FACE THE BOOK

Last year, during one of the weeks of summer Bible camp, one of the sessions had for their theme, "Face the Book".  It was a play on the social media mogul "Facebook", but actually meant to get the campers to "FACE THE BOOK"....the BIBLE.

I really liked that theme and have thought about Facebook's attributes and how it can relate to the life of a Christian.  Let's look at these findings:

facebook vs. FACE "THE" BOOK

THE CREATOR: Facebook was created by Mark Zuckerburg and some of his college buddies.  It has grown to where millions and millions (if not billions) of people are active users of the website.  The world, the animals, all of the people, and all of the beautiful things of nature - all of this was created by God.  Nothing and no one can compare to God.  Nothing or no one can compare to His awesomeness!

SIGNING UP/CONTRACTS: First of all, when you sign up join Facebook, you must put your real name (or it's supposed to be your real name).  To that, you add a password that is only for you to know.  It's like a contract between you and Facebook that you enter into when signing up.

When one becomes a Christian, he/she must be real. Being real is the only way one can come to Jesus. Being real as a Christian doesn't include signing up or joining.  God adds to the church those who are saved.  He writes the names of the saved in the book of life.  (see verses below.)And, instead of the password, think of this "contract" being a covenant - a promise - between you and God.  You've allowed Him to work in your life and started this wonderful walk as a Christian.

FRIENDS/BEING ADDED: The next thing a new Facebook user would do, is get "friends".  People can "add" you as a friend, too. As a Christian, you've already made a friend - the best friend you could ever have!  When you are a Christian, you are a friend of Jesus!  Can you invite other friends, like you do on Facebook?  Absolutely!  In fact, it's an obligation to God to tell others about Him and invite them to know Jesus as their friend, too.  But, it is God who does the adding, not us.  We can invite, but He adds.

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (verse 41) And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (verse 47b)

Acts 2:41, 47b

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Revelation 21:27

STATUSES/NETWORKS: Facebook friends post statuses and comments.  Other friends can "like" those comments and statuses and post their own, too.  That's the whole point of the social media network - to connect with each other and learn more about each other.  The Christian's social network is the church.  When you and I choose not to gather together with other brothers and sisters in Christ, we are making the choice that can lead to discouragement in others.  Maybe for you missing an occasional gathering together doesn't seem to matter, but have you ever thought about how it affects your fellow Christians??

An example of this fact is this:  For the past two weeks, our elders have canceled mid-week Bible classes.  For my family, we still did our nightly devotional like we usually do.  Last Wednesday, we even invited people to our home to sing songs and pray together.  We still had the connection with fellow Christians.  But, I recall reading a few of the statuses on Facebook as they read about the cancelled services.  They were sad.  They were disappointed.  They were truly going to miss that mid-week "pick-me-up" and didn't want to miss it!  If I act like those times don't matter and if they indeed don't matter to me, what am I telling my Christian brothers and sisters?  What am I telling my children if that is my attitude?  Hmmmmm......

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another (underlined for emphasis)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25
STATUSES/PRAYER: About those Facebook statuses.....many times they tell how we're feeling...what we're thinking....something that is bothering us.  Prayer with God is this way, too. In our prayers to God we can tell him exactly what we are feeling and what we are feeling.  We can ask for prayer requests on Facebook.  We can ask for help from God to make it through the day. We can talk to him, just like a friend.

STATUSES/RELATIONSHIPS: Probably one of the most amusing things about Facebook is seeing the relationship statuses of teenagers.  Daily many are in and out of relationships (like getting a new pair of shoes and throwing out the old ones!)  The down side of this is when an adults relationship status changes.  Some changes in relationships are really tough.  Some are heartbreaking.  There are good changes some times and bad changes at other times.  I've written about this before, but when we have Jesus in our lives, our status changes from unsaved to saved.  No other status is more important in our life.  What is your relationship status with Jesus?  It matters!

FANS/FOLLOWERS: Facebook has things called "pages" where one can become a fan of a business or a group.  Many in the world are fans of Jesus. They may talk about Him from time to time.  They may worship Him occasionally.  Being a fan of Jesus isn't necessarily bad, but, Jesus doesn't just want a "fan" that comes and goes. He doesn't want a fair-weathered-fan who is only interested in Him only at certain times...like when things are going bad.  He wants a follower who walks with Him...Every... Day.

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23

CONTACTS: Facebook is fun in lots of ways.  It's nice keeping in contact with friends in a way that otherwise wouldn't be possible.  But, Facebook is nothing compared to the Bible.  It's nothing compared to the relationships we have when we are bonded together through the blood of Christ. 

When we "Face that Book" - the Only Book that is the source for what is true and what is right, we'll get away from all of the worldly ideas of life.  We'll get away from the drama and insecurities. We'll get focused on what is real.  When we "Face THE Book", we'll be focused on God and on His Son Jesus.

Nothing. Else. Matters. 

Role Models

Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.  For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.

Philippians 3:17-19

When we think of role models, we think of those people who we look up to.  We think of people we admire and respect.  We think of those that set an example for us to follow and who portray values and virtues that should be imitated. Unfortunately, though, we live in a culture and society where there is a desperate need for good role models. 

The world gives us role models in the form of entertainers, musicians, sports stars, and movie/tv stars.  These individuals are held up on a pedestal for all to see.  It is great if these people set a good, positive example with their lives.  It is great to see someone with worldly success also be successful in living a good life, but is that the kind of role model we should want for our children?  I don't think so.

So, who should be our children's role models?

First of all, WE must be positive role models for our children.  A role model is someone who has a big influence in the lives of someone else.  As a parent, we certainly should have the biggest influence in the lives of our children, but that influence must be a positive one and one that glorifies God. 

God has given us children for a reason.  Children are a gift from God and, as parents, it is our God-given responsibility to teach them about Christ.  How they see God and how they see Jesus and His church is often a direct reflection of how we see these things. How they serve others, how they help the needy, how they worship - all of these things are modeled for them as they grow up in the home - and will be learned by example from you and from me.  If they are to be learned, it is up to me.  It is up to you.

Who else can be positive role models for our children?  Grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, all of these can be good, positive, Christian examples for our children.  The important thing is to never hold any person up to a standard and belief that they can never do anything wrong.  It's important to have those good role models, but if we lead our children to believe that any human is perfect, we are setting them and ourselves up for disappointment.

What we can teach them, though, is that Christ was perfect.  That only He lead a life that was totally sinless.  That only He can be held up on that highest pedestal for a role model.  But, we can also teach them that through His blood, and through our faith and trust in Him and what He can do, that we to can become a positive, Christian role model in the lives of others.  He is the author and perfecter of our faith.  What an important lesson to model to our children!

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

Valentine's Banquets - For the Young and Old and In-Between!

What a great weekend it was!  There were basketball games, a birthday party, my husband preached at the a.m. and p.m. service, and our annual Valentine's banquets for the Senior Saints and Teens took place Sunday, too.  A very busy, but great weekend!

Every year, on the Sunday before Valentine's Day, our adult Bible class hosts a Senior Saints' Banquet for the older members of our congregation.  This year, the banquet was decorated in red and white decor.  I had seen an idea for an ornament tree made from a tree branch in a Family Fun magazine. 

That picture became the inspiration for these Valentine trees, which were decorated with white doilies, red hearts, and vellum scriptures. (The clear glue stick showed, unfortunately, but it didn't look as bad as it does in the picture.). The branches were spray-painted white, then secured in glass vases with red tissue paper.

A red heart paper doily served as the place mat at each table setting.

 For a little fun, each Senior Saints filled out a questionnaire about themselves.  After the dinner, the answers were read aloud to the group.  Everyone guessed who the person was whose answers were being read.  It was a long of fun learning more about everyone! They also filled out a Bible Sweethearts Matching paper, matching men in the Bible, with their wives.

Although the "seniors" are served during this Valentine's meal every year, and they enjoy being treated in this way, I know that all of us who are younger and who are serving them, enjoy it just as much as they do!  It is a great event that all of us look forward to each year.

On the other end of the age spectrum, is the Annual Teen Valentine Banquet.  My husband and I host this event in our home - on the evening of the Senior Saints' Banquet each year.

  The menu is always the same:  Beef/Chicken Lasagna, Green Beans (Made with sugar this time, instead of Splenda), Semi Homemade Bread Sticks, Butterfinger Cake, and Chocolate Delight (The links will go to my recipe blog.  I will be posting larger servings for the lasagnas later this week.).  This year I "upped" the bread stick count to 144.  And guess what?  I didn't even get ONE!  NOT ONE - not that I needed it, anyway!  Maybe next year I should make 200!? Something tells me they'll eat them all...no matter how many I make!

This year there were 32 teens, five adults, and two children served.  After the meal, the teens are divided up into four teams and participate in a scavenger hunt. One of the highlights of the hunt each year is having to bring someone new back to our house - someone that wasn't there before.  It's always fun to see who agrees to come!
 

To close out the evening, my husband has a short devotional thought, we sing a few songs, and end with a prayer. We've got a GREAT group of teens here in Tipton!

On this GRATITUESDAY, I am grateful for special times where we can treat others to a special meal.  Serving others is one of the ways we can "Shine Like Stars".

To see what others are grateful for, visit Heavenly Homemakers.

Part 2 - The Chronicles of Biscuit - Bread and Water

Read Part 1 here.

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Stories about our youngest son, Tyler, whose nickname is Biscuit.

Well, if you remember my "Let it Snow!" post, I was all excited about our big snow storm coming.  We got several inches, but not as much as was expected; still, though, enough came down early in the morning that school was canceled and the kids were home all day.  But the day went from "Boys Just Wanna Have Fun" to "Boys Just Want to Argue"!

It was way too cold and windy to play in the snow yesterday, so the boys played in the house.  They also helped their sister and I clean and straighten the house for awhile.  Things would go smoothly with the boys' play time and then I would hear arguing.  I would put on my "referee" suit when needed, then all would be back to normal.

Later on in the afternoon, as I was cleaning in the kitchen, I knew Biscuit and one of his brothers were wrestling in the living room, but it wasn't too rough at the time, so didn't say anything. A little bit later I heard Biscuit crying and yelling that his brother had caused him to hit the edge of the ottoman. He was holding the left side of his forehead and eye area.  His glasses were off and he was holding his face.  I thought he'd hit his eye.  I'm very over-protective about his eyes, especially, because he has a history of glaucoma. 

Eventually he let me look at his eye and head and everything looked okay, though I know it must have hurt.  The brother explained that it wasn't on purpose and handed me Biscuit's glasses, which were all bent up.   I told the two boys that they couldn't play together the rest of the day (which only amounted to a couple of hours).   I was a little frustrated that all three had argued off and on all day, and although this problem was an accident, it was just the rough-housing getting too out of hand. And on top of that, now Biscuit's glasses were all messed up. 

I got the glasses screwdriver and some pliers and went to working on the glasses frames...trying to straighten them.  Then the lens popped out.  I could feel myself getting more and more frustrated!  And then, you will never guess what happened.  I heard Jacob yell at his brother, "Don't kick me!"  I jumped up and headed to the living room and asked what had happened.  Biscuit had gotten up out of the chair, walked over to Jacob and kicked him!!!  That is something that we just don't allow and I can't think of many times it's ever happened and now all of these things are happening in one day!!!

Back to the bedroom Biscuit and I went.  He received the spanking he most certainly needed and deserved. (Don't worry if you're not one who believes in spanking.  My children are very aware and totally understand the difference between spanking in relation to discipline and hitting/kicking/etc.)

Okay. Back to the glasses and frames.....I tried and tried to get the teeny, tiny little screw back into place, before finally realizing the screw had fallen out completely. 

Have you ever looked for a little teeny, tiny glasses frames screw? 

It was no where to be found.  So, my frustration grew even more as I realized I would be making an unplanned trip to Altus the next morning to get them fixed.  UUUUGGGGHHHHH!!!!

MOM NEEDED A TIME OUT!!!!! 

 

I'm not so sure they work for disciplining children, but they work wonders for moms!  I retreated to my bedroom and sat down at the computer desk.  I told the boys to begin taking their showers before their dad got home from work.  Although I would NEVER, EVER do this, I thought to myself, "If those boys argue one more time, I'm telling them that their supper is going to be bread and water!"  Take food away from my boys and you've got some really sad boys!  I kind of laughed inside thinking about the "prison" meal I'd thought of - yet would never have done.

Biscuit took his shower first - in the bathroom by our room.  Jacob went in to the bathroom for something and I heard the sweetest thing:  Biscuit said, "Jacob, I'm sorry I kicked you."  Wow!  An apology from Biscuit to his brother....all on his own!  Then Jacob said, "I'm sorry I pushed you." (My mind was thinking ....."PUSHED"....you said it was an accident and now you said pushed.....but my heart was still touched because they were apologizing to each other without any prodding from me).  Later all three of them apologized to me for the way they had argued throughout the day. (sweet)

As Biscuit got out of the shower, dripping wet, but with the towel wrapped all around himself, he came over to me crying.  He said, "Moooommmmm, would you be so kind to feed us supper?  Would you give us more than bread and water?"  I couldn't believe it!  Why would he have even asked a question like that?  And even more important, how did he know that the same little evil thought had entered my mind for a short second just minutes before?!

I really, really think God was working in that whole situation!!! 

I asked Biscuit today why he asked about bread and water.  Why would he have ever thought I would feed them that?  I've heard that prisoners eat it (don't know if it's true) but he doesn't watch anything that would have said anything like that.

He said, "That's just the worst meal I could ever think of!"

Little did Biscuit know that during his shower and immediately after my "bread and water" thought, I had texted their daddy and asked if he would take them to Sonic to eat after he got home.

I printed off some Sonic coupons, my husband took the boys to Sonic, Lauren worked in her room, and Mommy got her TIME OUT! :)

Note:  I found this verse, which is very fitting (and quite interesting!) in relation to this post:
A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels.
Proverbs 17:1

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Part 1 "Boys Just Wanna Have Fun"

Yes, I know that Cindi Lauper's song was "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", but so do boys, right?  Or so Biscuit told me last week.

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Stories about our youngest son, Tyler, whose nickname is Biscuit

Biscuit and his two brothers were playing outside last Friday. They were so excited because the snow had finally melted off of the driveway enough where they could play basketball.  Well, not long into the game, Biscuit came in crying.  He managed to get out of his mouth the fact that his brothers were making fun of him because he was crying getting beat.  I told Biscuit to remind the two brothers, that only last year did they stop crying about getting beat in Liverpool (a type of Rummy card game our family plays a lot) sometimes.  He was rather pleased with the ammunition he has to use against his brothers.  Apparently it worked because play time resumed.  I was pleased for the moment, as well.  I didn't even have to go outside and referee!

Not even fifteen minutes later, here came Biscuit again - CRYING!  This time one of the boys had hit him in hard with a snowball and it really hurt. This time mom was not so gentle.  This time mom HAD to be the referee.  Biscuit wears glasses.  The snowball could have hit his glasses and hurt them or hit his face.

I went outside and began scolding the brother who threw the snowball.  As I explained the problem - the head being hit, the glasses being hit, the eyes possibly being hit - the snowball-throwing brother began to explain the situation further.  Apparently he only threw the snowball because Biscuit had hit him in the head with one first.

"Oh, really?", I asked.  I turned my attention to Biscuit once again.  "You didn't tell me you hit Jacob in the head with a snowball first.  That's why he hit you, isn't it?", I asked.  Biscuit stammered through tears again and said, "Yeeeeahhhhhh....bbbbuuuttttt....we were just trying to have some fun!!" It was just pitiful and funny all at the same time!

I talked to them all a little bit about safety and getting along, then walked back towards the garage.  As I was going I began singing in my head, "Boys Just Wanna Have Fu-un".

I love my boys :).  They have fun and they are fun! 

Part 2 tomorrow: The Chronicles of Biscuit:  Bread and Water.