Follow Up Information

The Virtue and Vice (PDF) document was referenced by Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo last night.  This document is a great resource to hang on your refrigerator as a reminder of what virtues to encourage in your children as replacements to those forgiven bad attitudes (vices).

Are you asking yourself today, “what is Monkey Talk?” You may have heard several references to this lesson last night. The official name for the Monkey Talk teaching is How to Raise a Responsible Child. Check with your local church parenting ministry to see if they have a copy of this video. You can purchase a copy How to Raise a Responsible Child on DVD or VHS by visiting the GFI online store.

GEMS^® - Godly Encouragement for Moms

Click for more information:
East Cooper GEMS^® - Meets in Mt. Pleasant/Daniel Island
North area GEMS^® - Meets in Goose Creek/Summerville

GEMS^® is a ministry of Christian Family Heritage.

We meet the 4th Thursday of most months in Mt. Pleasant/Daniel Island. The guest speaker teaches on a topic, which varies each month. We break into small groups for discussion and to answer questions. Then we share in food and fellowship. The meeting time is from 7:30-9:30pm. Childcare is not available at this time.

Details for February’s meeting:

We will be meeting Thursday, February 28th at 7:30pm.

Please RSVP to RichandJulie@gficharleston.org to receive location information and directions.

For February, we will be discussing structure and routine. Ooh, for some of you, those 2 words strike fear in your heart. But it doesn’t have to. A basic routine can help bring peace to a home. Who doesn’t want that?

Think you don’t need a routine? Do you see your children getting into trouble more often each day? Do you feel like a ‘truck has run over you’ by the time your husband gets home each day? Do you feel trapped at home with your children? Are meals being prepared in a timely manner? Is the laundry done? Do you find yourself raising your voice to your husband and/or children frequently? Do you find yourself telling your children, “Mommy is busy right now, I will help you later.” only too often find that ‘later’ never comes? If this is you, then you need a basic routine.

Hope to see you there!

Moms and Dads should plan a date night for Monday, February 18, 2008 to attend this live teaching by the Ezzos. This one night teaching will begin at 7:00pm sharp and will conclude by 9:00pm.

UPDATE!

Location: Faith Assembly of God - Faith Kidz Room

Address:  337 Farmington Road, Summerville, SC  (MAP)

Please RSVP by sending and email to: hankandsherry@gficharleston.org

GEMS^® (Godly Encouragement for Moms) is for Growing Kids God’s Way class alumni moms who would like to build on the principles learned. GEMS offers fellowship with other like-minded moms, encouragement, and support through teaching and question and answer time.

GEMS strives to take moms further into issues they will encounter in parenting and provide accountability in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The North Area GEMS meets the 3rd Monday of most months in Goose Creek (Crowfield Plantation) from 7:30-9:30pm. We go through the Mom’s Notes, have time for questions and answers, then fellowship over food. Please RSVP to sherry@gficharleston.org

Monthly Topics:

March 17th- “First Time Obedience”

We will be breaking this down into 7 small steps, role playing what these look like, and how to know when to move to the next step. First time obedience IS truly obtainable!

April 21st- “Discipline Issues”

Any one correction, when used too frequently, starts to loose its’ effectiveness! We”ll look at the 4 methods of correction with new ideas on how to use ALL of them.

May 19th- “Legalism and Permissiveness in Your Parenting” (husband and wife meeting)

We all tend to lean one way or the other, but successful parenting is about bringing balance between the two!

Download the 2007-2008 GEMS Brochure (PDF) for more details. Contact information is included on the brochure.

GEMS^® is a ministry of Christian Family Heritage.

Picnic Set-up Begins at 5:00 p.m.

Picnic Judging begins at 6:00pm

Concert begins at 7:00 - fireworks following the concert

The Charleston Symphony Orchestra will perform a free outdoor concert in Smythe Park on Daniel Island.

A variety of prizes will be awarded for the most elaborate and creative picnic spreads. The grand Prize winner will receive a $500.00 donation to the charity of their choice.

The GFI Community picnic spread will highlight a Memorial Day/Patriotic theme where everyone is asked to bring pies, cookies, and have the guys dressed somewhat 1900’s and children too if possible. All who are coming are asked to bring something red/white/blue for the table.

Please RSVP to Lori Isaacs via email ASAP and no later than Monday May 14, 2007 if you plan to join the Charleston GFI Community at this event.  Lori’s email address is: lynnandlori@gficharleston.org

** Due to the large turnout expected for this event, walking biking or car pooling is suggested Parking will be available in the K-* school parking lot.

Click on the link below to download a short video clip that scrolls through some of the pictures taken during the picnic.

Picnic Picture Video - Requires Microsoft Media Player

1 Timothy 2:9 “Also [I desire - Paul speaking] that woman should adorn themselves modestly & appropriately and sensibly in seemly apparel”… What exactly does this word “modest” mean? From Webster’s 1828 dictionary we find this definition: “properly restrained by a sense of propriety, hence, not forward or bold; not presumptuous or arrogant, not boastful, not excessive or extreme, not extravagant.” None of this refers directly to clothing, but the words certainly provide us a picture of what our behavior should be which can guide us in defining what our clothing should look like. Like so many of the decisions we must make, it is our mindset, or thinking that is going to guide us.

1 Peter 1:14 & 15 also provides some direction, “as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” We are to grow in holiness, so that we will not dishonor God’s name by compromised living. We are to be a good ‘advertisement’ for the gospel.

The following are some answers to the question, “What does modesty do?”
Protects you sexuality
Keeps sexuality a private matter
Holds your sexuality in high regard
Keeps you from embarrassment
Modesty says, “be feminine,” Society says, “be sexy”
Modesty will keep you from disgrace and regret. Modesty protects you.
Modesty does not equal ugliness. Beauty is not the issue.
Modesty is a pride in your appearance without excess. It allows you to wear clothes that flatter your figure without being revealing.

Remember, the principle of modesty, holiness, purity applies equally to boys, girls, men, and women. It just so happens that often times, it is the woman’s apparel that comes into question. But this topic needs to be evaluated and consider application for both sons and daughters. As we walk along the way of life, we want to make sure all we do will glorify God. With that basic thought as a guiding principle we should be able to discern what is modest apparel, actions, thoughts, reading or viewing material. Will God be made bigger; will others see God clearly through my family and me when they see us as a son or daughter of the King? We have been called for a purpose and with a purpose, may the Holy Spirit lead and guide you as you consider this very important topic.

Love,

Anne Marie

Christian Family Heritage has the resource tape: “What is Biblical Modesty” available for a full development of this topic.

This article is presented here with permission form the author. It was written by Anne Marie Ezzo and was originally published in Along the Way: Christian family Heritage Newsletter Volume 3 Issue 6.

Saturday, April 21st

11:30-2:00

Sweet Gum Shelter

Palmetto Islands County Park**

Long Point Road, Mt. Pleasant

Bring your own picnic lunch and enjoy the community of like-minded families!

Call Lori Isaacs with questions 971-5133

**Admission to the park is $1/person or free with a Charleston County Parks pass.

Healthy communication serves as a vehicle to transfer our thoughts, emotions, feelings, and ideas. We must work to perfect the communication skills that bring legitimacy to our words and willingness on the part of our preteens to listen to us. Below are seven suggestions to help improve your parent-preteen communication.

Different Genders, Different Needs

A number of years ago, my mentor Dr. Fred Barshaw gave me some insights when it comes to communicating with sons. I needed his insights. He had sons and no daughters and we had daughters and no sons. His insights have proven to be helpful ever since. One has to do with communication and gender differences.

When attempting to correct a situation through communication, adolescent boys tend to feel more comfortable with indirect conversation. That is, instead of sitting down face to face, go outside and work on the fence, tune up the car, or go to the workshop and finish painting the screens. When working on a common task together, sons tend to listen without feeling threatened and tend to commit themselves to change more readily than if you sat on a couch, face to face and talked through an issue.

Adolescent girls are just the opposite. They tend to feel more comfortable with direct conversation. That is, they seek face to face, heart to heart dialogue. In fact, if Mom said, “Here is the dish towel. You dry, I’ll wash, and we’ll talk about your troubling attitude toward your brother,” the daughter would be less receptive than if they both sat together and talked face to face.

Remember these handy truths. Adolescent girls like direct focusing attention, adolescent boys tend to respond better to parental criticism by the indirect method. Getting the point across is the goal, not conforming your child to a method.

By: Gary Ezzo