New Plan for the Blog

Back to the drawing board.

Some of you know this already, but I am working on a new site for my blogs, to combine this one with Mission: Allendale. And when I say I am working, that really means me piddling around while a couple of friends do the real design work. Many blessings upon them.

The idea of combining the two sites might seem crazy, since one blog just came out of the other, and now I'm bringing them back together. Didn't I Fast Forward to Mission: Allendale? What gives?

Here's what we (some friends and I) have been thinking:

1. We want to move to a self-hosted website, to be able to get some functionality that may not be possible with "out-of-the-box" designs.
2. Wordpress-based blogs seem more professional, modern, and useful than Blogspot-based blogs. Creating Mission: Allendale on Wordpress helped me get used to the new posting format.
3. The new site will allow (at least, this is the plan) people the opportunity to sign up for Parenting posts, Allendale posts, or both.

Going along with this third point, here is the new plan for my posting, starting with my current blogs, but also will continue on the new site:

• Parenting:  Mondays and Thursdays
• Allendale:  Tuesdays and Fridays
• Other (links, pictures, videos, etc):  Wednesdays
• Church & Children's Ministry:  Instead of putting these articles on my own blog, I will start guest posting on KidMin1124. If you are involved in Children's Ministry, as staff or volunteer, you should follow that blog, which was recently ranked #16 out of 100 Children's Ministry blogs. (Yep, I'm already listed as an author and I have my first article, Are All Volunteers the Same?.)

If you notice, I will stop posting on Sundays (Sunday Shorts) and Saturdays (Saturday Round-Up). This will create some more time to focus on my main content, and to get away from writing a little more (I have to live life with my family!). Especially with the Saturday posts, it took a lot of time to compile articles that I liked, but with a "shotgun" approach to who it might reach. Based on some recent counsel I received from a book I read, I will target articles to specific people, when I think it will help them. (Plus, I will still share some resources via Facebook and Twitter.)

If you have any questions or comments about these blogs and my new plan, please don't hesitate to let me know.


Related Links:

• KidMin Articles and Radio Show
• A(nother) New Plan for the Blogs (May 2012)

**image courtesy of Gangplank HQ via flickr

Hannah's Birthday

Accessorized: Braces & Clip-On Earrings

Our "little girl" is 10 today. She was actually due on September 16th, but came 9 days late. I lost a bet on that, having to buy someone lunch. See? She was costing me right off the bat.

That she was late seems to fit her personality. I bet she was busy talking, or day-dreaming. At least, that's why she is so pokey now.

Tasks? Who's got time and focus for them, when there is so much to dream about and create!

That's what we love about her. She loves to make things beautiful, like outfits with as many different bright colors as possible.

Over the next few years, she will be entering into a new phase. She will go through changes and challenges -- physically, socially, emotionally, and even spiritually. And our role is to be there ahead of her (proactive leadership) and with her (encouraging her in Christ).

Last weekend, Hannah and Joanna went away for a 1-night girls-only trip to Charleston. Besides just having fun, they also talked about some of these upcoming changes.

A great resource that my wife used is called The Care & Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls. Created by American Girl (which already has a huge fan in Hannah), this book facilitated discussion between my wife and daughter. Health topics are covered without reference to sexuality. It's a great resource for parents of young (preteen) girls.


Related Links:

• 9-11 and My Daughter 
• Kenya vs Hannah  
• Helping My Daughter in Her Adventure  
• Little Girl, Big Girl   
• Risk Your Kid      
• She's a Teenager! (2014)
• 8 Resources (+1 Bonus) for Parenting Daughters 

9-11 and My Daughter

I'm sure much will be said and written today about the 10-year anniversary of 9-11, by people who are much smarter than I.

From a personal note, one thing I remember about September 11, 2001 was that it all happened just 5 days before our first child was supposed to be born (although she finally came nine days after her due date).

I remember thinking, "What an interesting world our child will grow up in."

But God does not rest; He is at work.

• He creates life, and sustains it.
• He redeems the brokenness in the world.
• He draws us to Himself, even as we resist Him.

I asked my kids last night, "What can we remember whenever something bad happens in our lives?" Here's what we came up with:

• God loves us.
• God is with us. The #1 command in the Bible is "Do not fear," and it's usually coupled with, "For I am with you."
• God is in control.
• Jesus gives us life.
• Be thankful for the good things we do have.
• Believers in Jesus go to heaven (including any who died on 9/11/01).
• God will make things right, and turn evil into good.

Related Links:

• When Other People Mistreat You  
• Hannah's Birthday  

What Is a Leader?

The other day, I asked my older 2 kids (separately), “What makes someone a leader?”

I was very happy with their answer, which was almost exactly the same wording, “Helping others.”

Leadership is about making other people's lives better, and making them better, too.

There are other definitions of leaders, but these two guys echo the same idea:

• Jon Acuff:  "Leaders ask: 'What can I give to this person?'"
• Jonathan Pearson:  Leaders show vision, self-control, and loyalty.

How would you define a leader?

Cats & Asperger Syndrome

Joanna told me about this book, and I'm so glad I got a chance to read it a few weeks ago. It's called All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome. Less than 70 pages, with few words, lots of cute pictures (if you like cats), and plenty of thoughts to ponder. Here are some tidbits:

• "He likes to be near those he loves, but doesn't want them to hold him."
• "Loud sounds and sudden movements may scare him."
• "He's often fussy about what he eats."
• "He can do the same thing over and over again, without getting bored."

And my favorite:

• "Don't forget, everyone is different in his own way and there is a little bit of Asperger in us all."

If you know anyone (adult or child) who has autism spectrum disorder, this book is a must buy.


Related Link:

• Explaining Autism to My Son 

Of First Importance

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,"

I Corinthians 15:3

There is one thing that matters more than anything else -- the gospel (= Good News) of Jesus Christ. What is the gospel? Paul gives four points:

1. Jesus died for our sins (v. 3)
2. Jesus was buried (v. 4)
3. Jesus was resurrected (v. 4)
4. Jesus appeared to many (v. 5)

This message is what I must build my life around, and believe in with all my heart. If these four things are true and if I trust in them, they will affect every aspect of my life.

Praise Jesus!

House Party

Teenage boy having a mid-afternoon nap

Joanna and I lived in Greenville for over 11 years, in three different houses. In that time, we had 8 different out-of-town guests spend at least one night with us.

In the past 2 months in Allendale, we have had 12 out-of-town houseguests.

The difference?

1. Need. There are not too many options of where someone could stay in Allendale.
2. Community. We've had so many friends who eagerly desired to visit us, from three hours away.
3. Our own hearts. God is growing our hearts to be more giving. We realize that even with the little we have, we can be generous with all that God has entrusted to us.

We have at least one more friend coming in September.  And we'd love to have more! Just let us know.

5 Awesomest School Supplies of All Time

5. Colored Paper Clips. I like to peel off the rubber coating. Just because.

4. Calculator Watch. Never had one, but that's OK. You had to have microscopic fingertips to operate it.

3. Scratch 'n Sniff Stickers. Technically not a school necessity, if you're a parent. But awesome for kids. Except for the skunk. That's just evil.

2. Washable Markers. As a parent, I only appreciate this now.

1. Trapper Keeper. Hands-down winner.

What other ones can you add?

Spiritual Birthdays: Should We Emphasize?

image courtesy of SEPpics via sxc.hu

Today is my spiritual birthday.

On July 31, 1995, at about 6AM, I told God, "I'm not really sure if you are real, but if you are, I invite you to come into my life and change me."

I had spent the summer reading, thinking, talking, and wrestling with the concept of Jesus. And when I prayed this weak prayer, nothing magical happened. But, this was (and still is) an important date for me.

Joanna doesn't have (or, more accurately, cannot remember) a specific date and time for her conversion experience.

I baptized Hannah in November of 2008. While, based on how the Holy Spirit was obviously working in her heart, we are sure that she is a believer in Jesus, we cannot pinpoint exactly when she was spiritually regenerated.

Joanna and I do not feel like we should emphasize and need to know exactly when and where our children start following Jesus. However, Pastor Tullian believes there must be a specific moment when God decisively gives new life.

But maybe we're wrong.

What do you think? Should Christians emphasize knowing when they became followers of Jesus? Leave a comment with your thoughts.


Related Links:

• How Do We Know That God Is Real?
• "How Do You Know That Jesus Is Real?"     
• 10 Principles for Shepherding My Child Through Salvation and Baptism
• My Son Is Not Ready to Become a Christian    
• Remembering My Salvation  
• "How Do I Know If I Love God?"   
• Evangelizing the Next Generation   
• Should Christians Believe in Evolution?   
• Do I Have to Know the Date? (Reformed Theology) 

10 Reasons Allendale Is Better Than Where You Live

Some would say that this is an under-resourced area. You be the judge.

1. Book mobile.
   
2. Fried chicken from Clara’s.
3. Sunday afternoon activities could include loading the family up in the golf cart to go to Hardee’s for milkshakes.

This post has been moved to the blog Mission: Allendale. Be sure to read the rest of the list here.

Why I Wanted to Become a Chemist

Find out why, on Mission: Allendale . . . .

13 Ways to Frustrate Your Boss

This is a response to Michael Hyatt's Thirteen Ways to Frustrate Your Employees.

1. Flood your boss's inbox with emails.
2. Show up late to meetings.
3. Be defiant towards him or her, especially in front of your co-workers.
4. Be inflexible.
5. Don't communicate your expectations.
6. Don't come to meetings prepared.
7. Focus on superficial things, rather than things of substance.
8. Be unfaithful with work that is assigned.
9. Do all the talking.
10. Take all the credit.
11. Only remember the mistakes he or she has made.
12. Assume you know all the answers.
13. Be moody.

Which side is worse -- the boss being frustrated or the employees? Well, it depends if I'm the boss or not.

6 Coffee Brews That I Like, and 1 That I Hate

Here are my favorite types of coffee.

1. Java House.  It's what turned Joanna and I into coffee snobs. Strong and flavorful, but not harsh on your stomach. They don't ship internationally (a friend of mine asked), so I have to remember to ask friends who go over there on mission trips to bring me back some.
2. Some kind of Nicaraguan blend.  I forget the name, but it's a kind that friends who go there bring me back.
3. Dunkin Donuts.  Buying it from the store and brewing it at home is better than getting it at the store. Sometimes you can get it on sale at their stores for $20 for four full pounds (not the 10-12 oz bags that grocery stores sell it in). Well, you can get it. The nearest one to us is 43 miles away.
4. McDonald's.  Good coffee, especially for a dollar. Beats Starbuck's in many taste-tests.
5. Hardee's.  Just on this list because I love Hardee's.
6. Gas Station. I once bought coffee at the Allendale BP, which at the time had a "B" food safety rating. I survived.

Notice that Starbuck's didn't make my list.  Nasty, bitter, acidic. Would have been a great solvent to use when I was a chemist.

Sunday Shorts

Starting today, but maybe not every Sunday, I will be posting a very short blog. The topics will vary -- from things I like, to something I read, to tips, to ... whatever. Hope you enjoy.