HopeForYourFamily

Just logging on to say I was somewhat disappointed to see there was no “Bob for Swine Flu” (aka – Bob for Apples) tub at our church’s Fall Festival (churches aren’t allowed to actually call Halloween parties “Halloween parties,” are they?!) this evening.  As a consolation, I was thrilled to see, tucked away in a corner, the “H1N1 Nibble” (aka – Donut Gobble).  What could be more delightful than taking a big bite out of a sugar coated, deep fried carbolicious morsel, laden with the flu-season slobber of the previous five kids who pecked and licked at the dangling pastry before your turn in line?  I mean, that’s what I call livin’ on the edge!

Thanks to all the volunteers who took time to carefully inject the donuts with strawberry flavored Purell before the big event!

Tags: community, the journey

Well, for many folks, this is the season of FEAR.  Yes, it’s time to don the hockey masks, vampire capes, fake blood, and gruesome prosthetics and go scare up some candy.  Or, for the real daredevil – go out and bob for apples in a vat of Swine Flu slobbered water.  Mmm, mmm, good!

Fear may be good for those in the Halloween business, but it isn’t good for parenting.

So this year, as your kids head out for their fright night festivities, see if you can muster up the nerve to parent them out of faith, rather than fear.  Sure, you need to prepare kids young and old for the important decision points that could likely arise and pose danger or trouble of various kinds.  And if your kids have recently broken the rules, made foolish choices, or in other ways broken your trust and shown themselves to be irresponsible, the right thing for you to do may be to “ground them” from Halloween activities this weekend.  But holding them back in fearful parenting will not serve them well.  Instead, lead with the kind of faith that shows a confidence in your authority as well as in their ability to do the right thing.  So, whether you will be sending out your 16 year old for the evening with a prayer for her/his safety and wisdom or sending your 6 year old around the block or church parking lot right in front of you, send them out with the confident expectation and preparation do the right thing, use good judgment, and have a blast.

And save some Reese’s cups for my son.  His Dad He really loves those things!

Parenting by Faith,

Dr Butner

Tags: hope, leadership, parenting, personal responsibility, screamfree

I haven’t been posting with the same regularity and rhythm of late.  The primary reason is that my energy, beyond my ongoing counseling practice with my clients, has been largely devoted to my new role as an adjunct faculty member of the Counseling Department at Liberty University Online.  This week is mid-term week in my first eight-week course, Integration of Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality.  In two weeks I will add a second course to my instruction load, Counseling Adolescents.  So far, the experience has been exciting, challenging, and deeply fulfilling to the teacher/mentor in me that has probably been more dormant within me than he would like.  While I am finding the discipline and system of how to effectively handle one course, and I trust God will give me the grace to do the same with two concurrent courses, I am prayerfully examining my self, my motivations, my time, my priorities, and my attitudes to ensure I live with healthy balance in light of these new, additional responsibilities.  I would be grateful for your prayers in this regard.

And here are the rich words of wisdom I heard from God this morning, as I paused to seek fresh life from Him in the book of Proverbs (NCV):

“The wise say very little, and those with understanding stay calm.”  (17:27)

“What you say can mean life or death.  Those who speak with care will be rewarded.”  (18:21)

“People’s own foolishness ruins their lives, but in their minds they blame the LORD.”  (19:3)

“Being kind to the poor is like lending to the LORD; he will reward you for what you have done.  (19:17)

“Correct your children while there is still hope; do not let them destroy themselves.”  (19:18)

With Hope, Life, and Strength in Him,

Roger

Tags: blogging, discipline, hope, personal responsibility, teaching, the journey