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Weekly Bulletin Articles |
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626 West National Road Vandalia, Ohio 45377 |
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WEED or FLOWER? by John Telgren I came home one afternoon to eat my lunch. It was so beautiful outside that I sat on the back porch to eat. I looked over the back yard, which was covered in dandelions. Normally I would think of the fact that these were common weeds that needed to be exterminated. If not, they spread all over the place and take over. But this day I just sat and stared at them, remembering how I used to see them as a child. As a child, they were not weeds, but flowers. The girls used to pick them and put them in their hair. Sometimes we would make a bouquet of them and take them to our mothers. Our mothers always reacted with delight that we had brought them such cheerful and pretty flowers. And when they turned into those seed things, we used to love to pick them and blow them across the yard. Of course that would drive the neighbor nuts because we were blowing weed seeds on to his manicured lawn. But to us, we were blowing clouds across the yard that would peacefully float away. Somewhere along the way, I had lost the appreciation for the simple beauty of these little bits of sunshine throughout the yard. It takes the eyes of a child to appreciate them. I guess in some way we are like dandelions. There is a bright sunny beauty in us that comes from the light of the Son. But in order to see and appreciate that beauty, we must see with the eyes of a child. Reality looks different in the eyes of a child. That is what part of kingdom life is all about. “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.’ And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them” (Mark 10:13-16). Children don’t see weeds, they see flowers. As believers, we don’t see obstacles, we see challenges. We don’t see problems, we see opportunities. We don’t see road blocks, we see possibilities. With the Philippians 4:8 attitude coupled with the Gospel of Christ, we become like the little seeds that spread all over the place. A storm can try and blow us over and overcome us, but all that does is spread us out further, All it does is strengthen us. The world may not like it. They may call us nothing more than weeds that need to be weeded out, but the gates of Hades will never prevail against the Kingdom of God. So don’t be ashamed if the world calls us a weed. In God’s eyes we are not weeds. We are His instruments to spread His good news all around our family and friends, in our neighborhoods, schools, on the job, and anywhere we happen to be. |
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What Does The Bible Teach About Parenting?
Parents Must Commit to a Loving Marriage As controversial as it is today to define "marriage" and "family," the Bible is fairly clear on the subject. In Genesis, God instituted marriage as a covenant relationship between one man and one woman. While the government may decide to sanction other forms of "marriages" or civil unions (as indeed ancient Israel did with polygamy), these arrangements are not part of God's plan. God's plan for families is for a man to "leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife" and for the two of them to then "become one flesh." Within this sacred bond, the couple are to bring children into the world, raise them, and send them out for the process to repeat. Successful Christian parenting therefore begins with a committed Christian marriage. Parents Must Love Their Children Unconditionally Love is the most fundamental command given by Jesus. When asked the most important commandment, Jesus responded that it was to love God with all of one's heart, soul, and mind. The second most important commandment, Jesus said, was to "love your neighbor as yourself." Properly understood, "neighbor" denotes people with whom we commonly interact, not simply the person or persons living next door. In a very real sense, this starts with the family. Of course, the kind of love to which Christians are commanded is unconditional love. Parents must unconditionally love (and express that love to) their children. Parents Must Encourage and Affirm Their Children Children benefit greatly from honest and positive praise. This should be given liberally, even as part of discipline. In Ephesians 4:29, Paul writes: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Communication should be used to build up and encourage, and not to tear down. Sadly, many parents use their words to discourage and tear down their children. This should not be the case in any home, but especially not in a Christian home. |
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One Day Doesn’t Suffice
As we enjoy this Lord’s Day, the national observance of Mother’s Day is also on our minds. Each year we usually make a few comments at church, perhaps present a flower to her, and then off to a restaurant in honor of “mom.” My thoughts are these. We as sons, daughters, and husbands are getting off fairly easy. A year’s worth of mothering is rewarded by a few token signs of appreciation one day a year. Clearly one day isn’t enough! Just as we often say our religion should not be restricted to one day of the year, or even one day of the week, when it comes to each other, one day of appreciation each year just doesn’t suffice! Mom deserves more than this. She deserves those unrehearsed moments of kindness, she needs those words of affection that come from the heart and not from the calendar, and she needs actions that relieve her daily grind that has ground many women out of mothering altogether! For certain in most families mom needs much more moral, emotional, physical and spiritual support than she is getting. It is for her long term physical and spiritual well-being we must learn to meet her needs. As children we must put “Mother’s Day” into our daily behavior. When we help with the laundry it becomes Mother’s Day in August. When we create peace rather than war at the dinner table we are celebrating Mother’s Day Monday through Friday at 5:00 P.M. When you, the father, take housework responsibilities you are showing to the mother of your children that the idea of Mother’s Day is in your heart. Perhaps I have said enough. Certainly enough to get all of us husbands and children in trouble already. But being who she is, she will give us another chance. Another chance to show her how thankful we are to God for giving her to us. Happy Mother’s Day!
-Bruce Gleim |
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The U in JesUs |
