daddy4ms

Here are my favorite quotes from the D6 2011 Speakers: Doug Fields said, "Church needs leaders who: Can authentically say, Follow me as I follow Jesus. Walking & talking with Jesus Value a collective vision Are acutely aware of the twisters impacting families. David Platt shared, "Our goal in parenting is not for our kids to get a great education, have great relationships, make a lot of money, etc. Instead, our goal in parenting is to follow a great God!" Emerson Eggerichs said, "But in reality, how do men & women respond when in conflict? Men-Without respect, he responds without love. Women-Without love, she responds without respect." John McGee shared, "God used His Word, His Spirit, His People to speak into couple's lives." Tim Kimmel said, "God is the best family ministry model we can find." Dannah Gresh shared, "Our theology of sexuality is weak at best." Ron Hunter said, "Some conversations...

One of the sessions at D6 this year was a Student Ministry Panel from student ministers from a variety of churches.  You can view some of the dialog here .  While I agreed with much of the content, there was something missing.  As a former youth pastor myself, I struggled with how to engage parents in ministry with students.  Several volunteered to help out with activities, but I was not sure how involved they were in passing on faith at home.  I tried seminars such Understanding Your Teenager and other parenting classes, but the only ones that showed up were parents that seemed to being doing well at home.  I knew there must be a better way. I hoped that this panel would give me new ideas to share, but I heard a lot of the same "excuses" youth pastors have been using for years.  I realize that teenagers are separating from their parents, but does that mean the parent does not have influence any longer.  I know our teenagers need other voices ...

While at the D6 Conference, I had the privilege to interview Rob & Amy Rienow backstage. My questions and their answers are listed below. I mentioned to Rob that our small group had completed Visionary Parenting and enjoyed it. Recently, I purchased Visionary Parenting: Encouragement for Single Parents. I asked Rob about that new resource. Rienow shared the heart behind this new resource.  His parents got divorced when he was in high school.  He also experienced a lot of pastoral ministry to single parents. He continued sharing that single parents face particular challenges. In this resource, he talks plainly about how single parenting is an “impossible” job. There is just too much to do, and not enough hours in the day. So how do we need to respond? We choose what will get our best, and what will get less than our best. Rob then goes on to encourage and equip single parents to make the spiritual training of their children their top priority. The res...

I wanted to share a few highlights from the D6 Conference this year. Great hotel, great made to order omelets for breakfast, & great meals (In & Out Burger, Cheesecake Factory, & Ted's in OKC) Great conversations with Brad & Brad (my team from Hesston) Excellent hospitality from Jacob Riggs & the Randall House team as I was part of the blogger's circle Excellent labs on Wednesday especially Michelle Anthony & Timothy Paul Jones Hearing David Platt & Voddie Baucham speak A great evening with Steven Curtis Chapman Lots of ideas to pray through and see what God has in store for Hesston MB for the coming year Check back throughout the week for interviews with Rob Rienow & Mark Holmen.  As well, watch for my response to the student ministry panel later in the week.  I will also share one quote from each speaker on Saturday.  Enjoy this week's posts!

Here are a few pictures from the D6 Conference.  This first picture is of the D6 attendees sharing the light of Christ with others. The second picture is Brad & Brad on the 2nd row. A special thanks to Green Menace for getting them these seats.

It was so great to sleep in my own bed last night. I love going to conferences, but it is always great to be back home. I enjoyed chatting with Bethany into the late hours of the night and catching up on her week. I have enjoyed time with the kids this morning at soccer games and at home. Now, I am feeling exhausted and ready to go to bed already and it is only 3 p.m. I will be adding some more content from the D6 conference in the days ahead. I have at least one interview to share and quotes from one of the sessions that I did not get posted during the conference. I also hope to share a video from the Sanctus Real concert. However, my phone is not cooperating. Check back next week for these updates. I hope that once I get caught up on being gone for 3 days that I will be able to add some reflections and next steps based on what I heard at D6 this year. Thanks to all who visited my blog these last few days! I hope it was an encouragement and benefit for all of you.

Last session starts out with a life size game of Angry Birds. Skit Guys were up next. Garnett Reid shares about God's Word and looks at inter-generational living throughout the Old Testament. He shared about heritage and legacy. Heritage-"living faithfully today". I want to challenge you, but also want to encourage you. I especially want to encourage the fathers. Psalm 90-You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. He shared the story of 3 generations. God's story is one of faithfulness. Hesed-Hebrew word for God's loyalty, His covenantal faithfulness. Dad, God will be faithful to you as you lead your family spiritually. 4 Simple Conclusions about Hesed God pledges Himself in "hesed" to every son in every generation. What words are we to teach from Deuteronomy 6? Look at Deuteronomy 5-focus on the 10 commandments. Make no image of God. He keeps His covenant promises. Showing "hesed" to thousands of generations to those wh...

Voddie Baucham is up and talking about the culture war. Baucham said the culture war began in Genesis 3. The central issue is the Word of God vs. Word of Man. What happened to marriage? Genesis 2:18-It is not good for the man to be alone. Some have been gifted supernaturally to be single. Notice what is next-Adam is told to name the animals. His response when someone asks "Is the Bible literal?" His response, "where I am supposed to". Adam did not name every genus and species The world would only have contained a representative sampling of the animals we know currently (i.e. the cat or the dog) Adam named categories of animals. Theological Issues Adam has no concept of alone Adam has no concept of need Thus, God demonstrates here that marriage is his idea; not man's. Single people-If God can find Adam a wife, when he was the only human being, he can find you someone too. God Gives Marriage Its Purpose Procreation-Be fruitful & multiply, involves bearin...

Tonight, we had the privilege of spending an evening with Steven Curtis Chapman. Opened by singing, " Speechless ". God has been showing me His goodness over the last few years. Psalm 34:8-Not just the good that comes in heaven, but also the goodness here on earth. I was taken to church by my mom while my dad slept in. His mother was pregnant at the age of 16. His dad eventually became the Minister of Music for the pastor that banged on his bedroom window to get him to wake up and come to church. " Lord of the Dance " Dancing with the Dinosaur-What was I thinking? I think it was influenced by Barney. I wrote all of these songs about dancing and I knew nothing about dancing. I had a sense at the age of 15 of God's call on my life. He wrote his first song at this time. " For the Sake of the Call " He attended Anderson University. One day he received a letter in his mailbox and ripped it open to find out it was actually addressed to Mary Beth Chapman...

"Some conversations you have with your kids will never be remembered but if you don't have them they will never forget." 3 Types of Conversations Shoreline Most parents Little or No Risk of Conflict Knowledge Conversation with a store clerk Shallow Some parents Begin the Risk of Conflict Understanding of Feelings/Opinions Conversation with your co-workers Deep Few parents Higher Risk of Conflict Influence in Desires, Needs, Beliefs Conversation with close friends/family

Her topic for today is "Keeping the "Good" In Our Boys and the "Little" In Our Girls" What are the messy moments in your life? How do you pray for your families? Matthew 6:9-13 "May people believe in your reign of goodness because of how I live today." Phillip Yancey "The best way the Church can bid His kingdom come is by giving a lost world pause to believe in His reign of goodness because of the goodness they see in our families." "Our theology of sexuality is weak at best." "Most popular television show for girls age 12 now-Desperate Housewives, Vampire Diaries. In 1980, it was Care Bears." " adultescent "-20 year old men who play video games "By age 11, many will be introduced to pornography." "The intent of the Enemy is a direct assault on the picture of Christ and the Church. And we are doing nothing about it." "Go home and start marriage counseling for our children whether...

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=0504c17aea" >Dannah Gresh at D6 2011</a>

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=9780d4e36d" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;John McGee at D6&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Emerson Eggerichs is best selling author of Love and Respect. He has been a counselor for over 30 years. A great new resource is Love & Respect for small groups. In marriage, many times we get into conflict over saying the same thing. A funny example is, "I have nothing to wear." For women, this means I don't have anything new. For men, this means I don't have anything clean. Men & women are equal, but not the same. What is the one thing that is going on in the spirit of a woman? What is the one thing that is going on in the spirit of a man? University of Washington studied 2,000 couples over 20 years. We now know the two key successful elements in marriage. They are love & respect. During conflict, a woman tends to feel hostility and wonder why he doesn't love her. Men, on the other hand, as a woman wants to try and communicate, perceive disrespect. Ephesians 5:33-Notice what God's Word says--Husbands, love your wife. Wives, respect your ...

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=340e971cb0" >Opening Session-Thursday at D6</a>

Timothy Paul Jones is professor of family ministry at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Starts by sharing a survey that can be used in churches to evaluate. His packet for the pre -con lab is thick. Thanks for the great resources! Three Tools Every Family Needs is the title for his pre -con lab. Our most important ministry is to our wife & children. What we do in the home is who we are. It does not start at church or work, but instead in our own homes. Check out "Family Ministry Field Guide: How Your Church Can Equip Parents to Raise Disciples" by Timothy Paul Jones. 90% of parents say I know I am responsible for discipling my kids. 40% of parents were doing something consistent in discipleship with their kids. Why aren't parents discipling their children? 28%=lack of training 10%=lack of time 52%=lack of training & time 10%=other factors 3 factors to help in this area: telling, training & time Telling How long does it take for someone involved in yo...

I am sitting almost in the front row of my first pre -con lab for D6 Conference. No, I am not the teacher's pet, but it was the only seat available. Michelle Anthony has spent 25 years in children's, youth, and family ministry in the church. But after a family move, started working at David C Cook as a Family Ministry Architect. What does it mean for the church to come alongside families? Good Behavior vs. Faith -It's tempting for us as parents to accept the counterfeit by focusing on good behavior instead of faith. Good behavior does not stand up to the pressures of life. When trials come, behavior won't stand. Faith will last. Our pride creates in us a desire to look like a good a parent whether in public or at home. What Fosters Faith? -Guilt does not transform us, but only produces temporary change. Guilt is counterfeit for conviction. We need to get back to the basics. Conviction-cuts to the heart. We cannot convict our children's life only the Holy Spi...