Who is Speaking into Your Life?

1Timothy 4:12-13, Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Warning! Be careful who you allow to speak into your life. I have always taught people that I have pastored to “check it with the Bible.” Just because I am teaching it, don’t take it for granted that it is right. Go to the Bible and make sure it lines up with the Word of God.

Today we have access to a lot of preaching/teaching because of modern technology. Just because it sounds good, or gives you goose-bumps doesn’t mean it is true. Before jumping on it, check it out. Here are five steps to check out what you are listening to:

1.          Take it to God in prayer! Be honest in your prayer. This is how I approach God: Lord I have heard this preached/taught. I am wondering if it is of you. I am seeking your face and asking you to show me the way to go. Help me to know the right from the wrong. Speak to the men of God in my life that watch for my soul. Open my understanding to your word and your ways.
2.        Run it by you Pastor. This is the man who is watching for your soul and he is also the one who will give an account before God for you, (Heb. 13:7). Talk to him about what you have heard. Tell him what you are feeling. Let him listen to it for himself, if he wants/needs to. Give him time to pray about it. Listen to his sound advice.
3.        Run it by your Mentor. This should be someone in your life that is an Elder and can help and teach you. Do with them as you have done with your Pastor. Allow them to be honest with you concerning their thoughts and feelings. Listen to their cautions. If you have asked them to be your Mentor, assume they have your best interest at heart.
4.        Talk to your trusted peers. Often when we find something new, our approach to others is from an attitude of superior knowledge. Rather than telling them what you have found out, approach them with this attitude: I have heard this and it has had an effect on me. What do you think about it? Discuss it with them. Listen to what they have to say. Weigh it with what you are hearing from others. Again, they should have you best interest at heart.
5.        Go to the scripture! Is it in the Book? Lately I have heard quotes by people from teaching they have heard and it is not sound doctrine. Don’t accept it until you know that it lines up with the Word of God.

Paul instructed the Church of Ephesus (Eph. 4:12-16) that God had gifted the Church with Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. Their purpose was to equip the saints to be prepared to minister. This would strengthen the Body of Christ. He also states, their purpose is to keep us from being tossed about by all types of teaching. This keeps us strong and walking in truth. It also brings strength and unity to the Body of Christ.

Paul admonishes the young man Timothy, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2 Tim. 4:3). Unfortunately we live in that time. There are men who are more interested in the acclaim of the crowd than they are in preaching truth. They know what will get people excited and will preach that rather than preach sound doctrine.

The wise man of Proverbs shares this wisdom, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety,” (Pro 11:14). Protect yourself, your heart and your eternity. Take some time to check it out.

Remember, it’s just a thought!

Dangers of Background Television

The Danger of Background Television

            Does television, in the home, cause problems for the young children of the United States? This is a question that has been debated for several decades with various opinions and results. Television plays such a prominent and powerful role in the lives of individuals as well as families. In fact, the average American family is made up of 2.5 people and has 2.86 television sets, according to The Nielsen Company’s 2009’s findings. (Nielsen Company). If there are negative effects, what might they be and how do they come about?

            One of the negative effects of television in the home is the result of background television. Our main focus, as it should be, is on what children are watching during direct exposure. However, while the young child is playing, it has been discovered, they are also impacted by the television that is playing in the background. This is called indirect exposure. Many homes have the television(s) on most of the time throughout the day and the night. The play of the young child is interrupted by the changes of sound, light and picture on the television. This causes the child to stop playing and to turn to the television, then return to play. These constant interruptions are believed to have an adverse effect on the child’s cognitive ability as well as their attention span. This is a great concern to the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as many others involved in Child Development.

            It was found “In a study, done by Pierroutsakos, Hanna, Self, Lewis and Brewer in 2004, they asked one hundred upper-middle-class parents to keep dairies of their two and a half to twenty-four month old infants’ television exposure each day. The children were exposed to an average of one-hundred-twenty minutes of television each day. Forty-nine percent of that exposure was adult and preteen programming” (Schmidt, M., Pempek, T., Kirkorian, H., Lund, A., & Anderson, p. 1138, 2008). M. Lapierre, J. Piotrowski, and D. Lineberger shared in their article, “Background Television in the Homes of US Children,” which appeared in Pediatrics Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, October 2012, “The average child is exposed to 232.2 minutes of background television on a typical day.” They went on to explain, “Leaving the television on while no one is viewing and children’s bedroom television ownership were associated with increased background television” (p. 839). That is close to four hours of background television that the average young child is exposed to each day.

  

(washparkchiro.com)

 Because it is part of everyday life, most people do not realize how much the television is on while it is not being watched. Nor do they realize the possible impact the background television might be having on the infant that is in the home. In an article for Child Development in August 2008, M. Schmidt stated, “Television exposure for children aged 30 months and younger is associated with poorer cognitive and language development.” They also pointed out, “Parents’ estimates of their children’s television viewing at eighteen and forty-two months were positively associated with parental reports of attention disorder symptoms at age seven.”

Cognitive development is important as it has to do with our ability to remember, to make judgments, to reason and how to use knowledge. Language development is learning to talk. Some of the reasons for both of these difficulties could also have to do with the quality of parent-child interactions, which is also affected by not only the child’s  being distracted by the background television, but the parent being distracted as well. So rather than the parent and child spending quality time interacting together, they are both distracted by the background television.

  

(californiaschildren.typepad.com)

A very sobering discovery in the research of the effects of background television was the children with the greatest exposure to background television are those from the poorest families. African American children, younger children and children with parents with lower education levels were found to be exposed to greater amounts of background television, up to six hours a day. (Lapierre, et al, p. 842, 2012) This would make one wonder if there are greater problems with language and cognitive development among these groups. Are there other problems that are related to the background television exposure? Lapierre and crew found, “Background television exposure has been linked to lower sustained attention during playtime, lower quality parent-child interactions and reduced performance of cognitive tasks” (p. 840, 2012)

            Play is often thought to just be something that children do. However, play is very important to the development of the child both cognitively and socially. Playing helps the child to develop motor skills, and to learn about objects. They are able, through playing, to learn about cause and effect. While playing they are able to stretch their imaginations and step into different roles to imitate the fireman or a princess. It is believed that the constant presence of background television can be an interruption to children’s play and has a role in the negative relationship between early exposure to television and cognitive development (Schmidt, et al, p. 1138, 2008).

            The study done in 2012 stated, “Our results indicate that children are exposed to a tremendous amount of background television. The average US child under eight years is exposed to four hours (232.2 minutes) of background television on a typical day. This is far greater than direct exposure” (Lapierre, et al, p. 842, 2012). They added to this statement, “The American Academy of Pediatrics renewed their recommendation that children two years and under should not be exposed to any television content,” (p.843).

            Television, indirectly or directly, seems to have a negative influence on our young children. If we were to also take into account the programing content as well as advertising, our findings could be staggering. We would do well to take into careful consideration removing the offender from our home or at least limiting when it is on.

     

References:

Lapierre, M.S., Piotrowski, J.T., & Lineberger, D.L. (2012). Background television in the homes of US children. Pediatrics, Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Volume 130, Number 5, pages 839-843. Doi:10.1542/peds.2011-2581

Schmidt, M.E., Pempek, T.A., Kirkorian, H.L., Lund, A.F., & Anderson, D.R. (2008). The effects of background television on the toy play behavior of very young children. Child Development, Volume 79, Number 6, pages 1137-1151.

The Nielsen Company (2009). http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/newswire/2009/more-than-half-the-homes-in-us-have-three-or-more-tvs.html

If I Could Talk To Dad...

As I was leaving work yesterday, a co-worker said, “Happy Father’s Day, Don.” I replied, “You have a great one as well.” She said, “Thank you, but my father is gone.” I hesitated for a moment and said, “Mine is too. I really do miss him.”

We went our separate ways. I walked about twenty feet or so and was suddenly overwhelmed by a great sense of loneliness and began to weep right there in the parking lot. I hurried to my car and the tears continued to flow. I was surprised, embarrassed and at a loss. My father was promoted to heavenly duties almost fourteen years ago, why the sudden rush of tears? Then it came to me, I really wanted to just sit and talk to Dad.

One of the things I treasured about my relationship with my Dad was that I could talk to him about anything. I don’t remember him ever having the attitude that because he was Dad he knew it all. It seems to me that he always listened to my opinion or thoughts and then gave his when it was asked for. So, as I drove toward home I began to think, with the tears still streaming, of what I would talk to Dad about if he were still around.

I would talk to him about my kids and how proud I am of them. Justin has become the horseman that he has always wanted to be. He owns a business, a store, selling tack and supplies for horses and riders. He has a great son, Zac and is a wonderful father with fatherly qualities that I wish I had possessed at his age. Yes, Dad would be so proud of Justin.

I would tell him about our little girl, Abby. What a wonderful mother she has become. She takes good care of her boys, Donavan and Declan. Oh how Dad would laugh at them and the funny things they say. He would love Kelsey and would enjoy talking with him. I would also tell Dad how thankful I am for the way that Kelsey loves and takes care of Abby and his boys. How good that makes me feel. He would be thankful to know of their love for God and their desire to be used in the kingdom of God. Dad would be thankful.

I would tell him about Jared. I see so much of Dad in Jared. His love for the Word of God. He has a love for people and a tenderness that touches others. I would tell him how much I love to hear Jared preach, I know Dad would understand. I would tell him about Amber and what a blessing she has been to Jared and to our family. Dad would be proud of Jared as well.

If I could talk to Dad, today, I would be sure to let him know what a great son he raised in Tim. I know Dad was concerned when he left because Tim was so young. But Dad, you and Mom did well. He is a great man, father and husband. Added to all of that, he is a great man of God. He has raised his family to love and serve the same God that you served. Dad, you can be thankful.

I would tell Dad about that I started teaching a home Bible Study the other day to a friend from work. It was so exciting to sit in McDonald’s and show him the things of God in the scripture and to see the excitement on his face. We met at his house this week and he is wanting to bring friends and family to study with us. I am really excited Dad.

While we are talking, there are some things that concern me, greatly, that I would love to share with Dad. I received an email from a person who is deeply concerned because their pastor has changed his message. He seems to be straying from the Truth of the Word of God and following the easier way. I also heard of a pastor who recently said he wouldn’t name sin.  It wasn’t his job. Dad always taught us that we were to love truth and we were to preach straight, easy to understand messages that would help people to know right from wrong. One of Dad’s favorite sayings was, “After you are finished dancing and shouting, you need to walk right, talk right and spit white!” That is how I am trying to live.

I would tell Dad about Melinda.  She was always his favorite girl. I am so proud of her! She has started college and is doing well. She works so hard and gives it everything she has. What a wonderful mother and grandmother she is. She loves her babies! I would let Dad know that she is also taking care of Margie and Mom. She watches out for them as much as they will let her, you know how those two are.

Well there is so much to say and to share with someone you haven’t seen in a long time. I would be sure to tell him how Mom is. I am taking care of her for you, just like I promised. She slowing down a lot, she will be eighty this August. She takes her walks down the road a couple times a day, but she carries a cane now to help when she gets tired. Oh, but she is just as ornery as she ever was. Hey, she is just as funny, too. Dad, you are still her favorite subject. Every once in a while, at least once a week, she will bring in a picture and ask, “Have you ever seen this?” It will be one that she has shown me several times before and I know that she is just wanting to talk about her man. She is doing well.

I would end our talk by saying, “Dad, I do ok with the holidays and birthday, when they come and go. I always miss you on those occasions. However, it’s on Father’s Day that I have a hard time. That was our special day! So, before I say goodbye I just want to thank you for being such a great Dad. Thank you for teaching me to be a man. You taught me how to love my God, my family, my Church and my country. You taught me the importance of giving and loving. You showed me how to stand for truth and godliness. I love and miss you, Dad!”

I Had a Dog Named Sam

My brother and I once had an old beagle hound named Sam. Sam was an old dog when we got him, but we had always wanted a beagle and this was our chance. He was kind of a tired old fella. He didn't have much ambition, which is another story for another time.

Right after we got Sam, we hadn't had him but a few weeks, we had a new baby in the house, our daughter was born. So we decided it might be best to keep Sam outside for a while, at least until she got a bit older. We tied him on the back porch so he could lay in the grass if he wanted or could lay on the sheltered porch. We couldn't let him roam free because of leash laws and we didn't have a fenced area, so we had to tie him.

Down the road lived a huge hound dog with only one eye. This dog was big, ugly and just looked mean. It really looked like he had gotten in a fight with a bear or something and had lost his eye. His owners kept him tied in their front yard so I had seen the dog, from a distance, many times without getting close to him.

One particular day I was standing at the kitchen sink, looking out the window, when I saw this ugly, mean looking, dog walking down my drive way. I knew there was going to be trouble, so I headed for the kitchen door. Before I could get it open and get outside the two dogs tangled and started fighting. When I came out of the house yelling, the ugly dog took off running leaving behind a wounded Sam.

Being chained, and being old, Sam was unable to get away or to fight effectively. He had a few wounds on his face and was cowed down a bit, hurting! He had crawled back up on the porch and was hiding, so I reached out to him to help him. When I did Sam’s bite my hand! I was startled and shocked at his reaction. Sam had never acted aggressive toward any of us. Our two-year-old son played with him all of the time and Sam was so patient with him. I wondered what was going on when Melinda, my wife, said, “He is hurt and afraid! Leave him alone for a few minutes and then we will help him.”

Sure enough, when a few minutes had elapsed we were able to mend Sam’s wounds and help him. Sad to say, the attack took something away from Sam and he was never the same. He died of natural causes not too long after that.

I was thinking today of Old Sam. Wounded people are much like Sam was that day. You can see they are hurting. You can see they need help. You might even know the answer they need to hear or the course of action they need to take. However, when you reach out to them, they attack you, the one who is trying to help them!

Oh, wounded one! Be careful that you, in your hour of need, don’t push away the hands that are trying to help you. It is easy to become harsh, cynical, scornful and hateful. It is easy to find wrong with every thing and everybody. We can all do that. Yet, this isn't going to help you. It will not strengthen you and it will not heal you. It only drives away those who want to help you until you stand alone.

Ironically enough, in my lifetime I have found that when I am hurting and lashing out at those who are trying to help, it usually means I am having a problem with God. He has done something, or failed to do something, that I felt was very important to my life. If I want healing, I need to make sure I have forgiven God! I won’t find healing from pats on the back and encouraging hugs from my brothers and sisters, although I need those. Words of affirmation won’t make a long term difference, although I need those. I have got to go to the root of the problem and get things right with God.

The writer of Hebrews admonishes us: “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” (Heb. 12:15 NLT) Bitterness is the result of unforgiveness. It is like a cancer and will consume and destroy everything it touches.

A person, who has been wounded, will turn one of two different ways. They will allow God to comfort them and heal them. Later they will be a blessing to others who are wounded because they know, from personal experience, that God will comfort and heal. (2 Cor. 1:3-4) Or, unfortunately, they refuse comfort! They withdraw to themselves and lash out at the helping hands of others. One day, bitterness overcomes them and they are destroyed. All the time they are blaming God.

My brother and sister, let it not be so in your life! Fall in love with an altar of repentance and make things right with your God. Allow him to cleanse away the acid and bitterness and make you fresh and new again.

Oh well! It’s just a thought!

A Good Soldier

Last night I listened to a brief story told by a 90 plus year old veteran of World War 2. It was his personal story of his experiences on the battle field. The story, which captured my attention immediately, includes accounts of being wounded three different times in three different battles in three different countries. It also included an incident where they should have killed him but God heard his prayer for mercy. The veteran spoke of being a good soldier, which caused me to realize that not everyone is a good soldier. More is required, to be a good soldier, than completing basic training. A uniform, although it identifies the soldier and makes him look handsome, doesn't make him a good soldier. A rifle on his shoulder and a helmet in his head are equipment every soldier needs, but they won't make him a soldier. Even being on the battlefield in the heat of battle isn't enough to make a person a good soldier. Listening to this veteran paratrooper I came to realize the characteristics of a good soldier were internal rather than external. They were ingredients of the inward man rather than the external characteristics that might attract our attention to the soldier. I had to think of King Saul from the book of First Samuel. He was attractive to the people of Israel as they looked for a king. He stood head and shoulders above every man in Israel. He seemed to have a humble demeanor when he is first introduced. Yet we quickly find that he is not a good soldier nor a good leader. His poor judgment and rash decisions lead Israel into situations that are very detrimental to them. In fact, when God is choosing a leader to replace Saul, he tells Samuel, "Men look at the outward appearance, I however, look at the heart." The Apostle Paul, in Second Timothy 2:3, encourages Timothy to "endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." Endurance must be a quality of a good soldier. As a good soldier you will have patience, and the stamina, to carry out the task before you. Being a soldier requires more than marching on the parade ground. A soldier is going to be in some difficult situations. He is going to have sometime of pain, fear, discomfort and stress. However, a good soldier is going to endure them. Suffering will be part of his life as a soldier. Several years ago, I listened to the story of a recipient of a "Purple Heart" as he told of the battle in which the Japanese wounded him. It was during World War Two and he was going in front of Marines that were landing on a South Pacific Island, with a mine sweeper. A sniper shot him, leaving him wounded on the beach. His fellow Marines were unable to reach him and he was unable to move because the sniper's fire had him pinned down. For two days he laid in the sand enduring or suffering the hardship of battle until they drove the enemy back and they rescued him. A soldier of the cross realizes that there will be sometimes when he must endure or suffer for the "cause" of Christ. Jesus said we would need to take up our cross and follow him. We would need to forsake things that are dear to us and put him first in our lives. A good soldier obeys orders. They might not always agree with what they have ordered them to do, but they carry out the command, nevertheless. The soldier realizes that he is only seeing and considering the immediate situation while the commander is looking at the whole battle. The commander understands what is required too win the battle. The good soldier trusts himself to the commander and follows his orders. We often look at our immediate situation and wonder if our "commander" is right in what he is telling us. Does he really understand what we are facing and where we are going, are questions that run through our mind? However, we must trust in the Lord! In fact the writer of the Proverbs says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding," (Proverbs 3:5). Another trait of a good soldier is hatred. I am sure this catches you by surprise, as it did me. However, a good soldier MUST hate the enemy. From listening to these veterans I learned that somewhere along the line, the war becomes personal. Up to that time you are just doing your job and trying to survive. Nevertheless, when they have wounded and killed friends and comrades and they have wounded you, the war becomes personal to you. A hatred is born for the enemy! A good soldier of the cross must hate sin! Sin is destructive! Jesus spoke of the thief coming to kill, steal and destroy. I have seen the destructive power of sin. I have seen lives broken and destroyed by sin. Marriages destroyed and ministries lost as the result of sin. Love is stolen, families crushed, careers sabotaged and lives ravished all because of sin. I hate sin! Sin has caused many broken hearts! I hate sin! One last trait of a good soldier is that he refuses to become involved with the enemy or anything that might distract him from his task. He is on a mission and nothing will stop him from accomplishing what he has set out to do. Paul told the young man Timothy that a man who is at war refuses to entangle himself with the affairs of this life. He wants to please the one who has chosen him to be a soldier. He remains focused on his task. The good soldier is not tangled up with civilian life. He is a soldier! An old song, which we sometimes sang when I was growing up, called "Onward Christian Soldiers." We are soldiers of Christ. He is our "captain" and is leading us into battle for our souls. The results are eternal so we must be diligent and watchful. Determine in your heart to be a good soldier. Purpose in your heart to be a good soldier. Make a commitment to endure the hardship that comes your way. Hate sin! Don't become entangled with this world. Trust your commander. Be a good soldier! Remember! It is just a thought!

Momma's on a Mission!

Unspeakable fear and uncontrolled thoughts race through her mind as she travels at a speed much faster than she is accustomed to. She doesn’t take the time to look behind her to see if anyone is following her. Nor does she really look ahead to see where she is going. Her eyes take in the objects, along the road, that she must miss, yet she isn’t aware of them. Momma was on an urgent mission! She had to reach the prophet! As she hurried along her mind went over the events of the past several years that had led up to today. She remembered, so well, the day she and her husband had first met the prophet. He had visited their little town and they had invited him to their home to eat. This was the first of many meals shared in their home with the prophet. She also remembered, with almost a smile, the day they had led him to the door of they had built the little room which was especially for him to use. Oh the look of surprise and gratitude that was on his face that day. Then, of course, she remembered the day that he told them they would have a son in nine months. That feelings of being afraid to dare hope it would be true that they would have a son after all these years. In fact, she had been so afraid, to accept the promise of a miracle child, she had told the prophet not to tease her with such a promise. Yet, despite her apprehensions, the son had been born. He was such a fine young man! He was sweet and loved his Momma. Also, he was energetic and wanted to be like his Daddy. In fact, just that very morning he had arose early and insisted that he accompany his Daddy to the field to work. “Momma,” he said, “I want to be a farmer just like my Daddy.” With great sorrow she recalled the events of that morning, including the servant rushing the boy to the house. He had developed a headache while in the fields with his father. While she held him in her arms, he had died! Now she is on the way to find the prophet! He had given her a promise and promised a miracle! The miracle and promise had come true. They had happened. Was she allowed to hold her miracle only to see it fade away so soon? Did she receive her promise for it to die in her arms? NO! She refused to accept that to be true! So, Momma was on a mission! When she had left the house, she had told her husband, who wondered where she was going, “It shall be well.” As she approached the home of the prophet, he spotted her coming down the road and sent his servant to greet her. She told the servant that all was well. Then she came to the prophet, the man of God, who had given her a promise that became a miracle and she pours out her heart. Momma is on a mission! The determination of this mother amazes me. We do not hear her say woe is me. Nor do we hear her say that life is not fair. What she does say, to the prophet, “You made me a promise and I told you not to make it if it wasn’t going to be true. Now I want my promise!” The prophet sends his servant ahead of them to the body of the boy. However, the Bible tells us, in Second Kings 4:30, this mother refused to leave the prophet. She was clinging to her miracle. There was “no give up” in her make up. Yes, her promise laid dead on a bed. I know, her miracle had died in her arms. However, no matter what the facts said, she wasn’t giving up on her promised miracle. Momma was on a mission. I remember the joy of holding my babies in my arms when they were born. The feeling that I felt, as I looked into their faces, is one that I will never forget. So, I can imagine how that mother felt, a few hours later, when her son sat on her lap again. No, I don’t know how she felt since. I have never experienced what she did that day. Yet I can just imagine the joy and thankfulness she felt as again she held her miracle. In fact, she was holding a “two time miracle!” How often do we give up on our promise? We dare to hope for it! We stretch to believe it will happen. Then when there is a problem, when some type of obstacle comes up, we give up and walk away. Yet, in spite of all of the evidence that shouted at this Mother to give up, she held on. Despite the fact it did not make sense to believe otherwise. This Mother held to the fact that the prophet had made her a promise and had received a miracle. She had said she didn’t want it if it wasn’t going to happen and it happened. So, she was going to cling to her promise and would again hold her miracle. Momma was on a mission. Hold on! No matter what the evidence screams at you! Cling to your promise. Keep holding on to your miracle. Know that it might not happen the way you planned it. Understand that God might want it to happen in a different way than you thought or planned for it to happen. This is the time to put your trust and confidence in God and allow God to be God! Oh the GLORY and HONOR that come to those who trust God to do his will in his own way. We have the promise! The miracle happens! It seems the miracle will pass from you. This is when faith has to happen and trust has to kick in. This is when we have to refuse to leave the source of our miracle! Make that your mission! I will have my miracle! I will hold on to my promise! Remember! It is just a thought! God bless.