Quick Hits (5/14/08)

Several links to articles and sermons to pass on…
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Here are two great links on educational choices and the local church. As a pastor of a church which has something like 1/3 public school kids, 1/3 Christian school kids, and 1/3 home school kids, I heartily agree with the Harris’ perspective and the need for churches [...]

Sound Words: Exasperation or Instruction?

As a parent and a pastor, I’ve thought often of Ephesians 6:4. However, until recently, I haven’t understood the connection between its two imperatives: provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture (disciplined instruction) and admonition (compelling warning) of the Lord. Two points are particularly important, I think. First, what [...]

What I’m Reading: The Magician’s Nephew

My five ladies and I just finished reading aloud the first (or last) of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Magician’s Nephew. I’ve had a number of friends mention reading them aloud as a family, so I took up the idea in our house. The girls were thrilled; the end of each chapter was invariably met [...]

More on the Golden Compass

Dr. Ted Baehr of WorldNetDaily gives a more thorough critique of The Golden Compass and of Pullman’s books than any of the sites I mentioned in the previous post. His piece entitled An Atheist’s ‘Narnia’ Knockoff is worth taking a minute to read.
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Edited on 12/4/07: 
Dr. Albert Mohler provides what is by far the most thorough [...]

The Golden Compass: “Atheism for Kids”

I’ve received several emails warning about a “family” movie being released in December. I spent a few minutes checking it out. Here’s a quick summary:
The Golden Compass is poised to be a big hit. It has a budget of over $200 million, an A-list actress in Nicole Kidman and all the momentum of the Lord [...]

Web Gems: Pharisees, Counseling, Solomon, Satire & Basketballs

Here are some web gems I’ve been sitting on for a week or so:
Kurt Gebhards, the Pastor of Children’s Ministries at Grace Community Church, provides a helpful post for parents entitled “Raising Pharisees.” I share the concerns of the commenters who disagree with him on standards regarding movies and music—I think—but the point of the [...]

What I’m Reading: When Sinners Say I Do

I read Dave Harvey’s When Sinners Say “I Do” during my July vacation in Colorado and in preparation for my series on parenting. I was glad I did, though I confess that there were times when I was reading about being a good husband when I should have been being a good husband. Sometimes [...]

Parenting Series Available Online

Last Sunday I concluded an eight-week series on parenting entitled God’s Word for Your Family. The messages are all available online:

Your Family Is Immeasurably Important
Your Family Is Comprised of Sinners
Your Family Needs the Gospel
Your Family Needs God’s Grace
Your Family Needs Instruction
Your Family Needs Discipline
Your Family Needs Your Example
Your Family Needs the Local Church

I don’t pretend [...]

Mom, I Rise Up and Bless You!

My mom turned 70 this week. It’s caused me to reflect on how blessed of God I’ve been to have her as one of the two primary influences in my life. In the spirit of Proverbs 31:28, I want to publicly explain why I eagerly “bless” my mother and give thanks to God for her. [...]

Exasperation or Instruction (Ephesians 6:4)

As a parent and pastor, I’ve thought often of Ephesians 6:4. However, until recently, I haven’t understood the connection between its two imperatives:

Provoke not your children to wrath.
Bring them up in the nurture (disciplined instruction) and admonition (compelling warning) of the Lord.

Two points are particularly important, I think:
First, what does Paul mean by “provoke [...]