What Kind of Family Do You Want To Be?

What kind of family do you want to be? What shared experiences do you want to have? What kind of legacy do you want to leave? 

This month, think about one goal, one destination, you want to reach as a family. Maybe you want to become more environmentally conscious. Maybe you want to serve others. Maybe you want to feel closer to each other. When you decide on your destination, then you can make a road map for getting there. Here are just a few questions to help you start planning your journey.

1. What is your biggest obstacle in taking the first step? Everyone has some reason why you can’t do something. Find out what that big fear or reason is, and determine what is the best way to push through that roadblock.

2. Is there something you need to stop doing in order to free up time to get to your chosen destination? For example, if you want to grow closer as a family, what time do you need to carve out of your schedule to spend time together on a consistent basis?

3. Are there tools or materials you need in order to equip you for the path? For example, if you want to become more environmentally conscious, do you need to clean up the garage to setup a recycling center? Do you need to find a drop-off center for recyclable items near your home? Do you need to make a trip to your local home improvement store to make your home more “green”?

4. What organizations can you contact or information can you research to help you prepare? As a family, if your goal is to start eating healthier, can you all take a cooking class to learn how to prepare more nutritious meals? Is there information you can find online about the nutritional information of foods at your favorite restaurants?

5. What kind of mile markers and guardrails can you setup to make sure you stay on course for the long run? There will be times when things get too hard or when the family gets off track, so beforehand, develop a plan to keep everyone accountable and help get things back on course.

Winter Retreat-Filling Up Fast!

If your son or daughter is planning on going on the Winter Retreat, things are filling up fast!  We are already well ahead of last year's pace-the high school's trip is over halfway full!  So, I encourage you to reserve your spot this Sunday!  I will try to keep you updated so you know how much space there is available.  

Here is a link to the two forms you need for the Winter Retreat:

Winter Retreat Information

Winter Retreat Health Form

Cell Phones-Boundaries

“A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:7-10

A man or woman reaps what he or she sows.  What we get what we planted.  I can’t get tomatoes in the Fall if I plant pumpkins in the Spring.  Our culture has been planting technology around us for several years now.  It’s second nature to us all.  Technology is great.  Yet, I see it all over the place—we cannot get away from this cell phones.  We are a device-dependent culture! 

On Winter Retreat and Missions Experiences, we have a policy of not having technology, and by the middle of the trip I have multiple students on EVERY TRIP THANKING ME for not having their cell phones with them!  They said they would miss out on everything going on around them simply because they would be too attached to their phones. 

We live in a world where are phones are always on and our lives are always on public display through social media. 

Here is what I am challenging all of us—for the sake of our family.  Let’s try that at home!  Let’s unplug so we can invest!  They only are with us for a few more years (maybe even months). 

Set boundaries for technology—even cell phones.  I GUARANTEE you that your child’s teenage drama will go decrease drastically if they hand you their phones say 7pm (middle school) or 8/9pm (high school). 

Here is the kicker; it all starts with us.  If I’m not willing, as a parent, to turn my phone off or detach myself from technology and truly engage them, then why should they? 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at a proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

8 Ways to Understand this Generation

I found this a few weeks ago from Tim Elmore and thought these 8 ways were very helpful in trying to understand this teenage generation.

Understanding Generation Y

Tim Elmore

1. Hear me out. 
These young adults have had a say in how things go since they were five. They expect to express themselves, to upload, vote, blog, or update and they believe they’ll be heard.

2. Keep it real. 
The only thing worse than being uncool is being unreal. They demand authenticity. Anything that smells “plastic” is a turn-off. They value genuine people and leaders.

3. Let’s have fun.
 They believe work and fun can be combined; they don’t want to separate the two. In fact, they may stop working midday to have fun and work again at midnight. It’s a continuum.

4. My way now. 
They’ve not heard the word “no” very often growing up. As a student or new employee, they expect to get their way and don’t see why adults can’t understand their perspective.

5. Make it count.
 They want to do things that matter. Meaning is as important as money at work. They don’t think small. They like projects that are very important and almost impossible.

6. Let me know.
 They’re used to constant feedback. They got trophies on teams just for showing up. They got lots of kudos from parents for years, and today want it instantly from their leaders.

7. Plug me in.
 You already know this. They’re a connected generation. They can’t imagine a day without constant connection with friends. Technology is an appendage of their bodies.

8. Just do it.
 Words that describe their world are immediacy and convenience. They’re not prone to waste a lot of time with committee red tape or protocol. Stuff should happen fast.