10 ways to positively influence grandchildren
By Steve Pearson
First Baptist Church, Hartselle
Cellphones, iPads and smart watches claim too much of our time these days. But humans are created for relationships and none are more special than those between grandparents and grandkids. Technology magnifies the significance of face-to-face interactions, including the following:
- Pray for each one by name every day. You can do this. We have 14 (counting the one due in July), and I rarely miss a day of at least briefly mentioning each one to the Lord.
- Sit around a table and enjoy conversations with them during and after a meal. You’ll hear quotes you will never forget and your shared laughter will be priceless.
- Look for “teachable moments.” That’s what Jesus did. Never just say “no.” Always explain a better option.
- As soon as they enter your home or you enter theirs for a visit, behave like a pet acts when his beloved owner comes home from work. It’s so easy to act this way with grandkids!
- Always give firm, wrap around hugs. Let them know you will stop at nothing to protect and care for them if they ever need you.
- Communicate your expectations for their behavior while in your home. Kids need parameters to feel secure and appreciated.
- Teach them something fun, like how to catch fish or play the piano. As long as they get to learn by doing it alongside you, the process can be fun and the memories can last a lifetime.
- Talk about God in casual conversations. Waiting for that “perfect moment” may never come. The key is to be honest and sincere when talking about your own experience with God. When given enough uninterrupted time, kids will often open the door to spiritual discussions.
- When they need a word of correction, deliver it in a way that conveys your unconditional love for them. Your method of accomplishing this one may look different from mine. Just intentionally remember that your love for them is unconditional.
- Always, always, always take great care never to do or say anything hypocritical in their presence. This one is a biggie. Kids can discern hypocrisy quicker than a mama bear senses danger for her cubs. Hypocrisy will damage your credibility with them and lead to a gradual loss of respect for authority in general. It will result in confusion in their trusting minds as well as lead to cynicism. We already have too much of that in adults these days!
EDITOR’S NOTE — Adapted from a post in the Impact blog of First Baptist Church, Hartselle, www.fbchartselle.org/impact.
_____________________________________________________________________________
April 7 is CP Sunday
A lot can be lost in a single generation. The writers of Scripture often warned the leaders of Israel unless they rehearsed the works of God to their children and grandchildren, a generation would arise who “knew not the Lord or His ways” (Judg. 2:10).
Southern Baptists have a lot to pass on to the next generation, and one of the most important principles is the concept and practice of cooperative missions, a strategy that has yielded one of the greatest gospel impact movements in history.
The Southern Baptist Convention enables and equips us to send our people out in ways that we simply could not do alone.
When we give through the Cooperative Program (CP) we are giving to a powerful and proven method for supporting the Great Commission.
All churches ought to be learning more about cooperative missions and giving more through the CP. Because it is our denomination’s primary source of missions funding we need to put our money where our mouth is.
If we care about reaching the nations we need to show it by equipping our Southern Baptist entities to keep sending to the nations.
—J.D. Greear
EDITOR’S NOTE — J.D. Greear is president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of The Summit Church, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Letters to the Editor
Like others, I am tired of
people saying I am judgmental when I simply in love and kindness share what
God says about any moral or ethical issue.
Speaking the truth in love is not being judgmental, it is being truthful.
I’m tired of being judged as judgmental.
Gimme a break!
Jerry Wilkins
Lakewood Baptist Church, Northport, Ala.
I look forward to The Alabama Baptist remaining viable past my lifetime. I appreciate our new president and editor in chief, Jennifer Rash.
Her vision for capturing 21st century readers may cause an increase in the cost of TAB, but it causes me to increase subscriptions to our leadership and church family. Thank you for the print and digital improvements!
Lawrence H. Phipps
First Baptist, Gulf Shores, Ala.
_____________________________________________________________________________
We felt that “for such a time as this” Children’s Honor Choir just might be the method of hope from God that the residents hit hard by (Hurricane Michael) could use.
Karen Gosselin, Music specialist
Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
It is a great joy to serve in this capacity. … I am allowed to serve in this capacity on your behalf. It will help me accomplish that task knowing that I’m in your prayers. I will cherish those.
Mark Tew, President
Judson College
Pray for our churches and leaders [in Mozambique] who are … seeing this as an opportunity to reach out to their neighbors with kindness, compassion and the love of Jesus.
Jeff Palmer, Executive director
Baptist Global Relief
It’s through the reporting and storytelling that [Christian communicators] do … that can serve as catalysts for advocacy.
Sam Brownback
U.S. ambassador at large for international religious freedom
Even in the … ‘Bible Belt’ Christianity is being pushed to the margins.
Kevin Ezell, President
North American Mission Board
On the roughest day of their life, they can land somewhere safe, comforting and loving.
Michael Smith, Chief Operations Officer, North Alabama
Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries
Some churches have stopped having revivals and say they are not effective in our day. I have been pastoring for 40 years and I believe revivals still work if the pastors and churches will prepare and pray and work for success.
Recently our church had a revival meeting. At the first of the year we challenged our people to get one person on their heart who is not a Christian, to pray for them during 2019 and to commit to try to share the gospel with them sometime during the year.
We saw God move in a wonderful way [during our revival] with 18 professions of faith and baptisms and several other additions to the church. The revival spirit is still going on with decisions and baptisms almost every service. To God be the glory great things He has done. There is still power in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Mike Goforth
Sardis Baptist Church, Boaz, Ala.
[California Gov. Gavin Newsom] has claimed a moral imperative for his decision about the death penalty. He said, “The intentional killing of another person is wrong.” … It’s time for him to apply his moral standard consistently and set aside laws permitting abortion in California.
Jeff Iorg, President
Gateway Seminary
The American people should rest assured that this administration — and this State Department, and our USAID — will do all we can to safeguard U.S. taxpayer dollars and protect and respect the sanctity of life for people all around the globe. … American taxpayer dollars will not be used to underwrite abortions.
Mike Pompeo
U.S. Secretary of State
_____________________________________________________________________________
From the Twitterverse
@JohnAShepherd
People are looking for “a better place,” which means a lot of them will end up in a worse one … There is no “better place” than this, not in this world. And it is by the place we’ve got, and our love for it and our keeping of it, that this world is joined to Heaven. Wendell Berry
@MichaelCatt
If you’re older in ministry, find ways to hang out w/ younger pastors. Don’t try to dress, act like them. Try to learn from them, pray for them, invest in them. Be a Paul to a young Timothy. If you’re too busy to invest, you’re too busy.
@ChristianPost
(Opinion) Is our obsession with leaving this world and transporting to Heaven the same message Jesus taught on the Kingdom in the Gospels? Are we talking about the same concept? I believe we may have a Kingdom conundrum on our hands and don’t know it.
@pastorkja91
Disobedience can cause you to miss an open door of opportunity. Remember God still can open up a door.
@ccameroncollins
Proud of the women at my alma mater @SamfordU @BrockBusiness for starting the first undergraduate student organization focused on connecting women with careers in finance and economics. They couldn’t have a better mentor than Dr. Sara McCarty!
@drjamesmerritt
Here’s a thought to ponder. Belief always determines behavior. Wrong belief will lead to wrong behavior. Then wrong behavior will be used to justify wrong belief. We see this more and more in the culture and the church.
@SEBTS
Remember that the Word of God is a treasure for your heart, not a tool for your ministry. #SEchapel
@bcmlink
Praising God for word from @BCMatUAB of 2 students making professions of faith during campus outreach events this morning! #ReachEveryStudent
@philwaldrep
The desire to learn is a sign of spiritual maturity. Every person should practice learning something new every day. What can you learn today?
Share with others: