Time Out is Damaging to Children

I think that it is cruel to isolate a child from the family through the use of "time out". I believe it is better to give them their spanking and allow them to continue with the family.

Sending them to time out feels a little like the "silent treatment", that can be very damaging to young children. It sends the message that we don't like you to be with us. Children need to learn to take their licks and get back up and keep on going with those that care about them.

I have noticed that "time out", leaves a child to stew and become bitter. God said to use the rod, in love we can do this and allow the child to learn that punishment redirects us, and when we have been disciplined and learned to obey, we can continue with the family.

Punishment is not for the purpose of revenge, but for redirecting the behavior. When the behavior has been corrected, then they know they are loved, and the reason for the discipline, they were allowed continue with the family as though they were still loved and valued.

I used to ask my children "whose fault is this spanking", they would answer "mine Mommy." They knew I didn't want to have to spank them, but their behavior required it. The attitude was not that "we don't like you", the attitude was "you have acted badly and must learn to behave properly."

Manipulation and intimidation damages children, "time out" is a form of manipulation rather than discipline. It teaches a child to use emotional black mail rather than discipline and straight talk to resolve a matter.

Unwed Pregnancy is a Shame not a Celebration

I am astonished at what I am running into. I have seen unwed "Christian mothers posting pictures of themselves in their tight maternity tops on facebook, flaunting their condition, while other believers congratulate them as though it is as normal as apple pie.

Why are believers congratulating unwed mothers as though they were married? These same women will talk of God's blessing as though Godapproves of their immorality.

Where is the shame and confession that they have sinned? And, Where is the church discipline that demonstrates that these young girls have offended a holy God?

Jeremiah 6:15
"Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD."

It is one thing to be tender and loving to a young pregnant woman who is truly repentant desiring to be restored to the Lord, and quite another matter to accept and celebrate an unwed pregnancy when the woman has no sense of confession of sin and even parades her sin as though it were something to brag about.

I do not approve of baby showers for unwed mothers. If someone wants to privately extend a kind hand by giving needs for a baby in an unwed situation, it seems more appropriate than throwing a party of celebration. The celebrations should be for those who became mothers God's way, through first getting married.

Sin is celebrated on every level these days, only reproducing attitudes of more sin. The more we accept it without challenge, the more people are likely to indulge.

We are not properly dealing with sin in the church, because of this, it is growing, nearly out of control. Where is the preaching of holiness?

When half the babies now are born out of wedlock, then we know the church has had no influence in their communities and even worse than that, the sin is entering the church.

1 John 2:4 "Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,"

Titus 1:15-16 "To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work."

Foul Language is not for the Believer

Am I wrong, do I see many more Christians on facebook who use Bible verses one time and fowl language, worldly entertainment and angry volitol attitudes the next?

Believers do not accidentally let slip, filthy language, it doesn't even come to mind, unless they are brand new believers. Then they would become convicted and want the Lord to expunge it from their vocabulary.

Our culture has become very crass, even in the church, we see the use of words that would have offended everyone, believer and non-believer alike, just 50 years ago.

The proliferation of media of every sort, has infected the Christian mind with a virus contaminated with foul matter that deadens the brain and the conscience.

Those who think they have not been affected need to ask the Lord to show them. Too many people think it is alright to let sludge come pouring out of their mouth at one moment while quoting a Bible verse the next, usually out of context to suit their own purposes.

Ephesians 5:3-4
"1 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks."

Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."

1 Timothy 6:11 "But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness."

We are not to adopt the ways of the world to fit in, but we are to obey Christ, no matter what the culture is doing.

Proverbs 15:9 "The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness."

Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"

When we are concerned about our language it is an indication that we care about protecting our testimony. Our lives, speech and attitudes, send a message either degrading the character of God or upholding His holiness. Filthy words do not emerge from one who is reading the Scripture daily with the intent of growing in holiness.

Psalms 71:15 - 71:18

"15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness [and] thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers [thereof].

16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, [even] of thine only.

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto [this] generation, [and] thy power to every one [that] is to come."

Good Deeds Are Not The Answer

Something we forget sometimes is that there is no one sin any more deserving of hell than another.

God cannot have any sin, no matter how small in His presence.

God looks at the wickedness of our heart before we are born again and sees that we are capable of every sin imaginable.

Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"

Society restrains us some, family pressure restrains us and the Holy Spirit that lives in believers restrain us some, but that potential for terrible things still dwells in our heart until we are born again.

The answer to this mess, and the problem of the dead and wicked heart is to confess that we are helpless and hopeless, desiring to be changed into a new creation by Christ, and then He will come in and change us. It is a lifelong process of cleansing that He will do.

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

It's not hard to become born again, in fact it is so easy, it is hard for people to believe it. Christ did all the work on the cross, He does all the work in our hearts after we have confessed. He took the penalty for our sin, which was death.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [a]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."

The strain of continually trying to measure up is removed when we become born again. God works in us, convicting of sin, redirecting our hearts and giving us new desires in line with His Will.

Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

If the Bible Says it I believe it!

If the Bible Says it I believe it!

When I was a child it was common knowledge that dogs had special healing powers in their tongues. When we got a sore on our finger or leg, our mother would tell us to go let the dog lick it, it will heal faster.  After all dogs lick their own wounds and they heal quickly.

I believed what Mom said because it seemed to work.  I questioned this one day, because there were others more educated than I who said it wasn't true it was only a wives tale. 

Then one day a study came out, the scientists discovered that dogs have a natural antibiotic in their saliva that has healing qualities.  I squeeled with delight, because what the uneducated experienced person said was true.  No need for "scientific evidence", the experience people had with it, prove to heal the wounds.

Then one day I ran across this scripture:  Luke 16:21 "Who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores."

There was a time when scientists determined that the earth was flat.  Later other scientists discovered it was really round. 

Guess what God said about it?   Isaiah 40:22 "It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in."

God tells us all we need to know in His Word.  Those who knew the Bible would have known that the earth was round and dogs can heal a sore by licking it. 

The Bible is the best science book that ever existed and completely accurate.  We can be assured if the Bible says it, then we can believe it.

Anyone Still Think We Don't Deserve Judgment?

Anyone Still Think We Don't Deserve Judgment?

People are becoming more emboldened to flaunt their sin now that everything is being accepted by our culture. Things are getting worse, sin is increasing, I notice it is becoming more cruel than I have ever seen it.

I have noticed more people acting demon possessed. We never used to see this in our country, at least not in the open as it is now. They are becoming naked and violent. Recently someone placed a video of this, I was astonished at it. Violent demon possessed naked people in public places, attacking others.

Then I was reminded of the "naked bike ride", in Portland just 40 miles down the road from us. It happens every year now, the people ride through the streets, thousands of them in their birthday suits as they flaunt their shame. If I wrote here what they do in that ride, it would be censored. YES, I said "thousands."

The boldness of flagrant sin is happening regularly now, those who do them would have been arrested just 40 years ago, now they are allowed openly to thumb their noses at decency and righteousness.

Nakedness was a shame according to the Bible, when a culture was conquered by another army, the people were paraded out of town naked to shame them. Now the culture is displaying their own shame, they are doing it to themselves.

Abortion, homosexuality, nakedness in the streets, materialism, broken families from divorce and remarriage, drugs, alcohol, corruption in the government, shacking up, more babies born out of wedlock than in marriage, marking the body in course and brutish displays through tatooing, piercings that disfigure the body in grotesque exhibitons of rebellion, young people are shooting other young people in schools and then committing suicide, Teachers are having affairs with their students, child molestation has increased and more! This is the state of our culture, all these things are growing, the people who do them are becoming cruel and indifferent to their fellow man....Narcissism is dominating the culture AND worse of all, these things are in the organized churches of our day.

Anyone still think we do not deserve judgement?

Success Does Not A Christian Make

Success Does Not A Christian Make

Preachers should preach to the people in the gatherings, for the purpose of growing the flock in holiness and convicting those in the gathering who may not be saved, but think they are.

Unfortunately there are those who are preachers and have never been born again. May the Lord have mercy on them and bring them to a place of brokenness over their sinful state.

Just because someone is in the pulpit, does not mean they are born again.

Just because someone says they are "a Christian", does not mean they are born again.

Just because someone follows all the rules and harms no one, does not mean they are born again.

Just because someone is successful in finances or accomplished in their talents, does not mean they are born again.

It might be surprising to some, that many people who go to church believe that if one is in the pulpit, if they say they are Christians, if they follow all the rules or if they are accomplished in business, one or all of these things, makes a person a good Christian.

These people may be Christians in the sense that they go to church and will tell you if you ask them, but they are not necessarily born again. None of these things prove that we are born again.

God used the most despised and rejected people to carry His gospel, those who did not fit in to the culture in which they lived. The were fish swimming up stream, even often discouraged for lack of support and responsiveness from those that they were sent to serve.

Our modern Christian culture has relegated Christianity to a superficial set of social rules that bear little resemblance to the born again life. Often these unspoken rules have hindered the gospel message by disallowing for rebuke, boldness and straight talk.

The best way to help our friends and family is to be boldly honest about everything, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Avoiding truth and sweeping sin and our spiritual state under the rug can only harm us.

John 3:31-35

"31 “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

32 What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.

34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.

35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”"