Purposeful Parenting

Going for Broke

We all want was is best for our kids but what does purposeful parenting look like in practice?

Follow the creator of Anton’s Antics’ as he negotiates the challenges of being a parent.

“The blog's slogan started off as a joke between my wife and I, as it can be tough making ends meet and parenting is not easy. I want to hear Jesus say ‘well done, good and faithful servant’ with what He has entrusted to me. We have to go for broke don’t we?

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Disciplining kids: What's your greatest mistake?

Details: Created: Wednesday, 14 February 2018 15:01

paren tfrustrated I didn’t see it coming, but I should have. Why is it that I was so blind sighted?

What was it and how can it help parent or lead your kids?

I’ll get to that in a jiffy, first we need to get the baseline right.

GRACE.

Like all siblings, my kids can grate on each other, irritate and squabble like…well, like I did when I was a kid with my siblings.

They’re human and subject to human weaknesses.

The first thing we must accept is the fall of humanity. We no longer live up to our ideal. We fail in many ways. In fact, the Bible says, before we are ‘born again’ we are given over to a depraved mind, one that is bent on self-autonomy and disobedience (Romans 8). This ‘depravity’ can be willful, arrogant, fist high in the air like Hitler, or it can be private, under the radar and ‘I don’t even know why I don’t like the name of Jesus, but I just don’t’.

Even with the Holy Spirit behind us, as we are being ‘remade’ into Christ’s better image of humanity, we still fail. Knowing this is true of our lives as parents, it also should lend us to be gracious, compassionate and perseverant with our kids (and spouse, though I have little to complain about on that count. But I’m not asking if it’s reciprocated!)

So, there’s the baseline. GRACE. We all need Jesus, the great high priest. We and our kids fail in many ways.

When it’s OK to spare the rod

Doesn’t mean spare the ‘rod’, however.

But in this case, I did spare the ‘rod’ because it was my dumb fault for not seeing it coming and not providing reasonable steps to avoid the clear and present danger that would be caused by my in inaction.

What was this inexcusable passivity of mine?

7 Tips for making regular Bible reading with your kids a success

Details: Created: Tuesday, 06 February 2018 17:21

kidreadingbibleblog It’s hard enough just keeping up with all the meals, housework, school work, sports and being the kid’s taxi service that regular Bible reading with our kids can easily fall by the wayside.

Most of us know it’s a good idea and feel it might be our responsibility but don’t know where to start, have tried and given up or need some fresh inspiration.

With the new year well and truly upon us, I thought it timely to lay down some of the best tips we’ve found as a family, for creating and maintaining regular Bible reading and prayer (family devotion time).

Note, some of these could easily deserve much greater detail, but here’s my...

7 point ‘cheat sheet’ making regular Bible reading and prayer with your kids a success:

UPDATE: Since posting this I also went LIVE on FB taking these 7 points even further so be sure to check out the Extra Bonus material on the video here!

1. Start early and make a habit of it because young kids LOVE routine

It’s never too soon to start. We prayed with our kids while they were in the womb. We wanted to start the habit early with the intention of continuing it. Playing Christian hymns and other contemporary music and singing along to it also got some neat reaction from some of our little womb dwellers too.

While reading to very young children (under 18 months) is limited, that is, they started crying, crawl off (tough audience!) or just such and slobber on the edge of the book, I still think the habit of reading to them and praying with them, albeit very, very short, is worthwhile. Remember one day they will stay for the whole story. One day they’ll say ‘amen’ just to copy you. Habits are cool and young kids LOVE habits and ritual. So, use that to God’s glory. Pray out loud while they are in the womb.

Bonus tip: Aim for 1-2 minutes tops. Try a bath tub Bible story (that can get wet) with just pictures and no words. You supply the drama. Pray aloud while you’re bathing them if you like! They’re sometimes chilled at that time. But not all!

2. Nothing works forever, so be ready to change gears FAST!

Just when you think you’ve nailed it or you’re onto something that’s working, BAM! It no longer works and your confidence in judging what works and what doesn’t is shattered.

How to Rethink Easter Outreach

Details: Created: Saturday, 27 January 2018 11:25

In Australia we are just waking up from the comatose state of summer holidays.

As the summer holidays come to an end we grudgingly drag ourselves out of the post-holiday blues and try desperately to resurrect our weekly habits, church structures and ministries that will carry us through until late December.

Easter is not something we really want to think about, right now.

So, every year we blow it.

Every year we let it pass through to the keeper, squandering ‘outreach gold’.

Easter is a better moment than Christmas, more reflective. Less going on. A time where people who don’t normally come to church, quite possibly will.

So, I was very excited to see some friends of mine in the States cracking on with the task of assisting churches make the most of Easter for outreach.

I wanted to share FREE access with you to a series of videos that will get your church into shape for Easter outreach and beyond.

How NOT to holiday next time

Details: Created: Monday, 22 January 2018 15:02

What’s the last thing you pack for a holiday?

What’s the thing you easily forget?

I reckon it would be my toothbrush. You’ve got to leave it out till you’ve used it one last time before you go.

Or it could be my pajamas. I must sleep in them and it’s all too easy to get up, get dressed and leave them behind instead of packing them in the suitcase.

In both cases I fully intend to take them. I’ve even added them to my packing list now, so I don’t forget them. With one last check of that list before I leave and lock the door, I can quickly sigh, thank my list and run back to my room and grab the toothbrush or the pj’s.

On that list for my holiday suitcase might also be some reading material, hat, sunnies and of course my travelling coffee kit. A holiday with bad coffee is a bad holiday. But Something that may not even get on the list is one’s Bible. One’s prayer list. Unless you put it on that list too.

The Bible and prayer list are probably the things that get skipped on most people’s list for a holiday.

Why is it so easy for me to drop this habit?

You see it’s holidays and holidays are meant to be time to liberate ourselves from all routines. Poo-Poo anything that vaguely resembles the mundane routines of the non-holiday life.

7 Ways to Beat the Post Holiday Blues

Details: Created: Tuesday, 16 January 2018 10:50

Getting back on the horse after a break is often not easy.

Some of us never get a break, hello mums! But the vacation provides at least a break in routine.

Some of us love our jobs and find holidays an intrusion. Some of us just love holidays (Anton!). Most of us work because we must, not necessarily in jobs we love. Some of us are in Christian ministry and that can be very stressful. The thought of cranking up another year…all those kid’s clubs, all those small groups, all those camps, oh and by the way, we need to start planning the Christmas carols event again…in February! Yep, hello new year.

Coming off the holiday or Christmas vacation can be brutal. My family just got back a week ago and I got sick straight up, barely making it out of bed for a couple of days when we returned…at least there was cricket to watch. But that return home left us low. Like we were on some emotion-muting drug.

A friend of my wife who is also a psychologist posted some helpful tips on Facebook recently to help people deal with the let down of coming off holidays. I thought I’d share them and encourage you with one of my own thoughts.

I've also shared some personal reflections with my subscribers, so if you want to be part of that, just hit subscribe on this page.

7 Ways to Beat the Post-Holiday Blues

Practice helpful self-talk such as not dwelling on what has come to an end. Instead remind yourself that it will come around again
Consider how you might feel good at times when you are working again
Remind yourself that it’s not black and white, that is, holidays are awesome and works sucks or I can only relax on holidays.
Practice gratitude
Connect socially face to face with family and friends and appreciate them
Practice ’mindfulness’: Five things you can see. Four things you can feel. Three things you can hear. Two things you can smell. One thing you can taste
Reduce alcohol intake. Cut back on the food and increase whole foods.

Finally, I want to add my own…Scripture.

I want to dwell more on in my next posts.

In essence, dwelling on God’s word is an essential, crucial ingredient to beating the post-holiday blues. Often we can let the reading of scripture and prayer slide off the menu in vacations and that only deepens the ‘blues’ or let down of coming back off holidays.

Christmas video course special (limited time) offer

Details: Created: Tuesday, 19 December 2017 12:13

Looking to save time but do something fun and different that will teach kids the Christmas message?

Low on leaders this Christmas holidays?

Wanting something for your kids to watch, do and learn from on their ipads that will entertain and stretch them this Christmas?

Anton’s Star Struck Christmas Video Course is here!

Star Struck has existed as a live show for many years.

It’s also been a very popular sticker story for quite a while too.

Now it’s a comprehensive video course with support resources that will make any parent happy and any leader an instant star!

Star Struck Video Course follows on from (and includes) our recent parent training video:

"Shine a Fresh Light on the Old Christmas Story: Move Your Kids from Jealousy to Joy"

Now with the new video course you and your kids can go further into God's word with awesome features such as:

-Star Struck Feature Video

-Shine A Light Music Videos (with and without lyrics, Bonus kids vocal version)

- Teacher resource kit

-Kid’s activity pages

-Song audios and lyric pages

-Parent training video

-and more…

You can check out all the details on the landing page for the course right here:

Anton's Star Struck Video Course

You can even watch a short preview of the Feature video for kids right there on the course landing page!

The course will be offered with almost 40% discount until December 21st, 2017.

So, don't delay and turn up the joy in your Christmas with Anton's Star Struck Video Course

Stephen (aka Anton)

PPS: Please note that you can alsobuy Skito's 'Shine a Light' song from other outlets, such as Amazon, Google as well as iTunes. So get among the fans, be an early adopter for your kids and start listening to some refreshingly fun, beats in your home, car or ministry.

PPS:Don't miss out on the early discount for the Star Struck video course here

Merry Christmas from Anton, Stephen and Skito!

Out Now! Fresh Christmas music for kids

Details: Created: Friday, 15 December 2017 08:38

I’m super excited.

I love bringing Christian ministry to kids back into the home.

We’ve done that together with our deep dive training video, Shine a Light on the Old Christmas Story.

You’ve also been introduced to rapper, Skito, the third character of Anton’s Antics and his brand new music video for kids, Shine a Light

Make sure you’ve shown your kids the music video Shine a Light today!

WATCH SHINE A LIGHT MUSIC VIDEO

Please also share this music video with your friends so they can grab the song for their kids and start equipping their kids to move from jealousy to joy not just at Christmas time but as a life long skill.

The song is now officially released so do your kids a service this Christmas and go straight to iTunes now and get your copy of Shine a Light!

P.S. In a day or two I’ll be giving you heads up about getting access and a great early bird discount to the ‘Star Struck’ video course that you can use this Christmas or over the holidays.

P.P.S Here’s that link again to buy ‘Shine a Light’ for your kids on iTunes

Beat the ‘joy suckin’ monkey’ of social media

Details: Created: Tuesday, 12 December 2017 09:53

fresh light on christmas account from bible We all know but hate to admit that dark feeling of jealousy that creeps into our lives when someone else does better than we do.

In Australia it’s practically a national sport to do whatever it takes to prevent anyone from shining brighter than ourselves. Called ‘Tall poppy syndrome’, Australian’s do not believe anyone should rise above their ‘station’. When someone triumphs, we look the other way or worse, tear their achievement down. I know, it sounds horrible in print doesn’t it? But that’s the truth. Shine bright in your achievements…but please do it in the privacy of your bedroom!

Occasionally, we like to think we can celebrate other’s achievements. Generally, we don’t celebrate our achievers until the rest of the world does. We don’t champion them, but roll our eyes and think, ‘who do they think they are!’ But when American says this person is amazing…wow…we go ‘of course…and she’s from Australia did you know…and I went to school with her…’. No wonder everyone with an inch of success winds up in the States. It’s unbearable to want to succeed and actually succeed.

Social media all stars

Social media has turned us all into stars, as we plaster our digital walls with all our latest vanities, waiting for likes, hearts and retweets. So instead of a few undercelebrated Aussies, we know have 20 million of them, all waiting for recognition, acceptance, validation and praise.

The constant comparison that we can’t help but make as we scroll our feeds inevitably leads to a general depletion in joy and rise in the dark art of jealousy.

Our kids are growing up in this environment where comparison is not just at school or Saturday sport, but 24/7, virtual and potentially viral.

How can we help our kids beat the joy suckin’ monkey of social media?

By Shining a Fresh Light on the Old Christmas Story!

Herod would have loved social media.

But I reckon he would have controlled it, a bit like North Korea does.

Right now, you can get FREE access for a few more days to my very special parent/ministry leader training video that’s all about the Christmas account from Matthew’s gospel chapter 2.

It's called: 'Shine a Fresh Light on the Old Christmas Story'

I’ll show you how we can shine a fresh light on the old Christmas story and beat that joy suckin’ monkey off our kids’ backs.

But you’ll have to hurry, the video will be coming down and form part of a paid course real soon.

PS: At the end of the video, you'll find our first ever music video for your family to reinforce the key teaching.

So make sure you catch the video, Here’s the link again:

Shine a Fresh Light on the Old Christmas Story

Merry Christmas

Stephen (aka Anton)

PS: Shortly I'll be in touch with more info about where to get the song and the paid video course that I mention in the free training video.

Shine a Fresh Light on the Old Christmas Story

Details: Created: Thursday, 07 December 2017 12:10

Shine a Fresh Light on Christmas We live in a world of constant comparison, exacerbated by social media. The impact on our kids can be devastating.

But the old Christmas story exposes the heart of the problem and it isn't Twitter or Facebook.

That's why I'm stoked to be able to share with you a brand new, valuable video to help you as a parent or leader this Christmas.

It's called: 'Shine a Fresh Light on the Old Christmas Story'

Take a moment or two to dive into the Scriptures with me so I can show you how illuminating the account of Herod and the Wise Men is for tackling the problem of jealousy.

Your kids will directly benefit from your leadership, as you dwell on this account with me and share it with them. But best of all, I'm going to make it super easy for you!

At the end of the video, you'll find our first ever music video for your family to reinforce the key teaching.

I really hope and pray that many families and ministries benefit from the training. My passion is to see kids develop a faith in Jesus that encourages them walk away from the path of self absorption and constant comparison. We want them to look up and ahead to the Lord who 'liked' them instead.

But make sure you watch it soon as the training video will be taken down shortly and become part of a paid video course.

If you'd like to share the training video with a friend, here's the link to the access page:

Shine a Fresh Light on the Old Christmas Story

PS: Shortly I'll be in touch with more info about where to get the song and the paid video course that I mention in the free training video.

Struggling to get helpers over the Christmas holiday period?

Details: Created: Friday, 01 December 2017 11:19

Pretty soon Anton’s got a special announcement to make with some cool videos that are going to make a huge difference to your family and ministry this Christmas! So, make sure you open the next few emails.

Last time we looked at the challenges we face to make Christmas services engaging for kids, especially when there’s not going to be any kid’s program.

Parents might also wonder, what, if anything, should they be doing to teach the Christmas accounts in the home. Surely Christmas is too crazy, and the church can look after it, right? Can’t we just down tools for this busy season?

But here’s your next problem…what do you do over the holiday weeks that follow when everyone’s taking a break and there’s no helpers to run a kid’s program?

Plus, if parents don’t go to church…shock horror, yes it does happen, what can they be doing in the home to encourage their kids to reflect on the Christmas accounts in the Bible?

Here’s the easy solution:

Anton’s Sticker Stories make a complete lesson that eliminate the need for a team of helpers.