The Watermark Children’s Ministry Team is trying to stay up on current issues and ideas regarding parenting, children, and ministry to children. We are reading books from the resource list on this blog and then doing a short review. The hope is that the review will allow you to discover if that book may be of help to you in your parenting situation. Enjoy!

Reviewer: Jinger Lord – Starting Blocks Coordinator

Author – Alex & Brett Harris
Publisher – Multnomah

Please give a one paragraph synopsis of the book.
Alex and Brett Harris are teenage twins with big ideas. Their book lays out the idea that the teen years should not be a time for laziness and lack of responsibility, but a time to serve God and “do hard things” that will glorify Him. They talk about reclaiming the teenage years and rebelling against the low expectations that our society has of teens. They discuss five types of hard things: things that take you outside your comfort zone, things that go beyond what’s expected or required, things that are too big for you to do alone, things that don’t pay off immediately, and things that go against the crowd.

I would recommend this book to a parent who…
This book is really written to teenagers. Any parent of a teen or pre-teen will love the ideas. The goal is to get the teenager to read the book and buy in.
Rate the book on from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest) in the following areas:
I really enjoyed this book: 9
This book was an easy read: 10
This book was theologically sound: 10
This book used an appropriate amount of Scripture: 10
This book gave practical applications: 10
I will recommend this book: 10
This book promotes the FM concept (parent responsibility): n/a promotes teen responsibility

As I was reading “Revolutionary Parenting” (Recommended reading) last week I was convicted and moved to have a written set of standards for the Kaigler household. It seems a little late, as my kids are 13 and 11, but we are going for it anyway! (Better late than never). We certainly have boundaries for our kids and enforce them as consistently as we can. However, they are not in writing and they are not often communicated unless something goes haywire or a pending situation has disaster written all over it.

I have borrowed extensively from Barna’s book in formulating these and thought they might be helpful as a starting point as you seek to guide your kids toward full devotion to Christ, so here it goes:

1) Always tell the truth
Regardless of the circumstances or consequences; strive to be known as honest, reliable, and trustworthy.

 
2) Never cheat or steal
This brings dishonor on you and disrespects the victim. This includes the sometimes gray areas around testing, and the little “they won’t even miss it” items.

 
3) Always show respect to other people
No matter how you feel about them your attitude and language reflect the love God has for others. The hardest place to practice this is in the home so parents and kids should consistently show respect to one another.

 
4) Help Others
We are followers of the greatest servant who ever lived, Jesus Christ , and should model His example.

5) Control your tongue
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. (Prov. 18:21) See also James 3

 
6) See Conflict as an Opportunity for Growth
Handle it quickly, examine your own heart, and do not judge the motives of others. Only judge their behavior in so much as it affects you personally, your family, and/or the body of Christ.

 
7) Take good care of your body
Your body is God’s temple so eating healthy, exercise, and maintaining good hygiene is important.

 
8) Pursue Intimacy with Jesus and Impact for His Kingdom.
Jesus is in charge of it all and has the final word on everything. The Bible is God’s love letter/instruction manual for life.

9) Work hard in school and pursue excellence as much as it is possible.

 
10) Pull your weight as part of the family
Carry out your household chores with a good attitude and occasionally do more than is asked of you.

 
11) Make sure at least one parent knows your whereabouts at all times.
Even when plans change make sure you get parent approval and they know your whereabouts.

 
12) Accept the penalties of inappropriate behavior
Discipline is not and/or should not be a sign of anger or dislike by those in authority over you but a sign of care and love designed to facilitate growth.

-Kyle