There is danger that lurks for Christians when we begin to evaluate life with the standards of our culture. Using the world’s standards to be the measure of what is good in your life will bring dissatisfaction with your Christian faith. This is exactly what happened to the psalmist in Psalm 73. His overwhelming discouragement came directly from looking at life the way God’s enemies do. Parents, this trap lures you, too. If you work hard at your parenting, but use the world’s standards of success, you will become like the psalmist—embittered and discouraged with life and with God. What is good cannot be found by looking at our culture. Christians have a different standard for goodness: But as for me, […]
Yearly Archives: 2013
380 posts
Being a faithful parent is a consuming vocation. Parenting absorbs each part of your day. Even when your children are gone for school or church or to a friend’s house, your mind’s eye pursues them and seeks after them. At night, your ears have an open channel that never turns off, as you listen for signs of sickness or upset, even as you sleep. It is easy to be drawn into a swirling vortex of events. Having a clear, sharp and intimate view of Christ is not only desirable, it is essential. In Psalm 73, the psalmist had become overwhelmed with the seeming futility of following God. Survival mode can become the norm. It is tempting to think, “Right […]
The Associated Press reports that officials at Shaw Air Force in South Carolina have removed a Nativity Scene from the base at the urging of the “Military Religious Freedom Foundation.” The foundation lodged a complaint about the display through the Air Force in Washington. Paul Loebe, spokesman for the foundation, said the Nativity scene was in violation of the Constitution. Ignorance of United States history is one of the great weapons used against Christianity. Here is a quote from the official brochure of the Office of the Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: “On May 1, 1789, in one of its first acts, the House elected the Reverend William Linn, a Presbyterian minister from Philadelphia, as the official Chaplain […]
In the last post we just considered the first part of this passage. The father in the parable could have made a judgment right after the second son said he would go to the field. After all, the first son was defiant and the second son was respectful. It would seem clear – the first son could be expected to defy his father and the second son could be expected to follow through and honor his father. But as the parable continues, just the opposite actually happened. The expectations formed after the initial encounters turned out to be flawed. This is an important lesson to learn in shepherding teenagers. As parents, it is your natural tendency treat your teenagers […]
Look carefully at this passage and consider what the two sons were your teenagers: “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ” ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Matthew 21:28-31 Being a teenager is not always easy. This has something to do with why it is not always easy to be the parent of a teenager. As […]
Do you think about giving the gift of heaven to your children? It is impossible, of course, to wrap up even a small piece of heaven in a Christmas gift―but is it possible that our gifts do the opposite? That our gifts say that this life is all that really matters? The gift of heaven is not tangible. We can’t touch it or shake or look at it. But it is, nevertheless a gift that we cannot fail to give. Heaven is a big deal. It is the ultimate reason we train our children not to indulge in the tempting pleasures of a world headed for destruction. Something better waits for them than XBox, Nike, Fisher-Price and Blue-Ray. Heaven is […]
Matthew quotes the Prophet Isaiah and in so doing he brings to us perhaps the most amazing reality of the Advent. This wonderful truth is that in the persons of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit God is continually with his people. People often say they wish Christmas could last all year long. Well, for those whom God has called, the reason for Christmas will be with you all year long – right into eternity! Once the presents are opened and the tree is taken down the thoughts of Christmas fade into the New Year celebrations. But for you, God’s child, the person of Immanuel lives on. He is with you. This is a foundational reality that must not be […]
Do not be afraid. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God […]
You may have read that the quarterback for the number one ranked college football team and a leading candidate for the famed Heisman Trophy was a person of interest in a possible sexual assault case. The Florida State Attorney’s office had to determine if there was a reason to bring charges of sexual assault against the quarterback. The female in the case claimed assault. The young man said that there was sexual activity but that it was consensual. On Thursday, December, 5, the States Attorney determined that there was not enough evidence to bring charges against the quarterback, so the case was dropped. So the hunt for the National Championship is still on and the Heisman Trophy is within reach. […]
God wants you to look at the world His way. You can learn to be thankful for a rainout. You can even learn to be intrigued at what God is doing. How many other events did He change by that thunderstorm? You are observing God at work! God wants you to use the ordinary events of life to teach your children to know and trust God and His Son. Here is a practical example of this point. Let’s say you planned a special day. You scheduled this day weeks ahead. Today is the day. You were going to finish a landscaping project in the morning and then meet the guys for a round of golf at the country club. You […]