Monday, February 04, 2008
KNOW HEAVEN IS THEIR HOME
“And I will drive him like a peg in a firm place, and he will become a throne of glory to his father’s house.” - Isaiah 22:23
Isaiah prophesied about the soon coming seige of Jerusalem by Sennacherib’s army. The prophecy, called the “the valley of vision,” (22:1) included a specific reference about "Eliakim the son of Hilkiah” (22:20). Though most in Israel rebelled against God, the Lord recognized Eliakim as faithful and therefore called him to be His servant. God saw good in Eliakim and declared. “I will entrust him with…authority, and he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” (22:21b) In the midst of certain judgment, Eliakim would be secure “like a peg in a firm place.” God would honor him and his family, for he would “become a throne of glory to his father’s house.”
The hope of Christians rests in the promise that when God’s judgment comes, His people are saved. For example the Lord’s wrath fell upon Sodom, yet He delivered Lot. Again the Almighty judged Egypt, but He rescued Israel. Also the Lord sent Judah into exile for seventy years for their wickedness, but Jeremiah escaped the judgment. Most importantly, though many reject Christ as Savior and face eternal punishment, believers are sure that heaven is their everlasting home.
Families that last know heaven is their home. Because the Bible tells us so, believing households understand that this world will be judged. While living out life on this earth, every person has an opportunity to turn away from or toward God. According to Scripture, those who refuse Christ will die without hope and experience the judgment of the Lord. However, those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior fully trust that a better place waits for them. Wise families seek for every loved one in the home to settle their decision about accepting Jesus. When an entire household collectively agrees that Christ is their eternal life, both now and forever, they rejoice. Such homes live with a look to a forever future that is beyond their greatest imaginations.
How would each member of your household answer, “Do you know for certain that you will spend eternity with Christ?” Realize, families that last know heaven is their home.
Isaiah prophesied about the soon coming seige of Jerusalem by Sennacherib’s army. The prophecy, called the “the valley of vision,” (22:1) included a specific reference about "Eliakim the son of Hilkiah” (22:20). Though most in Israel rebelled against God, the Lord recognized Eliakim as faithful and therefore called him to be His servant. God saw good in Eliakim and declared. “I will entrust him with…authority, and he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” (22:21b) In the midst of certain judgment, Eliakim would be secure “like a peg in a firm place.” God would honor him and his family, for he would “become a throne of glory to his father’s house.”
The hope of Christians rests in the promise that when God’s judgment comes, His people are saved. For example the Lord’s wrath fell upon Sodom, yet He delivered Lot. Again the Almighty judged Egypt, but He rescued Israel. Also the Lord sent Judah into exile for seventy years for their wickedness, but Jeremiah escaped the judgment. Most importantly, though many reject Christ as Savior and face eternal punishment, believers are sure that heaven is their everlasting home.
Families that last know heaven is their home. Because the Bible tells us so, believing households understand that this world will be judged. While living out life on this earth, every person has an opportunity to turn away from or toward God. According to Scripture, those who refuse Christ will die without hope and experience the judgment of the Lord. However, those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior fully trust that a better place waits for them. Wise families seek for every loved one in the home to settle their decision about accepting Jesus. When an entire household collectively agrees that Christ is their eternal life, both now and forever, they rejoice. Such homes live with a look to a forever future that is beyond their greatest imaginations.
How would each member of your household answer, “Do you know for certain that you will spend eternity with Christ?” Realize, families that last know heaven is their home.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
THE FAMILIES OF VIRGINIA TECH
The nation and world continue to mourn over the massacre at Virginia Tech. We respond in shock, anger, fear, worry, and disbelief. How could that young man, Cho Seung-Hui, commit such evil? Many analyze the death of thirty-two students and the wounding of many others. Many scrutinize the images sent to NBC news and seek to peer into the mind of this madman. Many ponder, how did our world get in such a twisted condition?
For me, the root of this current crisis resides in the family. Something in the family-past took place to cause Seung gradually to emerge as a mass murderer. Imagine being an eight-year old boy removed from his native country. He left familiar surroundings to journey with the immediate family into American society. Such a move soon made him the target of his school mates. He was a foreigner who spoke funny and was very shy.
Somewhere in all this, the mom and dad needed to intervene and help the son deal with rejection. Apparently, nothing worked to prohibit the emotional distress of feeling rejected. Surely his mother and father had some knowledge of his struggles. Eventually Cho arrived at Virginia Tech and named himself "The Question Mark." Again, he lived isolated, alone, and continued to bore himself deeper into the dark world where the severely rejected may go. Ultimately this lead Cho Sueng-Hui to seek revenge, to destroy the innocent, and take his own life.
Time for the point: Parents, we better keep a very close, attentive eye and heart on our children. Rejection left unchecked can motivate our sons and daughters to become people we don't know. So, we must love and accept them with unconditional love. We must listen to them to learn of their challenges and fears. We must join them to overcome barriers and difficulties in their lives. We must insure them that they never have to face this big planet alone. Most importantly, we must teach them that Jesus Christ is the key to acceptance. In Ephesians 1:6 (KJV) we find that God has "accepted us in the Beloved." Mothers and fathers are responsible to secure this message into the spirit and mind of their children.
Parents, don't you dare ignore the message of Virginia Tech. Both the murderer, the murdered, and injured are someone's son or daughter. At the bottom of this horrible event is a story about families. Do all you can to love yours all you can as long as you can.
For me, the root of this current crisis resides in the family. Something in the family-past took place to cause Seung gradually to emerge as a mass murderer. Imagine being an eight-year old boy removed from his native country. He left familiar surroundings to journey with the immediate family into American society. Such a move soon made him the target of his school mates. He was a foreigner who spoke funny and was very shy.
Somewhere in all this, the mom and dad needed to intervene and help the son deal with rejection. Apparently, nothing worked to prohibit the emotional distress of feeling rejected. Surely his mother and father had some knowledge of his struggles. Eventually Cho arrived at Virginia Tech and named himself "The Question Mark." Again, he lived isolated, alone, and continued to bore himself deeper into the dark world where the severely rejected may go. Ultimately this lead Cho Sueng-Hui to seek revenge, to destroy the innocent, and take his own life.
Time for the point: Parents, we better keep a very close, attentive eye and heart on our children. Rejection left unchecked can motivate our sons and daughters to become people we don't know. So, we must love and accept them with unconditional love. We must listen to them to learn of their challenges and fears. We must join them to overcome barriers and difficulties in their lives. We must insure them that they never have to face this big planet alone. Most importantly, we must teach them that Jesus Christ is the key to acceptance. In Ephesians 1:6 (KJV) we find that God has "accepted us in the Beloved." Mothers and fathers are responsible to secure this message into the spirit and mind of their children.
Parents, don't you dare ignore the message of Virginia Tech. Both the murderer, the murdered, and injured are someone's son or daughter. At the bottom of this horrible event is a story about families. Do all you can to love yours all you can as long as you can.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Imus Proof Your Family
By now, the world knows that Don Imus is fired for his unseemly remarks. However, most of the world does not realize what actually causes Imus to be so ugly-mouthed.
To set this up consider the following.
His derogatory comments about the Rutgers' women basketball team violated two standards - racial and sexual. Notice what is at the root of each of these categories.
Race is about family. Whether we are black, brown, red, yellow, or white, we are what we are because of our families. Ultimately, negative racial statements are accusations about family life. Why? You speak against the family's skin color.
Sex is about family. One's gender is the result of birth is one's family. Ultimately, negative sexist comments ar e belittling words about family life. Why? You speak against the family's male or female child.
Now directly to Don Imus. What is the reason he talks the way he does? His dirty mouth certainly is his personal problem, but someone had to help shape the man he now is. A family breakdown exists somewhere in Imus' past that has created such a vulgar-talking person.
Parents are to train their children in all things, even their words. Moms and dads are responsible to teach little ones about Jesus and how He lives. The Lord speaks pure and holy language. In Ephesians 4:29 is this command. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those how hear."
My bet is that lodged within Imus' history is a family problem. In his life, Don Imus has been exposed to a lot of trashy conversation . His parents should have protected him and taught him to live on a higher level. What you find in the man today more than likely flowed in his boyhood family experiences. He should have had his mouth washed with soap or been spanked. Most of all, Don needed his parents to train him in the art of using wholesome words.
Imus' firing is a family issue!
To set this up consider the following.
His derogatory comments about the Rutgers' women basketball team violated two standards - racial and sexual. Notice what is at the root of each of these categories.
Race is about family. Whether we are black, brown, red, yellow, or white, we are what we are because of our families. Ultimately, negative racial statements are accusations about family life. Why? You speak against the family's skin color.
Sex is about family. One's gender is the result of birth is one's family. Ultimately, negative sexist comments ar e belittling words about family life. Why? You speak against the family's male or female child.
Now directly to Don Imus. What is the reason he talks the way he does? His dirty mouth certainly is his personal problem, but someone had to help shape the man he now is. A family breakdown exists somewhere in Imus' past that has created such a vulgar-talking person.
Parents are to train their children in all things, even their words. Moms and dads are responsible to teach little ones about Jesus and how He lives. The Lord speaks pure and holy language. In Ephesians 4:29 is this command. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those how hear."
My bet is that lodged within Imus' history is a family problem. In his life, Don Imus has been exposed to a lot of trashy conversation . His parents should have protected him and taught him to live on a higher level. What you find in the man today more than likely flowed in his boyhood family experiences. He should have had his mouth washed with soap or been spanked. Most of all, Don needed his parents to train him in the art of using wholesome words.
Imus' firing is a family issue!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Families That Last
This week the State of the Union for 2007 is presented for Americans and the world to digest. If we really want to know what is the true state of our union, we need a clearer focus. The president communication reports the fruit issues of our current situation, primarily Iraq. The root cause that truly defines America's life is the family.
As the family goes, so goes any nation. Even the war in Iraq, all its causes and effects, is ultimately a family-to-family conflict. Two sets of family groups with two sets of values, worldviews, and belief systems are at odds. Deep down Iraq is a family issue.
So America, whatever the major themes revealed by the president in the State of the Union, it's family rooted. The nation as a whole is the sum representation of the heart and soul of American families. Our individual household values eventually show up on the national and international scene. As Democrats and Republicans squabble, as reporters and commentators report about it, family will hardly be mentioned. But the truth is, even the ones who analyze the president's words are family members talking. And their views emerge from their family backgrounds and experiences more than we can imagine.
How is America doing? Look at the family. How are American families doing? Look at how each household relates to God. The root of the USA resides here. This is the true State of the Union.
As the family goes, so goes any nation. Even the war in Iraq, all its causes and effects, is ultimately a family-to-family conflict. Two sets of family groups with two sets of values, worldviews, and belief systems are at odds. Deep down Iraq is a family issue.
So America, whatever the major themes revealed by the president in the State of the Union, it's family rooted. The nation as a whole is the sum representation of the heart and soul of American families. Our individual household values eventually show up on the national and international scene. As Democrats and Republicans squabble, as reporters and commentators report about it, family will hardly be mentioned. But the truth is, even the ones who analyze the president's words are family members talking. And their views emerge from their family backgrounds and experiences more than we can imagine.
How is America doing? Look at the family. How are American families doing? Look at how each household relates to God. The root of the USA resides here. This is the true State of the Union.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Just getting started
I have just ran across this set up on google, so I am not even sure if it works the way I want it to. We'll see.
