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Posts Tagged with children

Help Needed

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This was just submitted to to the Twin Falls Times-News for the Faith Corner column I write for on a regular basis. Look for it on Saturday in the Times-News.

Help Needed
by Paul Thompson

Like most everywhere across the Magic Valley, there are “Help Needed” signs. They are in windows and on sidewalks. Some of the signs post the hourly wage (always above minimum wage), including benefits and starting bonuses.

This is how it is in this temporal day. Man is always in need. Just like there is no shortage of “Help Wanted” signs in the commercial sector there is no shortage of “Help Needed” signs in the inner-man. 

Man always needs help.

He needs help in his marriage. He needs help with his children. He needs help getting along with his neighbor. He needs help putting up with his coworkers. He needs help pushing his car to the gas station when he runs out of gas in the Blue Lakes and Pole Line intersection.

Man was created in such a way as to have a relationship with God and all of His creation. Yet, because of sin, he needs help with how to do so properly so as to glorify God. 

Man needs help, but this is not how it is with God. He needs no help. Ever.

From before the first pages of the Bible to beyond the close of all temporal days, God is never without resources or in need of assistance. God, as He describes Himself in the Bible, is not meeting with a therapist or seeking counsel on how to win friends or influence a generation in need of Him. He’s not needing to be coached on how to be more compassionate or more clear with His commandments. 

This is because God is not man.

Let me encourage the reader to not look for an escape from the day God has ordained but rather when we find ourselves in need of help to turn to the one who is not found lacking. 

God does not need to be reinvented for men to love him, He was not invented.

God does not need to create a new ad campaign so everyone will want to try Him again, He was not created.

God does not need a board meeting of all the brilliant economists to know how to get out of debt, He is all knowing.

God does not attend conferences to learn of new medical discoveries, He is full of wisdom.

God does not look to ally with other nations to help protect His kingdom, He is all powerful.

God does not have a weekly appointment with a therapist to learn skills in how to be more gentle. He is all together different from everything He created. 

So, as you drive around and see all the “Help Needed” signs, let that cause you to meditate on the nature of God and His eternal attributes. Be encouraged that you can trust the One who needs no help, and He is not lacking in any resources to help with all of your needs. 

There is a greater need that we are completely lacking in, bankrupt of righteousness. This is a great kindness of God that he would send His One and Only Begotten Son, Christ Jesus the Lord, to satisfy what man is most incapable of doing. The wrath of God can only be satisfied by the blood of Christ. 

Only the one who needs nothing can do this for you. Repent of your sin, believe the Gospel, be saved.

Who Will Care for the Children?

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I value living in the city of Twin Falls. It is a most valued existence to live as we do – at peace with people we both agree and disagree with.

The public discussion currently happening in our city is charged with compassionate emotions. The difficulty that is upon us right now is how do we express ourselves without offending or being offended.

When children are involved it naturally charges our emotions on all cylinders.  A matter like this shows us that we are an emotional people, all of us are. This kind of matter causes me to consider the  emotionally charged issues our nation’s founders experienced. Their emotionally charged ideas were birthed with laws to govern our otherwise unruly emotions.

The separation of children from parents should never be taken lightly. It shouldn’t be spoken of lightly and it shouldn’t be set aside lightly. In any community, local or national, when a parent commits a crime, children are at risk of being separated from their parents. Reasonable and compassionate people understand this risk.

Thinking out loud is risky too, isn’t it? When we speak from emotionally charged ideals we run the risk of not listening to each other. My observation last night was that all spoke from conviction, most spoke with respect. We, citizens, must become more disciplined and respectful speakers and listeners.

I’ve thought through this matter many times and have recorded my thoughts in past posts. Mostly to address the proclaiming Christian. Obviously the responsibility as citizens is an equally shared one regardless of beliefs. This is part of what makes this such a great nation. My observation last night at the Twin Falls City Council meeting is that I live among a people who are in agreement that children are the ones in the greatest risk. Who will care for these children? The blessed thing is that there are citizens already in place in this country suited and ready to care for these children.

  • One tragedy here is that the church is too busy playing musical chairs and has been apparently found unsuitable and disqualified by the state to be the most natural people to call upon to help in this matter.
  • Another tragedy here is that this matter also exposes how illogical our emotions are and cannot be trusted as a valid gauge to determine right or wrong. Babies are aborted in our city on a regular basis. More vulnerable than a child without parents at the border of our nation is an unborn baby in the womb. Likely, most of those speaking at the city council last night have no interest to speak for the most vulnerable children in our nation, in our own city. These children would otherwise be legal, natural citizens had they not been separated from their mother’s womb. Our nation is already, legally separating children from their parents. This is the humanitarian elephant in the corner. What resolution will the city pass to address this matter? May God Almighty wake up our national conscience once again.

As for the city council meeting on Monday night in Twin Falls: I was thankful to be there. I do think the city council made a reasonable decision to not pass a resolution. (Yet.)

An open letter to the city council of Twin Falls, Idaho. (July 24, 2018) I sent a similar letter to them early this morning. (It had a few incomplete sentence structural problems and a few spelling glitches. That’s par for the course for me and an embarrassment to my English teachers who attempted to teach me better. But it was similar to this in sentiment.)

Dear Twin Falls City Council,

The doing of your job makes the city of Twin Falls among the kind of places the world wants to live in. Your duty to assure we have a voice on any matter is of the blessed kind. Your duty to the constitution is of the brave kind of duties.

You already understand that to speak as a city into any matter should only be done with reason and caution. Your desire to be compassionate is not superior to the reasonable due process. To live in an orderly land requires us to submit to law that we hope you will uphold. When a law needs to be changed, let’s work through the process. We already have a process to speak into this matter. You have been generous to listen to us and give us a place to speak. The structure of our city council is not to behave as an activist for the whole of our city. We are a city of citizen who don’t agree on everything and the resolution that has been set before you is not the right voice for the city. Is there another way to speak into or about this matter? I think there is.

Don’t be fooled by public attendance – great or small – as the gauge of what is most important. Be principled statesmen and stateswomen who pass on a highly efficient, smooth functioning city to another generation. This is an important matter, it is a kindness to all people.

Twin Falls City Council, if our fair city is ever faced with this kind of severe issue, where large numbers of adult lawbreakers have children with them, please keep the local church in mind as a safe place to protect the children. The church I pastor, Eastside Baptist Church, stands ready to serve this city in this way if ever needed. Just like you, my church has a duty. We have to be disciplined to not pick up things that are not our duties because they will distract us from our duties. However, this matter is among our duties we stand ready to fulfill if ever called upon to do.

You did your duty, all of you, wonderfully last night. This citizen is thankful to Almighty God. I hope even the citizens who spoke so sharply at you are thankful for your labor that makes Twin Falls, such a great city. Thank you.

How Important Is It To Know?

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When state legislators are in session the people better be paying close attention.

There is a bill right now before Idaho legislators to address the language of the law concerning Family Life and Sex Education. (section 33-1608 Idaho State Legislature). The link I have referenced is the current law, amended last in 1970.

Here is how it currently reads:

TITLE 33
EDUCATION
CHAPTER 16
COURSES OF INSTRUCTION

33-1608. FAMILY LIFE AND SEX EDUCATION — LEGISLATIVE POLICY. The legislature of the state of Idaho believes that the primary responsibility for family life and sex education, including moral responsibility, rests upon the home and the church and the schools can only complement and supplement those standards which are established in the family. The decision as to whether or not any program in family life and sex education is to be introduced in the schools is a matter for determination at the local district level by the local school board of duly selected representatives of the people of the community. If such program is adopted, the legislature believes that:

a. Major emphasis in such a program should be to assist the home in giving them the knowledge and appreciation of the important place the family home holds in the social system of our culture, its place in the family and the responsibility which will be there much later when they establish their own families.

b. The program should supplement the work in the home and the church in giving youth the scientific, physiological information for understanding sex and its relation to the miracle of life, including knowledge of the power of the sex drive and the necessity of controlling that drive by self-discipline.

c. The program should focus upon helping youth acquire a background of ideals and standards and attitudes which will be of value to him now and later when he chooses a mate and establishes his own family.
History:
[33-1608, added 1970, ch. 119, sec. 1, p. 282.]

Notice a few things with me…

  • The state of Idaho believes (in 1970) that the primary responsibility for family life and sex education, including moral responsibility, rests upon the home and the church.
  • The school can only complement and supplement those standards. The standards established in the family.
  • Local school districts/boards is the level that determines how this is implemented.
  • The state of Idaho (in 1970) saw that the jurisdiction of family life and sex education was chiefly, the duty of the family.
  • The state of Idaho (in 1970) believed the best place for children to responsibly establish their own families was in the authority of the family.
  • The state of Idaho (in 1970) set law in place to ensure that children would primarily receive their moral, scientific, physiological instruction for understanding sex and its relationship to the miracle of life, and set its moral compass of the sex drive and self discipline as high priorities of family and church.
  • The state of Idaho (in 1970) was satisfied to be a supplement for what was to be primarily taught in home and church.
  • The state of Idaho (in 1970) believed that parents were qualified to give their children the necessary background, attitude and morality to help them make informed decisions now and to later choose a mate and establish their own homes.

Our duty now is to consider what is being presented to legislators today. We need to ask good questions about why they are suggesting changes and why have they deliberately chosen the wording of such and what are they saying about home and church today in relationship to what was previously thought about them both.

This demands our attention.

Here is the new wording of the proposal…

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE BILL NO. 414
BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE
AN ACT RELATING TO SEX EDUCATION; REPEALING SECTIONS 33-1608 THROUGH 33-1611,
IDAHO CODE, RELATING TO SEX EDUCATION; AND AMENDING CHAPTER 16, TITLE 33,

IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 33-1608,

IDAHO CODE, TO  ESTABLISH PROVISIONS REGARDING SEX EDUCATION.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
SECTION 1. That Sections 33-1608 through 33-1611, Idaho Code, be, and
the same are hereby repealed.

SECTION 2. That Chapter 16, Title 33, Idaho Code, be, and the same is
hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and
designated as Section 33-1608, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:

33-1608. SEX EDUCATION.

(1) For purposes of this section, “sex education” means the study of:
     (a) The anatomy and physiology of human reproduction; and
     (b) The development of healthy relationships.
(2) The decision to include sex education in the school curriculum
shall be made at the district level by the board of trustees. If a sex education
program is included in the curriculum, the program shall:
     (a) Be medically accurate according to published authorities on which
medical professionals generally rely, which authorities shall be designated

in rule by the state board of education; and

     (b) Adhere to the Idaho content standards for health education as
established by the state board of education.
(3) School districts shall involve families and community groups in the
planning, development, evaluation and revision of any instruction in sex
education offered as part of the school curriculum.
(4) A child may be excused from sex education if the child’s parent
or legal guardian files an excuse request to the school district board of
trustees on a form made available by the board. Alternative educational programs shall be provided for excused children

Acknowledgement: I am not a lawyer. I make no pretenses on this matter. I’m writing with an attempt to be a well informed and responsible follower of Christ. This is my one and only agenda. Nothing hidden in my observation of this change in Idaho law.

Here are the following initial observations of the change in Idaho law Section 33-1611

  • First, note that this revision of a law starts with scrapping the entire previous law. Maybe that’s the normal way to keep a law clean, but when what was previously the law and the intentional language of the law is completely removed I want to know why and I want to pay close attention to what the new law has to say.
  • Second, I note there is no mention of church. It may be implied by the language of “community groups” but that is no small change and should not be overlooked.
  • Third, I note that the state law seeks primarily to “involve” families rather than treat families as the primary educator on this matter.
  • I then see that there is, what appears to be, intentionally dangerous language that leaves the matter of morality to the subjective wind of “published authorities” on which medical professionals “generally” rely.
  • The law gives parents right to excuse a child from the “sex education” curriculum on a form made available by the local school district board of trustees. Then it gives unclear direction as to what the alternative curriculum that is to be provided for excused children is.

I will be writing my legislators today to inform them of how I read this and express desire that they not alter the good law we already have. I urge you to do the same. Even if you don’t agree with me in how I read the proposal.

What do you think about this?

 

 

 

Preparing for Marriage

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In a day where biblical marriage is under attack in every arena of our culture, including false churches masquerading as the church, we must give careful biblical attention to this creation of God.

I’ve just recently finished a series of messages on marriage and submit it here for consideration to strengthen your marriage and to help parents prepare your children for this sacred union of man and woman.

  • Husbands and wives, listen and discuss the content and the status of your marriage.
  • Fathers and mothers, listen to these messages with or without your children, but at least, be intentional about training your children for this moment now. Trust me, if your child is 10 to 20 years of age, marriage is likely sooner than you expect. Train them while they are still willing to listen to you about something as serious as this.

My prayer for you is that this will at least spark conversation that will lead to formal and informal moments to teach your children.

Male and Female

The Engagement

Necessary for Marriage to Exist and Remain

Needed for Marriage to Remain (pt.1)

Needed for Marriage to Remain (pt. 2)

Duties of Husbands and Wives

For Church and Family (009) the Lord’s Table

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In this post I encourage parents to formally train their children about the Lord’s Table at home so that when they are at the church house and the gathered saints proclaim the Lord’s death in the corporate proclamation is something to watch. Teach them why they should wait to take it until they have made a confession of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Tips for Church and Family.

  • Parents:
    • This is important because your sons and daughters are watching a people make confession about the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
    • Explain what the cup and the bread represent.
    • Explain why, especially if they are young and asking questions, who is able to take the bread and the cup.
    • Point out that those who take this when it comes by have made Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives and submit to him as their Lord.
    • Explain only those who professes this do this.
    • With holding it from them is not abusive. It is actually eternally helpful, until they are old enough to understand what is actually happening and if they understand.
  • Church:
    • Treat this with seriousness.
    • Heads of households, gather your family together when the pastor instructs you on the Lord’s Day and pray with your family. Your children will not think this strange if you do what the pastor instructs.
    • When you pray, pray for salvation to come to those who are not yet redeemed.
    • Pray for the boys and girls as they watch and listen to what is happening at this moment. The Gospel is being proclaimed.

For Church and Family (007) Clothing

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In this short clip I give instructions about training children in how they dress and behave at the church house on the Lord’s Day. Talk about why we dress differently on the Lord’s Day than any other day. The why is very important on this topic.

Tips for Church and Family

  • Parents:
    • We are not building a case for a dress code. As a parent, we want to train our children about the significant event we are going to participate in and we dress significantly different for significant occasions.
    • Make the plans on Saturday night for what each of the children will wear on Sunday morning. This will help so that there is less stress on the Lord’s Day for finding the matching socks, locating a belt, or what color shirt/blouse goes with what color pants/dress.
    • Make this a normal routine while they are young. Remember you are training a child in a pattern or way. Make this a special routine with special treats upon occasion.
    • Model this in what you wear.
  • Church:
    • Encourage parents who are doing this. This is not an easy thing to do on early Lord’s Days. It is a lot of work and effort.
    • If you speak about a child’s clothing, be sure to only mention the clothing.
    • If you see families dressing nicely on the Lord’s Day, consider helping them by setting an example for them and their children.
    • Show these young ones in our congregation that this special gathering deserves nice clothing.

NOTE: This is not a matter to get too worked up on. But don’t miss the benefit that this is. It is not a small thing.

For Church and Family (005) Listening to the Preaching

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In this post I explain the reasons behind parents teaching their children to listen to the preaching. The hardest thing to teach a child in church is to listen to the preaching.

Tips for Church and Family

  • Parents:
    • Be consistent
    • Talk about this at home before you arrive.
    • As the grow older help them desire to listen to the preaching.
    • If a child needs to go to the bathroom every week, make a trip to the bathroom before you enter the auditorium.
  • Church:
    • Do your best to not get up and leave during the preaching.
    • Be sure to turn your phone off.
    • Display a discipline of not using your phone for messaging or games.

For Church and Family (004) Teach them to Listen

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In this post I encourage parents to read ahead in the scripture text at home and teach the children to listen for key words, listen to what songs we sang, ask them later what they heard.

Tips for Church and Family

  • Parents:
    • Read the text that your church is preaching through at home several times before the coming Lord’s Day. Make this a habit even if the children don’t understand what’s going on.
    • Note key words for the children to listen for.
    • Teach about those key words.
    • Only bring quiet items into the church house
    • Follow up with questions after.
    • Ask; “What songs did we sing at the church house today?”
    • Have an expectation
  • Church:
    • Give the children something honorable to imitate

For Church and Family (001)

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Today, I begin a series on church and family. I will lay out several short clips over the next few weeks from my Sunday evening teaching entitled “For Church and Family.”

These should be considered for consideration only. This is not a prescription or a requirement. I believe it will be helpful in all of our homes.

In this introduction I lay out a case for parents, children and the church as a whole to begin a needed conversation about what is helpful for family and church when we gather together. These posts will include a video clip from the October 15, evening teaching with ideas, cautions, encouragements and considerations.

A primary Scripture text over the past several weeks in the series of messages on parenting has been the benefit of Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go…” The key in this text is that we should consider the way the child should go not the way the child’s will wants to go. This is in relationship to behavior primarily. It can apply to the path of life but for the use in this series it is primarily used in behavior.

It has been my prayer that this be a blessing. I respect that a family who attends Eastside Baptist Church has a hard work to do. I think it is a good work. Yes, sometimes, a good work is hard work, but in the end it is a reward.

My encouragement to all parents in this God ordained work is to not grow weary in doing good (Galations 6:9).

On any given Lord’s Day at Eastside Baptist Church we will have from 20 to 30 children under the age of 12 in our morning gathering. That is a blessing from God. Treat it as such and bless the Lord for it.

Tips for Church and Family:

  • Parents:
    • Consider using the term “Lord’s Day” when you speak about Sunday’s.
    • Take time this week when you gather your children together and communicate what it looks like for your family when you gather at the church house with the church family.
    • Age appropriately, include your children in the discussion by asking them what they think you expect from them on the Lord’s Day.
    • Discuss why you expect them to behave as you instruct.
    • Protect yourself from being frustrated with your children.
    • Don’t grow weary in doing good.
  • Church:
    • Be patient with the children and their parents. It is a blessing to have them with us.
    • Pray for parents as they give helpful instructions to their children.
    • Pray for the children to want to heed their parents instructions.

Try Saying…

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This generation of the church is more captivated by a blockbuster thriller, superhero comics, social(-less) media, and hero worship of fictional characters portrayed by godless masses than the redeemer, Christ the Lord. This generation of the church expects their church to present truth the same way this world has cast this bewitching spell upon them.

“Entertain me!”, they say.
“You owe me!”, they expect.
“If it doesn’t keep my attention, I’m off to the one that will!”, they actually believe this.

  • Where is the parent who will nurture their children on the Word of God?
  • Where is the husband who will love his wife as Christ loves the church?
  • Where is the wife who will display the glory of God by giving herself only to her husband?
  • Where is the missionary who will set the thrills of this world aside for the call of God to dark prison cells?
  • Where is the church that will trust the sufficiency of Christ?
  • Where is the preacher who will preach eternal truth?
  • Where is the evangelist who will speak of the necessity of the blood of Christ?
  • Where is the sojourner who who knows this is not his home?
  • Where is the neighbor who will consider her neighbor as someone who needs the gospel as desperately as she does?
  • Where is the man of God who will humble himself before the Lord?
  • Where is the woman of God who will display the glory of God in her modesty?
  • Where is the child who will honor his father and mother.

By the grace of God, His people are around. But is this the church you are of? Are you this parent who will nurture in the ways of the Lord? Are you the husband who loves? the wife who helps? the missionary who goes? the church that trusts? the preacher who preaches? the evangelist who speaks? the sojourner with citizenship from above? the neighbor who concerns? the man you are? the woman you are? the child you are?

If so, may the Lord continue to help. If not, say this to the Lord with me today… “I repent of my wayward, distracted devotion.”

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