October 17, 2015

“The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1

When I played baseball I was a good contact hitter. I had a wide stance and a short quick batting stroke which meant I hit a lot of line drives and seldom struck out. In fact, during my first two years of college ball I didn’t strike out at all. I didn’t hit any home runs or many extra base hits either.

Going into my senior year I decided I was going to start swinging for the fences. Sure, I struck out a few more times but I also got more extra base hits!

I share that to say this, how can you be a Home Run Kid if you don’t swing for the fences? As I close out this series on Raising Home Run Kids I am going to challenge you to raise kids who live out their faith boldly in a rapidly deteriorating culture.

How can you raise kids who swing for the fences unless you are willing and ready to go deep as a parent? You must be willing to swing for the fences with three bold parenting decisions. Tomorrow I will share those in greater detail and share practical suggestions to help you with those decisions.

Solomon says that “the righteous” are bold as a lion. What does he mean by that?

Here are a few thoughts on boldness.

Those who are righteous have the peace of God. If He has made you righteous you have made peace with your past through His forgiveness and grace. You can also have peace in the present because He is with you! And you can have peace over your future because He has said He will be with you always!

The righteous can be bold because they have the presence of God! When you have His presence you also have His power, so why fear?

When you are righteous you can claim the promises of God. You know what God has done for His righteous people in the past and His Word promises what He will do for His righteous today and tomorrow! You can live with courage when you trust His promises!

Righteous people have the partnership of other believers! Everything that righteous people have individually they also have corporately as they worship, fellowship and serve together! We have each other’s back and God has all of us covered! Why should we fear?

To Raise Home Run Kids who swing for the fences, kids who are bold as lions in believing and living their faith it will require bold parenting on your part and bold pastoring on mine.

I pledge to live righteously before you and before them. I pledge to call you to righteousness through the Word in my preaching and teaching and leading.

Together, let’s help them to know the peace of God in a world of strife and turmoil!

Together, let’s cherish and nurture God’s presence in our lives in everything we do at FredWes!

Together, let’s help them know the promises of God through the Bible and by making bold decisions based on God’s promises for the church and in our individual lives!

Let’s make bold decisions that will show our kids what happens when we trust God courageously and He comes through in supernatural ways for His glory at FredWes!

You can’t have a Home Run Life or Home Run Kids if you aren’t swinging for the fences!

October 16, 2015

“The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1

It takes three courageous decisions by a parent determined to Raise A Home Run Kid. Those three decisions are:

GUIDE YOU KID’S HEART!

DON’T CARRY YOUR KID’S LOAD!

We have taken a look at the first two, today we will look at the third decision:

RELEASE YOUR KID FROM YOUR FEAR

You can choose if you want to be courageous or cowardly and if you want to raise courageous kids or cowardly kids.

“Boldness” = increased capacity for courage

Actually, if you make the first two courageous decisions you are 2/3 of the way there because fearful parents carry the load for their kid. By carrying the load for your kid you diminish his capacity to cope with his world. In so doing you erode his confidence and project your fear upon him.

However, if you have the courage to allow your kid to carry his own load and if you assure him you will be there when  he gets over-burdened you are instilling confidence in him. Your confidence in him will be transferred to him.

The “RIGHTEOUS” are bold as lions!           

What does it mean to be “RIGHTEOUS”?

The righteous are those who have trusted Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and who have received salvation. Receiving the gift of salvation makes you right with God through the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

Why are the righteous bold?

·         They have God’s peace

·         They have God’s presence

·         They have God’s purpose

·         They have God’s perspective

·         They have God’s power

Knowing Christ and what He has accomplished in the past will give your child boldness in trusting Him for the future!

When my boys were small and just beginning to be interested in baseball they wanted me to teach them to bat. So I took them to the ball field with their bat and as many baseballs as we could find. My boy would take the bat and step up to the plate and I would lob a ball to him. Now I was capable of raring back and firing fastballs past him all day long. But I wasn’t trying to teach him how to swing and miss, I wanted to teach him to HIT the ball so I had to serve it up to him down the middle of the plate so he would experience the thrill of connecting with the ball. Each time he hit the ball he would get more excited and want to hit it harder. I wanted my boys swinging for the fences!

How can your kid be a Home Run Kid if he doesn’t swing for the fences?

IF WE WANT TO REALIZE OUR VISION OF RAISING UP A GENERATION OF BELIEVERS WHO ARE MORE PASSIONATE AND COMMITTED TO GOD THAN WE WILL NEED TO RAISE COURAGEOUS KIDS!

RAISING COURAGEOUS KIDS WILL REQUIRE COURAGEOUS DECISIONS BY THEIR PARENTS!

October 15, 2015

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.”  Galatians 6:2-5

If you wonder, “Where did America begin to go wrong?” you can begin here with a misunderstanding or disregard of this Scriptural principle.

Biblical wisdom offered by Paul and inspired by the Holy Spirit says each of us must carry our own load but when the load gets too heavy we should be available to help lift the load for a while.

That is Christian love and compassion. That builds healthy relationships, healthy fellowships, healthy families and healthy people.

As I shared in the previous post, the Greek word used in these verses is a shipping term. A “load” denotes the capacity of a ship. So, when the entire capacity of a ship is filled with cargo that ship is said to be carrying its “load”. However, if more is added to that ship it will be burdened and becomes in danger of sinking. If that should happen then another ship would come next to it and help bear the burden of the load by taking on some of the cargo.

That used to be the norm for our American culture. Each American was expected to carry his own load. As a result each American developed a self-sufficiency and independence that led to citizens that were strong and proud. When a neighbor or family member became overloaded and burdened they would come alongside them to help bear the burden.

However, when that principle is not honored and people begin picking up the load of others in a misguided effort to help others they hurt them rather than helping them. When a person is not allowed or not expected to carry his own load his capacity for load carrying is diminished. Rather than becoming stronger and increasing his capacity for carry life’s demands he loses that capacity and becomes easily over loaded. In addition, the well-meaning person in trying to carry the load for another becomes unable to bear his own load.

Multiply that across scores of families in scores of cities and towns across the 50 States of America and it totals up to overloaded people, families stressed to the breaking point and thousands of needy people.

As people and families and towns and cities and states become overwhelmed, political leaders see an opportunity to expand their power by offering government assistance in carrying their load. But since government has not resources other than what they take from their citizens via taxes and fees, the financial load increases for everyone. It doesn’t take long for government to become larger and stronger while the citizens become weaker and more dependent.

Rather than developing Home Run People you have a system that develops strike out people.

When this Biblical principle is applied in individual lives, in families and in communities you have the benefits of Christian living. You have strong people and satisfied people.

But when you violate this principle in the ways mentioned above you have socialism or even communism.

As I have listened to the Presidential Candidates debates from both parties I have heard the candidates offering more promises of how they will use government to carry more of the load for individual citizens. Never mind a mounting debt over $19,000,000,000 and growing annual budget deficits continue to promise more. The increasingly more dependent citizens grow weaker and the State rapidly gains strength and dominance over those individuals. With every promise of security comes increased dependence and reduced freedom.

“What can I do about this?” you may be wondering. One thing you can do is Raise Home Run Kids! Take to heart the teachings of the last several weeks and apply them to your child rearing. Cultures are restored one healthy family at a time and one healthy church fellowship at a time!

Carry you own load. Raise children who are taught to carry their own load. Connect with a church fellowship that can encourage you and carry your burdens when necessary.

October 14, 2015

If you never hear another of my sermons make sure you don’t miss this Sunday’s message! This will be one of the most practical and helpful messages I have shared about parenting. I will challenge you with three courageous decisions facing parents who wish to Raise Home Run Kids. Yesterday I posted the first courageous decision: To Guide Your Child’s Heart.

Today I share the second courageous decision: Don’t Carry Your Kid’s Load.

^“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.” Galatians 6:2-5

The apparent contradiction – “carry each other’s burden – BUT – carry own load” – WHAT?

Here’s the answer:

Both of these words in the Greek are shipping terms……

“LOAD” = THE SHIP’S CAPACITY

“BURDEN” = A SHIP OVERLOADED

A ship is usually loaded to its capacity. When it is filled to its capacity a ship can carry its load. But if it is overloaded or if the load shifts it is endangered on the sea. It will send out a distress signal and the nearest ship will come alongside to help relieve its burden.

You have a load to carry, I have a load to carry, you are not called to carry my load nor am I called to carry your load. But occasionally you get overloaded and I need to come along side and help carry your burden. You are to do the same for me!

This is what you are called to do for your kid and his parent. You are NOT to carry his load but you SHOULD be available to come along side in those rare times he may be overloaded.

A KEY ROLE OF A PARENT IS TO WORK WITH GOD TO INCREASE YOUR KID’S CAPACITY FOR CARRYING THE LOAD OF HIS LIFE. THAT TAKES COURAGE BECAUSE THE HEART OF A PARENT WANTS TO CARRY THAT LOAD FOR YOUR KID.

CAPACITY IS INCREASED BY THE CHALLENGES LIFE BRINGS!

Maturity = increasing your capacity for load carrying

ATTENTION KIDS: You may want your parents to carry your load but you shouldn’t expect them to. If you allow your parents to “rescue you” and carry your load you will hurt yourself by remaining dependent upon them. What comforts you now will only cripple you later.

• JOB/CAREER – If you can’t carry your work load in your workplace during your career you will lose your job!
• RELATIONSHIP/MARRIAGE - If you don't carry your own load in a relationship you will not have a healthy relationship!
• SPIRITUALITY/CHURCH - If you don't carry your load God won't be able to use you or cause you to grow!

LEARN TO CARRY YOUR OWN LOAD!

You may be wondering, what is my load? What is my kid’s load?

INFANT STAGE

Parent’s Load – To create an environment of love, security and a

Kid’s Load – To be loved, blessed and secure

TODDLER/PRESCHOOL

Parent’s Load – To create a climate of consequence

Kid’s Load – To learn respect and obedience

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YEARS

Parent’s Load – To create an environment of personal responsibility and achievement.

Kid’s Load – To manage increasingly complex calendar, workload and relationships

Examples:

·         Who is responsible to make sure your kid gets to the bus stop on time in the morning?

·         Who is responsible to make sure homework assignments and deadlines are clear?

·         Who is responsible to complete homework assignments on time as assigned?

Key Question From Parent To Kid – What are you going to do about it?

TEEN YEARS

Parent’s Load – To create an environment of openness and acceptance.

Kid’s Load – To develop a healthy identity larger than the family.

Parents, if you do the previous stages well this stage can be a joy, if not and if you have to play catch up this stage will be difficult.

YOUNG ADULT YEARS AND BEYOND

Parent’s Load – To create an environment of honor

Kid’s Load – To set a healthy trajectory for life

It is during these years your kid will make the three major life decisions

MASTER – Who will I serve?

MISSION – What will I do with my life?

MATE – Who will I share my life with?

What stage of life does your kid find himself right now?

What courageous decision(s) must you make?

October 13, 2015

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23

There is the old story about the strong-willed boy who was acting up and was told by his mother to go sit in the corner. When he ignored her his father stood and sternly commanded him to the corner. As he begrudgingly made his way to place of his punishment he muttered under his breather, “I’m may be sitting down on the outside but I’m standing up on the inside!”

Humorous as that may be it illustrates the truth of my first point for the final message on Raising Home Run Kids, GUIDE YOUR KID’S HEART.

It’s good to be mindful that bringing your kid’s behavior into compliance or conformity with your demand is one thing but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have dented his will.

Courageous parenting is not just correcting his behavioral while he is under your roof but it is capturing his heart so he will be able to control his behavior after he leaves.

What are some ways to capture his heart while you correct his behavior?

You can pray together with him.

This is a home plate issue. You can teach him to connect with God through prayer. By praying with him you can hear his heart and get to know him better. By praying with him he will get to hear your heart and get to know you better. At some point you can lead him in the sinner’s prayer so he can give his heart to Jesus. The best way to guide his heart is to put it under the control of the Holy Spirit.

You can praise together with him.

This is a first base issue. You can teach him to recognize God’s goodness and grace in His life and give praise to God regularly. You can let him hear your expressions of praise and thanksgiving to God. You can make sure you get your family to church so he can learn to worship and praise with you and your church family.

You can play together with him.

This is a second base issue. Spending time with him on the lake fishing, or in the woods hunting, or in the back yard playing catch, or hiking together can create a closeness that opens lines of communication. Unguarded moments lead to deeper insights into his heart and mind. Those moments are invaluable and instructive. It also breaks down some his defenses and allows him to hear you at a more intimate level.

You can plan together with him.

This is a third base issue. Teaching him to order his time, set his schedule and establish priorities is a very practical way of shaping his behavior and capturing his heart. Knowing what is right and what is best is a huge help in doing what is right! Learning effective planning is a life-long lesson!

I hope you will find these suggestions helpful as you work to have your kid sitting on the inside while he sits on the outside. Capturing his heart as you correct his behavior is a massive head start in building a successful satisfying life!

What do you need to stop doing to guide your kid better?

What do you need to keep doing to guide your kid better?

What do you need to start doing to guide your kid better?

October 12, 2015

"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:23-26

Once you have seen Jesus and understand Who He is, you can never be the same! Peter's confession of Christ shaped his life forever! It was his defining moment.

How did it define his life?

First, it defined His meaning.

Peter was a fisherman become follower. Jesus had promised him He would become a "fisher of men". But had that happened yet? No really. So, what value is there in being a non-fishing fisherman? Not much.

Fully knowing Who Jesus was meant that Peter now would fish differently with different bait, a new hook and a bigger net!

His new bait? JESUS!

His new hook? LOVE!

His new net? THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!

Second, it defined his mission.

When Peter first decided to follow Jesus he left his nets and his boat to learn about this amazing new Rabbi. He became a follower because of what it could do for him and if it did not work he could always go back to fishing. Peter had a fall back position - a "plan B".

His confession of Jesus would change that forever!

Once you truly understand Who Jesus is and confess Him as Savior and Lord, there is no more "plan B". Either you are all in or you are out! Peter understood that. His mission was to be fully committed to making Christ known to others. The news was too good to keep! Evangelizing became His purpose and His top priority.

Committing to Christ marks the end of casual, aimless living!

How did he do? Read the first several chapters of Acts!

Third, it defined his message.

When you know Who Jesus is, how can you stay silent about it? When you have witnessed miracles and seen people delivered and the dead raised, how can you not tell others about that? You can't! You must!

Others needed to hear it and Peter needed to tell.

How did he do? Read the first few chapters of Acts!

Once you understand Who Christ is and once you confess Him it should dramatically and fundamentally change you! It should change your meaning - has it? It should change your mission - has it? And it should change your message - what are you talking about?

October 11, 2015

^"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, GODLINESS" II Peter 1:5-6

One of the embarrassing moments of my mediocre athletic career happened when I was playing High School baseball for the Warsaw Tigers. I came to bat with runners on  base and a chance to knock them in with a base hit. The pitch came and it was a late-breaking curve that I started to swing at but then tried to hold up on my swing. However, my bat went too far and made contact with the pitch resulting in a weak little ground ball that the first basemen easily scooped up and tagged the base. I was out. Upset at myself, I  took off my batting helmet as I crossed first base and slammed it to the ground so hard that it bounced back higher than my head.

My head coach was coaching first base and as I turned to head back toward the dugout he was standing there in the coaching box waiting for me. He was clearly angry and he lit into me about how I not only made myself look bad but I made the whole team and Warsaw High School look bad.

I had never seen him so upset and I knew he was right and was justified in his scolding of me. I immediately apologized as I realized I had only thought about myself and my own frustration and forgot that I represented Warsaw Community High School and the WCHS athletic program.

In my disappointment with myself for making an out I lost sight of my "Tigerness".

That is a picture of what Peter means when he call on us to "add to our faith.....godliness..."

What is Godliness?

Godliness comes from the Greek word "eusebia" and is used in the New Testament to express the idea of inner piety or spirituality. Vine defines this word as, "piety, which, characterized by a God-ward attitude, does that which is well pleasing to Him." Thayer says, "Reverence, respect, in the Bible everywhere piety towards God, godliness." And, Arndt and Gingrich says it refers to, "the duty which man owes to God piety, godliness, religion."

Thus, there are two parts to godliness. First, there is the "God-ward attitude" of "reverence and respect." Second, there also is the "doing of what is pleasing" to God, as the "duty" that we owe to Him.

Just as Coach Bock sternly admonished me for embarrassing the team with both my attitude AND my actions, Peter urges these believers to "think like God and act like God".

Godliness loves God and lives like it loves God. Godliness thinks and acts like God so that others think well of God and want to know Him as well.

Do you love God? Do your actions show it?