Sports and Overachieving Kids

Alright, I’m probably unusual in this, but I don’t really care if my kids are superstar athletes at age 8 or 9. Just seems silly, and perhaps even harmful to push a child to excel in a sport at a young age. Maybe when they are in middle school, or even high school. But for goodness sake, let a child enjoy childhood without the pressures of competition and rigorous practice schedules and failure – and parental pushing.

There. I said it. Someone will take me to task – maybe you? That’s OK, just leave a comment telling me why. Let’s have a little conversation about this topic!

Whatever your perspective, read this book review in the Wall Street Journal. It is about a parent who had some doubts about the emphasis we see today on kids in sports. Read to the end, because Dan Ackman offers some reassuring words for those who choose to help their child learn and benefit from youth sports.

Life Goes On

I’ve not blogged much for a few days. While I like to keep up with my online writing responsibilities, the people in my immediate circle are important to me. This week was a time of being with those around me, not really a time of talking with folks through the web.

This week was full of events, planned and unplanned. We had the usual things, like shuttling kids to various activities and just keeping the household running. One of our children headed to Denver for a few days to participate in a speech and debate tournament, and I spent half a day up there judging some of the presentations.

It was a week to grieve with the grieving. I sent a note to some friends who are struggling through the effects of an accident which has altered their lives forever. I talked on the phone with a friend whose daughter has had serious emotional difficulties. And I touched base with a friend who recently lost his job. Tuesday a co-worker lost her battle with cancer, but entered into the eternal joy of being with face to face with Jesus. She was a wonderful, funny, dear woman, and next week there’s a service celebrating her life.

Also this week, we learned that the teenage son of some close friends took his life. It was shocking and saddening news. My wife spent hours at their house offering comfort and a listening ear. It raised some issues to talk through with our kids, and put a cloud over our days that is just now starting to go away. We attended the memorial service yesterday, and it was a packed auditorium of people. Coming from across the community were adults and young people who knew and loved the boy. The demonstrations of support and care for the family will surely continue in the coming weeks.

On Thursday the “Blizzard of ’09″ arrived, shutting down much of Colorado along the “Front Range” – including Focus on the Family. Shoveling the front walk reminded me of how out of shape I am. Friday was a snow day, and the offices were closed.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds me that there is a time for everything. I’m seeing that in technicolor this week. There have been tears, there has been joy. There have been moments of pain, moments of laughter. A time to be silent, a time to speak.

And here we are, on a beautiful Saturday morning. The snow is melting and the kids are cleaning around the house. After an enjoyable breakfast together we’re up ‘n running! We’ve got errands to run, bills to pay, and school work to be graded. Things to do, places to go. You know.

And so life goes on, interrupted but not stopped by sobering losses and snow storms. Full of the mundane, but making room for the extraordinary. And in the midst of it all, I am asking God to reveal Himself, to be present, to bring comfort amidst the pain.  I am but a clay pot, He is the Potter, and I pray He use me – somehow – in the lives of others.

Risks Of Eating Red Meat

The news about an extensive research study which looked at health risks associated with frequently eating red meat isn’t very encouraging most people.  Families I know are eating red or processed meats nearly every day, or at least several times a week. The study suggests that cutting red meat consumption to a small amount once a week can minimize cardiovascular disease and other associated risks.

Do studies like this affect your eating habits?

How often do you eat red meat?

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Responsible Parenting

When a child “goes bad,” who is responsible? Here’s an opinion from former broadcast guest Dr. John Rosemond:

Prior to the Age of Psychological Parenting, parents understood that they could only do so much. They understood that no matter how ”good” their parenting was, their children were still capable on any given day of going to school or out into the community and doing bad things — really bad, even. In the final analysis, therefore, their children were responsible for their own behavior.

Provocative column, and worth the read. Dr. Rosemond’s opinion strikes me as very sensible, and yet, I suspect many parents feel guilt when their child acts out.

I wonder what you think? Take a moment and leave a comment, or at the least, answer one of the questions Dr. Rosemond asks his audiences about parenting:

Is parenting more or less stressful, do you think, than it was in the 1950s?

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Poll: Who Takes Care of Fido?

I know a couple of co-workers who bring their dogs to work. One of them leaves the dog in, or leashed to, her truck, with plenty of shade and water, of course. The other has found a nice shady spot where her dog dutifully waits and watches folks walking by throughout the day. I guess bringing Fido to work and visiting him regularly throughout the day is preferred to leaving the dog at home all alone. Other co-workers go home at lunch to let the dog out for a bit.

After reading an article which addresses concerns about potential pet owners spending enough time with their animal, I thought I’d ask if you have a pet in your home, and if so, how do you manage to care for it during the day?

Who takes care of Fido's daytime needs?

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Friday Poll: If You Had More Money

I read an interesting magazine interview last night with a woman who answered the question, “What are 10 things you’d do if you won the lottery?” Her answers were thoughtful, and surprised me a bit. Instead of the expected “quit work and travel” mentality, she indicated she would “thank God a million times,” give away a significant portion to charity and her church, and invest in her community. And yes, she would buy a few things, including a nicer car.

As I reflected on her answers, I tried to see an application to my own life. Now, I don’t play the lottery, and don’t endorse any form of gambling (not even during March Madness, sorry). Dr. Dobson has spoken convincingly about the damaging effects gambling has on individuals and families. So, I am opposed to games of chance, including lotto. But I started to wonder how I would answer that “10 Things” question.

Just what would I do if I suddenly came into a very large sum of money? Probably something along the lines of this woman, starting with gratitude to God, making sure a sizable amount went to our church and charitable organizations, taking care of some long-term family needs and helping out a few community efforts, too. And hey, I’d even consider a newer car! But I’d like to think I would not change my lifestyle in any appreciable way, and that I would exercise wisdom and humility with that unexpected income.

And then, this thought came to mind. So what is keeping me from making sure I live today with those very same priorities? Really, gratitude, giving, community involvement…if those things would be important in a hypothetical situation, like winning the lottery, why not make sure those are my values for today? What is keeping me from keeping ‘the main thing the main thing” today, with the present circumstances and situations in life? Am I living today with an intentional effort, not squandering the opportunities God places in front of me, regardless of the state of my finances?

So, let me ask you a similar question.

What three things would be most important to you if you unexpectedly received a large sum of money?

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Five Year-Old Funny

Allergy season is here, and its effects are in…full bloom. Despite on-going use of medications and watching our diet, several members of our family are sniffing and sneezing.

This morning my five year-old came into the room and in a rather perturbed voice asked, “Daddy?”

“Yes, Zane.”

“Daddy?”

“What is it, son?”

“Daddy, when can I smell again?”

Poor little man…

Pastors in Need

Yesterday I had the privilege of sitting in the studio with a man who knows the ministry. He was a local church pastor for 33 years before joining the staff of Focus on the Family. We were recording some pieces for a “Pastor to Pastor” audio resource, and it was both informative and very enjoyable to work with him.

For over 17 years Rev. H.B. London, Jr. has been a “pastor to pastors,” leading the outreach that Focus on the Family has for clergy and their families. H.B. and his dedicated team offer encouragement and resources – including an online forum – for pastors in need.

Most pastors carry a heavy load, many working intense and long hours with little to no help at all. They burn the candle at both ends, a labor of love for the Gospel and the church they serve. Along the way, there is discouragement and sometimes family difficulties that add further stress.

Here’s a link to the website where you can find the Pastor to Pastor audio resource exclusively for pastors, along with other helpful books, links and articles. Pass the word along to someone in your church who can use a bit of help.

Training The Next Generation

In case you missed it, a three-part broadcast series about college students and the future can be heard here. It is an inspiring conversation with stories of changed lives, something the Focus on the Family Institute is all about. If you have a son or daughter in college, listen in!

Radical Man, Radical Message

Dr. Joe White is one of the most powerful men I know. I don’t mean “power” in the usual sense. He isn’t a politician or big business exec. Instead of formal power, Joe has influential power. He lives a sold-out life for God, and his passion is contagious. He is helping people know God better – now that is power! And in today’s world it is counter-cultural, even radical.

Joe is taking his radical message to men across the country. He has assembled a great line-up of speakers and musical artists for these events, which are drawing thousands of men who are hungry to live a life that makes a difference. Learn more about the “Men At The Cross” events here. Read more

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