Family

Avoiding The Ultimate Family Marathon

Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts
4 Jan 2023
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family

Have you ever felt like you are on a family reality show? That there are just too many family and parenting responsibilities, and it is impossible to get them all done? There must be a hidden camera somewhere in the house just waiting to film you as you crack under the pressure. In fact, by the way you hear your children talk to each other, it sounds as if they are about to vote each other off the island. “I can’t get my children to talk nicely to each other let alone take care of each other,” one mother confessed. […]

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My Best Christmas

Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts
12 Dec 2022
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best christmas

My best Christmas recollection as a child actually began on summer vacation. I was about eight years old, and my dad and I were walking through the tourist village where we were vacationing. I saw a pair of red, knit slippers with fake leather soles and Indian beads on top. They were those ugly slippers that were basically thick socks with a sole sewn on so you could walk outside. I repeat, ugly! My Best Christmas When I saw them, I said to my dad, “I bet mom would like those,” thinking he would spend the eight dollars and get […]

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A Message from the Front Lines of Child Welfare

Kevin Enders
7 Dec 2022
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As a part of the Christian community here in South Florida, I would imagine you’ve likely heard the name “4KIDS” over the years. Since 1997, 4KIDS has been changing the lives of kids and families in crisis. In fact, this year we’re celebrating 25 years and over 30,000 lives impacted!   God is at work for the vulnerable What I would also imagine is that you likely aren’t accustomed to hearing the latest stories and updates that come straight out of our community’s vulnerable population of children and families and how God is using His people to change those lives […]

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child welfare

I Remember Mother in a Special Way

Newton Fairweather
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mother

It was around 5 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning when the thought came to me to share with you one of the most important persons in my life that I am thankful for.  You see, there is a hole in my heart, yet there is joy in my heart. This was a day I knew would come but did not look forward to. As a believer in Christ, I knew that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” Nevertheless, knowing that reality is one thing, and experiencing it is another. Let me tell you what […]

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Are Family Traditions Important?

Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts
8 Nov 2022
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We are heading into a season of opportunity. For some families Thanksgiving and Christmas can help define who they are. For others these holidays are little more than eating and expense. Where do family traditions fit in? Traditions might just be the most important part of this holiday season. In fact, Tevye, in “Fiddler on the Roof,” kept singing that traditions were the signposts that kept a family going in difficult times. Where did our traditions go? For some reason many homes left the traditions at grandma’s house. Traditions are the repetitive activities that can help children feel as if […]

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family traditiions

Father Knows Best

Omar Aleman
7 Nov 2022
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father

“Kids rarely listen to their parents but seldom fail to imitate them.” Those words were on my mind shortly after the completion of our Tuesday night Bible study. That, in turn, shifted my attention to a very talented songwriter, singer and storyteller who left us during his prime. As talented as Harry was, it was difficult for his songs to be played on AM rock stations, since they were mostly stories that expanded beyond the usual 3 to 4-minute recording. They included such hits as “Taxi,” “A Better Place to Be” and “Mr. Tanner.” His most popular recording, released in […]

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It’s Not About the Election. It’s About Training Leaders!

Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts
17 Oct 2022
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As we head into the primaries every eye is on candidates. This is important!  The election of a leader is very important, and we should all be involved. Having said that let me also say that what is really important is not the next leader, but leadership. Training Leaders We need to be training leaders. We can’t elect and then sub-contract out the leadership of our future to an elected official. We need to be leaders, and we need to train tomorrow’s leaders. It’s the job of every parent to train their children to become leaders rather than followers. No […]

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training

First Priority, 4KIDS and Saints Celebrate 25 Years of Ministry

Shelly Pond
5 Oct 2022
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first priority

In school, at home and on the field, three important South Florida ministries have been reaching kids with the love of Christ for 25 Years. First Priority of South Florida shares the gospel with students at public school clubs, then equips them to reach their campuses for Christ. 4KIDS began in response to the foster care crisis, providing hope for kids in crisis with the vision of a home for every child. And Saints Homeschool P.E., founded by Coach Rick Andreassen, ministers to the heart of the child through sports, embodying the slogan “Where Jesus is Lord and Every Child […]

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Fall, All Things Pumpkin and Back to School

Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts
8 Sep 2022
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It’s no secret that fall is my absolute favorite season.  In college I had the opportunity to live in a state that experienced all the beautiful changes that fall brings with it.  It starts with a chill in the air at night, then you can see the leaves begin to turn.  In South Florida, we open the season by celebrating with all things pumpkin and enjoying the humidity starting to lift.  We love the opening of football season and focus on “back to school rhythms.”    Cycles So many areas of scripture point to the fact that God has created […]

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pumpkin