NextGenKent

My 5 year old did something a couple of years ago that still has me wondering, but I might have figured it out today. Funny how itty-bitty kiddos can do that to educated adults! Our friend and neighbor Tom came over and walked into our house. Jonathan was SO excited when he saw Tom that he screamed, "TOM!" and then, while at top scream, head stretched to the ceiling, and looking like he wanted to fly, tried! But obviously failed. The realization that he didn't fly came across his face with confusion--and it is that act and look that has stuck with me. HOW could this kid think he could fly? I have moved on (a little) to thinking more about the belief leading to fearless action, however trial it was and however leading to error it became. What would I do if I believed in some things THAT much? Sure, I could have some bruises, cuts, scrapes, and such; but what else might I gain? I actually might succeed and do the proverbial walk on water! After all, Peter did. On...

“Growth For The New Year” Matthew 12.33  Are you bearing fruit? 33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you,  on the day of judgment  people will give account for every careless word they speak , 37 for by your words you will be justified , and by your words you will be condemned .” I n a word, what is one thing you do to make something work better? One of my first jobs was roguing where you take a sharp tool with you as walk through a cornfield and cut out weeds or corn that has grown up 'rogue' and bunched together. Early in my college year...

A reaction to, EMPOWER YOUR KIDS TO BE ADULTS by Dr. Donald Joy. The practice and art of initiating children in adulthood has been lost in our society. Did we give up those ancient practices or is the need for initiation so hard-wired into us that it comes out in other venues? How can we regain, redeem, reclaim and remember what we have lost so that we can turn the tide on the perpetual adolescent celebrated in our society and launch youth into adulthood with God’s glory? Unlike any other book, Don Joy’s, Empower Your Kids To Be Adults , will help you on your journey by asking the right questions and developing an approach for your home and church to battle against “the world, the flesh and the devil.” Kids want to become adults—better stated, they want to become just like the god-like beings taking care of them, namely their parents. Dr. Joy believes we have missed the implanted “Creator-markers” in our children and therefore leave them to journey into the abyss of adolescence...