THE HOLY BIBLE AND THE TV GUIDE

THE HOLY BIBLE AND THE TV GUIDE

They lie on the table 
side by side, 
The Holy Bible 
and the TV guide. 

One is well worn 
and cherished with pride, 
Not the Bible 
... but the TV guide. 

One is used daily 
to help folks decide, 
No, not the Bible 
... but the TV guide. 

As the pages are turned, 
what shall they see, 
Oh, what does it matter, 
turn on the TV. 

Then confusion reigns, 
they can't all agree, 
On what they should watch 
on the old TV. 

So they open the book 
in which they confide, 
No, not the Bible 
... but the TV guide. 

The Word of God 
is seldom read, 
Maybe a verse 
as they fall into bed. 

Exhausted and sleepy 
and tired as can be, 
Not from reading the Bible 
... from watching TV. 

So then back to the table 
side by side, 
Lie the Holy Bible 
and the TV guide. 

No time for prayer, 
no time for the Word, 
The plan of Salvation 
is seldom heard. 

But forgiveness of sin, 
so full and free, 
Is found in the Bible 
... not on TV. 

-- Author Unknown 

(from seekfind.net)

Disciplining Children

Proverbs 6: 20-22 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.  When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.



I like to put pictures, little notes and reminders on my refrigerator door - maybe you do too. As I think back over the last ten or fifteen years, there have been many little snippets on my fridge. Among other things, I like to keep a few pictures of family as well as some reminder type notes to myself to help me to focus on the Lord and His purposes for me. I'd like to share a few snippets from my fridge here in this post regarding family life and discipline of children.
When our children were younger, I kept a "Family Rules" guide posted on the fridge. These were the family rules that I had posted :
1) Love one another
2) Say nice things or say nothing at all
3) No hurting anyone ever for any reason.
4) Respect each other
5) Delayed obedience is disobedience.
6) Everything you do should indicate that you are a kind and loving person.
7) Choose to be joyful

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Discipline
Now as any parent can testify, the rules were not always kept but they were there set out as a constant guideline of expectations. I was told the most effective way of disciplining a child was to use this method -
Say the child's name, make eye contact, give your instruction to your child in a normal tone of voice, and only one time. The child will learn that you are serious and discipline will follow if he or she  is disobedient. Disciplining your child is hard. But there are a few points that I tried to remind myself of:
A) Am I disciplining in anger or in love - it should be in love
B) By disciplining my child in this way, am I teaching him or am I just punishing him - the goal is to teach.
C) Explain why the behavior the child has just displayed is an unacceptable - stay at this point of  talk till the child understands no matter how long it takes.
D) Carry through with the discipline you promised would happen.
E) Remember the discipline must never be abusive - either verbally or physically.