Confident Parenting ... Book Review

Book Review . Parenting . Children . Child . God . Galatians 6:2 . Shema . Deuteronomy 6 . Mentor . Faith . Grandchildren . Proverbs 18:21 . Matthew 16:26 . Father's Day

I thought that this would be a great book to share for 2013 Father's Day, which will be June 16, 2013.

Sharing tips from a book I reviewed over five years ago.

When a child comes into your home, he or she doesn't come with an owner's manual, warranty, or guarantee. Nobody sent us to parent - training school.

This book won't give you easy answers, but it does offer a road map, one drawn by God himself, who made caring for your family your highest calling on earth.

Is your parenting working? It will never be perfect, but it is supposed to be working.

For now, be aware that you may need to use the word "no" more than you would like in order to raise your kids to be responsible adults.

Frankly, you can't do much about the decisions of your spouse, or even your kids when they reach a certain age. Make decisions about your own life.

God's promise to you is found in an old proverb: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

You can choose to recover from your family's past or repeat it.

The author admits that there is alcoholism on both sides of his family. His choice is either to recover or repeat, so he choose not to drink.

Dan Chun is a good friend of the author and a pastor in Honolulu. Several years ago, he was looking to hire a youth worker for his church and called the author for some suggestions. The author gave him two names: an all-star youth worker and the other was yet unproven. Dan decided not to take the all-star. He told the author he only hire broken people to minister in his congregation.



Bill Hubels has written about coming to a place in his life where he needed to make some changes if his ministry relationship to his wife, and his role as a father were going to be successful.

He wrote, "there was no way he could continue to lead, teach, feed and grow his church with so many broken pieces rattling inside him.

Paul's advice to the church of Galatia is good for everybody (Galatians 6:2).

VDPs' -- Very Draining Persons

VIP's -- Very Inspiring Persons

We can - and should - make parenting decisions based on the eternal perspective.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 "Shema" in the Bible. It is the Hebrew word from the Old Testament. It means to listen or to hear.

The word "Shema" (pronounced she-MA) - to listen, to hear, morning blessings, bedtime prayer, special dedication, such as "home blessings."

No one is perfect. The cry of the Hebrew people was that there was one God, Yahweh, or Adonai.

Yes, the church community has a role, but parents must take ownership of transmitting faith to the next generation.

Each child is unique.

Every six months the author and his wife spend a half day talking about their kids. What areas need work?

A few years ago the author and his family visited Israel during the Jewish Passover. It was a most incredible time to visit the Holy Land, because of the preparation, Worship, and family traditions that happen at this very sacred time of year. They were doing what the Bible told them to do (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

At mealtime, read a Scripture, say a prayer, share a prayer concern, and light a candle to remember a loved one.

Storybooks are good for younger kids; hang-out time is better for older ones.

Focus on traditions that are meaningful to your family.

Ten Commandments: Lesson for finding peace in an over-crowded life. Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it Holy. Sabbath - Rest.

The pace of life is destroying families. It makes good people act crazy and makes otherwise healthy people become vulnerable to sickness, broken relationships and to sin.

The reason the author know and write about the effects of busyness is because it has so often been the story of his own life.

"What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26 NKJV)

The author and his wife spend a great deal of time helping people in pastoral ministry with their marriages and families. In this last year, they have heard from people struggling with pain and problems, from affairs and addictions to abuse and wayward children.

So what's the answer yo these pace-of-life issues? The author believes it is found in the lesson of the Sabbath.

A half day of Sabbath rest is better than no time at all.

4 Elements of A Healthy Sabbath for the Burns Family:

Rest - Refresh - Restore - Recreation

Lesson of A.W.E. - Affection, Warmth, Encouragement

Request a prescription of A.W.E.

There is no such thing as a house without conflict, but by working relentlessly to reduce stress in your family, you promote a warm environment.

No one can live successfully until he or she masters self-control.

Your words have power. They can either provide life and build up or they can destroy. Even when correcting your children, it is important to choose your words wisely.

Children need to learn that life is not fair and that there are consequences to wrong choices.

Your words have great power with your children. (Proverbs 18:21).

Your words have power to destroy or to heal. Use your words with your kids to bring out the best in them.

You are a role model to your children.

You are a mentor to your kids.

"Build a legacy of faith for your children and your grandchildren. Continue doing the best you can, and with God's help you will see wonderful results."

There is much to be done and much to be taught. You have learned the lessons of parenting.

The great philosopher Soren Kierkiegaard told a story about ducks that came from an imaginary country where only ducks live. One Sunday morning, all the mother and father ducks headed to church with their children waddling behind them.

They entered the doors and sat in their duck pews, sang songs from their duck hymnals, and gave to under privileged ducks at the offering time. When the duck preacher got up to proclaim the message, he was very dynamic. He opened his duck Bible and screamed, "Ducks, you can fly!" You have wings and you can fly like eagles."

The ducks all chanted. We can fly, we can fly!" He asked, "Do you believe you can fly?" He screamed again, "We can soar through the skies!" They all shouted, "Amen." With that the pastor closed his duck Bible and dismissed his congregation of ducks. Then they all waddled back home.

Your words are important, but they can only go so far. The message to our children will be very similar to that of the duck pastor. After he told them they could fly, he needed to show them by spreading his own wings and soaring above the clouds.

The author, Jim Burns, Ph.D. is heard daily in over 800 communities. He speaks to 1,000's around the world each year through marriage & family seminars & conferences. He earned his M.A. in Christian Education from Princeton Theological Seminary & his Ph.D. in Religious Education from Greenwich School of Theology.

Position To Receive - Book Review 2007

Position To Receive ................................................................................................... (Michael Matthew sent me his book March 8, 2007 to review) ............................................................ The author, Michael Matthews of this book is a multi-talented music business executive, artist manager, business consultant, marketing guru, motivational speaker and option trader. ................................................... He serves as a growth and financial consultant to businesses spanning many industries. ................................ There is a lot of valuable information regarding finances, wealth building systems, unorthodox business principles and philosophies. ......................................................................................................... You will want to seek your true gifting first and then pursue further development and training. ....................... The author's philosophy has always been why he can't build his own network verus contributing to someone else's. Don't let finances, lack of education, experience, race, or anything else be an excuse! ..................................... No matter what you decide to do in life make sure you focus on your niche. ............................................ In order to get into the Position To Receive you have to have something in place that will enable you to have endless possibilities. The author is not saying quit your job. The more you work it increases your chances of making more money when you are self-employed. ........................................................................................... The author turned to the Internet. The Internet does not limit you to time confinements, for it is available 24 hours a day - 7 days a week - 52 weeks a year. ................................................................................ The author started his own digital delivery service (music to dj's); it works much like the post office! Instead of sending music by post office to dj's on compact disc, they send it digitally via email. ............................... Anything you actually want out of life the author believes you will have to sow into it. Whether it is your time, money, ability, patience or anything else you have to sow into it. .................................................... The author was watching a DVD one day about a documentary on hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, and the interviewer asked him, "Why do he do what he do?" Russell simply replied, "To serve..." You see as one of the few African American billionaires in the entertainment business, much less the world, he understands the power of giving, that we are blessed to be a blessing. The author shares he has had the privilege to meet Mr. Simmons and talk with him one on one. ....................................................................................................................... The author also shares he was watching the life story of Comedian Steve Harvey; and Steve said in the interview it's about giving back and helping someone else. ........................................................................... Being an entrepreneur,we tend to live by another level of faith. ...................................................... You can not be afraid to take risks and try something new. ............................................................ You simply can not be afraid to step out and learn something new, try something different and see where your faith takes you. Buckle up, the ride is not always smooth. .................................................................. When the author first started his first internet business he didn't have a clue on how to build websites nor how to market online. As he launched his business back in 2005 who would have thought in its first year it would gross 1000%? ....................................................................................................................... If you want to be successful in life you simply just have to be teachable. Are you the type of person that thinks they know it all? .......................................................................................................... The author remembers one day while visiting at a client's home, he say something very unusual to him a computer with four monitors. His client began asking him if he ever heard of option trading and was the author familiar with the stock market. His client told him that Wall Street and the stock market wasn't going anywhere! He told him to "Go open a TD Waterhouse account (now TD Ameritrade) and I'll teach you." The author went on to become an occasional option trader, making money from day trading options and have now taught others how to do it. ................................ No matter what's going on you have to maintain focus and keep yourself available to hear. ............................. There are two types of voices: one is God's voice within us and the other is God's voice through other people. ........ The author thinks one big problem is a lot of people miss their blessing simply because they didn't hang in there long enough. ............................................................................................................... Don't always look to take short cuts or give up too soon because things don't happen in a certain time. ............... The author has an extensive marketing team that constantly solicits for new prospective clients and generates traffic to the website. They have a consistent advertising campaign that runs month after month on the various search engines to generate sales leads and traffic on the site. All this happens month after month; and sure enough the business is generating consistent revenues and showing above projected growth. .................................................... How about consistency in your finances? Be consistent in your giving. Like in your financial giving in church you need to be consistent. ..................................................................................................... This goes for finances, attendance in church, ministering to others and building His kingdom overall! Malachi 3:10 (NKJV) Try Him. "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts. ............................................................................................... As it is written in Deuteronomy 6:18 (NKJV) it says, "And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land of which the Lord swore to your fathers." ............................................................................................................. God allows people to come into our lives for a higher purpose, therefore creating the connection. ..................... God uses people to bless you. God will use anyone, anywhere and at anytime to carry out His will and purpose for life! ....................................................................................................................... Many very successful people have a totally different mindset than the average person. ................................. You have to build your network. There are two types of marketing lists: one you build yourself and the other is the one that others build. .................................................................................................... I'm sure if you examine your life you will be able to find evidence of God's will through favor you have received. ....................................................................................................................... There is nothing like God making other people move on your behalf. .................................................... As you work to position yourself, remember to be patient as you pursue your dreams. Make sure you are really ready and can handle what lies ahead. ........................................................................................... Unfortunately in business people profile each other constantly, whether it is a car salesman or a real estate agent profiling exists. People tend to look at things like what kind of car you drive when you pull up. They look at simple things like what kind of clothes you wear; shoes you have on or type of jewelry you have especially your watch. ..................................................................................................................... The various types of publications you subscribe to can lead to other opportunities and information leads. ............. One of the author's personal millionaire friends told him about a way of raising resources that is perfectly legal and allows you to raise resources in the millions. It is called Regulation D offerings also known as Reg. D. Do your own research on the internet and consult with an attorney before attempting a Regulation D offering. ...................... There are so many ways someone can build their credit, eliminate debt and save money. Consult an attorney, financial advisor or do a lot of research to make sure you have a full understanding before attempting any technique. ........... If you haven't received your credit report within the last year, the author suggest you obtain a copy. Carefully examine your credit report for inaccuracies and other information that may not be yours. .............................. There are hundreds of credit repair techniques and companies out there to assist you. ................................. There are several companies that give you leads on lenders that extend credit to those with bad or less than good credit ratings. Sometimes, you have to start over in rebuilding your credit by getting a new credit card. ............. The easiest way is to borrow someone's credit history. There are companies that charge you fees; and they seek out individuals that are willing to add you to their accounts. ............................................................ I will make you inhabited as in former things, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Ezekiel 36:11 (NKJV)