Saturday, September 11, 2010

Parenting Wisdom Resource

My Mom's Wise
Mom always learns and always follows Jesus. And she writes about what she has learned as a resource for the next generations.

After growing up in the 'top-secret city' of Oak Ridge TN during the war, marrying at 18 and starting a family at 20, she and my dad raised the four of us in the church and in that old-school small-town way people do in Appalachia.

In addition to the expected discipline, respect for elders and 'knowing your place' my mom was counter-cultural. She taught us to be curious, studious and to challenge conventional thinking. She was a liberal Christian in Knoxville in the 70s. (And I mean that in the best way possible.)

She lived Dr. King's views on race. We took in foster children. Though we didn't have much, we helped the poor. Like her sister had done, we made plans to adopt an unwanted racially-mixed sister after abortion was made legal. My parents taught us to live by faith. And put that faith into action.

All that to introduce her parenting resource
After watching many young parents struggle, Mom researched child development and combined it with biblical principles and some old-school know how and wrote a book about parenting. 

Now she posts daily parenting tips on her new blog Joyful Musings.


A most vital and important work

Mom has continued to teach Elizabeth and me how to raise our children well. The fruit of their godly parenting is evident in our children who are now 20, 18 and 15, and all our extended family (pictured above). I hope such biblical wisdom impacts the churches in which we serve and pastor.

It is the biggest joy and deepest honor to be loved and to love well. Isn't that what we all want for our children?


I hope you will follow her blogAt least until she learns how to work Twitter...

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Pressure on Pastor Planning to Burn Qurans is Absurd and Wrong-headed

Well I'm back and I'm a little ticked off. It's amazing to me that one pastor in a remote corner of Florida USA can garner so much attention over what amounts to a gimmick. It's foolishness.

This article is the #1 Top New Story on Yahoo! News on September 7th, 2010. Four more days and it's an all out assault, an enormous nation-wide and world-wide media pressure to get a pastor to stop doing what he thinks God is telling him to do.

Since when does the US government get to pressure citizens about their religious beliefs?

He wants to burn Qurans. He wants to offend Muslims. He wants to take a stand. So? LET HIM. Can't Muslims take some criticism like big boys?

Over 100 people have threatened to kill this pastor for his convictions? Over 100 death threats?! Yet he won't back down on his sincere convictions. I can respect that part. Immensely.

The US State Department has aligned themselves with Muslims on an one church event that left to itself would have been ignored by 99.999% of the world. I can't get it... the State Department meddling in a slightly quirky publicity stunt? Seriously?

I don't know Pastor Jones. But I'd pray with him, listen to him. Probably find a lot of common ground and common concerns. But I'd encourage him to do something different and more effective in fighting the battle against evil. Something like preaching the gospel, praying and fasting, befriending a Muslim who needs Jesus.

What's the Truth?
But at the root what sticks in my windpipe is this: he's a pastor, part of what he is saying is legitimate and biblical.

We are in a spiritual battle. Islam is a false religion and according to Scripture will deceive millions into a Christ-less eternity. I'd say that is evil. He is a pastor with spiritual and moral authority.

And his response if the shoe were on the other foot?
... if Muslims wanted to burn Bibles in the front yard of a mosque. "Of course, I would not like it," Jones said. But "I definitely would not threaten to kill them, as we have been threatened."
That seems more sane and reasonable than demonstrations, threats of violence and a media smear campaign..

And it feels good to be back in the blogosphere.