Family Ministry http://www.millcreek.org/family-ministry/ Blogs dedicated to all things family oriented. Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:22:55 GMT en-us Copyright 2010 Millcreek Community Church Having a Family that Worships http://www.millcreek.org/family-ministry/having-a-family-that-worships/ http://www.millcreek.org/family-ministry/having-a-family-that-worships/ Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:22:55 GMT My wife and I were recently blessed with our first child.  It is amazing to think about how our life has changed in the past four weeks.  This blessing has also made us think of many new ways we should be honoring God as a family.  The following two articles are about Leading Your Family in Worship, and the second is Practical Ideas for Family Worship.  Check them out!

Leading Your Family in Worship

Practical Ideas for Family Worship

]]> 13 Ways to Build Children's Faith at Home http://www.millcreek.org/family-ministry/13-ways-to-build-childrens-faith-at-home/ http://www.millcreek.org/family-ministry/13-ways-to-build-childrens-faith-at-home/ Tue, 25 May 2010 15:25:40 GMT build their children's faith at home...]]> The Goal of Biblical Parenting http://www.millcreek.org/family-ministry/the-goal-of-biblical-parenting/ http://www.millcreek.org/family-ministry/the-goal-of-biblical-parenting/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:24:54 GMT Juan Sanchez of The Gospel Coalition Blog had a great post on the "Goal of Biblical Parenting":

What is your goal in parenting? Is it to have well-behaved kids? Is it to produce good citizens? Is it to make sure your kids get a great education so that they may do well in school and land a great money-making job and have a fulfilling career?  Read More...

]]> Christians and Halloween http://www.millcreek.org/family-ministry/christians-and-halloween/ http://www.millcreek.org/family-ministry/christians-and-halloween/ Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:54:18 GMT It is interesting to me that Halloween this year is on a Saturday night.  The evening that most Christians are preparing their hearts for the worship of our living God the next morning.  On Oct 31 this year, many believers and non-believers will unite together to walk their neighborhood streets with their children or grandchildren while gleefully teaching them to knock on suspecting doors shouting "trick or treat".  I've been there - did that - and enjoyed every moment of it both as a kid and as a parent/grandparent.  Peanut butter Reece's Cup were a very special treat to me.  I have to admit, I wasn't up on much of the "tricking" though.  I always knew there would be a great price to pay if I hurt someone or destroyed someone else's property.  The cost of trickery in my home was not being able to sit down for awhile after my father was finished with me.  Ouch!!  

Scripture teaches clearly that the believer is "in the world" but not to be a part "of the world".  The Apostle John wrote, "Do not love the world nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (I John 2:15).  The question this time of year most always comes around to how should a genuine believer approach Halloween in their home?  Can parents/grandparents enjoy the festivities of a worldly function and still stay true to the Word of God?  MacArthur wrote a very enlightening article giving historical background information on the founding of Halloween, how it became secularized and how he believes Christians could participate and still honor God.  For me, I have always been one to embrace the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) method to almost everything in my life.  Not that I think I'm stupid (hope you agree with me :) but because I try to apply simple biblical logic to my understanding of how I should conduct my every day approach to life.  Here it is....not very deep theologically but just good ole' common sense.  "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (I Corinthians 10:31)

Can I honor God by dressing my kids in devil costumes, gothic costumes or the like?  I hope you know you can't.  That's identifying with the world and it's evil and that truly does not glorify God.  It only glorifies the god of this world.  Can I instruct my kids to knock on my neighbors door and say "Happy Halloween" while dressed up as the Tin Man or the Cowardly Lion or Dorothy?  Well, let's just say I think we are a lot closer to pleasing God and enjoying the evening of Halloween with our children/grandchildren when we practice good ole" common sense to the "whatever you do" that Paul was referring in his letter to the Corinthians.  Have a Happy and Safe Halloween...and, oh yea, take time that night to prepare your hearts and the hearts of your children for worshipping the God of Creation the next morning.

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