Parenting Our Children

I enjoyed our "Baby Dedication" this past Sunday with Chris and Emily Mims. I shared this Scripture with you, “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.” (Deuteronomy 6:6)

What are your children exposed to in their daily lives? Children mimic what they see. They become what they are taught face-to-face, heart-to-heart, and life-to-life.
According to Scripture, we should teach our children values, faith, and biblical truths personally. Unfortunately, many parents leave the teaching to television, music, peers, schools, or even church.

While Sunday school, and church activities are all great tools to help instill faith, none are meant to be a substitute for anyone.
So I want to encourage you today to live every day loving God, fearing God, and obeying God. There’s no “time out” for parenting. Every day, every hour, and every moment is important. Why? Because you can’t plan the best teaching moments.

Have you ever noticed that the best family moments are when you’re hanging out, talking, and just being together? You can’t put your children on hold while you fulfill your own life. You must be engaged. May the Lord help us to be the best parents possible.

Someone said, "Being a parent is an awesome responsibility. It's one of those jobs that when you learn how to do it, you lose it..." Lord, help us to do it well!

Bro. Ron

Stand Up For Jesus

The order has come down in the case of two minors in Florida who were offended by prayers and other religious practices in Santa Rosa County schools. The ACLU paper "The Torch" tells of their Religious Freedom Project Director Glenn Katon bringing this suit. The school system has agreed to being silenced. No prayers are allowed to be planned for graduation and it seems religious baccalaureate services are to just form out of thin air if they happen at all. Or maybe the wording allows for a secular baccalaureate service.
If you are a teacher or student in a public school I want to encourage you to be courageous. This is no time to say we cannot talk about Jesus at school. Be creative in your proclamation of Christ.
As I Peter 3 :14-15 reminds us, "But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

There remains a strong voice in America led by the ACLU that wants no hint of religion outside of church property. They will say that is not so but their actions indicate a different thought. The wall of separation between church and state is leading us to a secularization of America. A nation that is not “under God” will be a nation that is soon gone under.

Bro. Ron

Purpose Driven Prayer

Rick Warren has been asked to offer the invocation at Barak Obama’s inauguration on January 20, 2009. The Southern Baptist pastor has drawn fire for his stance against Proposition 8 in California. The people voted for it and defined marriage as being between a man and a woman. Now gay rights activists have said they are feeling betrayed that Warren was invited to pray.
However, very little ink has been given to the man asked to deliver the benediction. The Rev. Joseph Lowery is a retired United Methodist pastor. He is called the Dean of the Civil Rights movement. Ebony magazine calls him one of the 15 greatest black preachers. If you have ever heard him you will agree he is a powerful speaker. After marching with Dr. Martin Luther King he was a founder and later president and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference from 1977 until 1998. He led the Cascade Methodist Church to great things during his days of pastoral leadership in Atlanta.
Dr. Lowery believes marriage is a civil right and should not be denied to gays or lesbians. He has also called for the ordination of gay clergy in the Methodist church. Along with over 51% of voters in California and over 60% in Florida, I disagree with his stance. Both states voted for marriage to remain as defined being between a man and a woman. This is a moral issue. It is a Bible issue. While you can count on Dr. Lowery praying a soul moving prayer to close the inauguration, he is wrong on this marriage issue. Rick Warren has it correct. If a man can marry a man then the logical next step is toward polygamy and then allowing a man to marry a child. On and on the slippery slope falls. Without a doubt it is time for America to pray.

Remember to pray for Rick Warren as he gives the opening prayer on January 20. Pray he will be a bright light for Jesus and will be used of God for the Christian faith.

Bro. Ron