2nd Annual Spring Cookout

(Note:  I will resume the "Who's in Charge?" posts tomorrow!)

What a great evening for our annual cook out!  Last night was beautiful - with no wind and great temperatures!  Perfect for our church family to gather together after evening worship.

We had lots of great smoked meats - prepared by a few of the men.  I'm sparing you the picture of the whole pig that was served - and laying out on the table.  Everyone loves the meat, but I can't even look at him!!  Later on my husband actually brought the pig head to me - to torture me.  That wasn't very nice, was it??!!  Ha ha!  My brother-in-law said I needed to face my fears.  I don't think so!!

We had a huge group for worship and the picnic afterwards.  Most of us had ordered matching shirts with the message "On the Move" printed across the front.  We should be a church that is "On the Move"! "On the Move" doing what God asked us to do!

You may remember all of the shower decorations I've posted in the past.  Here are the babies that the showers were honoring!  This picture is missing one or two babies, but what fun having them in our midst! 

Apparently there was a fierce ping pong competition going on between these two!  I hear that my nephew won.  He looks intense in this picture, for sure!!

Lots of people enjoyed playing the 9-square game.  It's always very popular between young and old.

The best part of the evening was the fellowship with one another - getting to know each other better.  It is great to be part of a growing Christian family.  That's not always common in a small community, but it sure is here!  We're excited about being "On the Move" for God in 2013!

Who's In Charge? (Part 2)

Yesterday we looked at "Who's in Charge?" in the family.  Today we'll look at "Who's in Charge?" in the school/workplace.  I may save coaching for its own post. (maybe)

So, who is in charge?  Well, in the classroom it should be the teacher.  However, changes have come into the classroom where students feel they have the 'right' to have more input into things and that they have the choice whether to adhere to the rules or not.  Over the teachers would be the principal of the school, but some parents - instead of sticking up for a teacher or the principal/school's rules, have decided that everyone is 'out to get them'.  Yes, there are cases where parents should and must step in, but for most disciplinary actions in the classroom, the child deserves punishment.

Here's an example:  Yesterday our youngest son came home and said he had to write 200 sentences - the whole class does.  I asked why, and he said that his class wasn't quiet when they were asked to be quiet.  I questioned him whether he was talking or not when told to stop. He couldn't remember.  Well, I could get upset and call the teacher and demand to know whether he was actually doing the talking or not, but in a class of 24 - with most talking out loud - the teacher probably can't tell exactly who is talking, just that it's loud.  So the whole class got punished and our son began the process of sentence-writing soon afterwards.  Obviously some students were punished that we're "committing" the crime.  Our son has had to be punished for the crimes of others before, as well.  Do I like it?  No, not really.  But do I understand it and accept it?  Absolutely.  That's the problem in America today.  Too many people won't accept it.  They're too much into their "rights" instead of just doing what is right.  Pick your battles.  It's not going to hurt our son to write some sentences or stay in from recess sometimes.  Maybe it will keep him from being in trouble another time.

In a job, who is in charge?  In my husband's job, he is the assistant director, so his boss is over him.  The board is over the boss and the work there.  My husband has several areas of his job and other titles, so he has other people under him who report to him or ask him for guidelines in their own job.  Under them are other workers.  Most companies are set up that very same way.  There is a chain of command. When problems arise, workers go (or should go) to whomever is above them, although in some cases there may be times when the co-workers must go above them to the next level.  Hopefully, though, it's not that way.  Hopefully everyone works together well enough that the chain of command can be followed as it should be.

So, where can a problem arise in the work place?  When someone is doing something unethical and wrong.  Maybe a boss or supervisor is asking someone to lie, or an employee is cheating.  Maybe those principles are overlooked and even condoned.  There's a big problem.  When God's laws are being violated in the workplace, that's especially when something must be done.

Other problems come from selfishness and pride....either on the part of the employer or the employee.  The Bible has much to say about the relationship between the two.  Substitute employee for the word slave in some of the following scriptures.

Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 

Colossians 3:22-25

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. 

Ephesians 6:5-9

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.

Colossians 3:23

Take the time to read Matthew 21:33-41 and Matthew 20:1-15.  Both of these passages deal with workers.  

In every aspect of the school or workplace, things will run smoother and we'll have more peace if we submit to those above us....obey their rules and do our part.  Pride and selfishness will ruin the relationships in all areas if we don't have self-control.  When we look at the last verse written above, we will realize that all we do should be done for the Lord.  Thinking that we are working for Him - in every area - and not for humans, will keep our minds and hearts where they need to be.

More on "Who's in Charge?" next week.  Have a great weekend!

Who's in Charge?

In practically every stage of life there is someone who is over us - a parent, a boss, a coach, a co-worker, and many others.  In a Christian's life, there is a higher authority that should supersede all of the other authorities.  God's Word should come before any man-made laws if they are in conflict with one another.  Our decisions should come from that Word, as well.

Let's look at "Who's in Charge?" today, and see what we can learn about each area.  Actually, as I finished point #1, I could see this post would be much too long to be one.  So, I'll be making this a "series" of posts.  Not sure how long, but several days.  (No posts on Saturday or Sunday.)

1.  Who's in charge in the family?  The parent(s)!
In a family unit, the parents are in charge of the family. In a Christian home, we know that the Bible says that the father is the head of the house.  The mother still plays a huge part of the family, but the husband is the head.  This isn't - or shouldn't be - a cause for women to become upset.  Sadly it has been that way in many cases.

God designed the family in this way for a good reason.  It wasn't because he thought less of women.  In fact, if you read the Bible you'll find Jesus was especially kind to women.  Some would say that he was even kinder to them than to men!  But God knew that in every situation, there must be someone who is ultimately in charge - the authority.  He gave that position to the man - the husband.

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church....Ephesians 5:22-23a

God established the covenant of marriage - only possible between a male and a female - and used the example of the marriage of the relationship Christ has with the church.  There is no debating the subject, and no human-made law will ever be made that will nullify God's law.  God still loves those who disobey this command and those who sin in regards to this covenant, but He will not condone or overlook the sin that goes along with it in any way.

 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. Ephesians 5:25-28

Because parents are in charge of the family and the husband is the head of the family, we have a great responsibility to our children to raise them in a way that honors God.  It is our God-given duty and obligation.  As long as our children are living in our homes - and to some extent even a little longer - we must teach them and train them in many ways.  We must teach them to be honest, working citizens, but also to be faithful servants of God.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³ “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do no exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:2-4

More about "Who's in Charge?" tomorrow 

Watch What You Practice

How interesting that what I was thinking about driving home from a golf tournament yesterday was exactly what our devotional thought dealt with last night!  Coincidence?  I think not!  Perhaps God is trying to tell me to listen and learn?  I think so!

I'm very independent.  I suppose that's a good thing in some ways.  If I need to go somewhere - I go.  I don't have to have my husband drive me or wait until he can drive me.  I know I can figure it out, eventually, and get where I need to go.  (Remember mine and my daughter's motto:  We'll get there!  It may not be the easiest way or the the smartest way - but we'll get there!)  I don't rely on others to do what I need to do.  Now house-wise there are lots of things my husband does that I don't even want to try to do, but I mean other responsibilities.  We don't expect help from others. I/we try to teach our children to take care of their things on their own and not look for special favors, such as extending deadlines for over-due projects or expecting other to pick up slack if they haven't done their part....just basic "being responsible" lessons.

But sometimes being independent causes problems.  Sometimes, if I'm used to relying too much on "me", I may find myself leaving God out of parts of my life.  It's not a conscious thing at all, but just a bad habit that's really hard to break!

Our devotional last night was from the children's version of "Jesus Calling".  It was called, "Don't Practice Your Problems", with the key scripture Exodus 33:14, "The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Here's a thought from the book:

Sometimes, though, when you aren't really focusing on Me (God), you start to rehearse and practice your problems - going over them again and agin in your mind.....Then you try to fix it yourself.

But you are never alone, because My Presence goes with you wherever you go. There is no need to worry, and you don't have to fix anything by yourself. Bring your problems to Me. In My Presence, many problems simply vanish, and others become much easier to handle.

Don't practice your problems; practice bringing your problems to Me.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

NOT MY PROBLEM

(Note from me: I wanted to share this with you.  I thought this was really good with a cute illustration at the beginning!  It is used by permission from Mr. Smith.)

NOT MY PROBLEM

     The Browns were shown into the dentist's office, where Mr. Brown made it clear he was in a big hurry.  "No fancy stuff, Doctor," he ordered, "No gas or needles or any of that stuff.  Just pull the tooth and get it over with."

     "I wish more of my patients were as stoic as you," said the dentist admiringly. "Now, which tooth is it?"

     Mr. Brown turned to his wife... "Show him, honey."

     It's easy to be brave when someone else is the one experiencing the pain!  I wonder as I write and speak about facing trials with a positive attitude if I could be so upbeat if I actually suffer the loss of everything I own in a hurricane or tornado.  It's easy to be brave when someone else is experiencing the pain!

     It's also easy to believe that someone else is the only one needing treatment.  "Don't look at me, doctor.  Take care of her!"  As you sat listening to (or delivering) a sermon Sunday, did you find yourself saying, "I sure hope so-and-so is listening, because this is something he really needs to work on!"

      Listen to these words of James:

     "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:23-25)

     James does not say that the word of God is a magnifying glass or a telescope to look at others.  Rather, it is a mirror.  And a mirror is only used to look at yourself.

     I pray that you will take the opportunity today to use the word of God as a mirror, and may your life be changed by it.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

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