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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring, Timely and Crucial!!, August 25, 2003
This review is from: Walking Tall in Babylon: Raising Children to Be Godly and Wise in a Perilous World (Paperback)
As a single parent of two children, one well on her way into the teenage years, I live in fear of the "education" she is getting on values and morality from our world. Even worse, I feel (and sound) like a broken record when I resort to lecturing my daughter about the evils of society. So, what can a concerned, frightened parent do to stem the influence of the world on their impressionable children and protect them from the resulting damage of acting on these influences? Connie Neal gives us a simple, straightforward strategy in this book. Her comparison of our society to ancient Babylon is chillingly fitting. While most Christian parents seek to isolate their kids from the evils of society, she illustrates why this is actually detrimental in its failure to prepare them for a world they will have to survive in. Her strategy of "arming children with the word of God" to protect themselves is a much more realistic and empowering approach, as Daniel's story eloquently demonstrates. I think it is crucial that parents realize that, while teaching the Word is very important, LIVING THE WORD WHILE TEACHING IT is what will really drive the message home (or sabotage it with hypocrisy). I use this realization daily as inspiration to be true to my faith. The only part of the book I struggle with is how EXACTLY to teach the Word. The Ten Commandments, Old Testament, New Testament, Biblical Morality lessons??? Where does an overwhelmed parent begin?? Perhaps Connie Neal will address this in a future book. Again, many thanks Connie, for writing an inspiring, challenging and practical call-to-action book for parents who often feel helpless to defend their children against the tide of toxic temptation dumped on them daily. Your strategy is the most effective defense I have seen by far. Bravo!!!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A long overdue perspective in Christian Parenting, October 10, 2003
This review is from: Walking Tall in Babylon: Raising Children to Be Godly and Wise in a Perilous World (Paperback)
Kudos to Connie Neal for providing a much needed course correction in Christian parenting. So many Christian parent books feature a bunker mentality of hiding our children the dangers of culture. Unforunately this "fortress-mentalilty" isn't developmentally accurate. There is no consideration for the stages of moral development that every human goes through. Every child will someday abandon our nests of protection. We must give them a shield to take with them that they call their own. Through story telling from her own parenting experiences, Connie paints a vision of a parent as coach. These parental coaches help children become equally verse in Biblical wisdom and "worldy" culture. The goal is that, like the young heroes n Babylon, today's Christian children will be able to navigate a pagan culture without being corrupted by it. Connie's vision for parenting transcends teaching children to merely survive culture. Connie sees a generation of Christian children with a Daniel-like ability to transform our culture. This book is an important first step in getting parents to set their sights higher. Children and Youth Pastor should grab this book and begin to wrestle with how their ministries can help parents build these competencies in their children. I highly recommend this book.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Invaluable Resource for Moms - and Dads!, September 1, 2003
This review is from: Walking Tall in Babylon: Raising Children to Be Godly and Wise in a Perilous World (Paperback)
American parents are tempted to two extreme positions in how to nurture their children. We tend to either 'shield and protect' our sons and daughters from the dangers of the world or 'expose and immerse' them for fear of they're not being prepared for the realities of modern life. Too often, I know, I've been guilty of trying to hit each end of this parenting spectrum simultaneously! As a homeschooling daddy of seven children, I lean to the 'shield and protect' ("wall yourself off!") side and overcompensate at times (camps! videos!)to be sure the older children aren't raised in a greenhouse, artificial environment. I have many friends with children in public and private schools who share with me their struggles to keep them safe and pure in a difficult environment so different than their homes. I recommend to these friends and my homeschooling cohorts that they read Connie Neal's brilliant guide to hitting the parenting bullseye, 'Walking Tall in Babylon.' Mrs. Neal has run the race as a parent, seen the errors of both ends of the parenting spectrum, and shares her biblically based roadmap for 'shooting the gap.' Her writing is engaging, lucid, and compelling; her advice is sober, friendly, and do-able. To her credit, she never preaches or patronizes her reader. Instead, I was delighted to read that she is not the perfect mommy (if justifiably delighted by her children and their character), just a Christian woman who hoped to share with me both her mistakes and insights to help me be a better parent. My wife and I have read 'Walking Tall' and it has played a big part in changes we are making and qualities we have retained in our 'unschooling' plans for the coming year with our brood. I know Mrs. Neal's advice will be just as helpful to parents with children in school, school-at-home, or even those in day or boarding schools. If you're a Mom or a Dad wanting to check your current parenting compass or road-map against a standard of 'true North', get a copy of 'Walking Tall in Babylon' today (and if you don't think you need to make a check, believe me, that's the best sign that you need to check it immediately!).
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