This is Eustace from Mountain Men giving some no nonsense advice. 

What do I do for a living?

I live for a living. 

When I moved out in the forest 35 years ago, people said “You can’t escape reality.” I went TO reality. You’re living in a virtual reality. 

You don’t even know where your stuff comes from, don’t even know where your poop goes.I live in nature where everything is connected, circular. The seasons are circular. The planet is circular…Do people live in circles today? No. They live in boxes.

They wake up every morning in a box of their bedrooms because a box next to them started making beeping noises to tell them it was time to get up. They eat their breakfast out of a box and then they throw that box away into another box.

Then they leave the box where they live and get into another box with wheels and drive to work, which is just another big box broken into little cubicle boxes where a bunch of people spend their days sitting and staring at the computer boxes in front of them.

When the day is over, everyone gets into the box with wheels again and goes home to the house boxes and spends the evening staring at the television boxes for entertainment.

They get their music from a box, they get their food from a box, they keep their clothing in a box, they live their lives in a box.”-Eustace Conway from Mountain Men.

 

When I saw this photo my first thought was, is this a new style? 

I'm not sure, but rather, I think it's the first efforts to braid her hair by herself. LOL 

Then I couldn't help but try and find a Christian application. 

I suppose there are many, but what first came to mind is trying to walk the Christian walk without the "Help Meet", The Holy Spirit, who empowers us, directs us and corrects us. This gal's hair needed the Holy Spirit! LOL But like this girl, how many of us wander in lines like her part; go sideways, and end in knots! 

We "put to death the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit," He is our power, not our resolutions, promises, determination or our fortitude.

 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty—you will succeed because of my Spirit, ...' Zech. 4:6

 Jesus said, “…but I know you, 

that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.” Jn. 5:42

I read John 5 this morning and this statement stood out among all the rest. What a woeful day to have the Lord say these words. It is so easy to get distracted from the heart of Christ and His kingdom's law, the royal law of caring for others and loving them as we love ourselves. 

Anyone can learn the Bible, quote scriptures, to teach and judge the knowledge of others, to walk by the "letter of the law".

 But to have the love of God in us and hunger to see others walk in freedom, to have their shackles removed, the tyranny of their circumstances relieved and walk with God, cleansed in the blood and working for the betterment of all mankind, whoever and wherever they are; that is to have the love of God in ourselves. That is to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

 

 I watched the movie "Jesus Revolution" last night. I loved it!             I couldn't find one frame in the movie I didn't like. It was real, honest, and I think an accurate account of what took place over a two year period when Lonnie Frisbee and Chuck Smith met, and The Holy Spirit moved in the tiny church "Calvary Chapel." 

Jesus movement beginnings

The origin of the “Jesus People Movement is traced by most to a handful of young people who had left the hippie culture, had recently become Christians, and in 1967 had started “The Living Room,” a Christian street mission (coffeehouse) for the hippies in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. As communal homes were part of the hippie culture, a Christian communal home (rescue mission/halfway house) was also established to undergird the ministry of The Living Room. This home, House of Acts, was located just to the north of San Francisco in Novato, California, and it gave the opportunity for the care and discipleship of recently converted hippies.

 

Jesus Freaks, as the hippie converts to Christ were mockingly called, proudly embraced and owned that name, carrying it as a badge of honor to identify with the one who was also mocked and ridiculed by the world.

Through The Living Room and similar Christian coffeehouses, many hundreds of hippies began giving up drugs, sex, Eastern religions, and the occult, and instead turned to Jesus, the Bible, and sharing Jesus with everyone they met.

 Ted and Liz Wise were early adopters of the hippy revival in San Francisco in the late sixties. Ted was an arty beatnik, grafting on yachts and tripping out on drug highs. Meanwhile, Liz was a regular at the conservative First Baptist Church of Mill Valley (alongside her dope lifestyle). Reading the New Testament Ted says, “Jesus knocked me off my metaphysical ass!” Then, following a bad trip on LSD in early 1965, he responded publicly to a gospel invitation at Liz’s church.

Ted and Liz were soon spreading the word to their contemporaries yet, despite their best efforts to evangelize hippies through their more traditional church, they eventually pioneered an independent Christian commune, The Living Room, in Haight-Ashbury in spring 1967. Located in a 20 foot by 40 foot storefront, they offered food, rest and gospel chat. By the following year they were seeing 20 or more people making commitments to Jesus each week.

Meanwhile, Hare Krishna devotee Dave Hoyt had a revelation of Jesus’ uniqueness. Mentored by theological student Kent Philpott, together they teamed up in evangelism and saw hundreds come to faith. 

Lonnie Frisbee

One notable hippie convert, who was part of the team that started "The Living Room," and who also lived and worked out of "The House of Acts," was 19-year-old Lonnie Frisbee. Frisbee became very influential in evangelistic work along the west coast, and wherever there was a flare-up of activity he appeared to have been the spark behind it all.

►Frisbee was invited to be part of the Calvary Chapel church in Costa Mesa, California. At the time Calvary Chapel only had 80 people in attendance (on a good day). After Frisbee’s arrival, attendance soared to 2,000 in 6-months, and it became one of the largest churches in the world. This also led to the multiplication of over 1,500 Calvary Chapel churches throughout the world.

►Frisbee was also involved with the multiplication of communal homes as Calvary Chapel multiplied its ministry to hippies through that type of setting. The first home they started was the House of Miracles.

►On Sunday night, May 11, 1980 (Mother’s Day), Frisbee was on hand to create a spark which gave the Vineyard Christian Fellowship its big push forward. The number of churches in that fellowship now numbers over 2,400 worldwide.

►Frisbee was also used to be a spark for revival in South Africa and Europe, as well as in the lives of many men and women whom he had spent time with.

Communal Homes / Halfway Houses

Associated with Calvary Chapel was a group that moved to an Oregon Christian commune and started a network of communal homes, which was called Shiloh Youth Revival Centers.    

That Oregon commune ultimately started 178 communal homes throughout 30 states and 100,000 people have eventually been part of that ministry. At the same time other ministries had also started Christian coffeehouses in large cities and small towns across the United States and Canada. Following the same pattern as Shiloh Youth Revival Centers, hundreds of Christian communal homes were also established. Between 1967 and 1972, there were 800 communal homes established in the USA.

Street Preacher

His Place: Coffeehouse operated by Arthur Blessitt on Sunset Strip     

  Arthur Blessitt, having grown up as a Christian, made his mark beginning in 1967 through his bold street-witnessing to Hell’s Angels groups and along the streets lined with strip clubs. Blessitt opened “His Place”, a combination coffeehouse and counseling center which on some nights had 500 young people come through for free food and to listen to music and testimonies. In two years, 10,000 decisions for Christ (average of over 12 per night) had been recorded. 

Hippies Rejected by the Churches

Many churches were appalled when newly converted hippies began attending their churches. They could not endure the bare feet, beards, long hair, beads, etc. The street preacher Arthur Blessitt, though highly successful with evangelism, agonized over the churches that would refuse to welcome and disciple the hippies he had recently led to the Lord.

Further down the coast in Costa Mesa, Chuck Smith’s Calvary Chapel exploded with growth. Five hundred new converts were baptized each month at Pirate’s Cove on the Pacific coast, as the church embraced a wave of hairy, hippy youth turning to Jesus.

Billy Graham

The controversial and powerful pastor Billy Graham quickly embraced the movement, writing a best-selling book on the subject and using it as a vehicle for recruitment.

Secular Magazines 

Secular and media exposure in 1971 and 1972 ( (Time, Life and Rolling Stone magazines) caused the Jesus Movement to explode across the United States, attracting evangelical youth eager to identify with the movement.

Coffeehouses

Coffeehouses began springing up in every city and small town throughout the United States. These were gathering places for young people so they could have “church services” that were aligned with their own culture. These coffeehouses and worship services were accompanied by bands playing “Jesus Music.”

Jesus Music

Contemporary Christian music is said to have had its beginnings with the Jesus Movement. A few of the well-known recording artists at that time were: Matthew Ward, Chuck Girard, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Larry Norman, Children of the Day, Nancy Honeytree, Phil Keaggy, Scott Wesley Brown, Kelly Willard, Andraé Crouch, John Michael and Terry Talbot, The Way, Agape, All Saved Freak Band, Petra, Resurrection Band, and Servant. 

Results of the Revival

• By 1977, an estimated 2 million new born-again believers came into the Christian faith. That does not include those who came to Christ as the revival spread to Canada, South America, and Europe.

• The 1970 Asbury Revival took place at this time period, as did the 1971 Saskatoon Revival.

• Many thousands of young men and women across the United States received their calling into the ministry (pastor, evangelist, missionary).

• The generation that rejected the “establishment” continued to do so during and after the movement had begun to wane. Most of them did not join traditional denominational churches, but instead established new fellowships of churches (loosely associated denomination).

Chuck Smith, pastor of Calvary Chapel

Two notable ones were Calvary Chapel and Vineyard Fellowship. House churches were also part of this new transition away from the mainline denominational churches.

At the height of the revival, through the ministries of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California, alone:

• 200 were won to Christ each week.

• There were 500 baptized every month for a period of two years.

• At the baptism services, crowds of 3,000 would gather and the occasion was used to preach the Gospel, with many more coming to Christ.

• Chuck Smith, pastor of Calvary Chapel, stated in his book The Reproducers, that during just two years there were more than 20,000 who accepted Christ and there were over 8,000 baptized at Pirate’s Cove, which is part of the Corona del Mar State Beach.

• Calvary Chapel trained hundreds who were sent out to start churches, first in California, and then up and down the Pacific Coast. Then churches began to be planted throughout the United States and the world—reaching well over 1,700 churches.

• Calvary Chapel was highly instrumental in giving contemporary Christian music its start, with many groups being formed through the church and many songs written.

In December 1971 Calvary Chapel started Maranatha Music/Publishing to promote and sell Christian music. 

Catholic and Mainline Denomination Renewal

Throughout the nation Catholics were experiencing a renewing of their faith in Christ with Pentecostal-type services being held on various nights of the week. Other mainline denominations (Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, etc.) were experiencing similar movements that contained a strong charismatic flavor.

Hunger for God

There was a hunger for God among people of all ages. If Christians were willing to pay the price and engage in evangelism, it was normal for an evangelistic team to lead dozens to Christ on a daily basis—this was reported as having happened on Haight Street in San Francisco. It was also reported that on a “bad” night, only ten people would come to Christ.

 

“I have bumps…I can lift a car”

That’s what the little boy holding his mama’s hand said to me as we were standing in line to eat dinner at the UGM Crisis Shelter for Women and Children.

He flexed his nonexistent muscles with a proud look on his face. Then his even littler brother who was holding his big brother’s hand said: “I can lift all the people”

It was a funny moment of connection, but the reality of what was happening didn’t escape me as I looked at this young mother surrounded by her three boys. 

I have no idea where “Dad” was, but these two little musclemen telling me they were strong while clinging to their mommy’s hands let me know what was probably deep in the heart of this family’s story. 

Little boys having to be strong is a tragic reality that plagues our broken and shattered home fronts.

But it’s not just boys, last night one young girl casually told one of my leaders that they were there because daddy hits mommy. It was said in a manner that was way too normal but for too many children…it is their normal.

To be a big man in a crisis shelter is an unnerving thing. I am acutely aware that for many in the room I am a reminder of hell and horror.

To sit at a table next to a woman who doesn’t know me or is possibly there to get away from some man is a profoundly challenging reality to try to navigate. I am aware and do my very best to be present in a way that’s gentle, humble and loving but cautious. It’s common to be ignored.

But I persist.

I do so because of many reasons but one of the biggest is I see the look in children’s faces when I come into the room, it’s the look of longing. Even after all the chaos, drama and trauma these little ones have experienced, they still reach out for something within them that they need: love from a father.

“Sit by me” is a request that captures the great need of a generation’s soul in this moment.

To have a young man wave at me as he leads his little brothers up to a shelter room is an act of gratitude that reflects a heart that’s starving for kindness.

To almost stumble over a small little girl with big eyes and a dollie in her hand that’s following me around is a sign of the deep need for attention.

To have an little spitfire African American girl come up to me and place both her hands on my beard and rub my face is a gift born out of small sense of safety.

When a young girl looks at LeeElla and I there together and declares: “You are her husband!” reflects a recognition of a reality that’s painfully absent from her own life.

As I watched LeeElla try to wipe off the Ravioli sauce from her shirt as she began to lead worship in the chapel service, I realized something. That sauce slopped upon her face and clothes by a rambunctious lap nestling squiggler was actually the anointing oil of the Holy Ghost. A symbol of the signs and wonders being displayed where love is seeking to serve the orphan and widows among us.

Watching a little pistol of a girl walking up the stairs holding LeeElla’s hands to show her the room where she stays is the kind of gentle miracle that sustain my battle-weary heart. 

These are the victories of love and these fleeting moments remind me love is stronger than death.

I just wish I was strong enough to “lift all the people” out of their desperate situations but at least last night a few kids met a man and a woman that loved them."

Pastor Eric. 

 This is my son Pastor Eric and his wife; they have faithfully been serving the least, last and lost in Spokane for thirty three years now. 

While some are wondering if revival will come again, sitting back and judging what God was doing at Asbury and with the new movie Jesus revolution, Christ is reviving souls with power and anointing as we speak. 

If you are a young Christian, seek where God is at work and join in, the Spirit is blowing like a mighty wind as we speak!

 

 

“Christian love can do something which nothing else in the world can do; 

it can repeat the incarnation of the Master. 

Paul says that Christ took “the likeness of sinful flesh” – put Himself in the circumstances of those who have gone astray. 

Every Christian is, in this respect, made to follow Christ.

 

He has to cast himself down into his brother’s environment; 

to feel his weakness, 

to experience his helplessness, 

to measure the strength of his temptations. 

He has to cast himself down into the stream of his brother’s heredity, 

To learn the power of long seated corruption,

To estimate the force of an impure fountain. 

That is why Christian love is not easily provoked. 

Before it sees the fault, it feels the frailty. 

Before it marks the waste, it measures the wave;

Before it apportions the blame, it allows for the influence of ancestral blood.

 

Oh God, give me a sense that the flesh is weak and the burden strong,

That the will is wayward and the temptation keen,

That the ship is small and the sea tempestuous!

 

Let me live in the heart of the humble;

Let me dwell in the soul of the sightless; 

Let me walk in the lair of the leper;

Let me tread in the den of the demoniac;

Let me consider the friendlessness of the fallen before they fell! 

Then shall I bear on my breast the world’s sin; then shall my spirit be provoked no more.” 

George Matheson. 

Daryl Davis was once an aspiring and successful musician. He had played with Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis,

and Muddy Waters. However, his true claim to fame, the legacy he has forged came in a very different way.

He went out of his way to befriend KKK Grand wizard, Roger Kelly. He spent years building trust between them and laying the foundation of what became a friendship. They broke bread at each other’s tables. They welcomed each other into their homes. Davis even went as far attending Klan rallies as a guest of Kelly.

Most importantly, Davis cultivated an atmosphere of listening. He didn’t hate Kelly because Kelly hated him. Instead he listened to Roger Kelly. And eventually, Kelly started listening to him. This lead to the two realizing they had far more in common than not. In the end, Kelly denounced his ties to the KKK. So much so, he handed his hood and robe to Daryl Davis.

In total, Davis has seen over 200 klan members walk away from the KKK and hand over their robes and hoods to Daryl. Daryl Davis is a world changer. Replacing hate with love. Because love STILL conquers hate... every time.That’s what one person can do.

 

Is it just me, or has kissing in the movies changed since the days of the Silver Screen? LOL

 

“To educate a child perfectly requires a profounder thought, greater wisdom, than to govern a state. 

 The grand work of rearing children is not surpassed by any position, profession or station in life.” 

And may I add, gives greater joy and satisfaction.

 Here’s a list of six topics that are part of good parenting and will help children live to their fullest. This isn’t intended to be another “to do” list, but rather to inspire and give greater vision. I gleaned these from a lengthy chapter written by William Ellery Channing. 

1. Morality 

 Teaching children to be moral beings is of prime importance. When a person looks into himself, he discovers two distinct kinds of principles, and comprehending them is so important. The child discovers desires, appetites, passions, which terminate in himself, which crave and seek his own interests above others. These desires focus on his own interest, gratification, and distinction. 

But he also discovers another principle, an antagonist to these, and it is impartial, unselfish, universal enjoining on him to regard the rights and happiness of other beings and laying on him obligations which must be done, cost what they may, or however they may clash with his particular pleasure or gain. 

2. Religion

When we look into ourselves, we discover powers which link us with this outward, visible, finite, ever-changing world. We have five senses to discern all the material of creation. And we also have a power which cannot stop at what we see and handle, at what exists within the bounds of space and time. There is something which seeks for the Infinite, Uncreated Cause, which cannot rest till it ascends to the Eternal, All-comprehending Mind. This we call the religious principle, and its grandeur cannot be exaggerated by human language. It is the essence of true religion to recognize and adore in God the attributes of Impartial Justice and Universal Love, and to hear Him commanding us in the conscience to become what we adore. 

3. Intellectual

We cannot look into ourselves without discovering the intellectual principle, the power which thinks, reasons, and judges, the power of seeking and acquiring truth. And to gain truth, which is the great object of the understanding, I must seek it unselfishly, I must choose to receive the truth, no matter how it bears on myself. I must follow it no matter where it leads, what interests it opposes, to what persecution or loss it lays me open, from what party it severs me, or to what party it allies.  

4. The Practical

The practical part of child rearing proposes as its chief end, to fit us for action; to make us efficient in whatever we undertake, to train us to firmness of purpose and to fruitfulness of resource in common life, and especially in emergencies, in times of difficulty, danger, and trial. 

5. Beauty

When we look at our nature we discover, among its admiral qualities, the sense or perception of Beauty. 

We see the germ of this in every human being and it should be enlarged and cherished in all. An infinite joy is lost to the world by the lack of culture and development of this spiritual endowment. Beauty in nature, and the mysterious charm found in the loveliness and grandeur of art and sculpture, in elevating literature and music.

6. The Power of Utterance

People are not made to shut up our minds to ourselves, but to give a voice and to exchange it with other minds. Speech is one of our grand distinctions from animals. 

Our power over others lies not so much in the amount of thought within us, as in the power to bring it out. 

A person who cannot open their lips without breaking a rule of grammar, without showing in his dialect or brogue or uncouth tones, his lack of cultivation; and having no clearness, grace or force of utterance or without darkening his meaning by a confused, unskillful mode of communication cannot take the place to which, perhaps, his native good sense entitles him.  

 

This is a for the married men who come home from work and neglect their wives and children. 

The men who sit at the Xbox or the television while their wives continue working, cleaning, preparing children for bed and their husbands don't lift a finger to help. 

I responded to one such woman who was a stay at home mother and also worked forty hours online from home, and when her husband comes home he flops down and neglects all the duties she attends to. 

"I can't tell you how much it grieves me to hear stories like yours, and, sadly, they are all too common. But let me first answer the question "do all men act like this," and that is a resounding NO. I'm 76 years old, have four sons and six grandsons, so I'm going to write a letter to your husband now as if he were my son, and if you choose you can share it with him, I hope you do. 

Hi son, I'm so disturbed because I listened to your wife's struggles today. She described her marriage to you and how it makes her feel and, frankly, it's as though she were describing a form of slavery not a marriage. She describes the marriage as though you are in control, the decision maker, the task master and the only one whose opinions and feelings count. She also describes your participation in rearing your child and caring for the house and the never ending chores that come with it, as little at best. In addition, your spiritual life has come to a standstill. 

Let me be honest, if this is true, you are doing all you can to bring divorce to your door. And as you know, children of divorce are at high risk for drug abuse, suicide, depression, lower grades, lower income, risky behavior, failed relationships, and so many other things that contribute to a meaningless life if you divorce. Of course, each child will suffer to a different degree, some are like dandelions and will grow even under bad circumstances; but others are like violets, that require special circumstances and wilt with the first cold breath. 

So forgive me if I urge you in the strongest terms possible, to invest in your own marriage. Working hard and holding down a good job is admirable, but that is not where it ends. Your day should end when your wife's day ends, and not a minute sooner. She is not a house-slave, expected to serve and clean up after you, and then on top of that care for your child full time and work on top of that???? You are equally responsible for her mental health, physical health, emotional health, romantic health and your child's well being. Countless millions have created happy marriages where both husband and wife thrive as people, look forward to each day, as well as the future. This is your most important task in life, everything else pales in comparison. Had you presented to her, before marriage, what she now has, do you think for a minute she would have said yes? Of course not, we all want to have time for ourselves, a loving romantic life, times of quiet and reflection, times to have healthy recreation, hobbies and goals we are working towards. 

Whatever you do, don't fall into the trap of reducing life to work only, where neither of you are growing as people, and enjoying life together. Will you fail at the most important thing in life? I know you can do better, and should do better; and if you continue to hold Kingship and control, it won't be long before you will reduce your marriage to the intolerable, and divorce will be the predictable outcome. 

I know you can do much better, if in fact you care enough. So, work along side of your wife until the days work is done; enjoy your child with her, and then when the child's bedtime comes, spend time together talking and planing how each of you can enhance one another's lives on every level, spiritually, emotionally,  physically, and watch the love grow! You will respect yourself far more and so will your wife. Happy homes are worth every minute of effort to build, and nothing compares to a happy home. ------------ So that gives you some idea of what I would say to my own adult sons if they had failed so miserably. God bless you, I hope something in this hits the mark.

 

Do I need to put a caption? Probably not, but I know I'd rather see my child struggle and strain to not lose a trout than an iPhone game....

 

When I saw this picture I knew I had to share it, but, what is it that strikes me so??? 

I shared this with two friends to get their thoughts and with their collaboration this is what I came up with -- 

Inside every man is seasons. 

Inside everyman is a boy trying to grasp the beginnings of his walk.

His personality will be formed by age 5. 

His body will change dramatically before 15. 

His eyes will watch. 

His ears will see. 

He will grow so fast at times, that his physical will struggle with his mental.  

Then his mental will struggle. 

And back again. 

But a man becomes a man when he is able, be he 5 or be he 75. 

Now the apostle Paul speaks of another man, the "old man" the corrupt man that is self absorbed, shirks responsibility and lives for pleasure, and that man, the "old man," may be our first beginnings, but Christ renews our mind and we become a new creature, and "We shall mount up with wings like eagles, we shall run and not be weary.." 

  I think that is what I see most clearly in this picture, the renewing. 

 

  "We often ask the question, Why does God permit so much sin and evil in the world? 

The visitor walking the sidewalks of a downtown city amid scenes of moral misery, or the philanthropist threading his way through paths of deep pollution, or the home missionary coming into contact with forms of life that would make angles weep -- all put the question to their heart, Why doesn't God intervene? 

And to each there ought to be one answer: He does interfere, He does intervene, He is at this moment interfering; He is interfering through YOU. 

This is exactly what the Apostle Paul says: "God has given to us the ministry of reconciliation." 

This is a thing we seldom think of in our pessimistic moments. We often exclaim at the sight of flagrant evil, "I wish I were in God's place for one day!" 

Little do we deem that his is exactly what God wishes too. God has asked us to stand in His place, not for one day, but for many days. 

He has asked us to take up His burden - the burden of human sin. He has asked us to interfere fro Him, to act for Him, to strive for Him, to love for Him." 

George Matheson. 

 

 

"They are not reformers who simply abhor evil.

Such men become, in the end, abhorrent themselves." Beecher.

I think this is so true! We cannot be a band of brothers united because "I love you because we both hate the same things!"

No, we must be like the name the Christian organization YWHAM uses, "Youth with a mission."

We must be joined by our endeavors to spread truth, seek justice, show mercy, and share the love of God. We join to be "Light" in the word, not protest. Our bonds are hammered out in joint missions, not political protests.

Our mantra is "Jesus saves!" Not "the world is evil."

We are to be joined together living out the Kingdom of God in an evil and adulterous generation, seeking the last, least and the lost with a corporate force the gates of hell will not prevail against.

 

At first I didn't understand this picture, but then it hit me -- 

Here's a person that sees the crumbling, 

yet uses her gift, instead of mumbling.

Christ's Spirit changed pagan cultures, it will not fail to change carnal churches. Be light....

 

 If anything was true, this would be it.

A woman loves a man, who sees his

worth to his children.

I might go so far as to say, not much else grieves us women as much as seeing a Daddy, who has lost his heart for his children.

Or a Daddy who neglects his children.

Or a Daddy who thinks everything is more important than his children.

Or a Daddy who fails to be responsible for his children.

Or a Daddy who hurts his children on purpose.

Or a Daddy who ridicules, shames and disgraced his children.

Or the Daddy who uses his children, rather than loves them in real time.

Or a Daddy who just has no time for

the gifts of his children.

Fathers, you are not replaceable.

You are so very valuable.

What you do in your children's life today,

will reflect in the rest of their lives.

Children are often forgiving, and they

love us through our greatest faults.

All they really want is us.

If there is any one area of your life as a man, that you have got to step up and show up and do it well, it's this being a father.

This is a God given positioning.

Never treat it lightly or thoughtlessly.

To us women, there's really few things as stunning as a man who loves his children well. It just makes you look unbelievably incredible to us. We don't expect you to be perfect, or do everything right all the time, but when you deeply love your children

and they know it, it just makes us want to honor you more.

For those of you who are nobly making a difference in your precious children's lives, thank you.

You are amazing.

Let's encourage our Daddies!

~AnnStewartPorter

 

J. Vernon McGee said,

"The greatest compliment I ever received was from a country boy wearing high-buttoned yellow shoes.

After morning service he came to speak to me,

he groped for words then blurted out,

"I never knew Jesus was so wonderful!"

He started to say more but choked up and hurried out of the church as I watched him stride across the field I prayed, oh God let me always preach so that it can be said,

"I never knew Jesus was so wonderful!"

 

 

 

 

Many of these vintage posts come from a site on Gab, called, "Worth fighting for." 

His comment on this one is --

What do your kids love to do?

Do that with them today.

 

Nothing is more vital for a young man's development than being surrounded by strong male role models.

 

Old fashion Pre-School 

 

 

The following amazing story by Amy Carlisle shows the power, the reach and the opportunity we have to minister through social media. These are the best of times, and the worst... Here's her story --- 

"I was newly exploring a support group site on FB. A non-Christian support group, A friend recommended it to me.

It was a place that I could encourage, witness, give and share.

So basically, anything goes there, Meaning you can say or ask anything.

From just venting, too honestly seeking answers. From grief, to contemplating an abortion.

Negative is not welcome there, Not even the angry emojis are allowed!

I was rather shocked at first by some of the subjects, some of the posts I avoided, just being honest.

They are always busy, always have posts coming in.

It’s a large private group, that takes it seriously.

You have to send them a selfie with you holding a paper with the date written on it. They want to be sure you are real.

That's actually great because many sensitive issues are talked about.

You can also ask anonymously.

I can share my faith in the comments, with support or advice.

It was different that's for sure.

There wasn't much talk of God or about God.

Sometimes they'd ask for prayers or good vibes.

So, one evening scrolling through,

I rarely go directly, looking. I usually let Him lead me.

Yes, He'll do that on social media too!

I spotted a post, it said she was grieving, she was missing her best friend who had been brutally murdered.

“Would someone pray with her?”

Now there was already several comments, I didn't think my comment would matter much. But I needed to comment, for some reason.

I just said,

I'm so sorry, I will gladly pray with you.

Right away she asked, will you message me? Sure!

Permission to message is required, it's in the rules.

So I did.

She was so sad and distraught. Who wouldn't be?

Just one detail she shared with me was enough that I cringed and I didn't want to know any more graphic details.

I prayed for her and tried to console this broken, grief stricken, beautiful soul.

I offered reassurance that this man would answer for what he'd done. That God would help her heal and overcome and not forget her best friend.

I even sung her a verse of Farther Along.

Oh the things we'll do for a hurting heart.

I also got her in touch with a minister after asking her if she'd want that.

Well, I can say confidently now that was a divine appointment.

That's been a couple of years ago and believe it or not we're still friends. We usually stay in contact daily.

She's been on my heart recently.

The murder trial is coming up again, It's been put off for so long.

She just wants justice for her friend and closure to help her move on with her life.

Would you remember her and this situation when you

say your prayers?

I'd appreciate it and

I know she would too.

Love, Amy" 

I have Amy's  permission to share this, as well as the permission of the woman spoken about.

 

I found the following piece helpful in how one goes about to find a career path. "If our will and sympathy and our capacity exists regarding a certain vocation, it will take a very slight stimulus to guide us into the proper channel. But unless the career is in harmony with our natural aptitude, it will prove neither prosperous nor tranquil. Dryden tells us that -- "What the child admired, The youth endeavored, and the man acquired."

Milton's thoughts are along the same theme;

"The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day." And therefore it is of vital importance that in childhood we should be surrounded by everything that can assist in elevating, purifying, strengthening --- everything that will cherish our good impulses and master our inclinations to evil --- everything that will cultivate all that is true and honest, simple and generous in our nature." W.H. Davenport Adams.

 

The following poem talks about our desires to be more, and how we almost achieve it, but then in the busyness of life we fail. 

 "Have we not all, amid life's petty strife,

a pure ideal of a noble life

that once seemed possible? 

Did we not hear the flutter of its wings

and feel it near, 

and just within our reach? 

It was.  And yet

we lost it in this daily jar and fret." 

Adelaide A. Procter

The girl on the left is Rosina. She is a 14-year-old sex worker in Bangladesh.

When Jesus began His ministry he read from Isaiah to explain why He came, what He will do, and what the kingdom of God is --

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;

he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,

to preach deliverance to the captives,

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty them that are bruised,

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."

His mission, and ours, is demanding, and it requires sacrifice, compassion and deep commitment to love our neighbor, even as we love ourselves.

The Pharisees would rather debate the scriptures, teach the scriptures and study the scriptures; but Jesus wanted them, and us, to live the scriptures. To walk as He walked, to love as He loved and to be known by that.

The Pharisees wanted a religion that kept them from the world; Jesus wanted His disciples to be in the world, working with the lost, the least, and the last.

"This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you." John 15:12

Editorial Photo: GMB Akash

 Trigger warning - suicide

Suicide - some answers..

 I'm no expert on suicide but in my extended family there have been 3 suicides, so I've pondered it a lot. 

There are dark seasons we all go through at one point or another, and needless to say, if one takes their life it is the darkest season they've ever faced. 

Some struggle with depression for years for various reasons, and child abuse, in all its hideous forms, are top of the list. 

But even someone whose life has been great, but suddenly a single tragedy strikes, like the loss of a sibling, a child, or even a loved friend, can cause such shock, and feelings so intense, and they've never felt anything like this before, it can seem overwhelming. 

Of course some medications have suicide risks, and then there are horrid mistakes we've made in the heat of the moment and when a cooler head returns, we feel we can't live with or forgive ourselves for. 

I'm sure there are other causes as well, but I'm convinced of this, a person's life and value is not to be judged by their lowest point, and I believe God does not judge us at our worst, nor should we. 

 The hardest part for those left behind is the haunting questions, "Why" and "What could I have done." And of course they are never answered.... 

Lastly I'll share this piece, I think it is so well said ----- 

"The so-called 'psychotically depressed' person who tries to kill herself doesn’t do so because death seems suddenly appealing. 

The person in whom Its invisible agony reaches a certain unendurable level will kill herself the same way a trapped person will eventually jump from the window of a burning high-rise. 

Make no mistake about people who leap from burning windows. Their terror of falling from a great height is still just as great as it would be for you or me standing speculatively at the same window just checking out the view; i.e., the fear of falling remains a constant. 

The variable here is the other terror, the fire’s flames: when the flames get close enough, falling to death becomes the slightly less terrible of two terrors.

It’s not desiring the fall; it’s terror of the flames. 

And yet nobody down on the sidewalk, looking up and yelling ‘Don’t!’ and ‘Hang on!’, can understand the jump. Not really. 

You’d have to have personally been trapped and felt flames to really understand a terror way beyond falling."