A Dose Of Reality by Joseph Harris

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Concerning Family

Kid's Rule, Literally
 
     On a regular basis, some church or pastor calls me at least once a month looking for church staff personnel.  The most often requested position is youth pastor.  Their appeal usually includes some of the following statements:
"We are losing our young people"
"We've got to offer something for our youth"
"We need a young person who can relate to the youth"
"Our youth are not that interested in church, we need more activities to draw them"
"We want to give the kids what they want so we need someone who will let them listen to their kind of music"
      The motive of these desperate people is usually unquestionable.  They are concerned about their youth and the future of the church.  The problem, however, is this: they have fallen prey to the old liberal philosophy that kids are supposed to rule and set the standard.  Years ago, the world bought into this bankrupt philosophy and the church followed suit almost immediately.  I have noticed that most of the churches concerned about losing their youth and incorporate worldly programs, have already lost them.  Oh, they may have them physically in attendance, but they have lost them morally and spiritually. 
     Children and youth do not need someone who can "relate" to them as much as they need authority to guide them and set and maintain standards.  In the quest to make the Bible relevant, we have lowered standards and lost the respect of those we are trying to reach and teach, then we wonder what went wrong. 
     The tired old mantra I keep hearing is that we have to accept the dress and music of kids today (though not all new Christian music is bad, most of it is shallow and caters to the flesh).  Why?  Aren't we supposed to set the standard?  Notice, I am not speaking of tossing out sinners who don't conform exactly to what I expect in their appearance.  We should welcome and love the lost and try to earnestly win them.  I am talking about the church kids who are supposed to be already following Christ and can be taught.   I am glad when the lost with or without a worldly appearance, visit our church.  Christian standards for them is not a priority.  Winning them to Christ is the priority.  Teaching should then follow.
     Why do so many have a defeatist attitude?  Why do we have to accept the ungodly dress, piercings, language, attitudes and disrespect in modern MTV youth culture, as the standard for our youth?  The answer is, we don't.  Instead of accepting a pagan standard, we should establish a regenerated standard.  But you better put on your boxing gloves and get ready for a fight.  Be prepared, the biggest battle will be with the parents and church leaders.  Then, having done all, stand. 
       Joseph Harris is the Vice President of Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS.(This article may be reprinted in whole, as long as the name Joseph Harris and www.miniedition.net also appear)  
 

Day Care Versus Family....Again

Here’s a big slap in the face against the family. Research by a major University has revealed startling new information. "Children kept in day cares are better off than those cared for by extended family, friends and neighbors." I think I will include this new "truth" in my collection of MILS(Mythological Insane Ludicrous Statements), some of which are: (1) The separation of church and state (2) Homosexuality is determined before birth (3) Big business wants to ruin the environment (4) Consenting children and teenagers should have sex (5) The Dems are for the little guy, the GOP wants to poison air and water.....to name a few.

Common sense and history will tell you that parents and family take better care of children than anyone else. The reason, they say, for the difference is because of qualifications. The experts say that kids kept by those who "do not have the specific training"(did you get that?) do not get the same developmental, educational stimulation they would otherwise receive from professionals. In other words, it's the same old party line. State or state approved agencies with "qualified, certified, credentialed workers can do a better job taking care of your children than family or close friends. I'll take grandma's lack of formal childcare education replaced by her wisdom and true love for my children any day, over a paid worker. Children need love and security as much as they need physical nourishment. Now if we were talking about medical care, the situation would be different.

In the Gospel of John chapter 10, Jesus described the difference between a shepherd and a hireling. The difference was love. I know Jesus was not speaking of day cares in the passage, but the common sense principle is the same. The hireling runs when predators come to steal and kill the sheep, because the only interest he has is his paycheck. The shepherd, however, will give his own life saving the sheep, because he owns them and loves them. Though I'm sure there are some good day care workers out there, I'm also certain that few, if any volunteer their time at their facility(excluding the miniscule number of volunteer retirees). They have to be paid.

The study also stated that the more educated the parent, the more likely they were to leave their child with a licensed stranger than with a relative, thereby proving formal care is the smartest choice. Well, there is always another side to every statistic. It says to me, the educated parents aren't that smart. Education in itself does not guarantee wisdom, discernment, and common sense. My question is this: how many of those parents were partially reared in a day care?

God's way is always best. Sometimes, a single parent with no family support may have to temporarily choose an alternative like day care. But you just can't improve on God's plan for the family, beginning with a married, heterosexual couple who fears God and commits to rear their children in the fear, nurture, and admonition of God, guided by the scriptures, with a parent or family tending to the children.  Joseph Harris  www.miniedition.net

The Fundamental Top 500

Are You A Stay At Home Mom? (For ladies only)

Are you a stay at home Mom? A new "official" university report was released with results that come as no surprise to common sense thinkers. Babies who are kept at home by Mom for their first year perform better academically after beginning school. Like I said, no surprise for those who are already tuned in to reality and scriptural principles. You just can't improve on God's way.

Recently, I was in a store in our town and was talking to a young mother with a child about the age of my son, then 5 months old. She asked if he went to daycare and I said no, Mom kept him at home. With a genuine sadness in her eyes and voice, she remarked how she wished she could do that. I do not know her situation. She may have been a single Mom or the other working half in her house. I felt deeply for her.

When Scripture says that the young women should be keepers at home, it's for a reason. If there is not a keeper at home, then the home will not be kept. And I'm not talking about house work. It's all about the heart, not physical chores. The Mom is the heart of the home and she provides stability and security for children in the home. Before any of our children were born, my wife and I committed to her being at home with the children full time, at least until they began to go to school. It was difficult financially, but the right choice and we would not change a thing if we had to do it all over. God blesses decisions made according to his Word.

Too often, Christians swallow the lie of the career Mom who "has" to work outside the home, while leaving the children in day care or with individuals. Mom, if you have children, THEY are your CAREER, and motherhood is not just a "good" thing: it's the highest calling in the world for every woman God blesses with children.

My wife went back to teaching in a Christian school after our daughter started school(she was a "career woman with a M.Ed.). Then, we founded a Christian school where she was administrator. It existed for one year. When news came that my wife was expecting, we closed the school after one year(now she home schools) so she could pursue her higher calling back at home. That cut us back to my income only. Well, shades of Hezekiah, our financial picture has improved to an even better status now, with my income only, than when we had her income also, last year. Let me say it one more time: GOD BLESSES WHEN YOU FOLLOW HIS PLAN.

I challenge you, working Mom, turn it over to God and take back the control and influence of your children. Some day cares may boast of "quality care", but NO ONE else will love your children and care for them with the quality which YOU provide. YOU are God's designated "quality care provider". Do it for God and your children.   Joseph Harris  www.miniedition.net

July 8, 2005        Number 145  

The Desecration of Granny
 
     I am old fashioned.  I'm a fuddy duddy.  I am square and proud of it.  I have expectations about certain things.  I expect people to be kind, decent, compassionate, and friendly.  Men should be masculine, decisive and brave.  Women should be feminine, sweet and supportive.  I expect Children to be obedient and respectful.  And Grandmothers should be, well.... Grandmotherly. 
     I was recently flying back from a speaking engagement in Nebraska and saw this sweet old Grandmother on board the plane.  She was with her son or grandson and he had the typical thug look.  Tattoos were all over his head and arms,  with multiple piercings on the face and who knows where else.  Grandma had silver hair, a crocheted shawl with tassels, a blue flower print dress, white socks and tennis shoes.  Oh, and one other thing; a colorful tattoo right above one of her ankles.   I was shocked, and I don't shock easily.  The tattoo was inconsistent with Grandma's overall appearance. It was as out of place as a piano at a Church of Christ convention. 
     Whatever happened to the cookie-baking-garden-making Grandmothers(to quote my wife)?  My Grandmother was from the old school.  Liquor, tobacco and cursing were never associated with her lips.  She always dressed modestly, and never wore "men's britches" as she called them.  She was a Godly example for her children and grandchildren.  When staying with her in the summer time, my sisters and I always attended every service of revival meeting at Vardaman Street Baptist Church.  They had a strange habit of meeting early for morning services.   Each morning service began around 6:00 am, so people would have time to go to church before going to work.  Grandma always pulled me out of bed for these services.  We did not miss a one.
     The typical Grandmother of today is a far cry from yesterday.  Today's Grandma is usually more concerned about her appearance and itinerary,  instead of nurturing a relationship with her grandchildren.  Now you modern Grannies hold on before you get your feathers in a huff.  I am not saying today's Grandmothers have to fit the exact visual stereotype of my Grandmother.  There are some Grandmothers who are younger in their "grandmaternity" than my Grandmother, but they do not dress or act their age.  A Grandmother can still by stylish, yet dress appropriate and modestly.  Many of today's Grandmothers are more concerned about looking young and "relating" to their grandchildren.  Grandchildren do not need a big sister, they need a Grandmother.  Grandmothers should be Godly, dress modestly, and exemplify Christ in all they do.  
     In the Bible, Timothy was a great preacher and was strongly influenced by his Mother, Eunice and his Grandmother Lois.  The unfeigned faith Paul spoke of, which dwelt in Timothy, was found "first in Lois....", his Grandmother .  It was then passed on to grandson Timothy through his mother, but Grandmother Lois is given the credit.  Lois is an example of a Godly Grandmother who left a heritage that inspired for generations. 
     I know I am an old fashioned fuddy duddy, out of step with the times, but hey, I got it honestly.  It's part of the heritage left to me by my Grandmother and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  God bless Godly Grandmothers.
  Joseph Harris is the Chairman of Biblical Studies at Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS.(This article may be reprinted in whole, as long as the name Joseph Harris and www.miniedition.net also appear)  
 

School Vouchers?

The issue of school vouchers has always been a hot issue. Emotions run high on both sides. As I understand it, the voucher system would give parents education tax money to pay tuition for their kids in private schools. Supposedly, this is money already paid in to the system by the parents, for education.

Now here is my opinion, which I treasure immensely. For the following statements, I am now ready to be offered on the opinion altar of sacrifice. I am also fully prepared to be boiled in oil, flayed alive, drawn and quartered, buried, have my bones dug up and crushed, for the following statements(Keep those cards and letters coming). Here Goes. "Education should not be a public, government endeavor." Government, whether state of federal, shouldn't have it's nose and fingers in a lot of the current government programs it sponsors. So the real issue goes beyond education and questions whether government should be sponsoring all the programs it sponsors.

I realize this statement is alien to most because it's hard to get beyond a lifetime of a government dependent mentality. Not one person reading this has ever lived in a time when government sponsored public education did not exist. So the thought has never occurred to most. The private sector out-performs government programs and agencies almost every time. One of the best examples government can offer is the United States Postal Service, and private delivery businesses are more efficient than the USPS most of the time. And there is always a hint of a postage hike around the corner.

When it comes to education, parents are the primary responsible parties for their children's education. There are, however, many parent and church sponsored schools that do an excellent job. And now home education is growing by leaps and bounds. Parents have discovered they like having a voice and a choice in matters. Plus, Christian and home education affords the control to offer an education that has a God centered world view philosophy, rather than a secular, humanistic, evolutionary, Dewey world view philosophy.

Here is my idealistic proposal: just as houses of worship are owned, sponsored and funded privately, education could be also. It could be done in the home or through churches or groups of families. And forget the vouchers. I don't want them. Instead of giving money back to parents to pay for education, the government could just stop taking it to begin with. You know, cut out the middle man. We know of course, it ain't gonna happen. The infrastructure is set and entrenched. It's like abolishing or restructuring the IRS (Flat tax, yeah, riiiight! That would be too simple and fair, plus IRS employees, tax attorneys and accountants would be out of work).

I don't believe government, through it's provision, can better educate(Public School System), offer a better retirement program (Social Security) or provide better social or benevolent services(Welfare and Medicaid) more efficiently (key word) than I or groups of individuals or churches or private businesses can provide. But hey, that's just me. One lone voice crying in the internet wilderness. It is, however, my opinion.  Joseph Harris  www.miniedition.net

Beware of Home School Demons

Much has been said in the debate on education about public schooling versus home schooling. The issues range from who is really responsible for the education of children, who can best educate them, and the problem of "socialization" for home schooled children, to name a few. From my experience, the socialization that takes place in school settings is usually a major problem itself.

Concerning the public government school system, much has been said about revamping, restructuring and renewing the system. All such talk is nonsense and misses the mark. To speak of fixing the system is tantamount to arguing over how to repair a watch that has been smashed under the tire of an eighteen wheeler. Replacement is the issue, not repair. And that is exactly what home schooling parents have chosen to do. Replace the broken government school system with an effective system known as home education. Thank God for the freedom parents have to exercise the God given responsibility to educate their children.

However, home education in itself does not guarantee quality education. The quality of education provided in the home will be determined by the education of the parents(to a degree) and their commitment(key word) to providing a God centered, holistic education with a true biblical world view, characterized by consistency. I believe home education is superior to the God-excluding government program offered in the current system. I am a home school parent, so naturally you would not expect me to say anything different. With that said, however, let's be realistic about some "demons" that can appear and hinder or destroy the effectiveness of home education.

(1) Lack of commitment. No one should begin home education unless they are absolutely committed to following through. It may seem like an easy alternative to some who pull their children from school because they are failing. But if they are failing in a public school, and the cause of failure is rooted in lack of commitment from the parents to initially support and assist their children, it will only get worse in home education, because it requires serious dedication.

(2) Not enough structure. I notice a tendency among some home schooling parents to be too laid back. Since home education is not "formal" education (and why shouldn't it be) requirements are sometimes not tough enough(and this can depend of the parents), schedules are not followed, deadlines are not always met and curriculum not completed.

(3) Lack of accountability. If some deadlines are not met and some requirements not enforced, who is going to know? If a parent tends to be too laid back with not enough structure, always waiting for that "teachable moment", lack of accountability adds to the problem. Teachable moments are a reality and are great, but structure and accountability are "evils" that are necessary. Besides, we don't wait for "eatable" moments and depend on "sleepable" moments, but schedule them.

(4) Denial of reality. Though I believe some real learning disabilities exist, they are not near as common as the purveyors of Ritalin would have us believe. But there can be a tendency among home school parents to go in denial about a legitimate problem that may exist, thinking, hoping, and praying that home schooling in and of itself will effect the remedy. Home schooling is superior, but is not a cure-all, fix-all remedy for real processing problems, genuine cases of dyslexia, etc.

(5) Arrogance. Here is a demon that Satan can use in a subtle way. "Our home school kids are better than the heathen in public government schools"

Actually, home school kids have the same level of depravity as all kids. They are inherently no better than other kids, but certainly have a better opportunity for a superior God centered education and less exposure to ungodliness than kids in government and private so-called Christian schools. Perspective will help keep this demon at bay.  Joseph Harris  www.miniedition.net