"... lived faith..."

I'm not going to highlight all the good stuff in this book. There's too much!

quotes from Children Matter:

"At the beginning of Deuteronomy 6, Moses places before the people the challenge of passing on their faith, a lived faith, from generation to generation..." (p. 32) I like the phrase "a lived faith."

Here's a "what if": ["live" as in "alive"] If live observation, interaction, and communication between individuals in groups of people disappears from the earth can the church survive generation to generation? Can faith survive? Maybe it's a miracle that faith survives from generation to generation despite all our personal interactions . . . but it does.

The authors also draw our attention to the significance of what they call the juxtaposition between Deut. 6 verses 4-9 and verses 10-12. Though the Israelites are commanded to teach this living faith to their children throughout their daily lives as they're wandering through the desert, Moses fears for Israel facing good times when a life of plenty is handed to them. The authors continue, "When we feel self-sufficient, we often let God drift to the periphery of life; we continue to give God an hour or two on Sunday mornings, but the rest of our lives have little in them to stimulate the faith questions of our children." (p. 35) That's the profound part "...our lives have little in them to stimulate the faith questions of our children ..." (It's worth reading the scripture foundations they highlight leading into this discussion.)

Maybe I'm engaged in ministry or maybe I'm engaged in work that isn't "church" centered - either way, I believe I'm doing exactly what God wants me to do . What's the focus of my heart, mind, strength, conversation? What do I talk about when I wake up, walk, ride in the car, sit around the dinner table, say goodnight? What are the things in my life and the life of my faith community that stimulate the faith questions of children - children asking questions about a "living faith" that's happening right in front of their eyes?

These authors are asking the important questions! And a book like this will probably be a timeless treasure because they give us foundations that don't change and they ask questions that have to be asked and answered generation after generation if we, as a faith community teaching our children to walk with God, are going to stay focused on loving the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength and loving our neighbor as ourselves .

Bravo!