Podcasts about from jeremiah

*The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.Project Sun Streak was a remote viewing project run by the DIA and CIA in the 1980s utilizing psychoenergetics, i.e., Remote Viewing. One session reportedly found something incredible on December 5, 1988, when the target was set for the Ark of the Covenant. There are no details as per whether this was the first time such a target was given, which is unlikely. Thus we can jump back to 1982, when Ron Wyatt reportedly found, by divine intervention, that same Ark while taking a stroll with one of his friends. Despite stories that tell of the Ark's location from South America to modern Ethiopia, something peculiar happened just prior to Ron's supposed find: Raiders of the Lost Ark was released by Steven Spielberg, Phillip Kaufman and George Lucas. Some may find it to be slightly more than coincidence that Steven was involved in the military-intelligence community known as Lookout Canyon where there was not merely an obsessive compulsive adherence to occult traditions similar to Nazi Germany, but a massive Laboratory built by the US government in 1941, featuring a fully operational movie studio by 1947 where not only many A-List celebrities and politicians had access but where nuclear bomb test footage was processed. This area is home to the 1960s-1970s counter culture movement facilitated by music and movies and the military, which itself had a history since the 1950s, after Roswell in 1947, of encouraging disinformation and misinformation of the UFO phenomena via entertainment. This may imply that the Raiders movie itself was based on real events, in part, or that it was fully fictional and functioned as a misleading tool if the Ark was ever to be unveiled fully. What is most disturbing perhaps about the resurfacing of 1980s DIA-CIA documents is that the reappearance of the lost Ark itself implies the end times. From Jeremiah to Revelation, the Ark is believed to play a role in the eschaton, even if it is just the simple fact that its appearance will ignite war over its mythical powers and connection to God. This is the reason Ron Wyatt never wanted to publish his supposed findings, to avert WWIII - he believed Israel would rip down the sacred Mosque and rebuild their temple, ushering in the final battle. But the preparations for this are already made, and Israel has been practicing the red heifer ritual for years now, most recently in 2024. Ron's reasoning happens to be what Bill Cooper warned of too: “Read the Book of Revelations. Whether you believe the book or not, read it, because the men who are bringing this about are using it as their script,” he said, adding: “Israel was created as the instrument to bring about the battle of Armageddon and the fulfillment of prophecy.” It must not be a further coincidence then that one of the wealthiest and most influential Jews in America, Mariam Adelson, who gave President Trump over $100-million, believes he is “our best friend. He will save us… the Jewish people.” In other words, she believes he is the Messiah. And thus, it should be no surprise that Trump has a “replica” of the Ark of the Covenant at his Mar-a-Lago home. Considering Trump's unwavering obsessive support for Israel, even to the point of total global war, perhaps the United States - “In God We Trust” - will the God who protects a literal Israel in the manufactured End Times. Perhaps that same U.S. becomes the facilitator of the New World Order, with its electric cars, cashless society, massive unions, and strict censorship. Perhaps the AI driven Elon Musk will create and operate the digital beast that will keep its eye on the people permanently. And that's the curious point: if Armageddon is manufactured then there will be no rapture, no opening of graves, no literal return of Christ, etc., though there will be an anti-christ and perpetual tribulation as the faithful give up their beliefs and embrace, as Albert Pike predicted, Lucifer. -FREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVEX / TWITTER FACEBOOKMAIN WEBSITECashApp: $rdgable EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tst-radio--5328407/support.

Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!Many Christians struggle to find clear evidence of the Trinity in the Old Testament, often conceding this ground when dialoguing with Jewish or Muslim friends. But what if Christ was hiding in plain sight throughout the Hebrew Scriptures?In this revelatory discussion, Sam Shamoon takes us on a journey through biblical passages that the early Church Fathers unanimously understood as revealing the Trinity. From Jeremiah's encounter with "the Word of the Lord" who physically touched his mouth, to Abraham's meeting with the divine visitor who claimed to be "the Lord," we discover compelling evidence that Christ was actively revealing Himself thousands of years before Bethlehem.The implications are profound. When Jesus said, "Abraham saw my day and was glad," He wasn't speaking metaphorically—Abraham literally encountered the pre-incarnate Christ. This understanding transforms how we read Scripture and provides powerful tools for defending the Trinity using the Old Testament alone.We explore how and why many modern theologians have abandoned these interpretations in favor of readings that align more with rabbinical Judaism, and how this shift impacts interfaith dialogue today. Looking at Genesis 1:26 ("Let us make man in our image"), Genesis 19:24 (which distinguishes between the Lord on earth and the Lord in heaven), and several other key passages, Sam builds a compelling case that the Trinity was never a "new revelation" but has been God's self-disclosure from the beginning.Whether you're seeking to strengthen your faith, looking for new apologetic approaches, or simply love diving deep into Scripture, this conversation will transform how you read the Bible. Discover the Christ who walked with Adam, spoke to Abraham, and touched the prophets—the eternal Word who has been revealing the Father since creation began.Support the showSponsored by Recusant Cellars, an unapologetically Catholic and pro-life winery from Washington state. Use code BASED25 at checkout for 10% off! https://recusantcellars.com/Also sponsored by Quest Pipe Co. Get your St Isaac Jogues pipe here: https://questpipeco.com/discount/Amish?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fst-isaac-jogues-limited-edition********************************************************Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsxnv80ByFV4OGvt_kImjQ?sub_confirmation=1https://www.avoidingbabylon.comMerchandise: https://shop.avoidingbabylon.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rssSpiritusTV: https://spiritustv.com/@avoidingbabylonRumble: https://rumble.com/c/AvoidingBabylon

From Jeremiah 33v14-16, with Bethany Allen.

From Jeremiah chapters 2 through 6, the prophet presents the Lord's case against Judah in his first prophetic sermon.

Disclaimer: There is no expectation of privacy that can be maintained on open platforms. If you have been, or are, a student of a program, family of a program or staff of a program we appreciate you listening or watching the podcast. It is important that you participate at a level you are comfortable with. Commenting on open platforms breaks confidentiality. You have the right to break confidentiality any time you like but a therapist or a staff should not do so first.  Jeremiah has many years of experience working in teen programs. Some of his experiences have been very positive and others have been less so. Some have been down right terrible. He sets the stage for further conversation in this episode of teen programs. His reason for doing this episode is because he said "Silence because of fear is not a healthy response to challenges and attacks will also be destructive". Therefore, he speaks with empathy for students and former staff who usually feel a pressure to remain silent. While he also notices that those who speak out about it are often attacking and blaming. From Jeremiah's perspective, there has to be a middle ground in the conversation and finding it may help. In episode 4 Jeremiah looks at the question, "What should a residential program look like?" In this episode Jeremiah outlines what an effective model for therapeutic boarding school would be like. From the school model to application, he gets into some of the nitty gritty in this episode. Email us – healthyperspectives@protonmail.com Podcast home page - www.healthy-perspectives.com/podcast Sponsor/Support – https://healthy-perspectives.com/sponsor Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-2235930 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEXZdWuBoM6KXof4YcP9nkQ LinkedIn page - www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiah-guidos-915b3426  Twitter aka X - https://twitter.com/hphonestviews Locals - https://locals.com/member/jeremiahguidos #healthyperspectives #podcast #jeremiah #mentalhealth #counseling #counselor #mindset #culture #socialresponsibility #psychology #clinical #education #walkingwithGod #Jesus #JesusisLord #LoveGod #teenprograms #Loveothers #residentialprograms #growth

Disclaimer: There is no expectation of privacy that can be maintained on open platforms. If you have been, or are, a student of a program, family of a program or staff of a program we appreciate you listening or watching the podcast. It is important that you participate at a level you are comfortable with. Commenting on open platforms breaks confidentiality. You have the right to break confidentiality any time you like but a therapist or a staff should not do so first.  Jeremiah has many years of experience working in teen programs. Some of his experiences have been very positive and others have been less so. Some have been down right terrible. He sets the stage for further conversation in this episode of teen programs. His reason for doing this episode is because he said "Silence because of fear is not a healthy response to challenges and attacks will also be destructive". Therefore, he speaks with empathy for students and former staff who usually feel a pressure to remain silent. While he also notices that those who speak out about it are often attacking and blaming. From Jeremiah's perspective, there has to be a middle ground in the conversation and finding it may help. In episode 3 Jeremiah looks at the question, "Is residential school for teens helpful or harmful?" In this episode he directly addresses the types of programming that exist(Behavioral mod/relational) and methodologies for intervention. He will address wilderness(nomadic/base camp), transportation services, bans, reconciliation processes(seats, timeouts, breaks, reflections, etc) and he will point to where he sees high risk for harm and high probability of healing. Episode 4 (coming soon) Jeremiah will outline what an effective model for therapeutic boarding school would be like. From the school model to application, he will get into some of the nitty gritty in this episode. In this episode we take a look at Jeremiah's growth and ability to see how different programs function. Many of his blind spots disappeared and it translated to a more effective experiences that were not nearly as narrow as a small group within a program but entire program effectiveness. Email us – healthyperspectives@protonmail.com Podcast home page - www.healthy-perspectives.com/podcast Sponsor/Support – https://healthy-perspectives.com/sponsor Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-2235930 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEXZdWuBoM6KXof4YcP9nkQ LinkedIn page - www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiah-guidos-915b3426  Twitter aka X - https://twitter.com/hphonestviews Locals - https://locals.com/member/jeremiahguidos #healthyperspectives #podcast #jeremiah #mentalhealth #counseling #counselor #mindset #culture #socialresponsibility #psychology #clinical #education #walkingwithGod #Jesus #JesusisLord #LoveGod #teenprograms #Loveothers #residentialprograms #growth

Jeremiah has many years of experience working in teen programs. Some of his experiences have been very positive and others have been less so. Some have been down right terrible. He sets the stage for further conversation in this episode of teen programs. His reason for doing this episode is because he said "Silence because of fear is not a healthy response to challenges and attacks will also be destructive". Therefore, he speaks with empathy for students and former staff who usually feel a pressure to remain silent. While he also notices that those who speak out about it are often attacking and blaming. From Jeremiah's perspective, there has to be a middle ground in the conversation and finding it may help. Episode 2 (coming soon) My later experiences briefly stated. Episode 3 (coming soon) Jeremiah will look at the question, "Is residential school for teens helpful or harmful?" In this episode he directly addresses the types of programming that exist(Behavioral mod/relational) and methodologies for intervention. He will address wilderness(nomadic/base camp), transportation services, bans, reconciliation processes(seats, timeouts, breaks, reflections, etc) and he will point to where he sees high risk for harm and high probability of healing. Episode 4 (coming soon) Jeremiah will outline what an effective model for therapeutic boarding school would be like. From the school model to application, he will get into some of the nitty gritty in this episode. Email us – healthyperspectives@protonmail.com Podcast home page - www.healthy-perspectives.com/podcast Sponsor/Support – https://healthy-perspectives.com/sponsor Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-2235930 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEXZdWuBoM6KXof4YcP9nkQ LinkedIn page - www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiah-guidos-915b3426 Twitter aka X - https://twitter.com/hphonestviews Locals - https://locals.com/member/jeremiahguidos #healthyperspectives #podcast #jeremiah #mentalhealth #counseling #counselor #mindset #culture #socialresponsibility #psychology #clinical #education #walkingwithGod #Jesus #JesusisLord #LoveGod #Loveothers #teenprograms #residential

From Jeremiah 29:7, we know God's people should seek the welfare of the places and people around them. But is seeking the welfare of our community something Christians can pursue by means of investing choices?Today, we speak with an investment manager who has been "seeking the welfare of cities" all over America and the world through his advocacy work with corporations. As we will hear today, investors can influence decisions made behind closed doors by corporations. Chris Meyer joins us today to examine how this advocacy works.Chris Meyer is the Manager of Stewardship Investing Research and Advocacy for Praxis Mutual Funds®, an underwriter of Faith & Finance. What is shareholder advocacy, and how are you currently doing it with Praxis?At Praxis, they use seven different impact strategies to make a difference through investments. One of them is shareholder advocacy, which they also call corporate engagement. It harnesses the power of ownership to create change by using voting stock rights and privileges. This can take the form of writing letters, filing shareholder proposals, and dialogue with company management, which is the most effective form of engagement. Their advocacy program aims to build relationships with companies and help them improve their policies and performance, rather than chastising or embarrassing them.What's the recipe for real, lasting change in how these companies operate?Meaningful change always takes time. When they start an engagement with a company, their outlook for achieving goals is typically in terms of years, not weeks or months. Part of that is spent on building a solid foundation because they need to understand the issues we work on deeply. So they familiarize themselves with the necessary information to speak intelligently and purposefully when they engage the company. And that takes, of course, a lot of preparation. They also seek to build trusting relationships with the companies they engage with. This comes over many minor and significant interactions with company leaders. Trust, as we know, is usually earned and not given, and so that takes time as well. However, companies typically come to understand that Praxis is approaching them in good faith and that we're invested in their success, not just our own; an overarching goal they have for every engagement is to reach mutually beneficial outcomes. So, for instance, if a power company is able to reduce its air and water pollution substantially, it's excellent for creation. The company is also more efficient in its operations and better positioned to compete against its peers. And its reputation can benefit as well. In the long term, that's better for shareholders, the company, and the communities where it operates.How do you stay motivated when change seems to come so slowly?Recognizing incremental changes along the way, even small ones, is crucial as these can facilitate future progress. As individuals, we are not responsible for solving all the world's problems alone or righting all wrongs. The mission is to work toward creation's wholeness with the time and resources available while honoring the progress made step by step. This long-term perspective can help us persevere even when change does not happen as quickly as desired.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:Is there any way I could make an extra $400 per month to help support my wife and me until her disability is reapproved, which is expected to take up to nine months? My job in the restaurant industry doesn't provide stable hours, so I wanted to know if there were any other options to increase our income temporarily during this challenging time.Should start taking my Social Security benefits at age 67 or wait until age 70? I recently applied for Social Security but haven't received a decision yet. I want to put the lump sum retroactive payment and my monthly benefits toward paying my $87,000 mortgage. According to a mortgage calculator, I could pay it off within two years if I do this. However, my nephew thinks I should wait until I am 70 for higher monthly benefits. I didn't fully understand his perspective, so I wanted your help in explaining the pros and cons of each approach.Do I need to pay tithes based on the interest I am earning from a CD that I have invested in through my financial advisor? Rather than taking the interest payments, I have been reinvesting them, so I would like to know if I should be tithing on that interest income even though I have not actually received the money since it has been reinvested back into the CD.Resources Mentioned:Praxis Mutual FundsRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

From Jeremiah 29:7, we know God's people should seek the welfare of the people and places around them. But is seeking the welfare of our community something Christians can pursue by means of their investing choices? On today's Faith & Finance Live, Chris Meyer will join Rob West with a look at how shareholder advocacy works, and how you can affect change through your investments. Then Rob will answer your calls on various financial topics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is part 4, the conclusion of our Vision and Values series, from Sunday, February 11th, 2024. From Jeremiah 29:4-7, we draw Sojourn's core vision to invest in the city where God has placed us while not compromising on our Biblical values.  Sojourn is a church committed to the gospel in the context of family living on mission to the city of Portland and our world. For more info, visit our website, ⁠⁠sojournpdx.org,⁠⁠ or follow us on social media: @SojournPDX ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠

Jeremiah repeatedly calls the people of God back to obedience. One day he uses an outsider people group and their family traditions as the challenge and inspiration. It is an example for us to consider as well. Don't ignore God's invitation to full obey him and live in his ways. From Jeremiah 35.

Obeying God usually feels risky. Doing the hard things in faith is an act of defiant hope. Jeremiah shows us what this hope looks like when he buys a field in the middle of a gloomy situation. From Jeremiah 32.

From Jeremiah 39, confirmed on a cuneiform tablet from 595 BC. Thanks for listening! Please leave a 5 star review, share and subscribe!

The waiting room is never fun. Waiting on God to fulfill his promises is not enjoyable either. Th exiles had to wait and we are waiting too. It is this in-between period that requires enormous faith to truth God's promises. Grab those promises and don't let go! From Jeremiah 30-31.

Sunday Sermon 4/16/23 : This week we start out our discussion by looking at the difference between having an 'Awe' of man vs an 'Awe' of God. From Jeremiah 17 we will see what God says about what happens when we rely on human strength and resources vs trusting in the Lord.

From Jeremiah 31 we look at what the Scriptures actually say about the New Covenant. What is it-- Who made the covenant-- Who was it made with-- The background of the covenant-- What's it all about-- This lesson helps us understand better how to approach the Bible to understand context and intent.

Bible Study & Devotional 279 Guiding Scripture: Colossians 2:8 ‘See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.' The Enemy of the Mind Part 2 written by: Torrie Slaughter Today's reading connects many thoughts and ideas and ultimately points to Christ as our Savior and Lord. From Jeremiah, Psalms, and Proverbs, we watch the story guide us into the right relationship with God. The Bible In A Year Daily Reading Plan Wednesday, October 6, 2022 Jeremiah 6:16-8:7 Colossians 2:8-23 Psalm 78:1-31 Proverbs 24:26 Download or Print the One Year Bible Reading Plan Torrie is a media ministry consultant who works with churches and faith driven organizations to build their ministry team. She is the Blueprint Specialist uncovering root problems to construct solutions --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/torrie-w-slaughter/message

Andy Edmunds 25 July 2021 Streamed from home via sheet.church/youtube From: Jeremiah 1:4-10 & Like 6:12-16Download: Trinity 8

From Jeremiah 29

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

This message examines the concept of Reformation by looking at some historical and biblical examples. We explore how Revival and Reformation work hand in hand to bring about a life changing "awakening". From Jeremiah 18:1-6.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

We're going back to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in our One Year in the Bible journey, all the way back to the prophet Jeremiah. This book is a very in-depth look at what God teaches us about what it means to be faithful and obedient disciples. From Jeremiah's call to his warnings and through his prophesy about what is to come after exile, we see close up what God desires from His people.

From Jeremiah 29:1-14, Pastor Bryan unpacks God's agenda to “Seek the welfare of the city,” preached at The Summit Church in North Carolina, on September 6, 2020.

It Ends with a Song Today’s readings are Jeremiah 52, Revelation 1 and Psalm 143 – 144.   We are reading from the New Living Translation. For the first time this year we ended our reading with a song.  We heard today in Jeremiah, of exile, judgement.  We heard of a king and kingdom blinded, levelled to the ground, in ruins.  From Jeremiah we went to John, in Revelation, who spoke of rebuilding from the ruins.  Out of the rubble emerges a Rock – someone like the Son of Man.  He is a  King far greater than Zedekiah.  This king has a gold sash across his chest, his head and hair white like wool, his eyes like flames of fire, feet like polished bronze refined in a furnace,  and a voice that thunders like mighty ocean waves.  This king has arrived and is gathering up all the exiles, those who were led away into captivity, a land of fear, oppression and depression  He is gathering up all the broken ones from the rubble and devastation of their lives and the years of exile.  This Rock comes to lead them home to his new kingdom.  On the way, he is teaching them a new song of hope and deliverance.  It is a song that will lead them into a life that is eternal and free. It goes like this:    May there be no enemy breaking through our walls,    no going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares. Yes, joyful are those who live like this!    Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.  (Ps 144:14 NLT) The reading today ends with a song.  And that is going to be the story of our lives, as well, my friend.  It will end with a song that leads us forward, to life eternal.  A new king has arrived and there is no one like him.   Have this song in your heart.  Be more and more convinced and devoted to the message of this song, about his love, that sets us free.  Head on down the road with him today.

Campus Minister Eric Whitley recently preached at Hope Presbyterian Church as part of their series "The Vision of Hope Pres." From Jeremiah 9:23-24

From Jeremiah 2:1-13.

From Jeremiah 20:7-18: Like other emotions, depression is another warning sign that something is wrong in our lives.

From Jeremiah to Christ (Jeremiah 31:33) - Evening Sermon

Since 1973 in the United States of America over 50 million preborn Babies have been murdered for the sake of convenience and we shrug our shoulders and remain shamefully silent and indifferently passive. Most in the church would proudly proclaim their "pro-life" stance but what does that mean and how has it influenced our lives? People make the excuse that Abortion is a very complex, divisive and political issue but that Bible proclaims that the sanctity of all life is a very clear, vital and moral issue! So what can we do? How can live our lives in a way that consistently advocates for life? Join us for this first part of two messages on "All Lives Matter". Part 1 deals with Abortion. From Jeremiah 1:5

Vijay starts a mini-series titled 'Good News' Casting. It looks at the subject of evangelism. In this first sermon, featuring three real-life testimonies, he looks specifically at some aspects of the 'message' of evangelism. From Jeremiah 1, he suggests that the 'Good News' message is a bitter-sweet message that calls people to renounce their idols and base their security on the true God.

Introduction So, almost 19 years ago, I began - Christi and I together began - the greatest adventure of our married life. I remember when Nathaniel was born (he's not here so I can speak his name from the pulpit without having asked permission first), but I remember very well wheeling him back in the little plastic bassinet and looking down in his face and telling him that I loved him but not feeling anything at all. I remember that distinctly; I didn't know him. How can I say I love you to this little baby that I didn't know? I guess I was loving him by faith at that moment, that I would grow to love him, and I did, and the other four children as well that the Lord has blessed us with. It's been an incredible adventure. Isn't it remarkable how children inevitably bring a smile to your face when you just look at them, when you consider what they do, when you listen to the things they say? You watch them develop. It just brings tremendous joy, and I could tell stories that would absolutely embarrass all of my kids, and I would get in big trouble when I got home, so I'm going to leave it off. I had one in mind even this morning, but I'm not going to share it… about an Amber alert and other things. But I won't get into all that at all because it wasn't even true. I just thank God that even Joseph and Mary could have used an Amber alert in those times. You remember when they didn't even know where Jesus was? Aren't you glad that God did not look for perfect parents when He sent Jesus into the world? Nobody would have been able to do the job. And so, Joseph and Mary saying to one another, "I thought you had Him," "I thought He was with you," and back and forth, and then to the extended family, the cousins and all that, and no one knew where He was. And I just think that's a lesson to parents for all of us that we ultimately are not in charge of our children; they really are God's, that God alone can watch over them. God alone can protect them and prepare them for what He has in mind for them. We have many such lessons in life, and so, we are attending today to the topic of Proverbs on parenting. Just a word about Proverbs in general, what a rich book it is. And I was talking to someone this morning about just this topical approach to Proverbs, which I've chosen to take, and I think it's the best approach to Proverbs. But I feel like I'm just taking different kinds of magnets and putting them on the same 31 chapters and bringing out different verses and putting them together, and the effect is just so powerful. Today, it's on parenting. It's going to be on work or on conflict resolution, or we've talked about money. It's just a powerful book. And I praise God for it in this one area of parenting because I remember distinctly when I was growing up, hearing regularly that we kids didn't come with an instruction manual. And I remember hearing that again and again, and I've come to realize, as a Christian, that really isn't true. Dear friends, we have an inerrant instruction manual on parenting in the Bible and the Scriptures as a whole. 66 books of the Bible teach you how to be a godly parent. But I would have to say there's no book that gives more practical insights on how to parent your children than does this book of Proverbs, and so this morning we're going to roll up our sleeves, and we're going to look at different aspects of parenting from the book of Proverbs. And, as we study Proverbs on parenting, I want to just entice all of you - no matter what category of life you may be in - to listen carefully. Obviously, if you are a new parent this morning or a parent of growing toddlers or preschooler, something like that, you may feel you have the most to gain from the insights that come from Proverbs. You have a lot to learn, and you're ready, and it's that time of life. And so, I think it won't be hard for me to persuade you to listen. If you are a parent of teens, I believe that this - the home base of the book of Proverbs - is counsel given from a father to a teenage son, getting him ready for what he's about to face as he ventures out into his life. That's why there's warnings about prostitutes. There are warnings about drunkenness and about falling in with the wrong crowd and all that because this is immature here, hearing from a godly father what to think about. And so, therefore, I think, parents of teens, this should be your home base right now in terms of how to parent your teens. And so also, if you are yourself a teenager, I would urge that you read this as instruction from your heavenly Father on what to do about these various issues of life. It really is a word given to you. If you're an empty nester, you still have a lot to gain from this. Your children may be grown, and you may not be in that phase of active parenting as you were, but it could be very soon that you'll be grandparents. And they'll be coming to you for counsel, or at least you'll think they should come to you for counsel, and you'll be ready to give it when they ask you what to do. And certainly, you can at least make it a matter of prayer as you learn from Proverbs what godly parenting is all about; you can take these back to God in prayer. And if you're single or a college student or a youth, you may think, “This isn't even on my radar screen.” Well, let me tell you something: if you're in college or just out of college, it ought to be on your radar screen. It could be very, very soon that you'll be asking some real questions about how to train a child. It's an incredible adventure. It's an amazing, a wonderful adventure, but it's one of the most complicated things you can ever do. You're dealing with the intricacies of a human soul. You're dealing with issues of sin, of life and death, of all of these issues, and you're seeing a reflection of your own heart as well. There are just so many things involved. And so, if you are a college student or a youth or single, you're out of college, but not married, I just want to say it may be a lot sooner than you think that you'll have to listen to this. And, second of all, even if in the providence of God, you never get married and never have children, you still ought to care very much how the next generation is being raised. It should matter to you. You should be able to get out of your own situation through prayer and counsel and encouragement enough to say “I care about how kids are being raised in this church and around the world.” So, for all of that, I just would like you to give careful attention to what Proverbs says on parenting. The Urgency of Good Parenting: Life or Death What Would It Profit A Parent…? And I want to begin just with the issue of the urgency of good parenting. This is a life-or-death issue; if anything is, this is. I know that you parents want to give the best you can for your children. Most parents do. They want to give them every opportunity they can ever have, opportunities of education, food, clothing, and shelter, obviously, but the best you can give them. You want to give them a wealth of rich experiences. You want to give them musical instruments or sports or travel or different other things, and that's all fine, but let me ask you a question: What would it profit you as a parent if you should give your children the whole world, and they should lose their souls? Fundamental Insights for the Soul Come through Parental Language Thus, we come quickly to the urgency of good parenting. It is a matter of eternal life or eternal death. Now, fundamental insights from the soul come in the book of Proverbs in parenting language. Some of the famous little verses in the first 10 chapters of Proverbs come as the counsel from a father to his son. That's kind of the home base of the language of the book of Proverbs - a father giving advice to his son. So, Proverbs 1:7 and following says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear my son, your father's instruction and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck." So there, this incredibly important statement, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge," is given in the context of a father giving counsel to his son, to listen to his father and mother's advice. Again, Proverbs 3, "My son, do not forget my teachings, but let your heart keep my commandments. For length of days and years of life and peace, they will add to you. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Again, it's said in the context of a father giving advice to his son, and I believe the greatest advice - the greatest counsel a godly parent can ever give to their son or daughter - is this: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the Gospel! “Train Up a Child”: The Most Famous Parenting Verse in Proverbs That's the greatest advice a parent can ever give to their child, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." And, dear friends, you know you get ample teachable moments on that one, don't you? You get to come again and again and again to the gospel, and so you should. Now, when we come to Proverbs and parenting, perhaps there's one in particular that may pop up in your mind. Proverbs 22:6, which says, "Train up a child in the way he should go. And even when he is old, he will not depart from it." This probably is the most famous verse on parenting in Proverbs, maybe even the most famous verse in Proverbs. Many parents have read this verse, perhaps you've memorized it; perhaps you've cross-stitched it. Perhaps it's framed and above somebody's desk, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he's old, he will not depart from it." Some Christian parents who have wayward kids have claimed that somewhat as a promise that their wayward kids will at some point return to their solid upbringing in Christ. The sad thing is that the verse doesn't teach about returning to anything; it actually teaches about staying in a path that you are started in early on. So, I really wouldn't go to that verse. I would rather go to the Prodigal Son and teach based on that and how the father is ready to receive back a prodigal. I remember when I was taking Hebrew in seminary, and my Hebrew professor just burst everybody's bubble on Proverbs 22:6. The Hebrew literally says, “Train up a child according to the mouth of his way." It's kind of an awkward Hebrew expression. Or “according to his way,” or “carefully according to his way,” and “even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Well, just about every English translation inserts the word “should.” “Train up a child in the way he should go,” implying that the training is along the line of what he should do. What my Hebrew professor said, is it, as far as he was concerned... it didn't read that way. He says that Proverbs is generally pessimistic about the heart of a child, the natural way of a child, and, if you train up a child according to his way - in other words, give the little brat anything and everything he wants (permissive parenting) - he'll be expecting it his whole life. "Well, that's a different way of looking at that proverb. I wouldn't have cross-stitched if I knew that's what it meant." But actually, I'm not sure I hold that analysis either. My view is a little bit more in the middle. The word "train up" in Hebrew literally means dedicate as you would a house. You can dedicate a new house or, even more significantly, the dedication of the temple. It has to do with setting up a house or a temple on its first day in the direction that it's going to go. And so, therefore, I think what it means is that habit patterns start very early. And, however you set that child, they're going to be following that path their whole life. Again, the book of Proverbs is a book of tendencies, not absolutes, but habit patterns start early. Children are very much like wet cement; they're setting every day. They come in moldable or shape-able. You can pour them and put them in a mold, et cetera, but as time passes, they are less and less under direct control, and they just get set. And so, be careful how you train them early on because those habit patterns start early. I think that's really what it's talking about: a child that's never learned to deal with their sin nature. They haven't learned to deal with their selfishness or their aggression. They haven't learned to be other-centered. They're going to be struggling with selfishness their whole life in ways that perhaps others that had better parenting won't. If they grew up in a home where there's a regular pattern of family devotions, and they see their father and mother having daily quiet times, and they are trained on how to do daily quiet times, and they're trained in how to do that, they probably have less struggle in their lives having regular quiet times than others that didn't get that training. So thus, good parenting at an early age is an urgent issue. I think that's what Proverbs 22:6 is saying. Wisdom: A Life-or-Death Issue And wisdom itself, in the book of Proverbs, is a life-or-death issue. Proverbs 13:14 says, "The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." You know the death we're talking about here isn't merely physical death, although the book of Proverbs tends to be a bit horizontal and focused on this life. Yet, we know that the stakes are eternal. Eternal life. Eternal death. And so, Proverbs 15:24 says, "The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep him from going down into the grave." And the fullness of Scripture tells us what's beyond the grave, and that is judgment. So, the central concern of Christian parents every single day should be, as I've already said, to bring your children to the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God the Son. He came into the world as a human being, that He might take our sins on Himself, that He might suffer and bleed and die in our place on the cross. God didn't leave Him dead, but on the third day, God raised Him from the dead. That, my friends, is the only hope for sinners like us, and, as parents, you need to bring your children to that gospel again and again. Think about what Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it” - Lois and Eunice, grandmother and mother - "Those from whom you learned it and how from infancy, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." That is a parent's task right there: from infancy, training them in the Scriptures so that they can be wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. So, let me just pause and ask: Are you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus? Let's just set parenting aside for a moment. Someday, each one of you who hears me today will stand before God. Are you ready? Are you ready to stand before God? Are you ready to face eternity, either with God through faith in Christ or apart from God because of your sins? What's the sense in listening to a sermon on parenting and not hearing the gospel? Repent and believe. But I just want to say to you, parents, bring your children again and again to the gospel, not just one time, but again and again. Good Parenting Not Required, Nor Guaranteed, for Heaven However, having said that, good parenting is not required for heaven. All over the world, there are bad parents who are not bringing up their children in the fear and nurture of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are a lot of different flavors of that. There are Buddhist types, and there are Hindu types, and there are Muslim types, and there are atheistic materialistic types and all that. None of them are bringing up their children in the fear and nurture of the Lord. None of them are bringing their children to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Is it over for those children? I tell you it's not. But the grace of God can cut across bad parenting and rescue people whose parents were never believers at all. So, praise God for that. It's not over for you if you weren't born in a Christian home. I've heard it said again and again by people who do comparative religions and all that, "If you're born in a Christian area, you'll be a Christian," and all that. Listen, we know as Christians, that's just not true. It's the grace of God alone that saves people, and so we can go to other countries where there are no Christian parents teaching their children these things, and have hope that some of them will repent and believe the good news. Isn't that wonderful? Secondly, I want to give you this. Good parenting doesn't guarantee heaven either. This may be the bitterest part of all for Christian parents, but it is true. And I think you know it, just because you and your spouse are godly, just because you pray, you train them well, you saturate them in the Scriptures, you bring them to church, you try to lead godly lives in front of them, you try to be honest about your sin and confess it, put sin to death by the power of the Spirit, there's no guarantees that any of your children will be with you in heaven. No guarantees at all. And I think this is important to meditate on. There is no machinery of good parenting that produces regenerate kids. It's not like Henry Ford with the Model T assembly line thing, if you get all the machinery right, you're just going to go ka jing, ka jing, ka jing, one godly kid after another. It just doesn't work that way. Dear friends, that's behaviorism. "If you get all of the parenting strategy right, they will believe." I do not believe that. I believe that we need to as best we can get the parenting right. God is a God of means. He does use good parenting to bring kids to Christ; He does. But it's not guaranteed. The Goal of Good Parenting: Heartfelt Obedience to the Lord The Basic Cry of a Parent Alright, so what is the goal of good parenting? What are we shooting for? What is it we want? Well, we want heartfelt, delighted obedience to the Lord. That's what you're looking for. You're going after the heart. You want them from the heart to delight in Jesus and follow his ways; that's what you're looking for. The basic cry then of a parent, which you heard Jim read earlier, Proverbs 23:26, "Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways," that I think is probably one of the key proverbs and what you're shooting for in parenting. Proverbs 23:26, "Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways." So, the focus is on the heart. Above all else, a big pitfall, I think, of Christian parenting is the tendency to raise a brood of hypocrites who will outwardly conform to religiosity but have no heart relationship with Jesus Christ. They know how to speak the language. They know where to go and what to do and all of that sort of stuff. "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me," said the Lord. The danger is raising Christian moralists who do all the right things, who say all the right things, who give their money in the right direction, but their hearts are far from Christ. That's a great danger. What we're looking for is a heart delight in Jesus, that they would delight in the ways of the Lord, that they would know that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, that they would come to Jesus of themselves and delight in Him from the heart. Obedience to the Law Must Come from Heartfelt Obedience And so, all obedience to the law must be heartfelt obedience. Proverbs 3, "My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments. For length of days and years of life and peace, they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you. Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." So, the godly father and the godly mother, they're seeking that. They're seeking heartfelt obedience, that God's ways are written on the hearts of the children. This is one of the gifts of the New Covenant, one of the blessings of the New Covenant. From Jeremiah 31, God's going to make a new covenant in those days. It's not going to be like the covenant He made with their forefathers. He said, "I'll put my laws in your minds and I will write them on your hearts." He's going to give us a new nature, and He's going to write the laws on the hearts. So therefore, in parenting, you're always going for the heart. Whenever the child sins, you've got to reason with their hearts. Now, I know it in a very early age, it's hard. The communication is not quite there. There's some certain patterns that get established, and that's fine, but more and more as they get older and older, it's a matter of the heart. Bringing the child to understand the heart issue behind the pattern, "Why did you do this? Why did you take your sister's cookie? Why did you hit her back?" I was thinking about a t-shirt that someone told me about once, "It all started when she hit me back." I thought, "Wow, I need that shirt." Okay? “It all started when she hit me back.” Alright, did it? Did it really? I tell you what, sometimes I feel like a circuit riding judge when I come home. I sit down, "Alright caseload, case number 1173-C, bring it up." And you're just sitting there on this case and trying to find out what happened, but the goal of it is to get to the heart. "Why did you do what you did? What does it show about what you love and what you hate? What's going on in there?" So, the goal of good parenting is heartfelt obedience to the Lord. The Core of Good Parenting: Loving Persuasion God, a Reasoning Father The core of good parenting is loving persuasion, or I would say the strategy, might be a better word than "core", the strategy of good parenting is loving persuasion. Our God is a reasonable and reasoning father. He reasons with us in the Scriptures. Again, and again, He shows us why. He answers our why questions, not all of them, but many of them He answers why. And so, it says in Isaiah 1, "The Lord says, Come now let us reason together. For though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you're willing and obedient, you'll eat the best of the land. But if you resist and rebel, you'll be devoured by the sword, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." That's a Father reasoning with His children about consequences, about blessings and curses. That's how He is. In that very same chapter, it talked about God as a Father who reared children and brought them up, but they rebelled against Him. Isaiah 1. So, on behalf of the Father, Christ also is constantly reasoning with us, reasoning with us so that we would have a certain heart attitude. The Father in Proverbs: Reasoning and Persuading Therefore, the father in the book of Proverbs is constantly reasoning and persuading. Again, that same one, Proverbs 23:26, "Give me your heart, my son." He's pleading with him. He's saying, "Please, I want to plead with you to give me your heart so I can persuade you about something." A father can't compel the son to do this. You can't make the son give him the heart. It just isn't going to happen. It's got to do with persuasion, and so there are many such persuasions in the book of Proverbs. Just read through, and you see them. Proverbs 2:1-5, "My son, if you receive my words, if you treasure up my commands within you, if you make your ear attentive to wisdom, if you incline your heart to understanding, then you'll understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." Proverbs 2:1-6. Proverbs 1, right after "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge," he then reasons with him to not throw in with highway robbers and thieves. Bad company corrupts good morals. He doesn't say it there, but he says, "Don't join in with bad people." He's reasoning with him. Or again, to guard his heart. Proverbs 4, he says, "My son, be attentive to my words. Incline your heart to my sayings. Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the wellsprings of life." Again, but the strategy is reasoning, persuasion. He explains why he should guard his heart because it's so important. Everything comes from your heart. He's reasoning with him, or he persuades him not to fall in with the wicked woman, the immoral woman. In Proverbs 5, he says, "My son, be attentive to my wisdom. Incline your ear to my understanding that you may keep discretion and your lips may guard knowledge for the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end, she is bitter as wormwood. And now, O sons, listen to me and do not depart from the words of my mouth, keep your way far from her, do not go near the door of her house." Do you not hear a father pleading with a son, reasoning with him? That's the whole strategy on parenting. So, if you asked me, if you came to me and you asked, "What is your strategy on parenting?" It's that I'm going to go for the heart by reasoning with them from Scripture. That's my strategy. There's going to be disciplines - we'll talk about that in a moment - but that's my strategy. My basic strategy is I want to reason with their hearts from Scripture concerning what God wants from them. The Antidote to the Parental Abuser This also, I think, is the antidote to the parental abuser. We're going to talk in just a moment about the rod, but I think the antidote is that the parent isn't always saying, "Because I said so, that's why." There is a reasoning process where the child, little by little, starts to understand the worldview of the parent, which hopefully is scriptural, and why they make the decisions they do, and why this is wrong, or what they should have done instead so that they understand. I do believe there is a time to say, "Because I'm the mommy, that's why." I think there is a time for that, especially at the younger stages, "I just can't... We don't have time to explain everything, you just need to learn how to obey." And that's true with God too, isn't it? God doesn't tell us everything. Did He tell Job everything? He didn't tell Job everything. He just says, "Because I'm God, that's why." And it was completely satisfying to Job in the end, but still, there's a balance here. There's a balance. This keeps you from being an abusive parent that's also playing the tyrant role and saying, "Just 'cause I'm in charge." Instead, you're showing the reasons why, and it's a reasonable faith we follow. The Resolve of Good Parenting: Loving Discipline How God Disciplines His Children So now we get to the issue of the resolve of good parenting, and that is loving discipline. Loving discipline. Our God, our heavenly Father, disciplines us as His children. The book of Hebrews in chapter 12 literally quotes Proverbs 3, just quotes it verbatim, and it says, "You have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons," says the author to Hebrews. That's how he introduces it. He's addressing you as sons, “My son” - comes Proverbs 3 - "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you because the Lord disciplines," or scourges or punishes, "everyone He loves and He scourges everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline. God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" So, if you're a child of God, you are disciplined by God according to His wise patterns. The discipline could be anything. It could be a physical affliction, a sickness. It could be a financial reversal. It could be losing a job. It could be any one of a number of just circumstantial issues that are grievous to you. Anything that causes you trouble, that could be discipline from the Lord, but God does bring... He brings strokes in your life. He does. Now, I don't say that every disease or sickness, whatever, is a discipline for sin; I don't say that. But I do believe that we, as children of God, ought to see our time here on earth as under the discipline and training of God in reference to sin. Sarah Edwards, who was a godly woman, when she found out that her husband, Jonathan Edwards, had died suddenly from a smallpox vaccine, she had probably one of the most heroic godliest reactions in church history. And she talked about the goodness of God in giving such a godly husband and father, and she said, "Let us kiss the rod." What an incredible response. Let us kiss the rod is basically, "I want to be trained by you, Father. I want to be disciplined by you. I want you to be my Father. I know I'm a sinner. I need that kind of training." And so, we should be looking at it that way. And So, Godly Parents Must Discipline Theirs So, God does discipline us as His children, so also godly parents must discipline theirs. There are many of these commands. They're actually somewhat famous in the book of Proverbs. “Spare the rod, spoil the child” isn't in Proverbs. I looked for it, couldn't find it. But really what it is, is a summary of these proverbs that do talk about the rod. That's what it is. That basically you're doing your children no favors by not bringing adverse circumstances, even painful circumstances, to them when they sin. That's not love. That's not kindness. It's really sloth to some degree. It's really self-serving, and I think all of us may struggle to some degree. And maybe there's different... Those that struggle on the tyrannical side and those that struggle on the lazy, self-serving, sugar daddy or sugar mommy's side. But the fact of the matter is, it isn't loving to not deal with your children's sin. So here are some of the proverbs. Proverbs 13:24 says, "Whoever spares the rod hates his son." Wow, what a statement. "But he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." In our day and age, many of a worldly mindset look on corporal punishment as, by definition, child abuse. They see no distinction whatsoever between loving discipline and child abuse. It's all the same. The Bible actually teaches the exact opposite. Child abuse is not to discipline your children when they sin. That's abusive to them, because sin is a terrible master, and if they don't learn to deal with it and to put it to death by the power of the Spirit, they're going to be under the tyrannical boot of sin their whole lives. It's not loving not to do it. And so, it says in Proverbs 23:13-14... And by the way, in Proverbs 13, it speaks about being diligent to discipline. Dear friends, if you're a godly parent and you want to do a good job in this area, it takes remarkable diligence. Did you think you just had to discipline one time for that sin? Just once, and that was it. "I remember distinctly disciplining you for that, that should do it." Are you that way with God? Just one time he had to deal with you and from then on, you never did it again. That's just not honest, and so you have to be diligent to discipline. It's not just one time. Proverbs 23:13-14 says, "Do not withhold discipline from a child. If you strike him with a rod, he will not die." I love the way Jim read that as though, you know, "Don't think he's going to die if you give him a spanking." Actually, it's quite the opposite. If you strike him with a rod, you'll save his soul from Sheol. Sheol's actually on the other foot on that one. Proverbs 19:18, "Discipline your son, for there is hope; Do not set your heart on putting him to death." Again, the idea is, it's more dangerous to the eternal welfare of your child to not discipline them than it is to discipline them. Again, Proverbs 29:15, "The rod and reproof give wisdom." Notice the combination, rod and reproof. Rod is the discipline, and reproof is the verbal correction, so that they understand what's going on. "Rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother." So just let him go. Let him grow wild. Let their little hearts run whatever way they want to go. Well, shame is down that road. You don't want to do that so you need to discipline, and you need to train them. This passage teaches, I think very much, as Dr. Dobson said years ago, "Parenting is not for cowards." I mean it takes a lot of courage; it takes a lot of consistency. The Rod: Both Symbol and Reality Now, what is the rod? What do we mean by the rod? I believe that it's both a physical and metaphorical reality. I do believe it's physical. That means I believe in corporal punishment. So, what do we mean? I think we mean something that administers some temporary reminder, shall we say? That brings some kind of pain, but no damage to the organs or flesh in any way. So, there is a part of the body that seems to be well-designed for this. If you grew up ice skating, like I did, you know very much what part of the body that is. It's just designed for this, and it recovers very quickly. I've been told many times by those very dear to me, "But it hurts, it hurts." Well, of course it hurts. If it didn't hurt, it wouldn't be discipline. If I sat them down and gave them a lollipop for that sin, I'd be teaching a different lesson than I want to teach. It's got to hurt, but it can't do damage. I also believe the rod is a metaphor. There comes a point where you just don't do that physical stuff anymore. You just do other things, like God does with you. God doesn't give you a spanking on your rear end. Well, He may, I mean, it's possible that He may do that, I don't know that it'll teach a lesson, but we'll save it. It actually taught me something... Why am I talking about this? Anyway, it taught me something when I was learning to skate, "Don't do that, or you'll fall." But at any rate, God for the most part, brings other pressures to bear on the life; it's still a rod. And so, as the kids get older, they may have something they want to do, an outing they want to go on, a football game they want to go see; there's maybe something they want to do. You make it conditional, "I want to see this happen. If it doesn't happen, you're not going." When it doesn't happen, they need to not go, or you're going teach them a bad lesson. And it's tough, but... Believe me, it's tough because of the emotions and all that that get involved, and we are among the most wicked parents that have ever walked the face of the earth. It's really unbelievable, the abuse that we have put our children through and not permitting them to go to such and such an outing. But at any rate, the fact of the matter is, there are different kinds of rods, and we need to be consistent in administering. The Need for the Rod: Original Sin and Actual Sins Why is the rod needed? Because of original sin and actual sins. Original sin. Friends, they come into the world from Adam with a bend toward rebellion; they just do. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of reproof drives it far from them. Because of their nature, their nature isn't essentially good. "My kids are essentially good kids." Well, no, they're not. If they're descendants from Adam, they're essentially rebellious and they need to be trained by the heavenly Father out of that rebellion, but also because of actual sins, so they don't get in habit patterns, the rod is needed for that. The Administration of the Rod How should the rod be administered? Well, it should always be done with a loving motive. That is a key, dear friends. You don't want to be an abuser? Check your motive. If your motive is anger, you have been inconvenienced by this child, you have been embarrassed by the child, those are two of the greatest bad reasons that kids get spanked. The parent has been embarrassed or the parent has been inconvenienced, some juice has spilled or some other thing has happened, those are two bad reasons for that. That's not what's going on. It shouldn't be done in anger, and it should always be done with a respect for the child as a human being before the eyes of God, the throne of God. They're not yours; they're God's. Someday, that little boy, that little girl will stand alone before Jesus. You won't be there. And so, have respect for that child as a human being created in the image of God. The Vast Difference Between Loving Discipline and Child Abuse There is a vast difference between loving discipline and child abuse, and I think we know that. I've been trying to describe it, but you know there's an increasing threat, dear friends, to parenting rights from our surrounding culture. You should be aware of that. It's getting more and more dangerous to try to raise your children in the training and nurture of the Lord. Our surrounding culture is less and less biblically oriented. I was shocked to find out that, in November of 2007, legislation was proposed in the state of Massachusetts - Massachusetts State Legislature - considering a bill that would make it illegal to use corporal punishment even in the privacy of your own home. Can you even believe that? Just ponder that. Ponder what it would take to enforce that. Ponder that it would happen here in the US. Even in my bizarre state, home state of Massachusetts, 6% favor the legislation, 93% are against. Well, thank God for that, but even that public opinion can change. In 1979, Sweden became the first country in the world to ban spanking. Many, many other nations followed suit. 19 in the world have banned it. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children issued a policy statement saying it was their settled conviction to get rid of corporal punishment the world over as soon as possible. And they want the US to sign off on a treaty that would include these kinds of statements. All of this exposes, I think, a fearsome trend of the government to get increasingly involved in the parents' training of children. By the way, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children never mentioned abortion at all. I did a search on it. I searched on spanking, and 385 references came up under the search mechanism. I searched on the word “abortion,” not a single reference came up. That is no accident, friends. It's been purged; it's been blocked in the software. Do you understand what I'm saying? They just bifurcate it, and so the government says there is no right for the laws to invade a woman's womb, but there's every right for government to invade the relationship of parent-child in this matter of godly discipline. Remarkable! What we have to do is be aware of what's happening in our culture. There are some that propose a constitutional amendment in the US supporting parental rights, including the right to homeschool your children. That certainly would be an effective means; I just don't think it's very likely. It's possible. I mean anything's possible, but only four constitutional amendments have been passed in the last, I think, 60 years. So, it's very, very difficult to get a constitutional amendment passed, although it may be the very avenue that God, in His sovereignty, will bring about. But, at any rate, you need to be aware of your rights as parents and be careful. I'll tell you - the horror story is amazing. State of Washington, some teenage, 13-year-old said his parents brought him to church too much, so he was depressed. And so, they brought it to court, and the court mandated they could have their child back if they signed a statement saying they'd bring him to church less frequently. Well, what is the government's role there? What does that even come from? But that's the country that we live in, that's one of the states of our Union, the State of Washington. So just beware, be alert, be prayerful. The Delight of Good Parenting: A Godly Child So, what is the delight of godly parenting? Well, a good child. A child that turns out well. 3 John 4 says, "I have no greater joy than this: To know that my children are walking in the truth." That is true for godly parents too. Isn't it a delight if you see your kids, your grown kids, walking in the service of the Lord? They've been trained, and they are godly. It's a delightful thing. And many proverbs hold out this joy. Proverbs 15:20, "A wise son makes a glad father." Proverbs 23:24-25 says, "The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice. He who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and mother be glad, let him who bore you rejoice." So, delight in them. True Wisdom Comes from God If they should come to faith in Christ, don't take credit though. You know the statement “God has no grandchildren?” Okay? Thank God, He gave you a role, but it was God who gave them birth. As many as received Him, to them, He gave the right to become children of God, children who are born not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God. So, when they come to faith in Christ, you will be delighted, and you'll know Who did it; it wasn't you, it was God that did it. The Heartbreak of Good Parenting: A Wayward Child What is the heartbreak of good parents? It's a wayward child, and no book in the Bible so clearly and accurately describes the prodigal as does the book of Proverbs. It's a heartbreaking thing. Proverbs 17:25, "A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him." Proverbs 19:13, “A foolish son is ruin to his father.” Proverbs 13:1, "A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke." Even to the point of cursing parents. There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers, or who kicked their widowed mothers out of the home. Proverbs 19:26, "He who robs his father and drives out his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace." So, that's the heartbreak of godly parents, and that's a child that ends up a rebel. Two Remedies What is the remedy? Well, the book of Proverbs holds out two remedies: One of them is delightful, and one of them is terrifying. The delightful remedy is that the prodigal will return, that the rebel who's wandering away from God will at some point come to their senses and come back to the father, just like in the parable of the prodigal son. And so, it says in Proverbs 14:27, "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death." And Proverbs 16:6 says, "By steadfast love and faithfulness, iniquity is atoned for. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil." So, that's the delightful remedy, that the prodigal will come back. The prodigal will come back to Christ. The terrifying remedy is sudden and instant death and damnation. Proverbs 20:20 says, "If one curses his father or mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness." Big picture, utter darkness in the New Testament. That's hell, dear friends. The cursing of father and mother is a road to hell, and so parents need to know that their children need to obey them for the sake of their own souls. Again, Proverbs 29:1, “A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy." The Only Perfect Parent: God the Father Well, we've looked at parenting today. There's more we could say. Let me finish with this: There is only one perfect father. There's only one perfect father, and that's God the Father. God the Father deals with this according to Hebrews 12, according to His wisdom, that we may share in His godliness, that we may inherit His righteousness. That's why He disciplines us. We, fathers, discipline for a short time as we think best so that we can achieve certain goals. God knows what He's about, and He will do it perfectly. If you are a son or daughter of the living God, you are in the hands of a loving Father, and He knows how to get you to heaven. Amen? He knows how to finish your training and get you up to heaven, and in the end, you'll be like a son, you'll be like a daughter standing around the throne, looking at the face of your heavenly Father, knowing that the skill of a parent, God the Father, brought you there. Close with me in prayer, if you will.

1999-03-17 First Annual St Patricks Day Celebration 3:10:21Miss Piggy, Dark Side Inspired, To The Ladies, ShwashwaShawashwawa, We're Coming, Hey There Guy, He Does Want To Play, The Spirit of Wayne Falkenberg, On Air Policy, Where Those Swimmers At?, Mama says come to the Station, Sloan and Jer on the phone talking about Andy who is in rare form and CJ who forgot about me, Hey man, Yeah Okay. The Dark Ages, Hey Stinky Pants, Jeremy's Advice, Random Sounds, Airborne Toxins, Bovine Fantasy -> Duties, From Jeremiah to Jeremiah, Pumping the Jams, Three times a charm, CJ is next on the hitlist, A Drunk Vas Shows up, Bob on the hitlist, Definitely Chilling, High School Soccer Warm Up Songs, Vas has something to say, How about Wayne?, Vas is half irish-half mexican, What's the name of his hometown?, Time to order a pizza, Strike 1, Phone dialing incompetence, D-E-W-A-R, 45 Minutes?, CJ calls in, A song for Roman and Tom, Walawalawala, Music - One of my favorite songs, That's Chapter 1 would you like to have Chapter 2?, Pizza arrives, An echo, Thanks, Good night folks Guests - Wayne, Amy Fifth, Vas, CJ, Some Other Monkey, Phone Guests - Sloan, Jeremiah, Jeremy, Tex, Bill, Some Pizza Guy, CJ Harrison, Apologies for the low quality Mp3s that were played on this show.1999-03-17 | 3:10:21 | 2BS Radio Archive | The Wonder Thunder | Wednesday (actually Thursday) | Midnight to 3AM | WRHO 89.7 FM Hartwick College Oneonta NY | The B-Smith Radio Archive | Archived Recordings from my College Radio Show | 2bsradioarchive.blogspot.comwww.twobs.com | 2bsradioarchive.blogspot.com