Blog Delay April 15, 2008
Posted by Joe in : Uncategorized , add a comment
Greetings everyone,
This is Joe here making a quick post to explain why we will be a bit delayed in our parenting posts here at Sinners Raising Saints. Her name is Naomi Kathryn Crispin and she was born in Bandirma, Turkey on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 5:30 pm. We have already seen that with her added to the mix, we will have plenty of lessons to learn and write about in the future.
Giving thanks for every good gift,
Joe
An Idea June 4, 2007
Posted by Joe in : Uncategorized , add a commentErin,
So, you know I have thought about doing this before, but I just wanted to suggest it here for two reasons: 1) to hold myself accountable to do it (though it is already written down thankfully!) and 2) to possibly stir others to the same.
The idea is simple: write a letter to your posterity.
Deuteronomy 6 commands us to teach the Word of the Lord to our children. But the letter I am speaking of refers not so much to a letter of teaching as a letter of vision. And not one that will last for only a generation, but that, if the Lord wills, could last until Jesus returns!
Think about that. Particularly if you have a long-term vision for raising not only your kids, but for all your posterity. And if Jesus tarries, that could be quite a lot. Imagine each of them receiving a personal letter from you. Introducing yourself, the day in which you live, where you came from, how you came to faith in Christ, and what your vision is for them. And in this digital age, it easily could be preserved and past on.
I do want to mention the centrality of vision. For it is not enough to pass on the facts. Of course, the central truths concerning the Lord Jesus must be in there, but application of those truths is an absolute necessity. A vision for what those truths mean in your life and want you want them to mean in theirs could go a very long way in influence. Who knows? You might have an young teenager pick up your letter 100 years later and get converted through it! How could would that be!
My personal letter would include great emphasis on the centrality of God’s delight in God and our pursuit of God. They are the truths that drive my life and I would want to commend them to every single person who came after me, particularly the ones of the same family line! You never know, it could be a primary means for passing on the central truths that you hold dear.
In our case, let’s make sure it happens Love. First, I suppose we should Mind map it. Then I’ll have to get started. Of course, yes, I need to write Elijah a belated birthday letter first!
Seeking to change generations with you,
Joe
Why Are We an Authority? March 6, 2007
Posted by Erin in : Uncategorized , add a commentJoe,
Thanks for starting off the week with a good topic for discussion.
The question that always comes to mind as we begin to think of something is “why”? Why should our children treat us as an authority in their lives? I think the question has two answers, of which I will approach one and then maybe you can deal with the second.
First and foremost, we are an authority in their lives because God has so ordained it. I think this is something that needs to be explained over and over again to children. The Creator of the universe has placed them in the care of their parents. We are responsible for much of how their lives turn out. We are the ones who will stand before the judgment seat and give account of how we have been faithful to nurture, train and discipline them.
When we are able to communicate that it is God who has put us in authority over our children, we will naturally be led to explain how our lack of nurturing, training and disciplining is sin. If we are not commanding authority in our children’s lives, we are not only doing them harm, but we are doing ourselves harm. We sin when we sit by and allow our children to run their own lives. It is sin to think they will turn out “fine” (eventually).
God has commanded us and given us authority over the lives of our children. This needs to be communicated to our children and then seen as an act of obedience in our own lives.
The second point of why our children should treat us as authorities in their lives is because it brings blessings upon themselves. I will let you expand upon what I wrote and possibly touch upon this second point too (if you haven’t gone on too long cleaning up what I wrote!)
Seeking to be an obedient authority to our children,
Erin