Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-06-23, Page 21t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016. PAGE 21. From the Minister's Study What's a father to do? The Bible has answers By Pastor Ernest Dow, Living Water Christian Fellowship (EMC), Blyth Father's Day has come and gone for another year. It's been gratifying to see users of social media honouring their fathers by posting pictures of their dads, and expressing verbally how much they appreciate them. In this digital age where men are tempted to prolong adolescence by preoccupation with video games and high-resolution movies and sports, fatherhood is not something that comes `naturally'. What advice does the Bible give to those who would be better fathers? God's direct commands to fathers in the New Testament are pretty short and to the point. Perhaps He knows our capacity as men to remember things is limited! The Apostle Paul writes, "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged." (Colossians 3:21) How might a dad unwittingly `embitter' or provoke? A person becomes bitter when they're treated unfairly, for example being denied something that's rightfully theirs. Dads, if you're going to have expectations of your kids for which you're going to hold them to account, make the commands clear right from the get -go. Verbalize the expectations simply and plainly in a way that registers. Few things are more frustrating or feel unfair than getting told off for something you didn't know was wrong in the first place! Once you've got the commands clear, then be consistent. If you've said there would be consequences, then follow through. Don't show favouritism by letting Child B get away with something for which you've already disciplined Child A. And remember, you are more than just a cop! Yes it's your role to discipline, but there's much more to being a dad. Be invested with them in their good moments showing lots of love, taking time to play with them, read to them, go to their sporting events, be interested in their music lessons and what they like to do with their leisure time. Know Pin Mufti p, each Sululaj at 10:00 a.m. during the summer months Brussels Mennonite Fellowship 250 Princess St., Brussels Pastor Ken Gazley 519-887-6388 www.bmfchurch.com Guests Expected Jesus Is Lord! 1w; C%ittiatt Tel1Azfiip June 26: 2 Kings 4:8-17 "Rebound from Giving God Space" r0LL0W ING JESUS THE LIGHT or THE WORLD . "CAVE QUEST" Community VBS July 11-14 at CRC! Register - tinyurl.com/blythvbs2016 Evangelical Missionary Church 10:30 a.m. - Worship & Sunday School at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848 getlivingwater.org, your kids. Give them lots of love and affection and positive strokes, so when you have to "lay down the law", it's in the context of — and more than offset by — an overwhelming wealth of affirmation and knowing they're valued. Else they'll feel bitter because they have been deprived of the attention and caring they intuitively look to a parent to provide. As the verse above says, don't let them `become discouraged' or broken in spirit. On June 7 hundreds of secondary school students walked away from their classrooms in Woodstock to draw attention to the five suicides that had happened there in the previous four months, and three dozen suicide attempts. Some feel nobody cares. Does this mean parents are preoccupied with other pursuits? Some of these young people report being driven to consider suicide because of abuse by a boyfriend or being bullied. I wonder — what is it that a bully fails to get from their dad that BRUSSELS United Church WORSHIP SERVICE AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 am All Welcome Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div. Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224 blythunited a(�.tcc.on.ca Church bookings: 519-887-6377 Other concerns: 226-963-1175 predisposes them to bully a classmate? Are they not learning from the dad respect and consideration for other members of the family? Are they seeing the father bully others in the family in order to get his own way, that his attitude is — "It's all about me!"? Perhaps the child's or youth's love - tank isn't getting filled at home, so they turn to bullying others in order to boost their shaky sense of self- esteem. But really inside they're discouraged, disheartened, broken in spirit. Another verse directed at fathers admonishes, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4) "Instruction" here is literally "mind -setting", fixing one's understanding, imparting truth into the consciousness. As said before, make the commands clear — commands that spring not just from your whims, but from God's revealed wisdom. Teach Scripture; 5y ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS B LYT H Trinity (. 9:15 am Church Office 519-357-4883 BRUSSELS St. John's 11:15 am Church Office 519-887-6862 Everyone Welcome! COME WORSHIP WITH US! read a Children's Bible at bedtime when they're young, then work your way up, have a devotional reading at suppertime. Be so familiar with Christ's teaching that it automatically spills out of you when you have any opportunity to instruct them as you go about your day. Let your life rub off on them; impress your Biblically -shaped mindset upon them. Psychologist Eric Erikson identified eight stages of psychosocial development; the middle adulthood one he called "Generativity vs. Stagnation". For parents, one aspect of generativity is raising and shaping one's descendants, your kids. Jesus did not have earthly children, but hung out for three years with His 12 disciples, making them familiar with His ways, imprinting Himself upon them as it were. Paul also urges, "...Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." `Training' includes Continued on page 23 You're -/nrited, SUNDAYS Morning Service Evening Service 10:00 am 7:30 pm t,CO i:i 1'i i• BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, JUNE 26 We invite you to join our church family in: Worship & Sunday School - 10 am Coffee & Snacks - 11 am Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville's basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. Nursery care available 519-887-9017 At The Huron Chapel V.B.S. beginning July 4th @ 9:30am evaddeed eastatfatv Vigee &Avid You're gnvitec( to come worsh p with us Sunday, June 26 Brussels Business & Cultural Centre at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service. For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 4 Blyth United Church Est. 1875 Worship Service & Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, June 26th Swing a little lower sweet Chariot Guest Speakers: Clayton Peters and Mary Ross new directors for Camp Menesetung All Welcome MINISTER: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. OFFICE: 519-523-4224 And Every Sunday @ 10:30am in Auburn THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph's Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N.