A Net in Time

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Faith

Appoint Elders in Every Town

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Today’s reading is from Titus 1:5-16 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Paul had left Titus in Crete for a reason.  He was to put the church there in order and get the leadership set into place.

Elders in every town!  Every town.. think about this.  Not just the big cities, but every town.  Seeing to the establishment of the church everywhere. 

What are the qualifications of an elder?

  • above reproach
  • husband of one wife
  • Children are believers
  • Not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination
  • Not arrogant, quick-tempered, a drunkard, violent or greedy
  • Needs to be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
  • Must hold firm to the word being trustworthy as taught.
  • Needs to hold firm to the word as trustworthy so that he can teach others sound doctrine AND to be able to rebuke those who would contradict that truth.

I read through that list and being chosen as an elder is hard work.  like hard!  Trustworthy, holding to the word, no charges able to be brought against, hospitable, self-controlled and more.  Elders are good men.  REALLY good men.  Not a position for the faint of heart is it?   Able to teach and rebuke!

So we know what an elder needs to be.  Now the question is this.  WHY? Why are the qualifications for elders so tough?

What is the danger?

Paul answers this:  For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers. These people need to be silenced, their shameful for gain preaching is wrecking families.  They shouldn’t be doing this and therefore need to be rebuked for doing so.  Knowing well God’s word and trusting in it gives them the tools they need to do so properly.

Titus is working with the Cretans who have the reputation for being “liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” so Paul reminds Titus to be firm with them, rebuking them sharply for his end goal is this: That they be sound in the faith.  He wants them to know well the truths of God and not get caught up in myths.  Myths such as Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

Knowing truth will keep them from denying God, and being detestable, disobedient and unfit for any good work.  He wants them to be pure and undefiled. So in other words.. Paul wants them to live to the life they have been called out of.  Live to being filled with HOPE, purity, loving good and so much more. So Titus needs to be tough with them for their own eternal good.

Man… tough job eh?  Makes me grin in a way though.. like working with stubborn Dutchmen!  🙂  Not for the faint of heart.  But God calls us to the task we are suited for.  And if Titus needs to work with the liars, deceivers, lazy gluttonous beasts of Cretan, he must have the ability to do so eh?

Original photo by : Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

Hymn of the week: Praise is Rising

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I didn’t make it out to church last week cause I overdid it the day before and wasn’t in particularly good shape. I asked hubby how the service went and he mentioned he liked how they did this song.  They substituted out the Hosanna for Emmanuel and he said it worked well.

Anywho, here are the lyrics:

Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You, we turn to You
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You, we long for You
‘Cause when we see You we find strength to face the day
In Your presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
Hosanna, Hosanna
You are the God who saves us
Worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, Hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus
Hear the sound of hearts returning to You, we turn to You
In Your Kingdom broken lives are made new, You make us new
‘Cause when we see You we find strength to face the day
In Your presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
Hosanna, Hosanna
You are the God who saves us
Worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, Hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome…

Review: 1-2-3 Parenting With Heart

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Are you a parent looking for a way to discipline your children in a way that works? 
Do you want to learn a method that has some biblical merit behind it?  Then I will suggest you check out 1-2-3 Parenting with a heart: Three step discipline for a calm and godly household.
1-2-3 Parenting with Heart is based on a book by Thomas Phelan, which teaches parents to parent with justice and mercy.  I found it didn’t back up the biblical claims a great deal but it did touch on a few verses.  It’s a matter of finding the balance between being warm and friendly with being a person who has firm expectations.

The book is broken down in to six sections, each section having 2 to 7 sub-sections contained within.   The six sections are:  

  • Building a Solid Foundation for Parenting
  • Controling Obnoxious Behaviour: Parenting Job 1
  • Managing testing and manipulation
  • Encouraging Good Behaviour: Parenting Job 2
  • Strengthening your Relationship with your Children: Parenting Job 3
  • Enjoying Your New Family Life

This method of raising your children is recommended for ages 2-12. The book is well-written with a personable tone, including many real-life stories from families utilizing this method of parenting their children.    I really liked the before and after cartoons, show casing how real challenges can be handled.

Let me see, what else can I tell you about this trade paperback? Oh, it has built in tips, set into corners and off-sides to make their helpfullness all the more apparent.  Each chapter clossed with a series of questions to make you think a spell about what you just read and learned.

My thoughts:

Honestly… I don’t know what I think about this book, part of that unsettled feeling about it is that  1-2-3 method is not one that I would choose to employ.  (cause every family is different in their dynamics).  BUT I do very much like how the author spells out to use this method successfully and how he broaches other parenting concerns as well…such as teaching children (through the use of natural consequences) to take responsibility for what they can. 1-2-3 Parenting with Heart does an excellent job of sticking to it’s premise.  Giving parents a defined method to help discipline their children without yelling.  Just a simple countdown with follow through.

I guess my concern is that … so often throughout the book it seemed like parents were setting down rules and expecting their children to follow through… just I struggled to see the grace of God at work through this method.  And maybe it’s there, because granted I didn’t read every word or paragraph…. it’s just a struggle, not a defined problem.  I can see it as being very beneficial to a whole lot of families.

1-2-3 Parenting with heart

Thomas W. Phelan & Chriss Webb

Trade paperback, adult.

304 pages

Reviewed for: Raincoast books.

Some Kind Of Different

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Some kind of different
The name of book
Popped into my head
Like drawn to a nook.

This year is almost ended,
Memories I find.
Come to the forefront
As this poem comes to mind.

I search for the words
To convey what I feel
Traditions I ponder
What makes Christmas Real?

Advent candles at home?
Readings to make?
Cookies and treats
Visit home shall I take?

What about trees,
Villages and lights?
Christmas is filled
with so many delights!

But really let’s think
What makes Christmas true?
It’s all of God’s action
What HE meant to do.

This morning we read
About the “Great Fall”
It didn’t surprise him
Not one bit at all.

All in God’s plan
His glory to show
To all of his people
Who Struggle below.

God’s mercy shines forth
In the work of his Son
By one great act of mercy
Satan’s plan was undone.

To make Christmas real
Beyond Santa’s and gifts
Consider this fact
Belief in God NOT MYTHS!

So join me today
As some kind of different we find
To make Christmas matter
To whom we are twined.


Kate, the proprietor of the Five Minute Friday community, invites us weekly to come join her for a Five Minute Word Prompt. We gather the world over to share our thoughts over one word. Encouraging each other along the way.   Won’t you come join us?

Original photo by Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Review: NIV Reader’s Bible

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The NIV Readers Bible is a really nice book.  Hardcover, well bound that comes in a protective sheath.

Do you know what a reader’s bible is?

No?

Well.. A reader’s bible is one that doesn’t break up the whole bible into chapters and verses.  You just open it and read it like any other book.  No headers to interrupt the flow, no verses to break up a sentence of thought.  Just straight-forward text to make just setting down and reading a pleasure.

Now this version puts reference notes at the top… so that let’s say you are reading along and go.. ooh.. interesting thought, let me grab my commentary and explore that a bit more.. you don’t end up having to find a bible with verses to track it down.  The quiet page header let’s you know where abouts you are in the book and you can just look up that thought catcher easily.

I love how this bible has the 10.5 point type font printed in a single column, reading just like a regular book.   The footnotes are included at the end of every book. The footnotes are broken down per chapter.   The lovely grey ribbon is excellent for holding your place.

This Bible was designed to provide a seamless reading experience.  This bible is so well made.  Cloth over book cover, easy reading font.  Cause you know how most bibles have this tiny font… this one doesn’t..  It feels good in the hand, not too heavy, kinda like a regular bible for weight, but nice a solid like a normal book.

As with any bible, there is a set of references in the back, helping you understand the historical measurements and other such things.

NIV Reader's Bible
Zondervan
Soft cover over board
Bible, 1984 pages, all ages
Reviewed for: BookLookBloggers.

Where can you find it?   Amazon Link.

 

A Letter to Titus

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So.. I finished Romans yesterday which left me wondering…what book should I study next.  Hubby dear suggested 1 Corinthians and I thought oh.. maybe, but it didn’t sit well.  Started leafing through my on-line ESV bible and Titus felt like it leapt off the page so I said “okay, we’ll do Titus”. 🙂   Easy enough eh?

Titus 1:1-4 tells us these words: 

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Just like Romans, Titus was written by the Apostle Paul.   

Paul starts this letter being very clear about who he is and who he serves.

  • servant of God
  • Apostle of Jesus Christ

He then goes on to say just what that means.  for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior. He preaches to encourage faith in God’s chosen people…wanting them to know truth and through truth encourage their godliness.  Showing God’s truthful promise from long ago…eternal life.   God showed how this promise would be fulfilled (through his son Jesus Christ) at the proper time in history.    And so Paul preaches.  A command entrusted to him by God.   God says preach, so Paul does.

This letter is written to one man named Titus.   Paul calls him “my true child in a common faith“.  That statement makes me think of Titus as a power house of a believer… knowing God’s call on his life and following.  (because that’s how I think of Paul).   One often thinks like father like son eh?  🙂  So if Titus is like Paul’s child in the faith…. see where I’m going here? 🙂

Anyways, it will be interesting to read what Paul has to say to Titus eh?

Paul closes these first four verses with a greeting “Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” Imagine if we greeted each other that way eh?   Or started off our letters to each other that way?   Isn’t it a great way to keep The Lord foremost?  Passing on God’s grace and peace to those we are in contact with?   

I have to admit…it would seem odd to me to do so…but I recall my brother writing us a letter once in the New Testament style and how it made us all in the family smile to get it.  Isn’t that smile worth it?  Worth it to help people see the Lord more clearly?

Photo by Ahmed Saffu on Unsplash

 

 

 

Lights

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The Homeschool Review Crew has started a new season.  With that comes the word prompts for instagram.  Todays word is lights.

Guess what we did yesterday?

We put up the Christmas tree, so….now we have coloured lights shining off a tree in our living room.  🙂

One of these days I will do up a post show casing some of our favourite ornaments eh! 🙂

But for now:

Christmas Tree
Christmas Tree
Oh you bring back memories.

As I consider
What gift to give
As tree wrapping time

I thought about
A move we'll make
Out of our home.

I thought of 
The dastardly squirrels 
and how they annoy us so.

I thought of slingshots
and traps
Of a boy running while

GO AWAY squirrel
Those shouts still echo
And bring back smiles of memory

Our town is known for a 
Certain white beast
A nemesis of mine!
White squirrel abundant
Garden it eats!
Babies galore but

Smiles it brings
Smiles of memories
of a boy's caring heart

So this year 
when an ornament 
Considered...

Every year 
A New one he receives
This year A white squirrel he sees!