I recently came across an article entitled  Homeschool Blindspots that highlights some of the joys and sorrows of being a Christian parent. I shared the article with several people and I was surprised by how strongly they responded to what the author was saying. Because so many people have found this article to be helpful I decided to share it with the wider congregation. Although I can’t think of any homeschooling families in this congregation, the basic principles that the author lifts up are applicable to anyone who has children or works with young people. I would love to hear what you think about this article.

Please click Here to read the article

The authors also provide a link to an article that looks at some of the common ways Sunday School materials misinterpret scripture while pointing to ways that adults can become better Bible teachers.  I really liked the following suggestion:

5. Focus on people rather than God: The Bible is God’s revelation of himself and its message and teaching is largely based on what it tells us about God. This is particularly true of narrative (stories). While we are drawn to observe the people in the stories, we cannot forget that the stories are intended to teach us about God more than about people. If in the end, the final point is “We should/shouldn’t be like X (= some biblical character)” there is probably a problem unless the “X” is Jesus or God. Better is “we can learn through X’s story that God . . .

I encourage every Sunday School teacher and parent to read this short article – you can find it  HERE.

• Pray and ask others to pray. 
• Support your church if it works through church discipline with one of your children. 
• Keep a relationship with your son or daughter if at all possible. 
• Do not make the sin the central issue of every conversation. 
• Don’t make provision for the sin. 
• Don’t enable the sin. 
• Grow your own marriage. 

You can read an expanded discussion of each point HERE.

Questions to ponder include:  How does Moralistic Therapeutic Deism measure up to the faith revealed in the Bible and proclaimed by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? What is your reaction to the researcher’s  assertion that parents are the single biggest influence on the beliefs and behaviors of American teens?  What implication does this work have for how you interact with kids? To what extent are adults in the pews really believers in Moralistic Therapeutic Deism?

You can listen to this 25 minute interview by clicking HERE.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 

Does God actually care about how the Waterford high School football team, the Badgers, or  the Packers are doing this year?

God’s word tells us to do everything for God’s glory, and that includes playing and watching sports. This books helps us see how we can enjoy sports as a gift from God and as a means of maturing in faith.

While this book is geared almost entirely to those who play sports it can also be very helpful for those who watch them as well. We live in a culture where boys and men are particularly vulnerable to the idolatrous worship of sports  and athletes, therefore I think this book is essential reading for fathers of athletes, teenaged boys, and  coaches. I also think the author has a message that can be adapted and applied to anyone who strives for excellence in any field  because it forces us to answer the question: Who is being gloried by my efforts? Me, Myself, and I… or God?

Here are some of the endorsements:

A new, eye-opening look into sports and the gift from God that sports really are. It has helped adjust my perspective to see how God uses sports to reveal the hidden sin in my heart.”
— STEVE BOSDOSH, Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher;  PGA golf instructor; contributor to Golf Magazine and  Sports Illustrated

“As I am a father of three boys, pastor and minister to professional athletes,
Altrogge’s book provided for me sound biblical principles for enjoying the
‘game day’ as well as seeing sports as a tool for sanctification. I wish Stephen’s
book were around when Jesus saved my life while playing college football. In
a neglected area of discourse Game Day and the Glory of God brings a gospel-
centered voice to one of America’s biggest idols. Humorous stories coupled
with serious self-reflection, this work is a valuable resource to have as well as
a practical guide to many aspects of ministry.”
— GARY SHAVEY, pastor at Mars Hill Church and  chaplain for the Seattle Mariners

“What  a  wonderful  and  refreshing  take  on  sports  that  brings  God  to  the
position where he should be: Head Coach, Manager, Commissioner! Stephen
makes clear God is in every part of our sporting lives. We may think the
score of the game is important, but God is only concerned about the score of
the game in victory over the enemy (that does not mean the Cowboys). This
book is a blessing for anyone who has or needs perspective. Stephen himself
is blessed, though the Lord has placed on his heart the Pittsburgh Pirates.”
— DAVID STEIN, talk radio host, A Celebration of Life Through Sports

“I could relate to a lot of what Stephen wrote on these pages—sports are often
just a shrine to Self, and that manifests itself in an all-encompassing desire
to be The Best. That said, there is still much to enjoy and value in sports,
and this book will help parents, coaches, and young athletes form a biblical
perspective on the games they play.”
—TED KLUCK, author, ESPN.com contributor

You can order the book by clicking HERE.

You can read an interview with the author HERE.

You can read the author’s blog by clicking HERE.

You can read a positive book review by clicking HERE.

You can download the first chapter entitled A life For the Glory of God in PDF format by clicking HERE.

C.J. Mahaney recently preached a sermon based on 1 Corinthians 10:31 entitled Don’t Waste Your Sports.   Click HERE to listen to the sermon or download it in MP3 format (57 minutes).

1. Stop asking your child what he wants to do with his life—start asking who he wants to be.
2. Stop speaking to your child about a career—talk instead about a calling.
3. Stop focusing on grades and start focusing on intellectual curiosity.
4. Stop speaking to your kids about happiness—start speaking instead about purpose.
5. Stop emphasizing friends—start emphasizing family.
6. Stop speaking to your kids about attention—start focusing them on love.