So why try when you know you are going to fail?

A couple of weeks ago my step son Kenny sent me a text to see if I could pick up some information he had forgotten at church after a Wednesday night high school group meeting. The information was a 90 day challenge to read through the New Testament (Click the image above to read more about the resource). I asked Jeff Berg for the information and he gave me an extra copy. The information provides questions and insights to go with the daily scripture reading. I thought this would be a great opportunity for Kenny and I to do both a Faith Talk and Faith Walk time as we studied together.

So when I got home I asked Kenny if he would want to study together and he seemed excited to do that. So we set a time and a schedule to begin. In order to complete the process in 90 days you have to keep up with the daily readings. Kenny lives with his dad in Shawnee. Over the next few days for various reasons we could not connect to discuss the readings. Kenny then caught the flu. We both got behind and now we still haven't been able to connect to discuss.

Should we just quit? Is it just not meant to be? This is just one of the struggles as a parent, of stepping up to lead your children in their Christian walk. We get busy, people do get sick, we get tired, but this cannot be the reason to quit. I know Kenny and I will get together and finish the New Testament, but I also know that just because we can't get together and "stay on schedule" to finish in 90 days does not mean we quit before we start. Just start, get going, don't let obstacles and excuses prevent you from beginning the journey to be a faith influencer in your children's lives.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

We can do this, just get going and never quit!

The Experiment...

For several months my family and I have been doing an experiment… No, this is not a pyramid scheme to get you to buy in to the program but I would love to tell you very briefly about it and what I’ve learned.  Essentially, it is giving up specific things each month for seven months so you can learn more about yourself and the abundance of excess in our lives (It all started with a book and now there’s a study too)!! 

Courtney and I have gone through several months at this point and have learned a ton each month, and this month has been no exception.  For the past 24 days the Berg household has given up all media items… That’s right: Movies, TV, Music, Apps, Yahoo News, ESPN and, outside of professional use, even: Cellphones & Computers!!  Though it most definitely hasn’t been easy, down right awful at times (missing the BCS Championship games and now the Super Bowl this Sunday), with only a handful of days left I’m kind of sad that it’s drawing to a close.  I’ve come to greatly enjoy “the silence” of my home (well, after the kids are in bed), the incredible conversations while just doing the day-to-day errands without the radio, the fact that the kids come home and immediately want to play a board game or shoot some hoops and “the honeymoon” period my wife and I have found again with card games, reading together and even just talking!!

Rereading the paragraph above I realized that just those things could be the focus of this post:

• Turn off the TV and get on the floor with your family
• Dust off the board games (or go get a new one)
• Schedule a mandatory date night once a month
• Maybe even power down the cell phone once a week

BUT that wasn’t why I started this post… The biggest thing that has happened this month of “no media” was my eyes being opened AGAIN!!  Ten years ago Courtney and I made goals for our family of two: No TV in the bedroom, Leave the cellphones in the car on dates, Buy a new board game once a month, etc.  But over the past decade we lost focus and became desensitized to the world around us!!  Many “what ifs” (what if there’s an emergency, a crisis, a disaster) in our lives seemed to demand our constant attention and connection to technology and not meaningful connection to each other and to our family.

So with our fast winding down I’m praying for a couple specific things, will you join me?

• May I take a little time and evaluate where I am right now in my walk…
• May I be honest with myself and God, asking His Spirit to give me great leadership in making new boundaries (or even old forgotten ones)…
• May I set aside time for faith talks and even provide uninterrupted time so faith walks can happen with my family…

May Jesus bless your discipline and our community here at New Beginnings!!

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 139: 23-24

What is one adjustment you could make in your day-to-day to open up a little more time and focus for your family!?

Faith Map…it’s a Wrap

I noticed something was stirring in the life of my new church the first weeks I came onboard at New Beginnings. When I talked with members of the church in the halls, there was a buzz about Family Ministry. When I sat in staff meetings, Family Ministry filled much of the discussion. When the Family Pastors came together with Pastor Phil, passion and excitement filled the room as we discussed developing a “Faith Map” that would act as a guide for families along the spiritual journey of life, with their children. The Pastoral team has been assigned the task to contribute to their portion of the map, fueled by the passion of our Senior Pastor, to birth this process into existence.
Finally, at one meeting Pastor Phil presented to us all a final version of the Faith Map and said, “It’s a Wrap”. At that moment it was like a great journey was being embarked upon, by our team, as we each seek to shepherd the next generation, with their families, along this Spiritual Journey. Just as every great journey begins with one simple “first step,” Pastor Phil shared with us his excitement about executing the faith map because of the people that God has assembled in our church to live out this Family Ministry Vision, together.
Today, I want to review what the mission is for NB Families as we live out bringing families along this “Family Ministry Vision.” What an honor and privilege it is for me as a Family Pastor to embark on this journey with you. Friends, I don’t just look at the Faith Map as something that I’m guiding others along, no I see it as something that I’m embarking MY family upon. A blessed journey in which we will be joined by countless other families to walk along the path together, praising God for the wonderful faith victories He is going to bring to our families. While, also sharing prayers of hope and faith when we face trials along the path.
I believe the Christian life is just as much about the Journey as it is about the destination. God is preparing us for the eternal glory we will experience with Him in heaven. Are you ready to be equipped with the tools that will be lived out for eternity in heaven in your families’ faith life?

Key Definitions:

Faith Map - Is a plan that involves parents in their child’s spiritual growth through partnering with NB Church to address the child’s particular spiritual needs at each stage of life.
Faith Talk - A designated time, at least once per week, with no media, for the household to gather for prayer and the study of biblical truth together.
Faith Walk - Describes the conversations about God that unfold in the context of the family’s day-to-day life. Parents capitalize on engaging every question that arises in the daily walk of life as an opportunity to influence their child’s faith.
Faith Mission - Keeps our priority calling the main emphasis as NB Family parents lead their kids to discover mission opportunities that they can fulfill together for the Kingdom of God.
New Beginnings…It’s a Wrap…The Map is set for the journey ahead.

"Comment" below on how you intend to practice the Faith Map in your family’s life.

That we might help them hear...

As we loaded into the car to head home from church last Wednesday evening, I could tell our middle child’s wheels were spinning. Sure enough as soon as all the doors closed, Chan stated very matter-of-factly, “Dad, I want God to talk to me.” I thought to myself, “Yeah son, don’t we all…” He continued to explain how he wanted to hear from the Lord & know it was actually God speaking and not just his own thoughts. Chan’s comments led us into some really good dialogue. I tried to encourage him that in many years of knowing the Lord, I had never heard His audible voice, yet I was certain that God has spoken to me in many different ways. We discussed how God communicates to us though His word, His Spirit (try navigating that little faith talk with a 7 year-old some time), His creation, and His people. And as I’ve thought about our exchange since then, a couple of things really seem to stand out.

Our conversation about God and how He speaks revealed a distinction between the role of the church and our call as parents. See there was something that happened in children’s ministry earlier that night which caught the attention of our second grader. However, the responsibility of following-up on his intrigue came home to us, the parents. The church is faithfully there to present the good news of the gospel, to whet the appetite of our youth to want and desire the things of God. It exists to teach truth, to speak of faith, to point to Christ, and make much of Him…

Still, the ultimate responsibility of Chan’s spiritual formation falls on my wife and I. We have the honor of fleshing out this faith he hears so much about. We have the privileged challenge of teaming with Christ to form and mature a genuine disciple. I’ve looked for ways to pawn this duty on the church, but I cannot escape our accountability to this high calling. And in case you were wondering, this is declared so plainly in scripture it’s as if the Lord is speaking audibly (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). So am I scared? Am I worried that I’ll fall short? You better believe it! But I’m also really excited. I’m stoked because I have to look no further than my own salvation experience to know Christ alone does this work! I’m thankful for such a freeing thought and thrilled to be partnered in this journey with my amazingly, supportive wife! And finally, I’m ecstatic to belong to a church that is so willing to come alongside us in this adventure!

As we move forward in 2013, I look forward to seeing terms, such as faith talk, faith walk, faith mission, and faith map, lived out in our homes. How charging it is to my soul to think that our commitment to fulfilling our call might result in the transformation of our children. Perhaps the fruit of our efforts would be seen in them as they begin to understand their role and responsibility in their own faith. Like Chan, we all want the Lord to speak to us. The good news is that He has and He is! Oh, that we might listen and faithfully guide our children to hear and know the voice of their Savior.

Understanding NBFamilies

Launching the new NBFamilies Blog

We are launching the new NBFamilies.info blog this weekend. We're very excited about this ministry! Families are blessed, disciples are made and God gets the glory!