"Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock." (Luke 6:47-48)
"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46) "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23) These are some of the saddest verses in scripture to me. Our world is full of 'Christians' today. Yet, the Bible is clear that there will be few that find the reward of a home in Heaven (Matthew 7:13-14). So, what makes the difference between those who will go to an eternal reward and those who will meet their eternal punishment? On the day of judgment, God will divide everyone into two groups: those that obeyed and those that didn't. There are many in our world today who think they will be saved, but they won't. Suppose you have accepted a job. You knew going into the job that the boss was a hard taskmaster, but you have a desire to do your job well. Before you were hired, the boss gave you a huge book of rules and procedures. He expects you to do everything by the book or you'll be fired. If you truly desire to do your job well, you will study the book, DAILY! But we lie to our selves instead and say, "Oh, he's not really that mean. He wants me to have a good life. If I'm a happy worker He's happy." I see many people everyday who come to worship, call themselves Christians, and yet, they are missing the dedication in their lives that God expects. I see them on the street and they don't stand out from the world. They blend in with this world and many people don't know they are even Christians. God says we will be known among the world by our actions (John 13:35). We should be a peculiar people, called to do His will and not our own (1 Peter 2:9). Let's face facts: Either we will bow to Him now, while we have the choice to, or we will be forced to bow to His punishment later (Romans 14:11). It is our choice. If you chose to obey Him now, then study the book and act like a Christian in your dress, speech and actions! God calls us slaves - either to Satan or to God (Romans 6:16). Slaves MUST obey their master. We are called to be different, not to be chameleons to blend in among the people around us. It is clear what our punishment will be if we choose to not heed His words now (Matthew 7:23; 25:41; John 15:6). And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (Luke 12:47) "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:24-27)
"Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock." (Luke 6:47-48)
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"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:18-20) Somewhere along the line, we have forgotten the teaching that we should be teaching. If Jesus told the eleven disciples to go out and teach others everything they have been commanded, then teaching is one thing they should teach others to do. Teaching is a command and one we should take as a serious responsibility. But, let's face facts, going out and teaching one on one is difficult. Just because something is difficult to do, doesn't mean that we shouldn't do it. In today's world there are many avenues we can have to teach others. I believe everyone should try to reach out and teach their own friends and loved ones, but let me present to you an additional option. International Bible Teaching Ministries has a wonderful website. I have been a teacher there now for a little over a month. The way it works, is that someone comes to the website (you can direct them there and they can request you for a teacher) and takes the intro course. If they don't offer a name of a teacher then there is a rotation and they'll be given to the teacher at the top of the list. You grade their lessons and provide feedback. If they have questions they turn to you for guidance. You offer them Bible verses, or links to materials to help them with their questions. My suggestion to you is this: Go there and take all the courses yourself. Ask questions about things you are unsure about yourself. When you are finished, offer to be a teacher. You won't regret it!
Apologetics Press has been printing Discovery Magazine since 1990. You can view their archives on their website. Digger Doug is a character in the magazine. Children may write letters to Digger Doug at AP. So, when AP was approached about writing and producing a children's show to teach creation, what character did they use? Digger Doug, of course! And the show was born! AP has been writing and producing Digger Doug videos since 2006. They now have 16 fun-packed episodes. Each one filled with Biblical teaching about this world around us. Here is a list of links to the episodes: Episode 1 - What about the Big Bang? Episode 2 - After their kind Episode 3 - Dinosaurs and Artifacts? Episode 4 - Dinosaurs and Natural History Episode 5 - Days of Creation Episode 6 - Biomimicry Episode 7 - Vestigial Organs Episode 8 - Cause and Effect Episode 9 - Similar Things Episode 10 - Evolutionary Hoaxes Episode 11 - Creation Scientists Episode 12 - The Age of the Earth Episode 13 - Broken Bones, Broken Theory Episode 14 - Humans and Dinosaurs Episode 15 - Entropy Episode 16 - Natural Selection and Mutations Order the children in your life Digger Doug videos today and help teach them about our Creator and His Creation.
Last week we discussed about the wife/mother's responsibilities regarding money in the home. This week, let's take a look at things we can do to teach our children about money. It is important that kids be taught about money in the family. So many times I think parents are leaving all the teaching up to the schools. Most schools do not teach personal finances beyond balancing a check book. Once they reach college, young men and women are bombarded with credit card offers, financing offers, and a million things they want. The world is full of tempting things and they need to be taught self-discipline and how to manage their money. The time to teach them is when they are young, but don't despair if they are older and you are just beginning. Just do it! I am not an expert, but I would like to share with you some things that we teach our children about their money. Many of these concepts are taught by Dave Ramsey in his Financial Peace, Jr. Some of these things are simply our own making. Each family is different, you do what is best for your family. First of all, teach children that our blessings come from God. Money is a gift that we are given to use wisely. Jesus taught some parables concerning money and these are wonderful Biblical examples of how to handle money. (For examples: Matthew 18; 25 and Luke 15 among others.) Because money is from God, we should first give back to Him (1 Corinthians 16:2). Many people give to God out of what they receive and forget that God should come first before the government gets their taxes. We should teach our children that God should come first before everything else (Mark 12:30). The concept that material things should come from an effort or work is taught in the scriptures. "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10) For us, this means that our children have to do a certain amount of work simply because he or she breathes. They put their dirty dishes in the kitchen, put the clean dishes away, clean their rooms and feed their pets without pay. This teaches them that life is about work. Everyone in life has certain jobs they must do simply because they exist. This is a concept that children can learn early. As soon as they can stand up and understand the concept (about 1 yr old), they can pick up their toys and put them in the toy box. A few years ago, an elder's wife gave me some good advice. She told me that when her children were small (even as small as 4 or 5) and they wanted a toy, she would come up with jobs around the house they could do to earn the money for that item. After her children were grown they had learned a valuable lesson. Not only were they taught the ethics of working to earn money, but they were taught to save for the things they wanted as well. In our household, the children are given about 5 jobs that they must complete daily (or most every day) in addition to their regular chores. They must complete these jobs to earn the money. Then, they have a few jobs they could choose to do for extra money. I look at it this way: in life, when they have a job, they have certain jobs they have to do, but there are always extra jobs (overtime opportunities for example) that they could choose to do for extra money. According to Dave Ramsey, you choose a few jobs (less for younger children) and you assign a monetary value to it. Say, if they fold the towels they get $.25. Each time this job is done, mark them down on the chart. They are paid on Sunday evening (sometimes Monday at our house because Daddy has to go to the bank and cash his check before kids are paid) and they set aside their money for God for the following Sunday. This teaches them restraint. That money is in their 'church' bank and is not theirs, but belongs to God. Encourage your pre-teens and teenagers to begin thinking about saving for a car, for college, even for retirement. Check out this example about Ben and Arthur. Arthur only saves for 8 years and yet he could end up with as much as $2.2 million! Saving not for the love of money, but for the peace of mind that it provides for them and for their loved ones. Whatever system you use to teach your children about money, let the Bible be your guide. Teach them to be wise in the area of finances. "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." (1 Timothy 6:6-11) "Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!" (Psalms 103:1-22)
A good exercise is to read this Psalm and write down all the benefits that David wrote about here. Another one is to write down all blessings specific to you. So many times we overlook the blessings that God has blessed us with. Let us appreciate each and everyday the good things God has so generously given us! Count Your Blessings When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Refrain Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will keep singing as the days go by. Refrain When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. Refrain So, amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be disheartened, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end. Refrain If you've missed previous lessons I've written on Esther, click on the category 'Esther' in the Categories list on the right side of this page. This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.
We will come back to God as a Father next time, I want to deal with a situation that happened this week that reminds me of what we talked about last week. If you missed last week's article or any of the other Father Fridays just click fathers under the categories to the right.
A couple of days ago my wife came to me with a problem. Our 9 year old son had borrowed her Kindle to use the dictionary for his Bible lesson. When she got it back and turned it back on she found that the dictionary was at the entry for 'sex'. Time to panic! Tell him he can never use a dictionary again! Tell him he can never borrow the Kindle again! What if he had typed that in on the computer's internet search box? (Let me just take a moment to encourage all of you dads, and moms, too, get an internet filter if you don't have one. Safe Eyes is a good one, you can adjust it to your family's needs. Sometimes you can get a discount, so search for a coupon code. It is a better investment than you can imagine.) After the initial panic we discuss real possibilities and what to do. I imagine all the reasons that it could have happened. Surely that word was not in his Bible lesson. Maybe someone simply hit the next page or back a page button and he was really looking at a word on another page. One of the words was in the s's. My wife quickly went back to the last search and found that sure enough, he had typed it in! He intentionally went there, no accident here. Why can't they make those words 17 letters long and impossible for a 9 year old to spell instead of 3 easy letters? More panic time! Our son is going to become a rapist or a serial killer, he is already a sex-addict, he was around some teen boys last week what did he hear from them, what are we going to do? After this second wave of panic it was time to be rational again. I always try to do the actual speaking, acting, and parenting during these brief periods of lucidity. I was not in a position to talk to him so I told my wife to just ask him about it. His explanation was not totally acceptable, but did open the door. He was supposed to find a synonym for 'vex'. My son is a rhymer (We have often had to tell him that just because a word sounds like another perfectly good word does not mean that the second word is a good word to say. This has been going on since he was about 3.) and vex made him think of... ... you guessed it 'sex'. So he looked it up. Now the question is what do we do? I realize that there are innumerable answers to that last question because of the variables involved. My wife always bemoans the fact that there is not a parenting book that tells you exactly what you should do in specific situations. The reason is simple, however, no two families face the same situations. We instead must take principles and apply them to the unique circumstances in which we find ourselves. That is not situational ethics, but our standard of ethics applied to situations. I once proposed this dilemna to a Bible class: Two men, Bob and Bill, are both driving 65 mph Bob is breaking the law and Bill is not how? We came up with about a dozen possible explantations that were all different and the consequences are different. How many possibilities can you think of? (As a class we came up with about a dozen.) As parents the challenge is to gather information about the situation, think about what principles apply, consider the possible consequences, and then act in the way that will be true to Christian principles and actions while bringing the best result. No wonder we make so many mistakes as parents. So, what did we do? This time my wife asked him about the situation and got his explanation. Then she told him that if he had questions about things like this he should ask us and not go to some other source (This brought a question of 'What are genitals?' Followed by the simple explanation that they are what makes boys boys and girls girls). She reminded him that he was only to do what he had been told to do and what he knew was ok with her Kindle or on any computer. He didn't get a spanking or any other punishment this time, but a warning that there would be punishment for future misdeeds. Were we too soft? Are we stifling his curiosity? Time will tell. I don't know about you, but one of the things I rely on in my fathering is my memory of what I thought and felt about things when I was a child. I remember those things that the grownups would not talk about and how curious I was about them. I also remember the appeal of something that was forbidden. Human beings are naturally curious and it's a good thing or we would not have most of the inventions we have today. Of course that curiosity also brings dangers. I believe one of the best ways to deal with this universal problem is to help children quench their curiosity in a safe and healthy environment by giving them accurate information on a simple level and then more details as they grow older and more mature. I believe this is similar to the approach God has taken revealing His will a little at a time over a period of hundreds of years rather than all at once. Paul even talks about the Old Law as a schoolmaster to bring people to Christ. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you," (Philippians 1:3)
This verse has amazed me ever since I learned about how the Philippian church began. Acts 16 gives us the beginning of this congregation in Philippi. Paul was pestered by a slave girl who was possessed. He cast the demon out of her and she could no longer bring money to her masters. The masters brought Paul before the magistrates. These magistrates had Paul and Silas beaten and thrown into prison. After all of that, do you know what these two men of God were doing? They were praying and singing praises to God! They were thankful for the persecution they received because they knew they were doing God's work. In verse 26, an earthquake shook the jail. The jailer, who had fallen asleep, supposed that everyone had escaped. He was about to kill himself for at that time a Roman soldier who fell asleep and whose charges escaped would be killed. But, Paul cried out and told the jailer they were all there and to not harm himself. The jailer fell down before Paul and Silas and asked how to be saved. They told him to believe in Jesus, but how could he believe if he had not heard, so they taught him about Jesus. It was that very hour that the jailer was baptized! The jailer took Paul and Silas and washed their wounds. The next day, the magistrates commanded that the jailer let them go. This is what would come to my mind when I thought of the Philippians if I were Paul and Silas. Maybe it did, but they were thankful for the people at Philippi anyway. Can we say we are thankful for the church? Many times we didn't bring them in with blood, sweat and tears as Paul and Silas did. But one thing I do know, Christ died for all of them the same as he died for you and me. Let's be thankful for the church that Jesus bought! Recently, I needed some articles for teens and a Facebook friend gave me this website. Everything I read on there was wonderful and within minutes I had all that I needed. This website is now in my bookmarks and will be one I return to in the future.
What does Katharos mean anyway? Katharos is the Greek word for pure. This is copied from the "About Us" section of their website: “Religion that is pure (katharos) and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27 If you are a teen, or parent of a teen, or just know a teen, this website is worth reading and passing on. KatharosNow My kids LOVE this video! Nite, Nite with Franky & Mr. Scott teaches children Bible stories with a whole lot of FUN! Stories like Jonah, Dorcas, 10 lepers, Zacchaeus and others. Franky often gets things all mixed up and Mr. Scott has to straighten him out!
Honestly, sometimes my kids get to laughing so hard at Franky's confusion, I wonder if they are learning at all! Nite, Nite with Franky and Mr. Scott is hilarious fun for the whole family. AND yes they do learn from this video. :) |