Emmanuel

Once you have been through a circumstance there is a depth of understanding that you gain that could not have happened by any other means. There are days when I still ache inside and would give anything to sit and talk with my father. I miss him very much. My prayers are, since I first heard about, and will continue to be with the Shahan family.

For several weeks after my father died there were certain things that I just didn’t have the strength to do. One of them was pray. When I say pray, I mean the heavy stuff… the stuff that walks with God are made out of. Get out the prayer list- go through line by line, and spend a little time travailing and bearing a burden; the prayer that takes some strength.

I will never forget the day that the poem, ‘Footprints in the Sand’ came to life for me. I remember feeling that ‘tug’- the tug you get when you are being called to prayer. It was then that I realized that I had not really ‘prayed’ since my father died. Suddenly, as if the Holy Ghost allowed me to look back in time over the past few weeks, I saw that I had not really had the strength to carry myself and all along God had been carrying me. It was as if He was saying, “Alright, I’m going to set you down now… you’re alright… I’m here… you can start to walk on your own again… you’ll be fine.” And I was.

I knew at that moment that it was the prayers of the saints that had carried my so long. At times during those first few weeks I literally felt as if I would ‘lose it’ or collapse with exhaustion and then suddenly strength would just come. I didn’t even realize it was happening until that day I was able to look back. I saw it. I will never forget seeing it. I will never forget seeing my life, and the life of my family, being carried by the prayers of saints of God.

Lately I am filled with the impression that God is, has been, and will always be- there. God is where we are. He is Emmanuel- God with us. Of all the things God is I am so thankful that He is with us!

God will carry the Shahan family. The prayers of the saints will help give them strength even when they don’t know they are getting it. Heaven will grow sweeter. Faith will become more unyielding. God will be with them.

At Rest

Tomorrow I will be leaving for a week to head to Chicago with my Mother. We will be flying out from Wichita Falls on Sunday and not returning for a whole week! I am thrilled!

We are going to see if my Mother is able to be a part of a clinical trial that is starting at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. God has worked everything into place; I cannot imagine that she would not be able to be a part of the trial .

It will be nice just to be away from everything- even if it is because of the cancer. (I am sure there are those who know exactly what I mean.) With everything that has been happening in all aspects of my life- I feel a little spent.

So... the Dialogue of Joseph James is officially 'At Rest' as of Sunday morning- and will be so for approximately seven days. I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Signing off...

T.A.K.S. Frustration

Not too long ago a fifth grader and I were having a conversation that turned toward his upcoming T.A.K.S. test. (For those of my readers who are not in the state of Texas, the T.A.K.S. test, or ‘Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills’ is the state developed test that is used to monitor and track student mastery in the state of Texas.)

The young man was talking about how stressed he had been over the test. He then looked right at me and said, “It would be nice to be a teacher- there can’t be anything stressful about the T.A.K.S. for teachers.” I simply smiled.

While kids all over the state will spend the next few days agonizing and stressing about testing, many teachers will too. I am one of them. Our entire year has been in preparation for this coming week.

If my students do well, it will be because of a number of things; great primary teachers, great parents, a great school, and good teaching on my part. Everyone will get a well deserved ‘pat-on-the-back’.

If my students perform poorly it will be because of only one reason- me. Of course that is not true- and deep down I know it’s not because I know how much I care; however, numbers don’t take any of that into effect. All of those who would want a pat on the back will somehow seem to disappear and take no part in shouldering the blame.

I always end up asking myself the same question: How can I get these 11, 12 and 13 year olds to care about their testing as much as I do? It can really be a challenge.

The only answer I have found seems to be a mixture of all types of things; bribery, fear, cheerleading, satisfaction of a job well done, and more bribery! (Never let anyone tell you the TAKS test has not done wonderful things for our educational system!)

What gives me the most stress, are parents who somehow think that I have some fault in the way the system works. It’s the parents who fight with me about the after-school tutoring, the additional practice work, and the frustration of summer school for a child who did not pass. In all of these situations my hands are tied.

So… should we do away with testing? If you mean in the way we tag each student as meeting a ‘minimal’ standard and force them to ‘prove’ it- then YES. If you mean take away testing totally- then No.

Somehow we must have an assessment for knowledge that is being taught. Not for the purpose of accountability, like the politicians would have us believe, but for the purpose of making certain each child is learning the required content and if he/she is in need of a reteach.

However, like many systems in our country, the only ones who can fix it are the ones who complain to the wrong people. The current state of education is a parent problem. Only parents have the power to make their voice heard above the noise of politics. Only parents can really do something to change things.

If all they ever do is complain- nothing will change.

Have a Bright and Joyful Easter!

I was reading this evening in Ephesians and noticed something that just 'jumped' right out. (You know what mean- when you feel like you have just read something for the very first time- as if every word in the book isn't 2000 years old!)

"...you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." (Chapter 1:13ish-14)

I am so thankful that the Holy Ghost is IN me- my GUARANTEE of salvation. It is my personal guarantee that one day I WILL see Jesus. Nothing can take the Holy Ghost from me. No one can pull it out. I have a 100% guarantee that as long as I keep the Holy Ghost, I WILL be part of that purchased possession that will one day be redeemed for God's glory! WOW- Thank God for the third day when He rose from the dead to infill us with His guarantee!

I hope all of you have a wonderful Easter. Ours will be cool (with snow- how ridiculous is that?)and blessed!

The Witch on the Hill

Perhaps it is a good thing that Nancy Pelosi was elected as the first female speaker of the United States House of Representatives. I mean who else could have done a better job of showing the world just how unfit Hillary Clinton would be as President of the United States?

Let’s “present the facts to a candid world…”

If you have been keeping up with National news then you have already heard about Pelosi’s trip to Syria to talk with Bashar Assad. While trips by congressional officials are encouraged for the purpose of gathering information and insight, they are illegal if used to speak as having the authority of the United States government, as did Mrs. Pelosi.

Mr. Assad and his government have been denied conversations with the United States for some time due to an unwillingness to follow international policies, continued support of terrorist groups, and a lust for enriching uranium (i.e. nuclear weapons).

Assad’s government has not only admittedly recently assassinated leaders of Lebanon to thwart the nation’s fight for independence, but has also killed off leaders in Syria who happen to disagree with the current administration. There is a reason America is not talking to Assad; he and his thugs are bad men.

None of this really mattered to our newly elected Speaker of the House. She didn’t care what the Executive Branch (i.e. the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES) decided to do in regard to foreign policy. In her never ending quest for power, and total disregard for Article 2 Sections 1 & 2 of the U.S. Constitution, she scheduled herself a meeting with Mr. Assad anyway. In other words, she thought she knew better than the President and didn’t give a squat what he or the Constitution said.

In the words of the USA Today: “But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi crossed a line this week by visiting Syria… Like it or not (and we do not) President Bush’s policy has been to refuse to negotiate with Syria until it changes its’ behavior.”

Even liberal Newsmedia were astounded by the Speakers’ total lack of literacy as pertaining to her job description laid out in that annoying little document simply entitled ‘The Constitution of These United States.’

For those of us who are not from a privileged family, like so many of today’s ‘common blue-collar’ democrats, and actually did attend a public school where we studied the Constitution, the power to engage foreign countries is vested in the Executive Branch- not the Legislative, as Mrs. Pelosi might wish.

So dangerous was the notion that the various individuals who make up the Legislative Branch be allowed to engage other Nations without a voice of unity that the issue was taken up at length in the Federalist papers (i.e. #2, #3, as well #67-76).

Mrs. Pelosi has also apparently never heard of the Logan Act, which makes it a crime for elected individuals to speak on behalf of the United States unless they are granted permission by- you guessed it- the Executive Branch! But why care about history when you are so busy making your own?

Not only has Madame Speaker been cozying up to Syria but she has also been soliciting Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. Her taste for bad boys seems to be only matched in her disdain for Israel as she can’t help but fawn over anyone who wishes to clear the map of Jews.

The only glimmer of joy in any of this is that Pelosi is doing more for the Republican Party than Rove ever could. The American people are getting a taste of a socialistic, power hungry, democrat who will step on anything and anyone to make her mark and fulfill her feminist agenda of self-exalted glory. We are glimpsing a world with President Hillary Clinton- and even democrats are reeling.

With all that being said- as of today I am an official member of the Nancy Pelosi fan club. I think Madame Speaker is building a wonderful case against electing our first female President. After all- anyone who makes Clinton look bad is a friend of mine!

Long live the Republic!

Pelosi and admited killer/terrorist funder Bashar Assad

Pelosi and Israeli enemy Mahmoud Abbas

The Principle of Spiritual Reproduction

It has been said that every nation in history that has fallen has done so because of the inability to understand the importance of teaching and instructing the next generation. Today America and her families are facing such a crisis. The values and morals that were once so powerful in our society are being eroded away by so called doctors and psychologists who neglect the absolute authority of the Word of God.

Without the Bible as an absolute we are told that our children need to be given choices and not be burdened with our ‘dogmatic and authoritarian religiosity.’ This philosophy is in direct opposition to the Principle of Spiritual Reproduction; which without the application of our children will not have the strength to withstand being swept away by the false teachings of our world.

King David understood this Principle of Spiritual Reproduction in relationship to his son, Solomon. David is shown many times in the scriptures admonishing Solomon in this way or that.

David gives Solomon planes for the temple; instructs him in what he should desire of God; charges Solomon while he lays on his deathbed; and even invites Solomon to important meetings with military advisors and heads of state. Solomon’s life was full of instruction from his father.

King David was a man who understood the Principle of Spiritual Reproduction. David knew that if Solomon was to rule- he must be trained in diplomatic affairs and spiritual affairs. So powerful were David’s teachings; that historians of Hebrew culture view Solomon’s reign as “the golden age of Israel.” David had applied the Principle of Spiritual Reproduction to Solomon’s life, and the effect has lasted through the ages.

The Israelites were headed out of Egypt when Moses gave them a commandment concerning the keeping of the Passover that is still observed today. After finishing his instruction about the Passover he said, in Exodus 13:9, “On that day, tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.”

Early on in scripture Moses was establishing this Principle of Spiritual Reproduction for the newly formed Nation of Israel. Many times in scripture- particularly in the writings of Moses- you will find similar verses to the one in Exodus 13:9. Verses that command parents to talk to their children about what they believe and why they do the things they do. This idea of passing on knowledge and truth from one generation to the next is the Principle of Spiritual Reproduction.

Before we dive into the specifics of the Principle, let’s make sure we realize why this Principle exists in the first place.

In language we express statements and ideas so that others may ‘know’ what it is we are trying to communicate. When the Israelites where instructed to ‘tell’ their children why they were doing what they were doing, we can imply from what we know about language that it was so their children would ‘know.’

This may seem a little elementary at first glance, but bears saying. The whole purpose of the Principle of Spiritual Reproduction is so that our children will ‘know.’ Without the Principle they will not ‘know.’ If the purpose is to know, then why is there a need for knowing?

Our children need to ‘know’ to be able to; Give an answer “for the hope that is in [them]” as stated in 1 Peter 3:15; Not be “tossed back and forth be the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men…” as stated in Ephesians 4:14; and be active participants in the Purpose and Plan of the Kingdom of God by ‘continuing steadfastly’ in the Apostles doctrine, and fulfilling the great commission.

Since we cannot argue the fact that there is a Principle of Spiritual Reproduction, and since we cannot argue why there is one, we need to know whose job it is to apply the Principle.

The Apostle Paul was overjoyed at Timothy’s heritage because of his grandmother and mother. They had lived a life of faith, and somehow they had passed that faith on to Timothy.

In the first passage taken from Exodus 13:9, Moses said, “On that day, tell your son…” Obviously he was speaking to parents in that passage. No one can deny that it is a parent’s responsibility to apply the Principle of Spiritual Reproduction. Before we place the burden on parents alone, we need to read further in the scripture.

In Deuteronomy 4:9-10 Moses is again speaking to the Israelites about the Principle of Spiritual Reproduction. He says, “…teach them to your children and to their children after them.” In this text, it is obvious that Moses has moved past the parents and is now also addressing grandparents. In other words, he has moved outside the immediate family unit and is now placing a certain amount of responsibility on the extended family. Again, we need only look further in scripture to find the responsibility does not end at this level.

In the book of Ephesians, after the church as been established, Paul tells the Church that she has been given apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to edify, minister to, and equip the saints. In other words, the Church must also bear some of the responsibility in applying this Principle of Spiritual Reproduction.

From these three accounts, we see a Principle that is first, and foremost, applied in the home, buttressed by the extended family, and further supported by the family of God. With the church forming the outer ‘shell’, the families are cocooned and enveloped in support while they apply this Principle to their children.

Hillary Clinton once said that it takes a village to raise a child. She is correct. There are so many people who play such important roles in our development.

A very discouraging trait by many parents, a trait fostered by the humanistic ideas of our day, is one in which parents defend their child’s every move- no matter how wrong or misguided. They allow no one else to correct their child and often make adversaries of ‘over-protective, intrusive’ pastors, youth pastors, and children’s ministers who have their child’s best interest at heart. This type of attitude only hinders the process of Spiritual Reproduction because it tears away and undermines the spiritual support system of the home: the church.

Now that we know whose job it is to apply the Principle of Spiritual Reproduction, we can discuss the Principle itself in depth. The Principle of Spiritual Reproduction is that children must- learn, experience, and continue.

Experts in the field of Child Development tell us that, “learning increases understanding and acquisition of distinct abilities.” In other words, learning what to do and how to do it helps us understand and gain new abilities in relationship to what we are learning about.

Parents teach their children a number of different things in life without someone telling them when and how to teach. Children are taught to walk, to talk, to ride a bike, and to lace a shoe. Children are taught to hold a fork so that they do not drop food all over the table when they eat. They are taught to scrub themselves when they bath so that they smell better than the family dog. Parents understand that by teaching a child these simple things, they are gaining new abilities that will help them understand and function successfully in life.

It would be hard to find someone who would not agree that children must be taught certain skills; however, all too often we do not feel the same way about spiritual things. Many children are never really ‘taught’ to pray by the testament that they simply do not ‘know how’ to pray. Many parents believe that children will somehow ‘learn’ spiritual truths although they have not taken the initiative to ‘teach’ those same truths.

Parents assume children will learn to pray. They assume children will learn to read the Bible. They assume children will learn Bible stories if exposed enough times in Sunday school or at church. Many parents abort their child’s spiritual learning by refusing to take place in spiritual teaching. One cannot take place without the other.

In the Hebrew language the same root word is used for teaching and learning. In other words- we are not teaching our children unless they are learning. True Biblical teaching is only accomplished when someone responds by learning what has been taught. All of us agree with and understand this principle to be true.

We would not say that a child has been ‘taught’ to lace a shoe if he cannot tie shoes. They very act of teaching implies that a necessary response of learning is taking place. A child who has been successfully ‘taught’ to walk demonstrates her ‘learning’ by actually walking. Often times- lessons of learning must be repeated frequently.

Today’s Parents, Youth Workers, Teachers, Pastors, and anyone else who works with children are being indoctrinated with the idea that children must have many different choices in every aspect of their life so that they may learn the importance of making good decisions. Families are being fed the idea that children must come into a ‘spiritual awakening’ or realization of values by the choices they make. This is a lie and should be unmasked wherever found.

In Luke 11:1, Jesus’ own disciples asked him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Even the disciples understood that spiritual learning could not take place without spiritual teaching and that there would be no magical time of ‘awakening.’ In the same way our children must be taught spiritual practices and truths if they are to learn them.

A parent applying the Principle of Spiritual Reproduction knows that a child must be taught truth, how to pray, and how to read and understand the Word of God as vigorously as taking a bath, learning to walk, lacing a shoe, or holding a fork.

The second aspect of the Principle of Spiritual Reproduction is that children must experience what it is they are being taught. David also knew this part of the Principle as well.

In 1 Chronicles 28 David brings Solomon to a very important meeting with all the officials and military advisors in the kingdom; for if Solomon was to be king, he was going to need real life experience in leadership.

We know from studies that the more portions of certain areas children are experienced to, the more successful a child will become in that particular area. The more times you and your family take your child out to eat in a fancy restaurant, the more experienced your child will become at using proper manners when eating out at fancy restaurants.

No one argues the value of experience; however, once again parents somehow believe that when it comes to spiritual things there is little they can do in the way of experience. Many parents have bought into the idea that children must ‘experience’ religion on their own and in their own time. Again, this is a doctrine and spirit of the age.

If as a parent you want your child to do well riding a bike, you buy them a bicycle and allow them to experience the process. If you want your child to be good at praying, you set up a prayer time and allow them to experience the process. If you want your child to be good at reading and studying the Word of God when they are older, you buy them a picture Bible before they can read and allow them to experience ‘reading’ it while you read yours. As parents, you must make time for your children to ‘experience’ living for God.

Although the process of experience is not always what we would hope it to be- not all prayer times are filled with a powerful anointing of the Holy Ghost and not all daily Bible reading passages are interesting enough to suppress a yawn; all aspects of each of these spiritual ‘life-skills’ need to be experienced by our children.

In the book of Judges we are told that God Himself left certain people in the land of the Israelites so that they could “experience” warfare. God did not want the nation to be unable to defend itself and be conquered from lack of experience in war thus preventing the ‘Spiritual Reproduction’ of God’s people by the continued ‘learning’ of truth.

The final component to the Principle of Spiritual Reproduction is that ‘reproduction’ must be continuous.

Webster’s defines continuous as being- “joined together closely; to remain [fixed] in a state or place; to be durable; to be steadfast; to persevere in time.” All of those phrases give the idea of permanence and solidness.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says, “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

In this passage Moses was telling the children of Israel that they should instruct and teach their children continually. Every moment that presented itself was an opportunity for instruction in Spiritual matters and was to be used as such. They were to be teaching when they woke up, when they laid down, when thy walked, when they stood; all moments of the day were open to spiritual instruction.

So powerful is this idea of a ‘teachable moment’ that Moses could not help but repeat himself five chapters later. In Chapter 11:18, Moses writes again, “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates…”

So seriously did the Israelites take this command, that they literally wore their most sacred truth in a small leather packet on their arm or forehead. These small leather packets were called phylacteries. In them was written the truth about the God they served, “Here, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” No matter where they were or no matter what mundane activity they were engaged in there was a constant and continuous reminder of what they believed.

All too often, a child’s Spiritual Instruction is anything but continuous. Many children are instructed in spiritual matters for forty-five minutes each week on a Sunday morning and instruction is all but stopped every other day of the week. Instruction certainly is not when the lie down, when the rise up, and each possible teachable moment in between.

It has been said that “You don’t just trip and fall into a puddle of skills”; a humorous but true statement. Children are not just going to develop spiritually at some magical age. They are not going to wake up one day and suddenly know how to pray, to read and study the Word of God, to fast, and to have a personal walk with God. These things will take continuous experience and learning.

If we are to see our children successful in the Kingdom of God we must apply the Principle of Spiritual Reproduction. Nations, churches, and families have all been lost because fathers and mothers have forgotten that they must teach their child through continuous experiences about truth and the nature of living in the Kingdom of God.

Never before have parents felt so intimidated by psychologists, so-called doctors, false teachers, and other ‘learned’ individuals who say that children must discover and seek out truth for themselves. While we do not negate the idea that an individual must have a personal relationship with God- humanistic philosophies have taken this statement to an unhealthy and unbiblical extreme. Apostolic parents should never allow anyone to take their power and influence as godly parents away.

It is imperative that we understand the importance of applying the biblical idea of teaching to our child’s spiritual development. It is our responsibility to make sure that our child experiences living for God as continuously as any other vital life lesson. Our children, even our Nation, depend on our ability to grasp and practice the Principle of Spiritual Reproduction.