Bringing Up Children

You may have seen news reports of Amy Chua’s book on parenting, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. In it, she advocates her exacting style of Chinese parenting—as opposed to the “coddling” style of western parents.

Read the story at http://www.canada.com/life/East+meets+West+heated+parenting+debate/4093975/story.html

This has drawn a storm of criticism for the strict achievement orientation of her methods. However, most of us are aware of the superior achievement of oriental children over western, particularly North American children.

With the birth of our latest grandchild, and a couple of great grandchildren, their parents have opted to raise their children according to “Babywise” principles, which advocate a more regimented regime than most North American ideas.

But we have noted debate over even this attempt at regulating a child’s growing environment, many preferring much latitude in children’s expression and choices. So the question arises, where can we obtain the best direction for raising our children?

Well, Ann and I are well past that stage of life, and look back on our experience with mixed emotions. While we are proud of our three daughters, their faith and attitude to life, it is mixed with regret at the failures and stupid decisions we made. We can all do better!

If there is any consolation from our experience, it is that, if we get it right most of the time, our kids will probably do OK. They are very adaptable, and can do well in spite of, as well as because of us. But that doesn’t answer the question.

If we trust God for direction of our lives, then His Word should provide at least general guidance for raising children, and the best guide is His requirement of us. He sets out the optimum behaviour to obtain the best from life. How does He ensure this?

If we ignore his directions, we will suffer the natural outcomes. As the adage of my childhood said: “Feet in the puddles means colds in the head.” Beyond that, there is the threat of punishment if we reject His law. It’s called justice.

Fortunately for us, God’s justice is administered with mercy. Perhaps beyond creating guidelines for our children, managing that balance in directing our children is the most difficult.

I found that most times the penalty for infraction was needed. But sometimes, it could be called off after appropriate penitence. That process reflects not only God’s justice, but also the nature of His salvation.

Faith: Personal or Political

Last week’s shootings of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, Congresswoman Gabriel Giffords and the bombing of Coptic Christians in Egypt, highlight ongoing attempts to impose personal beliefs or views on the rest of the world.

While we condemn these ruthless, savage attacks, I fear more the motivation behind them to destroy freedom to believe as we choose. As Christians, we loathe attempts to silence our beliefs, but most of us do little about it.

Perhaps we feel safe in our western environment, but the Giffords’ shooting makes us all vulnerable, possibly to violence, but more likely, to political action that limits our freedom of belief. But we must recognize that any freedom to believe extends to other faiths.

Muslims, accustomed to laws that support their faith, loudly seek similar safeguards in their adopted western countries. We may oppose some of their demands, but they can teach us much about legitimate expression our faith needs.

In contrast, most Christians shun political involvement. We tend to interpret, “Render unto Caesar” and “render unto God,” as counsel to keep faith and politics separate. But serious faith leads to actions, and actions are always political.

Jesus became such a threat to the ruling establishment they crucified Him. The past week’s violent actions show the same determination of those who hate our freedom. They want to silence us, and most Christians willingly oblige.

Ready for Retirement and . . . ?

Well, the baby boomers, those original teenagers who were never going to trust anyone over 30, the most mollycoddled generation in Canadian history are coming to retirement. And two thirds of this spoiled group have not planned for it.

Perhaps the sense that they have always been catered to gives them confidence it will continue for the remainder of their lives. Apparently, an amazing 32 per cent are counting on winning a lottery to fund their retirement—not sure how many responded to this poll seriously!

Read the story at http://www.canada.com/business/Boomers+ready+retirement+Survey/4063254/story.html

Not just the boomers, but also a majority of people have a similar approach to life after death. Fate—whatever that is—has provided a tolerable life on earth and will optimistically give a better life hereafter. That’s about the same as believing God has a lottery system for getting into heaven. 

Hoping is clearly insufficient for retirement, but catastrophic for the next life. Even those who did plan for retirement, but ignored eternity, Jesus called fools.   

Read the story.

"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."’ 

“But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:18-21.

Here's to a happy retirement, now and then.

Bryan

The Aliens are Coming!

“Alien” certainly looks like an alien word—doesn’t look English. Goodness knows we need something alien to this world to put it right. You will be glad to know some friendly aliens will take a few lucky ones away from a cataclysmic end of the world on December 12 or 21, 2012—not quite sure which—perhaps 12:12:12!

The small village of Bugarach in the Corbieres wine making area of France will provide a site of escape. According to New Age gurus, the mountain above this sleepy village apparently offers a staging site for this evacuation when civilization ends. The village mayor fears 10,000 or so will descend on this village of 189 persons, and will ask the French army to keep them out.

How cruel, using the army to prevent escape from ultimate destruction. Perhaps this is Armageddon. I might be tempted to go if I could get travel insurance, but I’m no match for the French army. Anyone know of a staging post near Lethbridge Alberta?

On second thoughts, I’ll rely on what I believe presents a more reliable top alien source. Here’s someone who will do a more productive job. Guess Who!

He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isaiah 2:4)

Find out more about this certain visitation in my book Guess Who’s Coming to Reign, an outline of last things based on Jesus discourse in Matthew 24 and 25. Go to www.norfords-writings.com/books for details.

Find the story at www.canada.com/news/come+village+world+says+mayor/4009182/story.html

Bryan

New Year: New Start

First, of course, I wish to commend all my readers to God for His care and direction for 2011. Whatever 2010 had for you, we can make this new year better, by both prayer and commitment to God, and by our own determination to make it different.

 

For a start, this blogspot will be more informal, but, I trust, still regular—Monday and Thursday each week. For the past few years, I have used a Scripture to centre our thoughts for encouragement or direction. This year, I will be taking current issues as they occur and relating them to the Christian faith. I trust these insights will assist us in putting local and world events into perspective.

 

To begin with, a blog tomorrow concerning the end of the world slated for 2012. So we should all be safe for 2011. I will be naming dates and places currently in the news! Be prepared.

Bryan 

Visit us at Norfords' Writings

Worship Who?

On coming to the house, they [the Magi] saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Matthew 2:11.

I recall preachers using the 1662 Book of Common Prayer—still in use in my youth—instructing the man to say after exchanging wedding vows: “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.”

I understood the importance of the “for better, for worse” stuff that went before, but I found “with my body I thee worship,” both erotic and sacrilegious. Erotic because of my hormone driven thinking, but sacrilegious because God demands worship for Him alone. It would take a smooth-tongued cleric to explain that one!

Fortunately the Magi got it right, they worshipped the Christ child. The New Testament restricts legitimate worship to the one God, and includes many instances of worship to Jesus—further testimony to the deity of Christ. As we close the year 2010, we have the privilege of joining the Magi in worship to our living Lord.

Public Performance

 

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Matthew 5:14-16.

Here’s a verse to upset the day, especially if you’re not happy performing in public! Whether we like it or not, those of us who take our faith seriously stand out in the crowd. Just like rocks revealed as the tide recedes, so our differences become more noticeable as the culture retreats from Christianity.

Constant reminders to be a light to the world intimidate me. I’m not one to crash parties, and I generally wait for an invitation to share my faith. I wish they came more often. However, two areas of thought give me comfort.

First, serious faith reveals itself in everyday life; people notice the difference without our conscious effort. Frequently, throwaway lines or unconscious comments have a greater effect than a carefully orchestrated speech. Faith shows through the ordinariness of our lives.

Second, I enjoy writing, which provides an outlet for my faith, but gives others the choice to read or not. This way, I don’t intentionally invade others’ space without their permission. Yet the light still shines, not necessarily from a hilltop, but from the confines of my study.

We all have a lamp stand from which to share our light. What is yours?