Destroy Children- "Exasperate Them"
Monday, December 31, 2007
Ephesians 6:4 (New International Version) (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Exasperate - (Defined by Merriam Webster's Dictionary)
Involved in my own feelings, I fail to follow God's instruction on raising my child. I was not compassionately nurturing my child. Later that evening, my wife revealed that my son did not properly clean the floor because he did not now how. You see, my son was trying to honor me with the best of his ability, but it was not enough for me. He had the proper attitude, I did not. As he was lying in bed, a broken father had to ask his son for forgiveness.
Children prepare for adulthood by witnessing our actions. Do not push your children to the point of anger, instead teach them compassion and kindness. Focus on correcting the attitude. If the attitude is right, then make sure they clearly understand the issue. Have patience as God has unending patience for us. Also, never discipline with an angry hand. If your heart is not right, then take heed and do not punish. Instead step back and ask your spouse to help. Also, teach you children why you discipline so they may truly understand a biblical world view. Guidance without understanding leads to dictatorship.
Posted byAnonymous at 12/31/2007 0 comments
Labels: child development, family, foundations
Homeschool Fun
Thursday, December 27, 2007
posted from:
http://www.timhawkins.net/video-audio.htm
Posted byAnonymous at 12/27/2007 0 comments
Another Christmas Gift
Posted byAnonymous at 12/27/2007 0 comments
Labels: family, traditions
A Christmas Gift
A Christmas gift from grandchildren.
Posted byAnonymous at 12/27/2007 0 comments
Labels: family, traditions
Debt: Building Honor or Causing Destruction?
Monday, December 17, 2007
Over the last 50+ years, we have become dependent on the all mighty 2 1/8 inch by 3 1/8 inch sheet of plastic with a magnetic strip. It comes wrapped in any color or image of your choice. Toys are teaching children to just charge it. Commercials chastise the use of cash for slowing down efficiency. Customer loyalty is built by advertising to high school students. Deals come by means of low interest rates or no interest for 3, 6, or even 12 months. And there is my all-time favorite, "Let's cash advance our Visa card to pay the Discover card."
I am not alone in knowing how the chains of debt feel. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis, for every $1.00 earned, each American spends $1.22 [1]. This snowball of a spending trend, sparked by credit cards, leads to an enslaved path of destruction.
In biblical times, debt could lead to slavery; see Mathew 18:26-28 . "If you're in debt then you're a slave, in the sense that you do not have the freedom to use your money to powerfully change your family tree[2]."
Let me clarify, I am not stating that the use of credit is evil. However, I do agree with Dave Ramsey's comment that the use of debt limits our ability to build a Heritage on Honor. A mortgage is not evil; it is the person who sinfully purchase more than what they can afford. We should be good stewards of what we have been entrusted with.
Our children need to be taught and given examples of how to live without debt. They will be bombarded with advertisements that teach them to live the American dream by using a credit card. Without our example and teaching, our grandchildren may seek a life of servitude to debt. I like Dave Ramsey's example how a family tree can change from a debt-free life. Imagine a life of financial freedom giving you the ability to have no mortgage. Your children have learned how to manage finances and live a debt-free life. What kind of heritage could you build by being able to purchase your children's first home for them, with cash, as a reward for living a debt-free life? What kind of example will this set for your generations for come? Good stewardship is way to build a Heritage of Honor, but debt is the destructive opposition to stewardship.Footnotes
1. Sourced from "Financial Literacy" from Ad Council web site at http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=373.
2. Sourced from Dave Ramsey on "Dept" from MyTotalMoneyMakeover.com https://www.mytotalmoneymakeover.com/members/index.cfm?fuseaction=dspCat&intCatID=52
Posted byAnonymous at 12/17/2007 0 comments
Labels: family, hetigate, money, traditions
Preservation of Honor Contest
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Do you have a blog, web page, or on-line journal? Do you have a story about how you preserve family traditions, events, lineage, or stories; stories that develop a focus on Godly living? If you do not have a blog or such, then email it. Well here is your chance to win a great movie produced by Vision Forum:
Curious about the movie? Read my blog about it here.
Here is what to do:
1. Post an article about how you or your family preserves testimonies, stories, heirlooms, or anything else in order for future generations to turn to God. What is it, why is it important, and how will it build a "Heritage of Honor?" Must be posted before 12/20/2007.
NOTE: If you do not have a blog then email iT to HeritageOfHonor@sbcglobal.net or post it in the comments.
2. Leave a comment here with the location of your posting and a way to contact you.
3. A winner will be chosen on 12/22/2007.
Give all thanks and credit to:
Become a Vision Forum Affiliate...
Posted byAnonymous at 12/16/2007 0 comments
Labels: family, fathers, fore-fathers, heritage, heritage of honor, traditions
Traditional Spending Habits
Saturday, December 15, 2007
As a child, I watched my grandfather purchase a saw when he needed one. When the garden tractor broke-down, he would buy another one. When fishing tackle went on sale, he would add to his tackle boxes. My grandfather enjoyed life and I learned to buy whatever, whenever I had the money. My parents' love taught me many truths about life, but I personally failed to learn good spending habits.
When my wife and I purchased our first home, I needed to fill to it with all the stuff that took my father and grandfather years to acquire. My spending habits caused years of servitude to debt. Unfortunately, I had to learn about bad spending habits through experience.
It is fairly common knowledge that it takes twenty one days, or twenty one times, to make something a habit[1]. The problem lies in the time it takes to realize a bad habit and the consequences of those habits. As the saying goes, "Bad habits die hard."
To protect my heirs from learning my bad habits, I must change mine. Also, I must teach them how to become good stewards of the money we are entrusted with. After they learn where money comes from (see Allowance vs Commission), then they should be taught how to handle that money. I like Dave Ramsey's approach to split the money into three envelops; Giving, Saving, and Spending [2]. A child that tithes his earned money will learn more than a child who is given dollar to put into the offering plate. The child learns how to set-aside hard earned money for savings or emergency funds. In addition, he learns how to manage funds for buying toys or candy.
This is what Dave Ramsey considers changing the family tree; I consider it a way to establish a heritage of honor. Let's not give our children the opportunity to learn bad spending habits. Instead, we should teach them to properly manage funds and how they can teach their children to do the same.
I would like to recommend the use of Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace Junior."
Footnotes:
1. McDonald, T. "Breaking Bad Habits - 5 Simple Steps fro Changing a Habit," http://ezinearticles.com/?Breaking-Bad-Habits---5-Simple-Steps-for-Changing-a-Habit&id=71021
2. Ramsey, Dave. "Financial Peace University," 2006, www.daveramsey.com
Posted byAnonymous at 12/15/2007 0 comments
Labels: child development, family, foundations, money, traditions
Commission V's Allowance
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
During my upbring, it was either do the chores or get the belt. We did get allowance, but it was just that; an allowance. Dave Ramsey suggest that children should receive a commission instead of allowance[1]. The purpose is to use chores as an opportunity to teach children the biblical concept of work and money. Commission for chores does not denote that chores are voluntary.
I find Mr. Ramsey's use of the term commission interesting. The word "commission" as a transitive verb is defined as "to appoint or assign to a task or function [2]." Would this mean we are to commission our children for their commission?
Mr. Ramsey's way of rewarding children for completion of chores teaches them that they will be compensated for entrust responsibilities. Ensure each child knows how to do the task, what quality is acceptable, and when it is to be completed. Based on their performance, they are given either commission or discipline. If a child does more than what is expected, then compensate them. If they fail while attempting to do additional choirs, then help them get back-up and encourage them to continue. Hum, this is beginning to sound just like an every day job. Mr. Ramsey recommends using a dry-eraser board to keep weekly record of chores completed and how much they earned.
I write this because I have yet to fully assimilate this plan in my home. I find this way of assigning choirs to be a good teaching tool. At the dinner table, my family read about Paul's warning against idleness (2 Thessalonians 3: 6-19). This is one way to teach our children the importance of earning our food; that things in life are just not free.
Footnotes:
1. Ramsey, Dave. "DAVE RAMSEY’S FINANCIAL PEACE JR. TEACHES KIDS THE IMPORTANCE OF MONEY MANAGEMENT". DaveRamsey.com 11 Dec 2007. http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/cms/index.cfm?intContentID=3203
2. "Commission." Merriam-Webster Online. 7 Dec 2007
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/commission
Posted byAnonymous at 12/11/2007 0 comments
Labels: child development, money, traditions
Building a Heritage of Honor through $$$$
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
- It's not a get rich quick scheme!
- It's not immortality for sale!
- It's not buying great children and grand-children!
- It is teaching our generations, by example, how to build honor through stewardship!
- It is about changing the family tree to exemplify faith in God!
- It about teaching our children what we were not taught!
I am currently attending Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" with a group of other believers. I am struck at the opportunities we, as parents and grandparents, have to build a Heritage of Honor by the way we handle our money.
As Christmas comes around the corner, I would like to discuss a couple of these topics for the next few weeks.
Posted byAnonymous at 12/04/2007 0 comments
Importance of Establishing a Heritage
Monday, December 3, 2007
I once heard somebody say, "We need to be reminded more than we need to learn." The family testimonies build layers upon layers of foundations for establishing faith in future generations.
Exodus 16: 32 - 35 (NIV)
God knew his people would need an established Testimony (Ark of the Covenant) for generations to come. How are we doing for our generations to come?32 Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.' "
33 So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the LORD to be kept for the generations to come."
34 As the LORD commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna in front of the Testimony, that it might be kept. 35 The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.
Posted byAnonymous at 12/03/2007 0 comments
Labels: foundations, generations, heritage, testimony
Spouse V's Family
Thursday, November 29, 2007
During a class assignment, we were asked to identify priorities of our life. The priorities included family, faith/religion, school, work, and such. However, when I said, "My wife," a debate with a fellow student developed over the difference of spouse versus the family. Separating these as two different priorities is vital in establishing a family legacy that is honoring to God.
Biblically, marriage is a solemn covenant bond between a man and a woman with God being the "bonding glue." See Mathew 19: 4-6. Within this covenant, the husband is called to be the spiritual leader of the home (head of house hold) and present himself to her holy and blameless. This relationship is to imitate the one God exemplified through Christ and the Church.
It is through this covenant that the husband and wife are entrusted with the gifts of children. These gifts are the continuance of a heritage; the future for other generations. According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary the family is :"The collective body of persons who live in one house and under one head or manager; a household, including parents, children and servants, and as the case may be, lodgers or boarders."
Therefore, a family is composed of multiple relationships. The first is the individual's relationship with God. The second is the covenant bond, the husband/wife and God relationship. The third is the family, which includes the marriage and any gifts. It is vital for a husband and a wife to exemplify the importance of these relationships. God reveals ways for the husband and wife to honor the covenant of marriage. Then, the marriage becomes a visible example for the children. If it is a God honoring marriage, the children will learn how to honor God individually and through marriage. As our children learn from this example, so will their children and grandchildren. These relationships become examples for generations to come.
Therefore, do not lower your spouse to that of just family. My wife is more than just family. The inside of our wedding rings reads "Became One 10-21-95." I must protect and build on our covenant marriage. The way I treat my wife teaches my sons how they should treat their wives. It also gives my daughters a way to measure who they shall court and marry. If I treat my wife as just part of the family, then it will be the children that she will focus every moment on, not our marriage. Again, the marriage is part of the family, but it is not just a family.
So, how does the marriage develop a Heritage of Honor? If you don't know, then read this blog again!
Posted byAnonymous at 11/29/2007 0 comments
Labels: covenant, family, marriage, spouse
Everything is Meaningless
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Ecclesiastes 1:2 (NIV)
"Meaningless! Meaningless!"
says the Teacher.
"Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless."
Everything we do under the sun is meaningless. That is if we don't do it for God's glory. But what caught my eyes during a Sunday morning service was:
Ecclesiastes 1:11 (NIV)
"There is no remembrance of men of old,
and even those who are yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow."
Attending a memorial service for a church elder, Bob, that lived what we would consider a worthy life, would cause anyone to say "What?" to this verse. On his death bed, he choose songs and scripture for his memorial service. Why? Memorial services, gravestone, and funerals are not for the dead, but for the living. We try to feel better about the death of a loved one by attempting to contain memories of their life. But yet, this is meaningless.
Researching genealogy brings me to wonder what my family was like. The stories of my forefathers were forgotten, never told, or maybe purposefully hidden. There was no remembrance of these men, except for names that were written in a document. I can recall memories of my grandfather, but yet my children did not know him. If they, my fore-fathers, wanted remembrance for something they did, it was utterly meaningless. The family knows nothing of the lives of our fore-fathers.
As for Bob, choosing his songs and scripture for his memorial service, he knew the answer. Bob had an insight that many men tend to over-see or reject. I too do not want to be remembered for what I did; however, I wanted people to remember what God has done in my life. The patents I have my name on, the toys I've acquired, my projects, and even the number of children I have are all meaningless. All is lost, if I do not do it for the glory of God.
This is why it is important for fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers to tell their sons and daughters what God has done in their life. This gives the generations memories that are Christ centered. The family stories of what God has done generates a family Heritage of Honor, honor that is serving to the Lord and Father.
Posted byAnonymous at 11/20/2007 0 comments
Labels: death, fore-fathers, generations, heritage, meaningless
Brainless TV
Monday, November 19, 2007
It is interesting what a young mind, as old as 8, can think-up.
Brainless TV
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| From James_comic |
"Ha, ha"
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| From James_comic |
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| From James_comic |
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| From James_comic |
Child: "Why?"
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| From James_comic |
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| From James_comic |
Brain: "NO!"
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| From James_comic |
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| From James_comic |
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| From James_comic |
Reference Material:
Posted byAnonymous at 11/19/2007 2 comments
Labels: brain, comic, funnies, TV
Thanksgiving Day Traditions
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Personally, it is my favorite time of the year. Homes are being prepared to host many traditional family events. Families get together for a feast and fellowship.
Ummm. Smoked turkey, Dressing, Pumpkin Pie, and Pecan Pie. A game of dominoes, poker, football, or even nertz. These traditions create memories for generations. But the question begs to be asked; is our traditions honoring to the Lord almighty?
Over the last couple of weeks, I have been plagued with properly answering this question. Are we celebrating Thanksgiving or Turkey day? Thanksgiving should be a day of overflowing thankfulness to our Savior for providing use with a nation to freely worship and honor Him. I for one will stop using the phrase "Happy Turkey Day."
Vision Forum has presented a Thanksgiving Day Collection titled "Plymouth Set."
I have yet to review this material, but it may be a great resource for building family traditions that honor God.
Please share your traditions; I would like to hear...
Posted byAnonymous at 11/14/2007 0 comments
Labels: heritage, heritage of honor, plymouth, Thanksgiving, traditions, turkey day
Generations of Men
Their future, your heritage, is molded by your actions.
Posted byAnonymous at 11/14/2007 0 comments
Labels: family, fathers, hetigate, leadership, sons, video
Veterans Day Traditions?
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Many influential, life changing events have happened on this day in history. For instance, in 1620, the "Mayflower Compact" was signed by the 41 Separatists among the passengers of the "Mayflower," serving as the basis for combining themselves "into a civil body politic." Democratic in form, the Compact comprised the first written American constitution, and remained in force until 1691. (See Reference)
However, on highly under-observed activity for today is Veterans Day. In what ways do you thank the individuals that have sacrificing time, education, and financial opportunities in order to protect our freedoms; freedoms which are under constant attack, by both other countries and Americans?I for one will start with my family, teaching my children to overflow with thankfulness for what God has entrusted us with. Telling them the stories of there forefathers than have fought in Bacon’s Rebellion, the ones that served in the Revolutionary War, and about there great-grandfather which served in WWI; which ended this day in 1918. Maybe we should observe this day by building a time line illustrating our descendants which have scarified much in order to protect us, their future generations. How will you and you family honor your heritage on this day?
Thank You…
Posted byAnonymous at 11/11/2007 0 comments
Labels: family, heritage, Mayflower, veterans day
The League of Grateful Son's
Friday, November 9, 2007
Why this extreme curiosity to discover my forefathers footsteps? I was never one to dwell on the past. High school history class was a past era that did nothing for me. As I have grown a little wiser, I found that knowing my roots gave a man a strong example to stand on. It is a way for young men to find what his fathers before him have sacrificed for what he now has.
This great revelation has come to light with a moving documentary I recently purchased. The movie "The League of Grateful Sons," was produced by Vision Forum Ministries. It is comprised of faithful stories from son's, fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers which served on Iwo Jima. The movie reveals the biblical importance telling the stories, or testimonies, of what God has accomplished in your life to your sons and grandsons. A child will not remember the algebra solution tomorrow, but he or she will remember the stories you tell them while fishing, planting flowers, or just while eating dinner.
I have missed the opportunity to ask my father's father about his stories. He didn't share them with his grandchildren. He did however take us under his loving mentorship and teach us many things. Now I must do diligence and research my forefathers' lives, so my sons and daughters will have something to hold them strong during trials and tribulations. My children need stories of manly forefathers, so that my children will guide the way for their children, my grandchildren.
Posted byAnonymous at 11/09/2007 0 comments
Labels: fathers, heritage, heritage of honor
Building Foundations
Thursday, November 8, 2007
When Dr. K, my professor at DBU, challenged the class to a statement, I was shock to find myself in the disagreeing minority. The statement: "Universities are the most critical influential time during a person's life." Speak with any engineer and you will find that preparation is the most critical aspect in building a foundation. Without proper soil preparation a foundation will move, shift, crack, and sometimes self-destruct. This in turn, destroys what sits upon that foundation. I find it amazing this knowledge was given to us from biblical times.
Mathew 67:24-27
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Yet, I sit in a Christian college class with a diverse group of adults believing the most influential aspect of a person's life is after they flown the coup, trying to become adults. Yes, society wants us to believe this so our institutions can become a powerful force in shaping societal culture.
Take heed in building the moral foundations of your children, as the most influential years of a child's life is before the age of seven. Character is permanently shaped by a strong moral foundation. Character is like studs of a building or the pillars of a bridge. Without proper preparation, a young adult's character and beliefs are easily shifted, moving from one side or the other.
Absence of a strong foundation will allow an institution, peer group, instructor, or even a girlfriend to simply shift a person's beliefs. If you want to empower others to greatly influence your children, then by all means, don't spend time building your child's foundation. The most influential part of a person's life is the family.
Posted byAnonymous at 11/08/2007 0 comments
Labels: child development, family reformation, foundations, heritage of honor
Beginning with the End in Mind
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Welcome to the beginning of what I hope to become an active piece in the family reformation. Lord willing, the family reformation will end with families turning to God to find purpose for life. It is within the family where the foundations of life are established. For upon these foundations, whether they are solid or moving, people lay their bricks of character, ethics, and morals.
A Heritage of Honor is a means by which families can establish a concrete, strong, non-shifting foundation. A Heritage of Honor is knowing how God's providential hands have worked within the family. This can not only be done by researching family history, but also through developing such, here and now. This applies not only to young families, but also to empty-nester's, children, and especially grandparents.
This blog is a means to explore, research, and develop ways for people find and establish a Heritage of Honor. I am amazed at the importance of knowing God is the God of our father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; just as God identified Himself to Moses in Exodus. Without that foundation of knowledge, would Moses have gone back to Pharaoh to demand to let his people go? Building a foundation that includes a Heritage of Honor will provide people with a purpose that is not utterly meaningless. It is here that we find ways to glorify God, not man.
Posted byAnonymous at 11/07/2007 1 comments
Labels: family reformation, heritage, heritage of honor
