ways to increase the odds of success in raising godly children

1. Work on having a great marriage. Not a kid-centered marriage, though: center your marriage on God.

2. Be present. (Churchy way to put it: incarnational parenting.) If you can pull it off, having one parent at home is an incredible investment in your children.

3. Build on your childrens' strengths (don't work so hard to shore up their weaknesses). Jesus came to fishermen and called them to fish for people. Jesus came to tax collectors, and called them to handle money in a spiritually responsible way. God gave each child particular gifts to be fanned into flame. No point in fanning the weaknesses.

4. Get help from the RIGHT people. I don't like the phrase "It takes a village to raise a child." I don't even like "It takes a church to raise a child." What you need is the RIGHT church to help raise your child. And never leave all responsibility for raising your children in the Way of Jesus with someone else (schools, churches, godparents, etc.).