Making the Best of Each Day

With the holiday season in full swing, it is easy for one to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle. The purpose of this issue of "In The Know" is to remind parents and teenagers alike of the importance of making each and every day the best it can possibly be. Parents must do everything they can to make each day a memorable one, for the years you have with your children at home are quickly diminishing. Each of the three articles in this month's issue deal with the subject of making the best of each day with your family.

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Embracing the Seasons
of Life

By Cary Schmidt (written December '08)

Over the Christmas break, I’ve been organizing our photo collection during some down-time. Wow, does time fly! Over the past few days I’ve looked at 39 gigs of photos for a grand total of 15,600 pictures, dating back to 1999 when we got our first digital camera. My picture-taking really ramped up a few years ago when I got a really good camera. It’s been fun visiting all these moments and memories.

In all, I’ve relived 9 Christmases, 9 first days of school, 9 sets of family birthdays, 9 years of trips to Disneyland, 9 family vacations… well, you figured it out—pretty much 9 of everything! Through it all, I’ve had moments when I laughed my head off and others when I cried my eyes out—and everything in between. And there have been some things strengthened in my heart, as I look forward to 2009. There are guiding principles that rise to the surface as well as many things I don’t regret—things I’m so glad the Lord led us to do. Maybe they will encourage you as you begin your new year. Read More»

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Ponder Them In Your Heart

By Cindie Trieber (written December '08)

As the wife of Dr. Jack Trieber, pastor of North Valley Baptist Church in Santa Clara, CA, Cindie Trieber has not only raised her own children to serve the Lord, but has also seen many around her do the same. By pulling from her own experiences and by using Mary, the mother of Christ, as an example, Mrs. Trieber teaches the importance of not only caring for your children, but also "pondering them in your heart."  Read More»

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Christmas is Over

By Dr. Jack Hyles (1926-2001)

The Christmas season is now over. The holidays from school have ended. We are sitting around the table for breakfast on the day that our children are returning to school. I look over and see tears swelling in the eyes of my youngest daughter.

"What is wrong, sweetheart?" I asked.

"I don't want to go back to school." She replies.

Then I remember how I felt on the same day of the year. I felt the same way at bedtime on Christmas night and in the closing moments of my birthday.

What causes such a feeling in the life of a child, or for that matter, in the life of an adult? Who among us has not felt the loneliness and melancholy of hating to see a delightful experience end? End they must, as all delightful experiences must in this life.

Because of this, it is best that we understand our emotions at such occasions. Read More»

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On The Same Page

The role of the church, concerning raising teenagers, is to be a help to the parents. One way in which the church helps is through age-appropriate preaching. Because this tool is so important, it is vital that parents be made aware of what is being preached to their teenagers each month. Below is a list of messages that have been preached recently:

• "Mistaking the Enemy" - Bro. T.J. Mitchell
  
• "Being a Dreamer" - Bro. Caleb Sobin
  
• "Completing Your Mission" - Bro. Brent Bartlett
  
• "Christians Who Don't Believe" - Bro. Heath Bartlett
  

To view more information about each message or to view other previous messages, Click Here»

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