Finding the problem              

  Last time we talked about  2Tim.3:16-17 "All scripture is..."  We used these verses as a foundation if you will in teaching... our children.  With a main point that God's law, rules... are needed to be followed...  It is easy to go to the rule broken and deal with the problem.  You stole so blank.

  But training is more than black and white.  Yes in some ways it is.  As parents (mature) we need to be asking the questions; Why did this wrong behavior manifest?  or How did this wrong behavior manifest?  Which brings us to 1 John 2:16 "For everything in the world-  the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in ones possessions- is not from the Father, but is from the world."

  Here we have 3 worldly traits if you will.  

  1.  lust of the flesh: pertain to our flesh or senses... over indulgences and/or partaking in a wrong manner... or partaking in wrongful actions...

  2. lust of the eyes:  seeing and wanting or coveting,  not content with...

  3. Pride: puffing oneself up,  look at me... look what I have...  I'm better...

  When we start acting worldly,  we are moving away from acting Godly.  So as we train our children and our selves we need to be mindful of these 3 area's .  So to teach and correct our children and our selves.  So we can look at an action, situation... and put it into on of the 3 traits. Saying "Oh my the lust of the eyes is at play"  for example.  So many times as parents we just act.  How much more if we recognize the why... and help them with the struggle...It's a battle!

                      A principle in child training               

  Have you ever heard the saying; "I wish someone told me that years ago."  Or something similar?  Sometimes it is a matter of us not listening... or not filtering.  Sometimes it is forgetting... or just not putting it into practice...

  So today we are going to look at a familiar Scripture.  

  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 16-17

    What I would like us to do is apply this to working with our children.  But I would like to address us as adults first.  We must believe that all scripture is from God!  The word of God... and to that it is profitable!  

    -For TEACHING  We need to be teaching God's word to our children.  The 10 commandments... Godly principles... Bible stories of Faith, trust...

   -For REPROOF  That is blame for doing something wrong.    

     2 Points                                                                                                                                                                                               1 .  remember that it is God's law that is broken                   (which is more important that our personal home rules)   2. Disappointment verses anger...  

 -FOR CORRECTION  Communication not just punishment...

    Remember love mercy forgiveness patience kindness

  -COMPLETE    no matter what you believe you need the Word of God;  which leads you to Jesus Christ.  That is how you become complete and equiped for every good work.

  As parents we need to be teaching principles of God's word... living these principles...  ya reproof but correcting in a loving way. Showing good works.  Guiding to do works works.  Praising good works...   

A call battle of covid 19

                                        A call to all believers

                                       A battle has been raging

  Here we are another day!  A day in which many things are happening just in my small area of life.  A day in which many things are happening in everyones small area of life.  

  People going to work, people working from home.  People going to School, people do school remotely... People driving cars, people walking... People out and about, people at home.  Many things being done through out the day!

  But today there is still a cloud.  A cloud that is touching everyone.  Some with A violent storm, some with rain, some with a sun less sky and some with fog.  We have names for this cloud.  We call it a pandemic, we call it covid... it is real.  It is in all our small area of life! It doesn't matter who you are, it is affecting you.  

  As believes in our Lord Jesus Christ this cloud is still real.  It is affecting the people of God!  It is an attack if you will.  An attack that yes we may recognize (some of us) but an attack that is still going on.  We need to fight this attack personally but more importantly together.  As the Church.  The Church of Jesus Christ.

 We need to be united in this battle!  A battle that needs unity of it's soldiers.  A battle plan that the army of Jesus Christ is following.  We need to unite.  We need to unite as The Church of Jesus Christ in prayer.  We need to unite as local Churches of Jesus Christ in prayer.  Corparate prayer!  (yes, it is given that some Churches are doing) But what if this Sunday and next every local Church takes a time in prayer for this one attack;  the pandemic, covid...  That even maybe we would bend our knee.  That even maybe we would fast;  A Day, A morning.  If only we would humble  our selves and pray... 2Chron.7:14

One bad act

A terrible act!  Hard to believe! Still harder that it could have been stopped!  This one terrible act has put the Country in turmoil.  It is hard to believe what is happening.
  This one act has triggered more acts of violence... It has triggered more than that; a lack of trust, respect, love and... From one victim to many!
 Justice is the cry!  Yes, justice needs to be enforced! No one wants justice to be selective.  At the same time should justice be enforced for the ones looting(stealing), for the ones setting fires(arson), for the ones causing harm, for the ones trying to kill.  Justice is the cry! 
  This is America!  It is 2020 and we need to unite not only for justice but for the respect... of every man, women, child and yes babies. Everyone matters!  When you start leaving someone out terrible things happen.  We need to love one another
  Just one more note.  Your house is being rob!  Someone is stealing your car!  Someone is breaking in your house!  Your home is on fire!  The list goes on... Who are you going to call?  The Ghost Busters?  No the police!  Yes their are a lot of good police officer's!  Risking their lives to serve the public.  Some have given their lives!  Think about that.

Who's watching

   As we go through this corona thing, we need to remember our walk.  The walk of a Christian.  The walk as a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ.  The walk before God the Father.  This walk is on earth.  Not only is it before God it is infront of men, women and children.  Not only men women and children but principalities and powers...
  Our walk is vital today! It is vital tomorrow...  Yes people are watching... But sadly we act as if it doesn't not matter.  We say things, we voice our oppinions, we accuse, we blame, we demand...
  Our children are watching, listening... Yes times are hard...  But as Christians we have a God who cares...  Who is alive and well.  He is active in our lives!  We have a Savior the Lord Jesus!  Who is alive and well; seated at the right hand of God.  We have the Holy Spirit; the helper of the believer.  Wow!
  But there is all this rebelious talk...  Some just defiant of the goverment...  Some just so selfish that their "freedom" is more important than the health of others and even the life of others.  Wow! 
  Romans 13:1-2 "Every person is to be in subjection to the Governing authorities.  For there is no authority execpt from God, and those which exist are established by God.  Therefore whoever resist authority has opposed the odinance of God; and they who have opposed will recieve condemnation upon themself."
 There is the word of God! For the believer and the unbeliever.  Who is watching you? Me?  First of all, our children.  Are we teaching them rebelious action... Oh some will argue, but my rights... How shallow an arguement... My lively hood... How shallow!  My freedom... How shallow! 
  How about friends?  Are you a good example... Helping encouraging... or are you a stubbling block?  The out side world is watching...  Are they saying look at those Christians, not obeying authority... Now I hear all the back lass and arguements...  This social distance thing is hoefully only for 6-8 weeks.  There is a reason!  Just look at New York City this could easily be every large city or town!  As believer's in Christ Jesus we need to  be an example of following authority...  Praying for our leaders... Praying against this virus... Praying against evil... and ...
Who is watching you?  God

In times like this Corvid-19

Corvid-19 a term that will be remembered for a long time.  Something that has affected the World and the people in it. These last few weeks of quarantine have been different.  My little part of the world, children are not going to school, people are working from home and some are not working. Stores closed... But most people are staying home... doing their part. 
  I try not to watch too much news; it's just sad how they do their job.  It is also sad to see the protest... and to hear people complaining about their rights... Oh it's just another flu... Well it is a type of flu but more deadly. What is the death rate?  3-4% or more. How easily we forget how the flu would affect schools.  Think about it.  Think about it employers how many call in sick with the flu. Think about how contagious it is!  Can you picture what it would be like if we did not do what is required!  Schools with 2,3 or more deaths.  That is Kinder garden, elementary, junior high, high school, trade schools and colleges... Or even some families with more than one death.
  Is it that important, your rights! Or is it more important life?  I choose life.  The life of my wife and children. I choose life of the couple across the street. I choose life of the couple next door with the new baby. I choose life of the families up the street with children. I choose life!
  Far be it for me to be that person not doing my part or advocating against... that the virus would spread by me and one person would die. What would a familiy think of that person who knowingly put people in harms way and the worst happened. 
  I choose life!  I choose to love my neighbors.
  I choose life!  I choose to love!

A storm

  It has been awhile since I have posted.  As I look out my window the last few days; I have seen beautiful sunrises, blue skies...  Today the sky is filled with clouds, a storm is coming.  But even through the clouds the light breaks through.
  Our God's light always breaks through!  That light is His Son our Lord Jesus.  
  These last few weeks a storm has come.  A big storm.  A storm that has encompassed nations. A storm that has invoked fear...  Filling our minds with all types of questions.  I hear the news casters it seems bleak... blame game... politician? financial gain...
  But even with all that I see people standing firm doing the recommendations of our leaders. Not really hard things but inconvenient things. Some putting them self in harms way to help other. 
  As believer's in Jesus Christ we need to be at the for front as making a different.  Prayer, even the more! 
Men you/we need to be leading our families more. Start praying, then start praying with you wife; your children...  
  Men start reading the word of God!  Then start reading the word with  your wife, with your children.
  Men start humbling yourself before our God. 2 Chronicles 6:12-42
Confess our/your sin before God.  He is faithful and just. 1 John 1:8-9
  Love is an action word.  Men we need to step up our game!  We need to do more for our God. Loving Him more... Then showing the love of God in our home, starting with our wife, then our children, then to others. 
  You see even in this storm The light of Jesus Christ will shine. In this storm the light of Jesus Christ in us needs to shine!  Remember; where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name I am in the mist of them.Matt.18:20
  A little side encouragement/challenge start reading the bible with your family daily.  Be it only one verse. Maybe missing Sunday because you went to Church together.