Philippians is a book that talks about resolving conflict. In Chapter 2 we find the following admonition: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. From these words we learn that considering others to be more significant than we are is essential to heal the wounds of conflict. Of course, when we do experience conflict, considering the other person as more significant than ourselves is often the last thing on our minds. This is especially true of conflicts with your teenager. So, what does it look like to consider others more significant than yourself? […]
Yearly Archives: 2014
347 posts
Parents have no problem instructing their children to obey quickly or to be kind to others. There is no dispute about teaching children that they should not hit each other or that they should respect authority. But what about commanding your children to praise God? Does that seem a bit unusual? Let’s think about this for a moment. The statement praise God is not just about saying the words praise God. Psalm 78 exhorts Israel not to hide the praiseworthy deeds of God from their children. As you read the psalm, you see that this is exactly what occurs. God’s deeds are listed so that he can be praised! So, when the scriptures say “Praise God”, it is not an […]
It’s Election Day. All 435 seats of the U.S. House of Representatives are at stake, along with approximately one third of the Senate seats and numerous governorships. The national media is doing its part to add to the drama and anxiety of the moment. Some would even have us think that the fate of our country hangs on the outcome of this election. But this is not accurate. The fate of our country is in the hands of the God of the Bible. No, you will not hear or read any stories that reflect this reality. There will be not exit polls that probe for this factor. But what the news media reports does not change what is true. Don’t […]
In ancient times warriors required powerful, fearless horses to carry them into battle. Before these great creatures could become useful in battle they had to be trained to respond to the will and leading of their riders. Once trained they were just as frightening and powerful as before, but now these warhorses would follow their rider’s commands without question. The word meek was used to describe these horses once they were trained for battle. They were submissive to the will and wishes of their warrior riders! Now they were useful in war. This is not the way we usually think of meekness. But this is often true concerning biblical character qualities. Terms like humility and meekness describe powerful traits. This […]
Praise is the one action of the human heart that puts life in perspective. If you and I allow any event, circumstance, relationship, anything at all, to rob us of praise, then life will make no sense and we will focus on ourselves and our well-being. Only the praise of God will deliver us from our flesh, our pride and our propensity for self-pity. May our hearts resonate with the words of the psalmist – this day and everyday! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. Psalm 148:13
497 years ago one man driven by his passion for the gospel wrote some things down on paper. Then he nailed the paper to a church door. The sound of the nail driven into that door still reverberates to this day. Social media has been around longer than we think! If you have a passion for God’s gospel truth there are no limitations. No, your name may not be remembered as Martin Luther’s is, but your voice will resonate in history. You may not have a church door in Wittenburg to post your thoughts. But you do have a voice, you may have a Facebook page, an email account, a phone to send texts, a friend to talk with, a […]
By Dr. Charles Hodges, author of Good Mood Bad Mood I have written often about the perils of the recreational use of marijuana and I cannot resist writing again. The cause for my writing is that the New York Times that has stumbled into the reality that smoking pot does little if any good for those who smoke it. And it has the potential for great harm.[i] In an October 29th article by Abigail Moore titled, “This Is Your Brain on Drugs,” the problems with pot are outlined. The first and most disturbing is that smoking marijuana changes the brain. The nucleus accumbens thickens and among those in the study, the more they smoked the more it thickened. The changes […]
TRUST is believing and doing what God tells me in the Bible, even when it is hard to do. DOUBT is attempting to find another alternative in the face of clear biblical teaching. FAITH is knowing the difference between trust and doubt and doing what God says over what I want or fear.
“Hey mom, Jeremy is upset.” “Okay Sarah, I’ll be right there.” The real story here is what mom is saying to herself in her mind. “Here we go again. Sarah is always making Jeremy upset. I can’t finish anything without somebody having an issue. I’ll get to it in a moment.” “Dad, I’m really sorry I messed up and forgot to cut the grass. I’ll get to it right after lunch. Sorry dad.” “Aaron, when is this pattern going to change? You need to start being responsible. Don’t make promises you can’t keep!” What dad is thinking is his mind: “I can’t believe this kid. Always an excuse. At least I didn’t yell at him. […]
by Tedd and Margy Tripp Here are two more goals of formative instruction from Chapter 2 of Instructing a Child’s Heart. These goals validate your walk before God as authentic and thus offer your children a vibrant alternative to the deceitfulness of the surrounding culture. Your mission as a parent must start here. From Chapter 2: Model Spiritual Vitality for Our Children The surest way to teach children to apply God’s truth to life’s circumstances is to model it for them. Parenting that exhibits a vital relationship with God in all the joys and storms of life is irresistible to children and young people. Conversely, the surest way to harden our children’s hearts to God and his ways is “having […]