Everyday Talk: Talking Freely and Naturally about God with Your Children

In recent weeks I have been attempting to make my way through some of the Shepherd Press catalog of books. Many of the titles and some of the authors were unfamiliar to me. Yet it seems that every time I read one of these titles I unearth some new treasure. Books like Polishing God's Monuments and When Sinners Say "I Do" have blessed me greatly, have stirred my heart and have strengthened my faith. So it was with some expectation that I turned to Everyday Talk by John Younts, another selection from the Shepherd Press catalog. Everyday Talk is, according to the subtitle, a book about "Talking Freely and Naturally about God with Your Children. With my children often asking about God and with my wife and I trusting that God will, in time, lead them to Himself, I was eager to receive guidance on how I can speak to them in spiritually meaningful ways. While many books focus in on the few moments in life where you can make a deep and immediate impact on your children--those moments when they come to you broken and hurt and questioning life--this book focuses instead on the other moments. It focuses on the myriad moments and the millions of words that are doubtlessly among the primary influences on your children. As the author says, "The most powerful personal influence in your child's life is everyday talk." Reflecting on Deuteronomy 6 he writes, "Your everyday comments are the ones that teach your children most profoundly about your view of God. Your interaction with God in everyday, ordinary, non-church life is the most powerful tool of influence that you have with your children. It communicates what you really believe." Younts discusses the importance of talking to children about God everyday and in every way, offering practical ways of doing that. Though certainly not a how-to book, it is practical and creative. As the back cover states, the reader will "learn how to use ordinary conversations to show your kids the goodness and wisdom of God. With clear biblical teaching, John Younts illustrates how to lead your children into a greater awareness of the presence and glory of God." Reflecting on the book a week or so after finish it, I think I found it most helpful in dealing with the subject of obedience. As the parents of three young children, my wife and I often struggle with this issue. We want our children to obey us and to do so with joy rather than anger or unwillingness. We want to teach them the importance of obedience. We know that we have sometimes done very well with this and at other times have done poorly and are seeking to do better--to be more consistent. Younts teaches that "the goal of your instruction is not only to [for example] have the garbage taken out, but also, primarily, to teach your children the joy of obeying God." It is pleasant words that promote instruction, and not angry or undignified ones. Looking at the example of God's patience with the people of Israel, I learned that I need to stay the course, remaining kind

Prepare to be challenged and convicted about what we teach our children about God by the way we talk in every day life! In his own inimitable style, Younts challenges and convicts through real-life examples familiar to us all, but he doesn't leave us there. He gives us biblical hope for change by giving us everyday examples of how we can, in the 21st century, be biblically obedient to the Deuteronomy 6 command to teach our children about God as we ". . . sit at home and when (we) walk along the road, and when (we) lie down and when (we) get up . . ." - everyday talk about God in everyday life. I can't wait for his next book!

Be prepared to be challenged! This book is easy-to-read, conversational, and gives practical ideas on how to talk to your children about God in everyday situations. It is an enjoyable book, and I consider it a must read for every parent, young or old! You cannot read this book without being challenged and inspired to change.

It is rare that I find a book which describes a pertinent problem, illustrates it and then clearly outlines its solution, but Younts does this deftly in his new book, EVERYDAY TALK. Few would dispute that there are increasing problems with the youth in America today. The increasing crime and suicide rates, drug and alcohol problems, and teenage pregnancies are testimonials to the alienation from God and our fellow man that children are experiencing. As with every complex problem, the causes involved are varied and diverse. In dealing with such a pervasive and complex issue, these causes must be identified and fixed one at a time . In his work, Younts selects the aspect of everyday interaction with our children and clearly defines, with both explanation and example, how this impacts our children. Further, he then, by instruction and example, outlines ways for correcting the situation. As opposed to a list of rules, he gives us guidelines appropriate to any given situation. All who read this book will realize that following its precepts results in drawing closer to both God and man, and achieving the clear benefits derived from that. The instructions are outlined in a simple, clear and easy to understand manner. The precepts are not burdensome, but refreshing. This is not an ordinary, but an extraordinary volume; I would recommend it to anyone who interacts with youth in any capacity.

A great encouragment for parents. Younts uses Deut. 6 as the basis for encouraging Christian parents to talk to kids about God in the context of discussing everyday life. Easy to read.