Be of a good cheer (by Joseph)

Do you spread cheer or discouragement? A boy went to visit his friend Gabe. Gabe was having trouble with his math and said that he was dumb but his friend said "you are not dumb. You are just having trouble with your math. You can still be an engineer." That encouraged him. But if he said to Gabe "you're dumb" that would not make him feel good. So do not put people down. Speak kindly to people, it can make a big difference. If they are doing wrong it is important to speak to them with love in a nice voice why you think they are wrong. With genuine love in our hearts for the other person, we can speak the truth and be of good cheer. PHILIPPIANS 4:4-5

A Clear Conscience and Good Relationships (by Katrina)

In reading Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends-
most people desire to have good relationships, but a clear conscience is necessary to have good relationships. Our conscience can be clear, it can be guilty, or it can be dead. A dead conscience is guilty but denies the guilt and says everything is OK; it happens when we disobey so much that it no longer bothers us. A guilty conscience is guilty but does not want to confess what it has done because it is afraid of getting in trouble; it gets more and more guilty because it does not confess. A clear conscience is where it does something bad but it is bothered by it so it confesses. Psalm 32:1-5

Confessing our mistakes makes for good relationships because it builds trust in the other person and makes us want to do better next time. It makes us responsible. Six important words are "I AM SORRY" and "WILL YOU FORGIVE ME", but they must come from the heart and not just our lips. A dead conscience ruins relationships and a guilty conscience avoids relationships, but a good conscience builds relationships. 2 Timothy 1:3

Traditions of Man or the Word of God (by Jessica)

Statistics indicate (see previous blog about young people leaving the church) that christian education in evangelical churches is failing. Children who attend Sunday school are more likely to leave the church than those who don't. The number of youth pastors has increased dramatically over the past 30 years but the number of young people continuing in their faith through college is plummeting.


Ken Ham (in his book Already Gone) suggests that even though the research data suggests that the church may be better off by eliminating these programs, that would be too radical. He wants to be "solution" oriented, to focus on the positive rather than be negative. Mr. Ham suggests a makeover of cirriculum and teachers as a starting point. Cirriculum needs to be more apologetic, focusing on specific answers to specific questions and issues common in our culture. Teachers need a new passion and sense of awe in representing God before students.


Mr. Ham's solutions to revitalize a christian education (CE) program that appears to have an 80% failure rate are not new and the problems he is trying to solve are not new. What is new is the accelerating rate of failure and the statistical research to prove it. How long will our churches continue to pursue what is failing, and failing quickly? We need to seek a biblical answer rather than one steeped in man's wisdom. The church's response in times of decline has often been pragmatism, that is, to become more relevant, creative, entertaining, and stimulating in the eyes of man, which has meant a step back from God.

In his final chapter, "Welcome to the Revolution", Mr. Ham suggests that to change the trend we need reform in four areas- parents, christian educators(defined as Sunday school and elementary Christian school teachers), youth pastors, and pastors. Mr. Ham starts with parents and says this, "If our survey should teach you anything, it's that you can no longer depend on the Sunday school and youth ministries in your church to educate your kids in the things of God. In all honesty, this was never their responsibility in the first place. This is your job; this is your responsibility; you need to step up to the plate and take charge." To each of the other three groups targeted for reform, Mr. Ham offers soul searching action points, and yet these challenges are not new, but rather, are good reminders. A refreshing challenge to youth pastors was to "equip the parents"; and don't just say that but actually make it a priority.

One is left, again, with a certain disconnection between church and reality. Statistics shout that Sunday school isn't working and yet man says "let's be positive, it just needs reform". Mr. Ham tells parents they cannot depend upon and look to the church to teach their kids the things of God but his solution amounts to updating the potency of the drugs that parents are so addicted to (ie Sunday school, youth groups, children's church, VBS, etc) for teaching their children about God. If we continue 'as is' we indeed become irrelevant and even hypocritical because we know it isn't working but continue to go through the motions because we honor the traditions of men more than the word of God. Jesus Christ, the head of the church, is bringing about encouraging change.

Looking at the bigger picture (by Katrina)

In reading Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends, I have been learning how the big picture helps me get along with my family. The big picture is loving my brothers and sister so that there will be generations of godly families that love God and each other. But I must start loving my brothers and sisters now if I want to have generations of godly families. I don't know what the future holds but if I have strong, loving relationships with my brothers and sisters, when something bad happens they will be my closest friends and a source of strength . If my sister takes one of my toys and I want that toy now and I grab it, I am just looking at the little picture and thinking about me. I could ask for the toy nicely and not grab it. It helps me to look at the bigger picture while I am living with my brothers and sisters.

Psalm 145: 4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. (NKJV) Posted by- Katrina

Contentment (by Rebecca)

I read a story that dealt with contentment in a book called Raising Maidens of Virtue. Contentment is a big problem today. The opposite of being content is coveting. Coveting means desiring something too much. And too much is measured by how that desiring compares to desiring God. If desiring leads you away from God rather then closer to God, it is covetousness. If you put your desires over God it is idolatry. Idolatry is sin.

Only God can give us true contentment. There are many places in the Bible where there are stories of people, such as Paul, being content with their situation. Consider the Israelites, who were thankful to God that He led them out of captivity, but when they got to thinking about the food they left behind in Egypt, they started to become discontent. We do the same thing. We are given a gift; perhaps from God or from a person but we focus on the gift and forget the giver.

So how do we stay content? Instead of trying to persuade ourselves to be happy in our circumstances (to be needed, to be beautiful, to be noticed, to be important etc.) we need to believe and trust God's goodness for our lives in what He has already given to us and promised to us. Philippians 4:11-13 Paul talks about learning to be content in whatever situation he is in. Storing God's word in our hearts can help with staying content. Psalms 119:11 says "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you".

Another way we can be content is to be mindful of who we look up to. We can pick out peers whose lives show that God is their greatest treasure and "keep our eyes on them". It is a way to fight covetousness. Philippains 3:17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

Be a Man (by Joseph)

There was a boy at the dentist office. He did not want to be there and did not want any pain so he was being whiney. He did not listen to the dentist and the dentist said, "Be a man." The boy said, "I do not want to be a man." The dentist could not believe that, because God made boys to become men.

TV commercials and movies often make fun of manhood. Manhood is not easy but you can do it. An example is the boy was being whiney and did not sit up at the dentist office. Manhood is like that. When your day is not going well, instead of whining, one should sit up, but it may not be easy. Boys used to be taught that it was their job to provide the money, but even that has been changing. Fewer young men are ready or able to provide the money to support their families.

But the most important thing as a dad is not your job, it is what takes place in your home, taking care of problems and spending time with your family. Providing the money is important,but loving God's word, reading the Bible to your family, and loving your family is more important. This is what it means to be a man. This will help us prepare to become young men.

(Taken from Boyhood and Beyond)

The Fence Dwellers (by Rebecca)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 [NKJV]

Once there was a Gardener who planted a beautiful garden with almost every kind of flower and bush. Next to the flower was a rock pit that was gray and ugly. The flowers that were next to the pit started to turn their heads to the rocks and imagine what it would be like to be strong and smooth. The rocks didn't produce any seed but the flowers didn't care. As the flowers continued to look upon the rocks they began to covet the strength and size of the rocks. The flowers started to despise themselves and these flowers became known as the Fence Dwellers. The fence dwellers started to rip off their beautiful petals and they even went as far as to put clay on themselves and crouch down wanting ever so much to be like the rocks. Wanting to be something they were not created for. The fence dweller's stories soon spread to the younger flowers and the young flowers began to do the same things as the fence dwellers only they only tore a few of their petals and covered themselves only half way with clay. The fence dweller's stories spread to the rest of the flowers and soon afterward the whole garden was covered in clay. The Gardener sadly walked through his once beautiful garden and said to the garden, "Why did you do this to yourselves? Don't you know that I created you for a purpose ? Why have you rejected me?" The fence dwellers didn't hear him. The clay had suffocated them and they died without producing any seed.
Then it started to rain and the rain washed the flowers clean and from that day on they were happy to be what they were created to be.
This story is taken from the book called Raising Maidens of Virtue written by Stacy McDonald.
The rocks in this story represent men, the flowers women, and the Gardener is God.

The flowers lost their purpose. They wanted to be like the rocks but they weren't made to be rocks. Who were women created for? 1 Corinthians 11:8-9 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the women, but woman for man. [NKJV]

What effect did the fence dwellers stories have on the other flowers and why?
It is similar to girls that might be dressed immodestly having an influence on the young Christain lady. The fence dwellers stories seemed so bold and confident and powerful that the younger flowers started to remove their petals, wanting to be like them, yet knowing that this was not natural. Sometimes we listen to music and wear clothing that probably isn't the most modest or appropriate but we compare ourselves to the world's standard rather then scripture. Romans 12:1

The fence dwellers died without seed...
Only a woman can carry in her body the miracle of life. Only a woman can conceive and nurture this life with her own flesh and blood. Only in a woman's body can take place the uniting of mortal flesh and a living, eternal soul. This is a genuine gift, given by God, that can take place only in a woman's body and it will never be changed by lawmakers or scientist.

Today many woman are choosing not to create life. The more educated we become the less children we seem to have. We opt for career rather than life and raising children. Birth rates in the most developed nations fall short of population replacement rates, alarmingly so.

I am not supposed to dress modestly just because my parents say to and because it looks nice. These are important reasons. But I have learned that most of all I am to dress modestly because it pleases my heavenly Father. When I choose what to wear I should be thinking of others, would I cause someone [male or female] to stumble because of how I dress? Would I rather please God or man?

This story has helped me to think rightly, to stand against a culture that so strongly influences young girls to conform to a standard that leads to destruction. As girls, we can dress immodestly and not even think about the reason for doing it. I am really thankful that I have been taught how and why to dress modestly. I am sorry to see that many other girls don't know this. What is a young girl to do or how should we then live? We can live by example in how we dress and act, living to a higher standard which pleases our heavenly Father. We can speak the truth in love when opportunity is given but we must be ready to do it. And we can pray.
Posted by:
Rebecca

Admit It! (by Joseph)

I am reading a book called Boyhood & Beyond by Bob Shultz. In the chapter called Admit It, there was a man driving his friends home and his friends were dodging things. Something flew by him and he turned the steering wheel and hit another pickup. His friends wanted him to keep going; not to tell the man sorry. But he told the man sorry and the man that was taking his friend's home paid for the damage on the other man's pickup. After a few months he got it paid and they were good friends.

Another example the book gave was there was a man working by a bathtub. He dropped an air gun and it shot a nail through the bathtub. He thought that nobody would notice but then he knew that somebody would find out about it. He told his manager about it, that he was sorry. The man that was nailing was happy because the bathtub had not passed it warrenty. He learned that when you tell somebody that you did something wrong right away, that God will bless you for that.

What I learned was that when you do something wrong, if you do not tell somebody and somebody finds out, you will be in worse trouble. When you do something wrong and you have the first chance to tell, do it because it will just get worse if you don't tell.

Written by Joseph

Young People Leaving the Church (by Jessica)

When people think about the younger generation leaving the church they think about the college kids. They are the ones physically leaving the church. But when do their hearts start to leave the church? When do they start to doubt the Bible and what is being taught to them? Well, 39.8% first start doubting in middle school, 43.7% start doubting in high school and 10.6% start having doubts in college. What percent of kids go to church? It starts at 95% going to church regularly during elementary and middle school, 55% going regularly during high school and 11% going regularly during college. The most kids leave church mentally during middle school and high school. (Surveys are of Evangelicals in America)
If you look at the church in England you will see very little. Most of their churches are either dead or dying. The churches that are empty are not honored as being a church. They are being turned into: bars, restaurants, strip clubs, museums etc. England used to be a Christan nation but now that has declined. The same thing is happening to America. The church is dying. The college kids aren't coming back to church. There is the exception, of course, but for the most part they are not coming back. Some of the top 10 reasons for leaving the church are: 12% Boring service, 12% Legalism,11% Hypocrisy of leaders, 10% Too political, 9% Self righteous people,7% Distance from home, 6% Not relevant to personal growth,6% God wouldn't condemn to hell, 5% Bible not relevant or practical, 5% Couldn't find preferred church in area.
(Info taken from book I've been reading; Already Gone by Ken Ham and Britt Beemer)
Parents say that their kids won't leave church if they bring them to Sunday school, youth group, church etc. But they are leaving the church. The church is losing 61% of its young people. Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Adults expect young people to rebel. So the young people are. They are leaving church as quick as they can. Deut. 6:6-7 And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.(NKJV) The church can't teach everyone's children all day as parents can. God gave that responsibility to parents. Sunday school teachers only spend around 45 minutes each Sunday teaching children. Most of that is telling Bible stories. There is nothing wrong with Bible stories but are Bible stories going to be enough to get them through high school and college? Will 45 minutes a week be enough? Let's say parents, taught their children for an hour each day. That would be 7 hours a week and 365 hours a year. In Sunday school the time that children spend learning is about 36 hours a year. Parents can decide what to talk about. For example, our dad might read an article that he might or might not like. If it is something that we need to talk about, we talk about it. I personally have learned more from this than I ever did in Sunday school. Instead of the church teaching the young people our family believes that it is the parents responsibility and the parents gift to teach their children. - posted by
Jessica

Not Being Caught Off Guard (by Katrina)

The book I have been reading is called Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends

The part I have been reading is by Grace Mally a 12 year old girl.

Grace was sitting in the car and Sarah said, "let's write a book to help brothers and sisters". Grace thought "another one of Sarah's big ideas". They have seen familys not get along. So they agreed to write the book. They said we shoudn't be suprised if it is hard to get along. The very first brothers on earth fought. They fought and Cain even killed his brother Abel.

When we say something without thinking about it it can lead to trouble. Some years ago Grace's dad had gallbladder surgery. That night after the surgery Grace's dad was very sore. Grace's mom had to help Grace's dad get into the bed. In the night the phone started ringing. Grace's dad got out of bed and ran to the phone. Then he remembered the surgery. In the same way, we can be caught off guard in our family and that can cause problems.

This book helps me not to be caught off guard when my brothers and sisters say or do something I don't like. It helps me not to say something bad. It helps me to be aware of it so I am not caught off guard and then all of a sudden say something bad. - posted by Katrina

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.