Friday Five – Alex Chediak

• Category: Crash Course, Culture, Friday Five
• 13581 Commenthttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.danieldarling.com%2F2011%2F04%2Ffriday-five-alex-chediak%2FFriday+Five+-+Alex+Chediak2011-04-29+05%3A00%3A50Daniel+Darlinghttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.danieldarling.com%2F%3Fp%3D1358

Today more kids go to college than ever before and yet many wonder if kids are truly ready. How do parents and pastors and influencers prepare young people for this important phase of their lives? Today I’m blessed to chat with Alex Chediak, author of the newly released book, Thriving at College. Alex is an Associate Professor of Engineering and Physics at California Baptist University.

I think Alex has written a powerful and much-needed book. What like about it is that it is so comprehensive. I’d highly recommend it to any high-school senior or college freshman (or their parents, for that matter!).

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Developing Decision-Makers

• Category: Columns, Crash Course
• 6431 Commenthttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.danieldarling.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fdeveloping-decision-makers%2FDeveloping+Decision-Makers2010-07-19+13%3A20%3A14Daniel+Darlinghttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.danieldarling.com%2F%3Fp%3D643

“Will they make good choices?” This is the question that every parent asks, especially parents of teenagers. Its what keeps you up at night, fretting, hoping, and praying.

In my work as a pastor, I often counsel young people on the wide array of choices that lie before them. And even though I’ve talked to scores of teens from a wide variety of backgrounds, I can usually categorize them into one of two groups: those who have been equipped to make good choices and those who have not.

I’ve found that its not enough for parents to simply help them through tough choices. A good parent works hard to equip their children for a life of making those choices on their own.

How do we do this? I’ve developed five key principles that I think help to build every child’s decision-making muscles:

Read the rest as part of my guest post on Radical Parenting:

5-4-3 Tools for Making Good Decisions

• Category: Crash Course
• 3232 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.danieldarling.com%2F2010%2F04%2F5-4-3-tools-for-making-good-decisions%2F5-4-3+Tools+for+Making+Good+Decisions2010-04-20+10%3A00%3A07Daniel+Darlinghttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.danieldarling.com%2F%3Fp%3D323

5 Things To Know:

1) Know What You Believe (Matthew 6:45; Proverbs 23:7)

What you believe down deep in your heart is the most important thing about you. Notice I said what you believe, not what your parents or pastor or guidance counselor believes. Every major life decision should be run thru the filter of your personal statement of faith.

2) Know Who You Are (Psalm 139: Ephesians 1:4; Jeremiah 29:11)

Who are you? A random speck, a useless statistic? Or are you special, called by God, chosen, adopted, redeemed, loved, wonderfully created, uniquely designed, carefully held? Before you can know what to do you must know who you are and who you were created to be.

3) Know Who to Talk To (Proverbs 11:14) Read More