The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis. It contains more than two million stone blocks averaging 2.5 tons each. Every one of these limestone blocks was cut out by hand from quarries sometimes miles away and pulled up ramps of dirt to be stacked one upon the other to a height of 480 feet. One hundred thousand men worked constructing it, and for 3800 years, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world.
What an odd use of resources and work force, this building of pyramid tombs. Yet to the ancient Egyptians the work was holy. It expressed the way they understood the universe and so no one questioned the incredible cost of time, resources, and human life.
As amazing as the structure is itself, the treasure that was kept within was truly remarkable. Tomb furniture and household artifacts of gold and precious stones are just the beginning of the story. Jewelry, graven images of gods in the form of men, women, and animals, models of ships and houses testify not only to the wealth but also to the heart of the builder. The ancient history of the Egyptian people as well as all scientific knowledge of the day was engraved on slate pallets and placed within the tombs. All this and the sarcophagus itself, is simply the beginning of a vast treasure sealed inside the pyramids for the exclusive use of the Pharaoh in his journey through eternity. The monetary value of such a treasure is incalculable. Therefore, I am left asking, “all for what?” These things supplied not one thing of real value for any of the men or women to whom they were dedicated. What a startling awakening to them death must have been.
In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus tells us, “Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust, and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is is the place you will most want to be and end up being.” (MSG) Where’s your treasure and where’s your heart? Even the most spiritually minded of us say, “But I must live; I must make a certain amount of money; I must be clothed; I must be fed.” The great concern of our lives is not the kingdom of God but how we are going to take care of ourselves. Jesus cuts to the heart, and reverses the order by telling us to get the right relationship with God first, maintaining it as the primary concern of our lives, and never to place our concern on taking care of the other things of life. So where is your heart? A very precious treasure of yours is watching.
Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
“Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his choices.” Alfred A. Montapert
I was reading a recent blog entry by Mark Buchanan that stirred my thought process. He was describing a law of the human condition called the Law of Unintended Consequences. This law, similar to Murphy’s Law (“What can go wrong, will”), is not a law of nature but an accepted condition of being a finite being. The law of Unintended Consequences states that an act will often produce unforeseen results that are harmful to, sometimes the exact opposite of, what we intended. Many parents have seen this law in effect when raising children. Have you ever witnessed that it is when you are in a rush that for some reason your child moves more slowly? It is as if the words, “Hurry up!” flip a switch in their little brain that says, “Slow down” the exact opposite of what was wanted.
In Genesis 25, one can read of how this law can have long-term effects. Abraham’s wife Sarah had died, and so he marries a woman by the name of Keturah. He has many sons with Keturah. However, in order to protect his son Isaac, and the promise made to him about his future, Abraham cuts his other sons out of his in heritance and sends them away (Genesis 25:6). This action accomplishes what he intends, but with the unintended consequence of creating many of the enemies, the future Israelites will have to face. For example, several generations later Gideon and his army of 300 have to battle against the Midianites (a people group established by one of Abraham’s banished sons). Abraham was able to protect Isaac in the short-term, but unwittingly subjected his descendants to harm on a much larger scale. In effect, so that one son would not be inconvenienced during his lifetime, many sons suffered grievously for many lifetimes.
So what is your Isaac? What is it that you are trying to protect? Could it be that by doing so you have actually put it at risk? So often, as parents, we want to spare our children from pain. This is not a bad thing. Except for when we shelter our children from making choices that they are perfectly capable of making. My friends at the Love and Logic institute have illustrated this idea with “The Science of Control.” It goes like this, when we share the control we get our share. When we hoard the control, we soon lose it all. A parent who understands what it means to share the control is more likely to have good results by giving choices (giving a child the opportunity to think – with the unstated message “ I believe you are smart and capable of making wise decisions”), rather than demands (doing all the thinking for the child – which sends the message “You are weak, fragile, and not very smart – let me help you.”). For example, the parent who offers their child the choice, “Are you going to wear your coat or carry it?” knows that when a child feels the cold they are smart enough to put on the coat they are carrying without being told what to do, and or how to feel about it. The child who chooses not to bring or wear a coat can benefit from the adult who uses thinking words like, “I’m so glad I brought my coat.” Some might mistakenly say that this is cruel or manipulative, but the reality is that the child who faces the temporary consequence of cold most likely will make a better choice in the future. Rather than trying to make the child feel bad, it would be better to model for them how we take good care of ourselves and thus stimulate their thinking. I hope you find this helpful. My best to you as you seek to raise up a responsible child. Thanks for reading.
In Genesis 25, one can read of how this law can have long-term effects. Abraham’s wife Sarah had died, and so he marries a woman by the name of Keturah. He has many sons with Keturah. However, in order to protect his son Isaac, and the promise made to him about his future, Abraham cuts his other sons out of his in heritance and sends them away (Genesis 25:6). This action accomplishes what he intends, but with the unintended consequence of creating many of the enemies, the future Israelites will have to face. For example, several generations later Gideon and his army of 300 have to battle against the Midianites (a people group established by one of Abraham’s banished sons). Abraham was able to protect Isaac in the short-term, but unwittingly subjected his descendants to harm on a much larger scale. In effect, so that one son would not be inconvenienced during his lifetime, many sons suffered grievously for many lifetimes.
So what is your Isaac? What is it that you are trying to protect? Could it be that by doing so you have actually put it at risk? So often, as parents, we want to spare our children from pain. This is not a bad thing. Except for when we shelter our children from making choices that they are perfectly capable of making. My friends at the Love and Logic institute have illustrated this idea with “The Science of Control.” It goes like this, when we share the control we get our share. When we hoard the control, we soon lose it all. A parent who understands what it means to share the control is more likely to have good results by giving choices (giving a child the opportunity to think – with the unstated message “ I believe you are smart and capable of making wise decisions”), rather than demands (doing all the thinking for the child – which sends the message “You are weak, fragile, and not very smart – let me help you.”). For example, the parent who offers their child the choice, “Are you going to wear your coat or carry it?” knows that when a child feels the cold they are smart enough to put on the coat they are carrying without being told what to do, and or how to feel about it. The child who chooses not to bring or wear a coat can benefit from the adult who uses thinking words like, “I’m so glad I brought my coat.” Some might mistakenly say that this is cruel or manipulative, but the reality is that the child who faces the temporary consequence of cold most likely will make a better choice in the future. Rather than trying to make the child feel bad, it would be better to model for them how we take good care of ourselves and thus stimulate their thinking. I hope you find this helpful. My best to you as you seek to raise up a responsible child. Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,” Psalm 42:5a
Since hearing the news of the most recent natural disasters, I have been thinking about how we talk with children about tragedy. The media bombards us with so many pictures and videos of devastation that I have felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of these tragedies. As a parent, I wonder how our children cope with these catastrophes? In this information age with all of the media coverage, it is likely that only the youngest of children are sheltered from seeing or hearing information following natural disasters. In my opinion, what is shown is often more frightening than informative. Parents can play a vital role in helping their kids cope. To help you help your kids, I have borrowed some ideas from Jim Burns (President of HomeWord) that I hope you find helpful.
1. Be willing to discuss natural disasters with your kids. Helping your kids cope with the natural disasters starts with being willing to talk about the tragedy with them. Children, particularly younger ones, may be frightened by tragedies, wondering if something similar could happen to them. Talk with them, in an age-appropriate way, about what has happened and help to answer their questions and calm their fears.
2. Tell them the truth. Honesty is the best policy. Yet, honesty does not mean that you need to share every gruesome detail of the devastation with your kids only causing them to become frightened rather than informed.
3. Shelter your kids from graphic video and pictures. In our "24/7 live" news coverage from around the world, be aware that the graphic, often disturbing video and pictures being shown. These images do not need to be part of conveying the "news" of what is happening - to your children. My advice is that when natural disasters strike, especially in the immediate aftermath; keep the television news programs off when your kids are around.
4. Reassure your kids - as best you can. Since we do not have control over natural disasters like tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, or other natural disasters, as parents, we should not promise a child that we will protect them from any harm that a catastrophe may bring. Our job here is to reassure them as best we can. If kids are worried about something bad occurring, we can reassure them, "Mom and dad will do everything we can to always make sure you are safe from harm."
5. Don't ignore the spiritual issues. If you have ever wondered about what your kids think about God or faith in Christ, you will probably find out in the wake of a disaster. Be prepared for questions about God and life (like "Why did God let so many people die?") that you may never had heard from your child before. Kids really do want to talk about theological issues. Sometimes it takes a crisis to bring those questions to the forefront. Be ready. Do not be surprised. Moreover, if you do not have all of the answers, that is okay. Work to help your kids (and maybe even yourself!) search for the answers.
6. Look for signs of "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" in your kids. It is not uncommon for kids to suffer in varying degrees from "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" (PTSD) after such large tragedies. Changes in your child's behavior such as regressing to more childlike behavior, acting out, withdrawal, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, fear of a specific disaster may all be signs that your child is suffering from PTSD. If these symptoms do not resolve themselves, seek the help of a professional Christian counselor.
7. Pray for those whose lives have been impacted by the disaster. If your family does not have a regular family prayer time, I would encourage you to start one. Focus on praying for all those whose lives have been impacted by the tragedy. Praying as a family for these people also reinforces with your kids your own belief in God's love and His power to care and heal those who have been hurt.
8. Give. As a family, find a way to give something - anything - to help people in need. Giving to those in need is a spiritual response. The call to Christ is the call to serve. Giving helps, your kids learn to cope with tragedy by serving and helping those in need. Giving gives them some tangible way to respond. Your giving does not have to be limited to money. Typically, following a natural disaster, all kinds of supplies and food are needed.
Thanks for reading!
1. Be willing to discuss natural disasters with your kids. Helping your kids cope with the natural disasters starts with being willing to talk about the tragedy with them. Children, particularly younger ones, may be frightened by tragedies, wondering if something similar could happen to them. Talk with them, in an age-appropriate way, about what has happened and help to answer their questions and calm their fears.
2. Tell them the truth. Honesty is the best policy. Yet, honesty does not mean that you need to share every gruesome detail of the devastation with your kids only causing them to become frightened rather than informed.
3. Shelter your kids from graphic video and pictures. In our "24/7 live" news coverage from around the world, be aware that the graphic, often disturbing video and pictures being shown. These images do not need to be part of conveying the "news" of what is happening - to your children. My advice is that when natural disasters strike, especially in the immediate aftermath; keep the television news programs off when your kids are around.
4. Reassure your kids - as best you can. Since we do not have control over natural disasters like tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, or other natural disasters, as parents, we should not promise a child that we will protect them from any harm that a catastrophe may bring. Our job here is to reassure them as best we can. If kids are worried about something bad occurring, we can reassure them, "Mom and dad will do everything we can to always make sure you are safe from harm."
5. Don't ignore the spiritual issues. If you have ever wondered about what your kids think about God or faith in Christ, you will probably find out in the wake of a disaster. Be prepared for questions about God and life (like "Why did God let so many people die?") that you may never had heard from your child before. Kids really do want to talk about theological issues. Sometimes it takes a crisis to bring those questions to the forefront. Be ready. Do not be surprised. Moreover, if you do not have all of the answers, that is okay. Work to help your kids (and maybe even yourself!) search for the answers.
6. Look for signs of "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" in your kids. It is not uncommon for kids to suffer in varying degrees from "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" (PTSD) after such large tragedies. Changes in your child's behavior such as regressing to more childlike behavior, acting out, withdrawal, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, fear of a specific disaster may all be signs that your child is suffering from PTSD. If these symptoms do not resolve themselves, seek the help of a professional Christian counselor.
7. Pray for those whose lives have been impacted by the disaster. If your family does not have a regular family prayer time, I would encourage you to start one. Focus on praying for all those whose lives have been impacted by the tragedy. Praying as a family for these people also reinforces with your kids your own belief in God's love and His power to care and heal those who have been hurt.
8. Give. As a family, find a way to give something - anything - to help people in need. Giving to those in need is a spiritual response. The call to Christ is the call to serve. Giving helps, your kids learn to cope with tragedy by serving and helping those in need. Giving gives them some tangible way to respond. Your giving does not have to be limited to money. Typically, following a natural disaster, all kinds of supplies and food are needed.
Thanks for reading!
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