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The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to
the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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August 26, 1990
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Contents:
1) If I Were a Young Parent (Leslie Diestelkamp)
2) Lessons from a Flock of Geese (anonymous)
3) No Need for Love? (selected)
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-1-
If I Were A Young Parent
by Leslie Diestelkamp
Today's young parents may be inclined to think that those of us whose
children were babies four decades ago cannot understand the problems
that must be faced by this present generation. Certainly it would be
unrealistic to suggest that there are not differences in the degree of
difficulty. I think none of us who are older envy the young parents
today and most of us feel a great sense of anxiety and sympathy
regarding the problems that prevail in the permissive society today.
Yet there are indeed some very real principles that never change. From
generation to generation they are the same. Let me tell you just a few
things I would try to be and do if I were a young parent today.
1. I would try to make our home a place of peace and security for my
children. Our home life together should cause them to know that I want
to be at home, I want them to be at home and I want home to be a happy
contrast to the vicious world of sin outside.
2. I would try to have one parent at home all the time when the
children were there, and two parents there as much as possible. A house
without a parent in it is not a good home for children, and a house
where the children see only one parent at a time for five days and
nights a week is far from the best home for children.
3. I would try to accept no employment that would prevent me from
having a close association with my children. It would be better to live
in a humble cottage and be a real parent than to live in a beautiful
mansion and fail my family.
4. I would try to provide the best possible associations for my
children. I would teach them to choose wisely among the children
at school and in the neighborhood. I would try to have them be with
other children from the families in the church. I would even try to
have them know such children from other congregations, and have the
opportunity to participate in recreation with them. And I would
especially guide them to choose educational opportunities that would
help and not hinder their moral and spiritual development.
5. I would try to train them so that I never had to require them to
attend services of the church. They would go because they wanted to do
so. And I would remember that it is easier to get them to willingly
attend all the services of the church than it is to get them to go once
a week!!!
6. I would try to train them to so behave in church services that both
parents and children could be happy there. This means that I would not
allow other mothers and grandmothers nor other children or teenagers to
play with my babies before services. Everyone should be able to see
that such activity only stirs up the baby's spirits and produces
trouble for the mother during services. You see, if they play with the
baby before services, how is the baby to know when the playing should
end?
7. I would try to take my religion home with me. In other words, I
would try hard to demonstrate the same character at home that I do at
church services.
All of the items I have mentioned in this article will not constitute
me a good and successful parent, but I believe these will help. And if
I do my part, God will give me wisdom to be and to do what He
wants. I pray for young parents. May God bless you and yours
abundantly.
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-2-
Lessons from a Flock of Geese
Scientists have discovered the secret of the great strength of the
Canadian geese in their long flights. Some flocks fly from the Hudson
Bay to the Midwest at a powerful 70 miles per hour, nonstop. Together,
cooperating as a flock in a V-shape formation, wingtip to wingtip, none
misses a stroke. They are able to fly a 71% longer range than when a
solitary goose tries to make it. The lead goose cuts a swath through
the air resistance, and creates a helping uplift for the two birds
behind him, and in turn they make it easier on the birds behind them.
It is much like a drag of a race car sucked in behind a lead car. Each
bird rotates as the lead. In this manner the tired ones fan out to the
edges of the "V" for a rest and the rested ones go toward the point of
the "V" to lead the flock.
Scientists think the incessant honking is a way the stronger ones lend
encouragement in the weaker ones. If a goose becomes exhausted or ill
and has to drop out of the flight, a stronger member of the flock will
follow the weak one to his resting place and stay with him until he is
well enough to fly again. This is a valuable lesson to
Christians. Just as geese can go farther and accomplish more by
flying "in a family" we can, with the support of fellow Christians and
friends who care for us, go farther in the Lord's work than we could go
alone.
If I "fly" in the "family," the church, I will never fly alone, neither
feel rejected or ignored. Another will support me and my efforts will
help other members of the church.
This lesson of the geese adds strength to the conclusion that "if we
help others, we are helping ourselves." In serving and giving of
ourselves, we ourselves are lifted up and helped along. On one occasion
Jesus' disciples were arguing over which one of them would be the
greatest in the Kingdom. Jesus' reply was short and sure. He indicated
that one's care for others is the measure of one's greatness (Luke
9:48).
-- Anonymous
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-3-
No Need For Love?
About 200 years ago one of our well-known encyclopedias discussed the
word "atom" with the use of only four lines. But five pages were
devoted to a discussion of "love."
In a recent edition of the same encyclopedia, five pages were given to
the word "atom"; "love" was omitted.
-- Selected
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Without the "agape" love, which the Bible can help one to develop, life
is incomplete (1 Cor. 13:1-8). Why not turn to His word today to
learn how you, too, can have this greatest love of all dwelling in your
heart?
-- Tom
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel,
for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the
deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins
(Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ
(Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water
for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4;
Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith;
for,
if
not,
salvation
can
be
lost
(Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet.
2:20-22).
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First published for the Tri-state church of Christ in Ashland,
Kentucky, at 713 13th Street.
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards
tedwards1109@gmail.com
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