Sunday, January 13, 2008

OK, so I am behind. Many apologies for the absence and thanks for being faithful to checking in.

Worship attendance = 612 (A new record for Good Shepherd.)

Tiffany blessed us with an incredible rendition of Martina McBride's In my Daughter's Eyes. She did a great job, and how she kept her composure during the third service with her three daughters present, I'll never know.

Parental Guidance Suggested Required
No matter the age of your child some principals of parenting do not change. Part of this message comes from the series of books "The Five Love Languages." I highly recommend them for relating to your family... even your co-workers.

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Mark 10:13-16 (NIV)

1) Loving Touch
We have allowed the perverts to pervert touch. People need touch, even suffer ill effects both physically and psychologically from a lack of touch. In verse 16 Jesus "took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." As adults we need to make sure our children experience our love through appropriate touch.

2) Abundant Time
Children spell love T-I-M-E. Quality time is a fallacy that adults have perpetuated to allow themselves to pursue things other than a faithful raising of their children. Time is what a child needs. Attention helps them know they are valued. In verse 14 Jesus says "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them..." He knew the value of time spent with those who are the future hope of humanity.

3) Encouraging Talk
Many men grow up yearning for the affirmation of their father. In verse 16 Jesus blesses the children. We tend to give our children "attaboys" as a way of modifying behavior. Do we affirm them, though, in absence of accomplishments? Blessing is about letting your children know that they are loved without condition. Affirming accomplishments is important, but it isn't what Jesus was doing in this verse. He was simply affirming how special they are, just because they are. I sometimes wonder if we fail to bless our children because we're not so sure we're special ourselves.