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Posts Tagged ‘kids’

How To Read Bible Stories And Not Scare The Hell Out Of Kids?

Posted in Bible, christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , , on April 20, 2026|

by Mike Edwards

I am not one to often recommend Bible stories. See Here my rants AGAINST the Bible. But, my wife found such a book that I felt comfortable recommending my kids read to my grandkids. She doesn’t have the same views of the Bible that I do. I really liked The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible

I wrote in the front of the Book a suggestion to explain to my grandchildren in ways they can understand before reading. I grew up in the institutional church for decades and this perspective was never shared with me.

Keep in mind Bible stories aren’t always literal stories but the writer used a short simple story to teach a moral lesson or truths about God. Or to illustrate ideas about life, behavior, or values. For example, the New Testament include parables – such as the Good Samaritan which teaches about kindness and helping others. It doesn’t matter if the story really happened.

(There really weren’t talking snakes in the Garden)

(God doesn’t really keep unbelievers alive and torture by fire after death. See 12 Reasons To Believe Hell Is A Myth!)

We don’t have to know if the story is literal. Explain to your children the differences in stories. Instead of the writer stating the lesson directly, the story lets you figure it out. That is the fun part of reading Bible stories to children. Ask questions of your children “what do you think God or the Bible is trying to teach us?”

Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like

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Being Kids Forever

Posted in christian living, tagged , , , , , , , , on August 12, 2015| 7 Comments »

I am sure those of you who are parents have noticed how we like to keep our kids under our control? Maybe not necessarily control, but we like for them to depend on us.

For my wife and me, when the kids were in the seven and eight year old range it seemed to be the perfect time. They were old enough to do things on their own, yet they still depended on us and wanted to spend time with us.

kidsparentsAs time went on, they became more independent and wanted to be with their friends. As parents, we kind of dread this time. Even though we want to see our kids grow up and become self-sufficient adults, we always enjoy the thought of those days when they depended on us.

As parents, we want to mentally keep our kids at that age when we felt the love and dependence, and knowing they wanted to be with us. I’ve seen this in my grandmother and the way she talked and treated my mom. I saw my mom treat me the same way and I realize I am feeling the same way about our kids. I know our kids will one day feel the same about their kids. I guess no matter how old we get, we will always see our kids as those seven or eight year olds who depend on us and enjoy our company.

I’m sure our Father is the same way, He likes for us to depend on Him and look to Him for answers, comfort and fellowship. Yet we tend to want our independence, we want to do it our way.

The difference is that in our world it is natural and good for kids to grow up and become independent. In the spiritual world, we can actually stay kids forever. Children of God can look to their Father for love and comfort, someone to listen and is genuinely concerned for us. We can always depend on Him and enjoy his fellowship.

childlike faith

Staying a kid is not to say we should remain childish, but childlike. Being childish, according to answers.yahoo.com, is behaving badly,  produces tantrums, is annoying and merely ignored. Being childlike is a positive. Being childlike is innocent, trusts easily, fearless, powerful, not afraid to fail and inquires with a pure heart.

We are told in Mark 10 that anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. Kids are trusting. They look to their parents thinking we know it all and anything we say is true. They do not think about what we say, they just accept it and do it. If we as children of God could be as trusting of our Father as our young kids are of us.

God is always there to listen, comfort, love, teach and enjoy our time together. He has provided all we need to have a relationship with Him and we can enjoy being His children forever.

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