Drunks, Children, Leggings and Jesus

Somehow I do believe there is some truth in this picture.
If you've ever sat at a bar and listened to the person who sits alone and has had a few, they are bound to tell you their life story, whether you know them or not. They will share even the most embarrassing things with you, usually in order to gain your sympathy. Secrets also get revealed when a bunch of friends have partied a little bit too much and someone decides to be cute and tell on someone, thinking that it is going to be funny. Most of the time it only hurts someone and usually backfires on the person who told it.

Children, on the other hand, do not need any substances to blurt out their feelings, especially the very young. Many of them are just learning social manners and they may not have a grasp on what to say and when to say it. They are exposed to all sorts of things that they hear their parents and others who are around them talking about, and in order to try to fit into a conversation and feel "grown up" like the others, they will speak their minds on what they observe or have heard. We've all cringed when a child jumps in the middle of a conversation and blurts out something that the parent didn't want repeated. Kids just want to fit in and a lot of what they say comes from what they hear.

Leggings. Well, there isn't much that I can say that everyone hasn't seen at some point in time. All you have to do is view a few of those "People of Walmart" slideshows to realize that while people may be trying to look cute, sexy, hip, or whatever, they generally fall far, far short of their goal.

But there is one who will always tell the truth because they are the truth.

John 14:1-11

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” ⁸ Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. ¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.”

Too many times we are searching for "the truth" when it is right there staring us in the face. We don't know who to trust, unless you go by the new adage, "If it's on the internet, it must be true." Believe me, don't fall for that or it will be your downfall, no matter what the subject is.
Last week we met this wonderful couple at the movie theater while standing in line to get into a screening, and we hit it off. The husband and I are like two peas in a pod and I can tell, we're going to get into some trouble with our wives at some point, as we like to joke and cut up a lot. So they invited us to a bible study that they have at their house. Turns out they are studying the bible prophecies, traditions of the Jewish people and how they apply to our lives, along with the fulfillment of the prophecies. It is a time of sharing and a lot of deep thinking as we work our way through the bible. The Torah, or the first 5 books of the bible is where the emphasis is, along with how it is repeated all through the bible, including the New Testament, and learning our Jewish heritage allows us to understand the words of God and what Jesus was trying to tell us while he walked this earth.
In case you're wondering, no, I'm not Jewish by birth. But I am a child of God, and since Jesus was a Jew, that would have to make me a Jew also. (Besides, all are in the lineage of Adam and Eve, so we're all kin somewhere down the line).
For anyone who knew the Torah in the New Testament days, whether they lived it or not, Jesus' true identity was not a secret or mystery to them. His words and actions fulfilled all that was told that would come about eventually. One great example being the woman at the well. Though her lifestyle did not show it, she still knew the Torah and the prophecies of the Messiah. So when she was in his presence, her teaching from her heritage allowed her to realize that Jesus was the Messiah. The words of the bible and Jesus still give us a lot to lessons and examples to live by. We don't have to go searching the internet for what is right. We have the truth before us, and it isn't told by man's words, but by God's words as recorded by man.
So when you're searching for the truth, learn the truth from the one who created everything, even "truth." That way you won't need to hear it from the drunk at the bar, see it in the revealing clothes that someone wears, or hear it from the mouths of babes who mumble through the duck tape. You can get it from the original source, and know that it can be trusted!

(5) Never in its entire 100-year history has one of its pastors had to buy any meat or vegetables.

(5) Never in its entire 100-year history has one of its pastors had

to buy any meat or vegetables.

I can remember growing up when the pastor would come to our house to visit. It was guaranteed to be one of the times when meat appeared at the table. The pastor was always served first, grownups next, then the kids last if any was left over. Usually fried chicken, pork chops, ham or roast beef was the entrée with vegetables that were freshly picked that day or had been canned the past summer. You always knew you would eat good when the pastor showed up.

I can also remember my grandmother telling about a kid up the street when my mom was young. His father was very abusive and he often times threw him out of the house, even in the winter. Nana, my name for my grandmother, would see him and call for him to come to the house. There he would sit with the others and have a hot meal in a safe warm house, and a lot of times he slept on the couch until time to go to school the next day, or try to go to his house and see if his father would let him in.

My mom and her parents were good people and I think this is just one example of many that I was taught that showed their true Christian heart.

Too bad we don’t have more people like this. We hear about a family losing their home (foreclosure rates here in the United States are at an all time high right now) and we go, “Oh too bad, I’ll pray for them that they will be alright.” Or, “God will take care of them, so they will be alright.”

HOW ABOUT:

“I have a spare room(s) that they can stay in instead of having to live in their car or a shelter. The pantry is full and the freezer needs to be emptied, so tell me how I can get in touch with them.”

Yes, God is capable of taking care of them. But don’t you think that He can use you to accomplish that task? He could make a house “magically” appear if He wanted to for them to step right into, or He can use you to learn how to give and give joyfully. Life is always going to be about helping others. If we don’t help others, why should someone help you?

And how about let’s start helping at home. Like I’ve said before, I’m not against helping others in other places. But let’s start making sure our own people are taken care of too. Quit worrying about some child that may or may not be starving in some other country and make sure the kid in the street has some clothes and food to eat. Once we take care of our own and our people are blessed, blessings will be overflowing and can be given as needed to far away places.

Notice that Jesus always fed those around Him. He never sent someone with monies or food to another land or place to be taken care of. If He is going to be our example, shouldn’t we follow in His footsteps. Take care of those around us first, then let the blessings flow from there.

I'm a child of the King

From Previous Blog:

Children and Youth committees need to have someone who has a child that is full time in their home in that age group. A senior or junior in high school should serve on the committee (rules can determine if they have a vote or not) so that the young people have a voice in what happens in their ministry. Kids know what kids want. Adults can decide if it is appropriate or not.

I have known churches where the only people on a Youth/Children’s committee were on Social Security already, and some didn’t even have grandchildren active in the church. The problems manifested themselves tremendously and they showed like eyesores. Activities from 50 years ago were suggested and given, and the attendance lacked because of it. Young families pulled out and took their kids to another church where the offering was more up to date.

Now I’m not saying that you can’t use the things of old. I think some things should be put back.

For instance, bible drills. One of the best ways to get a child to learn the books of the bible is to have them do bible drills. In case you are not familiar with them, this is what you do:

Have the children/youth line up in a row facing you. One hand is underneath the bible, one hand is on top of the bible. The adult calls out a book, chapter and verse. When you say the info, the child/youth searches for the scripture and when they have it, they step forward. Give a few of them time to find it, and then call on one of them randomly to read it. That way you know that they have found the actual correct scripture and it also gives them practice speaking in public. Two great lessons, and hopefully something about the verses will stick with them too.

Okay, back to the topic. Find out what children/youth like and incorporate it into your time with them. The best way to know what kids want is to have a parent/guardian on the team/committee that works with them. They see what their kids spend time doing, and they know what will reach out to them.

And kids/youth aren’t stupid either. Put an older youth on the committee. Let them have a voice in ideas that you may not think of, especially if it has been awhile since you were in that age group. They do not necessarily have to be given a vote, but draw ideas and input on your ideas from them. Two things are accomplished.

They learn how committees work. They feel that they are being a part of the church, and not just an attendee. This also gives motivation for others to aspire in the church so that they can serve as well.

Our children/youth of today are our leaders tomorrow. Don’t keep them in the dark until they get a plate full shoved at them with no utensils to use or choose from. Quality leadership is taught, not given. Let’s start now before it’s too late!