Children’s Day

Probably a question most kids ask is, “How come we have a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day but no Children’s Day?” Many adults answer, “Every day is Children’s Day.” One time I noticed a Children’s Day on a calendar given to me for Christmas. I eagerly showed it to my parents wanting another day to receive presents. Our family observed Children’s Day only once. My dad simply gave me money to go bowling that day.

According to Wikipedia, Children’s Day is observed on different days in different countries. Children’s Day in the United States actually predates both Mother’s and Father’s Day. Many churches started it in the 1860s. Today there are Americans campaigning for Children’s Day to be a national holiday. They believe there are physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual reasons for children to have a special day of their own.

Psalm 127:3 (NLT) says, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Those involved with raising and teaching kids should be careful not to abuse that responsibility. One Canadian province just passed the “Supporting Children, Youth and Families Act of 2017.” Don’t be fooled by the name of this law. The Ontario government now has the right to take away children from families that don’t accept their kid’s “chosen gender identity or expression.” 

A friend of mine in Ontario who has two little ones himself informed me a child sex offender was in charge of crafting his province’s sex-ed curriculum. Earlier this year, foster parents in Hamilton had two girls taken from them because they refused to tell the girls the Easter Bunny is real. Is it any wonder why our public education system has become so messed up? 

There are serious consequences for those who mislead our children from the ways of God. Jesus warned in Mark 9:42, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.” I pray that more parents, teachers, and social workers come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” - Matthew 19:14

Your Family Can Be Saved

As a minister of the gospel I often receive prayer requests. Many of them are for lost loved ones. This article is to encourage those of you standing for a family member’s salvation.

It was my sister and her husband who led me to Christ. A personal crisis made me recognize my need for Him. On March 19, 1991 I drove to Fargo, North Dakota (the city where I was born) to talk with Greg and Tanya. After three hours of clearing up many misunderstandings I had about Christianity, my brother-in-law invited me to pray with him. I asked Jesus to come into my heart and felt the power of God flow throughout my body. Later I learned Greg and Tanya prayed for years I would recognize my need for Jesus and wanted to play a part of my salvation.

By July 1994 I had become a committed soul-winner and went back to the Fargo area specifically to witness to family members. Quite a few of them already knew the Lord. One morning I stopped to see my Aunt Gaye. She didn’t have a phone and so my arrival totally surprised her. I found out my Aunt Gail (Gaye’s twin sister) was also coming over. Shortly after Gail arrived, I discovered she wasn’t sure of her eternal destiny. Gaye had tears of joy after hearing her sister pray with me to receive salvation.

Later that year, I returned to Fargo to spend the holidays with my family. On Christmas Eve I went to my Grandma Tweiten’s house. One tradition we had there was Gaye singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus before we opened presents. The Lord put it on my heart to talk to Gaye’s six-year-old son Zachary. First I asked Gaye if it was okay for me to witness to Zach. Then I ministered to my cousin who received the best Christmas gift of all...salvation through Jesus Christ! 

On Independence Day 1996, I went up to Fargo again. Grandma Post’s birthday was on the Fourth of July and so we had a family get together that day. Although my grandparents had been longtime members of a Methodist church, I wanted to make sure they were in right standing with the Lord. Just before I left town the next day, I stopped to see Grandpa again and asked if he was going to heaven. His response was “I hope so.” So I gave him a tract and led him in the prayer of salvation. Later I witnessed to Grandma Post and found out she was already born again.

In November 1996, I went to the Rochester, New York area to spend Thanksgiving with distant relatives, most of whom I never met or hadn’t seen in years. After we ate dinner, many of them gathered around me to hear a tape of Christian songs I produced about end time prophecy. Then I asked, “How many of you are not sure you would be in heaven if you died right now?” Eight people raised their hands. So I shared the Good News with them and all eight got born again! 

Remember the end of the world was supposed to occur on December 21, 2012? That day I stopped to see my mother who was in a nursing home recovering from a stroke. For over 20 years I interceded for Mom’s salvation. After talking with her for a while, Mom let me lay hands on her to receive healing. Then I asked if I could also lead her in a prayer to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She agreed and now I know for sure she is heaven-bound! 

One of the devil’s greatest lies is “your relatives are the hardest to witness to.” Many of them might come into the kingdom if you simply open your mouth and share the Good News. Romans 10:14 says, “And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

If you already shared the gospel with relatives but they rejected it, don’t give up on them. Bind the enemy from blinding their minds (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) so they receive the message of God’s love with clarity. Then keep praying for laborers to cross their paths. God knows who they will listen to.

You have the promise of your family.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” - Acts 16:31

M. O. M. (Memories of Mother)

 Thanksgiving 2008

In these last days, Satan is trying to pervert gender distinctions. Currently the media is flooded with reports of men “identifying as women” fighting for the right to use women’s bathrooms (and vice versa). For the past ten years, Spain has issued birth certificates replacing “Father” and “Mother” with “Progenitor A” and “Progenitor B.” No matter how the world tries to redefine the family unit, children cannot be born without a mother. 

On this Mother’s Day, I want to honor the woman who brought me into this world 52 years ago in Fargo, North Dakota. Growing up in the bordering city of Moorhead, Minnesota, I wasn’t fond of the traditional church we attended as a family. Still my mother made sure my sister and I said our prayers before going to sleep. If there was a thunderstorm outside, Mom told us God’s angels were bowling (the loudest claps of thunder meant they got a strike). She happened to be an avid bowler.

Football is another sport my mother enjoys. We've spent many Sundays watching the Minnesota Vikings on TV. Mom often got more emotional about the games than I did. She would jump off the couch and yell at the players while nearly knocking me over in the process. 

Back in the day my mother was a homemaker and often cooked meals for us. As my sister and I got older, Mom worked outside the house more. One of her jobs was a sales representative for a major candy company. As a result we got to enjoy a lot of free samples.

Another thing I appreciate about my mother is her sense of humor. Whenever my sister and I did something naughty but wouldn’t fess up, Mom sarcastically declared, “Ol’ Tom is at it again!” (Tom was my imaginary twin brother.) A few years ago while finishing a phone conversation, I told Mom I would “keep her posted” on my happenings. She replied, “Don’t take our name in vain.”

Even if your mother hasn’t exactly been a Proverbs 31 woman, I exhort you to be a blessing to her. Proverbs 23:22 says, “…do not despise your mother when she is old.” If she’s still living but you cannot see her in person today, how about giving her a call to let her know how much she is loved? I’m sure she would appreciate that.

“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” - Ephesians 6:2-3

Whose Child Are You?

One song often heard during the holiday season is “What Child Is This?” A question many people need to answer for themselves is “Who’s Child Am I?”  

Sometimes while evangelizing, sinners tell me they are going to heaven because they claim to be a child of God. My hometown newspaper recently published a letter applauding Sen. John McCain’s declaration (regarding the Syrian refugee situation), “All of us are God’s children.” That inspired me to write a response pointing out this is not an accurate statement.

It’s true that all men “have been made in the similitude of God.” (James 3:9)  But not every person on this earth is technically a child of God. A man or woman who doesn’t become born again has Satan as their spiritual father even if they don’t believe he exists.

Look at this conversation Jesus had with the Pharisees in John 8…

39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” 

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 

40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God.  Abraham did not do this. 

41 You do the deeds of your father.” 

Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” 

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 

43 Why do you not understand My speech?  Because you are not able to listen to My word. 

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Jesus also said in Matthew 13:38-39, “The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.”

Paul confronted a sorcerer named Elymas by calling him a “son of the devil.” (Acts 13:10) The Apostle wrote in Ephesians 2:2 that “the prince of the power of the air [Satan]…works in the sons of disobedience.” Among those works is murder. 1 John 3:12 says that Cain “…was of the wicked one and murdered his brother.”

You might say to yourself, “I’m not a murderer.” Maybe you never killed anyone (a popular reason people think they deserve to go to heaven) but 1 John 3:15 goes on to say, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Verse 9 from this same chapter says, “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” The Common English Bible clarifies in this verse, “Those born from God don’t practice sin because God’s DNA remains in them…”

Anyone can become a child of God by becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). From that point on, he or she has the supernatural ability to “walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

Whose child are you?

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  - John 1:12-13

A Pain in the Butt

Last Sunday a friend and I went to the Minnesota Vikings home opener against the New England Patriots. One key player was missing in action. Running back Adrian Peterson was deactivated for the game due to child abuse charges resulting from him using a wooden stick to punish his four-year-old son. After a brief activation by the Vikings, Adrian has now been banned from all team activities until his legal situation is resolved.

Seeing released photos of the cuts and bruises on Adrian’s son was disturbing even though that kind of corporal punishment is common in Texas where Adrian is from. Nevertheless, I pray Adrian will be redeemed from this incident because he’s cooperating with authorities plus he’s my brother in Christ. Last year I met the pastor of a church Adrian attended at that time.

In these days of political correctness, parents face increasing challenges with raising children. Unless your kids are homeschooled or enrolled in a Christian learning institution, they are likely bombarded with ideas contrary to Scripture. I would think twice about sending children to public schools that nowadays hand out condoms and teach it’s okay to have two homosexual parents.

The law has gotten more invasive in how we should discipline our children. Nearly four years ago, another parent in Texas lost custody of all three of her kids for spanking one of them! As part of a plea deal, Rosalina Gonzales of Corpus Christi was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to take parenting classes, and make a $50 payment to the Children’s Advocacy Center. Gonzales was told she wouldn’t get her children back from their paternal grandmother (who reported the spanking incident) until the court deems her “capable.”

I could agree with this decision if child abuse happened but the prosecutor described it as a “pretty simple, straightforward spanking case.” Gonzales didn't use a belt nor leave any bruises. During the sentencing, Judge Jose Longoria stated, “You don’t spank children today. In the old days, maybe we got spanked, but there was a different quarrel. You don’t spank children.” 

This judge should take time to open that Bible people in his courtroom swear an oath on (if they still do that there) and read the following verses…

“He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.” - Proverbs 13:24

“Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction.” - Proverbs 19:18

“Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.” - Proverbs 22:15

“Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.” - Proverbs 23:13

“The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” - Proverbs 29:15

I once heard a children’s pastor advise that we shouldn’t spank kids with our bare hands. He pointed out that hands are for holding and loving.  

When I was little and got mouthy with my mother, she threatened to take out a wooden spoon and occasionally used it on my behind. Certainly, I didn’t like the punishment but have to honestly say it worked. Frequent sittings in a “time out chair” would not have the same effect.

An American pediatrician once proclaimed we shouldn't spank our children. In his 1946 book “Baby and Child Care” Dr. Benjamin Spock wrote, “The American tradition of spanking may be one reason there is much more violence in our country than in any other comparable nation.” I totally disagree. We have since seen a dramatic increase in divorce, youth crime, and teen suicide.

In addition to disobedient children, I believe some of our politicians and judges who legislate from the bench could use a good spanking. Maybe that would stop them from passing laws and making ridiculous decisions that are ruining our society.

“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” - Hebrews 12:11

Modern Motherhood

Singer/actress Jessica Simpson gave birth to a daughter a few days ago.  There was some media controversy about her child being named Maxwell, which sounds more like a man’s name.  But what’s really disturbing is how children born out of wedlock are celebrated so much these days.  (Jessica is engaged to the baby’s father but decided to postpone getting married until after the baby was born.)  A couple of generations ago, illegitimate births by Hollywood celebrities were considered scandalous.

Before the birth of Maxwell, Jessica Simpson appeared nude on the cover of Elle magazine displaying her baby bump (à la Demi Moore).  The Huffington Post praised Jessica for being an example of “modern motherhood.”  This is a sign of the times we live in.  Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

Jessica was raised by a Baptist youth minister and originally pursued a Christian music career but later turned toward the secular market.  In 2003, she released a single called “The Sweetest Sin.”  Although Jessica was married at the time to her then-husband Nick Lachey (and even announced she remained a virgin until her wedding), one of the song's lyrics proclaims, “It would feel so good to be so bad.”  Proverbs 14:9 says, “Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor.”

Two years later, Jessica portrayed a very sexualized image in her music video “These Boots Are Made for Walkin'.”  In response to criticism she received, Jessica stated, “It didn't really surprise me because I grew up with a lot of that backlash.  That's why I didn't end up going into the Christian music industry.  I think that if they're really good Christians the judgment wouldn't be there.”

I don’t mean to be judgmental of Jessica but God expects His people to live holy lives regardless of their occupation.  Other celebrities like Tim Tebow and Kirk Cameron have maintained a Christian witness despite public pressure and scrutiny.  I pray that Jessica will start doing the same.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13