I remember watching a TV programme on bullying not long ago while waiting for something. At least part of it. TV screens seem to be at many places these days. Good, that we don’t have a TV set at home.

In a magazine, which points out the dangers of alcohol and illegal drugs, I found an ad by an enterprising firm.

The company is concerned about the bullying and violence amongst the young people today. They see the trouble and want to help to reduce it. In the ad our children are called ‘the future of this country’ and ‘precious heritage’. The ad encourages us also to do our best to keep the children safe.

When I was thinking about the word heritage, it was pointed out to me, that the Bible says that children are a heritage from the Lord. Psalm 127:3 says “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.”

I looked up Psalm 127:3 in several english Bible translations. They all have the word ‘heritage’. German Bibles say that children are a GIFT from the Lord. That makes it a bit clearer for me.

All parents want the best for their children. There is no doubt about that. A couple of days ago I picked up  two leaflets in Whangarei.  The leaflets prove just that. One leaflet advertises Upcoming Workshops. “Peaceful Parenting” it says at the top. And underneath “For Pro-Active Parents who want the very best for their children.”

“Positive Parenting Skills”, “How to evoke willing co-operation from children,” and more subjects are taught in the workshops.

The other leaflet advertises a meeting and a book . The book is called “HE’LL BE OK”. The book is written by C. Lashlie. On the leaflet it says, “Hear about her book & learn about tips & strategies on parenting teenagers.”

How concerned are we really about our CHILDRED? We are really concerned, when we are willing to teach them the WORD OF THE LIVING GOD!

We used to work in Kaikohe with the United Maori Mission, and our desire was also to bring the GODD NEWS to the children, running Sunday Schools (Playcentre Ohaeawai, Oromahoe Marae and other places) and running seminars for those the Lord wanted to teach the BIBLE in the schools. (Bible in Schools) Many from here up north will remember the seminars we had in KERIKERI at the Baptist Church. Sheryn Comrie, Andrew Ramsbottom and Hugh Dickie were some of the teachers at those sessions.

Children who came from Christians Homes and Churches with sound Biblical Teaching  profited the most from Bible in Schools (BIS).

Read also Deuteronomy 6:1,2 and Deuteronomy 6:7 ” Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

I am enrolled.

OVERVIEW

18 weeks programme

3 mornings a week in the classroom with the tutor

Monday 9-12

Wednesday 9-12

Friday 9-12

Assignments for home

Start day will be in the week of March 9 (TBA)

The good thing for me is that the venue is very near where I live. Seems to be just around the corner.

Do you think, that is a really good suggestion? For me it is rather a challenge. To start with, I like to travel as light as possible. And I am not all that much for looking at pictures with my friends.

We are carrying our money everywhere. We are carrying our cellphone everywhere.

Why don’t we carry our BIBLE everywhere?

Some people do. I saw a young man once with a Bible on the main street in Kaitaia and I saw a lady carrying a Bible. She was on her way to a prayer meeting.

I think we should always carry our Bible, when going to church. (There are of course several reasons for doing so.)

CARRY YOUR BIBLE EVERYWHERE!

JUST AS THERE ARE WALLET SIZE PICTURES, THERE ARE ALSO SMALL BIBLES.

wd

When the Prodigal  Son had spent everything he arose and came to his father.

Luke 15:14

Luke 15:20

I came across something very exciting the other day. It says there in a publication:

“SILENCE IS TRUE WISDOM’S BEST REPLY“

Practice it, it works, I know from my own experience. Should actually remember the advice more in daily living!

That in fact is exactly what I used to do some years ago when I repeated quite often what it says in Isaiah 30:15  “…., in quietness ……. is your strength,…”

Please read the whole verse!

Who does not want to be strong? Hands up! The Bible tells us how to be strong!

wd

“FISHING IS LIFE”

“The rest is mere details” *

That’s what I saw written today on the front of a T – Shirt. I hope I have the second line correct, because I was interrupted while writing the words down.

Read what the BIBLE says in John 11:25

* I got it right, saw a boy today with the same writing on the shirt! (27.02.09)

I was sneezing this evening and I remember reading – believe it or not -  that “A sneeze zooms out of your mouth at 1 000 kmh!”

I am sure we need to encourage each other more.

I was encouraged when I received a magazine a couple of days ago . One of my articles with pictures was on page 8 of the publication. It was all about the Anzac Day in Kaitaia last year.

The article was also in the newsletter of my home church in Bottrop (Baptisten)and in the publication of the Bible College in Germany I went to. (Bibelschule Brake and the publication is called ‘forum’.)

At the end of last year  I mentioned that one word is standing out all over the place – the word FUTURE! People are concerned about the FUTURE. And we should be concerned.

But there is also another word I come across quite frequently – the word FRIENDSHIP. It seems that people are crying out for real friends.

I like to relax with… COFFEE NEWS. Today I am reading there under the  heading ” On the Lighter Side” “One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.”

I like to tell you about my friend, the Lord Jesus Christ. In His Word to me the Lord Jesus Christ says, “….I have called you friends, …..”

Please read the verses 13-15 in the  15th chapter of the Gospel of John. John 15:13-15.

Are you longing for a real friendship?  Come to the Lord Jesus Christ. He will be your loyal friend.

In the last century there used to live a man called Joseph Scriven (1819-1886)  who gave us the beautiful hymn about HIS loyal Friend, the Lord Jesus. The song “What a friend we have in Jesus…” is sung by christian people all over the wide world.

wd

Not only ferocious and savage wolves are mentioned in the Bible, but other animals as well, namely sheep, snakes and doves. Read about them in Matthew 10:16 ” I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and innocent  as doves.” Also Luke 10:3! Lambs are mentioned in Luke 10:3.

Acts 20:29 says, ” I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.”  Read also Acts 20:30, 31 and notice the tears of the apostle Paul.

And listen now to the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:15

The Collins Concise Dictionary says that “a malicious person in a harmless or  benevolent disguise  is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”