Have you grown up yet? - CFN Newsletter Week 148

CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK NEWSLETTER 148

> Maturity - Pastor Bob Reith has a challenge
> News:
> Facing the unthinkable: child protection tour of churches
> Christian Aid offers web team-building game for 8-12s
> Is CofE grasping Mission-shaped church challenge?
> Sites:
> New site tackles self-harm issues
> Men - help on internet temptation; hard-hitting teaching from US preacher; new initiative to reach UK's 'movers and shakers'
> Marriage MOT: Scoring points?
> You've got to laugh: Survival in the desert - why you need a pack of cards ...
> Members' Zone latest

> OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS WEEK

The UK's leading provider of outreach resources for churches now has its summer brochure out - including a remarkable photo of 'Jesus in the clouds' - discover CPO at www.cpo.org.uk

> FROM THE EDITOR

Dear all

Our next Families Together magazine (Summer) gets underway very shortly - and we're very excited at the contents.

Hopefully by the time I'm next in touch we'll know how the magazine has fared in the Andrew Cross Awards, being one of only five shortlisted in the National Periodical category.

Hope you find lots that interests you in this week's update!

Take care

Russ

Russ Bravo
Christian Family Network
info@cfnetwork.co.uk
http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk

PS Christian Family Network is here to direct you to the best in parenting, marriage and family resources; to link you up with other Christian families up and down the UK; and to help you make the most of life as a follower of Christ - at home, at work, at school and college, at play and online.

Your feedback, positive and negative, enables us to develop CFN in the way that is most useful for you - so please tell us if we're off the rails or on the button!

And don't forget - if we can pass on material (sample copies of Families Together, leaflets) which will help you tell your friends and your church about CFN, just mail Lyn Bedford at marketing@christianmedia.org.uk and she'll be glad to help you out.

CHALLENGE

Pastor Bob Two Minute Devotion
 
It seems that everyone loves babies. Infants, kittens, puppies, even cubs and colts make us smile. New Christians bring us joy also. Their enthusiasm and simple faith remind us of the joy of forgiveness and the tender love of our Saviour.
 
There comes a time, however, when puppies grow into dogs and we expect the dog to be obedient to instructions.  Sit, stay, come, walk on a leash.  Fifty-pound dogs that act like puppies are not acceptable.
 
To live is to grow; and more than just to grow, but to grow up, to mature.
 
1 Corinthians 13:11 tells us that: "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man (an adult), I put childish ways behind me."
 
If years after you become a Christian, you are still struggling with entry level issues, you may want to look at your life and get serious about turning those issues over to the Lord. He has promised to provide a way out from under the past. Not that it will be easy, but victory is possible and the joy of release is triumphant.
 
Paul says that: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
 
"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." I Peter 2:2-3,
 
May you find direction and strength of purpose as you grow in the Lord today.
 
Pastor Bob Rieth
Media Fellowship International

> THIS WEEK'S NEWS

> Facing the unthinkable – child protection tour of churches

The Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) is running weekly child protection-training seminars across the UK this year called Facing the Unthinkable.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> Reality TV alternative launched for 8-12s by Christian Aid

Christian Aid is offering to cure young people suffering from the excluding nature of the Big Brother reality TV show by encouraging team building and co-operation.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

>Church – fresh expressions are blooming, reports CofE group

Is the Church of England really taking on board the findings of the Mission-shaped church report, and adapting to the needs of 21^st century Britain?

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> MARRIAGE MOT

> Check out our archived marriage tips in the Members' Zone, plus stacks more marriage resources at http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk

Scoring points

Do you ever find yourself scoring points over your husband and wife? It can happen so easily. We score points when we say things to justify ourselves and show we’re better than the other in some way.

"You left your clothes in the middle of the bedroom floor again. Well at least I didn’t leave dirty cotton buds all over the bathroom …" and so it goes on, back and forth. We find ourselves using generalisations too like: "You always …" or "you never …" That’s unfair and just winds each other up.

When we’re focused on winning the point, we’re not listening to what may be of concern to our loved one. When we have a more positive attitude, we’re more likely to be open to think about the matter in hand and find a way forward.

Stopping some of the negative behaviours we use can help to strengthen our marriages. Why not be on the look out to see whether you get into the game of scoring points in your marriage? If you can see it coming then you can avoid it.

> EVENTS

> YOU'VE GOT TO LAUGH ...

A Scout Master was teaching his boy scouts about survival in the desert. "What are the three most important things you should bring with you in case you get lost in the desert?" he asked.

Several hands went up, and many important things were suggested such as food, matches, etc. Then one little boy in the back eagerly raised his hand.

"Yes Timmy, what are the three most important things you would bring with you?" asked the Scout Master.

Timmy replied: "A compass, a canteen of water, and a deck of cards."

"Why's that, Timmy?"

"Well," answered Timmy, "the compass is to find the right direction, the water is to prevent dehydration ..."

"And what about the deck of cards?" asked the Scout Master impatiently.

"Well, sir, as soon as you start playing Solitaire, someone is bound to come up behind you and say, 'Put that red nine on top of that black ten!'"

• Find more in our Resources section at http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp

> CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK THIS WEEK
(MEMBERS' ZONE) - http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/default.asp

> Advice
> Pastor Bob's challenge on maturity
> Kate's Marriage advice - scoring points?
> Eric Spellmann recommends some vital utilities software for your PC - much of it for free!
> Volunteering - how you can help change lives

> Resources
> The latest column from mums encourager Elisabeth Corcoran
> Two laughter packages to keep you chuckling
> Reporting back on CWR's new women's ministry day: How to be a secure woman

> Reviews
> Peter Dilley takes a look at the latest Christian music releases - including a new retrospective on After the Fire

> Magazine
> The lowdown on what's in our latest issue of Families Together

> News:
> Facing the unthinkable: child protection tour of churches
> Christian Aid offers web team-building game for 8-12s
> Is CofE grasping Mission-shaped church challenge?

> Sites:
> New site tackles self-harm issues
> Men - help on internet temptation; hard-hitting teaching from US preacher; new initiative to reach UK's 'movers and shakers'

> Events: New family events plus what's on near you

> Webwatch index: more than 700 sites categorised at your fingertips

> Site Search Engine: the easy way to trawl our 1,000-page plus archives

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