Thou Shall Read This Blog - Explaining the Ten Commandments to Kids

The Ten Commandments, listed in the book of Exodus, chapter 20, has got to be one of the quintessential lessons taught to kids in Sunday School. But if you ask the average kid to recite them, more than likely you will come up with more blank stares than answers. One of the main reasons that kids don't memorize the Ten Commandments, is because they don't understand what they mean and why they are commandments of God in the first place. "Thou shall not ____!" or "Thou shall____!" are things kids hear constantly. One of the first things that kids need to understand is that the Commandments are not a list of "do's" and "don'ts" to make life more difficult, but they are a list of blessings for a full life. They are moral guidelines established by God because He alone knows what is best for us as we journey through life. When kids begin to see that the Ten Commandments represent His love and not anger, they will begin to understand the importance of following them in the first place. Let's take a look at each them. Don't worry, there won't be a grown up quiz later... or will there?

First Commandment: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. "

Basically, this command makes it very clear to kids that there is only one God. In a pluralistic culture, this is essential for them to understand before anything else.

Second Commandment: “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."

Building on the first commandment, the second teaches that if God is the only God, why would you worship something that's not God? An idol is anything we put in a place of importance before God. Kids need to understand that many things can become idols, such as sports, video games, school, friends, money and yes; the all mighty iphone!
Third Commandment: “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."

I call this one the "Bad Word" or "No Cussing" commandment. Grown ups know about this one, right? Bite your tongue and don't say "G.D." Kids need to see that just as we respect our parents and friends, God deserves respect as well and His name should never be connected to anger, joking or anything other than worship.

Forth Commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."

In today's culture, we find it very difficult to rest. It almost goes against our nature to just do nothing. We are inadvertently taught that idle time means a lack of productivity. But the Bible is very clear God made us to need rest. Part of of human spirit cries out for rest and hurts when it doesn't receive it. If we can teach kids, while they are young, that resting one day a week is healthy for our bodies, minds and spirits, they will continue this into adulthood. And probably have less physical and emotional problems.

Commandment Five: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you."

Yeah right! I can't count how many times I've had to say, "Watch that mouth, mister!" Not only is this an important commandment for parents, but it clearly says that we will live longer if we just respect our parents. This is a commandment with a promise, so kids can clearly see the benefits of this one. Basically, if they want to eventually play a Virtual Xbox, they need to live long enough to see it!

Commandment Six: “You shall not murder." Pretty simple one, right? Well, you would be surprised how many kids bring up war, capital punishment and self-defense. Kids need to understand that there is a big difference between killing and murder. What I believe the sixth commandment is speaking to us about is murder; the taking of an innocent life for selfish, unjust or malicious reasons. Many faithful people will differ on what this murder entails and parents can discuss this with their children according to your beliefs.

Commandment Seven: “You shall not commit adultery."

Good luck with this one! Explaining this one should open up a nice conversation about the birds and the bees! But what this commandment does is provide a great opportunity to explain what marriage is. If you're married, talk about the relationship with your spouse and how close you are to each other. Explain the special bond you have to each other and how marriage is the only thing that creates that bond. Then explain that adultery is when people try and create this bond outside of marriage. If you're not married, use some friends or family as an example. I'll be praying about the questions that might come up with this one!


Commandment Eight: “You shall not steal."

Kids understand this commandment pretty well and understand the moral aspects of stealing. Most of them know that it's wrong to steal, but also this commandment gives you the chance to explain how stealing hurts others. You can also use this as an opportunity to explain the importance of hard work and earning the things you have in life. This also opens the door to discuss the importance of patience and that waiting for the things we want in life is not always a bad thing.

Commandment Nine: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." A couple of blogs ago, in Trust is a Must, I wrote about the importance of trusting each other within the family. Commandment Nine simply tells us not to lie to each other. Discuss how lying hurts more people than we might realize. Explain that lying can lead to more lying and get us into deeper trouble. Most importantly, share with your kids how lying to each other breaks trust. Explain to them that is the importance of trusting each other and how lying can hurt and even destroy relationships.

Commandment Ten: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” In the extremely consumerist culture that we live in, kids grow up wanting more and more, and wanting it right now. This commandment provides a great opportunity to teach kids about what it means to be content with what we have. When their friends have something that they don't, encourage them to be happy for them. Point out the good things that your family has, and the importance of thanking God for your blessings.

Trust is a Must

We have a little saying in our house that goes like this: "Trust is a must in our home!" My youngest son has this posted on his wall to remind him every day, and we pass around a "Trust Token" when we catch each other doing something that promotes trust. These things seem like very simple things to do, and they really are when you think about it. But it's amazing how effective they are in reminding us of the importance of trusting each other as a family. And I've tried to instill in both of my boys how important trust is in life because so many other things hinge of this simple concept.

Over the last couple of weeks, we've been talking a lot about the issue of "trust" in Good News Club. And the life of Moses has been a great illustration for the kids to see that God can be trusted regardless of how hopeless the situation may seem and no matter how hard it may be for us to understand our circumstances. Moses would have had every right to not trust God. He had been on the run for murder for about 40 years, and was now returning to Egypt to free God's people. The Israelites had been held captive in Egypt for about 400 years. But God was about to set them free and Moses had been chosen to lead the way. This was not a mighty army and Moses was not the most menacing leader as an 80 year old man carrying a staff. But Moses' life remains as one of the quintessential examples of unwavering trust in God.

I believe that it's so important for kids to see us trusting in God. They need to learn it at a very early age, because as they grow older, they will experience more and more examples of trust being broken in people. We live in an imperfect world, and trust is not always an easy thing to freely give. Most of us deal with pain from broken trust, and it molds us into who we are. Unfortunately, it sometimes affects our ability to trust God.

Let me encourage you to allow your kids to see you trusting in God. Even if it doesn't "feel" like you're trusting Him, let it appear you are. They desperately need to see adults that trust in God, regardless of life's circumstances. When they see this, they see a God that is real, loving and concerned with their family. They see a God that can be trusted, even if the world sometimes let's us down.

Listen to these words from Proverbs 3:5 & 6. This really sums things up!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take."

Faith to Cast

This week in Good News Club, we looked at the life of Moses. Exodus 1-2:10 tells the story of his birth and the very beginnings of what would eventually become freedom for the Hebrew people. At first glance, it appears to be just one of these simple Bible stories that we often teach to kids in Sunday School, because it focuses on a recognizable character. It's a story that kids are usually familiar with and makes for a great Veggie Tales DVD. But when we really meditate on the story, we see that there is something much deeper here that is vital for kids to grasp in this day and age.

With the birth of Moses we see a snapshot of the great amount of faith that the Hebrew people had in God. Even in the darkest times of their slavery and oppression, they trusted that God would eventually deliver them. At the time of Moses' birth, Pharaoh had ordered that all Hebrew baby boys were to be killed, for fear of their numbers growing out of control. With great faith in God, Moses' mother hid him for 3 months, in hopes that his life would be spared. Finally, realizing that she could no longer keep him hidden, she placed him in a papyrus basket, and sent him afloat in the Nile river. Because of God's divine protection, Moses lived and would eventually grow up to lead his people out of Egypt.

But just for a moment, imagine being in Moses' mother's place. Imagine the amount of faith she must have had in order to hide her baby for 3 months, and then having to let him go into the Nile river. Imagine the fear. Imagine the heartbreaking choice that she had to make in realizing that she could no longer control the circumstances that surrounded her family. And yet despite the emotions that must have been running wild, she trusted in God and His promises to those who had faith in Him.

1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." This is a verse that many people will quote to others going through difficult times. I remember hearing this from a friend of mine many years ago when I was struggling through a particularly dark period of life. "OK. That sound good, but easier said than done.", I remember thinking to myself. It's one thing to know something in your head, but quite another to know it in your heart.

But over the years since then, I've realized something very significant in my life. It is easier said than done, simply because it requires more of us than just saying the words. Letting go of the anxieties of life does not mean that our circumstance are necessarily going to change. And it doesn't mean that the road will be easy. Moses' mother still had to let go of her son. She still had to face the circumstances that were not going to be changed at that time. But as she cast her son into the Nile, she symbolically cast her fears on God as well. Because her faith was greater than her fear, she was able to accomplish the seemingly impossible.

When you are called to "cast all your anxiety on Him," there is a certain amount of faith that is required. Kids need to learn this at an early age, and they need to learn it from us. As moms and dads, teachers and leaders, we need to model this, not by just mouthing the words to them, but by showing them in our actions. They need to see adults that have a faith and trust in God despite the circumstances around them.

Most likely, you'll face something this week that will make you a little anxious. I challenge you to not react to your circumstances. Regardless of what you might be feeling inwardly, don't express it outwardly. Show your children, and others around you, a person that has a trust in God that rises above what might be seen, and reveals a faith that casts fear into the river of uncertainty.

Child Like Faith

Well, we kicked off another year of Good News at Hyde Elementary last Wednesday. Each year, there is always some anticipation as to how many kids will come, who will return from last year and if all of the pieces will come together as expected. There is also anticipation as to what God is going to do and how he is going to work in the lives of the kids. I've been part of leadership in Good News Club for almost 10 years now, and I have to say that I have never seen God work in such a powerful way as He did last week. Of course, he does amazing things every year, which is one of the cool things about being a part of Good News Club. But at this first meeting, for some reason there was a feeling that God is up to something BIG. There was a feeling of His Spirit moving in our midst despite anything we were doing as leaders. I could see Him in the eyes of each child as they sang, laughed and listened to the message of Jesus Christ. Man, I'm excited to be along for the ride!

To give you a little perspective, last year we started club with about 15 kids. This year we began with a total of 46. I'll admit, I've never been a big "numbers" person. Whether it's in Good News Club or church, the number of people who show up should never be the driving factor of what we do. If one child showed up on Wednesday, we would have gone about things with the same excitement and passion as if there were 100. But the numbers do show us something very significant. God is touching more and more lives through this ministry, and for that we have to give Him thanks!

When I got home on Wednesday evening, I spent some time praying and thanking God for such an awesome club. As I prayed and listened to God, I was compelled to open up my Bible to Matthew 18, where it says, "And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me," It never ceases to amazes me how much I learn about God from spending time with children. And it reminds me of how simple our faith really is. As adults, we constantly try to make faith a complex system of in-depth knowledge and facts that somehow bring us closer to God. But is it possible that just the opposite is true?

When I look into the eyes of these beautiful children, and see them worshipping God with complete focus, innocence, humility and simplicity, I see God. I see Him moving in an unhindered way that is very rare these days. I see the kind of worship that I think God really wants. And I see how I want to become in my relationship with God. Like a little child. Imagine what our churches would be like if we all worshipped God like this. Imagine the excitement. Imagine the expectation. Imagine the power. And imagine the fun we would have!

Perfect Imperfection

I don't know about you, but I've become exhausted with what seems to be an endless onslaught of "experts" giving me advice on every aspect of my life. From ministry to finances, there seems to always be someone who has the "answer", and by implementing their program and philosophy, you too will become an enlightened expert: at least until the next "expert" steps up. Especially in the area of parenting, I have become especially frustrated. I've read countless books and attended seminars on how to be a better parent and help others to be better parents. But rather than feeling encouraged, I usually feel guilty and somewhat inadequate at what I have failed to do right or could have done better. My question is, who decides what is right when it comes to parenting my kids? If I follow a certain program or method, am I going to be transformed into "Superdad"? Obviously not! I think it's going to take a lot more in my case, because guess what? I make mistakes! A lot of them! I'm an imperfect person, living as an imperfect dad and husband, married to an imperfect wife, who is an imperfect mom. And you know what else? I'm OK with that!

Don't get me wrong; I do my best to be a parent. When you get right down to it, most of us with kids would give anything to have all the right answers. It's only natural for us to seek help anywhere we can get it. The problem is that a lot of well meaning experts create unrealistic standards and goals that are too high for even the best of parents to obtain. We get discouraged, depressed, feel guilty and many times we just give up. I see this happen time and time again in ministry. And when these high standards are set by the Church, people lose faith in the one organization that should encourage them the most and support them unconditionally; failures and all.

Reggie Joiner puts it this way, "God is at work telling the story of restoration and redemption through you family. Never buy into the myth that you need to become the "right" kind of parent before God can use you in your children's lives. Instead, learn to cooperate with whatever God desires to do in your heart today so your children will have a front-row seat to the grace and goodness of God."

Think about those words for a moment. Let them sink in. Resolve yourself to the fact the we are imperfect people. We are going to make mistakes over and over again. But sometimes those mistakes are what builds healthier, deeper and more spiritual relationships within our families. Kids need to see that mom and dad are not perfect, because they need to learn that they are imperfect as well. Most of all, if you're struggling with feeling like an inadequate parent, give yourself a break; at least for this weekend. Realize that within our imperfections and screw-ups, we are being used in the hands of a perfect God. How can we go wrong by being part of His continuing genealogy of imperfect people? The Bible is full of them. You may have lost your temper a few times, but Adam and Eve screwed up their entire family; forever. But despite all the bumps in the road, all the do overs, all the screw-ups and failures, in some mysterious and supernatural way, within our imperfections, we are actually being made perfect.

Words

In Psalm 19:14 David cries out to God in prayer, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Today I found myself asking, "When was the last time I prayed something like this? When have I taken the time to ask God to guide every word that comes from my mouth? Every thought that drifts through my mind? Every action that transpires from those thoughts?"

Those of us with kids, and those of us that teach kids, constantly find ourselves telling them to watch what they say, right? "Don't say that!", "Don't talk to your brother that way?", or my personal favorite, "Watch that mouth, Mister!" We are obviously aware of the need to guide children in what is appropriate to say, and what's not. Overall, it's vital for kids to have a concept of the proper way to communicate and treat others.

But I find myself wondering what our examples teach them. You've heard the expression, "Actions speak louder than words"? So often, we focus more on what we teach them by words and forget what we teach them by actions. I don't know about you, but sometimes my actions don't match my words. Isn't it ironic when you lose your temper while telling your 13 year old to watch his temper?

Whether we like it or not, we are "walking lessons" for kids. Especially as parents, everything we do and every word we say are being filed away in their little file cabinet minds. If we attempt to teach them one thing, but do or say another, they become confused, frustrated and eventually see us as hypocrites. The significance of matching our actions, words and teaching is vital. It's more important than what they are learning at school, and also more important than what they are learning at church.

In Deuteronomy 6:7-9, God stresses the importance of following His words and teaching them to our children. He says, "Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
This means ALL the time. This means EVERYTHING. Easier said than done, right?

Our faith is a holistic aspect of our lives. It's not just something that we do on Sunday or maybe once more during the week. Teaching our kids about faith is not just something they learn in Sunday school or Good News Club. Faith is an all encompassing part of our lives and kids need to see this lived out in the lives of mom and dad.

This week, may the words of your teaching match your actions. And may the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart be acceptable in God's sight.

Faith

What do you think faith means to children? I began asking myself asking this question over and over this morning. This week in Good News Club, we asked the kids what they thought it meant to "have faith". And as always, we got a lot of different answers. Of course, there was the typical Sunday school response: "Believe in God!" "Yeah, that's definitly part of it, but what else?" Then we started to get some responses that were closer to what we were looking for. "Believing in something you can't see!" "Trusting in something even though you don't know everything!" OK, now we're getting somewhere. Basically, kids seem to be able to verbally articulate what it means to have faith, but do they really know what it means to have faith in terms of a relationship with God?

We used the analogy of going to a doctor when you're sick or hurt. Most of us have faith that when the doctor gives is a remedy for something, we're going to probably feel better because we trust the doctor. We have enough evidence and proof that they know what they're talking about, right? Kids also have faith and trust in what their parents tell them to do; at least until they become teenagers. So is this kind of faith the same as faith in God?

A person can define what faith means, but their understanding of faith has nothing to do with whether or not they actually have faith. I can tell you that I have faith in a parachute opening when needed, but you'll never catch me skydiving. Does that mean I don't really have faith in the technology of parachutes? I can tell you that I have faith in mind over matter, but I'm not so willing to walk over a pile of hot coals. Do I have less faith than someone who will?

I ask these questions because I think kids just might have a better handle on faith than adults do. Jesus said in the gospel of Mark that "anyone who will not recieve the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." (Mark 10:15) Basically, Jesus was saying that unless you have a simple faith in me, you don't really follow me. Think about that for a minute. Jesus isn't pressing us to have more faith. He is pressing us to have simple faith. It's not a question of the amount of our faith, it's the simplicity of it.

When you get right down to it, kids just believe. We tell them stories about God, who God is and what life is all about, and they take it for what it is. They don't try to reason their way through faith, or attempt to be better because they have stronger faith than another child. They just beleive. What can we learn from this?

Let's face it, we're never going to have all the answers. We're never going to be good ebough. We're always going to have questions, and you know what? Sometimes we're going to find it hard to have faith. But just like my parachute analogy, there is going to be time when we just have to jump out of the plane. We need to say to ourselves, "I may not understand my circumstance. I may not have all the answers. I may not have dotted all the "i"s and crosesd all the "t"s, but there's enough evidence to prove that what I believe is real. There is enough childlike innocence in me to have faith. When we can do this, especially in front of our children, we might find ourselves learning more from them than they learn from us.

True Love

Well, we just celebrated Valentine's Day, so love is in the air, right? And that got me thinking about love and how kids perceive love. So, before you read any further, stop for just a few seconds and think about how much you love your children. Meditate on the depth of your love for them. Remember the events and milestones in their lives that have built the elaborate construct of your memories. Allow yourself to be bathed in these thoughts just for a few seconds. This love is powerful. It's real. It's deep. And it is part of who you are, and who you have become as a parent.

I ask you to do this, because I found myself doing this very thing. This morning, I found myself diving into the depth of my love for my two boys. As I focused on my love for them, I began to realize how incredibly deep it is. In many ways, it is infinite and causes you to wonder how it could possibly have had a beginning and how it could ever end. There is absolutely nothing that could cause me to love me children any less or any more than I do at this very moment. And I am quite sure that if you joined me in this exercise, you would feel very much the same.

In John 3:12-21, Jesus is having a late night conversation with a man named Nicodemus; a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus came to talk with Jesus under the cover of darkness because he didn't want others to know that he was one of His followers. He knew that Jesus had come from God, but had no idea how shallow his understanding was.

For the most part, Nicodemus was a good guy. He was one of Israel's teacher of teachers and an expert of the Law. He followed the teachings of the Law exactly, and encouraged others to follow his example of religious excellence. So, imagine his surprise when Jesus basically tells him that his wisdom, position and good works will not help him make it to Heaven. In this passage, we see Jesus revealing the essence of why He came to earth: love.

In John 3:16, Jesus tells Nicodemus,"For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." The Greek word used for "love" in this verse is agape. This is the highest form of love that is described in the Bible. When we look at this love in context of what Jesus is saying here, we get a glimpse of the incomprehensible love that God has for us. To imagine that God, the creator, sustainer and owner of this universe, giving up His Son for a sinful and rebellious people, it seems unimaginable.

As I said in the beginning, my love for my children seems to be infinite, and that causes me to think of something else that John said in one of his later letters. "God is love" Think about that. So much of what we know of true love is tied into God's very character. As God is infinite, the love that radiates from Him is infinite and encompasses all that He is.

Children need to know the depth of God's love. They need to see it lived out in an unconditional way, so that they have a healthy context of love. Many of them have heard John 3:16 many times, but do they truly understand how much God loves them? I think that the best way we can communicate this to our children, is by loving them. When they begin to realize how much Mom and Dad love them, they begin to get a glimpse at God infinite love in a practical way.

Tonight on Nightline: Man Turns Water into Wine at Local Wedding

I don't read the newspaper much anymore. I used to love reading the paper. The feel of print as I read through the news of the day. A lot of people say that print is dead, but I still like to flip through the Chronicle from time to time. Either way, I usually find some time to keep up with what's happening in the world around us. This morning I found myself wondering if kids still imagine being newspaper reporters when they grow up?

This week in Good News Club, we talked about the story of Jesus turning water into wine from John 2:1-11. I imagined what it would be like to take the Bible story and and re-write it as if I were reading an article in the local paper. Imagine reading an article from the "Daily Galilean" or "The Jerusalem Times." The headline reads:

"Wedding Guest Turns Water into Wine"

"On Tuesday of this week, a local woman known only as Mary, was in the town of Cana, attending a wedding. A large number of guests, including her son Jesus, were also present as festivities began. Guests at the wedding were reported having a good time until the host ran out of wine. At that point, it seemed that the peaceful celebration might turn into a disaster.

For reasons unknown, some wedding guests approached Jesus, who was from the town of Nazareth, thinking he might have a solution to the problem. When told about the problem, Jesus at first seemed unwilling to do anything, but after some encouragement from his mother, he finally agreed to help.

Eye witnesses at the wedding reported that Jesus instructed some servants to fill several large water jars nearby with water. He then instructed them to dip some of the water out of the jars and take it to the man who was in charge of serving the wine. To the amazement of all, when the wine steward tasted the water, he discovered that the water had, in fact, been turned into wine.

Wedding guests were amazed at the turn of events and said that the wine was the best that they had ever tasted. As a result of this miraculous event, many people began following Jesus everywhere he went, and many believe that he might even be the long-awaited Messiah.

We will continue to follow this story and update you as details become available."

Well, as you can probably tell, writing news articles is not my forte, but it was fun to play around with. It also makes you think a little: what would have been considered the most important aspect of this story? A potential miracle, right? That would be all people would be talking about. Some would believe it as truth, and some would dismiss what happened as coincidence or "unexplained". The funny thing is, just as Jesus performed a miracle by changing the water into wine at the wedding celebration two thousand years ago, he is still working miracles in the hearts and lives of people today, including our kids. Let us remind them of that this weekend as we witness God's miracles all around us.

Are you guilty of temptation?

I'm going to take a little different, but practical spin on this weeks blog. Sometime this weekend, prepare a big bowl of your kid's favorite candy. Set it on the dining room table or the living room coffee table. Somewhere where they will see it all the time. Then show them the candy, but tell them that no matter what you do or say, they CANNOT eat the candy! They can't even touch it! A few minutes later, unwrap a peace of the candy and begin to eat it. Eat it slowly and make plenty of "Mmmmmm!" sounds! Sit right in front of them as their little mouths begin to water! Believe me, at this point, the only thing they are going to be thinking about is eating the candy! Their minds will be consumed with thoughts of eating the candy! They will smell it! Taste it! Hear it! "MUST HAVE CANDY!!" Is this a little sadistic? Well, maybe. But they'll get over it!

After you torture them for a while (choose the duration at your discretion!), go ahead and give them a piece and let them devour it. Watch your fingers! Then ask them if they were tempted to eat the candy, even though you told them they couldn't. Answers will vary, but will probably be similar to my 7 year old, "Ummmm, Hello? Yeah!" I don't know about you, but I think kids just might live their lives in a state of perpetual temptation. But is that such a bad thing? Is it "wrong" to be tempted? You'd be surprised how many kids think it is.

So, is it necessarily a sin to be tempted? Sounds like a simple question, but think about it for a second? How often have you beaten yourself up simply because you were tempted to do something that was wrong? Have you felt guilty and compelled to run to God because you need forgiveness because you felt tempted by something? I know I have! But think about it. Temptation is only considering sin, not giving into it, right?

This week in Good News Club, we talked about the fact that even Jesus was tempted to sin. In Matthew 4:1-11, we read that Jesus was "led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil." After 40 days and nights of fasting in the wilderness, "He was hungry." I always laugh at that part! "He was hungry? No way!" I encourage you to read the rest of the passage, but basically Satan shows Jesus the proverbial "candy". There are two very important points in this passage. First, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted". There was a purpose behind Jesus being tempted. Could it be that God sometimes allows us to go through temptation in order to fulfill His will? A bigger picture kind of thing? Secondly, Jesus was tempted. We know that Jesus never sinned, right? (2 Corinthians 5:21) But the one thing that stands clear from this passage is that Jesus was in fact tempted.

I think it's important that kids understand that while temptation can be very difficult, it's not necessarily sin. When they endure tough times and face tough decisions, they need to know that they have a God that loves them and wants them to have the courage and strength to make it through temptations. He gives us all the power to avoid sin in our lives, we just have to trust Him. (1 Corinthians 10:13) And The best way they can do this is by understanding what God says about temptation and sin. By memorizing God's Word, kids will readily have the tools they need to stand against the many temptations that they will inevitably face in life.

Psalm 119:11 seems to sum up my thoughts as I finish up this blog. "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." You know, I am tempted to memorize that verse right now.

Do Over!

Do you remember playing neighborhood sports as a kid? Not organized leagues, but just that group of kids that all gathered together on Saturday morning and suddenly became all-stars! Growing up in the late 70s and early 80s, I got to experience the advent of youth soccer. It was just taking off in American suburbia and I jumped in feet first! In fact, I think my Mom still considers herself officially the first "soccer mom"! And as Saturdays became Game Day, I absolutely fell in love with this burgeoning sport. But despite the cool uniforms and the cheers of the crowds, I always loved playing neighborhood soccer best of all. There is just something about playing soccer with your buddies! No rules, no uniforms and no ref! You play a little harder, get a lot more sweaty (maybe even a little blood!), and most of all, have a lot more fun.

But the one thing I remember most was the amount of grace we allowed each other. And we granted that grace with the ever popular "Do Over"! Remember the "Do Over"? You kick the ball crooked, it goes out of bounds and you yell, "Do over!" You hit a foul ball, "Do over!" You slip while trying to tackle the wide receiver, "Do over!" It was the best, and one of the only rules we had in neighborhood sports! Of course, there was always that guy that objected to most "do overs", but he was usually over ruled by other teams mates that knew they would probably need a "do over" as well when they had the ball!

Well, I've been thinking a lot about "do overs" as we begin a New Year, and as a parent, teacher and minister, I am considering giving myself a "do over" to start the year off right. I know! It sound cliche, but it's really how I've been feeling. I guess it's just human nature to reflect over the last year and take inventory of how you've been doing. This week, I found myself listing the various things that I want to do better. A lot of things went through my mind, but my predominate thought was to be a better spiritual leader to my two boys. Don't get me wrong, I pray with them every morning and night, get them to church every Sunday, make sure they make midweek groups, etc. But I want to feel like I'm doing more than just going through the motions. I want to connect with them on a deeper spiritual level. I'm not sure what that might mean right now. Maybe sharing more spiritual insight with them. Maybe sharing some cool things that God is doing in my life. Maybe just listening to them a little more. Whatever it might be, I'm considering a "do over".

You may not feel like you need a "do over" in this area. You may take stock of 2009 and feel as if all the pieces have fallen into place perfectly. But let me just ask you to do one thing. Since we all are either parents, teachers or both, we spend a great amount of our time with kids. Unfortunately, they usually don't reflect on the past year as we do. In fact, they usually don't reflect much on the last week, or day for that matter! But what has 2009 looked like for the children in our lives? What obstacles have they faced? What victories have they been a part of? Where are they spiritually? Are there any milestones that mark their walks with God?

Give this some thought. Spend some time with God and reflect. And if you see some things that you might have been able to do a little better with the kiddos, then I officially make the call!

Do over!!