Celebrating America

Fourth of July is almost here and so is the I Love America Festival at the Boone County Fairgrounds. As I write this blog, I'm glancing at a copy of the Declaration of Independence hanging in my office. 56 men signed the original document. Most all of the men suffered great loss because of their stance for freedom. It's still true today -- "freedom isn't free".

During the month of July we are going to celebrate "Faith, Family, and Freedom" -- three core values which we believe make America great. I hope you will join us for the festival on the 4th and join us each Sunday as we celebrate America together.

July 5th, I will be speaking on the topic: "Why I Love America!" Maybe you should take some time this week and make a list of your favorite reasons why you love America. I'd love to hear them.

Here's my short list:
1. I met my wife in America.
2. We are free to worship God.
3. We are free to work where we want, when we want.
4. We can choose to live where we want.
5. We get to vote in elections.
6. There is still justice for all under the law.

Well, I'm off to get some banners and t-shirts ready to go for the event. O yeah, I need to get some ribbons for the Kid's Duathlon.

See ya Saturday at the festival.

Pastor Tom

Overcoming the Parenting Crisis

I’m really excited about this Sunday's message because I believe it can change your life, not just as a parent but as a person! This morning we’re focusing on the biblical theme of the blessing. From cover to cover, the Bible is a book of “blessing”. God’s desire to bless you and to bless others through you is one of the central themes of the Bible. Just consider for a moment that simple truth -- “God wants to bless you!” Go ahead and let that sink into your heart and mind.

1. Let’s take a look at a few of passages on blessing:

“God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28)
“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3)
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
“Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” (Ps 32:1)
“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord.” (Ps 112:1)
“Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

Story about Peco and forgiveness

2. Defining the parenting crisis -
“the absence of parent’s participation and approval in the lives of children”

There is a parenting crisis in America today. It impacts your community, your neighborhood, and even your household. The industrial revolution took the man out of the home and into the work force. As a result, countless children lost out on valuable interaction with fathers or some fathers looked for other ways to influence their children after hours.

Exactly when “moms” left home and what caused it is a bit more complicated. But the rise of “easy credit” and our consumer culture has forced most households today into what I call “double jeopardy.” there are very few families anymore that can live on one income. A two income household has become an economic reality in our time. Now, my point is not to condemn us or our culture, but to point out that this does create a crisis for parenting, for children, and for the home. If everybody is working just trying to pay the bills, build a career, or find meaning in the work place, then who is keeping the home fire burning? Who is raising the children? Is day care, or the public school system, or a youth group going to raise your child? They can come along side and help, but they can never give your child what only a parent can give!

3. Overcoming the parenting crisis

So what is the parenting crisis that we all face? It is the absence of parents from children’s lives. To overcome this crisis in your “fight for the family” you must overcome two myths about children and parenting.

Myth #1: Kids will raise themselves

This is not true. When kids are left to themselves they naturally look for “parenting” surrogates such as peers, sports figures, celebrities, or gangs to look up to and find direction from. Do you really want someone else to parent your child?

We all lead busy lives, but one thing is for sure---kids don’t raise themselves, they need parents. Peers are not good parents, and day care, public school, or even church youth groups cannot parent your children, they can only assist with specific assignments. Your children need you!

Myth #2: Anyone can parent your child

Anyone can help, but not just anyone can parent your child. In 1996, Hillary Clinton gave a speech in Chicago entitled “It takes a village to raise a child”. Her speech was based on her book about the importance of the community in raising a child. She makes some great points about the importance of community. But the danger of focusing on the village is to forget the priority role of parenting.

That's just for openers. Join us Sunday as we take a look 5 was we can communicate the blessing to our children.

Pastor Tom

The Blessing

Father's day was a real blessing. I hope you told your father how much you appreciate him. We've been working our way through the series "Fighting for the Family." Most of us agree that family is really important, but we also know the pain of broken relationships and disappointment in life. God knows right where you are at and He's waiting to lead you forward to higher ground.

This week we pick up with "Overcoming the Parenting Crisis." If you've read or heard of John Trent's book, "The Blessing" you already know where I'm headed. This Sunday we are going to focus on the importance of blessing your kids.

Too many parents in America today have fallen into the deception that kids raise themselves. The truth is--kids don't raise themselves and if we let it happen, someone or something else will raise our kids for us. Gangs will raise your kids, MTV will raise your kids, peers will raise your kids, or even the school system will raise your kids. But you may not like the outcome!

Kids need the love and directions of parents. The Bible says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6). Parents have a responsibility to train their children for success in life and the life to come. "Training" is showing more than telling. You can tell your child the way he or she should go, but what they really need is for you to "show them".

What do you think your your child needs you to "show them" more than anything else? How to make money? How to buy a house? the most important thing you can transfer to your children is "the blessing."

John Trent and Gary Smalley wrote a book entitled, "The Blessing" to highlight the privilege of parenting and the importance of transferring the blessing to your children. the book points out 5 ways you can communicate God's blessing to your children. On sunday we are going to take a look at each aspect of the blessing. I believe this one message could change your life and the life of your child. Join us Sunday morning at the ARC (1701 W. Ash) at 10:15 AM as we are "Fighting for the Family".

Blessings,

Tom

Fighting for the family

Fighting for the family is one fight I'm willing to wage.  Aaron Tippin sings a song titled, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for everything."  I think the song goes well with our upcoming series focusing on marriage, fatherhood, and parenting.

I'm not much of a fighter.  Really!!  But family is something worth fighting for--my family and yours!!  There are all types of families-- traditional, broken, blended, single, and separated.  Whatever type of family your are leading or living in, it's worth fighting for.  

God ordained family, beginning with marriage, as a place of protection and provision.  Did you know that the human child is the only mammal that can't take care of itself at the age of one?  Human beings need family!!  We are not designed to go it alone emotionally, physically, or spiritually.  The family was God's original planfor success for you and me!

I took a look at Maslow's Hierarchy of human needs.  Maslow suggested five levels of human needs beginning with Physiological and ending with Self-actualization.  According to Maslow, human beings can't start on the "higher level" of needs until the lower levels - physiological, safety, love / belonging, and esteem -- are met.  These needs apply to adults as well, but let's think about children for a minute.  

I would suggest that all of the lower level needs are met or unmet in the home by a person' s family.  The physical needs are things like breathing, food, water, sleep, and clothing.  These are the basic needs for existence.  As I said before human children are especially dependent.  

Next comes the need for safety and security.  We have a tendency towards order and consistency.  We tend toward security in body, employment, and resources.  The family provides the most basic form of security because a true family is there when everything else fails!  

Maslow's list jumps next to the level of "love / belonging" .  You guessed it--family wins again.  It's in our families that we learn the true definition of love and belonging.  On top of "love and belonging" comes "esteem".  In 20 years of working with people, I've people who have healthy self-esteem and too many people who don't think very good thoughts about themselves.  Most of it--good or bad--can be traced back to family.

I hope you are beginning to see how important your family really is to your life!  If you're leading a family, you have a very important role to play.  Over the next few weeks we are going to focus on marriage, fatherhood, and parenting.  If we want to reach our potential and "self-actualize" as Maslow calls it, then we need strong families.  

I was reading through a book from the 1980s entitled, Point Man.  It's a great book about a man leading his family.  Steve Farrar shares a story about the life of Jonathan Edwards who was born in 1703.  He and his wife had 11 children.  His descendants include more than 300 pastors, 120 professors, 110 attorneys, 60 authors, 30 judges, 14 served as presidents of universities, 3 served in congress, and one became vice president of the United States.  Edward's life is a great illustration of how you can impact your family tree.

All I'm trying to say is that your family is worth fighting for.  You may not be able to change the world, but you can change your family and impact your children for generations. 

Join us sunday as we get ready to fight for the family.  Tom Ragsdell

 

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