of Jesus, we get to spend eternity together!"

Trust God's word, trust His plan - our lives are so much easier and so much fuller when we live our lives according to God's plan.  And where do we find his plan?  In the 66 chapters of His book - from Genesis to Revelation - the Bible is God's voice talking directly and intimately to you and me.  Not in a voice that is thousands of years old but with a voice that is as current and fresh as today's sunrise.

Remember Yoda imploring Luke to "feel the force, let the force flow within you; don't give in to the darkside".  We all need to feel the force of God's word in every aspect of our lives.  When we dismiss or disregard His word as old or not applicable or incomplete, we are giving in to the darkside.  We need to strive at all times to live our lives according to God's will - not our will.  As I wrote to Keeley - "Thy will be done"  not "My will be done."

1 Peter 23-25 speaks to the newness and freshness of God's living message: "You have been born again and this new life did not come from something that dies, but from something that cannot die.  You were born again through God's living message that continues forever.  The Scripture says, "All people are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.  The grass dies and the flowers fall but the word of the Lord will live forever".  And this is the word that was preached to you."

Our lives are so much better when we read God's living message, trust God's living message, live God's living message - His word - our Bible.

Love to all,

Scott Mennie

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LOVE ONE ANOTHER (Day 45) > > > That old book?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Most of us struggle to spend time in God’s Word…but that doesn’t change the fact that every minute you spend reading the Bible will benefit you as well as the people in your life. It’s kind of like exercise: the more you do it, the healthier you become.

As a family, spending time reading and talking about God’s Word will always prove to be beneficial. It may not seem like it at the time – the kids might act bored and mom and dad might get frustrated - but God’s Word will never come back void and will always accomplish what it is intended for (Is. 55:11).

Today’s verse makes a great case for why we all need to read and study our bibles. It’s a great road map for life…but only if you unfold it and look at it! The average smart-phone has navigation built into it, but it can only help you if you bother to open the app. Like the Bible, it shows you where you are, where you need to be, and how to get there.

APPLICATION: Take a few minutes to talk about the things God’s Word has taught you about yourself and about life in general. Let your children come up with the Top 3 Reasons why you should all study God’s Word and then ask the Lord in prayer to help you do just that on a regular basis.

Mark Gregston's Three ways to communicate with your teen.

Good morning friends!

 

As you know, I am a big fan of Mark Gregston.  I have used his material in many of my parenting sessions.  

This weeks entry from Mark is one we can all relate to and most parents struggle with from time to time.

 

Parent Tips from Mark Gregston » Three Simple Ways to Connect With Your Teen

 

 

There is probably nothing more important in our parenting journey with teens than maintaining communication channels - and it takes work.  One of my favorite quotes came from Eleanor Roosevelt,

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people". 

 

We can use her concept in our communication with our teens.  "Great conversations discuss ideas, average conversations discuss events, small conversations discuss people".  There is nothing wrong in talking about people and events with our teens - most of us are pretty good at those topics and they are "easy and safe".  But as Mark points out, we want to be intentional to talk about the big stuff, also.  Parents generally need to initiate the conversations and we do that by setting aside intentional time (not just a minute or two) and giving our teen our full attention.  (Remember - quality time is a direct product of quantity time).

 

And as Mark writes today, we can initiate the communication by asking questions.  Mark writes, "So what counts as a good question?  You can go ahead and forget about questions like “How was your day?” or “What were you thinking?”  If a question can be answered in a single word, then it won’t build good communication.  And if your question is laced with sarcasm, judgment or meant to embarrass, chances are your teen won’t even hear it.  Good questions convey a sense of value and relationship.  They are a way to move toward your teen by asking what they think, how they feel, and giving them the freedom answer honestly.

 

Go ahead and ask questions about people and events, but you also want to get your teen talking about the "big stuff" - their plans, dreams, ideas, fears and values.   We always recommend that you spend as much time discussing the future as you do the past and present. 

 

And, make your job easier.  Sometimes, saying the right thing is difficult.  You don't need to say the right thing, sometimes all you need to do is listen and ask more questions.  Listening (and hearing) shows your teen that their words are important and have value.

 

Any personal connection requires the desire to connect by both parties.  Teens are desperately seeking connections - believe it of not, they want to have a strong connection with their parents.  We love our teens - they are a gift from God.  Spend time with them, talk to them, teach them and listen to them - they are so worth it.

 

May God bless you and your families,

 

Scott Mennie 

 

Here is contact info for Mark:  Mark Gregston is an author, speaker, radio host, and the founder and director of Heartlight, located in Hallsville, Texas.  For more information and helpful Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss peopleresources for moms and dads, check out our website.  It’s filled with ideas and tools to help you become a more effective parent.  Go to www.heartlightministries.org.  Or read other helpful articles by Mark, at www.markgregston.com.  You can also call Heartlight directly at (903) 668-2173.  Hear the Parenting Today’s Teens broadcast on a radio station near you, or download the podcast at www.parentingtodaysteens.org.

Love One Another Family series - Day 1

My good friend, Steve Noble, has a wonderful radio ministry in Raleigh, North Carolina. On his website, he is starting a 51 verse journey to help his family, my family and all families come together in love.  He is calling the journey, "Love One Another".  Today is the first day of the series.

 

To learn more about Steve and his ministry, Called 2 Action, you can go to c2athisweek.org.

 

I pray that your family have a blessed and loving week.

 

Scott

 

 

 

LOVE ONE ANOTHER (Day 1) > > >  Feet Washing?

John 13:14

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."

It was the Last Supper and Jesus had just finished washing His disciple’s feet…a job usually reserved for a slave. Peter was outraged at first because he thought that job was far too demeaning for his Lord and Savior. Jesus’ correction of His wayward disciple was sharp and to the point: “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

Putting yourself first or above others is the exact opposite of what Jesus has called you to as His Child. If the Lord of the Universe was willing to leave Heaven and spend thirty-three years amongst a dirty, perverse, and rebellious people who would eventually nail Him to a tree…is it too much to ask that we have an attitude of servitude towards one another like Jesus did?

Jesus was teaching a lesson we all need to learn: by serving one another we live the way Jesus lived…we love the way Jesus loved…we show the world what His love is like…and in the end; He blesses us for it (John 13:17). If you have a hard time serving your spouse or your siblings, the problem is not them…it’s you. Your life is ME FIRST when it should be, according to Jesus, OTHERS FIRST.

Make your siblings bed or clean their room or fold their laundry or do one of their chores. Help your mom or dad clean the kitchen or take care of the yard or just offer to get them something to drink. Dads…make the bed, clean the bathroom, and fold the towels for your bride. Wives…have dinner ready for him when he gets home from work, or offer to help with his jobs around the house, or take the time to ask him about his dreams or desires or goals.

Your pride might be making all kinds of excuses for why you don’t want to do any of those things…but your Savior is calling you overcome your pride and follow His example. If you do, He will bless you. If you don’t, He can’t.

APPLICATION: Discuss some ways you can serve one another in your family and then do at least one of them before you go to bed tonight…then another tomorrow…then another the day after that…then another after that…and so on!

Wear your colors - day 44 of Love One Another

Good morning friends!

 

Today's message from Steve made me think of Green Bay Packer fans.  I am a BIG Chicago Bears fan so I don't like the Green Bay Packers very much but I have to hand it to the Packers - their fans are pretty obvious (and obnoxious)!  What is the deal with Packer fans???

 

 

You can spot them from miles away - wearing all that green and gold and those wedges of cheese on their heads.  If you run across a Packer fan - it is very, very obvious.  There is no mistake that they are different - that they have been called by some mysterious force to do really strange things to show their loyalty to their beloved Packers.

 

I wonder if that's how is should be as followers of Jesus Christ?   As "fans" of Jesus, shouldn't it be obvious to others that we are believers.  Should we wear a figurative wedge of cheese on our heads and paint our faces so people know?  Deuteronomy 6:8 tells us to "tie God's commands to our hands and bear them on our foreheads" so our families know God is our master.

 

It is clear that as believers, we are to live our lives so it is obvious to others that Christ is our Lord and Master - we are to live a holy life.

 

In parenting, in business, in casual time - in all walks of our lives - are we showing our Christian colors?   Or do we hide behind a mask of modernism during the week and then put on our "Christian face" on Sundays?  Christ has called to wear our faith at all times and to not be ashamed of it.  Mark 8:38 tells us Christ's own words, "If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

 

We believers need to not only talk the talk, we need to walk the walk - even if it means wearing a wedge of cheese on our heads.

 

Have a great day!

 

Scott

LOVE ONE ANOTHER (Day 44) > > > Are you different?

2 Timothy 1:9a

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life.

Have you ever made the team? Perhaps it was baseball or football or basketball or something like the debate team or the drama team. In any case, when you “make the team” you usually understand what you are there to do, and so it is with making Jesus’ team as a Christian: you are on the team to live a “holy life.”

In a nutshell, the word “holy” simply means to be set apart…to be different. Once God saves you from your sin, He expects you to live a different kind of life than you used to live. Your thoughts, words, and actions should all reflect the fact that somehow…you have been changed. As a result, when it comes to family life, your family should look different, act different, and sound different than most. Does it?

APPLICATION: Discuss ways that your family can be “set apart” according to what we have been learning through this devotional series. What should it look like? Sound like? Act like? Pray together and ask the Lord help you do what you need to do in order to live a more holy life.

Hold No Grudges - Day 43 of Love One Another

I want to get even!!!!  It's not fair!!!!! I DEMAND revenge!!!!!  I'll give you something to cry about!!!  I hope you have a child just like you when you are a parent!!!!

 

Wow, that felt good!  Have you ever said something like that?  Have your kids?  

 

I know what you're thinking, "Do we have to go back to 1 Corinthians 13 again?"  Yep, we do (amazing how often 1 Corinthians 13 pops up in parenting issues).  In 1 Corinthians 13:5, Paul writes that love "keeps no records of wrongs." 

 

But then how can I get even?????  It's not fair!!!!!!

 

Still feels good!  I think I need to do a 180 and re-read Steve's message today.

 

Because here is the deal - We gladly accept that God keeps no record of our wrongs.  Thank God (literally) that He doesn't want to get even - at least not since the big flood and how did that work out for the wrong doers????   But just as gladly we accept God's grace, mercy and forgiveness, we hold on to those petty little grudges for when someone "done us wrong".  Not only do we hold on to those grudges - we feed them and nurture them and care for them so they can grow into enormous monsters of revenge and retribution.

 

There is a great line in the final song of Les Miserables when Jean Valjean is dying,  Fantine, who died earlier in the show, sings down from heaven, "To love another person is to see the face of God."  Amen.  When we love another person, we want to love like Christ loves us.  He loves us so much that even though he could've gotten even for all of our wrong doings (like crucifying Him), instead He chose to die for us that we may have eternal life.  You know - no record of wrongs. 

 

When you get into that "it's not fair" line of thinking, take the next step and think, "Is it fair that a miserable sinner like me can get to heaven?"   When you are wronged, show the face of God.  What an example you will set and by not feeding that little grudge, the monster will never grow.

 

We all mess up; we all do regrettable things - our Father in heaven does not seek revenge. He embraces us in his merciful, loving arms and tells us, "My son paid for your mess up - pass it on."

 

Love you,

 

S

 

 

LOVE ONE ANOTHER (Day 43) > > > Getting even

1 Thessalonians 5:15

See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

The temptation to “get even” with people is one that most Christians struggle with, and it was certainly true in the early days of the Church. Striking back at one’s “enemies” is the basis of many televisions shows, movies, and video games and more often than not, society treats it like a virtue. They push you…you push back. They hit you…you hit back. They insult you…insult them back.

In our sin we think repaying evil with evil somehow evens things out or rights a wrong, but it doesn’t. In our anger we say, “I’ve got to get even,” but in His righteousness Jesus says, “Turn the other cheek.” The pursuit of peace (Romans 12:18) comes with a cost: life can’t be all about you. You have to get your focus off of what you want and put it on what God wants, which is always better.

So, the next time somebody mistreats you…just walk away. Overlook it. Let it go. Also, make sure you always try to “do good” to others, which in turn, will make it easier for them to “do good” to you. If we start to live that way at home, imagine how much nicer our days will be!

APPLICATION: Talk about the ways you try to “get even” with each other and why you feel tempted to do it. Then, come up with some better ways to respond when you feel like you have been mistreated. Pray and ask God to help all of you resist the temptation to repay evil with evil.

Encourage your kids - Day 42 Love One Another

Good Morning Friends,

 

Today's verse from Steve is just a few words but is very significant.

 

A few messages ago, I included the Native American Legend of the two wolves.  Steve's message today prompts us to look again at that message.

 

Remember - the grandfather telling his grandson of the two wolves living and at battle within each of us - one of anger and negativity and one of goodness and love.  The grandson asks which one wins the battle and the grandfather replies, "The one you feed."

 

What does your parenting style "feed" your kids?  We talk all the time about catching your kids doing something good.  An interesting fact about most kids - they will exhibit the kind of behavior that gets the most attention.  If we are responding more to their bothersome or negative behavior, that is what they will continue to do.  If we respond more to their pleasing and positive behavior, that is what they will do.

 

It is so easy for we humans to find fault in others - because of our sinful nature, we seem to need to bring down others to help lift ourselves up?  When you read that, can you see how backwards that is? The best thing we can do to lift ourselves up is to encourage and praise and take joy in those around us.

 

When we encourage our kids , so much positive can result.  They learn that they can overcome obstacles.  They learn that they can make mistakes and the world won't end.  They learn they can talk to their parents without the oppressive threat of criticism.  They learn how to encourage their kids when they become parents.  But mostly, as Paul writes in today's verse - they learn how much value we put on building them UP!  (rather than tearing them down)

 

Parenting is not a one hour or one day or one week or one year  undertaking.  It is a lifetime journey of building.  When we "feed the angry wolf", we are destroying part of what we have worked so hard to build.  Why would we ever do that?   

 

Let's return to 1 Corinthians 13 once again:  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

When we encourage our kids, we live those 3 verses.   One of the most obvious ways we can show our love to our kids is to build them up every day.  We love them.  We like them.  We are proud of them.  God loves them and there is nothing we cannot overcome with God's help.

 

Love your kids,,

 

Scott

LOVE ONE ANOTHER (Day 42) > > > So what?

1 Thessalonians 5:11a

So encourage each other and build each other up…

Whenever you find a “so” in Scripture, you need to back up a little bit to find out what the passage is a result of. In this case, the answer is a biggie: God has shown us His mercy rather than His anger…and Christ died for us so that we could live with Him forever in Paradise!

So…

Encourage each other and build each other up! As Christians, we have so much to be thankful for, and while the issues of life in general and family life specifically can easily bring us down, the realities of the Gospel are more than enough to bring us right back up. However, we need to help each other do that! God don’t make any of us to live on our own…He designed us to live as a family.

So…

The next time you see a family member feeling down…encourage them! Build them up! Tell them how much you love and appreciate them and remind them that God does, too!

APPLICATION: Take turns encouraging each other and building each other up. Point out what you love and appreciate about one another, and then seek the Lord’s help to do that on a consistent basis.

Hi friends!

 

Let's talk about report cards - you all know report cards - those documents you get from your kid's school that shows how your child is doing in school.  Some families love them, some dread them.

 

We looked forward to report cards when Kasey and Keeley were in school.  Lisa and I were pretty involved with their school and we trusted their teachers for an accurate glimpse of how our girls were doing.  We knew enough about the teachers to know that some teachers were tougher on grades and some were easier so we learned to look at the grade through that perspective.

 

Keeley asked when she was in 1st grade, "Daddy, why don't you and mommy get report cards?"  Wow - out of the mouths of babes.  SO - I developed a parent report card.  Every time Kasey and Keeley got report cards, I had them "grade" me on how I was doing as a dad.  They would give me an A, B, C, D or F on such items as "Easy to talk to"; "Spends time with me"; "Patience" and "Good Listener".  I got great (and very touching and sometime troubling) feedback on my parenting skills. 

 

Kasey was very protective of me and Keeley was much more cold-hearted.  If something was seriously amiss in my parenting with Kasey, she might give me a B+ or, heaven forbid, maybe even a B whereas if Keeley was miffed at some parenting shortcoming, she would gladly give me D-!  I learned that a B+ from Kasey meant the same thing as a D from Keeley - and what both grades meant was that I was exasperating and frustrating my daughters.  The information I got from their parent report cards opened the door to numerous outstanding dialogues and helped me greatly improve my parenting .

 

Kasey and Keeley knew that they could write anything on the report card and they were safe.  I wanted their candidness and as I look back, it is amazing how correct and insightful their grades and comments were!

 

How do we know if we are exasperating our kids?  Just ask them.

 

 

Scott

 

Parent Builder Welcome

Welcome to Parent Builder - my bolg to help parents build children of competance, confidence and character. 

I am a D-A-D, not a PHD but I have extensive real world experience working with parents and kids and creating practical, workable strategies to help parents through the parenting challenge.  I have spoken to thousands of parents and I have co-authored a book: The Original Parent and Family Logbook.

I have two grown daughters and I continue to work with young people in my business, at church and as a sports coach and trainer.

I am a man of faith and my Christian belief and verses from the Bible weave through my parenting messages. 

I hope you will benefit from my posts as you navigate the challenges of parenthood.

Scott Mennie