Fireproof

We FINALLY watched "Fireproof" this weekend! We had tried to see it in theaters, but it was always sold out. We then tried to rent it, but it was always rented out.

I must confess, I wasn't expecting it to be great. I expected it to be low-budget and pretty cheesy. I had seen the "Love Dare" on church signs, and figured it was just a gimmick. I think I had a case of "movie snobbiness".

Well I was wrong.

"Fireproof" is interesting and compelling. It addresses the problems in marriage in a real way, and offers real solutions. It reminds us to be selfless; putting our spouse's needs above our own. One of my favorite lines in the movie is "Love is not just a feeling, it is a decision". That is so true!

With divorce rates for Christian couples identical to those of non-Christian couples, the church has obviously not done a good job in supporting families in crisis. I think this movie could be an effective tool in healing marriages in trouble. The "Love Dare" challenges us to give of ourselves and don't give up even when it's hard. That's a great reminder for every marriage!

Wednesday night church

Last night we attended our prayer meeting at Trinity Baptist. It's something that is a regular part of our week. Rather than meet in the sanctuary, we now meet in a smaller room with chairs placed around the perimeter. For the first part of the meeting, anyone can share prayer requests, then we read from Scripture, then anyone can pray. There usually aren't very many people there: perhaps just 25% of our congregation.

That service is often one of the best times of my week. It's a time to share what burdens you have, and then listen as people you love pray for those burdens. I have walked into that room feeling overwhelmed, or alone, or in despair, and afterward walked out totally uplifted and full of hope. As you see others write down your request, you know they are committed to praying for you.

That's not the only benefit! We have had the privilige of seeing prayer answered over and over. I can't even explain the joy you feel when you pray for many years for someone's salvation and then that very person is there rejoicing over how God has saved them! Although our prayers haven't always been answered in the way we wanted, we have seen marriages reconciled, people healed, pain eased.

People grow closer when they share their heart. They just do. God means for us to encourage, love, and support each other. Wednesday night church provides that opportunity.

Just reflecting

"For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will see Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13



I was talking and listening to music with my beautiful daughter recently when we were in the car. She made me several "mixes" of music: "worship", "fun", "pretty"! (I love her labels!) Both of us tend to like about any kind of music, especially the cheesy stuff that noone else I know likes.

On the "Worship 2" cd, Mer put Selah's version of "God Bless the Broken Road". As we were listening to it, I commented that the lyrics were such a testimony to my life. God used every hard thing, every obstacle to lead me to Him. I especially like the part that says "I'd like to take the time I lost, and give it back to You". I gave my life to Christ at age 13, but there were times when I took a detour (pardon the pun-although Meredyth will like it) and wanted to do things my own stupid way!

How awesome that God has a plan for me! I love Jeremiah 29 where God says He will listen when I call upon Him. I will find Him when I search for Him with all my heart! As Brother Tom would say, "It doesn't get better than that"!

Smoke-free Sikeston!

Help!

Yesterday I sent a letter to our Sikeston City Council members asking them to consider making Sikeston a smoke-free town. I also enclosed a packet of information showing the benefits of making all public places smoke-free, a list of all the current smoke-free communities in the U.S., and a research study showing there would be no adverse effects to our restaurants and businesses. I then emailed a request to many people asking them to take a moment and email their city council asking them to consider this proposal.

I know there are many people who feel passionately about his issue! If you are one of them, as well as a Sikeston resident, I ask you to please take just a few moments and email city hall at
cityhall@sikeston.org.

Perhaps if we flood the city council members with emails about this issue, we can make a difference! Thanks!

Shepherding a Child's Heart

Our church is watching the series "Shepherding a Child's Heart" on Sunday nights before worship. I understand it has been updated and revised, but we are watching the older series. There are quite a few couples who attend, and even some young singles and older people.

We are not finished with the series yet, but I have had mixed feelings about it. While I like the ideas, and agree many are rooted in Scripture and therefore must be followed, I have a problem with some of the things I have heard.

Now, I do realize that Tedd Tripp is much more qualified and educated to speak on this subject than I am. He has been a pastor, counselor, and school administrator for many

years. It is with much humility that I respectfully question a couple of his concepts.

Let me start with the things I agree with. First, I believe one of the biggest problems in raising kids today is their lack of respect for authority. Not teaching children that there are many authorites over them and they must respect and obey those authorities just sets them up for problems their entire lives. If kids are not made to respect and obey parents and teachers and others over them, how will they respect and obey God? Tripp focuses alot on this lack of respect for authority and how to overcome it.

Tripp also devoted much time to discussion of a child's heart. One of my favorite verses is Ezekiel 36:26:

"Moreover, I will give you a

new heart and put a new spirit

within you; and I will remove the

heart of stone from your flesh

and give you a heart of flesh."

What a tremendous promise and picture of what God does for us when we become His child! There is no doubt that until we are given this new heart, we cannot please God.

My problem with the series is more how these concepts are applied. Tripp seems to suggest that you tell your child they have "a bad heart", and explain that their sin comes from the overflow of their heart. Basically, that is true. However, I think there are better ways to deliver that message. When children hear the word "bad" used to describe not just their behavior but them, it sends a message we don't want to send. It is still possible to convey this idea and their complete and total need for Christ without labeling them as "bad".

About halfway through the series, Tripp tells parents to tell their child that "I don't want to spank you, but God commands me to do it and I have to." I strongly disagree with that! I feel that is a cop-out. God does command us to discipline our children and to spank them. A better way to say it would be "God has commanded me to discipline you and be your parent. Sometimes it is hard, but I am committed to being a godly parent."

Tripp focuses much of his time on spanking. Let me be clear here: I believe in spanking your children when needed! We followed James Dobson's view that you spank when your child directly defies your authority. It worked extremely well. We didn't spank in anger, and we always explained why, and then explained what proper behavior they should have had instead.

However, there are many alternate disciplines that work for other infractions. Not every misbehavior requires corporal punishment. Removing a child from their environment for a "time out" is effective in some instances. Grounding them from things that are important to them is also a way to get their attention. I am a big believer in making the punishment fit the crime. If they did not get their chores done because they were watching television, they must need a break from television, etc.

There were times when my children were young that I felt like all I was doing was disciplining them. It was extremely discouraging! During those times I found it helpful to not only point out their wrong behavior, but to find opportunities to praise their good behavior. I could almost always find something they were doing correctly and with a proper attitude. It was also helpful to tell them what I expected every time we left the house or had company or were in a new situation. Letting them know their boundaries beforehand left no room for discussion if they misbehaved and were corrected later. They almost always stayed within those boundaries, however, if they knew prior to the occasion.

All but one of our children is grown now, and looking back, there are many things I would do differently. Raising children was always the desire of my heart, and I wanted to honor God and do it well. I know I made many, many mistakes. God was gracious to forgive me and give me "do-overs"!

All in all, Ted Tripp does a good job pointing out the many Scriptural references to parenting, and explains ways to implement them. He encourages parents to use the Bible as their guide and to refer children to it as you raise them. The series is rightly titled "Shepherding a Child's Heart". It's a hard thing to do-but definitely worth it.

Spring Red Pepper Dance

Here's a picture of Noah and Ross prior to the Red Pepper Dance. Hop on over to Micah's blog for much better pictures!

Diving into James

I've read the book of James on my own, truly. It never fails to convict me!

Beginning March 8, our pastor, William, started a series of Sunday morning sermons on James. I have to say I was pretty excited at the prospect of studying this book! I expected to be inspired, convicted, intrigued, encouraged, and challenged.

I underestimated it.

1:19 "This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

Quick to hear.
Slow to speak.
Slow to anger.
Put aside all filthiness and wickedness.
Doer of the word.

I would think that anyone who reads this passage would HAVE to ask "Am I a hearer of the word, rather than a doer? Further, am I deluding myself? Is my religion worthless?"

My study Bible notes on verses 26 and 27 say "Three characteristics of worthwhile religion: controlling the tongue, looking after orphans and widows, and keeping unstained by this world system."

REALLY??? On my own, these three things are impossible. But, praise God, I don't have to attempt to do this on my own.