September 23, 2008
We have a 7 and 4 year old at home, and they’re both becoming more computer savvy everyday. For this reason, my wife and I started looking for an internet filtering device recently, and last week we stumbled upon Glubble.
Glubble is a Firefox add-on that allows you to customize the internet experience for each person in your family. It is especially geared for folks who have elementary and younger aged children at home. We’ve only had it a week, but so far we’re really pleased.
It was easy to set up and has lots of kid friendly internet sites already preloaded. Additionally, when my kids click on a site that is not on their already approved list, we get a notice and have the choice to approve or deny their request. This way we’re assured that they will not accidentally find their way into inappropriate material.
So far we’re happy we’ve found it! If you’ve got little ones in your home, it’s worth your time to check it out here!
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culture, family ministry | Tagged: family ministry, glubble, internet filter, internet safety | 
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Posted by phil h
December 17, 2007
Hey guys a quick question…what does Biblical ministry to children administered with cultural relevance look like?
I would really like to hear your thoughts. Thanks.
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culture | 
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Posted by phil b
October 31, 2007
Once again, children’s ministry leaders and children’s pastors need to be on the watch and educate their parents and children. In December, a film with the title The Golden Compass is being released. It is my understanding that Phillip Pullman, the author, is an atheist and desires to pull kids and families in so he can get them to buy his triology of books where in the end the children kill God and everyone can do as they please. The fact that this movie is coming out in December is a ploy to entice parents into purchasing the set of books for their children for Christmas. Upon reading the books, they will encounter a strong anti-God theme. I have read that part of the story in the book includes a referral to castration and female circumcision. And, it’s supposed to be a kids book!
If you go to the website for The Golden Compass, you will encounter all sorts of things from the dark side, including a tab for daemons. In essence Pullman is endeavoring to sell atheism to children.
While I haven’t read the books, nor do I intend to, I think it would be wise for children’s ministry leaders to ‘wise up’ on this one so they can speak and respond intelligently.
What have you heard about this movie? Anyone read the book who would like to comment about it? In what ways could children’s pastors and leaders go about helping parents and children alike respond to this?
19 Comments | 
culture, family ministry | 
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Posted by tony l
October 29, 2007
Can you believe it? Portland, Maine. King Middle School. Birth control pills available for girls as young as 11 years of age! And, after the parents sign a waiver for medical care at the school, they are excluded from knowing about the care, including the dispensing of birth control pills to their children! The whole rationale behind this is the assumption that kids will have sex. The kids we are reaching and teaching are part of a generation who believes that children’s rights are more important than parental rights. As teachers and children’s pastors, we better stand up and take notice of what is happening in the culture around us. Fashion, music, media, and all the other cultural indicators are impacting the next generation in a powerful way! It is our responsibility to help parents train up their kids in the way they should go. We better not hide our heads in the sand. We need to pray like we have never prayed before. We need to support and encourage parents and families. We need to provide opportunities for exposing parents to what is happening in our communities. We need to stay informed about the issues that our families are being confronted with. Let’s talk about those issues. Let’s stand up and be counted for what is right!
What do you think about this issue? What can children’s pastors and children’s ministry leaders and workers do to combat the enemy when he attempts to deceive and destroy the moral barometer of our community and country? What have you found to be effective? How do you discuss these issues with your families and with the kids in your ministry?
Leave a Comment » | culture, family ministry, misc | Permalink
Posted by tony l
October 25, 2007
Especially since the release of the motion picture “Narnia”, many have become a fan of C. S. Lewis. Quite frankly, I was surprised at how many people I knew personally had never heard of him or some of his famous works (i.e. The Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, etc.). I have been a Lewis fan since grade school. In fact, for my exit exam from middle school, I remember having to write a final paper that I did on the writings of C. S. Lewis. I am sure that paper has been long lost and though I passed the eighth grade, I am even more certain those pages were not worthy of crossing the great author’s desk. Even still, I’ve never lost my fascination of the man behind Narnia.
There are few figures in history that seem to stand out in terms of those you might say were without a doubt a person of great wisdom. And some would argue that with some of the controversial seasons of Lewis’ life, to place him among these “few” would be erroneous. I beg to differ. In fact, not only would I say Lewis was a man of profound wisdom; but, to use a relevant term for today, this man was “authentic.” This man said what he meant and meant what he said. He was real. He was human. And I admire that.
I recently acquired a book. No, not one of those 150 page lessons for the day books you find dozens of at every conference (by the way, I buy those books too). I’m talking, one of those books that you can see on the shelf from across the room. This book sits right next to my Hayford’s Bible Handbook and Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. It’s called “The Quotable Lewis.” Its an encyclopedic selection of quotes from the complete published works of C. S. Lewis. Now this is stuff to chew on folks.
Well, now that I’ve bragged a bit about my main man Lewis, I’ll get to the inspiration for this blog entry. 
The following quote is tagged under Children’s Literature and I think has the fuel to ignite some practical thinking on how we do children’s ministry.
“I am almost inclined to set it up as a canon that a children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story. The good ones last. A waltz which you can like only when you are waltzing is a bad waltz.”
I am curious: what do these words say to you about children’s ministry?
1 Comment | culture, family ministry, leadership, resources | Tagged: C.S. Lewis, children's ministry, famous quotes | Permalink
Posted by steve b
October 16, 2007
The Kidology Report is a publication that discusses important topics in children’s ministry, tapping into the opinions of experienced children’s pastors around the country.
This downloadable printer-friendly PDF document is designed to be shared with others in your church with hopes that you will find it another helpful resource as you minister to children.
This month’s (October 2007) Kidology Report reviews the book Children’s Ministry in the 21st Century. To download your copy of this PDF document go to the Kidology website at www.kidology.org. Please comment with your thoughts of this review or if you’ve already read the book, give us your own review.
1 Comment | culture, leadership, misc, resources | Tagged: book review, culture, leadership, resource | Permalink
Posted by steve b
October 9, 2007
Opening up next week (October 19th) in selected theaters across the country is a new computer animated film for the entire family : The Ten Commandments. It is an Epic Stories of the Bible production and has a host of celebrities starring in it such as Sir Ben Kingsley, Christian Slater and Alfred Molina.
Go to the website (www.10CommandmentsMovie.com) to find all kinds of resources for use at church and home as well as a search tool to locate what theaters near you will be hosting the movie. This looks like a winner. Enjoy!
Leave a Comment » | culture, misc | Tagged: animation, family, movie, ten commandments | Permalink
Posted by steve b
October 9, 2007
As you may know See You at the Pole – a student-led, nationwide prayer event help at the school’s flagpole before the school day begins – was held on Sept. 26th. Although it is primarily for middle and high school students, many elementary school students are joining in this event. A couple of students from my church came and asked me to help them organize and publicize the event they were having at their school. I was more than happy to accommodate them and whipped out some flyers for them to hand out before and after school to their classmates. Something as simple as a flyer caused a bit of a stir in our quiet litte south Georgia town.
I got a call from a student-leader’s parent who said that the flyer had been confiscated by his teacher as he passed them out to his classmates before school started. They were then sent to the principal’s office where she said that the flyers were not approved and could not be passed out in school. Well, after some quick research, a call to the American Center for Law and Justice, and with the Carmen song “Our Turn Now” as my anthem, I made a call to the principal.
It was a civil discussion, but I did stand my ground and inform her that students have every legal right to share the gospel on school grounds before and after school. She assured me that it was a misunderstanding and that the student could indeed pass out the flyers the next day. The happy ending is that at our local elementary school, more than 65 parents and students came to See You at the Pole (that’s more that was at the some of the local high schools and middle schools). Even better…one of the attendees was the principal.
2 Comments | culture, encouragement, leadership, misc | Tagged: prayer, See You At The Pole | Permalink
Posted by daniel b
