AN OPEN LETTER TO CHRISTIAN PARENTS( TRUTH NUMBER THREE IS A TOUGH ONE)

My LOVELY bride and I have been married for 29 years... the Lord has tremendously blessed US in so many ways.. our two grown children are  at the top of the blessing list.. don't worry... this isn't going to be a " brag- a-blog" about how wonderful our kids are.. I do that all the time... ;) this is more of an admonition blog... a warning blog.... or as we in the "church world " say.... a word of " exhortation"( that's a nice way of saying... " listen to me... cuz I am about to tell you something you need to do...:) well... in this case... I want to tell you WHat NOT TO DO....

LIKE MANY PARENTS... we taught our children All the " basics"  of the Christian faith... you know... stuff like :

1.)God loves you and sent JESUS to keep the Law for you and to suffer for your sin

2.)His love is a free gift... He loves you with all His love.

3.) Whatever He calls you to do... He will equip you.. He will guide you... He will provide.. no matter what your life's calling turns out to be...whether you are a doctor lawyer janitor or missionary.. He will work it all out according to His plan

Maria and I taught our children these truths...our church family taught our children these truths....we were thankful that "truths 1 and 2" took root... and The Father lovingly gave them new hearts so that they could REST in His love...

But... when it came to "truth number three".???....well......

My greatest fear... ( although... I would have NEVER ADMITTED IT) WAS that they would BELIEVE " truth number three)... because... deep down in my heart... I didn't believe it... especially the "MISSIONARY " part...I mean.. after all... missionaries lots of times have to raise their own support... it's a tough job...we have all heard the stories...

" the THING THAT I FEARED THE MOST CAME UPON ME"- CLAY CALLAWAY( the day his daughter told him she was going into full time ministry )

" the thing I FEARED the most came upon me AGAIN) CLAY CALLAWAY( the day his SON TOLD HIM HE WANTS TO GO INTO FULL TIME MINISTRY)

 I had it all planned out... Hannah would graduate from college.. get a job teaching school...and ministry could COME LATER... I TOLD HER "my" plan. ... she saw between the lines...she saw the subtitles of the language of fear that I spoke... the words scrolling across the bottom of the screen said the following: " get a REAL JOB... WITH A SECURE PAYCHECK.. MAKE SOME MONEY AND DO MINISTRY LATER...OR PART TIME"

My lines betrayed my heart... a heart of unbelief...

I had to confess... repent... and believe truth number three...

When I STARTED BELIEVING IN OUR FATHERS LOVE AND PROVISION..we saw many miracles... Our daughter felt that she received " my blessing" for the Lord's calling upon her life... yep... she had to raise her own support.. the Lord provides each and every month.. miracle after miracle unfolds before our eyes... the students that she works with are being reminded of the greatest gift of all.. the love of our Heavenly Father... those who support Hannah in her ministry with their prayers and financial gifts feel blessed to be able to give and partner in the spreading of the gospel... They believe truth number THREE... THEY UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS..

He really is our Loving Father.. He always provides... HE WANTS US TO TRUST HIM..

SO PARENTS... BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU TEACH YOUR CHILDREN... THEY WILL REALLY BELIEVE IT.. EVEN IF YOU DON'T...

" but seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.. and all these things shall be added unto you"

Next post: a report on what our son John Calvin is doing... He believed truth number three as well......:)

DO children "BELONG" to their Parents? ( Where do the Goat kids Belong?)

" We haven't had a very collective notion of" these are our children".. so part of it is we have to break through our kind of private idea that kids BELONG to their parents, or kids belong to their families, and recognize that kid's BELONG to whole communities, once it's everybody's responsibility and not just the households, then we start maker better investments" - Melissa Harris Perry MSNBC host speaking of the need for increased spending on public education.

Belong- definition- (THE FREE DICTIONARY by FARLEX- )

                             1.) to be the property or possession of
                              2.) to be bound to( a person, place, or club) by ties of affection, dependence, allegiance, or membership
                              3.) to have a proper or usual place

      when the MHP video hit the internet... those of us who consider our selves RIGHT wingers started SPEWING.. and as we say down here in the southland.., we started spewing a right smart.. I mean after all... here this woman seems to be saying that children dont REALLY BELONG to their parents... or to their families... well... I started studyin a right smart  on this here notion...... I took some time off from cleaning the barn to do a little googlin.. yep.. we git WI-FI down at the barn. and wouldnt ya know it?? I found  a dictionary... yeah.. look up there( or thar) ^. no .. a little HIGHER....

            well... if we use definition NUMBER ONE... we have to say that KIDS DONT BELONG to PARENTS, FAMILIES, OR COMMUNITIES. children are NOT PROPERTY.. they are NOT OWNED by anyone except the CREATOR GOD.

           If we use DEFINITION NUMBER TWO-.. we have to say YES,,, "kids" belong WITH their Parents, IN THEIR FAMILIES, and TO WHOLE COMMUNITIES...

          The QUESTION is: " who has the PRIMARY RESPONSIBILTY to raise, nurture, educate, and care for any child??? Which "entity" has been given that charge by the Triune God??? OF COURSE.. It's the FAMILY... the Family was instituted BEFORE THE CHURCH... and before GOVERNMENT FUNDED educational systems....

           OK.. thats all.... I gotta get back to the Goat barn... one of KIDS broke through the fence. he thinks he belongs in the other barn with the SHEEP he is such a young little kid... easily influenced..... I hope he does'nt get confused by hanging out with them.. before ya know it... he will forget that he's really a goat... he'll start acting like a sheep...and would'nt that be a collective shame???


                                                                       

A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM.( Valentine Lessons)

My wife and I work in Children's Ministry. I lead the Children's Church Team and MOST Sunday's I am not in the congregation with the " old people"..I am with the little Presbyterians.. leading THEIR Worship Service.. singing the hymns and Praise songs and reminding them that God's Love is a FREE GIFT- and that HE loves them with all HIS Love.. what a blessing to have such a joy-filled calling..  yes.. SOMETIMES.. I am in the service with the "old people".. and ok.. a little CONFESSION HERE : while the congregation is singing the songs.. I am looking down upon them from my place in the Balcony.. "checking on" some of my FORMER Little Presbyterians.. the children who have grown up under my ministry.. and watching the ones who will be with me in the Children's Worship in the years to come.. 

Yesterday.. there I was watching from my lofty perch.. my old eyes wandering to and fro .. looking for those who USED to be LITTLE Presbyterians.... yep.. there on the platform I see young people playing their instruments and lifting up their voices in song.. ALL for HIS Glory.. , helping the congregation to Worship.. My heart is warmed and my eyes are watery..

Then I see those who will be joining me soon.. Little boys and girls still small enough to be held in mom and dad's arms as the congregation stands and sings Praises.. Little Voices... proclaiming His Goodness... Little Hands raised toward heaven... ready to receive the Blessing that Jesus PROMISED them: " Let the little children come unto me and forbid them not.. for of such is the Kingdom of God"... I saw a sermon being "played out" before my eyes....

a darling little brown haired angel was being held by her mommy.. raising her hands.. singing His Praises...
she stopped singing.... then she leaned close into mommy's ear.. and whispered something... Mom leaned down to the pew with the little one.. and the tiny precious hands grabbed something from the seat of the pew... and held it up high as she began singing and praising again...   It was a Valentine Heart that she had surely made in Sunday School that morning... she held it up toward Heaven each time a Praise song was sung..
 
I know what the little Girl whispered to mommy... yep.. I could'nt hear from my place in the Balcony.. but my Heart told me... the little one whispered..' Mommy.. I wanna give my Heart to Jesus"...

Watery Eyes... and a Warm Heart.. Happy Valentine's Day