LCYG – Youth (Page 17)
I Didn’t Cry…
I Didn’t Cry… I wasn’t real sure how I was going to react when it came time to leave Shelby at college. I tend to get choked up when it comes to things like this, which is a bit ironic. I mean, I’m usually upbeat and have no problem talking. In fact, I’m sure I’ve heard more than one person in my life mutter under their breath, “Man, he never shuts up.” I’m kidding, but admit it; you may have…
Be Careful of Reverse Psychology
• • • • • Parenting Tip September 7, 2012 Be Careful of Reverse Psychology Parents continue to look for ways to get their young children to cooperate. One of the methods some parents use is called “reverse psychology.” It often works, but can have dangerous side effects. When the two-year-old doesn’t want to eat his sandwich, Mom may say in a playful voice, “Don’t take a bite of your sandwich while I’m gone.” When she returns and finds that…
What Would You Give for a Doughnut?
PUSHUPS FOR DOUGHNUTS It’s been a dozen years since I first taught this lesson to a youth group. It’s been a couple thousand years since it was originally presented to mankind. Here is how it unfolds… I begin by asking a student if they would like a doughnut. They usually accept. That’s when I ask one of their peers (who has agreed beforehand) if they were willing to do 10 pushups so that the student can have a doughnut. He…
The Real Value of Learning to Obey
• • • • • Parenting Tip August 30, 2012 The Real Value of Learning To Obey Children need to learn to obey, but not merely to make their parents’ lives easier. We don’t teach kids to obey for our own convenience. We teach obedience because hidden within that character quality are a number of principles that will help children to be successful in life. When kids learn obedience, they learn to consider the needs of others. They learn to…
Help Children Change Their Hearts
• • • • • Parenting Tip August 23, 2012 Help Children Change Their Hearts Too often parents focus only on behavior, getting the right actions down, but they don’t address the heart. Jesus criticized the Pharisees, saying that they looked good on the outside but their hearts were still not changed. He said, “First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” Focusing on behavior change is not enough. Many parents…