Category: Parenting

Debbie and I are beginning a new stage of our lives about now, as Jeremiah graduated from high school yesterday evening. Kaleigh is leaving for school (in Nacogdoches) in August, so things will definitely be different around the Cox house.

Jeremiah is staying at home at least for the first couple of years, but will be going to school and working (if he can find a job)! So, the hatchlings are all about out of the nest.

If you see Debbie dabbing at her eyes from time to time, it is definitely at least a mild case of empty nest syndrome. As for me, I am excited about what is to come, Lord willing. Change can be good!

I am proud of my kids, and I think they know that. (I try not to tell them that too often, as I don’t want their heads to swell). I am most proud of the fact that they are all here this morning (assuming no sickness, since they are all healthy at the time of this writing), and are striving to serve God. I also am proud of what they are doing with their lives.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:3-5).

Congratulations are in order for Jen and Josh Scroggins, the proud parents of their third child, a daughter they named Rylee, born last Monday.

The Psalmist said that the man who fears the Lord and walks in his ways would have a wife, and children all around his table. “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord” (Psalm 128:3).

Families are truly a blessing from God. This is true even after the kids get older, and make your hair turn gray, or fall out!

They are also a responsibility. “And you, fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6;4).

As a congregation, we are blessed to have some great parents who take that responsibility seriously. Keep up the good work!

This post contains short summaries and links to both audio and Powerpoint presentations of all the sermons Mo Hafley preached for the West Side congregation in the Fall 2010 meeting, November 6-11.

Lesson 1: Looking Unto Jesus

In this sermon, Mo Hafley of Paden City, WV uses the text of Hebrews 12:1-7, to establish the nature of the Christian’s race on earth, and the motivation behind it as we look to Jesus, our Savior.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Lesson 2: How We Worship

This sermon by Mo Hafley is a discussion on proper worship to God, with an emphasis on focus and proper spirituality when we sing, pray, commune around the Lord’s table, give of our means, and listen to the preaching of the Word of God.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Lesson 3: A Few Days with Paul

This sermon by Mo Hafley is a discussion of Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica and Berea, as recorded by Luke in Acts 17:1-13. Paul and the first century disciples showed great courage in the preaching of the gospel of Christ.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Lesson 4: Parents and Children

This sermon by Mo Hafley is a wonderful treatment of God’s word on the topic of Parenting. In it, Mo shows what God expects of Christian parents, and even has some words of admonition for children.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Lesson 5: Preaching Properly

In this sermon, Mo Hafley discusses the proper tone we are to take in preaching. Emphasis is placed upon militance in preaching, as too often in our day and time people heap up for themselves teachers having itching ears. Soft preaching is not God’s way.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Lesson 6: Holy Living in an Unholy World

This sermon by Mo Hafley documents the moral evil that is present in our world, and especially our nation. Biblical advice is given to Christians, explaining how we are to navigate in such troublesome waters.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Lesson 7: Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego

This lesson is an expository treatment of Daniel 3, showing the courage of these great servants of God. Regardless of consequence, Christians must emulate them.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Lesson 8: Evidences

This lesson by Mo Hafley is a concise detailing of various internal and external evidences, given to prove God’s existence, and the validity of the Bible as God’s revelation.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Lesson 9: Homesick for Heaven

This lesson was an appropriate ending to our gospel meeting with Mo Hafley. He used homesickness (an emotion we have all felt) to explain the type of desire and expectation we as Christians should have regarding our heavenly home.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

After some delay, all eight sermons preached by Micky Galloway during his April 2010 meeting are now available online. These can be accessed in this post, or by going to the 2010 Sermons Archive page.

Sunday Morning Class: My People Love to Have it So

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sunday AM: The Soundness of God’s People

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sunday PM: The Promise

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Monday PM: Committment to Family

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Tuesday PM: A Marriage That Will Not Fail

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Wednesday AM: Jesus, The Master Teacher

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Wednesday PM: What God Expects of Us as a Family

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Thursday PM: Victory in Jesus

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

In the beginning, God created man. As recorded in the Genesis account, there was not a single animal in creation that would serve as an acceptable companion for man. So, God created woman. The text reads, “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: ‘This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.’ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:21-24).

There is a great significance to the phrase, “they shall become one flesh.” When a man and woman wed, they establish a lasting and intimate relationship. It is this relationship alone that God intends the sexual appetite to be satiated, and it serves the purpose of birthing and raising children. “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (Genesis 1:28). “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

Continue reading “The Importance of Family” →

Justin Carrell sent me a link to a press release by the ADF (Alliance Defense Fund). The subject of the release was a decision made by a New Hampshire court which would require a mother to stop homeschooling her 10 year old daughter, and put her in public schools.

This is one of the scariest things that I have read in quite a while, and I felt it important to share it with you. Following are the facts, and the reasoning behind the court’s decision.

Continue reading “In The News: Government Abuse of the Family” →

Ephesians 6:1-4

Here the Holy Spirit reveals instructions to children and fathers.

First, children are to obey. The simplicity of the reason would certainly appeal to a child, “for this is right.”

Additionally, Paul records the promise of Deut. 5:16, “that it may be well with you.” It is the wise child who heeds and obeys the counsel of his parents. God is pleased, and many pitfalls that other young people fall into are avoided.

Second, the admonition to fathers. “Do not provoke your children to wrath.” This does not mean to not make your children mad. Rather, the provocation would be because of wrong action on the part of the father. In contrast, the godly father is to “bring them up” or grow them into godly men and women through training and nurturing. God’s word supplies the father what is needed in this. We are to follow God’s instructions rather than our own philosophies on childrearing.

Jesus indicated in Matthew 7:7-11 that God cares for his children. He indicated that as a Father, God is like unto human fathers, who give their children what is needed. As parents today, we give our children stones and serpents rather than bread and fish when we disregard God’s words regarding parenting.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

AOTS Number 77

It is important to many parents to supply for their children all the toys and comforts of life as possible. We supply for them a house, but too often parents do not ensure that a child has a caring and Christian home.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the AOTS feed, click here .

AOTS Number 73

Because of the faithfulness of Moses’ parents, he had the opportunity to become a great man of God. As Christian parents, we too have a responsibility to be faithful, and thus benefit our children.

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the AOTS feed, click here .

AOTS Number 46

We talk about the younger generation, asking, “Where will it end?” But, often the problems with youth come because the adults have failed to raise them properly!

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the AOTS feed, click here .

AOTS Number 36

Children will go to extremes to get their parent’s attention. Why not give them your attention and instruction and guidance easily, to avoid the extremes?!

To listen to this Podcast, click here .

To subscribe to the AOTS feed, click here .

An article in the Tuesday, August 15th issue of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram carried the above title, with the subtitle: “Shopping around for a family church—when the parents aren’t regular attendees—can be intimidating, but experts say it’s never too late to start keeping the faith.” The author of the article, Gaile Robinson, related a cub scout field trip that sent herself and her son to a Catholic mission, with a group of other little boys. The site of a larger than life cross with the Christ figure upon it, with the crown of thorns complete with painted blood, led to an awed silence among the boys, but caused her son to ask, “Whoa, what happened to that guy?”

Continue reading “In The News: Choosing My Religion” →

Yahoo!, the internet search giant and place for personal clubs as well as chat rooms, has closed down personal chat rooms in response to a report that some of the chat rooms were being used to promote sex with minors.

The report by KPRC-TV in Houston outraged companies such as PepsiCo Inc., State Farm Insurance, and Georgia-Pacific Corp., and they quickly removed their advertising from Yahoo in protest.

“We were thoroughly appalled when we were told that our ads were appearing on those sites,” State Farm spokesman Phil Supple said. “We took immediate action to see that they were withdrawn.”

That means – no more personal chat rooms on Yahoo. And any of the chat rooms previously created by users have now been removed. Yahoo will still allow users to chat on the company’s existing rooms, which cover mainstream subjects such as “American Idol” and Web design…

…Yahoo feigning ignorance is like taking your mom to see Andrew Dice Clay, and not knowing she might be offended. This type of problem has been going on for years on the web.

AOL, several years before it’s merger with Time Warner, also had similar problems. People would create hidden chat rooms with “code names” that were widely known by those seeking pornography. All one needed to do was type in the proper name and away you went into the vast dark world of internet porn swapping and cyber sexual experiences.

Sex sells, even deviant sexual desire. And companies like the Yahoo’s and AOL’s of the world seek to capitalize on the enormous traffic numbers involved in these activities. Sure they claim ignorance, but in reality they simply turn a blind eye untill something happens that forces them to take some sort of action.

The National LedgerM. Centanni

Analysis:

The analysis by M. Centanni of the actions of Yahoo is certainly on the mark. Such internet companies will not police themselves, and it is important for each of us to be aware of the evil which exists on the internet.

Fortunately, tools exist which all parents to protect their children. Many of the sites under consideration voluntarily offer filtering to block what is commonly called “adult” themed material.

Further, programs exist which do a good job of protecting browsers from unsavory material. They are relatively inexpensive, and are worth considering if you have children. Of course, parental supervision is most important.

“Fathers… bring [your children] up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).

Inoculate – 1. to inject a serum, vaccine, etc. into, especially in order to prevent, cure, or experiment with disease, usually so as to make immune. 4. to introduce ideas, etc. into the mind of; imbue; infect.

Imbue – 3. to fill (the mind, etc.); permeate; pervade; inspire (with principles, feelings, emotions, etc.).

“We need to inoculate our children.” You hear this statement often, primarily in the context of protection from physical disease. At this time of the year it is common to get flu shots to protect against the onset of the flu viruses that are common in winter. The interesting thing about flu shots is that they introduce the virus in a controlled fashion to help build up the immune system. In so doing, when the real bug hits, the body is able to fight it off. This method is surprisingly effective, though some are a bit squeamish about allowing any flu bug to enter the body. so, they don’t get the shot, and later do get the flu! And it’s much worse.

A Spiritual Application!

Some Christian parents seem to have the same attitude in the church today. Continue reading “We Need to Inoculate Our Children” →