Every Roll Wins!

Posted on Mar 18, 2021 by Tyler Rody in Bible, Devotions, Family, Memory Verses, Pastor Tyler, Reading the Bible |

It’s a coffee drinker’s favourite time of year – Roll up the Rim to Win! That is, if you’re not too snobby for Timmy’s coffee. I love it even though I seem to have a knack for helping my friends win as more than I win. This year, they’ve switched to digital rim rolls. Now I know that it’s different and many people like the way it used to be, but honestly, this switch was inevitable and I like the rewards.
Rewards are powerful motivators. That’s why virtually every large company has some sort of reward system. Do you have rewards in your home? Would you reward your spouse or kids for doing regular tasks or their extraordinary effort?

Would you reward your kids for reading or memorizing the Bible?

I remember talking to a mom named Darcy about 12 years ago. She rewarded her kids with $1 for each verse they memorized.

This can be a wise investment. Giving monetary value to what we eternally value.

Some families choose not to reward their children for, what can be, regular Christian living and discipleship.

If you were to reward your kids financially as they invest in their spiritual growth, there’s some suggestions:

1) Pray

2) Be willing to follow through

3) Think about what motivates your kids – some kids like money, others like candy

4) Set a good example – this may be the most important key to making any reading or memory plan work.

5) Be strategic. Find or create a Bible Verse Chart. Use a Bible Reading Plan or choose a Bible at their Reading level.

6) Talk about what they’ve read: “Tell me about what you’ve read.” “What did you learn about God?” “Who did you read about today?” Reading along with them will help you discuss with your family.

In our house, using rewards has inspired my oldest son to read all of The Story NIV, 450 pages, in less than two months. I know Christian adults that haven’t opened their Bibles in 2 months. My other son loves candy, so he’s willing to memorize Psalm 23 for $2 in candy.

I also have a habit of taking my boys for a “coffee break” or “daddy day” once a month, one-on-one, and we will discuss our Bible reading and memory verses while we enjoy each other’s company.

To me, these are valuable investments in our families spiritual development. How do you encourage your kids to read their Bibles and memorize the Word of God? Let me know, email me: tylerlhac@hotmail.com

Psalm 119:11 – I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Deuteronomy 6

⁴Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^a] ⁵Love the Lordyour God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

The Jesus Storybook Bible

The Story for Kids – selections from the NIrV

The Story – selections from the NIV

Forget this, let’s plan for summer

Posted on Feb 12, 2021 by Tyler Rody in Bible Camp, Essentials, Family, Pastor Tyler |

Are you loving the ridiculously cold weather?

We had a great January with pleasant winter weather, but lately it’s been cold.

We don’t know what summer is going to look like with vaccines, policies, and all that jazz. But we DO know that summer is coming. So I’d encourage you to keep your eye on what the government tells us in the area of Bible Camps. If we plan our summer vacay and then camps open up, many people will not have time for Bible Camp. However, if we keep our plans flexible and our eyes on Bible Camp, we can adjust our plans and send kids to camp. Yahoo! Or better yet, we can take our whole family to Family Camp.

Why go to Bible Camp?

Campers get to basically experience church 5+ times in one week!
Campers get out of the house and get exercise
Campers get to socialize and bring friends
Campers have a week full of Christ-centeredness
It will be a life changing experience
It’s one of my 6 Essentials for Disciples who Walk with Jesus (now you’re wondering what the other 5 are…)
And lets be honest, it’s great to have our house a few decibels quieter

Why do you love camp?

Ranger Lake Bible Camp

Redberry Bible Camp

Camp Kadesh

Millar Edge Sports Camp

On another note, since it is cold, and this happens every year, make the most of it and invite some friends to your favourite sledding hill, skating rink or to your backyard. Or stay home and play a board game on Zoom with your friends after the kids go to bed. You can do it!

P.S. I’m in the process of getting the details for KidZone Fun Camp, July 19-23. iWonder what it will be 🙂

Pop Up Websites

Posted on Jan 29, 2021 by Tyler Rody in Family, Pastor Tyler, Technology |

We’ve had the unfortunate experience of having inappropriate content pop up on our computer. It’s not good, especially when my young boys are around.

The first time, we were looking for colouring sheets (we do that A LOT). And the second time was when my son was at school, his teacher was teaching from the Smart board, looking at some research and something popped up.

1) What do you do? Stay calm and don’t panic. It unfortunately happens to many people. Don’t blame the computer or get defensive.

2) How can you protect against it?

Get a family friendly router – we had one that could limit the time and content that devices were allowed to view. Bestbuy has a bunch to choose from. If you choose the Circle router, it has amazing features, but requires a subscription at some point
Keep computers and devices in public places
Don’t EVER let young kids take a phone to bed – you probably don’t want to know what age boys have their first experience with porn
All phones charge in a main room – not in bedrooms (parents included)
Set clear boundaries for screen time (no games/devices after supper, no devices in bedrooms, 1 hour a day, etc.)

3) Pray for your family each day – that they would be young men and women of purity

4) Brett Ullman has a video for parents on this and many other important topics – and they’re free!

Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

October 31 is almost here, yay!

Posted on Oct 29, 2020 by Tyler Rody in Family, General, Pastor Tyler |

After hosting a watch party for our Online Missions Conference, we’re definitely thinking about missions more than ever. As we look ahead to what’s next on the calendar, October 31st is right around the corner, and you know what that means? Reformation Day! Although that’s not the first thing anyone thinks of, its actually very very important.

Martin Luther wrote a thesis against the sale of indulgences and nailed to to the door of All Saints church in Wittenberg in 1517. At the time the Catholic Church and Pope had created a large sum of wealth from the sale of indulgences that would allow someone to go to heaven and/or get out of purgatory. Although they are unfortunately still for sale online.

Thanks to Martin Luther, the heresy of the Pope and the Catholic Church was exposed and people were able to discover that we are saved by God’s grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” — Romans 1:17 (NIV)

Today, we have an incredible opportunity to be thankful for salvation, teach that truth to our kids and our life networks, and celebrate and share the Good News that Jesus Christ changes lives forever.

How can we remember and celebrate Reformation Day without dressing up like Martin Luther for Halloween?

Listen to or Sing Martin Luther’s song A Mighty Fortress is Our God
Share the Good News with someone
Start or continue praying every day for a person that hasn’t found salvation in Christ yet
- - Ask your kids which friend they’d like to pray for and then plan on having them over to play at your house
Read Ephesians 2 with your family and memorize Ephesians 2:8-10 with them as well
Romans 5:1-2 is another great passage to read, and you could memorize Romans 5:1
Pray with your friends or family and ask God to reveal a person of peace, neighbour, or people group that we can share the Good News with

Take Me Back

Posted on Mar 5, 2020 by Tyler Rody in Church, Family, Pastor Tyler, Sermons, Worship |

What do you tell your kids when they ask, “Do we have to go to church?” Or “Why do we have to go to church?”

My response is, “We don’t have to go. God is good, he has saved us by his grace through Jesus, and we choose to worship him with the church.”

Christ established the church and it is God’s chosen vehicle for His kingdom mission.

Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

To the early church, “church” wasn’t a building. The Church is the gathered body of believers, both thought history and in local expressions, that assemble with the purpose to worship God, edify each other, and carry out his mission on earth.

“Fundamentally, the church of Jesus Christ is neither a building nor an organization. Rather, it is a people, a special people, a people who see themselves as standing in relationship to the God who saves them and to each other as those who share salvation.” (Gernz)

We were created to live in community, with other Christians, and worship God in the beauty of his holiness. And as we worship, we also gather together as one body, Christ’s church, to bring glory to His name together.

“We do not enter into a building and then commence to worship. If you are not worshipping God on Monday morning, as you worshipped him the day before, perhaps you are not worshipping him at all.” (A.W. Tozer, My Daily Pursuit, p.27)

The church isn’t perfect, its full of people who are saved by his grace who gather together to worship God. If you haven’t been to a church worship service, maybe it’s time to “go to church” – check out this song from Cochren & Co – Church (Take me back).

Taking Attendance

Posted on Feb 27, 2020 by Tyler Rody in Church, Devotions, Family, Pastor Tyler, Worship |

I recently heard someone say the average Christian family attends a Sunday worship service 1.5 times a month. A regular attender is someone who attends a worship service 2 times a month.

Do you agree with that stat? I hate stats, but I think this tells us something about the priorities of many Christians, even myself.

If we attend a worship service once a week, that would basically be 1 hour out of 168 hours in a week = 1/168. So 2/672 would be how much time an average Christian family attends church in a month.

If you sat down and plotted your attendance, what would it honestly be? Are you happy with that?

As I ponder these thoughts, there are two things that come to mind:

1) God Doesn’t Take Attendance

He doesn’t take attendance like a teacher who is looking for who is present. He doesn’t take attendance in such a way that we would get a credit or a grade for showing up. God desires us to follow him with out whole heart.

“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Matthew 22:37

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1

Our lives, lived out as a living sacrifice for God’s glory, is also extremely important was we aim to disciple our children and instruct them in the ways in which they can follow God.

You are the primary influence in your child’s life.

2) What’s the Point of a Church Worship Service?

I believe, first and foremost, we gather together on Sundays to worship the Lord God together. I can sit on my couch, turn up the Rend Collective and enjoy the Word of God. However, there is something special about meeting together to worship God. I think this might be the focus of my next post, but in the mean time, consider Hebrews 10:19-25:

19″Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Personally, for my own life, 1/168 is not enough! 4/672 is not enough either.

God fill me with your Holy Spirit today that I may walk with you, love my neighbours, and make disciples wherever you send me.

Switch it Up

Posted on Jan 31, 2020 by Tyler Rody in Family, Finances, Giving, Memory Verses, Pastor Tyler |

After Christmas, my boys seem quite motivated to save up their money to buy a Nintendo Switch. Jari has been trying to do some extra chores and memorize a few extra Bible verses so he can save.

They’ve also been to a few birthday parties in which the birthday boys just ask for money consistent with their age. So turning 9 would equal $9 per friend X 10 friends = $90.

While we were walking to the bus stop today, we had quite the interesting conversation about potential birthday money and how it relates to our memory verse of the day.

“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops” Proverbs 3:9

So we discussed, “If you received $90 from your birthday, how would we honour the Lord with our wealth?”

One response was, “If I have any money left over from buying the Switch, I could donate it to missions or the church.”

To which I responded, “But what’s the second part of the verse? It says, ‘first fruits.’ Think about that and we’ll talk later.”

We didn’t have time to finish the conversation, but I really look forward to discussing this more.

I’m thankful for this verse and the opportunity it opens for us to discuss our finances, giving generously and worshipping the Lord with all our heart.

5 Family Prayers for the New Year

Posted on Jan 7, 2020 by Tyler Rody in Family, KidZone, Pastor Tyler, Prayers |

For many of us, the New Year is a time for setting goals and making resolutions. Especially this year, as we flip the calendar on a new decade, the new year can feel like a fresh start—365 blank pages just waiting to be written. No matter what happened in 2019, we can move forward to 2020 with a renewed sense of purpose and passion for living the life God intended for us and our family.

The New Year can also be a time of looking back on all that God has done for us in the last year. Or for a year like 2020, the last decade. The relationships He has given us or restored, the opportunities He has provided, and the forgiveness He has extended. The way our children have grown and the way we have grown. When we take the time to look back, we can see God’s hand in all of it, even the hard things.

As we reflect on all that has happened in the last year and look forward to all that will happen in 2020, one of the best ways to start our year off right is with an intentional family prayer time together.

5 Prayers for the New Year

Thanksgiving for the Past

Before we pray for God’s hand on our new year, we can thank God for all that He did for us in 2019. As a family, make a list of all of the ways that God has worked in your lives this year, both the ways that He blessed you and ways that He challenged you. Thank God for all of it—the joys and the struggles.

Dear God, Thank You for all of the ways You worked in our lives in 2019. You have blessed us with good things, comforted us in hard times, and challenged us to grow more like Jesus every day. We know that even when we can’t see it or feel it, You are always working. Help us to look for Your hand in our lives every day and be thankful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1(NLT)

Vision for the Future

Just like many people make New Year’s resolutions, many families set goals for their family at the beginning of every year—anything from saving more money to arguing less to giving and serving more to having a regular family devotion. As a family, decide on a few goals for 2020 and pray for the Lord to help you meet those goals.

Dear God, Give us the strength to work on these goals for our family. If these are not the goals You have for us, give us Your vision for the future of our family. Help us to encourage each other to grow rather than criticize. Lord, change us from the inside out to be more like Jesus every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Put off your old self . . . be made new in the attitude of your minds, and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

Patience with One Another

So many of us seem to have the least patience with those in our families. We spend all day being kind and gracious to everyone else and when we get home, we lose it. Or it may be just because we are around them the most or because our family members really know how to push our buttons. As you enter the new year, pray for your family to have the same patience with each other that God has with you.

Dear God, Thank You so much for Your patience with us when we are not behaving as we should. Please forgive us for our impatience with each other. Fill us with Your love and kindness, so that we can be patient with one another no matter what is going on or how we are feeling. Help us to bear with each other in love and gentleness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Be completely humble and gentle. Be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)

Trust in God’s Protection and Provision

In so many ways, the world can seem like a scary place these days. Some of us don’t even feel safe sending our kids to school or to a friend’s house to play. We worry about finances, that we won’t be able to provide for everything our children want or need, or that we aren’t saving enough for retirement. And there is always a chance that one of us will get a sudden and scary diagnosis. Whether it’s physical safety, our family’s health, spiritual warfare, or financial security, we really can’t trust in our own strength to handle everything that may come our way in 2020. We have to rely on God’s protection and provision. As you enter the new year, pray for God’s protection and provision for your family, and pray for you to have faith to trust in Him.

Dear God, Thank You for all the ways You protect our family and provide for us. We know that You are in control and that You have us in the palm of Your hand. Lord, protect us from evil, keep our family safe, both physically and spiritually. Help us to trust in You to provide all that we need and not to worry about the rest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Generosity Toward Others

Over and over again in Scripture, God reminds us that we are blessed to be a blessing. We are put on this earth to love God and to love and serve others. Our families exist not just to love each other, but to love and serve the world. As we start the new year, turning your family’s hearts and minds outward to how you can be generous to others will help your family to develop God’s heart for His people and to live as Christ did. As a family, make a list of people you know who are in physical need, people who need Jesus, people who are hurting or scared or alone, and places you can serve others. Pray for those specific people and places and for God to show you how you can serve others every day.

Dear God, Thank You for sending Your Son to earth to serve. Give us a heart like His for Your people. Show us how we can serve others in our community. If anyone is sad or hurting, help us to show them love. If anyone is in physical need, show us how we can help. If anyone needs to know You, give us the words to tell them about You. Fill our hearts with a spirit of generosity and an attitude of service. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command – ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:13-14 (NIV)

There is nothing more important we can do for our families than to pray together. Praying with kids is one of the best ways to instill faith in them that will last a lifetime. No matter what 2020 holds for your family, if you pray together, keeping yourselves centered on God and His will for your family, it could be your best year yet.

– This post is from the Editorial Team at Minno Parents

What a Mess!

Posted on Nov 5, 2019 by Tyler Rody in Devotions, Family, Pastor Tyler, Reading the Bible |

Let’s just say that more than once I’ve looked around my house and thought – what a mess! How did it get so messy? And some days it seriously feels like I spend all day cleaning up after my boys. I know my house isn’t spotless, but I really like it when it’s close to tidy and the floor is clean. I know we should train our kids to clean up after themselves, but I’m still working on that and that will have to be a post for another day.

But there are some thing you should leave lying around. In many relationships, spouses may leave things lying around as hints for one another. What I’m talking about is what you should leave lying around for your kids or grandkids.

You should leave your Bible and Christian books lying around house. I don’t mean on the floor or stairs or right beside the stove; I mean you should leave these books in convenient spots.

1) When you keep their Bible and Christian books in convenient spots, it can make it easier to find and read at a moments notice. I’ve seen my boys just grab the closes book and ask, “Dad can you read this?” It almost doesn’t matter what the book is, they just grabbed it because it’s close.

2) When you keep your Bible in convenient spots, you are often more likely to read it. Plus, kids may also notice that you’re Bible is out and assume you’ve been reading it.

This is important because when parents read their Bibles kids are likely to follow your example. Not all the time, not every time, but there’s a reason my kids like to make coffee and donuts any time they’re near a play kitchen.

Modelling authentic faith is one of the most important things a parent can do to help their children discover faith for themselves.

There is one thing that is assumed in this post – that you have Christian books. If you don’t have much of a Christian book library for your kids, now is the time to start one.

a) Ask your friends what they recommend

b) Head to Kennedy’s Parable and let your kids pick a book. We do this during the Book Fair and I let them pick any book they want. I honestly don’t care if it’s a Berenstain Bears Christian book for $4.99 or the Indescribable Devotional Book for $21.99. It’s a wise investment – seriously!

Wondering what to read in the Bible?

Check out the F-110 New Testament Reading Plan for Kids or the F-260 Bible Reading Plan for Busy Believers – and keep a copy in your Bible so you can easily access it and post a copy on your fridge and in your reading spot