kidBLAST 08 - Lake Guntersville, Alabama
This week, Melissa and I traveled to Lake Guntersville, Alabama to speak at kidBlast 08. I had the priviledge of speaking in both services on Sunday morning to the whole church.
This church is great. Everyone has such an open heart and we have felt such a warm welcome. Did I mention, the church is literally right on the lake? The view is gorgeous. We even got to spend a day on the lake riding a jet ski… Thanks Matt!!!!
The theme for the week was ROAD TRIP, in case you were wondering about all the signs in the background.
Monday, the kids learned that God created me!
June 25, 2008 No Comments
Decoding the Rules & Practices of Teenage Communication
Ok, so you’re in the heat of the battle - confused, tired, outsmarted, and sometimes even backed into a corner - and it’s the first time you’ve been on the receiving end of these words. Without a moments notice (well actually about 10 to 12 years notice…but who’s counting), you’re eye to eye, sort of, with the latest model, the new & improved, louder and bigger version of your “little baby” that overnight has developed an opinion concerning everything it took you 35 to 40 years to learn.
I love nothing more than jumping right in the middle of the messiness we see with the brand new parent of a morphing, hormonal, adolescent middle schooler. I sort of feel like those guys who chase tornados for a living. While a large majority of parents of stuck in the middle of parenting by default, reading the latest self help parenting book, and praying to God for deliverance; we’re chasing after the opportunity to be influential from day one in the most difficult season in the life of any human being: the decade of adolescence. There’s many skills I teach parents at our live events, but the most influential is “How to Decode the Rules & Practices of Your Teenagers Communication Style.
But first, a video message from our sponsor, “Children’s Chewable Valium”….
For a lot of you, there was a day when your child was the flesh & blood biological breakthrough that you “thought” everyone else wished they created! Now, let me ask you, right now, I bet your beautiful biological breakthrough is the last thing on your mind. I mean seriously, we all know biology doens’t automatically make for great parents - I mean check out Britney Spears. This new model that you’ve got, you’ll get your money’s worth! Because it’s gonna be around for at least a decade!l If you’re breathing, you’ve probably got a clue that We all know that influence as a parent that wins influential parenting that creates a healthy future for kids is much more than biology and cashflow - just take at Britney Spears. After working for 12 years with teenagers and parents and now as a counselor and coach, I’ve concluded that there are 5 to 7 crucial, equally valuable skills required to gain and keep momentum in your influence with your kid…LISTENING is one of those that propels trust, even when you’ve make way too many debits emotionally in your kids life!
LISTENING IS SCIENCE & ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS FIRST IS AN ART:
Listening Communicates your level of care. Seeking to listen will gain more momentum if you know “what” questions to ask and “how” to ask them:
1. You must ask with Empathetic Concern - No matter how ridiculous their response is. DON’T FAKE IT! They’ll know.
2.
June 16, 2008 1 Comment
American Idol, Shout to the Lord, and Ben Stiller’s F Bomb
As my wife and I sat watching the “American Idol Gives Back” episode just minutes ago, I turned to her following the Daughtry video, and asked, “Do you think it’s possible to go to Uganda to serve the people there, lower yourself the way Christ did, and then be able to come home NOT changed?”
The next thing we know, Ryan Seacrest is announcing the finale, and the song is “Shout to the Lord,” which is an older, yet very popular worship song among Christians. Honestly, it was beautiful. Sure, I could’ve done without the white suits and the non-stop step touch dancing, but the song was beautiful! As we watched the contestants sing with such passion, it seemed that many of them had a face of adoration and reverence to God.
And then it hit me, though short lived: Imagine what our culture would look like, [Read more →]
April 9, 2008 21 Comments
GPS Tracker for Your Teenager And Your Sanity
Have you ever sat at home on a Friday night saying to yourself, “I wish there was an affordable tracking system I could put on my teenagers car?” Maybe you haven’t, but I guarantee you’ve wondered at times if your kids really going where they say they’re going.
Well, a new product called the SUPER TRACKSTICK PERSONAL GPS Stick may be your answer. And it doesn’t just work on your car. It’s the size of a about 2 AA batteries, which is also all it takes to power it up. It’s size means it can easily fit in your kids purse or pocket. And, the included magnetic mount makes the Super Trackstick easy to attach and remove from any metal surface. We’ve not had a chance to test the SUPER TRACKSTICK yet, but it’s got some pretty good review at it’s website.
April 8, 2008 1 Comment
Parents, Kids, and the Art of Communication: Part 1 of 7
I’m sure you heard those words as a kid and you’ve probably said them to your own children. Have you given up on becoming an expert in talking with your teenager? Well, there’s hope because you’re only a few days away from such expertise! It’s true - I guarantee it!
You’ll learn the skills that will make you an expert in the art of asking the right questions, anticipating moments of impact, listening with empathy, and winning your kids over to your way of thinking! The results can literally be overnight!
April 5, 2008 No Comments