1911 Boy Scouts Handbook
Monday, January 5, 2009
The first part of the Boy Scout Pledge says, “On my honor I promise to do my best to honor God and my country.” The philosophy of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of The Boy Scouts of America, was to teach boys to be men, understanding the biblical principles of chivalry and honor towards women and elders. In this official, detailed compilation of Powell’s original work, young men are given valuable information on physical fitness, chivalry, first aid, patriotism, citizenship, and much more.
A Vision Forum Product
Posted byAnonymous at 1/05/2009 0 comments
Labels: Book Store, foundations, generations, hetigate, leadership
Letter from Birmingham City Jail
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Letter from Birmingham City Jail
Martin Luther King Jr.
"... You speak of our activity in Birmingham as extreme... But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Was not Amos an extremist for justice: "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Was not Paul and extremist for the Christian gospel: "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." and John Bunyon: "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience." ... So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. ... I also hope that circumstances will soon make it possible for me to meet each of you, not as an integrationist or a civil rights leader but as a fellow clergy-man and a Christian brother..." (Bennett, William J. "The Book of Virtues." pg.258-262)
I can remember learning about Martin Luther King Jr. in public school, but we were never taught that he was a Baptist minister. His biblical worldview and use of it as just cause for his battles were conveniently left out.
Posted byAnonymous at 1/20/2008 4 comments
Labels: foundations, leadership
When a Generation doesn't Remeber
Monday, January 14, 2008
Exodus 16:32 (NIV)
Then 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."
Judges 2:10-15
After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. ... v14 In his anger against Israel the Lord handed them over to raiders who plundered them.
And I thought I was one of the few who quickly forgets things. As we see here, God prepared a historical artifact for the generations of his people to remember. Yet, it took only one generation to develop a destructive cultural defiance to God. I wonder what it took for one generation to know nothing of the Lord or what He did in their family?
Posted byAnonymous at 1/14/2008 0 comments
Labels: fore-fathers, foundations, generations, heritage
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
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
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
