All About Families, May 20, 2007 </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" link="CC0033" alink="#FF3366" vlink="#990000" text="#000000"> <table cellspacing="10" border="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td align="center" colspan="2"> <img src="current_title.gif" height="87" width="473" alt="All About Families"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="125"> <a href="./"><img src="home.gif" vspace="3" alt="Home Page" border="0"></a> <a href="previous.html"><img src="previous.gif" vspace="3" alt="Previous Issues" border="0"></a> <a href="subscribe.html"><img src="subscribe.gif" vspace="3" alt="Subscribe" border="0"></a> <a href="message.html"><img src="mb.gif" vspace="3" alt="Message Board" border="0"></a> </td> <td> <center>  Volume 12 Number 3 <img src="current.gif" width=125 height=35 border=0>   May 20, 2007  Norman Bales, Editor </center>  <h3>CONTENTS</h3> <ul> <li><a href=#visit> JUST VISITING</a> <li><A href=#feature>FEATURE ARTICLE: Book Review: The Pocket Guide for Parents by Mr. Jim </a> <A name="visit"</a> <center><h4>Just Visiting</h4></center> As the saying sometimes goes here in Louisiana, we're up to our ears in alligators. We have a book contract with a deadline coming up in a few weeks. We asked the publisher to consider an extension, but "extension" doesn't seem to be in the publisher's vocabulary, so we're committed to deliver the manuscript within the mandated time frame. Writing a book is time consuming, resource consuming, and attention consuming. Some things get pushed to the side for a while. There are some things that can't be pushed aside - cars break down; we have to make visits to the doctor's office; and our bodies still require food. We're writing in the area of marital relationships. You'll hear about the specifics in due time. The process of fitting the rest of our lives into a writing schedule tests our ability to actually observe the principles we're advocating. I think of a certain Biblical text: "Physician, heal thyself comes to mind. As the weeks have turned into months, we've come to realize how much our general reading suffers. It's hard to read and write at the same time. From time to time we've published book reviews. This time we yield to our son Jim, who is a children minister and works hard at providing resources for parents. Norman <center>* * * * * </center> <center>Book Review: The Pocket Guide for Parents</center> by Mr. Jim I just got a copy of a little book called "The Pocket Guide for Parents: Praying with & for Your Kids" from Bethany House Publishers. What a practical book! If (or should I say "when") you struggle with teaching your kids to pray--this book has some terrific tools for you. If or when you struggle with how to pray FOR your kids---again there are some very practical ideas and tools here. My favorite thing about this book is that there are actual prayers already written waiting for you to use. One set is for you and your kids to pray together as you model prayer with them. The next set is for you as a parent to pray over your kids as they deal with growing up and life issues. The last set is "Scripture Prayer" adapted specifically for you to bathe (dare I say baptize) your kids in prayer through God's Word. John Laidlaw sums it up this way, "The main lesson about prayer is just this: <center>Do it! Do it! Do it!"</center> Here's the link to check out this cool book at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Guide-Parents-Praying-Your/dp/0764202243/ref=sr_1_1/102-1597264-4077739?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175721975&sr=1-1 Blessings to you as you grow and your kids grow to be prayer warriors! <center>* * * * * </center> If you have questions about marriage and family relationships, you can "ASK THE COUNSELOR." Address your questions to Mikal Frazier. Her address is <a href="mailto:mikal@allaboutfamilies.org">mikal@allaboutfamilies.org</a> Norman's e-mail address: <a href="mailto:nlbales@allaboutfamilies.org">nlbales@allaboutfamilies.org</a> Tell your friends they can subscribe by sending a blank message to <a href="allaboutfamilies-subscribe@welovegod.org>subscribe@welovegod.org</a>. If you would like to be taken off this newsletter mailing list please send a blank message to <a href="allaboutfamilies-unsubscribe@welovegod.org"> unsubscribe@welovegod.org</a> Southern Hills Church of Christ 9080 Southwood Drive Shreveport, Louisiana 71118 (318) 686-2190 E-mail: Norman Bales: Norman's e-mail address: <a href="mailto:nlbales@allaboutfamilies.org">nlbales@allaboutfamilies.org</a> Ann Bales: <a href="mailto:ann@allaboutfamilies.org">ann@allaboutfamilies.org</a> Mikal Frazier: <a href="mailto:mikal@allaboutfamilies.org">mikal@allaboutfamilies.org</a> "Jim Bales"<a href="mailto:jbales@prcoc.org">jbales@prcoc.org</a> Web:<a href=mailto.allaboutfamilies.org/>allaboutfamilies.org</a> <a href=mailto:allaboutfamilies.org/sh>allaboutfamilies.org/sh</a>