|
|
|
 Keeping Christ in Your Summer Break
by Ray Starks, 7/1/04
Printer-Friendly Version 
Family members look on summer time with different sets of eyes. Parents are freaking and kids are stoked. Whole families are turned upside down with different schedules having to adjust with added childcare or just what to do with kids home for nearly three months. I’m not in a position to schedule your summer activities but allow me to interject some ideas to keep your family intact and spiritually sensitive this summer.
Don’t take a vacation from your faith.
You are probably going to travel this summer and chances are you will be away from an Edge gathering. Whenever our family has been in this situation, we plan ahead to go to a church in the area where we are vacationing. We learned along time ago that God is working in other areas of the country, not just in Lake County and we can learn, fellowship, and worship in another setting. After all, we are one in Christ so we should be able to walk into another Christ-centered church and feel at home, right? By planning to visit another church when Sunday is on the road, you can better keep Christ in your vacation.
Visit other churches in our area.
You read right—why not take a couple of gatherings this summer to go visit some other churches in the Lake County area? Go see what God is doing in and through other branches of His body in our area. The Edge Leadership Team is very interested in promoting unity in the bodies around the lake, so why not be a part of that unity and take this summer to visit? See what other brothers and sisters you have in God’s family tree. Your kids might even run into some school friend that they never knew was a Christian.
Send your kids to camp.
We are blessed with the fact that there are several quality Christian camps within a 4-hour radius of Lake County. Why not consider sending your child to one of them this summer? It is money well spent when your child is immersed in outrageous fun that is centered on Jesus Christ. Go on-line and check them out or ask Kevin Luis for some suggestions.
Start some new family traditions.
Resolutions don’t always have to be made in January. Summer time is a great change of pace that allows modifications of routine and family habits. With the longer days, keep the TV off in the evenings and play games. Or maybe decide to take one night a week and dedicate it to family devotions, worship and prayer. If it is done age appropriately, your children may want to continue throughout the year; not just the summer. Different family members can take turn bringing the Bible lesson and finger food always works to make it fun.
Creating a spiritual summer takes some planning, determination, and cooperation. But for the family that wants to change, it is a very good thing. Why not sit down at the table tonight and get everyone into the act of making changes in your family this summer—it may turn out to be one of the best summer breaks ever
|
|
|
|
