19Jul
Several trends are scaring me as I read the everyday news of what is going on around our country. One scary thing is where our education system is leaning towards in regards to traditional values and morals. I recently read an article that said the National Education Association is putting its full support behind homosexual “marriage”. When someone stood up at the convention in San Diego to defend the traditional stance by saying, “Marriage should be between a man and a woman,” he was booed. This is extremely scary because, like I said in my sermon last week, what are we teaching our children?
It is a fact, our public schools are tending to slip into moral decline. But that is not why I want to write this article. What I see in the possibility of the NEA throwing their political support into this issue is an opportunity for our parents and educators who disagree with this stance to take a stand ourselves. Morals are taught in the household, plain and simple. Our children are learning everything from their parents at home. When daddy curses as he stubs his toes the son is listening. When we forget to say a prayer to our Lord before bed the children take notice. When mommy does nothing but talk negatively about this person or that person to her friends on the phone, the daughter remembers. Morals of every kind are taught in the home, not just the hot button issues. We all need to remember that kids’ minds are some of the most malleable things on this planet, and we can teach them two ways of living. We need to start today, right now, to help form and mold our kids into the Godly people that our Father wants them to be and not let someone else determine how much they will love God.
12Jul
I had this guy from Nigeria in several of my senior Bible classes over the past couple of years. He was a very interesting guy, and he liked to talk about his heritage with us whenever we asked him about his culture.
One thing that is prized in Nigeria is knowing where you come from; he could name his lineage backwards 11 generations! The crazy thing is that he said that his dad was disappointed that he could not name back any more generations. That is simply astounding to me; the fact that he can give specific names and stories about members of his family who were alive before this country was established. Imagine if we could do that. One thing that I would love to know is at what point did someone in my family hear about the gospel of Christ? I have tried to retrace the steps of some of my family members to the time they first heard, but I would love to know when the exact moment was that someone in my family first took on the name of Jesus Christ through baptism. The interesting thing is everyone probably has a story in which someone close to them had not always known Christ, and through the introduction by a friend or family member became a member of the body of Christ and great things were done through them. From one person hearing the gospel, some pretty great things can be done. The smallest thing can balloon into a really, really big thing.
We never know what kind of potential someone has for the Lord’s Church until we actually give that potential a chance. Imagine the possibilities if each one of us invited one person to church this week, and followed up on them. What could we do? Could we grow? Certainly, but just think, they could be the first entrance of a family into the Lord’s Church and a couple generations later the entire family could follow Christ. Imagine the possibilities … Let’s all make an effort to invite someone to church this week.
05Jul
Neil’s Niche
Hey guys! So we have a really exciting week ahead of us…
- Tonight we have a teen devotional. It is going to be great, so be sure to come out tonight and bring as many people as you possibly can (the hosts specifically requested that we fill their house up).
- We have a Clandestine Destination this TUESDAY (not Thursday). Everyone meet up at the church building by 9 so that we can travel to where we are going. Here is what you need to bring:
- At least $4.00
- Walking shoes
- Comfortable clothes
- A sack lunch
- In two weeks we have our very first Serving our Savior here at the building. This is going to be a time when the teens can get together and we can help out other people in some way. Be on the lookout for more information as the time comes closer.
- Camp is coming up shortly as well. If you are going to camp I need 4 things from you:
- Your camp application
- Your camper information sheet
- Your $75
- Your medical release form
If you do not have a form it is no biggie; you just can’t go to camp. Just kidding (bad joke)…just see me if you need anything (except for the money part). I have a list of all I need from each person, and I will be annoying you here in the next 2 weeks.
