Hi. I am consolidating all my articles regarding the next generation in my blogspot account.
It’s much easier to maintain it and easier to consolidate.
I will keep my Multiply blogsite for Random Thoughts. It will be at
punzalan.multiply.com.
You can also check my website at
www.paolopunzalan.com
God bless you.
Last August 2007, NBC News reported that young people aged 13-24 were asked the question, “What makes you happy?” Guess what might be some of the answers? Xbox 360? iPod? Friends? High grades in school? Parties? More allowance? If you guessed one of these, well, it wasn’t the top answer.
So what was the top answer? Spending time with family! This survey was conducted by MTV! They were interested to know what makes young people happy. I wonder if they’ll come up with more family friendly music videos?
LESSON: Never underestimate the time we spend with our families no matter how long or short it may be.
Because it’s a holiday tomorrow, our family planned to go to Tagaytay tomorrow. Besides, it is also my
wife, Jenn’s birthday. We’ll be going with some friends. This afternoon, while on our way, we had to do a couple of things before heading off to Tagaytay.
Our 4 year old, Ryan, asked where we were going. We said that we would still be doing a couple of more errands and then going to meet our friends in their house. He asked where our friends’ house was located. I didn’t think he’d follow up by asking for details. So I did.
I told him that we were going down South Luzon Expressway. After which, we will make a right turn onto Magallanes Village, go through the main gate, turn right on the first street and the house would be on the right side of the street.
After I told him the details, he was satisfied.
I’m not sure if he understood anything I said though.
I wonder sometimes that maybe that’s how God feels. We have a lot of questions. But if He tells us every detail regarding our question, we might end up more confused than before we asked the question.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Our 8 year old daughter, Janina, came in our TV room one afternoon and brought some merienda (afternoon snack). We didn’t ask her to do it. We were watching the television and she came in with that pleasant surprise. That was such a sweet gesture, we thought.But when I went out to the kitchen to take out the empty bowl, I saw the ‘crime scene’. It was corn that she had shaved off the cob using a very sharp knife. To top it off, the whole floor was covered with corn kernels! It was not a pleasant sight.
I was about to bust back into the TV room with smoking ears and fire coming out of my mouth but then again, I thought, “This was something that was out of a heart that wanted to serve and love.”
As a parent, my prayer is that I would see beyond the externals. Some parents show a marvelous ability to see failed attempts as praiseworthy efforts. They always encourage. They are adept at neutralizing the effects of a fiasco.
That’s my personal prayer.
“Is Pokemon bad?” a nine-year-old boy asked me one day.
My initial thoughts were, “Isn’t Pokemon dead?” (I thought this fad had passed, but I guess I was wrong.) At any rate, the kid needed an answer, so I said, “Yes! It’s evil!”
Of course I didn’t say that.
My answer came from Deuteronomy 18:10-12:
“Let no one be found among you who . . . practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells . . . Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.”
I read this verse to the child and I continued by saying, “Because God doesn’t want me or my family to get involved in witchcraft and casting spells, I don’t let my children play with Pokemon. Why don’t you go ahead and discuss this verse with your mom and dad? See what God would have you do as a family.”
What are we to do? We are to teach children to search the Bible and filter all they do with God’s Word.
As teachers, we will be asked these questions all the time. We can do two things: we can write up a long list of which toys they can or cannot play with, or we can teach them principles from God’s Word. The list of “unacceptable” toys will be endless, and this can ultimately lead to Pharisaical legalism. But as we teach them principles from God’s Word, we are also preparing them for life as they will eventually be confronted with many different “toys for the big boys.”
God bless you as your reach the next generation to change the world.
I recently read a magazine article and came across the Yacker Tracker.
What is it?
Well, it looks like a stoplight:It’s green when classroom noise levels are appropriate, turns yellow when noise rises, and flashes red when the volume is too loud. The red light also signals a coming consequence (i.e. no more free time, extra work), while the green light tells kids that they’re doing a good job managing their conversations.
I would love to have something like that at home for my three wonderful, gregarious kids. Though we may not have the Yacker Tracker that we can bring with us wherever we go, God has given us an internal Yacker Tracker. It’s called self-control. This is free, but needs early installation, check-ups, and consistent maintenance. However, once installed, it helps ensure a fun and wonderful home experience.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness and self-control.
Galatians 5:22
Let us remember that we have our own built-in Yacker Trackers, and we can set the example for our children, grandchildren, students, nieces, and nephews to make the best use of it too.