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March 28, 2024, 06:49:22 AM

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Our Lord Jesus Christ loves you.
286775 Posts in 27568 Topics by 3790 Members
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16  Fellowship / Parenting / WHAT ABOUT ABSTINENCE? on: April 14, 2008, 01:47:58 AM
As a Father of two teenagers, i found this sad because of the world and its way and yet i rejoice by this fathers answer.



WHAT ABOUT ABSTINENCE? Written by Robert Layton

I was holding a notice from my 13-year-old son's school announcing a meeting to preview the new course in sexuality. Parents could examine the curriculum and take part in an actual lesson presented exactly as it would be given to the students.

When I arrived at the school, I was surprised to discover only about a dozen parents there. As we waited for the presentation, I thumbed through page after page of instructions in the prevention of pregnancy or disease. I found abstinence mentioned only in passing.

When the teacher arrived with the school nurse, she asked if there were any questions. I asked why abstinence did not play a noticeable part in the material. What happened next was shocking.

There was a great deal of laughter, and someone suggested that if I thought abstinence had any merit, I should go back to burying my head in the sand. The teacher and the nurse said nothing as I drowned in a sea of embarrassment. My mind had gone blank, and I could think of nothing to say. The teacher explained to me that the job of the school was to teach "facts" and the home was responsible for moral training. I sat in silence for the next 20 minutes as the course was explained. The other parents seemed to give their unqualified support to the materials.

"Donuts at the back," announced the teacher during the break. "I'd like you to put on the name tags we have prepared. They're right by the donuts and mingle with the other parents." Everyone moved to the back of the room. As I watched them affixing their name tags and shaking hands, I sat deep in thought. I was ashamed that I had not been able to convince them to include a serious discussion of abstinence in the materials. I uttered a silent prayer for guidance.

My thoughts were interrupted by the teacher's hand on my shoulder. "Won't you join the others, Mr. Layton?" The nurse smiled sweetly at me. "The donuts are good!" "Thank you, no," I replied. "Well, then, how about a name tag? I'm sure the others would like to meet you." "Somehow I doubt that," I replied. "Won't you please join them?" she coaxed. Then I heard a still, small voice whisper, "Don't go." The instruction was unmistakable. "Don't go!" "I'll just wait here," I said.

When the class was called back to order, the teacher looked around the long table and thanked everyone for putting on name tags. She ignored me. Then she said, "Now we're going to give you the same lesson we'll be giving your children. Everyone please peel off your name tags." I watched in silence as the tags came off. "Now, then, on the back of one of the tags, I drew a tiny flower. Who has it, please?" The gentleman across from me held it up. "Here it is!" "All right," she said. "The flower represents disease. Do you recall with whom you shook hands?" He pointed to a couple of people. "Very good," she replied. "The handshake in this case is intimacy. So the two people you had contact with now have the disease."

There was laughter and joking among the parents. The teacher continued, "And with whom did the two of YOU shake hands?" The point was well taken, and she explained how this lesson would show students how quickly disease is spread. "Since we all shook hands, we all have the disease."

It was then that I heard the still, small voice again. "Speak now," it said, "but be humble." I noted wryly the latter admonition, then rose from my chair. I apologized for any upset I might have caused earlier, congratulated the teacher on an excellent lesson that would impress the youth, and concluded by saying I had only one small point I wished to make.

"Not all of us were infected," I said. "One of us ABSTAINED."

http://www.joyfulministry.com/abstain.htm
17  Fellowship / You name it!! / I See Jesus on: November 20, 2007, 03:49:33 PM
I See Jesus
by Summer Waters, age 11
I saw Jesus last week...
He was wearing blue jeans and an old shirt. He was up at the church building; He was alone and working hard. For just a minute he looked a little like one of our members.
But it was Jesus... I could tell by his smile.
I saw Jesus last Sunday...
He was teaching a Bible class. He didn’t talk real loud or use long words, but you could tell he believed what he said. For just a minute, he looked like my Bible teacher.
But it was Jesus... I could tell by his loving voice.
I saw Jesus yesterday...
He was at the hospital visiting a friend who was sick. They prayed together quietly. For just a minute he looked like Brother Jones.
But it was Jesus... I could tell by the tears in his eyes.
I saw Jesus this morning...
He was in my kitchen making my breakfast and fixing me a special lunch. For just a minute he looked like my mom.
But it was Jesus... I could feel the love from his heart.
I see Jesus everywhere...
Taking food to the sick... Welcoming others to his home... Being friendly to a newcomer... and for just a minute, I think He’s someone I know.
But it’s always Jesus... I can tell by the way he serves.
Go be Jesus to someone today! Someone’s looking for you!
18  Fellowship / You name it!! / Re: GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED on: October 24, 2007, 04:36:11 PM
Okay brother, now are you happy?? You got me to cry, Cry  about your brother Kevin. May God keep His blessings on your brother.


Oh i'm sorry bro. I didn't mean to mislead you. Kevin isn't my brother (well in the Lord he is). I just found this online and thought it was such a good thing to read and ponder....Guess i better go and modify my post and make this clear.....Once again, i'm sorry.
19  Fellowship / You name it!! / GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED on: October 24, 2007, 03:22:35 PM
Found this online and thought it was an excellent article. Certainly something to ponder


GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED

I envy Kevin. My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.

He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, "Are you there, God?" he said. "Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed..."

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult.

He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?

Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our c**ker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied.

He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.

He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next days laundry chores.

And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. "That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!" Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.

His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.

He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.

His life is simple.

He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.

He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure.

He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.

Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an "educated" person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.

It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap . I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.

And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed. Kevin won't be surprised at all!
20  Fellowship / You name it!! / Athens on: October 24, 2007, 03:17:43 PM
I hope this is ok to post. I am adding a number of photos here but they are thumbnails that you can click on to make the photos bigger. That way it will be kinder to dial up users.

I got back from Athens early yesterday morning and wanted to share a few photos. Athens is one amazing city and i was lost in the culture and history of the city and when on the Acropolis, i couldn't help but think of the apostle Paul

                                                  
21  Fellowship / You name it!! / Re: A Reminder for All of Us on: October 07, 2007, 10:20:49 AM
Hello Joey,

Brother, I'm glad to see you back on the forum. We've been missing you.




Aww brother, that was so kind of you.Thank you.....So much of what is talked about on here seems to go right over my head. But that said, i still love looking in when i can and reading the threads. I always seem to learn something or go away feeling inspired....And i love the way people seem so friendly.

Ok, back on topic. Road rage here in England seems to be getting more and more common and sadly, even the occasional murder has taken part because of so called road rage. Once again, i think we can put this all down on the breakdown of society and how people just do not have basic manners and courtesy and want the best just for themselves without caring about others.

If people are going to put fishes or crosses onto their rear windows/bumpers, then i wish they would remember what message they are giving out, if they lose there temper while behind the wheel.
22  Fellowship / You name it!! / Re: A Reminder for All of Us on: October 07, 2007, 09:40:06 AM
Funny.................But also, like you say, a reminder to us all and what sort of witness we give, when behind the wheel
23  Fellowship / You name it!! / Re: I'M A DADDY AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on: October 07, 2007, 09:36:31 AM
Congrats brother. You are such a blessed man and have been blessed again. Treasure the times because they grow up soooooooooooo fast  Smiley
24  Entertainment / Animals and Pets / Re: Visit to the Zoo on: September 02, 2007, 09:30:49 AM
The zoo where we visited is called Whipsnade Zoo and is in the county of Bedfordshire, England. It is probably the 2nd most important zoo in the UK because of its breeding program. What i like about this zoo is the amount of space the zoo has for its animals.
25  Entertainment / Animals and Pets / Visit to the Zoo on: August 30, 2007, 03:49:37 PM
We went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago and took lots of photos. Here are a small selection of them. Hopefully, some of the younger members might like to see these  Smiley























26  Entertainment / Animals and Pets / Re: What's your favorite animal? on: August 30, 2007, 03:34:42 PM
Here's another couple of photos for you brother. I took these last week, but thankfully, these were at a centre and not in my back garden  Shocked They are Black American Vultures







And this was them chasing there lunch  Grin



27  Entertainment / Animals and Pets / Re: What's your favorite animal? on: August 30, 2007, 03:30:17 PM
Hello Brother Joey,

That is a beautiful bird and a GREAT picture.

I've only seen birds like that close-up in zoos. My wife and I have seen a few eagles soaring in the wildlife refuge near us, but we've never seen them close. They are very graceful in flight and quite beautiful, but it shouldn't be forgotten that they are very powerful and dangerous birds.

It appears that hawk is looking at you and trying to decide if YOU are part of lunch.    Wink


Brother, you wouldn't believe how much seeing this bird blessed me. I was on a high all day. I love bird watching but its not everyday that you see a bird like this in the wild. And to have it in our garden was somethink else. I couldn't believe it when we opened our kitchen blinds that morning and saw this hawk. He had killed a pigeon and was really enjoying his breakfast.
28  Entertainment / Books / Re: Andrew Murray on: August 30, 2007, 01:23:08 PM
Yes...I know...and was not aware of the Austin Sparks post...Watchman Nee began to write at the age of 17...he was imprisioned for the cause of Christ...even so...he carried on...I remember his quote.."In my sickness I remain joyful in heart..."

He also studied the works of Andrew Murray...re: Spirit
Along with Sparks..J.G. BelletA.B. Simpson others re: Christ
John Bunyon, Madam GuyonHudson Taylor...so many others...who wrote about the christian life...I am amazed every time I read the books from these authors..
I am so glad there are post from these great authors that encourage us..for there is nothing new under the sun and it is the testimonies of these saints who have gone before us that encourage those left behind to carry on...for the prize is before us and ever near each passing day...




Watchman Nee wrote one of my favorite Christian books, "The Normal Christian Life" and if anyone hasn't read it, i would really recommend it. And you do not even have to buy it. It's here as an e-book and free of charge

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/nee/normal.titlepage.html
29  Entertainment / Music / Re: homesick on: August 30, 2007, 01:01:50 PM
Hope this helps  Smiley


Taken from the sleeve of Mercy Me's CD titled "Undone" which is the CD which "Homesick" is on


Homesick
During the making of this CD, we had several people close to us pass away including Jim's father, Bart's uncle and Bart's twenty year old brother in law. Not only are they gone, but they are in the physical presence of the very one who consumes our hearts. And that can make a guy incredibly homesick.
30  Entertainment / Animals and Pets / Re:What's your favorite animal? on: August 30, 2007, 12:52:22 PM


I love Bald Eagels and All Birds of prey!! They're so kewl I think!




Took this photo of this female sparrowhawk which was feeding in my back garden a couple of months ago.

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