Recently, while in Turkey, I was asked a very thought-provoking question by a church leader. “What is the most encouraging thing you see happening in the world today?”
Because I lead a worldwide mission ministry, I’m sure he expected some 30,000-foot view of exciting things happening in the nations. Like, the fact that more Muslims are coming to the Lord than at any time in history. Or that Latin American churches, in increasing numbers, are rising up and sending missionaries to the nations. As exciting and encouraging as those developments are, I realized something else encouraged me even more. Continue reading →
Parenting is tough. It always has been but there is no doubt it is much harder now when society no longer even knows, let alone agrees with, plain Biblical exhortations regarding discipline and the nature of a child’s heart.
I occasionally have frustrated parents contacting me for advice and I appreciate the wisdom they show in wanting to know what God’s Word, not the lady on TV or the movie star in the magazine, has to say about how to raise godly children. Here is some material I have prepared to offer help in a few areas.
Parenting is a marathon, certainly not a sprint. But it is also the most valuable and rewarding thing you will ever do in your life – raising godly children. The rewards are great in this life and also in eternity. Get help below. The information is free but also priceless.
Somebody told me they were upset because a Christian friend accused her of being pro-abortion because she said was pro-choice. “That angers me”, she complained, “because I hate abortions but I think a person should have a choice in this matter. How come Christians think pro-choice is the same as pro-abortion?”
I can understand her frustration at being labeled as being in favor of something that she despises. Most people would consider her stance rather neutral. She is not in favor of abortion but neither does she think people should be restricted from having them if that is their choice. She is tolerant. She is correct – at least politically.
But here could be why her friend accused her of being pro-abortion simply because she was pro-choice. Think this through with me.
First of all, I know of no one that would say they are pro-abortion. No one who understands even the most basic aspects of abortion, its trauma to the woman and the death of the child, could say they are pro, or in favor of, abortion. The reason, however, some people equate pro-choice with pro-abortion is because if you look at the practical outcome of a pro-choice stance it produces the same thing a pro-abortion stand would produce. For example, a pro-choice senator asked to vote on a measure limiting abortion would vote the same way as a pro-abortion senator, if such a person existed.
Let me try to illustrate by looking at a parallel example, another hotly debated topic – gun control. Let’s assume you hate guns but you also believe people who want to own them should be allowed to freely own guns. You have a pro-choice stance. If you were forced to vote or take a stand on the issue, even though you hate guns you would have to side with the pro-gun people to oppose restrictions on gun owners. Therefore, though you would never say you are “pro-gun”, the ultimate outcome of your position is the same as the pro-gun people. In this case, pro-choice is virtually the same as pro-gun, it produces the same outcome, no limitations on the ownership or use of guns.
Apply this same template to the abortion debate. You hate abortions (guns) but you feel people should be able to freely have an abortion (a gun) if that is their choice. Therefore, the practical outcome of your stance is as if you were pro-abortion (pro-gun). As much as you hate abortion (guns) a pro-choice stance puts you squarely on the side of those who profit from the death caused by abortion (guns). If you hate guns, like we assume you do for this example, it would likely make you angry to be called pro-gun but your “neutral” stance actually advances the distribution and uncontrolled ownership of guns – the pro-gun position.
However, there is an even stronger reason that some would say being pro-choice is equivalent with being pro-abortion. If I am pro-choice, I am saying I am in favor of a person having the right to make whatever choice they desire – either option – keeping the child or aborting the child as long as it is that woman’s choice. I am pro her keeping the baby if that is her choice. But, I am also pro aborting the child if that is her choice. If I am “pro”, or in favor of, only one choice then there really is no choice. To truly be pro-choice I must be in favor of either option – keeping or aborting the child. Therefore, to be pro-choice says I am pro, in favor of, abortion in the case where that is the woman’s preferred choice. In that case I am pro-abortion. I cannot say I am pro-choice if I do not support one of the two choices available. So, quite literally, while I might hate abortions, if I am pro-choice I am also pro-abortion at least on occasions where the woman chooses to end the child’s life. If abortion is her choice then abortion is my choice for her – or I am not truly pro-choice.
While it may be frustrating to have people align you with something you hate so much, in reality, your stance is one that fosters abortions and, at least in some cases, is pro, or in favor of, abortions. If you are not in favor of abortions even if that is the woman’s choice then you are not pro-choice. If you are in favor of abortions when it is the woman’s choice then you must admit that, at least sometimes, you are in favor of abortions, or pro-abortion. There is no neutral stance on this issue. Think about it. I would love to hear your comments and if there are any fallacies in the reasoning or something I am missing, please point it out.
__________________ Proverbs 6:16-17
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, …
From World Magazine’s Blog:
Lia, a 12-year-old girl from Toronto, was assigned to come up with a persuasive speech for her seventh grade class. Teachers told her the topic she chose was “too big,” “too mature,” “too controversial,” and if she went forward with it she would not be allowed to advance to the schoolwide competition or beyond.
Lia, however, would not be swayed, and once her teacher heard her presentation, she declared her the class winner. But when Lia spoke before the entire school she was initially disqualified because of her topic. Later, one of the judges who was offended by the speech stepped down, and the remaining judges reversed their earlier decision and declared Lia the school’s winner and representative in a regional competition. She didn’t win the next round, but later found out that her speech, which has been posted on YouTube, was a winner in another way.
Lia’s mom told Bound4Life:
“Lia wasn’t really that upset though, especially when she considered that the only difference between winning the competition and not winning was having a couple extra pictures taken and being given a small trophy. Lia has a much bigger trophy—somebody commented to us on our YouTube account that her aunt watched Lia’s video and decided to NOT have an abortion because of it. Yay God! Others have commented that they either never thought of the issue before or were pro-choice—but now they have changed their opinions. So, having a life saved is the best trophy ever!”
WEEKEND THOUGHTS: A little departure from the normal comments on Scripture:
With a big pleasant smile the agent said, “Your flight is cancelled.” What?! She was so cheery I thought I misunderstood.
A volcano in Iceland was spewing ash so Jana and I weren’t going to be able to get from Athens to Berlin. Being stuck in Athens is a pretty good way to “suffer for Jesus” but we did have missionaries waiting for us in Berlin. I couldn’t help but think how tiny our world is and how very microscopic we humans are. One little mound of dirt and rock in Iceland was affecting an untold number of lives thousands of miles away. All our magnificent technology was disabled, grounded, till an unseen mountain decided to release it.
We don’t often get reminded of our frailty as humans. We usually avoid situations that remind us of it. It is easy to marvel at the great accomplishments of man. It is easy to think we are powerful, evolving into some super race of invincible creatures.
Then the earth “burps” and cities crumble in seconds due to the earthquake. A resulting tsunami rushes across the globe washing lives into eternity. A mountain erupts and air traffic is halted around the world. How tiny and frail we truly are in this vast universe of ours.
_________________________ Job 14:1-2
“Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
Lately a lot more than usual has been going on in life and though I get up early to read a little Scripture it has been rushed and I haven’t taken time to “settle into” prayer. Without that time to just wait before the Lord, prayer is just me talking (not giving God a chance to respond when He has something to say). And I have discovered, what God says to me is infinitely more important than what I say to Him. I am beginning to notice the spiritual addledness that comes from no listening time but, but it’s easy to think, “I just don’t have time.”
That’s when I received this post from my son Jonathan reminding me of something he has probably heard me preach 20 times. I thought it might be a good word to encourage you as it did me. I condensed it so I suggest you check out his blog: FakingCreativity.com
_______________
You Aren’t Too Busy by Jonathan Malm
I hate when people say they’re too busy. When you say that, you’re actually saying “I’m too busy for you!” You’re never actually too busy. If the President requested a conference with you, you’d find the time. The reason you’re “too busy” is that you have put a higher priority on other things.
May I suggest you have enough time in the day to do everything you want to do? If you were willing to drop other things, you would have the time. By shifting your priorities you can make time for what’s important to you. Here are a few reasons you might be “too busy”:
Perfectionism – I spend valuable time on insignificant projects.
Media – Try dropping media for a day. You’ll find the time again.
Squeaky Wheels – If you’re greasing the wrong vehicle you’re wasting your time.
So why are you “too busy”. What needs to be re-prioritized in your life? You have enough time to be creative. You have enough time to be awesome at what matters to you. Give yourself, and others, the time. Creativity is found in love, not in tasks.
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Thanks for the good word, Jonathan.
___________________________ Ecclesiastes 8:3-6
Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. … Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter …
WEEKEND THOUGHTS: A little departure from the normal comments on Scripture:
Jana and I recently flew on Swiss Air and, while the crew were very friendly, their in-flight magazine was not so warm. The final article in the magazine was entitled, in all capital letters, bold text and complete with exclamation point, “SIT UP STRAIGHT, PLEASE!”
The title and the emphatic all caps and exclamation point piqued my attention. As I glanced at the first paragraph, I couldn’t believe it. The article was scolding passengers like little children. What a difference between Swiss culture and US culture! Let me share some actual quotes and see if it is just me or if you agree this is a little weird.
“When the crew welcomes you aboard, make a point of greeting them back: they are, after all, your bosses for the next couple of hours.”
“Sit down carefully and switch off your mobile phone. Only a total slave to their existence needs to chat away with friends till the very last moment.”
“Sit up straight! Aircraft seats are just not built for lounging in.” NOTE: Yes, the exclamation point is in the original text.
“Listen attentively to the crew’s safety presentation without yawning like some mileage billionaire. Buckle up before being asked to.”
“Stay in the same mode until you’ve reached cruising altitude. You may now doze if you wish. Or read. Or working a little is OK. But, remember where you are.”
The last sentence of the article, again complete with exclamation point, “Have a good flight!”
Achtung! Yes, sir! I will have a good flight as ordered. Are you sure I can get permission to do a little work now sir, if I am careful to remember where I am and if I sit up straight the entire time? I only hope my flying on your airline today did not in some way inconvenience you. If it did, please beat me with my cell phone.
Wow! Can you imagine how such an article would be received in the US? Am I just nuts or is this over the top?
Share the true meaning of the season by gathering family and friends to read the Christmas story. Here it is in chronological order.
If you have young listeners be sure to choose an easier to understand version like The New International Version or New Living Translation. If you have really small, or impatient listeners, read only the sections listed in bold.
A tradition we enjoyed when the children were small was to have them use the pieces of a non-breakable nativity set to act out the action while Dad read. (See the video below to see that this does not have to be some high and holy experience. Have fun with it.)
Print this out and store it with your decorations and you’ll be ready to do it again next year.
Have fun and a Merry Christmas.
THE BIRTH OF THE SAVIOR
John 1:1- 5, 14 (Eternal Word made flesh)
Luke 1:5-25 (Zechariah’s vision)
Luke 1:26-56 (Mary’s vision and trip) Matthew 1:18-25 (Joseph’s first dream) Luke 2:1-20 (Bethlehem & Shepherds) Matthew 2:1-12 (Magi) Matthew 2:13-23 (To Egypt and Nazareth)
Want to see how this works?
Jonathan dug up an old home movie of one of our Christmas readings.
Check it out here.
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Recently, while in Turkey, I was asked a very thought-provoking question by a church leader. “What is the most encouraging thing you see happening in the world today?”
She is tolerant. She is correct – at least politically.
