Learning to be Daniels

Bob Case, of the WORLD Journalism Institute, has a chapter in Fathers and Sons: Hold Fast in a Broken World in which he challenges young men to be Daniel-like–young men of conviction and backbone in a Babylonian like culture (though Babylon in many ways was even worse than ours if you can imagine that).  Hear are some principles for fathers and sons to discuss:

• Be the best you can be in the world of learning!  Daniel was no intellectual slouch (Daniel 1:3-4). King Nebby chose him and his friends because of their learning aptitude, intellectual ability, and promise to be influencers in his government.  They not only weren’t just “pointy head scholars” but could connect the dots and solve problems and make wise decisions.
• Use all your gifts from God!
• Choose your battles well!  (Daniel and his friends couldn’t eat all the food, but they took the Babylonian names–interesting).
• Our Babylonian world is quick to notice small compromises (Integrity matters to God and others).
• Biblical submission is a radical spiritual discipline (even though they had a problem with the meat, they respectfully addressed their authority figures)
• Act like Christians, and leave the consequences to God.

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Post du jour

Looking for a good overview of Revelation.  Dr. Thomas, retired professor at The Master’s Seminary, offers a brief yet helpful article that I recommend.

Jackie Alnor has written a book on the prosperity preachers called, The Fleecing of Christianity. With the passing of Oral Roberts yesterday, one particular chapter demonstrates the influence Roberts had with his “seed-faith giving” and how many other false teachers embraced the idea to make a financial haul. You can read the chapter of her new book here. (HT: CrossTalk)

How’s this for an elevator button?

“To live by feeling is a dying life.”–Read the Daily Spurgeon.

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Disciplining your children

Reading a book on Proverbs right now by Anthony Selvaggio and he has a couple of chapters on parenting.  He had some unique ways of stating some truths in ways that resonated with me personally.

He reminds us that every time as parents that we interact with our children, that there are two sinners in the room, not just one.  Ouch!  Yes, our children are born foolish, helpless and in much need of instruction, but we are also.

His working definition of discipline is simply “passing along and reinforcing wisdom and truth in a variety of ways.”  Those ways include instructing, educating, training, and correcting.

The book of Proverbs contains the most comprehensive and direct teaching on raising children in the entire Bible, yet as Anthony points out, there isn’t one single proverb or even extended passage in Proverbs that summarizes “everything you need to know about parenting!”  Instead he says, “Proverbs provides a rich fabric of teaching woven from many individual strands. This means parents must do more than learn a few key verses about child-rearing–we must pursue God’s wisdom on the topic.”

I was also reminded that it is not only how we discipline our children that is important, but why we discipline them.  We should discipline them biblically for their own sakes, our sakes, society’s sake, and ultimately for God’s sake (to glorify Him).  Everyone wins when biblical discipline is practiced biblically!

A disciplined child who loves biblical wisdom will not just happen.  If they aren’t given discipline, they will never gain it themselves.

So, “discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.”  Proverbs 29:17

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A proverbial warning to parents

Bob Beasley reminds us of the seriousness of disciplining children:

“The book of Proverbs consistently repeats a warning to parents (Proverbs 13:24; 17:21; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-16).  Something will be broken in your home; either your child’s will, or your heart. The stripes from the rod of correction will either land on your child’s rear end, or on your own.  If it is the latter, then both you and your child will feel the pain.”

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