CaringResponses

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is  found in those who take advice.  Proverbs 13:10   WHEN AND HOW TO GO AND GET HELP As we learned in studying the slippery slope, there are three basic ways that you can respond to conflict. You can escape, you can attack, or you can work out your differences in a way that will glorify God. We learned many things that can help you resolve conflicts in a way that pleases the Lord. We have discussed: How you can stay on top of the slippery slope rather than slip into the escape or attack zones. (See blog entries for WEEK 3.) What conflict is and where it comes from. (See blog entries for WEEK 4.) The fact that your choices may cause or prevent most of your conflicts, and that you will receive either good or bad consequences depending on the choices you make. (See blog entries for WEEK 5.) How your conflicts give you an opportunity to glorify God by the way you treat other people. (See blog entries for WEEK 8.) The importance of makin...

Here are some fun activities. 1. What Will You Do When? Look at your Workbook p. 12-9 and read each situation and decide what you would do to solve the problem. Then match the reasons for an appeal with the story situations. (Answers: 1-A, 2-E, 3-B, 4-C, 5-D.) 2. Real Appeal (See Workbook p. 12-10.) In each situation read the appeal and the rewrite it in your own words. Videos below may help you. Daniel Appealing to Change His Diet Nehemiah Appeals to the King of Persia A Centurion Appeals to Have His Servant Healed 3. There are many more examples in the Bible where someone makes an appeal. You can read about these from your Bible. Abraham appeals to God for Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:16-33). Ruth appeals to her mother-in-law, Naomi (Ruth 1:11-18). Paul appeals to Festus, the new Roman governor (Acts 25:10-11). Sande, Corlette. The Young Peace Maker Teaching Students to Respond to Conflict God’s Way , Illustrated by Russ Flint, Wapwallopen, PA 18660, Shepherd Press, 1997.

Throughout our study we have been focusing on ways we can prevent or at least reduce the amount of conflict we face. We have learned a great many things including several tools to help us handle conflict in a way that pleases God. After all, it is God who sees what is in our hearts. He knows if we are being honest, respectful, and sincere in what we do and say.  When we make an appeal, first and foremost we must have the right motives in our heart. We cannot make a proper appeal from selfishness or dishonesty. That is why it is so important to be humble in your heart. Humility is not a character quality that all people exhibit. In fact, one can only be truly humble with God's help because our human condition keeps us puffed up and proud in direct opposition to God.  God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5 If you want God's grace, appeal to Him for it! Like this, "I know I often think more of myself than I should. Would you help me, Dear God, sto...

Our last Bible memory verse has only ten little words, but it packs a punch: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5 Which would you rather be? Proud or humble? (I hope you said, "Humble.") We have been learning about making a respectful appeal. Here is a great way to remember the STAR Appeal.  S is for Stop, T is for think, A is for Appeal, and R is for Respond. Those words also spell the word STAR. Look in your Workbook p. 12-4. Olivia, read the title of the page aloud and the words just under the title. Caleb, read the STOP and THINK sections aloud. Joshua, read the APPEAL and RESPOND sections aloud. Role Play from Workbook p. 12-5 taking turns reading Tameka's part. If you were Connie, what would you say to Tameka after she is done? WHEN TO APPEAL There are  good  reasons, as well as  selfish  reasons, to make an appeal. If you want to communicate facts, concerns, needs, or even desires in a respectful way, then making an appeal is a...

We have reached the last chapter of our peace making study! I am proud of the way you have stuck with the program and worked toward completion. Great job!! We will celebrate more fully as we can gather together. In our last chapter we learned how to use the communication pie tool to send and receive messages with people in our family.  1. As a review exercise, write a paragraph that tells about what happened this past week each time you communicated respectfully. Write down what you said, how you said it, and how you listened, and how members of your family responded. 2. Play Simon Says with your family members. During the game the students should obey "Simon" only if he uses respectful communication when giving directions. Directions communicated disrespectfully are not to be obeyed. 3. Name the four pieces of the communication pie. (Words, tone of voice, body language, and listening skills.) 4. In preparation for this chapter, write down this definition for the word appea...

  We learned in this lesson that respectful communication is more likely to be heard, and the communication pie is a tool that can help you communicate respectfully. When you choose to use respectful words, tone of voice, and nonverbal body language to send messages, you will be taking responsibility to help prevent or resolve conflict between you and others. Remember, you can choose to communicate respectfully no matter what anyone else does! The Lord is clear in his Word that he values communication that builds up and benefits the listener. In addition, the Lord says that we are to be "quick to listen." Respectful listening demonstrates that you are trying to understand the other person's point of view, even if you don't agree with it. Respectful communication is wise, it glorifies God, and it will help you stay on top of the slippery slope. What could be better? THE BEST TIME AND PLACE Most communication is relaxed and easy, but there are some things that may requi...

When we started this study of "The Young Peace Maker" did you ever think that the key to making peace might be in the way you say things? Perhaps you thought that it would require talking to large audiences, memorizing specific principles, or lots of scripture, or giving up doing what you really like.  But I think we have come to see that being a peace maker is more about making relatively small changes like talking about our feelings and disappointments instead of hiding them. And then when we do talk about our feelings, to do so with a humble heart and in a respectful manner. Being a peace maker is something we can do everyday and with relatively little effort except to be respectful. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  Ephesians 4:29 It is important for us and pleasing to God when we put others' needs ahead of our own needs. We are lear...

Bible verse practice: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  Ephesians 4:29 Say your Bible verse to a classmate, and then listen to them say it to you. Always include the Bible address where the verse is found. Now try to do it without looking at the words. BACK TO THE COMMUNICATION PIE Previously, we covered the verbal pieces of the communication pie, and we identified the attitude that is essential to speaking respectfully. Can you remember that all-important attitude of the heart? If you said "humility" you are correct. It is extremely hard to keep from disrespectful communication unless you have a humble heart. A humble heart puts others' needs ahead of our own needs. Also, if your heart is humble it is much less likely that disrespectful words or tone of voice will sneak into your conversations. If you use respectful words but a disrespec...

 Here are some review questions for you. Cover the blue words below. Answer the questions and then check your answers. 1. What does it mean to communicate? 2. What are some ways people communicate? 3. That is the difference between verbal and nonverbal communication? Can you give some examples? 4. What do we communicate? 5. Why do we communicate? Our Bible verse for this chapter is a familiar one. You may already have it memorized: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.   Ephesians 4:29 Lets pray: "Dear Lord, forgive me when I let my emotions dictate how I communicate with others. Help me, Lord, to remember that respectful communication pleases you. Strengthen me to say and do what I know I should in order to avoid conflicts that dishonor You. Thank You, Lord, that You are near me and that You want to help me. In Jesus name, Amen. WHAT and HOW...