Archive for March, 2009

School Mad Lib

There are times in this world when I see things and I just wonder what in the world are we thinking.  We have come so far as a society, in good ways and bad ways.  But some things are just so blatantly obvious that we should be able to look at it and go; “You know that really isn’t a good idea”.

There are many studies and surveys that show that sex between students while in school is increasing and that the age is getting younger and younger all the time.  And so many are just shocked at this and wonder how did we get to this point.  Well, let me give you a small example and a suggestion as how we could possibly be contributing to the cause of these activities.   The image that I have included in this post was an exercise that my forth grader (sounds like an appropriate age until you say her age…she is 9!) was asked to do during school as a English activity.  This is a mad lib that they then read a story to inserting whatever they put there, I am sure that you all remember mad libs.  The part that I don’t know but I am going to find out is what was the story? 

Now, luckily because we are very active in our child’s life and have already talked with her and have set her focus and expectations about school and dating she was not even fazed by this exercise.  But what is this teaching our kids about  the focus and objective of school?  If we begin to indoctrinate our children this young with the concept of dating and the need to be attached in this way to a child of the opposite sex there should be no surprise that they are having sex at 12 years old.  Lets face it, the point of dating is to find a spouse, someone that we can spend the rest of our lives with and unite with.  Why do we want our elementary age students focusing on this?

The last part to this is not what we as parents or adults think but what God thinks about it.  We know specifically about sex that it was intended by God to be between a man and a woman after they were married and it was an act of sealing by blood this covenant that the made with God. Scripture tells us:

Genesis 2:20-24 (NIV)
{20} So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. {21} So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. {22} Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. {23} The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman, ‘ for she was taken out of man.” {24} For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

The word for ‘united’ (NIV) or ‘cleave’ (KJV) is the Hebrew ‘debaq’ meaning  to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere; fig. to catch by pursuit:–abide, fast, cleave (fast together), follow close (hard, after), be joined (together), keep (fast), overtake, pursue hard, stick, take.  So we see that God takes sex very seriously and so should we.  We should as parents instruct our children on God’s thoughts and not let others take the reigns and control how and when our children think that this act is OK.  We must understand that a lot of parents do not talk to their kids about this and so if you don’t your children are going to get the wrong information and be very confused.

And we must also remember that scripture tells us to cause a child to stumble is taken very serious by God.  In Matthew 18 Jesus tells us:

⁵“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. ⁶But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

We must as parents and as a society consider the things that we do and consider the consequences of those actions on the children.  But more importantly we as Christ followers need to consider the environments that our children are in and also teach our children God’s word so that they can refute evil with truth.  But here is the kicker for us as parents…WE CAN NOT IMPART WHAT WE DON”T HAVE!!  So your asking well what does that mean?  Well that means if you don’t know the truth you can not teach it to your kids!  Parents you must read your Bible daily and understand it’s truths so that you can teach your children God’s ways.  Take time and talk with your kids about what is going on around them and teach them how God sees it!!

God Bless ~ Tyler

I have a list of pet peeves that seems to grow as I grow older. Number seven on that list is speaking to a customer service rep who cannot answer my questions. It’s kind of like an oxymoron. The whole point of asking a question is to receive a response. It’s impolite to not answer. And when a request seems unheard, it’s easy to feel ignored or insignificant

When we go to God in prayer, we go expecting an answer. We desperately want to know that He hears us and that He cares. When we inquire about the deepest issues of our hearts, we need to know that there is an answer and that we will receive it.

Jesus promises that if you ask, you will receive. If you seek, you will find and if you knock, the door will be opened for you (Matthew 7:7). We have a promise that our prayers will be heard AND answered.

But what happens when the answers aren’t so clear? What do you do when what you’ve been fervently praying for doesn’t happen? This is what is called the “School of the Hard Knocks.” Typically that phrase refers to the knowledge you gain from life’s negative experiences. Here, it is the lessons we learn as we persistently ask, seek, and knock. It is the growth we experience as we wait for our prayers to be answered.

Waiting. There’s another item on my list of pet peeves. Possibly, number one. But it goes hand-in-hand with prayer.

We live in an “instant” society. I can send a message in an instant. I can prepare a meal in an instant (thanks to the microwave…the only real kitchen appliance I know how to work!!). I can download music in an instant. No wonder we’re so accustomed to instant gratification. So accustomed, in fact, that we expect instant answers from God.

Let’s be clear. He can answer in an instant. He can answer before you even ask the question. But often there will be a delay between the time you ask and the time you receive. This is the time when our faith is tested and strengthened.

Sometimes before prayer can be answered, we have to be changed. Perhaps when we are changed the nature of our prayer request will also change.

God is working while we wait. Don’t stop asking or seeking. Keep knocking.

Remember, patience is made perfect in the School of the Hard Knocks

God Bless ~ Tyler

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried  it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped  through it several time a day?

What if we turned  back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it  to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn’ t live without it?

What if we gave it to k ids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something  to make you go….hmm…where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more  thing.  Unlike our cell  phone, we don’ t have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill. 

As I spent all morning on the phone (on hold most of the time) with tech support for one of the vendors that I support I was intrigued with the thought of “What if God had tech support”.  What if when you were going through a valley, had a major decision to make, or just flat out needed to grieve and cry you could call and speak to Him and get all the answers to your questions (I assume that the number would be 1.800.God.sLuv!)

Well, fortunately for us He does have something similiar.  His tech support consists of the Bible, Worship, Prayer, and the Holy Spirit.   There is not a situation in life that we can not figure out some sort of solution through reading the scriptures and spending some time in prayer and Worship.  If we dedicate ourselves to this time with Him the Holy Spirit will speak to us and tell us God’s will.  Now that being said there are times when His will is for us to wait, or for us to get something right in our walk first, or better yet continue to ask and petition God.  Just because there is a lack of direction or even if there is a resounding GO we need to make sure that we are dedicated to that time with Him. 

As with any relationship to make it worth anything at all you have to spend quality time with the other individual so that you can know the other individual.  In our lives as Christians we must…MUST emulate Christ in all that we do.  The only way to do this is to know His actions, know His heart, and His character.

God Bless ~ Tyler