Gospel Living

And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25  But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26  Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. Jesus heads northward, perhaps to retreat with the disciples to teach them, seeking to avoid public ministry when they meet this mother.  Tyre was a port city in Phoenicia (modern-day Lebanon), then called Syria.  Since there were also Phoenicians in North Africa, this woman is called a Syrophoenician, a Phoenician from Hellenized (Greek-speaking) Syria.  She’s not Jewish , so her faith-filled plea is a teaching opportunity for the disciples. First, she comes to Jesus with scriptural understanding.   How much she knows isn’t stated, but what she does is startl...

But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22  For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” … 24  And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” … 27  And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28  and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. We’ve been seeing the depth of sin in the Herod’s household, including the unlawful marriage between Herod Antipas and Herodias.  John the Baptist highlighted this sin and called them to repentance.  Herod knew it was the word of a true prophet (v. 20) but never repented; Herodias hated John and sought his lif...

From the 2013  GCC  Men's Conference: Download MP3 Download Notes Purchase the Book (Amazon)

From the 2013  GCC  Men's Conference: Download MP3 Download Notes Purchase the Book (Amazon)

From the 2013  GCC  Men's Conference: Download MP3 Download Notes Purchase the Book (Amazon)

From the 2013 GCC Men's Conference: Download MP3 Download Notes Purchase the Book (Amazon)

How do you confront your kids' behavior issues? Do you address their sin or simply what annoys you? Yelling might be the key to knowing the answer... and that you might be in sin with your patenting. Well, here are some good lessons for parents to consider.   10 Things I Learned When I Stopped Yelling At My Kids HT: Wretched Radio

HT: Justin Taylor , from Ligonier's Tabletalk  interview with Carson. TT : What is the best way for parents to prepare their children for the attacks on their faith they may face in college? DC :  There is no formulaic answer and no guarantee. For a start, our children themselves are extraordinarily diverse. Many will be tempted by postmodern assumptions. Others will feel far greater threats from biologists, cosmologists, or psychologists who operate under the assumptions of raw atheism or, worse, functional atheism. All I can do is enumerate some values and practices in the home that seem to me to be wise, biblically faithful, and useful in mitigating the dangers. These are exemplary, not exhaustive. First, the home should encourage vigorous Christian understanding. The most dangerous seedbed for intellectual rebellion is a home where faith is sentimental and even anti-intellectual, and where opponents are painted as ignorant knaves, because eventually our c...

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) will soon loose 200,000-400,000 of its members due to its recent decision to allow openly homosexual boys to take part in scouting, according to John Stemberger, Eagle Scout and former scoutmaster.  In a move to create an alternative scouting organization for these concerned families, Stemberger and other like-minded individuals to formed " Trail Life USA ," an ecumenical coalition led specifically by Christian adults. Originally launched at the website OnMyHonor.net, this new group has received over 30,000 calls from former scoutmasters, Eagle Scouts, parents, and church leaders across the country who are concerned where the BSA will assign these "out-and-proud" youths to tent and whether their inclusion will increase boy-on-boy sexual contact .  The group unveiled the name "Trail Life USA" at their first national convention on September 6, 2013, where representatives from 44 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, learn...

Todd Friel reads two letters from two Christian fathers to their sons.  The letters differ in tone and compassion; one letter comes from a gospel-less perspective.  How does God call us to address our children and their sins? Some verses for reflection: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. - Ephesians 6:4 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. - Romans 12:3 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, - Ephesians 4:15 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ...

The Domain of Truth completed its week-long series on biblical counseling and the Christian's concern of psychology.  I recommend it, especially if you are unfamiliar with the differences between "Christian counseling" and the more biblical brand, or if you trust life's problems to the hands of a certified psychologist or psychiatrist. Choose Biblical Counseling Not Psychology: Part 1 Choose Biblical Counseling Not Psychology: Part 2 Depression Poem Pre-courtship Counseling: Seven Relationship Questions Courses: Pastoral Counseling Course by Dr. Stuart Scott Marriage and Family Counseling Course at The Master’s Seminary by John Street Westminster Theological Seminary’s Professors on Biblical Counseling Book Reviews: Review: One Nation Under Therapy by Christina Hoff Sommers, Sally L. Satel Review: Freud by R.J. Rushdoony Book Review of “Out of the Blues: Dealing with the Blues of Depression & Loneliness” by Wayne Mack I lift up my eye...

You want a good starter Bible for your young reader, but the shelves at the Christian bookstore boast a plethora of choices.  How can you sort out the Christ-exalting from the campy?   The Redeemed Reader helps us out: Choosing Your Child’s First REAL Bible: Some Considerations Sorting Out the Children’s Bible Market

Some parents have found the following books fruitful according to one resource , and I'm copying and pasting it here for your own families: The American Girl Library.  The Care & Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls.  American Girl Publishing Inc., 1998.  ISBN: 978-1562476663. This guide answers all the questions growing girls have about their bodies—from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bra buying, pimples to periods. It offers guidance about basic hygiene and health without addressing issues of sexuality. Comment:   “While it's not a perfect book, we found it to be very helpful. I remember looking at it the first time and thinking, "Oh dear....no, no, no...." because of some cartoon illustrations in there having to do with certain and very specific information and "how-tos" regarding a young girl's physical development as well as beginning her monthly cycle. To make a long story short, I ca...

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.  (Ephesians 5:15-21) When Paul addresses the Ephesians, he calls them to a sober-minded approach to their Christian walk.  They must consider whether they are walking in love, and that includes examining their speech and behavior toward others.  In Chapter 4, he ties this to unity in the church, and later in this chapter he'll tie it to believers  submission to one another. In the midst of that discussion, Paul says, ...

Whether you shelter your kids through homeschooling or some prestigious Christian academy, or allow them the ups and downs of a government institution, your children will sooner or later face tough questions about their faith.  Praise God for such times: Lord willing, and if you've prepared them for it, these times solidify your kids' faith. How do we do that, though?  D. A. Carson answered this question in Ligonier's Tabletalk mag, and you can read it on Justin Taylor's blog . Once again, we are reminded of the importance of allowing the gospel to affect the whole person, transforming our home life as well as our conversations with our children.

Drug education isn't a usual feature here, but in case you were wondering: So, be educated, watch your kids, etc.

From Rick Thomas: Life Lesson 1  -  Your starting point will determine how you end. Start here: your parents are not perfect . Life Lesson 2  -   Life is not fair – get used to it! Life Lesson  3  -   The world doesn’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself. Life Lesson  4  -   If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. Life Lesson  5  -   Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity. Life Lesson  6  -   If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them. Life Lesson  7  -  Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you...

If you are teaching kids that God created the world, you're destroying our future, according to popular children's personality Bill Nye. Nye's entertaining persona as "The Science Guy" captivated a generation of young people, and continues to generate a love of science through tapes and syndication.  I use him, as do many other educators, and thank God for such persons who can teach complex ideas in engaging ways. Perhaps, though, I should thank blind chance instead. After all, a worldview that posits God as the universe's cause " is completely inconsistent with everything we have seen in the universe " and " there's no evidence for it, "  as Nye explained in the above YouTube rant.  Apparently, belief in science precludes belief in a Creator God. Please keep in mind that situations like this do not come down to the ignorance of Bill Nye to the indisputable evidences for design in creation.  It is not a matter of presenting N...

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. - Proverbs 14:29 Elyse Fitzpatrick explains that parents who constantly hammer away have forgotten the gospel: Gospel-centered parenting doesn't mean you're saccharine, exuding falsely sweet tidings in light of your child's disobedient ways.  It does bring them into perspective, however, and promise the power to react rightly to each situation.