A new song that gets kids asking the right questions!

 My kids love it when I get new music, because that usually means they get new music. So when I downloaded Matt Papa's new cd entitled "This Changes Everything" I was actually purchasing new music for the whole family!

We've all been listening to this great gospel-centered music a good bit over the past week, and let me say this: I highly recommend this cd! I believe it has already made it on my personal  "Best Albums of All Time List." What makes it so special is its musical creativity, gospel clarity, Keith-Green-like passion, and Christ- centered Crescendos! Also, my kids love it! What a blessing: It's about Jesus, it has delightful gospel depth and my kids love it. That makes it worth its weight in Wii.

Yesterday we were driving around town doing some shopping, so, of course, we were listening to our new cd. A powerful song called "Stay Away From Jesus" had just ended and my wife and I were discussing the peculiar potent message of this song when my six year old son asked the right question.

Let me give you a sample of the song...here's verse 1:

   You won't every hear this song on Christian Radio
   Cause the Jesus that I serve is not safe
   He'll say take your cross and die
   So if you want a comfy life
   Then stay away from Jesus
 

"Daddy, why is he telling us to stay away from Jesus?" Hudson asked.

That was the right question. But how would you explain the fact that following Jesus is costly to a six year old who has grown up in the rather comfy confines of American safety and prosperity (which, by the way, I am extremely grateful for!)? Or maybe you just wouldn't mention that particular facet of the gospel message.(?) Maybe we should just stick with the popular "If you want to go to heaven when you die, then raise your hand and come to Jesus..." approach, and not mention the parts about the way being narrow that leads to life, or the whole picking up your cross and obeying him stuff...Maybe we should just leave all that hard stuff out and give a more Veggie-Tale-ized explanation.

Of course, a gospel message with no mention Christ's right to reign over your entire life and mine is not actually the bible's gospel message. Leave out sin, the cross, repentance, the resurrection and the universal reign of Christ in this world and you've made up your own gospel.

My reply was something to the effect of, "Some people like Jesus but they don't want to obey Him. You can't have Jesus if you don't want him to be in charge of your life." So there it is.

I think our whole family has been able to process different aspects of the biblical gospel message afresh and anew as we have been worshiping along with Matt Papa in the car and in our home. I believe even my six year old has been struck by the weight of the gospel of Jesus Christ in a new way. Thank you Matt. Thank you Lord!!

Here's the song that got my six year old thinking deep, potent gospel thoughts!

Disciplining Children One Step at a Time

Mental Stretch before you Step:

• Inconsistency and frustration in discipline is usually the result of parental ignorance, laziness, anger or selfishness.

• Physical or Emotional Abuse is sinful and the complete opposite of the loving discipline God calls us to practice in our homes.  
•   Biblical discipline takes time, self control and selfless love.

• If you have not established a biblical pattern of discipline, then make sure you walk with your children through your new approach before there is an incident. Explain how it will work, what they can expect, etc…

·        Chew on these biblical passages to get your heart prepared:

Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 3:20, 21; Hebrews 12

Proverbs 3:11-12; 6:20-23; 13:24; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15, 17

Step 1: Immediately confront their disobedience or defiance.

   

            Disobedience should be defined as a child's refusal in action or attitude to do what you've clearly told them to do.

·          Consistency is so critical.

·        Don’t argue with them about their behavior. Don’t try to reason with them.

·        Say something like, “You just disobeyed me, go to my room immediately.”

Step 2: Send them to a private place to await their discipline (like your bedroom)

·        Take a moment as a parent to pray for a peaceful heart, wisdom and strength to discipline in a self controlled, loving way…

·        Don’t keep them waiting too long…the younger they are the quicker the correction should be!

·        For a child under three or even four you may need to take them to the room yourself and deal with them immediately.

·        Don’t ever discipline children in public!

·        Don’t discipline children in front of their siblings if possible. Parental discipline should be private because your goal is not shaming your child but bringing them to humble, joyful submission of your authority under God. 

Step 3: Confirm their disobedience with questions that force them to confess their sin:

“How did you disobey mommy?”

 “What did you do that was wrong?”

 “What did you do that displeased God?”

“What has God told us in the Bible that you chose to disobey?”

Step 4: Share your sorrow over their heart attitudes as well as their behavior.

Step 5: Give them a physical reminder of the sting of sin using the “rod of   

              correction”.   

                              (Proverbs 13:24; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15)

• Maintain dignity and personal control. Speak slowly and controlled even if your child is getting worked up about getting a spanking.

• Emphasize their choice to take this path.

• Before you spank them you let them know how many swats you will be administering.  This allows them to prepare for what is to come and maintain self control…

• Tell them to get into position (You can put your hand on the bed and tell them to put their hands and head on your hand. You can either have them bend over or stand still to take their swat.)

•  If they don’t get into position immediately then encourage them to give themselves over quickly to the consequence of their disobedience. If they don’t get into position then help then do so by gently tapping them with the “rod” on their bottom with increasing intensity until they get into position for their spanking.

• Give them one or two spankings per offense at a time. (You may have to repeat the process of verbal confrontation and physical correction until they’re attitude is one of submission to your authority). 

•  Let the swat or swats be firm.

Step 6: Hold them

·        Let them cry, but not out of control.

·        Comfort them

·        Express your love.

Step 8: Pray over them

·        Give them an opportunity to pray if they desire as well.

Send them off to their normal activities with a sense of love, forgiveness and a fresh start!

Hebrews 12:11

“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

On the Run

Here are the words to the song Ben wrote for the first message on the book of Jonah...

Let these questions sink into your soul.

ON THE RUN

Where am I going?

Why am I on the run?

Why so resistant?

Why is my heart so numb?

Open up my eyes

Show me what’s inside my heart.

I have lost my way;

I tend to disobey you, God.

There I go again, I’m boarding ship to follow my plans in rejection of your calling on my life.

It seems that everyday it’s like I’m Jonah going my own way by sailing towards the western sky.

Words and Music by Ben Canfield, 2011