Category: Uncategorized

Can social media good outweigh the bad?

A recent study from Pew Research found that over two-thirds of teenagers ages 13-17 feel like they experience positive benefits from using social media, while less than half say they experience negative effects. Facts & Trends speaks about how parents and church leaders can use these statistics to help teens navigate the complicated and ever-prominent world of social media.

Few churched teenagers become devout young adults.

In a recent survey we find that most young adults who attended church as a teenager say they believe in God today, but fewer consider themselves devout Christians. And as a whole, they have conflicting recollections about the churches they attended in high school. LifeWay Research surveyed more than 2,000 American adults between the ages of 23 and 30 who attended a Protestant church twice a month or more for at least a year as a teenager.  Here are the results.

How can we glorify God with our time?

In this video, Tim Challies talks about redeeming our time in a busy world that vies for our time every second of the day.  This is some helpful information if you would like to know how to use your time better for the sake of the Kingdom.

The most significant lessons we’ve learned as parents.

In this video interview Michael and Melissa Kruger reflect on parenting as their oldest daughter is preparing to leave home for college in the fall. That kind of milestone makes parents stop and reflect on what they’ve learned in 18 years of parenting.  Listen as they give some good advice on parenting that may provide helpful for you.

The sufficiency of Scripture for manhood and womanhood.

In this sermon Dr. Voddie Baucham explains how today, Christians and churches have drifted away from Scripture and are affected by modern culture’s redefinition of manhood of womanhood. He goes on to make the case for why we must return to Scripture as being all-sufficient for every aspect of life, including the determination of manhood and womanhood.

Training your children in family worship.

This discipline of family worship is something that is very dear to me.  In this short video Dr. Joel Beeke gives some practical advice on how to train your children to participate in family worship.  He says, “Training your children for family worship – to do family worship when they have their own family – is an important aspect of daily family devotions. This is best accomplished by the older children seeing the parents teaching the younger children and occasionally delegating leading family worship to them when appropriate.”

When a child disobeys: six steps for healthy correction.

Correcting children can be a matter of babies and bathwater. How do we preserve the phenomenal God-given potential these children possess, without condoning the defiance that boils over from the cauldron of their sinful little hearts? How do we love the baby well and hate the dirty bathwater?  Here, Sam Crabtree explains.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Adam B. Burrell

5 Ways Athletes Have a Unique Gospel Platform

In this article David Qaoud provides 5 unique opportunities that athletes have when it comes to sharing the gospel.  He writes, “You can’t fake it on a team. Your true self comes out. If you claim Christ but you’re a hypocrite, you’ll put a bad taste in others’ mouths. If you claim Christ and your actions and words align, however, you may not have to summon the courage to initiate every gospel conversation; people will likely come to you.”

5 Ways to Help Affair-Proof Your Marriage

Here are 5 tips that I have found helpful in fighting to keep your marriage pure and affair-proof.  “It is a scary thing to see what seems to be a good and godly marriage come to an end because of an unfaithful spouse.  Most of these affairs do not happen overnight.  Most who have an affair do not just end up in the bed with a total stranger and wake up the next morning and wonder how they got there.  It started out as “innocent” conversations, but then it progressed from there.”

Has Your Child Been Looking at Bad Stuff Online?

Tim Challies gives great pastoral advice in his latest VLOG on how to navigate the uncomfortable conversations with your children if you have found out that they have been looking at inappropriate images of sites on the internet.  He provides some very good wisdom and counsel for concerned parents.

How Can We Prioritize Our Marriage over Work and Kids?

In this episode of “Ask Pastor John” John Piper answers the question, “How do we keep our marriage a priority when life is so busy with kids, work, and the other duties of life?”  Pastor John offers some practical and biblical advice on the subject.

I Have an Hour a Day to Read — How Much Should Be Bible?

In this episode of “Ask Pastor John” John Pipers provides some tips on how to read scripture and solid theological books for those that don’t have much time in the day.  His answer might surprise you . . . but I feel certain that it will encourage you to read more to the glory of God.

Our Daughter’s Nightly Struggle (Not just for parents with daughters)

If your child has a smart phone, you may have noticed that it seems more like an extra appendage than just simply a tool to call and keep in touch with other people.  To separate a teen from their phone is akin to separating a mama bear from her cubs.  In this short article, you will find what one parent did to separate their daughter from her digital Pharaoh.  Their decision had a wonderful effect on their daughter, and it may be something that you want to consider doing for your family as well.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Adam B. Burrell

 

Here are some helpful tools for the family for September 2018.

1. “The Insanity of God.”
   A few week s ago my church had a special evening service where we were able to pray for the nations as a corporate body.  In 2017, there was a dramamentry produced called “The Insanity of God.”  This is a film that is based on “the true story of missionaries Nik and Ruth Ripken. After the death of their son, this ordinary couple journeys into the depths of the persecuted church, asking the question- IS JESUS WORTH IT?”  This is not your typical cheesy low-budget Christian film.  It is extremely well done and I believe that it would do you well to pick a copy up so that you can better understand how to pray for the persecuted church as well as worship our marvelous God for his work there and all over the world.
2.  “Is He Worthy?” – Andrew Peterson
   On Sunday, September 16^th Pray’s Mill Baptist Church had the pleasure to take part in our annual “Revelation 5 Sunday” service.  What a blessed day it was.  This past Spring singer and songwriter, Andrew Peterson, released his latest album (Resurrections Letters) and one of the songs on it is entitled “Is He Worthy?”  It is a song based off of Revelation 5.  It is a beautiful song that I have personally worshiped through over the past several months.  It is one that I would commend to you as well if you haven’t heard it.  As you listen,  contemplate what it will be like to worship our Lord with people made up of every tribe, tongue, and nation.
3.  “Raising Our Children to be in but not of the World” – Tim Challies
   In this quick 7 minute video (or you can read the transcript) Tim gives some helpful tips on how to raise our children to not be helplessly naïve of this world and yet not engrossed in the things of the world either.  Challies says, “So as parents we want to protect our children, yet we also try to raise them so they can exist and thrive in this messed up world.”  This is much needed and simple advice from a brilliant and straightforward teacher of God’s Word.
4.   “Dads – Preparing Yourself for the Second Shift” – Greg Gibson
   A few years back a friend of mine wrote this article for the Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood that I found to be very helpful when it comes to preparing yourself for your second job when you get home dads, as father/husband. “The second shift is no longer a time of rest, but a time of work.  Good work . . .hard work . . . God-honoring work . . . Warrior-like work. It is here that we work in faithfulness, then fruitfulness, but never idolatry.”  Dads, I hope that you will read this and consider the implications.
5. “ESV Student Study Bible”
   Christianbook.com is a wonderful source to find Bibles for inexpensive prices.  It is my desire to get a solid Study Bible into the hands of all teens and pre-teens.  I believe having a hard copy of the Bible is one of the best ways to participate in Sunday school and the sermon each Lord’s Day.  If you child doesn’t already have one, I would suggest taking a look at these nicely designed and trustworthy ESV Student Study Bibles.  They would make a great Christmas present.
6.  “The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings us Back to the Garden” – Kevin DeYoung
   This is one of the best children’s books that I have ever read.  It has bright and colorful illustrations but the content is theologically rich.  Deyoung, “leads kids and parents alike on an exciting journey through the Bible, connecting the dots from the garden of Eden to Christ’s death on the cross to the new heaven and new earth.”  It is one that you will want to put in your family library.
7.  “5 Principles for Disciplining your Child.” – Melissa Kruger
   There are a lot of different ideas about what the most effective way of disciplining    children.  Here, Melissa Kruger, provides 5 helpful ways for us to correct and train    our children in righteousness.  She proved a helpful reminder when she writes,        “These discipline principles have helped my husband and me, but they are limited.        Only God can change our children’s hearts. All the parenting wisdom in the world        cannot save or transform our children; only Jesus can.”  While only God can fully        change the heart, we too have a responsibility of training and disciplining in a way  that points our children to the freedom found in Christ.  I believe this article may      provide some helpful tips when it comes to the issue of discipline.
   Soli Deo Gloria,Adam B. Burrell

One of the hardest things in the world as a husband and father is to watch your wife struggle with the day-in and day-out demands on her life when it comes to her children in the home.  Often we men are “fix-it” guys.  We see a problem and we want to drive at a solution to fix it.  There is certainly value in this, but we cannot always fix the difficulty of schedules that need to be kept, the needy children calling for help three times in a thirty second time span for 3 different things, and the hundred other needs that we may never know about.  Men are at work… and that is a good thing.   It is what God intended for us.  Do we men need to be prepared to work our second shift jobs at the family home?  Sure, but our wives need more than this.  They need our daily prayers as well.  This is part of our calling to wash her in the word (Ephesians 5:26), that Paul commanded the Ephesian church to do.

Today I want to offer a prayer that I believe we husbands should be praying over our wives frequently.  Today, you ladies might pray this prayer as well to help you with those little vipers in diapers that we all love so much, yet can put so much stress on our lives.

A Prayer for Patience

It has been said that patience is a virtue.  It is indeed a virtue, but it is not often one that we come by naturally.  Just as it takes a lot of heat and pressure to fuse atoms and carbon together to make a diamond, it often takes heat and pressure time and time again for patience to be produced.  Paul tells the church at Ephesus to walk properly as a Christian when he wrote, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.”  Dealing with the fourth spill of the day, and that sinful sassy attitude from your nine year old can be very trying.  The flesh can often fall into a place of weakness.  Yet, scripture encourages us to be patient and long-suffering.  Today, pray for patience.  Pray that the Lord will calm your anxiety and trust that He is doing something through these momentary situations for both you and your children.

A Prayer for Peace

Jeremiah instructed the exiles to pray for peace and prosperity for the city of Babylon in Jeremiah 29.  He said, “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”  The people of God had just been taken captive by a pagan people.  They were the captives of a war. They were going to be in a foreign land for 70 years, but Jeremiah reminds them to pray for the peace of Babylon.  Now, a young and tired mom may think that a 70 year exile sounds like a better alternative than her daily routine of dealing with a bunch of four and six year olds.  The fact is, this mother is at war.  She is often at war spiritually with her old self, the flesh, who wants her to give into a sinful tirade.  Yet, her new man who is “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24) is to be the victor in this battle.  The end result of war is peace for the victor.  We know that for all those who are in Christ that the victory has already been won.  Thus, today we pray to live within that victory.  Even if your homes may feel like a warzone and you are constantly having to put out small skirmishes, rest in the fact that the Prince of Peace is with you.  Pray that you will respond peacefully, and rest in the work that the Lord is doing.  Flood your mind with the words of Jesus, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).  Let this bring calm and comfort on those days of trials.

A Prayer for Perseverance

I once heard a pastor remark that it is easier to die as a martyr than to live as one.  What a true statement.  The reason it is true is because of one word: perseverance.  Perseverance is hard work.  It can be soul pounding work.  When you are flush in the face and ready to scream… persevere.  When you cannot handle another midnight call from child number three that they need to eat… persevere.  When your child is in tears over not understanding their math, and you feel helpless to help them yourself… persevere.  Your children are watching how you react when faced with opposition.  What an opportunity to show them the gospel at work.  How you react in times of pressure is an expression of the gospel to them.  Paul writes these words of encouragement to a struggling church, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).  Stressed, sleep deprived, counselor mom, don’t give up and give in to the stresses of the day.  Go to the Lord in prayer.  Go to Him in His Word and be filled.  He alone can give us the rest that we all need.  Trust that He is doing something through the daily stresses and messes.  Respond the way that He wants us to respond. Persevere to the glory of God.

Being a mother is no joke.  It is a very high calling if the Lord calls you to it.  There is no way to get though it without constant and consistent prayer.  Mothers, pray these things today.  Husbands, pray these things over your wife today.  Go to the Lord on her behalf.  Ask the Lord to grant her a respite.  Ask the Lord to grant her an extra measure of patience to deal with your sons.  Ask Him to give her a day of peace, but if there is no peace to have, pray that she may find peace in the storm.  Ask him to give her endurance and perseverance.  Dads, be prepared yourself to get busy as a second-shift dad in helping her when you arrive home.  It is not only your duty, but your privilege as well.  Pray for patience, peace, and perseverance.  And may the Lord be honored in you, struggling mom.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Adam B. Burrell

It is my absolute joy to serve as an Associate Pastor to the families at Pray’s Mill Baptist Church.  One of my jobs as a pastor is to be a source of resources for the families there.  Over the years I have compiled a lot of helpful links and tools that are useful for family ministry.

Each month I plan to provide a list of 5-7 resources that may be helpful in the process of discipleship in your home.  It will simply be entitled “The Family Toolbox.”  I will provide a link and a brief summary in hopes of providing quality tools for your personal family toolbox. The topics will span from issues of child rearing and marriage strengthening , to cultural trends that families need to be aware of.   I take my job of “equipping the saints for the work of ministry” very seriously within my local church, but it is also my prayer that these tools will be a blessing to you and your home.   I hope these will be useful.

1. “How to Help Your Children Become Better Sermon Listeners”

In just a few words, pastor David Prince unpacks the question, “How would you explain to children in grade school what a sermon is and what they should be doing during the sermon?”  This is a great blog with quick tips for your young sermon listeners to get all that they can out of the Lord’s Day service.   You can also print out some notes for your young sermon listeners here as well:
Sermon Notes for Older Kids 2
Sermon Notes for Younger Kids

2. Parental Control for the Internet: Disney Circle (a Review)

There are many internet safety devices out there, and some are better than others.  Here is a quick review on one of the more popular ones.  Disney circle is “a small, white box that pairs with your existing Wi-Fi router.  The Disney Circle Home allows you to control and monitor all of the devices on your home’s Wi-Fi network.”

3. Passport to Purity

Do you have a pre-teen that needs to hear about sex, purity, and “dating?”  Passport to Purity is a toolkit that is set up for a weekend get away with mom and daughter or father and son.  “The getaway kit equips you to cover what can seem like awkward topics in a fun and engaging way.”  It is one of the best resources for families on the subject.  It looks at these issues from a purely biblical perspective, but in a sensitive way.  I cannot encourage each parent of a preteen enough to check this out.

4. Make ‘God Talk’ an Everyday Part of Family Life

Have you ever wanted to be able to have more godly conversations with your children and teens?  In this article, Julie Melilli provides a few simple ways to make that a reality in your home.  (I don’t support everything that The Gospel Coalition publishes, but this is a very helpful article on the subject.)

5. “Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World,” book Reviews

This past weekend my church hosted its first annual “Mother and Daughter Banquet.”  Our guest speaker spoke on the subject of living out a feminine faith in a feminist world.  Here is a quick book review of a book by the same title that Mrs. Christic Henery used as the basis of her talk.  You can also check the book out and purchase a copy of it as well if you are interested in digging a little deeper.

6. Men of whom the World was not Worthy (Biographical Sermons by John Piper)

Not everyone has the time, nor desire, to sit down and read the biographies of godly men and women of the past.  Now you have the opportunity to learn about them and have your faith strengthened simply by listening.  For the past 25 years Pastor John Piper has been doing biographical sketches/sermons on some of the heroes of the faith in church history.  Each sermon is about an hour long.  It would be perfect to listen to on your drive back and forth from work, while working around the house, or mowing the lawn.  It is one of the most beneficial sermon series that I have ever listened to.

7. Another “Self-Harm” Challenge to be Aware of

Suicide is a very big deal and the rates of them have increased in recent years.  You may or may not be aware, but there is a new app that your teen and preteen can download that is being deemed as a “suicide” app.  Please be aware of what your children are doing on their phones, and warn them about apps such as this one.

If you find a helpful article that you think would be useful for the church body to read, feel free to shoot me an e-mail (adam@praysmill.com) with the link and I may add it to the monthly list.

“May the Lord bless you and keep you,” readers.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Adam B. Burrell