NowTHINK!AboutIt

Avoiding Hackneyed...Making Sense

“Frustrate Your Children” John Rosemond

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Chapter Review “The Fruits of Frustration”

Ever since the middle of the 20th century experts have been suggesting that frustration is bad for kids. But in The New Six-Point Plan for Raising Happy, Healthy Children Johh Rosemond correctly observes that:

  • Frustration is a normal and accepted reality of adult life.
  • Frustration forces the growth of qualities such as resourcefulness.
  • Frustration is managed best by perseverance, the most appealing, endearing and inspiring element of every success story.

Because frustration is the gateway, not the barrier, to these great qualities and cannot be avoided anyway, John says

Parents are “obligated” to frustrate their children.

And that frustration is best provoked through the use of what he calls “vitamin N,” the “no” word!

A good definition of frustration might be:

Wanting things you cannot easily or readily obtain, things that require patience to reach and knowledge you don’t already have. It is frustrating to wait for something you would like to have now. It is also frustrating to work toward a goal but finding yourself moving in a completely different direction or making progress so slowly it feels like you are going nowhere. But this is common to us all.

To illustrate his point, John encourages adults to unabashedly write out a list of everything they would like to have or experience in the next five years, leaving nothing out. Not just things you can afford or have the ability to obtain but things that appeal to your fancy whether you could afford them or not, qualified or not.

Reflecting on the list afterwards reveals that only 10 to 20 percent would be realistically reachable, unless a participant doesn’t want much.

That, however, is exactly how children make their list of “wants” but in their case 75% of the list is probably going to be realized due to the generosity of parents, grandparents, other extended family members and friends.

The point? A child’s desire is not frustrated often and that leaves them very unprepared for real life as adults. [Read more…] about “Frustrate Your Children” John Rosemond

“Roots of Responsibility” by John Rosemond

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Don't assign chores than can be done only one way - YOURS.

Chapter Review – “Roots of Responsibility”

In The New Six-Point Plan for Raising Happy, Healthy Children, John Rosemond recommends a no-nonsense approach to teaching children responsibility. Quoting the famous God Father he says, “you must give them a deal they can’t refuse.”

In his approach to good parenting John recommends:

Chores

John suggests that one of the best ways to mold children into responsible individuals is to give them age appropriate chores and he suggests five practical outcomes to prove his point: [Read more…] about “Roots of Responsibility” by John Rosemond

Heaven Now Open To All

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“Jesus Said” Is Not Always
An Argument

Colton Burpo and his book, Heaven is for Real, have caused a huge public stir and responses have been both positive and negative.

Some atheist and agnostic types – particularly of the academic kind – have attacked not just Colton but also those who believe his story. It hackles them that so many can be so light headed.

Others have been uncertain how to assess Colton’s testimony. They don’t question the idea of heaven or the possibility of a pre-death visit but are uncertain how to assess a report like this and, therefore, reticent on the issue.

Add to that any apparent Bible reason to question the validity of his experience and doubts abound. One verse which seems to suggest Colton’s report can’t be genuine is John 3:13. Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus and He says:

No one has ever gone (ascended) into heaven except the one who came from heaven–the Son of Man.

Wow, right from the mouth of Jesus – “No one has ever gone into heaven.” Seems like a deal killer but a closer inspection clears things up. [Read more…] about Heaven Now Open To All

Book Review: The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher

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It’s A Meal

If you are looking for a strictly theological analysis of Communion then The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher is not for you. But, if you are interested in fleshing out this ancient practice from a human perspective you won’t find it done any better in any other book.

Although theology is exciting to every minister, especially those in waiting, without a measure of humanity, like doe without yeast, it just doesn’t rise. Instead of melting in your mouth it breaks your teeth.

Yes, theology is significant but when not well mixed with life it becomes academic, cold, hard, stiff, mechanical, single dimensional and pretty much useless for anything other than a verbal fist fight. Nora illustrates that without saying it.

Don’t get me wrong. Nora doesn’t bypass theology. She is preacher-in-residence at Trinity Episcopal Church, Santa Barbara – otherwise known as Anglican – and is familiar with all the arguments associated with this ordinance (sacrement) but instead of joining in the usual fray associated with this tradition she speaks from the heart, draws on her own experience and touches the human side of the issue.

And she does this in spite of the fact that no other denomination observes the practice more monotonously than Episcopalians. Every service, every week. Instead of offending anyone’s theology she broadens the view and gives it a fuller perspective. [Read more…] about Book Review: The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher

“Heaven Is For Real” vs Academic Heavies

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If Heaven Isn’t Real
Why Worry About It

They may not believe Heaven is for Real but academic heavy hitters are lining up to take a swing at Colton Burpo.

Susan Jacoby, for one, suggested the American public’s infatuation with his book proves they are immature minded and this isn’t a new trend for her. In a February 2008 article she referred to the same group as “dunces.”

About Colton’s book, she quips, “only in America could a book like this be classified as nonfiction.”

I’m not sure if “immature” represents an improvement or is the reason she thinks we are dumb, but you get the feeling things would change if we would just read a few books on Reason – starting with her’s, of course. She’s written several and you could almost map the road to reprobation in the titles:

  • Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism – 2004.
  • The Age of American Unreason – 2008.

Not that that matters to her. She doesn’t believe and is proud to say so.

The real issue is, Colton’s book has sold over a million copies – and counting – and is breaking all the records at Thomas Nelson publishers. And, as a non materialistic atheist, who apparently doesn’t appreciate people suggesting she or her kind writes books for money, she doesn’t hesitate to suggest the Burpo’s did just that, accusingly, as if there is something wrong with making money.

Her cynicism doesn’t slur it gushes arterially.

I will say that it’s good she doesn’t write for profit because her books don’t sell that well. [Read more…] about “Heaven Is For Real” vs Academic Heavies