Rick’s New Release

Here’s Lightwave Publishing’s release notice about Rick’s latest book.

We are please to announce the release of the latest book from best-selling Christian Parenting Author Rick Osborne.

‘The Seven Mistakes Parents of Toddlers Make’ is a much-needed book for the parents of young children. The parents who’ve learned and used the Biblical parenting methods in this book have seen their children and homes transformed.

As Rick Osborne explains, most problems in the home and with our children are easily solved with the consistent application of some very simple parenting secrets. Many households have lost their peace, because most parents just don’t know what to do to turn things around.

Do your kids fight with each other, disobey you, throw tantrums and/or just not listen? Are you experiencing the ‘Terrible Twos?’ Do you find yourself fighting with your spouse because of the kids, yelling and/or just feeling frustrated? Would you like to have a peaceful home with cooperative, obedient children? If you answered ‘YES’ to any or all of these questions, let Rick Osborne show you some simple, Biblical, step-by-step parenting ideas that can transform your family.

Every parent, grandparent and anyone planning on being a parent should read this groundbreaking book.

Here’s an early reader review:

“Rick Osborne gets to the point, explains the mistakes we all tend to make and offers practical solutions that are so simple to implement that it made me wonder why I didn’t think of them myself. I used his suggestions and was astounded how quickly the atmosphere in our house changed.

My kids don’t fight anymore and they listen and cooperate. It’s amazing.

This book doesn’t preach, it helps. It’s a simple map to great parenting.

I highly recommend 7 Mistakes. It’s a must on every parent’s bookshelf. This book will change your home.” Romana O

To purchase this book, please visit www.christianparentingdaily.com or click here.

The 7 Mistakes Parents of Toddlers Make

I am pleased to announce the release of my latest book “The Seven Mistakes Parents of Toddlers make.

‘The Seven Mistakes Parents of Toddlers Make’ is a much-needed book for the parents of young children. The parents who’ve learned and used the Biblical parenting methods in this book have seen their children and homes transformed.

Most problems in the home and with our children are easily solved with the consistent application of some very simple parenting secrets. Many households have lost their peace, because most parents just don’t know what to do to turn things around.

Do your kids fight with each other, disobey you, throw tantrums and/or just not listen? Are you experiencing the ‘Terrible Twos?’ Do you find yourself fighting with your spouse because of the kids, yelling and/or just feeling frustrated? Would you like to have a peaceful home with cooperative, obedient children? If you answered ‘YES’ to any or all of these questions, this book will show you some simple, Biblical, step-by-step parenting ideas that can transform your family.

Every parent, grandparent and anyone planning on being a parent should read this book.

Here’s an early reader review:

“Rick Osborne gets to the point, explains the mistakes we all tend to make and offers practical solutions that are so simple to implement that it made me wonder why I didn’t think of them myself. I used his suggestions and was astounded how quickly the atmosphere in our house changed.

My kids don’t fight anymore and they listen and cooperate. It’s amazing.

This book doesn’t preach, it helps. It’s a simple map to great parenting.

I highly recommend 7 Mistakes. It’s a must on every parent’s bookshelf. This book will change your home.” Romana O

This book is only available at www.christianparentingdaily.com. Click here to purchase.

Where on the web is Rick Osborne

I’d taken my three kids to visit the West Edmonton mall and I had been checked in for less than an hour when the phone rang. This was strange because I wasn’t expecting a call but apparently it was my mother.

After saying hello and identifying herself as my Mom, she went on to talk (at some length) about the plans for the day. Since I know my Mother’s voice and that this lady was not her, when I could squeeze a word in, I tried to gently break the news. At first she thought that I was teasing her and kept rambling on. When I finally convinced her that she hadn’t given birth to me, I asked her how she got my room number.

Apparently her son, another Rick Osborne (same spelling) had also checked in that morning also with three kids into the same type of room that we had. The front desk had mixed us up. That’s when I knew. When the mother’s of all of the MANY Rick Osborne’s out there started mixing us up, I’d have to work at bringing clarity.

My quest for keeping the Rick Osborne confusion at bay became more intense as herds, flocks, gaggles (whatever you call packs of Rick Osbornes) started going online. So let me get started fighting for clarity.

My real name is actually Richard but I’ve gone by Rick all of my life and my last name is spelled Osborne, not Osborn, not Osbourn and not Osbourne (sorry, no relation to Ozzy.)

Yes, I’m THAT Rick Osborne.

• I’m not the other Rick Osborne who apparently sounds just like me and frequents the West Edmonton mall.
• I’m not the Rick Osborne found at rickosborne.com, trust me he’s a different guy.
• I’m not the Rick Osborne at rickosborne.ca (coming soon apparently)
• or rickosborne.org (amusing blog though)
• or even the one at rickosborne.net (voice and piano teacher and fellow Christian)

I’m the Rick Osborne here at rick-osborne.com.

• I’m not the car salesman;
• the real estate company owner;
• the Chiropractor;
• the professor;
• the coach;
• the web programmer;
• the project manager;
• or the Rick Osborne who speaks to teens about drugs, violence and gangs. (You can find that Rick Osborne at truthforteens.com.)

I’m not those Rick Osborne’s.

I’m the Rick Osborne that has been a Christian Author and speaker for the last twenty-five years. I’ve authored, coauthored and/or produced over 200 books and resources designed to help Christian parents pass their Faith on to their kids. I’m not the Rick Osborne who authored:

• Philosophy for Beginners
• The Penguin Guide to Retirement Hotspots
• The Anti-Estrogenic Diet
• The Pond Pro’s Guide to Internet Marketing
• Operation Pull Your Own Weight
• or the Guide to new DoD subcontracting incentives

Those were all written by Rick Osbornes who spell their last name differently. Not by Rick Osborne.

Speaking of the Rick Osborne’s who spell their last name differently, you’ll find Rick Osborn at RickOsborn.com (Osborn without the ‘e’). He’s a Life and fitness coach, counselor and minister and although I don’t know him well, we follow each other on Twitter. (Oh, he is the Rick Osborne who wrote ‘The Anti-Estrogenic Diet.’)

Oh yeah, I am also not either of the two Richard Osbornes mentioned in the mixed up story ‘Will the Real Richard Osborne Please Stand Up (http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2002/08/19/tidbits.html). Although I could probably find a Kingdom use for the two million dollars.

So to all the mother’s of Rick Osborne’s out there, I hope that clears things up.

As a side note, I will say that my brother Ryan Johnson, my friend and fellow author Tim Smith, and my friend and business associate David Johnson, can’t figure out what I’m whining about. They think my name is radically unique.

If you’re a Rick Osborne and I’ve missed you, please add any clarifying comment that you can think of.

Thanks!
Rick Osborne

Contributing Author @ Christian Parenting Daily

ChristianParentingDaily.com is now hosting Rick Osborne’s “Christian Parenting” Blogs.

Christian Parenting Daily is a website dedicated to giving Christian parents the daily encouragement, support and help that they need. Their goal is to help you reach your goals; a peaceful happy home, strong family relationships and children who grow up loving and serving God.

They do that by providing fresh and engaging new content from trusted Christian authors, by scouring the web and finding awesome content and resources for you and your kids, by giving you Biblical and helpful commentary on our culture and current events (entertainment, news etc.) and by providing you with a supportive community atmosphere where you can be encouraged and help encourage others.

Click here to check out Rick’s latest postings.

The Spiritual Growth of Children

PARENT’S GUIDE TO THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF CHILDREN

Helping your child develop a personal Faith

Gary Smalley (Author, speaker and founder of Smalley Relationship Center) says, “This book gives parents easy-to-use plans and ideas to help them pass on their Faith; this couldn’t come at a better time for our children and culture.”

Put together by Dr. John Trent, Rick Osborne and Kurt Bruner, this best-selling Guide from Focus On The Family is packed with information that will help you navigate your children spiritually from preplanning for parenthood right through to the early teens.

Highly recommended for parents who like to understand the process and develop an individual step-by-step plan that will work best for their family.  Buy Now

Teaching your Child How to Pray

TEACHING YOUR CHILD HOW TO PRAY

What other Christian Leaders have said about this Christian classic says it all.

Teaching Your Child How to Pray is must reading for all parents who are concerned and burdened about the spiritual development of their children (Dr. Tony Evans)

Rick writes and teaches what he lives. I heartily recommend Rick’s resources to every parent. Rick is one of God’s gifts to parents. (Josh D. McDowell)

In a step by step approach, Rick Osborne lays out a plan for working with children that meets their needs from the beginning of their lives, but the plan is just as effective for someone starting the learning process with older children. (Dr. D. James Kennedy)

I’m happy to recommend this book by Rick Osborne, who is able to communicate this message to parents and guide them in teaching their children to pray. (Larry Burkett)

This is not just another boring ‘how to’ book. In Teaching Your Child How to Pray, Rick Osborne makes this important venture challenging and exciting for both parents and their children. (Tim Wildmon)

Rick Osborne has done a masterful job of bringing together important principles and outstanding guidelines in Teaching Your Child How to Pray. Combined with the reader’s prayers, I believe the Lord will greatly use this book to revolutionize and strengthen the spiritual lives of their children, providing them a solid foundation from which, the Lord promises in His Word, they “will not depart”. (Vonette Bright)

This book is not just recommended. According to many it is essential reading for every Christian parent.

Buy Now

Home alone moments

I was flying into Chicago on United Airlines shortly after they had completed their new terminal. The captain welcomed us to Chicago and “The New Terminal of Tomorrow.” He went on to explain that everyone who’s tried to catch a connecting flight out of there understands why it’s really called “The Terminal of Tomorrow” – because you might not get on your connecting flight till tomorrow!

I’ve often waited in the Chicago airport.  It’s a very busy place and reminds me of my home: children’s parties, sleepovers, friends coming and going, neighbors calling, extended family dropping by. And there are the departures. The car just doesn’t stop. There are youth groups, lessons of all sorts, sports, school, church, errands to run, and children’s friends to pick up or drive home. Sound familiar?  In the middle of all the flights in and out, once in a while I find a wonderful parenting moment with one of my fellow travelers.

The first time it happened, everyone had flown in and back out of “Osborne O’Hare,” and only my son and I were left. During the next few hours he had his agenda, and I had mine. However, in the middle of that time the two of us needed to sit down and eat a meal. What followed started with me pointing out that it was cool that it was just the two of us guys.

Then we decided to have some guy food and talked about guy things, and we even used some guy table manners (intentional oxymoron). We laughed a lot and afterwards headed back to our own tasks. The meal needed to be prepared anyway, but the time we had was memorable. I now watch for “home alone” moments. My son and I have our “guy time” every time the Osborne Terminal clears out, and I have special dad-and-daughter meals whenever I find myself alone with one of them.

It’s the economy, mom and dad

Listening to all the news about economy lately has got me thinking about an old friend. Anyone remember the best-seller, ‘The Coming Economic Earthquake’? One Amazon review, written last month, says this about the book, “This book clearly outlines why the recession is here and it was written in 1991 predicting it.”

I had the pleasure of knowing Larry Burkett and being able to call him my friend for several years before he left us to be with our Lord. He was a wonderful person, a faithful friend and an awesome man of God. He studied the Bible and understood perhaps better than anyone what God’s Word says and teaches about money.

I met Larry shortly after he wrote ‘The Coming Economic Earthquake’ and although I didn’t understand all of what he was saying about where the economy was going, we talked about something that was near to my heart. Him and his son Allen Burkett Jr. wanted to help parents teach their kids Biblical financial principles so that Christians and the Church in the generations to come could stand strong during tough times.

Larry showed me the conclusions of a nation wide survey that tested the financial IQ of high school seniors. The director of the report summed up the results by saying that our kids were graduating financially illiterate. He also shared with me statistics that showed that 85% of young couples who divorce site financial issues as the reason for their marital breakdown. That discussion led to Larry and I co-writing the book ‘Financial Parenting.’ I also went on to work with both Larry Sr. and Jr. to develop many resources that help parents teach their children financial principles.

The Bible tells us that as parents we are to bring our children up in the instruction of the Lord. The Bible doesn’t just teach us about God, love and salvation. Moses, Solomon, Jesus, Paul and others were all used by God’s Spirit to teach us about stewardship and proper money management. It’s our job as parents to safeguard our children’s future by intentionally bringing them up in these truths.

I don’t know if the ‘Economic Earthquake’ as Larry saw it is here yet but I do know that if we want our kids to survive financially, now and in the future, we need to spend some time teaching them what God’s Word says about money.

The Coming Economic Earthquake, Financial Parenting and the other resources we developed for kids have been selling well and helping families for years but perhaps they are even more relevant and more important now.

Although Larry Burkett is no longer with us, every book he wrote was based on God’s Word and therefore timeless and very relevant today. I highly recommend the following books and any other’s with my friend’s name on them.

               

(RICK OSBORNE / Christian Author, Speaker & Dad – your source for Christian Parenting advice)

What would you change about your family

I’m not a fan of the Simpsons but I had to chuckle when I heard an ad for the show. Homer said, “Why do things that happen to stupid people keep happening to me?”

Very few of us would ever seriously ask that same question but how about if we tweaked it slightly, “Why do things that take place in stupid families keep on happening in mine?”

Isn’t that kind of what we’re asking when we get frustrated and throw out questions like, “Why must everything be a fight?” “Can’t anyone clean up after themselves?” “Would it hurt anyone to help out a bit for a change?” “For once, could you please just get along?”

One day many years ago, a friend and fellow worker very politely pointed out that I had a bad habit of interrupting him pretty much whenever he spoke. I admitted I had the problem, apologized and told him that I was going to do something about it. In the days that followed, he politely reminded me time and time again. I responded the same way each time.

A week or two later my friend reached the end of his patience and said, “Every time I talk about this, you say that you’re going to do something about it. Stop putting it off! Make a decision to change and do something about it now.”

I stopped and prayed on the spot for God’s help and I made a decision. Once the decision was made, I began paying attention and I put some effort into learning the skills I needed like really listening and following up with a question.

Albert Einstein once defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

I stopped interrupting however the biggest benefit of my friend’s rebuke was that I later learned how to apply the change principle in my family. Let me give you a brief example.

Once our family was suffering from chronic tornado kitchen syndrome. At first I whined, I complained and I asked the ‘Homer Simpson’ style questions.

My wonderful wife pointed out that perhaps we needed to do something different if we wanted change. (Where had I heard that before?) After some prayer and thought, I taped a note to the kitchen counter and had a family meeting and the fun began. If a single thing was out of place after someone left the kitchen they were on kitchen duty until the next time someone was caught. For awhile everyone was catching everyone else and kitchen duty revolved frequently. Within a few weeks everyone was getting the hang of ‘the game’ and those caught were spending longer periods of time on kitchen duty which made it even more important not to mess up.

What needs to change in your family? Is it the way you communicate with each other, are the kids not helping out, is the sibling rivalry fierce, are you constantly cleaning up after everyone? Here’s what you do, pick one thing that you want to change, pray about it and ask for wisdom. Now go looking for wisdom, search this site or other Christian parenting sites, Google the problem, read a parenting book, anything you need to do to find an idea or solution.

Proverbs 9 says that wisdom has prepared a huge banquet and she’s yelling, “Come and get it.” Finding the wisdom is very seldom difficult once you’ve decided on change. Now have a family meeting and get started.

What I found out was that small efforts at change can yield big results. A simple fun game in the kitchen led to everyone learning skills that began to spread to the rest of the house. My simple decision to stop interrupting people led me to better communication skills and therefore to better and stronger relationships.

The things that happen to stupid people happen to Homer Simpson and us not because we’re stupid but because we keep doing the same things over and over again and that’s stupid. And if we expect any change without changing, according to Einstein, that’s insane. Start today and fight stupidity and insanity with a little change.

For more quick and easy parenting tips for bringing change to your family, we recommend the e-Book “The Seven Mistakes Parents of Toddlers Make”

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(RICK OSBORNE / Christian Author, Speaker & Dad – your source for Christian Parenting advice)

Don’t air the family’s dirty laundry

Do you remember your parents telling you to not air your family’s dirty laundry? It’s a metaphor which apparently can be traced back to Napolean. The idea being that you shouldn’t do laundry in public (eg hang clothes on a line to dry) that would reveal intimate details of your life and you also shouldn’t tell others about the troubles and private things that happen in your family.

I remember hearing this saying when I was young and my Granny was still alive. I remember wondering why (if this saying were true as a fact as well as a metaphor) she would hang her unmentionables on our clothes line when she visited. Now I should mention that my Gran was a wonderful lady but she was a very large woman and her private garments would attract attention. However, for some reason she seemed oblivious to this fact.

I’m telling this story because I believe that somehow, somewhere along the way, we’ve adopted the idea that what happens behind closed family doors is no one’s business but our own. Which has again somehow led to the idea that we are free to behave in ways in our homes that we would not act in public. Read more

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