The Well-Behaved Child - Book Review

The Well-Behaved Child - Discipline that REALLY works is John Rosemonds latest parenting book. Let me just say right off of the bat, I am a big fan of Rosemond. I believe if you have kids and have never read a Rosemond book, you should pick one up right now!

Rosemond's parenting advice isn't anything "new." In fact, he himself tells you the problem with parenting today is all of the new ideas. Everything today is a syndrome or a disorder with kids being labeled more all the time. Rosemond's ideas stem back to "Grandma's" time when children knew their place and it wasn't in the center of the family. The marriage came first, then the children.

Rosemond's latest book is well packaged with parenting tools of the trade, including "Seven Fundamentals of Effective Parenting, Seven Essential Tools, Top Seven Behavior Problems Solved, Seven Tales of Strange and Unexpected, and Seven Final Words of Advice." While Rosemond provides methods and tools to correct behavior problems, he strongly believes the they are only vehicles to bring back the authority that parents have lost over their kids.

If you are looking for a book that relies completely on Biblical principals, I recommend his book Parenting by THE BOOK, with "the book" being the Bible. The Well-Behaved Child is written so that it will have both secular and Christian appeal. It is laced with scripture, but not as much as Parenting by THE BOOK, which was written especially for the Christian community.

If you are a Rosemond fan like myself, you may find yourself familiar with many of his stories. The hair pulling girl is back, as are many of the other anecdotes of previous books. They are repackaged nicely, but the stories are still familiar. His mandatory thumbing of his nose at Adele Faber (an author who once accused him of being hung up on punishing children) was also included.

Overall, I am a huge Rosemond fan, and whether you are too, or are new to his writing, I think if you have children in your life you will love the parenting ideas in this book that give us permission to regain the authority in our homes and the respect of our children. 5 Stars, Mr. Rosemond!

Coexist

I saw this bumper sticker the other day. It says "Coexist" but the letters are symbolized. They stand for Islam, Buddhism, Science, Judaism, Paganism, Wiccan and Christian, respectively. The dictionary defines coexist as "to exist separately or independently but peaceably, often while remaining rivals or adversaries."

I am all for peace! And I believe that we should love our fellow man (and woman.) But what else does the bumper sticker imply? That we should exist together and leave each other alone, leaving everyone to their own opinion?


What does the Bible have to say about that? Romans 12:18 says, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." I think that is crystal clear, don't you? Peace with everyone.

1 Peter 2:11, 12 says, "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." Here we are clearly doing more than "coexisting." No, we are to be an example to the others, that they see a difference among us as Christians. Are you living your life as an example to the world?

What else does the Bible say? Matthew 28:19, 20 says "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." The verbs here are go, which is an action word, and make, another action word. We are to be making Christians of all nations. Not by physical force, but by this dictionary definition of make, "to convert from one state, condition, category, etc., to another." Convert. We are to be making Christians from other beliefs.

While "coexist" has a worldly warm-fuzzy feel about it, I don't believe we are called to simply coexist living parallel lives as rivals. I believe we are called to live peaceably and honorably, sharing the gospel, praying for them, and teaching them, that they may know the Lord, like we do.

What do you think?

Osmosis

At a recent coffee date with some friends, I noticed one of them was absolutely fit. As typical when I notice a friend has lost weight or built muscle, I began quizzing her about what she had done. What was she eating? How many days a week did she exercise? For how long? And what exercises did she do?

My other friend asked me if I was planning on starting a new weight loss or fitness plan. "Well, not exactly," I honestly explained. "I always get the information when I see someone who has a plan that works, but then I just go home and sit on the couch like usual. Surprisingly," I joked, "I haven't lost any weight."

"Sounds like you're trying to lose by osmosis." she said. That may be a loose use of the definition of osmosis, but she's right. I have all the information and know what I need to do, but I just don't do it.

I'm not alone. Lots of folks try Christianity by osmosis. They may read Christian blogs, or visit church, or even read the Bible on occasion. They have all the information and know what they need to do, but they just don't do it.

Matthew 7:21 says "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.'"


Knowing what to do isn't enough in either weight loss or Christianity. We have to do it. That's when we see results.


Are you losing, or are you just lost?

Thankful Thursday - 10/8

5 Things I am thankful for this week:

1. I am SO THANKFUL that my medical tests last Thursday were all okay. I've mentioned it several times, but that is because I am so thankful! Amen!

2. I am thankful to attend a church I love. I enjoy it so much and am being fed.

3. I am thankful for my Bible study leader who gives her time and energy and is so encouraging and nice. She is the greatest!

4. I am thankful for my sweet little dog, Buddy. He shows me such devotion and unconditional love. Even though he occasionally poops in the house, and he ate my favorite pair of slippers, I love that stupid dog. :-)



5. I'm thankful for everything I have, gifts from God!

James 1:17 -- Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

What are you thankful for this week? Leave a comment, or you can write your own blog post and link up by clicking the Thankful Thursday button below.

Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I suddenly became very aware of it after having a questionable mammogram. I spent Oct 1 at the hospital having follow up tests done.* I suddenly realized why folks influenced by a potentially life threatening disease become passionate about the awareness to find a cure.

When my nephew was diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (his story is here) my sister became a huge advocate for the awareness of his disease. This formerly introverted woman (yes, she really is my sister) suddenly because an extrovert where his disease was concerned.

A friend of mine has started wearing a bracelet for histiocytosis. You've probably never heard of it. She hadn't either until her nephew was diagnosed with it. Now everyone in her family wears the bracelets for awareness.

My revelation on awareness showed me why I am so passionate about Jesus. You see, I have a potentially life threatening disease too. It's called SIN. And I don't want to scare you, but you have it too. (And it seems to be highly contagious!). But because of Jesus, I'm in remission. I'm not cured, and I still have re-occurrences pop up from time to time. But because of Jesus, it's not a life or death situation. Quite the opposite, it's an eternal life situation.

If I seem to be a Jesus freak, it's because I am. Jesus has saved my life. And because of my "awareness" I want everyone else to be in "remission" too. Don't you?




Acts 2:38 -- Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NKJ)

*my follow-up tests were all negative. YAY!!

Date Night Photo

Here we are ready for our date night. I am wearing my platform shoes. My husband hates them, as they make me as tall as he is. heehee. I love heels!

Here's a full shot of my dress. The shoulders are beaded. You can't tell, but the middle has a ruched waist and a decorative pin at the gather.

Nothing

How many television channels do you have? If you are anything like me, you have hundreds. I believe we have about 400 channels. We have digital cable. But at any given time, when looking through the directory I see that "nothing" is on.

My clothes closet....let's just say I could stand to purge it. I am evidently addicted to buying black jackets and shoes, as I have way to many of both. I have slacks, capris, jeans, various shirts. But at any given time, when looking through my closet I see that I have "nothing" to wear.

My pantry is stocked, as is my refrigerator. We have a second refrigerator in the garage to hold the extra food in the freezer, plus water bottles, extra milk, and bulk food for my co-op cooking. Yet, at any give time, when looking for a snack I see we have "nothing" to eat.

Rooms in my house need cleaning out and purging. My desk is covered with papers that need to be filed. I have things to write for publication, laundry to wash, dinners to make, cards to write. But at any given time, I feel bored, because I have "nothing" to do.

Too many choices don't lead to more or better options. It often leads to nothing. Jesus said he is THE way, THE truth and THE life. He said no one comes to the Father EXCEPT through him. He is the only way.

Many people are searching for lots of other options. They try to get to heaven through being good. They think Budda or Allah are other options. There are new age choices, and ideas tauted on talk shows. A 2008 poll showed out of 35,000 Americans, 70% agreed with the statement "Many religions can lead to eternal life." Even more remarkable was the fact that 57% of Evangelical Christians were willing to accept that theirs might not be the only path to salvation.

There are lots of other options besides Jesus out there at any given time. However, I think you'll find that if you believe they will get you to heaven, what you'll really end up with is "nothing."*



* or worse...an eternity spent with out God, also know as hell.

Ecclesiastes 1:8 -- Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. (NLT)

(thanks for the prayers yesterday, my follow-up drs appointment went well. Yay!)