Some parents of children who have committed suicide or died from overdose or after participating in an online challenge point to social media as the cause.

Some social networking platforms already offer options to disable sensitive content, but a proposed law would require tech companies to make those options default on minors’ accounts, if and when it passes in the United States.

The bill, known as KOSA (Kids Online Safety Act) was passed by 91 votes to 3 in the U.S. Senate. On the same day, the Senate also passed the Children’s and Adolescent Online Privacy Protection Act, which would prohibit technology companies from collecting data from underage users.

The KOSA would require companies to make any content associated with online bullying, illegal drug sales or sexual exploitation inaccessible for children accounts. It would also ban features that encourage “addiction-like behavior” and predatory marketing practices.

As reported by Wired, proponents of the measure, including the Tech Oversight Project, a non-profit organization focused on accountability, saw the bill as a significant step toward holding technology companies accountable for how their products affect children.

“Too many young people, parents and families have experienced the terrible consequences that come from the greed of social networking companies,” commented Sacha Haworth, executive director of the Tech Oversight Project, in a statement in June. “The accountability that KOSA would provide to these families is long overdue.”

Others, such as the nonprofit digital rights organization Center for Technology and Democracy, asserted that, if enacted, the law could be used to prevent young users from accessing critical information on topics such as sexual health and LGBTQI+ issues. This prompted some organizations that typically push for accountability in Silicon Valley to side with the tech companies and their lobbyists in an attempt to kill the bill.

The problem worries parents and teachers. Life in social networks and outside them seems to have no limits for digital natives, according to what Flavio Calvo, doctor in psychology, teacher, lecturer and author, with a vast experience in youth ministry, told Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International’s Spanish edition.

“Today there is, for adolescents and children, a new socialization that happens through social networks, or rather social media. What used to be common for us to do in normal life (I put normal in quotation marks), today kids do through the networks. Whether it’s forming friendships, playing sports, playing online games, etc. Followers on TikTok and other social media are just as important as friends. So, for us adults there is a difference between the virtual and the real, which for a teenager and a child does not exist. For them, the virtual is real,” said Calvo.

For educator Estuardo Salazar Gini, Continental Director for Latin America of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), the issue is a consequence of the isolation caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, according to his comments to Diario Cristiano.

“The phenomenon of addiction and influence of social networks on the psyche of minors in the way the PRC presents it, in my opinion, should be studied in combination with the pandemic experience. I am referring to the long months between 2020 and 2021 where quarantine was in place, with forced isolation when screens were the only means of contact. That exacerbated the dependency that was already unhealthy, but there it became an epidemic worse than any virus. We protected them from one so that they could acquire another that is proving to have a more destructive and lethal power,” he stressed.

Diario Cristiano made a brief survey to parents and teachers, with three questions. 11.1% of those who responded said that there is no problem between social networks and the cognitive development of adolescents, while 88.9% of respondents admitted that they do find a problematic difficulty for their children interacting on social networks.

Regarding their experience in the family, the testimonies are all similar and can be summarized in a single phrase: “Distraction and lack of person-to-person socialization.” Although some of the respondents talked about setting limits, especially waiting until a certain age to allow them to have their networks and manage them unsupervised.

Laura Stigliani, a psychopedagogy graduate, told Diario Cristiano that “what should be very productive, ended up being very aggressive.”

For Salazar Gini, “the generation of post-pandemic students puts to the test the entire capacity of educators to not only recover what was not achieved but to do so under much more complex circumstances.”

“The impact of this phenomenon on the educational experience has made the work of schools even more challenging. The pandemic left us with a significant learning lag, to which we now add the pathologies of poor mental health, insecure self-esteem (because we are constantly seeking validation) and having acquired a diet of entertainment that makes the work of teachers more complicated. Lack of focus is no longer an exclusive profile of those diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder),” said the director of ACSI.

“They kill each other!” Stigliani exclaimed toward what often turns into a pitched battle between teenagers. “The bullying that goes on over Instagram is unbelievable, or over TikTok,” he said. He attributed it as an addiction that they can’t get out of on their own, perhaps because of that inability to delineate digital from analog, which Dr. Calvo mentioned earlier.

“Also because of these online video games that are highly addictive, teenagers can’t put them down. You are in the classroom, for example, and they are playing. There is no way for them to quit, because the video game time is pressing them. So they can’t stop. Maybe they started it at recess and they have to continue because if they don’t, they will lose, and if they lose, they lose to someone else and they fight, insult each other and the violence escalates and results in the bullying that I mentioned before,” said the psycho-pedagogue.

Dr. Calvo agrees with Stigliani’s view and said that adolescents are “very influenced -emotionally – by the responses they have in networks. That is why cyberbullying and other issues have grown a lot due to their viralization. For all these reasons, they have a very strong emotional impact on teenagers who cannot leave the digital world. A teenager outside the networks or a child outside the networks has no social life”.

From the survey come statements that affirm Calvo’s assessment. “My children do not have accounts on social networks that they manage. This doesn’t mean that they don’t log in with other people’s phones and connect to YouTube for everything, which is a social network as well. When they can they open my Instagram account and watch reels and stories at an excessive level. My husband opened a YouTube channel for them where they create content on their mobile devices that my husband uploads and reviews. This has definitely created an obsession with them in counting every follower, every ‘like’, and every comment,” said one of the respondents to the survey.

In his professional journey, Stigliani encounters students who are also absorbed by vices such as online gaming, a scourge that Calvo brought up when he mentions that the issue is “not only in social media, but also in games, in PlayStation, and certain online games. Because, for example, those who groom get much more involved in online games than in social networks,” which is part of an interwoven and increasingly pronounced problem. Both focus on connectivity.

“There are kids in third or fourth grade, doing online gambling. In these casinos, they are not legal, they are online but they do not register whether it is a minor who is playing or an adult”, said Stigliani, who sometimes finds himself in the classroom with all kinds of situations caused by the use of cell phones.

From a social point of view, Calvo believes a key issue to be addressed is the age at which minors should be allowed to use cell phones. “The truth is that it is appropriate for children under 12 years of age not to have their own cell phones. But the reality is that children have cell phones from an increasingly younger age. So many times not giving them a cell phone at 9, 10 years old is to leave them out of their socialization.”

When asked what to do, or how to proceed to guide and accompany children and adolescents, Dr. Calvo said that “the adult has to come alongside from a place of discovering together what is good, what is appropriate.” He said that, “this can be done well if it is done from the beginning. That means, when a child is 14, 15 years old, you will not be able to monitor who their friends are on Instagram or TikTok. Then it is too late. But when they start to have their first cell phones, you have to start accompanying them in certain things that are appropriate. For example, only accept people you know, or take care of what kind of conversations they have.”

From a pragmatic point of view, Stigliani said that there are educational institutions where teachers and parents together agreed not to allow the use of cell phones in the classroom. And as a rule they include leaving the devices in a box or in a closet during the time they remain in the classrooms. “Logically, this practice generates displeasure in children, because for them, as for many adults, everything has to be counted or shown. As if it is not in the networks it does not exist. And that’s how they live it,” he said. “The interesting thing is that they finish what they’re doing and then, as a reward, they return the cell phone when they finish the whole activity, and they are all happy.”

From a parental point of view, some parents expressed in the survey that the important thing is to be able to limit the time spent using digital devices: cell phones, video game devices, tablets, etc. One parent brought it to the point: “Take away the electronic pacifier and help them to go out to kick the ball, jump rope and ride a bike with their friends.” Also generate “a lot of dialogue and teach them by example that you can disconnect, detox and that real life does not fall apart because [you put away the device],” said another respondent.

Estuardo Salazar Gini said that “the emotional and mental profile of the 21st century student is something that we are not prepared for. The tools of psychology, sociology or anthropology are not enough to manage this phenomenon effectively. To rescue this generation, we need the power of the gospel, the love of Christ and the wisdom of God.”

Originally published by Diario Cristiano Internacional

www.christiandaily.com

Citing data from Barna’s Gen Z Vol. 3 research, which also highlights an openness and curiosity about spiritual matters among teenagers and young adults, researchers noted that the findings represent an opportunity for Christian leaders to engage them.

“This generation tends to believe there’s something out there more powerful than them. Still, many remain hesitant to embrace religion or churchgoing,” researchers said. “Church leaders should recognize that teens’ openness to learning about Jesus represents a significant opportunity for meaningful engagement.”

The data show that 77% of teens are at least motivated to learn about Jesus, with 52% being “very motivated” and 25% saying they are “somewhat motivated.” Less than 20% of teenagers said they were unmotivated to learn about Jesus, while 7% said they were unsure.

“While teens express interest in Jesus, they may approach faith differently than previous generations. Furthermore, authenticity and relevance are key. Be prepared to address difficult questions honestly and demonstrate how Jesus and the Bible relate to the world we live in today,” Barna advised church leaders.

Another survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted in October 2022 by the Evangelical polling organization showed that 77% of respondents expressed belief in a higher power, and 74% said they want to grow spiritually.

The findings are similar to Pew Research data published in 2018, which showed that although 80% of Americans say they believe in God, only a slim majority of the nation’s approximately 327 million people were found to believe in God as described in the Bible.

Barna CEO David Kinnaman said at the time that this finding, too, was hopeful news for Christian leaders.

“Though religious affiliation and church attendance continue to decline, spiritual openness and curiosity are on the rise. Across every generation, in fact, we see an unprecedented desire to grow spiritually, a belief in a spiritual/supernatural dimension and a belief in God or a higher power,” Kinnaman noted.

The Barna CEO said one of the most inspiring features of this openness for him is based on findings from The Open Generation study, which show that “young people may be fueling this rise in spiritual hunger.”

“Overwhelmingly, Christian teens today say that Jesus still matters to them; 76% say ‘Jesus speaks to me in a way that is relevant to my life,'” Kinnaman said. “In a culture that has generally downgraded the reputation of Christians and relegated Sunday worship and other church-related activities to the sidelines of society, teens remain refreshingly open to Jesus as an influence in their lives.”

Kinnaman also highlighted that while teenagers are open to Christian witness, they’re also open to other faiths.

“They are open to different faiths, including Christianity, and they’re open to friends, causes and ideas,” Kinnaman said. “Though parents, educators and others who mentor young people have a tall task to provide wise guidance to emerging adults, today’s teens are confronting the church with something that I think we haven’t seen before — a kind of blank slate; a chance to imagine a different future.”

www.christianpost.com

When I lived in Atlanta I often drove by the Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital. In front is a sign that is thought-provoking.
“100 years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove … but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

I grew up in a home where my parents had very little but they gave a lot. My father was an immigrant who came from Poland, never finished high school, and worked as a custodian. My mother was disabled, scrubbed floors three times weekly, and pinched pennies with dad to make a living in Cleveland, Ohio. We never had a car, went on vacations, or enjoyed air conditioning. Yet, thank God, I turned out a success because of their sacrificial investment in me. 

Incredible legacies

Sarah Edwards was the wife of the 18th-century preacher Jonathan Edwards, and the mother of 11 children. Author Elizabeth Dodds chronicled the achievements and contributions of those children and their offspring, underscoring the potential of what parents can produce for their legacy. Out of 1400 Edwards descendants, the family produced:

• 13 college presidents
• 65 professors
• 100 lawyers and a dean of a law school
• 30 judges
• 66 physicians and a dean of a medical school
• 80 public office holders, including three mayors, three governors, three US senators, a controller of the United States treasury and a vice president of the United States.

Were Jonathan and Sarah Edwards able to foresee all this as they daily raised their children in the everyday routine of life? 

Did Abraham Lincoln’s mother, who died when he was only 10, foresee the destiny of her child as she read him the Bible and trained him up “in the way he should go” (Prv. 22:6)? I doubt it, but she acted in faith remaining diligent in her duties and trusting God for the results. Later in life after she was long gone, “Honest Abe” declared, “All that I am and all that I shall be I owe to my mother.”

During these turbulent times in which our children face Satanic assault unprecedented in history, let’s remind ourselves of what we owe our children as parents entrusted by Almighty God with their development and destiny.

25 essentials

Obviously, people say, “We owe our children love!” That is correct but how specifically and practically is parental love expressed? As responsible parents knowing one day we’ll give an account to God, here’s what I hope you’ll find to be a helpful list of the basics — what a parent owes a child. 

1. Discovering a life-giving relationship with God in the person of Jesus Christ, learning to love, obey, pray and enjoy a grace-filled, abundant life. 

2. Moral guidance, learning the fear of God, and loving His commandments for our good and His glory.

3. Love and respect for God’s revelatory gift to humanity — the Bible, the authoritative Word of God.

4. Protection from harm through parental safeguards and training in alertness. 

5. Communication — opportunity to regularly engage in conversation and exchange of thoughts and ideas.

6. Affection — nurturing, encouragement, and care communicated intentionally and consistently.

7. Correction — disciplinary measures carried out diligently and wisely for training in righteousness.

8. Education — the value and necessity of ongoing learning as a key to success.

9. Serving others as a core value versus self-centered living.

10. Honesty — learning the importance of integrity in all areas of life. 

11. Discernment — cultivating critical thinking and learning to discern between good and evil amidst seductive, secular influences. 

12. Sanctity of life from womb to tomb.

13. Sanctity of marriage honored as a lifetime covenantal commitment between one man and one woman. 

14. Moral purity intended by God to respect the opposite sex and celebrate sexual intimacy only in the bond of marriage.

15. Financial stewardship — earning and saving money; generosity, tithing, and giving to those less fortunate; investing and learning to spend wisely.

16. Faithfulness — commitments are upheld even when inconvenient; tasks are completed.

17. Honoring those in positions of authority (parents, grandparents, teachers, police …) as well as the elderly and those with special needs.

18. Value of work in its various forms, providing an opportunity for achievement and advancement with our accountability ultimately to God. 

19. Humility as opposed to pride as one remains teachable by attentive listening and learning, to mature and be blessed. 

20. Thankfulness as one cultivates an attitude of gratitude versus envy, entitlement, resentment, and discontent. 

21. Healthy habits to avoid harmful substances and maintain healthy living and longevity of life.

22. Endurance — the power of perseverance for character development and continued progress in life amidst inevitable adversity and unexpected setbacks. 

23. Etiquette and grooming displaying self-respect and maturity in social settings. 

24. Friendship — selecting companions of character and recognizing JUST friends (social), RUST friends (past), TRUST friends (counselors), and MUST friends (God-given gifts).

25. A disciplined life as opposed to being slothful, disorganized, procrastinating, and ultimately unproductive in life. 

Here’s the deal

Children learn the way parents live. We go the right way, and they learn the way to go! Christianity is not a meeting to attend, but a life to be lived. It’s a lifestyle that leads to peace, prosperity, and a powerful legacy. 

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words which I am commanding you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deut. 6:5-7).

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“I know it’s hard to see it,” my fingers began to type, “but that’s what faith is—believing what you cannot see.”

Faith takes us to another realm of reality. The Bible actually defines faith as the evidence of what is not seen  (Hebrews 11:1). Having faith in your marriage requires you to look beyond the sorrowful situation staring you in the face and instead look ahead to what you’re believing God for . . . what you cannot see. Faith is more than hope. It’s an act of surrender, and it’s an act of trust. Faith requires us to shift our focus and make a conscious decision to tap into something deeper than logic or our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I was recently invited to speak to a group of wives on the topic of “How to Have Faith in your Marriage Again.” Just a few mornings prior, I heard the Lord tell me to read Hebrews 11. As I began reading, I knew the Lord was downloading His words for these precious women to my heart. Here are eight practical steps I believe God wants everyone who is trusting Him for a turnaround in their marriage to take.

1. Speak Life

Hebrews 11:3 reminds us that God spoke the world into existence. He didn’t just think good thoughts. He didn’t simply imagine what a beautiful world would look like. He spoke it. We are made in God’s image, and what we speak comes to life whether good or bad (Proverbs 18:21). What kind of words are you speaking? Are you speaking dissolution or resolution over your marriage? Speaking life is the first thing you need to change in order to have faith in your marriage again.

2. Determine to Please God

Did you know that without faith it is impossible to please God? Think about that. Hebrews 11:6 spells it out. There was a time when I desperately wanted change in my marriage but I was inundated with thoughts of “What if . . .” I’d pray things would turn around, but then I’d immediately think of the worst-case scenario “just in case” things didn’t work out. If you want to please God, you must live by faith. God is willing and ready to act, so we have to be careful to not uncover our prayers with doubt.

3. Check Your Motivation

What is motivating you to have faith in your marriage? To have a happy life? To prove your parents or in-laws wrong? Hebrews 11:7 talks about Noah’s dedication to obey God because he was “motivated by godly fear.”  The fear of the Lord is something we don’t talk much about anymore. It’s a shame, really, because Proverbs 9:10 teaches that, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom . . .” When you’re at your wit’s end, check your motivation. Allow the fear of the Lord to guide you as you wait for him to act on your behalf.

4. See the Big Picture

Having a good marriage is about more than you and your spouse. If you have children, they need your marriage to be restored. When I got married, I purposed in my heart that my husband, Shaun, and I would break the cycle of divorce in our families. Hebrews 11:7 tells us that Noah built the ark to deliver his family. All hell had broken loose in his world, but Noah purposed that his family would be saved. Follow in his footsteps. Have faith in your marriage as you determine that your family will be delivered.

5. Stay in the Game

Someone needs to hear this word: stay. “By faith, he stayed . . .” (Hebrews 11:9). Sometimes, you just have to dig your heels in and stand your ground. One of the hardest things to do is to stay in your marriage when you really want to leave. But Ephesians 6:13 encourages us to, “Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.” You’re in a battle, dear one! Where are your weapons? What are you doing to stand against the evil coming against you? When you’re tempted to leave, commit to stay.

6. Set Your Sights Forward

It’s nearly impossible to move forward when you keep looking back. Hebrews 11:10 tells us that Abraham was “looking forward” to what he had not yet experienced. If you are to have faith in your marriage, you, too, must look forward to change. Look forward to progress. Put the past behind you and expect God to move on your behalf. As you wait, encourage yourself with faith-filled content and stories of how people just like you made it through.

7. Follow God’s Design

I love how Hebrews 11:10 describes God as the architect and builder. We must believe that marriage was designed by God. He is the one who is drawing the plans for your marriage. He is designing it to be beautiful. But he doesn’t stop there. He’s also the builder. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds a house, the workers labor in vain.” Yes, you have work to do, but take your cues from the master builder himself. Don’t get ahead of God and start making your own plans. That’s when it all falls apart. Trust God to build and sustain your marriage.

8. Believe God’s Promises

It’s hard to believe God’s promises when you don’t know them. In order to truly have faith in your marriage, you need to read the Word. Speaking of Sarah in the Bible, Hebrews 11:11 says, “she considered that the one who had promised was faithful.” Faithful to do what? To keep his promises. God does not lie. If he said he is able, he is able. If he said your dry bones will live (Ezekiel 37), they will! God can bring dead things back to life! Yes, even your marriage. He did it for Abraham and Sarah, and he did it for me. He is the God of the impossible!

As you meditate on these eight ways to have faith in your marriage again, get this . . . The number eight, in the Bible, represents new beginnings. God is able to make all things new. There’s a word for you. Believe it. God wants to do something new in your marriage? Will you let him?

Dana Che Williams is a devoted wife, pastor, and marriage coach whose desire is to see people connect to God and to one another. Learn more about Dana at http://danache.com or follow her on Instagram @mrsdanache.

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The popularity of teen volunteer vacation programs has soared in the last few years. These trips with a purpose allow teens to travel, get a new perspective on the world, make a difference in the lives of others, and grow in the process. While numerous opportunities are available in the United States, the most popular trips are often those to exotic destinations around the globe.

A variety of resources are available to help teens and parents identify exciting volunteer travel opportunities. Local schools and church groups often arrange community service trips. In addition, a number of nonprofit and for-profit organizations specialize in teen volunteer vacations and provide a wide range of high-quality options. Vermont’s Putney Student Travel, for example, has been leading teen community service trips for well over 50 years and offers programs in Asia, Africa, and North and South America. Global Volunteer Network offers a wide variety of volunteer service opportunities through partner organizations in 21 countries.

Other programs and resources include:

• Adventures Cross-Country: www.adventurescrosscountry.com Amigos de las Américas (AMIGOS): www.amigoslink.org
• AmeriCorps: www.americorps.gov Appalachian Mountain Club: www.outdoors.org
• Cross-Cultural Solutions: www.crossculturalsolutions.com
• Earthwatch Institute: www.earthwatch.org/teenteam
• Global Citizens Network: www.globalcitizens.org
• Global Leadership Adventures: www.experienceGLA.com
• Global Routes: www.globalroutes.org
• Global Vision International: www.gviusa.com
• Habitat for Humanity: www.habitat.org
• International Cultural Youth Exchange: www.icye.org
• International Expeditions: www.ietravel.com
• i-to-i: www.i-to-i.com
• Lifeworks International: www.lifeworks-international.com
• National Geographic’s Student Expeditions: www.ngstudentexpeditions.com
• Pueblo Ingles: www.morethanenglish.com/kidsandteensen/index.asp
• United Planet: www.unitedplanet.org
• YMCA International: www.ymcaiccp.org

Check each program’s age requirements carefully. Some organizations require participants to be 18 or older, while others will accept students as young as 13.

If you are considering a volunteer vacation for your teen, here are a few tips and suggestions to keep in mind:

• Make sure this is something that your teen wants to do. There may be challenges and hardships involved in this type of travel. Enthusiasm and a positive attitude are important part of making volunteer vacations a success.
• Determine what you can afford to spend and set up a budget for your teen’s trip. Make sure to include round-trip airfare and other associated travel expenses, program costs, and extra spending money. Review these with your teen before he or she begins to zero in on favorite programs.
• Talk with your teen about their reasons for taking a volunteer vacation and what aspects of the trip are particularly appealing to them. Read up on available volunteer vacation opportunities and talk with your teen about what they might see and do on their journey. If there is an application involved, allow your child to do it on their own. It’s important for your teen’s voice to shine through in the application. In addition, many programs use the application to help them determine if a teen is mature enough to handle the experience.
• Once your teen has selected one or a small number of programs, ask the provider a few questions. Some of these should include:

1. How long has the organization has been in business and how long has the current management has been in charge of running the program?
2. Ask about the staff at the site your teen has selected. What’s the ratio of teens to on-site employees?
3. If individuals must be 18 or older to travel with the organization, find out what percentage of participants are teenagers and whether that number varies significantly by program destination or duration of the trip.
4. Learn more about the background, training and experience of the employees on site. Are they all college graduates, or are they still college students? Some organizations find that college graduates are better able to manage teens than college students who may behave more like “buddies” than supervisors.
5. How many of the on-site staff have been with the organization for more than a year?
6. Have company employees visited the program site and planned the volunteer activities with the help and support of the local community?
7. What does the organization do to curtail the use of alcohol or illegal drugs? Ask if there a written policy regarding participants caught using alcohol or drugs, and if it has ever been enforced.
8. How are health problems or medical emergencies handled? Is there a doctor or medical practitioner located nearby? How close is the nearest medical facility?
9. If there is a home stay component to the program, how have the home stay families been selected? How many of the home stay families have participated in the program for more than one year?
10. How many hours are actually spent volunteering as part of this program? Time spent in community service can vary widely from program to program. Make sure the program’s commitment to community service is a match with your teen’s expectations.

After talking with each provider, ask if the organization will provide contact information for previous participants in the program. Your teen’s school guidance counselor or college counselor may also be a good resource for program information and reviews and might also be able to put you in touch with other students who have traveled with the organization.

By Family Travel Network | Christian Post

As you establish your family altar, you will need to build it out of the unmovable rocks of resolution. The reason you have to be resolute is that it will be a battle. You will find that there are many excuses for not having devotions. “Circumstances” will constantly crop up. You may be pressed for time, feel tired, or simply want to catch up on the news of the world. Your kids will occasionally groan when you announce that it’s time for devotions. Perhaps you think you don’t have the ability to teach the Bible. As you face distractions of various kinds, keep in mind one very powerful reason for daily devotions: the eternal salvation of your children.

Here are some practical points to consider when establishing a family altar.

Open in Prayer

Begin devotions by thanking God for your family and then prayerfully asking Him, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (Psalm 119:18). The Bible uses the phrase “the Law” to refer at different times to the entire Word of God, the Law of Moses, and the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are the very backbone of Holy Scripture. We must seek the help of God’s Holy Spirit if we are to comprehend the incredible things God has in His Law. The apostle Paul said, “I delight in the law of God” (Romans 7:22). Why should we delight in God’s Law, even though we are not saved by our obedience to it? It is because the Law reveals God’s holiness, His righteousness, His justice, and truth. It is the very instrument that the Holy Spirit uses to convert the soul (Psalm 19:7). It is the means by which the way to the sinner’s heart is prepared to receive the grace of God. If we want our children to be truly converted, we must first know the wondrous things from His Law, and that comes only by prayer and revelation of the Holy Spirit.

Read the Bible Out Loud

The Bible says, “A servant of the Lord must…be able to teach” (2 Timothy 2:24). So if you’re worried about a lack of teaching ability, don’t say, “I can’t teach”; say, “Success comes in cans.” Memorize this promise from Scripture: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Simply start by reading five verses from one of the Gospels. Then have each family member read five verses; this will not only help them become more confident in reading out loud but will help them remain attentive. Pause now and then to ask what they think a particular verse means. Be ready for (and don’t be discouraged by) a regular “I dunno.” Tell your children what you think the verse means, and continue with the reading, making use of any Bible cross-references.

If you have young children, start with a “picture” Bible. I did this many years ago when I found a Bible full of beautiful pictures of Adam and Eve, Noah’s ark, David and Goliath, etc. But when I turned to the New Testament, I found a picture of King Herod being presented with John the Baptist’s head on a plate! John’s eyes were vacantly staring into space, and his mouth was gaping open! It was horrible. So, I took some crayons, and (God forgive me) I changed John the Baptist’s head into a birthday cake. For years my kids must have been mystified about why King Herod’s guests were so horrified at the sight of a cake.

Forget Your Inhibitions

This is not a time to worry about your dignity. Role-play with your kids when they are small. Be Goliath, and give each of them a turn at being David. Have them throw a pillow or other object at you, then fall down when you get hit. Act out Daniel in the lion’s den. Be a lion and roar. Play out Bible stories with your children whenever you can. It will help them retain the principles behind the story.

If I remember correctly, when kids hear something, they retain 10 percent of what’s heard. If they hear and see something, they retain about 40 percent. But if they actually experience something (see, hear, and participate in), they retain approximately 80 percent. (I can’t remember the exact statistics, because I only heard them.)

Use the time when they are young and impressionable to impress upon them eternal biblical truths. I was deeply into role-playing until one memorable day: as I was rolling around on the floor doing something incredibly funny, I looked up and saw that none of my children were even cracking a smile. They were looking down at me as though I was some kind of nut. It was then that I realized they were no longer impressed. The “impressionable years” had gone.

Keep It Short…and Sweet

So that the devotional time doesn’t seem like a drag, don’t make it too long. Keep it around 10 to 15, perhaps 20 minutes. In fact, if you stop devotions when the kids are having a good time, this will make them look forward to the next time.

From the Scripture passage you read, select a memory verse and have your kids repeat it together six times. Perhaps you could have them write memory verses in a special book, and review them regularly. Repeat the same verse each night during the week. If they remember it at the end of the week, give them some sort of reward (we often gave our kids a small amount of candy). The reward is important. We all need incentives in life, and candy is a good one. I learned that children speak a special language called Candy, and if I wanted to communicate with them I could do so by speaking their language.

For years I ran successful kids’ clubs, teaching the Bible to hundreds of children. If the kids learned a Bible verse, I would toss out candy as a reward. If they sat quietly and listened, I would toss out candy. If they even showed up, I would toss out candy. The kids loved it, and they kept coming back.

So, be liberal when it comes to sweets. If you are worried about rotting your kids’ teeth, have them brush after they have consumed their reward. If you are concerned about them becoming obese, make sure they eat only the candy you give them. And the reward doesn’t have to be a big candy bar. A few jelly beans (the candy of presidents) can be just as rewarding to a child. This is for the most important of issues—their eternal salvation. So think about the fact that there will be plenty of healthy, fit, fine-teethed folks who will end up in hell.

Use Anecdotes and Humor

If you want to keep the attention of your children, thoroughly flavor the reading with anecdotes. It is said of the Messiah, “I will open my mouth in a parable” (Psalm 78:2). Jesus often used parables—stories that carried a deeper meaning. We must do the same. Make them short, and preferably humorous.

Many people thank me for using humor when I teach, but occasionally someone will criticize this approach, asking me to justify it from a biblical perspective. One man wrote to say that “this is foolish jesting,” which God aligns with “fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, and filthiness.” He stated that Jesus didn’t tell jokes, so we shouldn’t either. Many years ago I did wonder if it was legitimate to use humor, and was delighted to find a quote by “The Prince of Preachers,” Charles Spurgeon (my favorite preacher). He said that the use of humor in a sermon is like a flash of lightning on a dark night. It makes people sit up and wait for the next flash.

After I spoke at a church meeting, an excited woman approached me to say that her husband hadn’t been to church for seven years, and that the last sermon he sat through was by what he called a “hell-fire” preacher. She added, “When you started, he said, ‘Here we go again—another hell-fire preacher. I’m outta here.’ But then you made him laugh, and he stayed for the whole sermon…and put his hand up at the end [indicating he made a commitment to Christ].”

Using humor in your family devotions keeps the attention of your children so you can convey timeless truths.

The Phone Bird

New Zealand doesn’t have crows or mockingbirds. For our first year or so in the US, we were fascinated by the different birdcalls we heard in California. One day while working in the yard, I stopped to listen to the variety of songs. One in particular gripped my ears. I stood there captivated by the sound, thinking, I bet Californians call it a “phone bird.” It sounds exactly like a phone ringing.

Suddenly it dawned on me—it was the phone ringing! I missed the caller.

Notice that it was only when my understanding was right that the result was action. The night of my conversion, when my understanding was right, it resulted in action. My realization that I had sinned against a holy God led me to repent and place my faith in Jesus. “Faith comes by hearing [i.e., a right belief or understanding], and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). As my own children heard the Word of God—and as they understood God’s holiness, His justice, His truth, His righteousness, His love, and His faithfulness—they acted upon the Word by exercising saving faith, and came to know the salvation of God.

Now, commit yourself to have a family altar with your children. Do it as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

Remember to close the family devotions in prayer, asking God to help you and your family to remember—and act upon—the lessons you have learned.

Adapted from “How to Bring Your Children to Christ…& Keep Them There“

By Ray Comfort

www.christianpost.com

Piper said it was “inconceivable” and “incomprehensible” to him for a Christian to marry someone who is not a fellow Christian. 

He called it an act of defiance that “shows how deeply compromised the believer’s love for Christ is.”

“How can the heart of a believer embrace Jesus as its supreme treasure and satisfaction, and reject the words of Jesus in order to be in the arms of one who has no faith and no true affection for the believer’s most treasured possession?” he said, adding, “Something is deeply, deeply wrong with the heart’s affection for Christ.” 

He argued that Christians who enter into mixed marriages have “compromised” their love for Christ and are “defying and rebelling against an explicit command of the New Testament of God” found in 1 Corinthians 7:39.

“So, if this teaching is made clear to the believer, and the believer rejects obedience to this command, she or he is acting in open defiance of the teaching of the apostles and of God,” he said. 

Piper went as far as to say that Christians in mixed marriages should be excommunicated from the church in order “to sober the disobedient believer, wake them up, and win them to a repentant and obedient heart and restoration.”

“Many people do not take the Bible seriously,” he said.

“They are baffled and angry by churches who take the Bible as seriously as I’m saying. Many professing Christians today would regard such excommunication as more hurtful than helpful.

“They call it intolerant; they even call it hateful. But that’s because they elevate their own wisdom above God’s wisdom.”

www.christiantoday.com

Young love is wonderful and beautiful, full of optimism, and plans and hopes for the future.

But love in later life is precious too. It is a love that has been forged through years of shared experiences and joy, maybe raising children together, perhaps enjoying grandchildren.

It’s a love that’s stood the test of time, and is deeper than any shop-bought Valentine’s Day card can describe.

In normal times, that long-term love might be shown by the devoted wife or husband visiting their spouse in a care home each day, gently talking with them when they are, perhaps, deep into dementia. Or sitting for long hours by a hospital bed.

Sadly, Covid-19 has separated so many of these lifetime partners, even at the point of death.

As a priest, when I marry a couple and take them through their wedding vows, I hear them make their lifelong commitment “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part…”

It’s wonderful to see the bride and groom smiling, and enjoying this precious moment, making vows that will, hopefully, span the rest of their lives. I love taking weddings – it’s an immense privilege to be part of a couple’s special day.

And I find myself pondering what the future will hold for them. I wonder what shape that lifelong commitment will take, as I pray a blessing on their marriage.

‘Love is patient. Love is kind.’ These are familiar words from the popular wedding reading in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. That patience, that kindness are qualities that can develop over years of marriage.

Just how much patience will be needed in the years ahead is seldom known on the wedding day.

So, this year, as I look at the rows of red or pink Valentine’s Day cards on sale in the shops, I shall look out for cards that have a deeper message.

I’ll seek out cards that celebrate long-term love. Cards that say something about the joys and challenges of growing older together.

By Rev Peter Crumpler

www.christiantoday.com

William Jeynes, Professor of Education at California State University, has brought together for the first time the findings of 30 studies looking at the influences on educational achievement in order to discover what has the biggest impact overall.

The answer was unequivocal that it is faith and family that make the difference. In particular, for family, coming from a two-biological-parent family and high levels of parental involvement are the key factors.

Jeynes notes these are interrelated: “When two parents are present, this maximizes the frequency and quality of parental involvement.”

For faith, it was regularly attending church and defining oneself as a very religious person that had the biggest impact.

Jeynes suggests this is because faith “can give a person a sense of purpose in life and a disciplined lifestyle that supports academic success.”

The study revealed that such factors make a bigger difference even than a person’s ethnic or socio-economic background. In fact, Jeynes said that “if an African American or Latino student was a person of faith and came from a two-biological-parent family,” the gap in their achievement compared to a person of a different background “totally disappeared, even when adjusting for socioeconomic status.”

Yet these facts are barely reflected at all in public policy. Instead, there is little to no effort to encourage families to stay together and to promote religion – if anything the reverse, with an apparent hostility to marriage, faith and traditional morality frequently on display among governing elites.

Meanwhile, huge sums of money are spent trying to improve educational attainment in other ways.

Jeynes’ study is a timely reminder that marriage, family and faith are not just matters of private belief. They impact on important areas of public policy, such as educational achievement and the welfare of children.

By Will Jones

www.christiantoday.com