A Smelly Remembrance
Monday, January 28, 2008
I once heard somebody say, "We have to be reminded more often than we learn."
During lunch today, I picked up my book to finish reading it. The book reeks of smoke, left over from this weekends camp-out. I could not focus on reading because the smell kept drawing my attention back to the activities of the camp-out and spending time with my son. My mind would travel back and reflect on the mental images of the fun activities.
It is funny how certain smells triggers certain memories. I am forced to wonder if God instilled this in our being; a way to help remind us. I can smell a freshly mown field while in a car moving at 60mph. This smell draws me to the times I spent with my father and grandfather doing weekend yard work. As a child, I loved mowing the yard because my father(s) were always involved in that activity. This memory usually leads to a remembrance of the stories my father shared with us while taking a break. I can recall the time my father used a weed in the grass to exemplify sin and what happens when it is left to grow. This lesson (sin=weeds) is ingrained in my memories, even 30 years later.
This reminds me of the movie "Ratatouille" when the food critic is drawn to childhood memories while eating a simple peasant dish at an exquisite restaurant. The passage in Psalms 78: 1-8 tells of the importance of telling our children the praiseworthy deeds of our Lord. I pray that my children may remember the testimonies of their father when they smell a campfire, the stories of a grandfather while telling their children stories, or the teaching of a mother when smelling a freshly cooked meal.
I, for one, will have to start paying more attention to opportunities to tell my children what the Lord has done for me and my family. The time we spend fishing, camping, or building something in the garage are times I will need to spend telling my children the deeds of our Savior.
Posted byAnonymous at 1/28/2008 0 comments
Labels: child development, family, fore-fathers, generations, heritage of honor
Faith Driven Family
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
I have just finished reading the book, "Family Driven Faith," by Voddie Buacham Jr. This book was given to me as a Christmas present from my sister-in-law; thanks Jess. I throughly enjoyed this book. Mr. Buacham address issues that result in generations of children turning away from the faith.
Moses saw the home as the principle delivery system for the transmittal of God's truth from generation to generation. There is no hint here - or anywhere else in the Bible - of the multigenerational teaching of the truths of God being abdicated by parents in favor of "trained professionals." An excerpt from Faith Driven Family
As homeschool parents, we are raising our children with a foundational focus on biblical truths. However, Mr. Baucham help me, a father, reflect on our methods of accomplishing this. This book is applicable to not only homeschoolers, but to all families seeking to build a multigenerational foundation of biblical truths. This is a great resource for not only families, but teachers, elders, youth leaders, and even older youth.
Posted byAnonymous at 1/08/2008 0 comments
Labels: child development, family, family reformation, generations, heritage of honor, leadership, marriage, spouse, traditions
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
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 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
