Exodus 14:13-14  And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.  The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." 

These Israelites were scared and murmuring, and on the surface it would seem that there were reasonable grounds for fear.  After all, they were not trained soldiers and they were being hotly pursued by a fierce army.  But they had witnessed the power of God in Egypt and this same God was fighting for them.  They couldn't have fought Pharaoh's army alone even if they tried, so all they could do was be still and wait for God's deliverance.  

Exodus 14:30  Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 

I can think of so many worldly fears that on the surface seem really reasonable to have.  It's hard not to be fearful of an economic crisis, diseases, natural disasters, or even of violent crimes.  As Christians, we're not promised immunity from these things.  What we are promised is deliverance from eternal death if we're faithful (Revelation 2:10).  We may have to endure this scary world first, but we don't have to endure it alone.  We have access to an Almighty God through Christ Jesus.  What a comfort to know that if we are His, we can take our fears to Him and He'll deliver us in the end.         

John 16:33  "...In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." 


-CA

Biblical Worldview
Brad Harrub
from http://www.westhuntsville.org
(used with permission)

                I am going to go slightly off topic to deal with something that we as fathers have to prepare for and prepare our children to face in their adult lives. There is a story today that a teacher may lose his job because he agrees with what the Bible says about homosexuality and marriage and he is even in agreement with the law of his state where homosexual marriage is illegal. If you can stomach the story, here it is: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/19/florida-teacher-suspended-for-anti-gay-marriage-post-on-personal-facebook/

                There is also a story today that a judge is apologizing to a convicted murderer named ‘Robert’ who has legally changed his name to ‘Michelle’ and wants taxpayers to pay for his sex change operation. The judge is apologizing because it has taken so long. Here is that story if you can stomach it. http://www.aol.com/2011/08/19/inmate-sex-change_n_931222.html

                Earlier this week the militant homosexual agenda was directed at Sesame Street in an attempt to get Bert and Ernie married. So far it seems like this one has failed this time, but they won’t quit. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/10/petition-underway-for-bert-and-ernie-to-get-married-on-sesame-street/

                With the sexual corruption in Hollywood it is no surprise that Corey Feldman, former child actor and abuse victim, said that pedophilia is the biggest problem in Hollywood. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/12/corey-feldman-pedophilia-is-hollywoods_n_925287.html

                Try to think of a TV show that doesn’t have a character that is into some sort of sinful or even deviant sexual behavior that is flaunted as normal or good. Good luck on that one you will need it. Some entire shows are based on it. Even shows where it has nothing to do with the plot or story-line have it thrown in. When was the last time there was a well-adjusted happy Christian family portrayed where the parents were in charge and they were smarter than the kids? Who was the last TV husband and dad who was respected by his family?

                Maybe this is more on the topic than I thought. We have to be the kind of godly, respectable, strong men that defend our families from the destructive things that are out there from getting inside. All the water in the world can’t sink a boat unless it gets inside. It never ceases to amaze me that families who would freak if someone was cussing, fighting, or having sex in their front yard and pull the blinds and call the police will then sit down on their couch with their kids and watch a TV show or movie with sex scenes, cussing, and violence right there in their own living room and then go to church on Sunday and talk about what a great show they saw last night. Man up and quit sending your kids such mixed messages.

In continuing our study in church history, I'd like you to take a look at this book.  My husband has read it and shared some of the fascinating stuff in it.  It was actually his prompting that gave me the idea to post it here.  In my search to find the book in a bookstore on the web, I actually found it available for free!  Please read, enjoy and learn about God's Word along the way!

Tradition and History of the Churches of Christ in Central Europe by Dr. Hans Grimm

For this Lord's Day thought, read this great article over at Forthright Magazine!

Jesus Satisfies

Don't you just hate it when events seem to happen that make you feel terrible?  The other day, my husband was fussing.  To me it sounded like he was fussing at me.  Later he told me that he was mainly upset at himself, but it was something that both of us were doing.  I took it so badly!  I was stomping around, slamming things around, muttering under my breath.  All this took place within the eyes and ears of our children.  I was not being the example I should have been.  I prayed to be a better example in this area.

So, then, the next day, my children were reading Proverbs chapter 12.  My daughter was laughing so I was fussing at her for not reading.  She told me she was reading, but that something in the first verse was funny.  Here's what she read:

"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid." 
(Proverbs 12:1 - ESV)

She was reading it in the NKJV, but it reads about the same.  She, of course, was laughing over the word 'stupid.'  I talked to her about what it meant and it has become a great teaching tool.  But my heart hurt while I was talking to her, because it was talking about me.  I was being stupid.  I was not learning from my mistakes when someone pointed it out to me.  Instead, I was muttering and grumbling and pointing the finger at what he had done.

I pray that you learn from my mistake and accept with grace and dignity when you are corrected.  Be a better example than I was in this case.

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." 
(Hebrews 12:11)

    We concluded at the end of last week's article that our first priority as fathers is our children's souls. As an individual I must look to my own soul, then as a husband to my wife's soul and then as a father to my children's souls. Each one leads into the next and, I dare say, it is impossible to be properly concerned about my wife or children without first being right with God myself. God teaches fathers to be responsible for the training of their children in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord". Fathers are the God-ordained leaders of the home regardless of what society says. We need to stand up and lead. We need to be honest with ourselves and accept the fact that it is impossible to lead where you will not go. Think about that in relation to your own walk with the Lord.
    It is said that even Christians often joke about how the wife or the children are really running the house. If it is not true, then it is in poor taste to joke about a sinful leadership arrangement in the home. If it is true, God does not think it is funny for people to ignore his hierarchy in exchange for their own or the one that is popular in society. If there are problems in your home in this area, it is not the time to lower the boom and put your wife and kids in their place. Rather than that the first step is to put Jesus in His place in your life and let them see the change in you, then you will be in a better position to be the leader of your home. 1Corinthians 11:3 "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."
    You can't expect those who should be in subjection to you to treat you with the proper respect if you are not treating those you should be in subjection to with the proper respect.