Children’s Ten Commandments for Parents…

I recently read this short in a publication that quoted Kevin Lehman from “Dear Abbey” January 12 1981. This is a great reminder to us as parents of our attitude towards our kids and others’ kids as well. We sometimes forget they are living as children in our grown up world. Sometimes we have to get down to their level, both physically and mentally, to understand and react properly . Our ignorance in forgetting these principles is a cultural awareness issue. We seem to be so engrained into this me first, selfish culture of today that our thinking and reactionary measures become molded by it. How true and good are these eleven reminders (I added number eleven from my own convictions) that I feel I should print and paste them onto a wall for viewing constantly. That being said, I could wallpaper the whole house. For, we as parents have a responsibility, maybe our biggest in our lifetimes, to nurture and grow our kids up right so that they can become able, discerning adults. The task is enormous, unfathomable, daunting, exhausting, and joyful all in one. But it is a responsibility before God and our kids, anything else would be a failure. Well, here it is….

Children’s Ten Commandments for Parents…

1. My hands are small; please don’t expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball. My legs are short; slow down so that I can keep up with you.

2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; let me explore it safely; don’t restrict me unnecessarily.

3. Housework will always be there; I’m little for only a short time.  Take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly.

4. My feelings are tender; don’t nag me all day long (you would not want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness). Treat me as you would like to be treated.

5. I am a special gift from God; treasure me as God intended you to do – holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by, and discipling me in a loving manner.

6. I need your encouragement (but not your empty praise) to grow. Go easy on the criticism; remember, you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.

7. Give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I will be prepared to make the decisions life will require of me.

8. Don’t do things over for me; that makes me feel my efforts didn’t measure up to your expectations. I know its hard, but don’t compare me to my brother or my sister.

9. Don’t be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need vacations from parents, and parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it’s a great way to show us kids that your marriage is something special.

10. Take me to sunday school and church regularly, setting a good example for me to follow. I enjoy learning more about God.

11. Be authentic.

Run, Run For Your Life!

I found this to be somewhat inspiring for the Church.  By “Church”, I mean the group of believers that are Brothers in Christ, worshiping Him through song and study.  This has been a topic near to my heart.  I believe I am growing up in an age of “watered down”, “new age” religious Churches.  Anyone, or any Church for that matter, that doesn’t preach the whole Bible, and the words of the apostles, are heretic in my eyes.  This is called blasphemy.  God does not say to teach half of the Truth, some of the Truth, or the Truth we think the people of our congregations want to here.  No, He says to spread the Word of God.  The word of God is the whole Truth, the Bible in its entirety, and nothing less.  Listen to this sermon, I believe Mr. Conlon is a Pentecostal.  I do believe that we can unite across denominations on a lot of issues, one being this one.  I am including a link to the full version of this Sunday sermon by Carter Conlon.

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=1724

I would love to hear your thought on this sermon as well, not just the video clip.  If you do have thoughts, I am interested to see your reactions, Biblical or not.  Thank you, and I hope you enjoy.

Proverbs 28:2

2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily.
But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.

Micah 2:11

8 Yet to this very hour
my people rise against me like an enemy!
You steal the shirts right off the backs
of those who trusted you,
making them as ragged as men
returning from battle.
9 You have evicted women from their pleasant homes
and forever stripped their children of all that God would give them.
10 Up! Begone!
This is no longer your land and home,
for you have filled it with sin
and ruined it completely.

11 Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you,
“I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!”
That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!

Matthew 7:15-20

15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

II Timothy 3:13-17

13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.
14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

II Peter 1:19-21

19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines* in your hearts.20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding,*21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

Galatians 6:7-10

7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Mark 16:14-19

14 Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.*
15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.*18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”
19 When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.