Încununarea lui Christos

Barzilaiendan

Romania Elahava shared Jesus Christ is KING‘s photo.

Vezi articolul original

Ziua Copilului – Copiii sunt un dar de la Domnul – Children are a gift from God – June 1st, International Children’s Day

Photo credit mamoizelle.wordpress.com

photo credit rebloggy.com

Cele mai frumoase flori… de primavara… de la Marius Gorcea, Nicu Wagner, si piesa lui Vivaldi: Patru Anotimpuri ♪ ♥ ♫◦° °◦°°◦

photo credit – hurricanetrinda.tumblr.com

Song of Solomon 2:11-12 

For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.

Genesis 1:14 

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,

Sursa Ganduri via George Matei Facebook

Cantarea Cantarilor 2:11-12 

Căci iată că a trecut iarna; a încetat ploaia, şi s’a dus. 12 Se arată florile pe cîmp, a venit vremea cîntării, şi se aude glasul turturicii în cîmpiile noastre.

Geneza 1:14 

Dumnezeu a zis: ,,Să fie nişte luminători în întinderea cerului, ca să despartă ziua de noapte; ei să fie nişte semne cari să arate vremile, zilele şi anii

Nicu Wagner – Te-ascunzi in florile campiei

Te-ascunzi in florile campiei
Parfumul lor Te dovedeste,
Tu esti splendoarea vesniciei
Si ea in veci, i-Ti dainuieste!

Te-ascunzi in ciripit de pasari
Prin trilurile nesfarsite,
Nu-s simfonii, nici oratorii,
Cu armonii asa de sfinte…

Te-ascunzi in adierea verii
Cand freamata frunza-n racoare,
In taina si-n susurul serii,
Te-ascunzi in murmur de izvoare.

Tu esti in linistea adanca
Ce-n codrii-ntunecosi domneste,
Tu esti in tablele din stanca
In glasul vantului ce creste.

Tu esti s-n fulgii de zapada
In viforul ce rabufneste
In norii ce seninul prada
In tunetul ce rasoleste
Te-ascunzi in vijelii si-n ploaie
In soarele ce-apoi surade, .
Teascunzi in panset de parae
In gangurit de prunc cand rade.

Te-ascunzi, dar nu Te pot cuprinde
Nici cerul, cerurile-ntinse,
Dar totusi ‚Tu, Nemarginire
Esti si in inimi sfant aprinse.
Vedem doar urmele-Ti divine
Din cari‘ rasari bland‚ maiestos
Speranta, viata, zari senine,
Caci Tu esti tot ce-i mai frumos.

/: Noi Te-om vedea sus in marire
Dar nu cum ne-am inchipuit
Tu esti dincolo de gandire,
O, Doamne, fii in veci slavit!

Versuri compuse de Ilie Belciu via http://www.resursecrestine.ro/cantece/

VIDEO by nitaviorel1

Nicu Wagner – Doresc sa fie numai crini

Doresc sa fie numai crini
Si tot pamantul o gradina,
Iar crinii paci, fara spini
Sa rada-n roua cristalina.

Doresc sa fie numai cant
Iar fii iubitori de pace
Spre zari sa-nalte imnul sfant,
Vibrandul imn minuni va face.

Doresc nicicand sa mai aud
De cataclisme si urgie,
Sa se inalte tot mai mult
Spre Dumnezeu cantarea vie.

Doresc sa fie plaiul nins
De florile neprihaniri.
Si sa domneasca pe intins
Dreptatea, visul omenirii.

Va fi sublim si-naltator
Va fi doar pace si-armonie,
Va fi o turma si-un Pastor
Va fi doar cant si bucurie.

Versuri compuse de Ilie Belciu via http://www.resursecrestine.ro/cantece/

VIDEO by nitaviorel1

Marius Gorcea Era o zi de dalba primavara

1. Era o zi de dalbă primăvară
Când pomii-s plini de mii de muguri deşi
Era o zi când pe cărări ninsese
Petale albe, floarea de cireş.

2. Era un cer senin, senin albastru
Şi-atâtea flori câmpia presărau
Îşi legănau pe vârfuri ‘nalte crinii
Potirul alb frumos de catifea.

3. Şi adia aşa uşor zefirul
În umbra deasă a codrilor din deal
Ascuns în iarbă îngâna izvorul
Cu susur lin un cântec pe-a lui mal.

4. Aşa era în ziua când, Isuse
Pe Tine-ntâia oară Te-am văzut
Aşa era o zi de primăvară
Cu dalbe flori când eu Te-am cunoscut.

5. Eram pe iarba de mătase-n luncă
Şi lăcrămioare-mi adunam în braţ
Tu ai trecut şi-n urma Ta, Isuse
Te-a urmărit privirea-mi cu nesaţ.

6. Erai frumos ca Soarele din ceruri
Cu faţa albă, albă ca de crin
În părul Tău lucea fior de raze
Şi-Ţi era chipu-atâta de senin!

7. Era de vină oare primăvara?
Era de vină câmpul înverzit?
Ce-a fost pe urmă nu-mi aduc aminte
Dar ştiu, Isuse drag, că Te-am iubit.

8. Atâta ştiu, că Tu-mi eşti totul, Doamne
Că Te-am dorit cu drag mereu de-atunci
Şi că păstrez la pieptu-mi lăcrămioare
Din ziua când Te-am cunoscut în lunci!

Vivaldi – 4 Anotimpuri 4 Seasons (42 min)

Ptimavara Spring 0:00
Vara Summer 10:31
Toamna Autumn 20:59
Iarna Winter 32:48

VIDEO by Evan Bennet

photo credit www.Ciresarii.ro

Cristi Tătar – Înainte, dar în direcția bună!

In fata la Sala de Opera din Viena – Fotograful si biciclistul au o surpriza…

Nu întotdeauna a merge înainte înseamnă a merge în direcția bună.

Într-o dimineață, fetița cea mică mergea înainte, dar cu ochii închiși, fiind somnoroasă, și până nimerească într-o ușă cu capul.. și să își facă un cucui, a fost o chestiune de secunde..pe care nici eu nu le-am putut anticipa…

Doriți-vă să mergeți înainte…dar în același timp să înaintați în direcția bună!

„Pune-ți pe inimă aceste lucruri, îndeletnicește-te în totul cu ele, pentru ca înaintarea ta să fie văzută de toti.” (1Tim.4:15)

Și direcția bună este Isus Hristos Domnul!

Biblia spune despre El: „El este mai înainte de toate lucrurile, și toate se țin prin El.” (Col.1:17)

Și să mai rețineți un lucru:

„Oricine o ia înainte, și nu rămâne în învățătura lui Hristos, n-are pe Dumnezeu. Cine rămâne în învățătura aceasta are pe Tatăl și pe Fiul.” (2Ioan.1:9)

Photo (via Reddit)

 

In awe of God’s creation – 50 unbelievable facts about earth

If you like photography and info charts, there is a great website ‘All that is interesting’ that you might want to check out. This photo is from that wonderful site:

Who likes ear tickling sermons ? – O ilustratie: Ce preferinta au crestinii la predica?

2 Timothy 4:1-5 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ² Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. ⁵ But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

…this photo is sad, not funny…and it speaks volumes to the faith possessed by  some/many individual believers, than it does about churches per se, for after all we (individuals) are the churches.

Photo credit www.evangelicaloutreach.org

Usa din stanga = Aici se Predica cu fidelitate Scriptura (Biblia)

Usa din dreapta = Aici predicam sa gadilam urechile

Concluzie: Multi aleg sa le fie gadilate urechile.

2 Timotei 4:1-5  Te rog ferbinte, înaintea lui Dumnezeu şi înaintea lui Hristos Isus, care are să judece viii şi morţii, şi pentru arătarea şi Împărăţia Sa: ² propovăduieşte Cuvîntul, stăruieşte asupra lui la timp şi ne la timp, mustră, ceartă, îndeamnă cu toată blîndeţea şi învăţătura. ³ Căci va veni vremea cînd oamenii nu vor putea să sufere învăţătura sănătoasă; ci îi vor gîdila urechile să audă lucruri plăcute, şi îşi vor da învăţători după poftele lor. ⁴ Îşi vor întoarce urechea dela adevăr, şi se vor îndrepta spre istorisiri închipuite. ⁵ Dar tu fii treaz în toate lucrurile, rabdă suferinţele, fă lucrul unui evanghelist, şi împlineşte-ţi bine slujba.

~~~~~~~~~~

and, this one is another indictment of unbiblical church members. RayBaumann.com from www.christian-faith.com. Read their signs:

1. Don’t mention hell, it makes me feel uncomfortable.
2. Please refer to sin as ‘bad choices’
3. Tell me again how much God wants to bless me
4. Make sure there are enough programs for my kids
5. Remember how much money I give each week
6. Tell me how to get rich
7. Only Good News
8. Tickle my ears
9. Nothing about the Cross
10. if you don’t do things my way…
11. Be relevant
12. What can Jesus do for me?

Ce gandesc/spun membrii unelor biserici:

1. Nu pomeni iadul, ma face sa ma simt prost.
2. Te rog, refera-te la pacat ca si  ‘o alegere gresita’
3. Mai spune-mi odata cat de mult vrea Dumnezeu sa ma binecuvanteze!
4. Asigura copiilor mei suficiente programe la biserica
5. Nu uita de contributia mea $$$ saptamanala
6. Spune-mi cum sa ma imbogatesc
7. Numai Vestea Buna si atat
8. Gadila-mi urechile
9. Nimic despre cruce
10. daca nu iti place cum vreau eu…
11. Fi relevant
12. Ce poate Isus sa faca PENTRU mine?

Related articles

• Gluttony (a humorous illustration) – O ilustratie impotriva imbuibarii
• Guard your heart (a toon)

In Awe of God’s Creation – Troltunga, Norway – Muntii Norvegiei – Coplesit de creatia lui Dumnezeu

Photo via All That Is Interesting.

This guy is taking a much-needed breather. To snap a shot like this, you’ve got to survive a nine-hour trek ascending 900 meters into the Norwegian sky.

Ca sa te pozezi aici, trebuie sa urci 900 de metri, in aproximativ 9 ore. Nici nu cred ca as dori asa ceva 🙂

In awe of God’s creation – Joshua Tree National Park – California – Pomii Yucca din Parcul National – Coplesit de Creatia lui Dumnezeu

Joshua trees in Joshua National Park,  California.

click on photo to see full size and source

Romaneste – Joshua Tree National Park – acest parc national din sud-estul statului California este declarat un parc national din 1994 cand Congresul SUA a declarat cei 3,199.59 km²   ca pamant/desert protejat. Parcul este numit pentru padurile cu pomii bastinasi Joshua (Yucca brevifolia) care acopera cei peste 3 mii de km patrati. Aces pamant este putin mai mare decat statul din estul Americii- Rhode Island. Parcul include doua deserte- cel elevat, Deserul Mojave si cel plat, Desertul Colorado. Muntii mici San Bernardino fac parte din sut-westul Parcului.

Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California. Declared a U.S. National Park in 1994 when the U.S. Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act (Public Law 103-433), it had previously been a U.S. National Monument since 1936. It is named for the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) forests native to the park. It covers a land area of 790,636 acres (1,235.37 sq mi; 3,199.59 km²)– an area slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island. A large part of the park, some 429,690 acres (173,890 ha), is a designated wilderness area. Straddling the San Bernardino County/Riverside County border, the park includes parts of two deserts, each an ecosystem whose characteristics are determined primarily by elevation: the higher Mojave Desert and lower Colorado Desert. The Little San Bernardino Mountains run through the southwest edge of the park.

Photographed by Doug Dolde More images from this location at http://www.douglasdolde.com (via wikipedia)

Romanian – Pomii Joshua ( Yucca brevifolia), pentru care este numit acest parc national, se gasesc in Desertul elevat Mojave. Pomii se afla si in paduri si singuri la distanta unii de altii.

The higher and slightly cooler Mojave Desert is the special habitat of Yucca brevifolia, the Joshua tree for which the park is named. It occurs in patterns from dense forests to distantly spaced specimens.

The Joshua tree, Yucca brevifolia, is a member of the Agave family. (Until recently, it was considered a giant member of the Lily family, but DNA studies led to the division of that formerly huge family into 40 distinct plant families.) Like the California fan palm, Washingtonia filifera, the Joshua tree is a monocot, in the subgroup of flowering plants that also includes grasses and orchids. Don’t confuse the Joshua tree with the Mojave yucca, Yucca schidigera. This close relative can be distinguished by its longer, wider leaves and fibrous threads curling along leaf margins. Both types of yuccas can be seen growing together in the park. The Joshua tree provides a good indicator that you are in the Mojave Desert, but you may also find it growing next to a saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert in western Arizona or mixed with pines in the San Bernardino Mountains.

NASA: Coming 2013 – Solar Maximum – Semne in cer pentru anul 2013

Photo source – sursa pozei NASA picture of the day

Expertii spun ca in 2013 se va petrece evenimentul ‘Solar Max’ care se intampla tot la 11 ani. In anul 2013 se prevad multe furtuni geomagnetice si va fi o activitate sporita de ‘aurore’ cum nu a mai fost de multa vreme. Deja s-a evidentiat activitatea in weekendul de 14 Iulie cand pentru 14 ore s-a vazut aurora in mai multe locuri pentru un timp de 36 de ore…vezi video (5 min)

Experts say ‘Solar Max’ is due in the year 2013. When it arrives the peak of its 11 year sun spot cycle will bring more solar flares, more coronal mass ejections, more geomagnetic storms and more auroras than we have experienced in quite some time.  On the weekend of July 14, 2012 skywatchers around the world got a taste of things to come. It was mid Saturday in North America when a coronal mass ejection or CME crashed into earth’s magnetic field and triggered the most sustained display of auroras in years. For more than 36 hours, magnetic storms circled earth’s poles, northern lights spilled across the Canadian border to the United States as far south as California, Colorado, Kansas and Arkansas. In the SOuthern hemisphere skies turned red in Tasmania and New Zealand, while the aurora australis pirouetted around the South Pole. The source of the CME was giant sun spot…. see video for rest (5 min)

Published on Jul 19, 2012 by NASAtelevision

Related articles

• Ask a scientist: Solar blackout time (stuff.co.nz)
• Summer’s Biggest Solar Storm (And Northern Lights Show) to Hit Earth Friday (wired.com)
• Video: Solar Eruption Caught on Camera (wired.com)
• Incoming! CME On Its Way Toward Earth (universetoday.com)

In awe of God’s creation – Blyznytsya mountain range in Ukraine – Munti in Ucraina – Coplesit de Creatia lui Dumnezeu

Psalms 104:13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

Psalmi 104:13-15

Din locaşul Tău cel înalt Tu uzi munţii; şi se satură pămîntul de rodul lucrărilor Tale.

via allthatisbeautiful.com

Intr-adevar e o pustietate nelocuita aici, pentru ca cel mai apropiat oras (populatie 50,000) este la o distanta de 8 ore. Dar muntii Blynytsya din Ucraina sunt o frumusete nemaipomeita.

Truly a no man’s land, the impressive Blyznytsya mountain range in Ukraine is not a place to wander: the nearest town with more than 50,000 inhabitants is 8 hours away.

In awe of God’s Creation – Two herons in Hungary – Doi Stârci in Ungaria – Coplesit de creatia lui Dumnezeu

ROMANA: Doi starci se bat pentru un pestisor care cade jos pe ghiata si un al treilea stârci il prinde si il mananca. Poza de la National Geographic din 2006 in Pusztaszer, Ungaria.

ENGLISH: 2006 in Pusztaszer, Hungary—Two herons fight over a fish snatched from a hole in an ice-covered lake. Neither bird won. During the quarrel the fish fell to the ice, and another hungry heron snagged the catch.

Photo by National Geographic.
and one more from Gideon (source) inca o poza

In awe of God’s creation – barren, icy, remote Iceland & Antarctica – Ghetari in Islanda si Antarctica – Coplesit de creatia lui Dumnezeu

ROMANA: Un loc retras din cauza climei dure. Desi oamenii au parasit localitatea cu 60 de ani in urma, totusi se gasesc specii de vulpe, foca si pasari si cateva case parasite. Localitatea este accesibila doar cu barca sau avion.

ENGLISH: Located in Iceland, this majestic landscape has been uninhabited by humans for 60 years due to its remoteness and harsh climate. Though humans may not reside here, there is an abundance of flora and fauna and arctic foxes, birds and seals, as well as a few old houses. The area can only be reached by foot or by boat and tourist day trips are common.

(HT)

Iceberg in Antarctica – Photo Isabel Wayrick via http://birdcapemay.org

Related articles

• In awe of God’s creation – Waves – Valurile Apei – Coplesit de creatia lui Dumnezeu (rodiagnusdei.wordpress.com)
• In awe of God’s creation –  Frozen Lake Underwater photo – Coplesit de creatia lui Dumnezeu – Poza de sub lacul inghetat
• In awe of creation – The Remote Places of the World – Coplesit de Creatia lui Dumnezeu – Locuri departe de civilization
• FULL page of links of – IN AWE of GOD’S CREATION – COPLESIT de CREATIA lui DUMNEZEU- zeci de linker la pose
• Antarctica Heats Up As Popular Travel Destination (gadling.com)

In awe of God’s creation – Wisteria Tree in Ashikaga Flower Park Japan – Copacul Wisteria din Japonia – Coplesit de creatia lui Dumnezeu

Poze din Parcul de flori Japonez Ashikaga, renumit pentru copacul Wisteria (Noda fuji). Florile copacului infloresc din Aprilie pana in luna Mai. Pomii produc piroane lungi brachybotrys florale, gradina japoneza avand 3 spaliere pe care ramurile s-au intins la lungimea de 1,000 metri. Wisteria este o planta agatatoare cu flori superbe, violet, albe, roz, … Pentru ca nu se pot agata singure, trebuie ajutate, la inceput, sa se sprijine pe spaliere.

ENGLISH:

The scenery and its expressions change with the seasons, thanks to the flowers in bloom and trees in blossom.
Ashikaga Flower Park creates value through exquisite seasonal gardens.

One of the prime attractions of this park is its Japanese wisteria.
The gradual changes though these picturesque blossoms of light pink, purple, white, and yellow trusses conjure up images like those on slowly unfurled picture scrolls.

Wisteria alb – White Wisteria

Flori roze in Parcul Ashikaga – Photo from the park via http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp

Best Photos – Me and my pickup truck

photo source http://www.heartlight.org

Psalm 23 for the digital age (very inventive)

Uploaded by kidowmer on Jun 29, 2011

Also known as the computer geek’s version (author unknown) of the beloved Psalm 23. For the purpose of this visual presentation, I have opted to re-edit this version slightly, replacing ‘bugs’ for ‘threats’ & changing the line ‘He prepares a menu before me’ with ‘He sets up a firewall before me’

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

The importance of Fathers by James Buchanan

via http://www.sermoncentral.com from  Judges 2:6-2:12  Romans 1:28-1:32 

The father of five children had won a toy at a raffle. He called his kids together to ask which of them should have the present. „Who is the most obedient?” he asked. „Who never talks back to mother? Who does everything she says?” Five small voices answered in unison. „Okay, dad, you get the toy.”

Today is the day that we honor fathers. That’s me! Honor me! Yea!

In all seriousness, we are to honor our fathers, and our mothers, and this day in June is set aside for us to honor the fathers in this country. But we are to honor our fathers, not because it’s a holiday, not because it’s a tradition, not because there are sales going on all over the country, but because God said so.

In fact, he said so very specifically. The bible tells us in Ephesians 6:1-3, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Notice that it doesn’t say, honor only good moms and dads. It doesn’t say, honor them if you like them. It doesn’t say, honor only the right ones. It says, “honor your father and mother.” And so, today, we ought to honor all fathers.

But I want to speak directly to the dads here today. And if you’re not a dad, don’t check out, because we all need to hear this. You see, we are involved in a war today, and the battleground is not in Iraq or Afghanistan. The battleground is in our homes. And what’s at stake is not our land, our property, our freedoms. It’s more important that than. What’s at stake are our children.

And believe me—it’s a war, it’s an important war, and in this country, we are losing the battle. Children are turning from the faith in record numbers. It’s as if as soon as they leave home and go to college they leave the church. And if you don’t believe me, look here this morning. And lest you think that its only a problem here, it is true all over this country. Children in record numbers are turning from God.

But it’s nothing new. It’s the same as been happening over the course of time. I want to tell you a brief Biblical story this morning that’s going to be our guide for the remaining time we have today—and I’ll be brief. It’s found in the book of Judges in the Old Testament. Genesis, exodus, Leviticus, numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges. In the pew bible it’s found on page _______________. Judges 2: 6 -12

Let me give you a little background here today. The nation of Israel had just marched into the promised land, and they were settling into the land. Now, it wasn’t a complete victory, because when they went in, they didn’t always follow what God desired, and instead of conquering all of it, they instead settled into some of it. And just before what we’re going to look at, they were instructed that they didn’t do what God desired, and they repented of it. With that in mind, let’s read this important passage this morning. Judges 2:6-12.

After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance. 7 The people served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.
8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heresa in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them.

Once Joshua and his generation passed away, the next generation turned their back on God and worshiped the gods of the peoples around them. Today, in 2004, they don’t wait for mom and dad to pass on. They turn away immediately, and worship the god of television. They worship the god of fashion. They worship the god of convenience. They worship the god of this world. They worship the world. What is the world, 1 John 2:16 tells us. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. (NLT)

In your notes is a passage from Romans 1:28-32 that closely parallels what is going on today in America. Let’s look at that together.

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Do you realize we live in a culture that approves of turning its back on God? From court cases to tv to popular movies, it’s okay to make fun of religion, because it’s not important, it’s not relevant. It worked for mom and dad, but it’s not for me.

Well, can I tell you this morning, moms and dads, you are at the front lines. This is a war, and we are called to be a part. This morning, I want to give you your marching orders to tackle this important task of saving the children, and we are going to look briefly at a few steps that will help us to do so.

How can we win the war? Three suggestions this morning.

1. With our words.

Deuteronomy 6: These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children.

You need to talk to you children. Be involved in their lives. Tell them about God, and tell them about the Bible. Remember last week we talked about your story. What God has done for you, so that you can share it with others. Are you sharing it with your children, what God has done for you? You need to, you ought to.

A study was done recently to determine the amount of interaction between fathers and their small children. First, the fathers were asked to estimate the amount of time they spent each day communicating with their child. The average answer was about fifteen to twenty minutes. Next, microphones were attached to the father so that each interaction could be recorded. The results of this study were shocking: The average amount of time spent by these middle-class fathers with their small children was thirty-seven seconds per day. Their direct interaction was limited to 2.7 encounters daily, lasting ten to fifteen seconds each!

Look back at Deuteronomy 6 again with me. Can that be accomplished in 37 seconds a day? Do you want to know how much time the culture has with your children? 37 seconds does not come close to meeting the job. Communicate with your children; tell them about God and about the Bible.

Proverbs 1: Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

Don’t let the schools be the only thing that instruct the children. Don’t even let this church be the only thing that instructs your children. And that’s not an indictment on the teaching ministry of this church, but mom and dad, we are not responsible for raising your kids. We will help you, but when the bible tells us to Trainu a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it—that’s not to the church, that’s to parents.

Dad’s, how are you doing with your words? Are you fighting?

2. With our time.

Robert Schuller, pastor of the Crystal Cathedral, once said that he chose to fail so he could succeed. He said, „I chose to fail at golf, because I wanted to succeed as a father.” Though he loved golf immensely, he knew that he could never devote adequate time to his job, his hobby, and his family . . . so he gave up his hobby.

How are you doing with your time? We looked at Deuteronomy 6, but let’s look again at verses 7 and following: Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Dad’s, do you want to know what is important in your life today? Look at your daytimer, your palm pilot, your schedule, and where your time is devoted to, that’s what is important. Unfortunately, many dads say that by their time they love their jobs. They love their hobbies. They love their entertainment, their comfort. If you asked them if they loved their children, they would swear to you that they do. But their time doesn’t match up.

And some of you have bought into the thinking of this world. I’ve got to keep working and working and working so I can provide for them the finer things of this world, and providing for family is important and biblical,

8If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. But I think that we sometimes go beyond what is necessary.

There’s a story told of a man asking his daughter if she would want quality time with her dad or quantity time with her dad. She replied, “Quality time, Dad, and lots of it!”

I read about a little girl who drew a pretty picture. She went in her dad’s office. Crawled on his lap. And said, „Daddy, come and see my picture.”

And the dad said, „Not now, honey. Dad’s busy.”

About 10 minutes later, she came back again. Crawled on his lap. And said,”Daddy, will you come see my picture now?”

And the dad got frustrated. And said, „Can’t you see I’m busy? Don’t bother me right now. I’ll come and look at your picture later. When I’m ready.”

A couple of hours later, the dad came out. And he said to the daughter, „Can I see the picture now?” And the girl said, „Sure.” And it was a picture of her and her brother and her mom standing on the lawn. With the family dog. With big smiles. On a sunny day. But the dad noticed that he wasn’t in the picture. And so the dad said, „That’s a nice picture, sweetheart. But how
come I’m not in the picture?”

And the girl said, „Because you’re working in your office, daddy.”

Time is a gift you give that you can never get back. You can give money, and always make more. You can give gifts, because you can always get new things anyway. But once time is given, it never comes back. Time reveals the priorities in your life. And if you want to win the war with for your children, you’ve got to invest time.

3. With your lives.

Genesis 18:18-19 is a revealing passage—we even looked at it last year as our prime text for father’s day. And I want to remind you of what it says to us today. Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just.

The way you live your life will be a direct reflection of how your children will grow up. There’s a song, I even sang it last year, called, “I want to be just like you.” It goes like this—I want to be just like you, cause he wants to be just like me. I want to be a holy example for his innocent eyes to see. Help me be a living Bible, Lord, that my little boy can read. I want to be just like you, cause he wants to be like me.”

I can see that now, in my son. 17 months old, and he desires to be like me. He’ll repeat words I say, he’ll repeat things I do—he loves me, and at this point, he wants to be just like me. I’d better be the right kind of dad, because he will mirror me.

It’s kind of like this situation—A little boy was caught swearing like a sailor. „Young man, where did you learn to talk that way?” said the boy’s mother. The boy looked at his father and said, „Well, Dad, should I tell her?”

2 Kings 14:3 speaks of a king of Israel named Amaziah. “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD…. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash.”

What kind of example are you setting for your kids? You words may say some things about you, but your life declares who you really are. Are you fighting the war with your lives?

As we wrap up, let me speak to the kids here today. Life isn’t always what we want, and it isn’t always what’s best, and it isn’t always pleasing to God. There are some of you here this morning who have fathers who aren’t all that great, or maybe not even there?

How can you honor your father, even when it’s difficult? How can you go through life without a good father?

Let me suggest to you something this morning. God calls the church his family. And here this morning, there are lots of good, godly dads. I would suggest to you that you go and adopt a dad. Not literally (Can you be my dad, and move in with us), but you know, go up to him and say, “I need a dad, someone I can look up to for advice and help, and I think you’d be a good dad.” And dads, if someone comes up to you and asks that, you know how you are to respond.

Well, it was a typical scenario of young boys debating whose father was the best. This discussion highlighted who their fathers knew. The first boy started the debate by claiming his father knew the mayor. He was soon topped by the second boy who said, „That’s nothing. My dad knows the governor.” The stakes were getting pretty high, and the eavesdropping father wondered what his young son would say about him. The little boy shot back, „So what! My dad knows God!” Would your son say the same thing? May our children always be able to say, „My dad knows God!”

How are you fighting the battle? Maybe you need to start today, by apologizing to your kids, and starting anew. Let’s pray.

In awe of creation – Underwater photo – Coplesit de creatia lui Dumnezeu – Poza de sub lacul inghetat

In Awe of Creation Page here – Pagina Coplesit de creatia lui Dumnezeu

A photo taken in frozen underwater. Poza facuta de sub un lac inghetat. (ATI)