Christian Ethics

In our bible study we have been discussing 1 Thessalonians and the the concept of Christian ethics. How do Christian ethics differ from regular ethics? Ethics is defined as a system of morals that govern a group or culture. The ethics I strive to live by are largely God given from His word, the Holy Bible. It is not a peer-based set of morals, or social/cultural, or even what my parents might offer. This makes them VERY different from the current culture which really offers no absolute guidelines. Love must always balance ethics because ethics without love cannot truly fulfill what God has called us to live (love your neighbor as yourself). Any-who with this in mind I will now tell you how this has applied to my life recently. If you don't know, my husband (genius that he is) has spent the past 5 years building his own company. I am so proud of what he has accomplished and God has never let anything lack in our lives even though the building years have been hard at times. There are so many blessings I could tell you about on our journey of self-employment. Difficulties would include no benefits and paying your own taxes for four years (brutal trust me) but the blessings include a child paid for (through DSHS) and another paid off in just a year. God is so good, sorry kids don't mean to make you sound like car payments. =). Over these past four years I have prayed often that God would protect Jeremy on the steep learning curve of owning a business. I have prayed that his reputation be guarded and his decisions be in line with the ethics God has called him to. Well for about six months they have been in talks with a big company, first to acquire Jer's company (which didn't work) then to possibly partner with. It has been a ton of going back and forth with Jeremy's hopes riding the natural highs and lows of possibility and uncertainty. Through all of it I have prayed God's will be done and protection, protection, protection. This week it was finally announced that the prospective partners would be going with a competitor's company. Not just any competitor either but a former employee of Jeremy's who "happened" to begin a carbon-copy of Jeremy's company about a year after they had to let him go. It wasn't anything personal but this particular guy was more business man than programmer (what they really needed at the time) and he was continually failing to impress while making demands of the company for more. Apparently this "competitor" offered prospective partners a deal they couldn't resist. Jeremy didn't seem to be brooding about it, though he did offer one comment expressing his disappointment but quickly moved on to the next steps for the company regardless. I am so proud that he didn't fudge any numbers or make any impossible promises (which is only guessing but I suspect this other company capable of). He just laid out what they would be willing to do and it didn't work out. I have seen Jeremy making good calls for his company and learning to step up to the plate and become more assertive for his own benefit over these past five years. I love what he wants to do for his employees and how much he cares that they feel well-taken care of, (benefits are around the corner woot!) I know that Jeremy's focus right now is not necessarily that he be a light for Jesus but regardless, he is. I'm just so thankful because I do feel that God is answering my prayers. What comes next who knows? But I do know that God is faithful and all those other dreams I have for Jeremy God knows and I can rest in that; and work on myself. Always more to do there.

Do the Puyallup!

Yes it's that time of year again, time for the fair. I don't remember taking Isaac last year, he would have been just a few months old but this year we trekked out to see all the sights and sounds of the fair. The kids love the rides and animals and I love some of the displays but unfortunately the kids didn't last to see the stuff I wanted to. Boo hoo. Little Isaac was sickish so he didn't fare too well; he hates his stroller and he is at an age where he isn't happy to just hold your hand and walk with you but immediately runs the opposite way you need to go. SO. . . .fun. . . . .

 snot face, cranky pants = )

 standing on the hay to see over the fence.

 "milkin the cow"

 pretty sure I got the same pics last year,

 sheepy goaty love

 handsome

 they felt safe petting the pygmy goats

 I love fluff!

 so does isaac

 chicks at Isaac's eye level

 clapping at chickies

 talking to chickies

 chicks hatched at the fair

 water ride, trin was stressed because blake was rocking it

 blake seems to enjoy stressing her out. . .

 daddy and trin on the scrambler. . .she loves this ride!

 so man, where are we going?

  they call these "Krusty Pups" the batter is great but the hot dog part is gross.

 meeting one of the moms from the Birth Board I'm on with Isaac, Jennifer Krause and her duaghter Elyssa

How do we teach the babies Wisdom?

This question was posed by my friend Rose on her blog about their life preparing for ministry in Spain and their adorable June-bug (like Isaac) Susannah. It got me thinking. Earlier in the day I had copied down two Proverbs I want the children to memorize. Wisdom was a big part of the parenting book I just finished (mentioned in the previous post). Most of you have heard the Proverb that says "The fear of the Lord, is the beginning of Wisdom". For my older children this is an easier concept to teach them. God is so big and mighty, and His works (creation) that we see all around us amaze their little eyes all the time. They know they can't make that. Also, we talk about forgiveness and grace. They get mad at each other, they even get physical, then they get sad. They have hurt each other and need to forgive one another. It's a gut reaction that they have a hard time controlling. God doesn't work that way though, there is no "backlash" for sin. There are consequences but not in the parent losing his temper sort of way that we earthly parents sometimes exemplify. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not die, but live eternally". This act of sacrifice also impresses them, Trinity especially understands that "Nothing can separate us from God's love." Romans 8:39. So the correlation between fearing the Lord and respect (not primal fear) is more easily made. In the Proverbs, the Word of the Lord is over and over brought up as vital to having "wisdom". Reading it, repeating it, learning it by heart, appreciating it, all leads to worshipping the Holy One, the only One worthy of adoration and "fear".
     After thinking about this long and hard last night *that's my disclaimer, this is not going to be a perfect answer to my friend's question nor even to some a good one but it's the answer I came to* I have decided that saturating my littlest in the Word of God is the best way to begin to teach him wisdom.So, little Isaac at 15 mo. is too young for Awana, VeggieTales, (please I beg of you don't let such videos be your children's only exposure to the word of God, PLEASE get them involved in THE BIBLE itself!), and many of the other fun sources of scripture learning that are available to us in many areas. Also, He obviously (since I am at home) spends the most time with me which makes me #1 on the example providing list. I think that when Trinity reaches just a few years older one of the most difficult things for her will be peers challenging her on her belief that the Bible is the Word of God. This is not a world that makes it easy for you to express your faith. Especially when that faith is one way to God through Jesus Christ His son. Even in our own home we have different creation views. As part of the public school system she will be barraged with information that will conflict with what the scriptures say. All of this can and MUST be combated with an understanding of the Word. It must be on their minds and IN THEIR HEARTS to such a deep extent that if you cut them, they bleed Ephesians 5 "Forgive one another, just as in Christ God forgave you". If they struggle with jealousy they repeat to themselves Proverbs 23:17-18 "Don't envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed."  If they are tempted to lie/save face/cave to peer pressure/get out of discipline their conscience screams Proverbs 23:15-16 "My Child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will Rejoice! Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right" This scripture stands for my heart or for God's own heart for my children in a crises of decision.
   This list could go on and on and obviously Isaac won't be memorizing bible verses yet. He only says "uh-oh". = ) but in our house the Word will be respected. It will be discussed. It will be memorized. It will be read to the children, they will read it themselves and they will be blessed by it. I will sing to Isaac Jesus Loves me. I will tell him Jesus loves him using scriptures. I will tell him God's promises to him using scriptures. I'm even going to try to learn a few to comfort him with when he is crying. I will sing them to him and speak them to him because it will teach him Who the Lord is and how to fear Him  and that is the best way I can think of to teach my baby wisdom; uphold the Word!