TimHowey.Com

Don't Be a Loving, MISGUIDED Parent

I think every parent KNOWS they should protect their kids. I think most every parent WANTS to create a healthy, safe environment for their kids.

Jesus was a HUGE advocate for protecting kids. In fact, using pretty graphic imagery. Once Jesus said, "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, that that he should offend one of these little ones." (Luke 17:2) Ouch. I think all of us can relate to that thought, especially when you hear of a child enduring brutal violence or being sexually molested.

At the same time, I think there's a disconnect in society.

• Dating -- Parents sometimes encourage their kids to date/have a girlfriend/boyfriend WAY, WAY, WAY too early.  (I've heard of parents brainstorming together about their boys and girls starting to date each other as early as 6th grade! Really?)
• TV & Internet -- Parents quite often allow their kids to have UNRESTRICTED access to internet or cable TV. (You wouldn't let a strange man go play with your kids upstairs by themselves, would you? Then why would give your kids head upstairs to have unrestricted access to the explicit images and video of strangers, instead of installing a product like www.SafeEyes.com?)
• Emails & Texts -- Parents, I'm sure out of an honest desire to help their kids, provide email accounts or iTouches or cell phones to allow them to communicate. But these tools often include UNMONITORED emails or text messages. (Someone forwarded me an email a child received from another child. It had a link link to a racy YouTube video with this note [ACTUAL EMAIL], "this a dirty video but i love the song!!!  you will luv it too !!! but ya it is really dirty and made feel WIERD!!! if u know what i mean!!! hehe". If your child wanted email, why wouldn't you provide monitored email when they're at a young age? If your child absolutely HAD to have a cell phone, why wouldn't you limit who they can send/receive texts from?)

We need to close the gap as parents.

I know many of us think to ourselves, "If I just show trust to my kids, they'll come out OK." You're wrong.

We think, "My kids don't have friends who will send them that stuff." You're wrong.

They need you need to protect them and journey with them as they grow.

Web Bonus - The Real Incarnation

Hey everyone.  After a weekend off, I was back in the saddle on Sunday, teaching the 2nd part of our "Real Passion" series leading up Easter.  Our topic was "The Real Incarnation" from Hebrews 2.

Here's what's bumping around my head tonight...

• The ORIGINAL "Undercover Boss" -- We finalized the topic for this week last fall.  Then just before the Super Bowl, I started seeing the ads for "Undercover Boss".  And it hit me.  That's an awesome idea!  And a total rip-off of the story of Jesus!  Jesus was the original big-time Owner, who changed His appearance (covered in light, Ps 104:1-2, Mt 17:1-9) to work side-by-side with His people, and reveal His TRUE identity at the very end...when he rewards some & judges others.  Wow.
• The Questions -- These things were running thru my mind this week.  Just how far would you go in order to reach people?  Who you give up your home?  Your job?  Empty your bank accounts?  Leave behind everything that's comfortable including clothing, food, recreation?  Give up your freedom?  (God won't ask all of us to do this.  But we ALL need to be WILLING, if God prompts.)
• My Heroes -- The changes Jesus was willing to make for us were monstrous.  It reminds me  couple of some other absolute HEROES of mine, who made the sacrifices to adopt a different culture, in order to reach people.  One group were the Moravians who, when they arrived in the West Indies, sold themselves into slavery so they could reach people.  Another here of mine is Hudson Taylor, who completely adapted to Chinese culture when his Western methods proved fruitless.
• The HUUUUGE "Open Door" -- Easter is next weekend.  This is THE VERY BEST time of year for inviting our friends, family, coworkers, classmates, & neighbors to visit church with us (Sat 5p, or Sun 8a, 9:30a, 11a).  Even NON-religious people are open to checking things out.
• Your "Easter 5" -- That's what we're calling all people to write down, pray for, & invite 5 DIFFERENT PEOPLE to visit Grace Church at 1 of our 4 Easter Services.  I'll be talking about "The Real Crucifixion."  I promise that you WON'T want to miss out on having your friends there with you.  It'll be POWERFUL (Rom 1:16, 1Co 1:18).

Here's a video we shot about it last Friday.

Easter at Grace from Grace Church on Vimeo.

Turkish Faith Reality Show

Turkish TV is producing a "Competitive Evangelism(?)" type of series for TV, locking a bunch of avowed & verified atheists up with evangelists from various faiths.  You've got to read the full story here.

A "Hat Tip" to Tom for the link.

Quote of the Day

This quote cracked me up today.  Came from my The Office daily calendar.

   "Whenever I'm about to do something, I think, 'Would an idiot do that?'  And if they would, I do NOT do that thing." -- Dwight Schrute

Yup, that's all I've got after a 14-hour workday (broken up by a family night break).  My mind is "mush-for-Jesus!"  :-)  Had some INCREDIBLE planning times today.

An Olympic Junkie

Ok.  I'm big enough to admit it.  I'm an Olympic junkie.

Here are several thoughts:

• The Olympics are cool.  When else do I care a bunch about rowing?
• Michael Phelps is the man.  But will I hear anything about him before the next Olympics (besides on a Wheaties box)?
• What's up with the Jamaican sprinters?  They are dominating.
• I love watching USA Men's basketball.  I like this team better than the shameful display our previous teams put on.  But I'm always critiquing their defense from my living room.  ("Stay in front of your man!!!")
• I've enjoyed watching boxing.  A lot of skill.  But give me my MMA.
• I didn't even know that trampoline was an event!  Did you?
• I need the Olympics to end so I can get more sleep.  :-)

"Gold! Gold! Gold!"

What is my family doing tonight?

Watching the Olympics...  Watching swimming...  Chanting, "Gold! Gold! Gold!" during the races.  :-)

P.S. So much for France smack-talking the U.S.A. in the 4x100 Men's Freestyle.  Woo-Hoo!

Me & My Wife's Secret Love

So I'm eating lunch today, and I look over & see this man (my wife's other love interest) sitting in this restaurant.  He writes this blog & she will ONLY trust him with her weather.

So I stopped him on his way out & ask him for a photo.  Now, only 1 of us has been in a photo together!  :-)

March Madness Update 3

It's OVER!!  KU wins the NCAA tournament!!  (I should have some pretty happy friends tomorrow.)

Here's my family pool update.  My 1st grade daughter dominated my family...  And she's 7...  And she has NO idea about basketball...  And she called herself "Poofy" during the tourney.

(To the right, you see the face of cold hard, in-your-face, basketball picks.)

Here was our family pool, from rounds 1-6:

• 1st = 116 pts.  1st grade daughter (24+12+5+4+1+0)
• 2nd = 104 pts.  3rd grade son (24+10+5+3+1+0)
• 3rd = 101 pts.  Poor old Dad (23+11+4+3+1+0)
• 4th = 82 pts.  Poor Mom (18+10+5+3+0+0)

March Madness Update 2

Ok, we're down to the Sweet 16.  The first 48 games of the NCAA tournament are done.

Here's my family pool update.  The quick version is that my 1st grade daughter has more points -- not just than anyone in my family -- but in ANY online pool I'm registered for.

Here are the cold hard facts:

• 1st = 48 pts.  1st grade daughter (Rds.1-2 = 24+12)
• 2nd = 45 pts.  Dear old Dad (Rds.1-2 = 23+11)
• 3rd = 44 pts.  3rd grade son (Rds.1-2 = 24+10)
• 4th = 38 pts.  Poor Mom (Rds.1-2 = 18+10)

P.S. When I just had Mom proofread this, she read, "Poor Mom" & started giggling.

Wooooooooo!!!!

Wooooooo!!!

Wooooooo!!!

Wooooooo!!!

Wooooooo!!!