Dearly beloved of God:
I have borrowed on some wisdom contained in an e-mail sent to me by a friend in Oklahoma. I have no problem personalizing it, since it's a pretty accurate description of my upbringing. What a blessing to grow up in a home where Mom and Dad loved each other fervently until the day that death parted them. What a blessing to grow up in a home where God was acknowledged and Jesus was proclaimed as Lord. It was the Ozzie and Harriett era and there was no talk of a drug problem in America. Yet, as I think about it, I had a drug problem when I was young:
I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals, not to mention the Cantatas that seemed to go on for hours.
I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.
I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. That only had to happen once or twice. For me, embarassment was a powerful tool.
I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me. Because of that, as I got older, I was drug off for a heart to heart conversation anytime I got out of line.
I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four-letter word. This happened only twice. Some lessons are learned faster than others
I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and off to cut those lawns when I really didn't want to in the height of Summer.
I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood. In a practical sense, I was taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, the USA would be a better place.
Reminiscing aside, I really was trained in an atmosphere of treating others with respect, where volunteering to help others was an ordinary thing, and where spending time with God was practiced. Some people say that if you make your children go to church thay will end up hating it. I don't think that is true, especially when the parents personally embrace the church and the teachings of its founder - Jesus Christ. As the Scriptures say, Proverbs 22:6 (TLB)
6 Teach a child to choose the right path, and when he is older, he will remain upon it.
So, as we enter the fourth week of "40 Days of Community" with the emphasis on "Serving Better Together" I encourage all of the adults in our church family to ask God for a revelation of the impact that joyfully serving the Lord can have on our children. Even better, I would invite the teens and pre-teens in our family to join in service. You are really never too young to start. Samuel had just been weaned when he was brought to the tabernacle to begin serving the Lord. (1 Samuel 1:24-28)
I pray that all of you who read this and who confess Jesus as Lord and Savior would be so overwhelmed by God's love for you that your joy and gratitude woud overflow in service to Him. He does not need anything, but a lot of people for whom He died are still in great need. As the song asks, "If we are the body, why aren't His arms reaching, why aren't His hands healing?" Well, in faith I declare that they are.........Better Together!.
Yours for His Purposes,
Pastor Les
