Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Why did the kids in Jericho have to die
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The four key questions for life
This is based on something I heard on the radio a few years ago, and haven't been able to get an Australian version of.
1) Am I loveable?
2) Am I noticed?
3) Do I have a future?
4) Am I needed?
My reason for posting this is simply to encourage all adults to address their own answers and to reach out to any kids who might be struggling with any of these questions - You might be the one who makes the difference in a kid's life.
These four questions basically come in four to five year stages. The kids who come into adulthood with these questions firmly answered are most likely to be emotionally secure and motivated to achieve. Sometime people will answer these questions sequentially, and sometimes they will get the answer to one question and then skip the next and then go back. Essentially though, if the answer to any of these questions is "No" then the outlook for a kid is bleak and their motivation towards anything is going to be mixed. It is going to affect their outlook and their behaviour in certain circumstances. For example, what point is there for a kid who doesn't think they are noticed to try hard at school for an award? What point is there for a kid is there for a kid to reach out to others if they feel unnecessary and unneeded?
I believe that God made parents to be the ones that answer these questions for kids, but that doesn't always happen. In the real world, parents have limitations, parents struggle with their own answers to these questions, and life happens. It takes a village to raise a child, and sometimes the parents aren't able to, or don't know how to make the needed changes to help, so we should all be on the look-out for kids who are struggling. The reason why it's best if the parent answers it, is because the rest of society provides conditional answers. For example, if your answer to "Am I needed?" is yes, because you have a job and the manager says, "I don't know what I'd do without you." then that's great until you lose your job or move onto another job in which they don't make you feel as needed. If a kid believes that they are noticed, because they were put into beauty pageants between the ages of 5-12 but then they nolonger make the cut, then it's quite likely that they will start attention seeking behaviour. It's not a hard and fast rule; it's just an ideal. Every kid and every family and every parent is different. Hopefully this will just get you thinking.
1) Am I loveable?
The first four to five years are spent grappling with the question "Am I loveable?" Not am I cute and cuddly, but am I such a person that is capable of being loved? If that question is answered positively, then it has a huge impact on a kid's ability to deal with all kinds of changes to do with people like new settings, (like kindy and school) new people, and new siblings. Ideally, parents should be spending lots of time with 0-5 year olds, hugging them, laughing with them, feeding them and encouraging them. When kids misbehave (which happens a lot) parents need to set the boundaries of what is right and wrong. It's these kinds of things which answer the question "Am I loveable" because if parents continue to demonstrate love in the face of bad behaviour when the kid is young, then they start to realize that they are loved no matter how naughty they are. This is unconditional love; it's hard to do it right so that kids get the right correction to the behaviour without getting a sense that they can get away with anything, and without getting the sense that they can do nothing right.
If the answer by the end of 5 years is "I am loveable," then new will be approached positively. Meeting a new person is met with an expectation that the relationship will be positive, and going to a new school is exciting because they expect that they will be loved - not in the same way as parents - but just that expectation is for good, and they know that if it all goes wrong they can retreat back to loving parents.
Now I have three kids and they are all different, even though my wife and I have parented them in the same way. Their personalities mean that they respond differently to all kinds of things. My second son struggles with this question at times, and that has meant that settling into Prep has taken time, and there have been ups and downs. That doesn't mean that I haven't done a good job, but more that his personality is affected by a range of extra things in new situations. Even though he is no less loved, he needs to ask the question more frequently, and get reminded more frequently.
2) Am I noticed?
Ever felt invisible? Some kids spend their whole lives feeling invisible. The quiet ones, the ones with lots of siblings, the ones who aren't academic or sporting geniuses all struggle with this question. And it's not just getting praise. Some kids get praised for things that they know aren't valuable - they reach a point where they wanted to come first, second, third, not well done for showing up. They want to be told "That was a great game you played today" when they didn't drop the ball everytime. Kids understand the truth from the age of 4 and want genuine evaluation from around the age of 6. That's not to say praise should be left for stellar performances, but we should be very careful as to what and how we give kids encouragement. A specific part of the game where they did the right thing, is much much better than praising the whole game in which things went right and things went wrong. Praising effort (which can eventually become demoralizing) instead of results. Identifying areas that could be worked on as an opportunity for more time together and recognizing that just because you don't get chosen, doesn't mean you weren't good. It's tricky, but failure is a part of life that kids need to be prepared for in a positive way and how they bounce back from what they see failures will have an impact on their motivation. If you aren't a part of that, then they can start to feel unnoticed and worthless. All that work done on answering the question about being loveable gets undermined, and habits about expectations always become negative. It's not a matter of preventing them from experiencing failure - its a matter of working out how to be alongside them. Too many parents will step in and get academic grades upgraded, teams reassessed, and performances influenced in a failed attempt to show their love. If a parent does this, then they are devaluing their kid, and ignoring their needs - which leads to the answer "Am I'm noticed" being only answered negatively, until the parents stop their interfering (Sometimes as late as the twenties) or makes the kid think "If they really noticed me then they would know that "maths" is not my strength."
Of course, some kids do not have anyone who does notice them. There might be lots of reasons for this, but at the end of the day we need to have eyes that see in particular marginalised, excluded or "loner" kids - it can lead to depression and suicide.
3) Do I have a future?
Ever noticed how when you ask kids what they want to do when they leave school, they often don't know? Sometimes its because they don't know if there is actually any point in trying hard because they don't know if they have a real future.
In the adult world, we actually assume that we will be doing something similar to this year next year, or different next year based upon our current condition and control. Say for example you want to go on a big holiday, you will save, or you want to move house or renovate your house - you will get quotes, save, research or whatever it takes. You are assuming that next year will happen in a similar way to this year with sufficient knowns and not too many unknowns. Even Uni students and people who don't know if they are going to get the sack will act in a way that supports their future - even the choice of saving money because you think you might get the sack is a belief in the future.
The way in which kids think about their future is different to adults, mainly because of their experience. Year 2 follows year 1. Year 7 follows year 6. If you hate maths in primary school then you probably hate it in high school. It's like it's never going to change and never going to end.
All the discussion about the future is fine, but at some point, kids do the maths and realise that they are just one of many. Whether its because they got rejected by the local Maccas for a job, whether they get beaten by most of the grade, or Uni cohort, or whether their friends are more popular, there is a constant question in a kid's mind about whether or not this massive world actually needs them, or whether or not they are just surplus.
I gotta mention God here: I believe that God made each one of us different and that we are all unique. I also believe that God made each of us with a very specific plan and a unique purpose. No matter where you are at with God, every single person has the potential to do something truly unique and truly spectacular. When kids are making the transition to adulthood, it often seems impossible. Providing them with examples of how you got your break, asking them questions about what they are passionate about or what problems they see in the world, really helps, but mostly, you just need to be there for them and constantly reassure them that life does get better.
These questions if they get answered properly when you are young can really affect you positively, particularly in your relationships and career. If any of them get answered negatively of don't get definitively answered, they can really hold you back, lead to rocky relationships, lead to a lack of motivation in studies, or any aspect of your life which requires confidence.
If this answer isn't cleared up by teenage years, then their relationships with their peers, both BFF and GF/BF, could be characterized by some behaviour that adults will look at in wonder. For example, girls who get continually treated terribly by guys and continues to choose boyfriends that treat her that way. That could be interpreted as "An example of how our consumer society has degraded morals" but it could just be a cry for love and to work out the answers.
So keep an eye out for which questions kids you see might be struggling with, think about how you answered those questions and what questions you haven't actually answered positively.
Finally, get a conversation going about it and see what happens
Cheers
Macca
1) Am I loveable?
2) Am I noticed?
3) Do I have a future?
4) Am I needed?
My reason for posting this is simply to encourage all adults to address their own answers and to reach out to any kids who might be struggling with any of these questions - You might be the one who makes the difference in a kid's life.
These four questions basically come in four to five year stages. The kids who come into adulthood with these questions firmly answered are most likely to be emotionally secure and motivated to achieve. Sometime people will answer these questions sequentially, and sometimes they will get the answer to one question and then skip the next and then go back. Essentially though, if the answer to any of these questions is "No" then the outlook for a kid is bleak and their motivation towards anything is going to be mixed. It is going to affect their outlook and their behaviour in certain circumstances. For example, what point is there for a kid who doesn't think they are noticed to try hard at school for an award? What point is there for a kid is there for a kid to reach out to others if they feel unnecessary and unneeded?
I believe that God made parents to be the ones that answer these questions for kids, but that doesn't always happen. In the real world, parents have limitations, parents struggle with their own answers to these questions, and life happens. It takes a village to raise a child, and sometimes the parents aren't able to, or don't know how to make the needed changes to help, so we should all be on the look-out for kids who are struggling. The reason why it's best if the parent answers it, is because the rest of society provides conditional answers. For example, if your answer to "Am I needed?" is yes, because you have a job and the manager says, "I don't know what I'd do without you." then that's great until you lose your job or move onto another job in which they don't make you feel as needed. If a kid believes that they are noticed, because they were put into beauty pageants between the ages of 5-12 but then they nolonger make the cut, then it's quite likely that they will start attention seeking behaviour. It's not a hard and fast rule; it's just an ideal. Every kid and every family and every parent is different. Hopefully this will just get you thinking.
1) Am I loveable?
The first four to five years are spent grappling with the question "Am I loveable?" Not am I cute and cuddly, but am I such a person that is capable of being loved? If that question is answered positively, then it has a huge impact on a kid's ability to deal with all kinds of changes to do with people like new settings, (like kindy and school) new people, and new siblings. Ideally, parents should be spending lots of time with 0-5 year olds, hugging them, laughing with them, feeding them and encouraging them. When kids misbehave (which happens a lot) parents need to set the boundaries of what is right and wrong. It's these kinds of things which answer the question "Am I loveable" because if parents continue to demonstrate love in the face of bad behaviour when the kid is young, then they start to realize that they are loved no matter how naughty they are. This is unconditional love; it's hard to do it right so that kids get the right correction to the behaviour without getting a sense that they can get away with anything, and without getting the sense that they can do nothing right.
If the answer by the end of 5 years is "I am loveable," then new will be approached positively. Meeting a new person is met with an expectation that the relationship will be positive, and going to a new school is exciting because they expect that they will be loved - not in the same way as parents - but just that expectation is for good, and they know that if it all goes wrong they can retreat back to loving parents.
Now I have three kids and they are all different, even though my wife and I have parented them in the same way. Their personalities mean that they respond differently to all kinds of things. My second son struggles with this question at times, and that has meant that settling into Prep has taken time, and there have been ups and downs. That doesn't mean that I haven't done a good job, but more that his personality is affected by a range of extra things in new situations. Even though he is no less loved, he needs to ask the question more frequently, and get reminded more frequently.
2) Am I noticed?
Ever felt invisible? Some kids spend their whole lives feeling invisible. The quiet ones, the ones with lots of siblings, the ones who aren't academic or sporting geniuses all struggle with this question. And it's not just getting praise. Some kids get praised for things that they know aren't valuable - they reach a point where they wanted to come first, second, third, not well done for showing up. They want to be told "That was a great game you played today" when they didn't drop the ball everytime. Kids understand the truth from the age of 4 and want genuine evaluation from around the age of 6. That's not to say praise should be left for stellar performances, but we should be very careful as to what and how we give kids encouragement. A specific part of the game where they did the right thing, is much much better than praising the whole game in which things went right and things went wrong. Praising effort (which can eventually become demoralizing) instead of results. Identifying areas that could be worked on as an opportunity for more time together and recognizing that just because you don't get chosen, doesn't mean you weren't good. It's tricky, but failure is a part of life that kids need to be prepared for in a positive way and how they bounce back from what they see failures will have an impact on their motivation. If you aren't a part of that, then they can start to feel unnoticed and worthless. All that work done on answering the question about being loveable gets undermined, and habits about expectations always become negative. It's not a matter of preventing them from experiencing failure - its a matter of working out how to be alongside them. Too many parents will step in and get academic grades upgraded, teams reassessed, and performances influenced in a failed attempt to show their love. If a parent does this, then they are devaluing their kid, and ignoring their needs - which leads to the answer "Am I'm noticed" being only answered negatively, until the parents stop their interfering (Sometimes as late as the twenties) or makes the kid think "If they really noticed me then they would know that "maths" is not my strength."
Of course, some kids do not have anyone who does notice them. There might be lots of reasons for this, but at the end of the day we need to have eyes that see in particular marginalised, excluded or "loner" kids - it can lead to depression and suicide.
3) Do I have a future?
Ever noticed how when you ask kids what they want to do when they leave school, they often don't know? Sometimes its because they don't know if there is actually any point in trying hard because they don't know if they have a real future.
In the adult world, we actually assume that we will be doing something similar to this year next year, or different next year based upon our current condition and control. Say for example you want to go on a big holiday, you will save, or you want to move house or renovate your house - you will get quotes, save, research or whatever it takes. You are assuming that next year will happen in a similar way to this year with sufficient knowns and not too many unknowns. Even Uni students and people who don't know if they are going to get the sack will act in a way that supports their future - even the choice of saving money because you think you might get the sack is a belief in the future.
The way in which kids think about their future is different to adults, mainly because of their experience. Year 2 follows year 1. Year 7 follows year 6. If you hate maths in primary school then you probably hate it in high school. It's like it's never going to change and never going to end.
Who can forgive them for believing that they have no future when there are so many unknowns and everyone who has done it before was older than them. But without hope, what will motivate them? Nothing good. But where do they get the idea of a future from? From interested adults who can show them possibilities. All it takes is options based on strengths, weaknesses and interests. Now you can direct some of these by presenting good options and by knowing about the kid. You can also give them experiences like work experience, volunteering somewhere, or responsibilities. It also means that adults need to know about the high school system (whether HSC or QCS) and uni courses and OPs and industries. It also means that the discussions adults have about the future need to happen regularly and positively, whilst accepting that knowing what to do is a process not something that you should make a kid feel bad about for not knowing the answer.
Am I needed?
All the discussion about the future is fine, but at some point, kids do the maths and realise that they are just one of many. Whether its because they got rejected by the local Maccas for a job, whether they get beaten by most of the grade, or Uni cohort, or whether their friends are more popular, there is a constant question in a kid's mind about whether or not this massive world actually needs them, or whether or not they are just surplus.
I gotta mention God here: I believe that God made each one of us different and that we are all unique. I also believe that God made each of us with a very specific plan and a unique purpose. No matter where you are at with God, every single person has the potential to do something truly unique and truly spectacular. When kids are making the transition to adulthood, it often seems impossible. Providing them with examples of how you got your break, asking them questions about what they are passionate about or what problems they see in the world, really helps, but mostly, you just need to be there for them and constantly reassure them that life does get better.
These questions if they get answered properly when you are young can really affect you positively, particularly in your relationships and career. If any of them get answered negatively of don't get definitively answered, they can really hold you back, lead to rocky relationships, lead to a lack of motivation in studies, or any aspect of your life which requires confidence.
If this answer isn't cleared up by teenage years, then their relationships with their peers, both BFF and GF/BF, could be characterized by some behaviour that adults will look at in wonder. For example, girls who get continually treated terribly by guys and continues to choose boyfriends that treat her that way. That could be interpreted as "An example of how our consumer society has degraded morals" but it could just be a cry for love and to work out the answers.
So keep an eye out for which questions kids you see might be struggling with, think about how you answered those questions and what questions you haven't actually answered positively.
Finally, get a conversation going about it and see what happens
Cheers
Macca
Sunday, 23 December 2012
When did Jesus start his ministry?
So you're probably thinking he was thirty, or it was around 30AD. You might also be thinking "what is ministry?"
I can't imagine the God I worship just being content to wait around till he was thirty - it just doesn't make sense. Jesus was amazing at using seemingly insignificant situations (often inconvenient to him) and even when he was under attack to gently and/or firmly point out Gods love, mercy, kindness, and (loaded word) grace and in so doing inspired, amazed, healed and restored more people than there are verses than are in the bible.
It doesn't say it but there is a healthy respect between John and his cousin long before the mention of sandal tying (just imagine the two young boys playing together and the older helping the younger put his sandals back on next to the sandpit) and Jesus asking to be baptized by him. There isn't a lot of info about his time of "growing up" except people's response to him and his lack of stranger danger in the temple at age 12, but surely he did not separate himself from his village and become a hermit? Surely he worked in the family business and studied the scriptures, but had a bit of a rep and experienced friendship.
But even before this
Children are a blessing from God and the longer a couple or a family wait for a kid, the greater the pressure on the mum during pregnancy and the greater the joy once the child is born. Once they are born there is lots of ooing and ahhhing and then mum and dad get on with the business of being being mum and dad (in whatever way works for them). This is often filled with plenty of sleeplessness but there are those beautiful moments which soothe the soul as the baby sleeps, or the baby's wraps around yours or the eyes open and the first smile forms.
Now imagine that the God of creation is born as a little helpless baby. No crying he makes is a bit of a stretch but you just know that baby Jesus' focus is going to be on communicating God's love right from the start in whatever he chooses and whatever way is going to be most readily understood to whoever is most readily available (shepherds, wise men, local choir).
Jesus ministry starts from his birth (maybe before if you count the whole thing with Elizabeth) and not when he was thirty. God had his reasons for getting those three action packed wisdom filled years recorded in the gospels and why the tales of teenage Jesus are scant, but he wasn't cut off in preparation.
So what?
Firstly, never underestimate the place of children in providing care, support, ministry and healing to the hurting - particularly not at Christmas. (By logically this also means empowering, training and equipping them but it also means giving them a sense of value and worth that goes beyond what they can do)
Secondly, follow Jesus' example of making every moment of every day count for God.
Thirdly, never ever forget the importance of the theology behind sharing our frail human form. He knows what it is to go through every aspect of our life from babyhood, to adulthood. Our responses should be appreciation, respect and trust. Every time we face dangers, troubles and frustrations we should be turning to God who became a baby for us because he loves us for he we are.
Merry Christmas
Cheers
Macca
I can't imagine the God I worship just being content to wait around till he was thirty - it just doesn't make sense. Jesus was amazing at using seemingly insignificant situations (often inconvenient to him) and even when he was under attack to gently and/or firmly point out Gods love, mercy, kindness, and (loaded word) grace and in so doing inspired, amazed, healed and restored more people than there are verses than are in the bible.
It doesn't say it but there is a healthy respect between John and his cousin long before the mention of sandal tying (just imagine the two young boys playing together and the older helping the younger put his sandals back on next to the sandpit) and Jesus asking to be baptized by him. There isn't a lot of info about his time of "growing up" except people's response to him and his lack of stranger danger in the temple at age 12, but surely he did not separate himself from his village and become a hermit? Surely he worked in the family business and studied the scriptures, but had a bit of a rep and experienced friendship.
But even before this
Children are a blessing from God and the longer a couple or a family wait for a kid, the greater the pressure on the mum during pregnancy and the greater the joy once the child is born. Once they are born there is lots of ooing and ahhhing and then mum and dad get on with the business of being being mum and dad (in whatever way works for them). This is often filled with plenty of sleeplessness but there are those beautiful moments which soothe the soul as the baby sleeps, or the baby's wraps around yours or the eyes open and the first smile forms.
Now imagine that the God of creation is born as a little helpless baby. No crying he makes is a bit of a stretch but you just know that baby Jesus' focus is going to be on communicating God's love right from the start in whatever he chooses and whatever way is going to be most readily understood to whoever is most readily available (shepherds, wise men, local choir).
Jesus ministry starts from his birth (maybe before if you count the whole thing with Elizabeth) and not when he was thirty. God had his reasons for getting those three action packed wisdom filled years recorded in the gospels and why the tales of teenage Jesus are scant, but he wasn't cut off in preparation.
So what?
Firstly, never underestimate the place of children in providing care, support, ministry and healing to the hurting - particularly not at Christmas. (By logically this also means empowering, training and equipping them but it also means giving them a sense of value and worth that goes beyond what they can do)
Secondly, follow Jesus' example of making every moment of every day count for God.
Thirdly, never ever forget the importance of the theology behind sharing our frail human form. He knows what it is to go through every aspect of our life from babyhood, to adulthood. Our responses should be appreciation, respect and trust. Every time we face dangers, troubles and frustrations we should be turning to God who became a baby for us because he loves us for he we are.
Merry Christmas
Cheers
Macca
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Santa Claus vs God
Santa Claus knows everyone on the planet
God knows everyone on the planet
God knows everyone on the planet
Santa Claus has thousands of people pretending to be him
God has thousands of people pretending to be him
Santa Claus has a plan to reach everyone in one night
God has a plan to reach everyone in one night
Santa Claus knows what everyone wants
God knows what everyone wants
Santa Claus understands that not everyone believes in him
God understands that not everyone believes in him
Santa Claus wants everyone to know love and joy at Christmas
God wants everyone to know love and joy at Christmas
Santa Claus loves surprising people
God loves surprising people
Santa Claus doesn't exist
God exists
That's the real difference.
Friday, 16 December 2011
Being in love
How do you know if you are in love
Sweaty palms, pounding heart rate, heart in your mouth?
Maybe you spend all day thinking about them, planning what you are going to say next time you see them or talk to them, thinking about how lucky you are to have them in your life?
At Christmas you might make an extra effort - extra gifts, a really personal card and setting aside time to spend with that special someone.
One of the things that I was told when I got married was that being in love wasn't as important as loving your wife. That crazy in love feeling can subside as life takes over. The thrill of the initial romance can't last forever. The rollercoaster ride is replaced by a practical car which needs constant refueling. Communication is the key, which includes reading lots of books to understand the other better, and learning about their quirks, likes, dislikes, and spending time together.
For those of you who read this and are not Christian, here is something to think about...
God loves you, plans the gifts, makes time, thinks about you all the time. Not only that, but God will never, ever grow tired of being rejected, avoided or treated like He doesn't even exist.
For those of you who are Christians, here is something to think about...
When was the last time you got sweaty palms or a racing heart just thinking about God?
When was the last time you spent all day thinking about God, talking to God, or writing something special for God?
So maybe you're not in love with God? Maybe you're in a different phase of the relationship. Do you do loving things, even when you are tired, run down, worn out, for God, for others? Are you spending an hour a week with God or is it more? How much is in your tank? How often do you refuel?
Jesus said "love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind soul and strength." He added "Love your neighbour as yourself" with a definition of neighbour so broad as to encompass everyone.
No matter how hard I try to live up to this standard, I never feel like I spend more than 5% of my time getting close to this. It's too hard. I always fall short. This is why I constantly rely on God's grace.
The question is: if you can't achieve perfect love, should you stop trying? Should you accept where you are at with God and make no change? Or is time to suck it up and try knowing that the effort means something to God and will have a positive effect on your relationship with him.
Consider this
1 John 4:7-12
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4&version=NIV
No matter who you are, God loves you, and you should show love to those are around you.
Sweaty palms, pounding heart rate, heart in your mouth?
Maybe you spend all day thinking about them, planning what you are going to say next time you see them or talk to them, thinking about how lucky you are to have them in your life?
At Christmas you might make an extra effort - extra gifts, a really personal card and setting aside time to spend with that special someone.
One of the things that I was told when I got married was that being in love wasn't as important as loving your wife. That crazy in love feeling can subside as life takes over. The thrill of the initial romance can't last forever. The rollercoaster ride is replaced by a practical car which needs constant refueling. Communication is the key, which includes reading lots of books to understand the other better, and learning about their quirks, likes, dislikes, and spending time together.
For those of you who read this and are not Christian, here is something to think about...
God loves you, plans the gifts, makes time, thinks about you all the time. Not only that, but God will never, ever grow tired of being rejected, avoided or treated like He doesn't even exist.
For those of you who are Christians, here is something to think about...
When was the last time you got sweaty palms or a racing heart just thinking about God?
When was the last time you spent all day thinking about God, talking to God, or writing something special for God?
So maybe you're not in love with God? Maybe you're in a different phase of the relationship. Do you do loving things, even when you are tired, run down, worn out, for God, for others? Are you spending an hour a week with God or is it more? How much is in your tank? How often do you refuel?
Jesus said "love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind soul and strength." He added "Love your neighbour as yourself" with a definition of neighbour so broad as to encompass everyone.
No matter how hard I try to live up to this standard, I never feel like I spend more than 5% of my time getting close to this. It's too hard. I always fall short. This is why I constantly rely on God's grace.
The question is: if you can't achieve perfect love, should you stop trying? Should you accept where you are at with God and make no change? Or is time to suck it up and try knowing that the effort means something to God and will have a positive effect on your relationship with him.
Consider this
1 John 4:7-12
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4&version=NIV
No matter who you are, God loves you, and you should show love to those are around you.
Friday, 18 November 2011
This is my speech for the year 12s leaving today
Tomato joke
There were three tomatoes walking down the road; A Mummy tomato, a Daddy tomato, and a baby tomato and the baby tomato was lagging behind ...
You guys dont know how much i will miss you
I have so many memories with you - some of them are funny and some of them are sad some of them funny and sad
I remember trying to keep up with kieran in cross country, form class in D2, no-outs soccer games on the junior campus oval, the day we got goals for futsal and my team putting them together, the worst camp ever with the bizare leader in the tree and the hail the size of a fist, being thrown in the pool by all of you and Robertson finally winning an interclan competition.
My fondest memories are from my first year at tsc with you guys in year 5. it is a different experience to have a class all day everyday as miss gilespie and mrs haines shipman will tell you. It makes you all very close (and a little insane)
we did slaves and masters, heaps of timestables and spelling, dissoling plastic, and buddy reading with the preps in mrs walkers class. We went from the squashed prep class to the massive classroom down the stairs. We got to see wallabies out of the windows and we got trapped in the classroom during the bushfire because of the smoke.
But how much of this actually helped your OP? Id like to think some of things i did with all of you helped, but for me the most important test not one with letter results but your life. I hope that I have not only helped you work out your beliefs and demonstrated my own, but also shown you how important good relationships are.
There is a bible passage that talks about fire and seas (not the beach) and as you head off into the unknown i thought a bible verse might be appropriate. It talks about how no matter what challenges you face in life God is there for you so dont lose hope.
Isaiah 43:1-3 NIV
this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;
Saturday, 17 September 2011
no accident
Kids repeat what you say. Often in public to people who wouldn't understand the context
Kids often look a bit like you and a bit like their mum/dad. Then they pull a face/expression and you just see yourself/relative/your own parents.
Parents tend not to be perfect. Kids tend to grow up and try and improve on what their parents did and often end up repeating a lot of what their parents did.
Parents tend to drive their kids crazy but kids tend to be attracted to someone who has some similarities to their parents.
What happens when parents aren't there for their kids?
What happens when parents haven't dealt with their own issues?
What happens when the kids have to work it out for themselves?
What happens when parents feel guilty about doing the right thing?
What happens when parents feel guilty about doing the wrong thing, but don't change what they are doing?
Kids are very resilient but ...
Parents have a huge opportunity so ...
Kids only learn manners, how to say sorry, and how to share if parents encourage and model using manners, saying sorry, and sharing.
There is only one perfect parent. God teaches us to ask for help, ask for forgiveness, and share what we've got. The rest of us are just doing the best we can, with the time that we have, so that our kids will grow up to be happy.
Every child is a blessing from God - especially mine!
Cheers
Macca
Kids often look a bit like you and a bit like their mum/dad. Then they pull a face/expression and you just see yourself/relative/your own parents.
Parents tend not to be perfect. Kids tend to grow up and try and improve on what their parents did and often end up repeating a lot of what their parents did.
Parents tend to drive their kids crazy but kids tend to be attracted to someone who has some similarities to their parents.
What happens when parents aren't there for their kids?
What happens when parents haven't dealt with their own issues?
What happens when the kids have to work it out for themselves?
What happens when parents feel guilty about doing the right thing?
What happens when parents feel guilty about doing the wrong thing, but don't change what they are doing?
Kids are very resilient but ...
Parents have a huge opportunity so ...
Kids only learn manners, how to say sorry, and how to share if parents encourage and model using manners, saying sorry, and sharing.
There is only one perfect parent. God teaches us to ask for help, ask for forgiveness, and share what we've got. The rest of us are just doing the best we can, with the time that we have, so that our kids will grow up to be happy.
Every child is a blessing from God - especially mine!
Cheers
Macca
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