Welcome to Thinking About Home.
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I am Kathy Matthews and
I'm glad you're with us.
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We've been going through
a series called Plain Talk,
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and this is the last of
our series and our guest
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today is the director of
the Men's Ministries from
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the Florida Conference
of Seventh-Day Adventist
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and that's
Pastor Richard O'Ffill.
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We've been having
lot of fun, haven't we?
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I've enjoyed it
immensely. I have, and you take
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away my
nervousness. We've been doing
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plain talk and you
know, I think Kathy that
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it's important that
we talk clearly we don't,
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you know maybe
there is a time to talk.
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You know with the
hidden agenda, not, not,
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not not really or to
you know kind of be really
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careful but I think
that by enlarge if our
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Christian lives are
gonna work, then we have
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to as they say let
it all hang out and
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and I have found
and I don't know if you
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experiences the same,
but though our lives are
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different in many ways,
as different individuals
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has different
families. We more are like
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then we are different.
There is kind of a generic
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something about us
all and I have found
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in my own life,
in my own preaching,
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then when I began to
talk about myself and
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some of my own
challenges and people will say
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that's like me.
That's just like me, I know,
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our subject today is
going to be about the family.
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The relationship with
the family to the church,
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to the church, is
that correct? You know.
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What does the family
have to do with the church?
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You know we talk
about the family of God
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and whenever we go to
church and we will say
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aren't we? We are so
glad. We will even sing that,
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we are so glad, we are
part of the family of God.
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Yes. So, I got
thinking about this and thought
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you know, if we can
see the human family.
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Our God showed us as one family.
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That this though
it would be one family
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it is really comprised
of many, many families.
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And, and as they say
the whole is the sum of
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these parts, and so
it was seem to me that
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the condition of the
church at a particular
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time wouldn't that
reflect the condition
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of the families
that comprise it? Yes,
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so would the church
be changing the family
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or the family changing
the church? Now that was
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profound, how
would you answer that?
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Well I would say
that's in it it's comprised of
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its parts then it
would be the family that
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changing the church.
The family is changing
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the church, but how be
at when we come together
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as families it's to
encourage all the parts,
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but I would say although
its. What's happening to
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our families?
Yeah, what's happening to
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our families is changing
our church. Yes I agree.
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And, in fact, you
know there is lots of
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discussions about
what's going on in the church.
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But what we are doing
on Sabbath is tending to
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reflect these
days the way we live
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the rest of the
week. We don't know,
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I don't think lot of
people have the family
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altar or the family
worship as much as they
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could and I believe
that's really unestablished
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principle in God's word
and probably we ought to
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be looking to that
more. And of course this is
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the challenge before
we begin the program,
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remember we were
saying. You said, well
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let's discuss the
issue of family worship.
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Well I don't know
if the family worship
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is an issue, is an issue,
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but it's definitely a challenge.
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Well it is a
challenge, that' right.
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It's not debatable,
it's not an issue and then
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it's debatable. As you
just said it's got to be,
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it was meant to be
all of the, you know the
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great heroes of the
faith they had a family-altar.
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Yes. And so here
in the 21st century,
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we need to have a
family altar and we called that
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family worship. So,
how can we have more
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meaningful than
worship? May I ask you a
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question? No,
are you kidding yes.
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You have two daughters
of course Sarah and Rachel
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such beautiful
name, the Bible names.
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Oh thank you. So
surely you and Tom have a,
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you know you
have a family worship.
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Well, in fact, I had been
having breakfast with you,
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you know, as we've
been here and Tom leads
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in worship every morning.
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Is that what you
usually do? Well that's what we
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always do, but that
didn't come natural, that didn't
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come before those
children were born.
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It didn't even come
at first when we became
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Christians because we
didn't know to do that
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and then we saw the
example and we wanted to
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set that
example in our own home.
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Then we had learned
little about how to do it.
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And then when the
children were small,
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it was different then
it is now, yes of course,
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and all of those
factors made a difference.
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So, yes we tried to
have morning and evening
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worship of which
we learned to do after
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we did a study on the sanctuary.
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Yes, you know I
noticed this morning,
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if I might refer to breakfast?
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Yes, as we sat
around the table and Tom had
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the Bible there,
yes, and I think he began
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with prayer and he
prayed and I remember
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he said and Lord as we
open your word bless us
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and then he read out,
like a little Psalm and then
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we sang a little
song. I didn't sing because
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I didn't know the song.
You know, I guess he did,
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I didn't know the
first part of it. Yes.
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And yesterday you
were saying a scripture,
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the scripture Psalm, of
which we don't always do.
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That's one area
where we have to become
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comfortable, because
when the children were
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little we had to
become comfortable hearing our
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own voices
acapella. Yes, you're right.
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You are not singing in
the choir or the shower,
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where nobody can
hear you. That's right.
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This was
becoming comfortable with
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ourselves. Now,
now when you all have
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morning worship
is usually around the
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breakfast table
or might it be often.
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It often times is
out in the living room.
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Yes. Sometimes it's at
the table. Well because
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I suppose if our
audience today has considered
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about having, you
know, family worship where
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you have it will
affect what is going to be,
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when you having
around the breakfast table
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you can't have it
too long. No, yes and
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especially if you are
expecting the children to
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stay calm and,
just to stay focused,
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yes and focused.
When I was ill we had it
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around the bed.
Around the bed, right. Yes.
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You know Rachel is the,
youngest, child that you
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have at home now.
Yes. Because Sarah is away
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and but isn't that there
is big difference between
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the kind of worship
you'll have when your child
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is 15 than when it's
five. Little more in depth.
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Well do you know let
me just say that, I make a
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confession is the
doctrine, is a fair, that
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of course Betty and
I have four children
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and because
they are all growing.
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Is this going to be
your confessing story that I
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asked you for? Yes this
is a confession that you
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asked me to confess.
So, she made me do this.
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So anyway Betty always
led in worship believe it
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or not. She led in
worship and she and of course
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we were doing
worship for little people.
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So she was doing
little people worship,
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guess what I was
doing, well you sleeping,
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I'm so
embarrassed, you should be,
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you know I feel
so ashamed to myself,
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but as I look back on
it and by the way you know
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there is two ways of
looking back. You know
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you can look back and
you feel just so guilty that
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you just hate yourself or
you can look back and say.
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You know if I had
to that do it again.
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This is the way
everybody do. See I think
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this is what the
Christian life is got
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to be ultimately.
Well that's what we have,
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that's what we have
in this program for us so
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the things that we
realize that are very important,
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we can pass on to
someone else and hopes that
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they will do better than we did.
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Well that's the point
and we learn by experience.
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Yes. So I can always,
you know, tell you to do
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what I did, sometimes I
have to say don't do it.
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Do what I did exactly.
And so, and so I'm ashamed,
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but I know the Lord
forgiven me for all the
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worships that I
slept through, but as I
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look back on it and
this is not to critic Betty,
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but then see Tom
knows what he supposed to do
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in worshiping, but you
see I guess I didn't know.
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I guess I was so may
be little indifferent
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isn't not that I
didn't care that I should have
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had in the sign role in worship.
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Now Betty was going
to read the Bible stories
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to her little
friend, but I should have had
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the opening prayer
or the closing prayer or
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an input along the way,
where it would have been
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kind of like a
Sabbath school program. Right.
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And then I had
to stay awake. Yes.
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That would keep you
going; well mine was
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kind of to lead the
music especially when they
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were little it was
always expected that mother
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would start the
music. And then you got to
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where we would let the
children start or choose.
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Of course, we have
some counsel that says
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when they are capable of
reading they could join in
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and they could read
scripture and we were not
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always though into
a lot of entertainment
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and we need to do, we
need to balance out that
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to where there are
times that is very serious
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and yet on their level,
but we didn't do a lot of
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song and dance for
our children. No, no.
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We expect that was the
time, where we wanted to
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prepare them to be
in worship for church.
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And this was the time
that it needed to be done
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and we realized that
the God gave us the grace
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and
understanding to realize that.
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If we are going to
have them to enjoy or to be
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trained to be
reverend in church and worship
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then they needed to do
adhere in family worship,
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where we would
take care of it all.
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It's really
important what you are saying
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because some
parents are so frustrated
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when they take
their children to church
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because they won't stay still.
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They seemed to be out
of control and the time
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in which we prepare
our children to learn to
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worship is in the
family worship because,
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because if they
have done that six days
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a week then church is
not going to be a change,
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but if they haven't
had family worship during
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the week or if the
family worship is so far out.
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It was sort of a
wrestle or rough-and-tumble.
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Yes. Then this other
situation. Do you know
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I was in a home one
time and we are sharing
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in family worship. I
want to say something
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about that before we
get off this subject,
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but go ahead, well
anyway I was in this home
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with family worship
and they were two boys
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and of course their
parents. Kathy they did
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something I thought
was wonderful, they had
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this part of the
worship in which one member of
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the family would turn
and tell what they liked
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about the person
sitting next to them. Yes.
00:10:41.09\00:10:42.82
All we have been through that.
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Oh that was wonderful,
we should keep that up,
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it was
wonderful, because you know
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siblings especially
are always insulting
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each other, each other.
You know, if I don't like
00:10:51.47\00:10:53.25
about the person
sitting next to me, yes.
00:10:53.28\00:10:54.79
It was blessed experience.
They got the sweetest
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smiles on their face
and not only, you know,
00:10:58.52\00:11:01.72
did it bring the good
out in the person who was
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having to, having
to think of something
00:11:04.10\00:11:05.76
that they like, but
these others, you know
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the others just glowed
and so I like what you say
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that family worship
has to be participatory.
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That's a non-conflict
time to build bonding.
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It's what is about.
Yeah I mean well, of course,
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you don't build
much bonding in conflict
00:11:18.77\00:11:20.81
but it was a time,
when bonding could be,
00:11:20.84\00:11:24.15
you know, always
remembered in that
00:11:25.77\00:11:28.91
beautiful moment of
worship, family worship.
00:11:28.94\00:11:31.06
And this is
where we also thought.
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I've tried to
mentor young parents.
00:11:34.97\00:11:39.17
And one of the
things that they always have
00:11:39.51\00:11:41.24
trouble with here
is worship, and this is
00:11:41.27\00:11:44.08
an area where if you
have little ones that not
00:11:44.11\00:11:49.05
allowing them to
crawl all over the place
00:11:49.08\00:11:51.21
while prayer is
taking place. That's right.
00:11:51.24\00:11:53.27
Is something that
mother and dad have a
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responsibility to do,
you might think that you
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wanted to set the
example because you know you
00:11:58.30\00:12:00.60
want to have your
prayer in reverent position,
00:12:00.63\00:12:03.27
but it's your duty
to watch out for them
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and then somewhere along
the line they are gonna be
00:12:05.29\00:12:07.17
watching you to see
what you do all the time.
00:12:07.20\00:12:09.52
That's right, that's right,
00:12:09.55\00:12:10.52
but you are in a
position of a parent,
00:12:10.53\00:12:12.05
where you are going to
be watching them to train
00:12:12.44\00:12:14.72
them at these
moments. If you wanting them to
00:12:14.75\00:12:18.33
close their eyes or
fold their hands or do
00:12:18.36\00:12:20.55
some sort of
reverent position of which I
00:12:20.58\00:12:22.92
feel like is necessary.
But on the other hand,
00:12:22.95\00:12:25.09
you know if the
little child sitting there,
00:12:25.51\00:12:26.70
you know, you are not
spanking their hands. No.
00:12:26.73\00:12:28.88
And you know giving
them hits on the back sides
00:12:28.91\00:12:31.47
you got to be reverent bang.
00:12:31.50\00:12:32.74
Now we are talking
about hands on when they are
00:12:33.21\00:12:36.42
so small that you
can put your hands over
00:12:36.45\00:12:38.97
their hands and
that sort of thing and
00:12:39.00\00:12:41.06
and helping them just
for a short prayer not a
00:12:41.09\00:12:43.98
15-minute prayer but a
short prayer to help them
00:12:44.01\00:12:47.26
to understand
that this is the time
00:12:47.29\00:12:48.63
and the place you need
to be still in reverent.
00:12:48.66\00:12:50.87
There is nothing wrong
with the child being still,
00:12:50.90\00:12:53.25
but they have to learn
to be still. Do you know
00:12:53.56\00:12:55.31
if you permit me to
say this, when you talk
00:12:55.34\00:12:59.05
about praying and
praying with our children.
00:12:59.08\00:13:00.53
It occurred to me one
day and I may have been
00:13:01.79\00:13:03.67
listening to my
self prayer or may be to
00:13:03.70\00:13:06.75
Betty pray with
the grandchildren.
00:13:06.78\00:13:08.18
And I don't say this
disrespectfully because
00:13:10.24\00:13:11.99
I appreciate so
much, you know, the prayers
00:13:12.02\00:13:13.67
of the mothers and
prayer of my own wife
00:13:13.70\00:13:15.26
for her children, but
I listened to the prayer
00:13:15.29\00:13:18.75
and it seem like, it
seem like that many times
00:13:18.78\00:13:23.24
our prayers are at
the children. You know,
00:13:23.27\00:13:25.88
dear God, you know
help, help Rachel to be a
00:13:25.92\00:13:28.87
good girl, help
her to be obedient,
00:13:28.90\00:13:30.30
help her not to do this,
help her not, poor Rachel
00:13:30.33\00:13:32.40
see I hope this
prayer gets over fast.
00:13:32.43\00:13:34.20
And so and I thought to myself.
00:13:34.64\00:13:36.17
You know, if we are
going to confess our children
00:13:36.49\00:13:38.85
sins at worship.
We ought to confess
00:13:38.88\00:13:41.33
a few of our own,
our own of course. Yes.
00:13:41.36\00:13:44.12
And so if I'm
gonna say you know help,
00:13:44.15\00:13:45.94
help Andrea to be a
good girl and to love
00:13:45.97\00:13:50.82
Jesus you know I
could add and help grandpa
00:13:50.85\00:13:53.80
to be kind and
forgiving. And we should.
00:13:53.83\00:13:56.17
I could confess a few
of my own. That's right,
00:13:56.20\00:13:57.87
and that would be
very enduring I think and
00:13:58.20\00:14:01.11
balancing, and
they can see that.
00:14:01.14\00:14:02.96
Well, how is the
child gonna learn to repent
00:14:02.99\00:14:04.61
if they have never
seen it done and they need
00:14:04.64\00:14:06.76
to hear you. Absolutely they do,
00:14:06.79\00:14:08.47
actually one of the
things that we did when it,
00:14:08.50\00:14:11.61
it came to discipline
it was not necessarily
00:14:11.64\00:14:14.05
a family worship but
it was around discipline
00:14:14.08\00:14:15.96
and it was coming to
me I was trying to teach
00:14:15.99\00:14:19.48
them to come to me
to confess what they
00:14:19.51\00:14:22.36
had done and then,
but then I didn't just
00:14:22.39\00:14:25.49
have me as the only
confessor, but I said
00:14:25.52\00:14:30.90
and I will, and
this was after they were
00:14:30.93\00:14:32.57
old enough, and I
will take you to the
00:14:32.60\00:14:34.59
throne of grace and I
will take you to Christ.
00:14:34.62\00:14:37.23
And in that way I
want you to learn now to
00:14:37.26\00:14:39.76
soon bypass me and go
to the throne of grace
00:14:39.79\00:14:42.74
for yourself. And
this was effective,
00:14:42.77\00:14:45.77
that kind of thing
was effective for them,
00:14:46.20\00:14:48.30
absolutely, but
that's the time to in worship
00:14:48.33\00:14:51.56
that you can train
them to go to the grace
00:14:51.59\00:14:53.99
or go to the
throne of grace, so that
00:14:54.02\00:14:56.99
the confession of
sin and then you don't
00:14:57.02\00:14:59.50
have to be
confessing it for them.
00:14:59.53\00:15:00.78
I can do it for themselves.
00:15:01.06\00:15:02.03
Well I hope that
those who are with us
00:15:02.04\00:15:03.85
have gotten some
ideas and I'm sure that
00:15:03.88\00:15:06.66
if we could talk with
them that they could give
00:15:06.69\00:15:08.01
us many ideas
because it's challenge.
00:15:08.04\00:15:10.43
If we're going to
have family worship,
00:15:11.08\00:15:12.85
we're gonna do
it in a regular way.
00:15:12.88\00:15:14.04
We have to do it intentionally
00:15:14.31\00:15:15.49
and we have to work at it.
00:15:15.52\00:15:17.10
And, and I have
really found that you know
00:15:17.13\00:15:19.47
in our lives we're
usually into what we're
00:15:19.50\00:15:22.28
spending time on,
it takes planning,
00:15:22.31\00:15:24.30
it takes planning
and we have to know
00:15:24.33\00:15:25.91
in advance we don't
just do it Adhoc and if
00:15:25.94\00:15:29.36
we would give God time
all the change in our lives.
00:15:29.39\00:15:32.68
If we will give him
time at home, our homes
00:15:32.71\00:15:34.76
would be different
places, but you know maybe we
00:15:34.79\00:15:36.73
ought to just kind of a
gone from family worship,
00:15:36.76\00:15:40.13
because family worship
is really getting ready
00:15:40.39\00:15:42.71
for corporate worship
where all the families,
00:15:42.74\00:15:44.41
right, as we said
at the beginning of
00:15:44.44\00:15:45.84
the program all the
families come together
00:15:45.87\00:15:47.67
as the family have
got for corporate worship.
00:15:47.70\00:15:49.70
Well corporate
worship begins when?
00:15:50.42\00:15:52.67
Oh come on now
answer your question.
00:15:54.65\00:15:56.16
Well it seems to me
though that as the world
00:15:56.91\00:15:59.88
gets together for the Sabbath
00:15:59.91\00:16:01.07
and honoring the Sabbath. Yes.
00:16:01.10\00:16:02.23
That corporately by
faith we get together
00:16:02.26\00:16:04.55
at the beginning of
the Sabbath. Well I thought
00:16:04.58\00:16:06.47
that's where you are
coming from, absolutely,
00:16:06.50\00:16:08.29
in the preparation
day Friday and then
00:16:08.32\00:16:10.73
coming to the
beginning of the Sabbath
00:16:10.76\00:16:12.61
the opening hours.
Well of course the scripture
00:16:12.64\00:16:15.18
is very clear that
from the sunset to sunset.
00:16:15.21\00:16:17.97
Right, you mean it doesn't
start at worship service.
00:16:18.00\00:16:20.97
That that's a good
point, that's a good point
00:16:21.35\00:16:23.95
it does it, it does
it. You know, I think
00:16:24.40\00:16:25.96
we ought to discuss
just a little bit this matter
00:16:25.99\00:16:28.78
of the Sabbath I
know and of the worship
00:16:29.93\00:16:31.61
and of honoring the
Sabbath and I needless,
00:16:31.64\00:16:35.37
needless to say
because of our kind of modern
00:16:35.40\00:16:38.39
lives it's getting more
and more challenging, yes,
00:16:38.42\00:16:43.49
to be ready when a
Sabbath comes and it's pretty
00:16:43.94\00:16:47.95
hard you know to be
going 60 miles an hour
00:16:47.98\00:16:52.33
and then just hit
the brakes that could put
00:16:53.10\00:16:56.57
you through the
windshield and so I think
00:16:56.60\00:17:00.64
that if we're going to
be ready for the Sabbath
00:17:00.67\00:17:03.16
we got to be
slowing down before sunset.
00:17:03.72\00:17:06.49
Well we need to be
slowing down in our thoughts
00:17:06.52\00:17:09.50
in preparation for the Sabbath
00:17:09.86\00:17:11.46
well on in the week.
Yes. Planning toward the
00:17:11.49\00:17:14.81
Sabbath and it is, it
is a sad thing that many
00:17:14.84\00:17:20.05
are not thinking
about the Sabbath as much as
00:17:20.08\00:17:24.60
they should nor
planning, and this is what we
00:17:24.63\00:17:26.44
want to do is to
revive their interest in this
00:17:26.47\00:17:29.19
sort of thing and then
and the command to do so.
00:17:29.22\00:17:32.31
Do you know have
you heard the expression
00:17:32.66\00:17:34.86
anticipation is
greater than the realization
00:17:34.89\00:17:36.66
and in some ways
this is true because
00:17:37.06\00:17:40.69
getting ready for an
event is what makes it
00:17:40.72\00:17:42.85
exciting and of
course I think in many homes
00:17:42.88\00:17:45.71
the Sabbath is
kind of the punishment,
00:17:46.53\00:17:48.19
it's kind of threat, you know,
00:17:48.22\00:17:49.20
you better stop
doing that at Sabbath.
00:17:49.74\00:17:51.11
You better get
ready Sabbath is coming
00:17:51.68\00:17:53.08
and so the child in
their minds are saying well,
00:17:53.11\00:17:55.60
you know, I just hate
this, I just hate this,
00:17:55.63\00:17:58.03
but we don't hate
going on a vacation.
00:17:58.32\00:18:00.19
No, you know, we
don't hate going to,
00:18:00.22\00:18:02.07
preparation is exiting
you know, visit a friend.
00:18:02.10\00:18:03.83
It's because, this
what makes it go and so,
00:18:03.86\00:18:06.44
in someway we
need to see the Sabbath
00:18:06.47\00:18:09.99
as a joy or something
that hey when Sabbath,
00:18:10.47\00:18:13.74
Sabbath is almost here. Yes.
00:18:13.77\00:18:15.50
It's going to be Sabbath,
00:18:15.53\00:18:16.50
oh great it's
going to be Sabbath.
00:18:16.51\00:18:18.15
And it is not just for
the fact that you can sleep.
00:18:18.18\00:18:19.23
It's going to be
special. Yes something special.
00:18:19.26\00:18:21.10
I don't know, but
that's where the planning
00:18:21.44\00:18:23.31
comes in and that's
the responsibility of
00:18:23.34\00:18:25.70
the parents or
those who are guardians
00:18:25.73\00:18:28.57
that if you can do
some planning toward that
00:18:29.02\00:18:32.00
and then cause a
little anticipation
00:18:32.03\00:18:33.53
or little
excitement and as they get
00:18:33.56\00:18:36.06
older they are understanding;
00:18:36.09\00:18:37.31
that it's their responsibility
00:18:37.34\00:18:38.76
to prepare ahead of time.
00:18:38.79\00:18:39.89
I will tell the story
Kathy about how when my
00:18:39.92\00:18:42.26
children and
grandchildren come to visit,
00:18:42.64\00:18:44.42
how you know for
a week in advance
00:18:45.40\00:18:47.10
Betty is getting
cleaning the guest the room and
00:18:47.13\00:18:50.09
you know buying
some little gifts and
00:18:50.12\00:18:51.97
by the way when our
grandchildren with us.
00:18:52.31\00:18:54.23
Betty has what she
calls as Sabbath surprise.
00:18:54.53\00:18:56.70
Oh really. Yeah.
That's a nice thing.
00:18:56.73\00:18:58.23
And you see something
special for the Sabbath
00:18:58.26\00:19:00.13
by the way I've heard
that it's good to have
00:19:00.16\00:19:04.49
what we call Sabbath
toys, had you hear that before,
00:19:04.52\00:19:07.70
the soft thing. Yeah right.
00:19:07.73\00:19:08.70
It's some special for
them for this moments.
00:19:08.71\00:19:09.68
It's something that
comes out only on Sabbath
00:19:09.69\00:19:11.24
you see because a
child can't just sit there,
00:19:11.27\00:19:14.04
you know for a 24
hours and just say.
00:19:14.07\00:19:16.20
Now you just sit
there and don't move,
00:19:16.23\00:19:17.44
you can't do this, you
can't do that, alright.
00:19:17.47\00:19:18.84
Sabbath has to be a
time in which you can do
00:19:19.10\00:19:21.30
things that you
can't do any other time.
00:19:21.33\00:19:22.86
So the child says, oh
I can wait for Sabbath,
00:19:22.89\00:19:25.21
this is what our
grandchildren they say,
00:19:25.24\00:19:26.82
oh grandma do you
have the Sabbath surprise.
00:19:26.85\00:19:28.72
It's not a video
game right by the way,
00:19:29.71\00:19:31.54
it's not a video
game, something very,
00:19:31.57\00:19:33.12
very appropriate. Oh,
you need to make that clear.
00:19:33.15\00:19:34.55
Yes. In other words
it's not something that
00:19:34.91\00:19:36.56
speeds up the course
in the pace of their life.
00:19:36.59\00:19:39.09
It's something
that's appropriate to the
00:19:39.12\00:19:40.92
Sabbath hours. You
know, I think that generally
00:19:40.95\00:19:43.80
speaking probably
Friday night can be made
00:19:43.83\00:19:46.88
very special and of
course Sabbath morning
00:19:46.91\00:19:50.50
is not so difficult
but may I have bounce
00:19:51.27\00:19:53.45
something off of you.
Oh you know I may be wrong
00:19:53.48\00:19:57.70
when I say this may be
it's a personal opinion.
00:19:57.73\00:19:59.44
But there seems to
be a trend to breakup
00:19:59.76\00:20:03.09
the family during
the worship service.
00:20:03.12\00:20:04.89
Now I'm not talking
about in Sabbath school
00:20:04.92\00:20:07.09
obviously we have
our Sabbath school
00:20:07.12\00:20:08.44
departments for
the little child.
00:20:08.47\00:20:09.77
You understand
where I'm coming from.
00:20:09.80\00:20:11.23
But the society now,
that we are gonna have
00:20:11.58\00:20:13.59
babysitting, you know
in other words the church
00:20:13.62\00:20:15.46
advertising babysitting,
so that mother and daddy
00:20:15.49\00:20:18.60
can sit there. You
know listen to the sermon.
00:20:18.63\00:20:20.72
Now I think it's
important you know for the mom
00:20:20.75\00:20:23.74
to be able to you know
to listen to the sermon,
00:20:23.77\00:20:25.32
able to hear, but I
know that Betty for so many
00:20:25.35\00:20:28.23
years she would
have those four children
00:20:28.26\00:20:30.07
on the front row.
I don't know how many
00:20:30.10\00:20:32.51
sermons she was
hearing, but thank God she was,
00:20:32.54\00:20:36.20
she was doing something
as important as the sermon.
00:20:36.23\00:20:38.79
Right. She was
teaching these little children
00:20:38.82\00:20:40.93
to worship. You know,
I can understand having
00:20:40.96\00:20:43.21
all the mothers
poise in the back.
00:20:43.24\00:20:46.29
They used to have
mothers poise in the back
00:20:46.32\00:20:48.87
they were listed as
that and that can be
00:20:48.90\00:20:51.36
important for
the reverence of the
00:20:51.39\00:20:53.11
sanctuary and but I
found that if I carefully
00:20:53.14\00:21:00.17
tried to take care
of. If I was striving for
00:21:00.20\00:21:03.44
taking care of worship
during the week and then
00:21:03.47\00:21:06.83
I put them on the
front in Sabbath on Sabbath
00:21:06.86\00:21:10.96
then they tended to
listen better than if they
00:21:11.78\00:21:14.15
were in the back
and I'm not trying cause
00:21:14.18\00:21:15.96
confusion in any
church congregation.
00:21:15.99\00:21:17.44
No, no, of course.
And distractions but if I
00:21:17.47\00:21:21.42
took care of it during
the week I had more peace
00:21:21.45\00:21:25.17
on Sabbath morning and
then they could listen.
00:21:25.20\00:21:27.27
They were right there listening.
00:21:27.30\00:21:28.38
That's right, that's right.
00:21:28.41\00:21:29.38
And that help
them through the years.
00:21:29.53\00:21:31.72
I mean to say as
you say that because
00:21:31.75\00:21:33.86
I might say personally
that, well, well let me
00:21:33.89\00:21:37.74
say you know as
Pastor will say to people
00:21:37.77\00:21:39.65
why do you want
to sit in the back
00:21:39.68\00:21:41.13
come to the front,
you know come to the front
00:21:41.16\00:21:42.13
and we always say
that. One day I was going to
00:21:42.14\00:21:44.07
a meeting of
ministers and I walked in and I
00:21:44.10\00:21:46.38
went right for the
back row and I thought
00:21:46.41\00:21:47.71
here I'm doing
what I'm telling people
00:21:47.74\00:21:49.22
not to do and then
I tried to figure out
00:21:49.25\00:21:51.02
you know what was the
sought of the pathology
00:21:51.05\00:21:52.95
of that and I realized
that where I sit in the
00:21:52.98\00:21:56.69
church depends on how much I
00:21:56.72\00:21:58.05
intend to
participate. Well, yeah.
00:21:58.08\00:22:00.38
And then if I sit
in the back it means
00:22:00.41\00:22:01.99
I'm gonna watch.
The further down that
00:22:02.02\00:22:05.97
I sit in the
church is an intention of
00:22:06.00\00:22:08.67
my determination
to participate in it.
00:22:08.70\00:22:10.84
And so, I think
mental participation, and so
00:22:10.87\00:22:12.92
I think it's very
meaningful what you say
00:22:12.95\00:22:14.20
that if we have our
children on the back
00:22:14.23\00:22:16.09
row then they don't
even what's going on.
00:22:16.12\00:22:18.15
It's like being you
know at a ball game in the
00:22:18.18\00:22:19.95
back and all they
see is people heads.
00:22:19.98\00:22:21.68
That's right and
that's why and you know you
00:22:22.20\00:22:23.90
might think well
I'll never do that
00:22:23.93\00:22:25.14
with my children.
Betty had four children
00:22:25.17\00:22:27.70
on the front row.
Well I want to be gentle
00:22:27.73\00:22:29.66
with those who may
be first coming into
00:22:29.69\00:22:31.24
the church and they
are striving toward this,
00:22:31.27\00:22:33.89
but I just want to
encourage you that it is
00:22:33.92\00:22:35.52
possible that
during the week that this
00:22:35.55\00:22:38.24
sort of things can
take place and you will have
00:22:38.27\00:22:40.89
some success and if
you'll be consistent and
00:22:40.92\00:22:43.45
you won't give up
don't weary in while doing.
00:22:43.48\00:22:46.72
Can we say
something maybe, yes our time
00:22:47.44\00:22:49.64
is already. Well you
know you get into these
00:22:49.67\00:22:51.87
subjects and just
there are so many wonderful
00:22:51.90\00:22:53.93
things and I would
hope that those who are
00:22:53.96\00:22:56.35
with us, would not
think well they are gonna get
00:22:56.38\00:23:00.08
the last word, they are
gonna tell us what to do
00:23:00.11\00:23:01.84
and we've got
to do it their way.
00:23:01.87\00:23:03.08
What we want to
do is begin to think
00:23:03.41\00:23:04.69
about these
things. Yes. We're gonna
00:23:04.72\00:23:06.03
turn our minds on
because I think all of us
00:23:06.06\00:23:08.32
together are more
creative than any of us
00:23:08.35\00:23:10.62
just by ones or twos.
But it's really not just
00:23:10.65\00:23:13.05
optional, we do
it or we don't do it.
00:23:13.08\00:23:15.09
God has asked us to be reverend
00:23:15.12\00:23:17.39
about the
Sabbath. You know Sabbath
00:23:17.42\00:23:19.66
afternoon is a big
problem. Yes it is.
00:23:19.69\00:23:21.52
May I bounce
something off of you,
00:23:21.55\00:23:22.81
when we go to church
on Sabbath day I suppose
00:23:23.96\00:23:25.85
I could get into
discussion on this too.
00:23:25.88\00:23:27.51
Should I stop you
before you get into the
00:23:27.54\00:23:29.48
discussion on this
because I want to ask,
00:23:29.51\00:23:31.53
give you a little commercial.
00:23:31.56\00:23:32.53
Yes, I want if there
are those that have topics
00:23:32.54\00:23:36.61
for the future or suggestions,
00:23:36.64\00:23:38.28
thoughts in your
mind needs that you have
00:23:38.57\00:23:40.86
something that
you would like to hear
00:23:40.89\00:23:42.07
Thinking About Home
discuss then call or write
00:23:42.10\00:23:44.96
3ABN and the
address is 3ABN, PO Box 220,
00:23:45.46\00:23:50.30
West Frankfort, IL 62896 or
00:23:50.73\00:23:53.82
call the 800
number 800-752-3226.
00:23:53.85\00:23:58.43
And mention Thinking About Home
00:23:58.46\00:24:00.14
and give a
suggestion for a topic
00:24:00.64\00:24:02.80
I don't know that
we can handle all that
00:24:02.83\00:24:04.67
we will hear from but
we will try to do the best
00:24:04.70\00:24:07.20
of what we can and
there probably would be
00:24:07.23\00:24:09.05
some subjects that we
might not be able to get
00:24:09.08\00:24:11.26
into but
possibly some that we can
00:24:11.29\00:24:14.12
and we'll do what
we can do best for you.
00:24:14.43\00:24:17.21
Now we're back to
you. Okay, well and I think
00:24:17.50\00:24:20.36
when I hear you little
commercial you are saying.
00:24:20.39\00:24:22.20
You're saying to the
people not only share
00:24:22.63\00:24:23.96
with us but think
about yourself. Yes.
00:24:23.99\00:24:25.81
Our homes are
under attack these days,
00:24:25.84\00:24:27.71
we're in big problems.
Our homes are breaking up,
00:24:27.74\00:24:30.34
our children are
having huge problems and, and
00:24:30.37\00:24:33.32
as men and women of
God at Christian homes.
00:24:33.35\00:24:35.76
We've got to fight
back, we've got to fight back,
00:24:35.79\00:24:37.97
but let me say
something going back to
00:24:38.00\00:24:39.53
the subject of Sabbath
and how to honor the Sabbath.
00:24:39.56\00:24:41.89
Yes. You know
the Sabbath afternoon
00:24:41.92\00:24:44.68
is really a tough time
and let me say this and
00:24:44.71\00:24:47.74
we won't be able
finish this by any means.
00:24:47.77\00:24:49.95
You know, I think how
we act has a lot to do
00:24:50.29\00:24:54.21
with how we are dressed.
Yes well that would bring
00:24:54.24\00:24:57.05
up the subject to
Christian standards.
00:24:57.08\00:24:58.49
Well it really does
because see there is even
00:24:58.52\00:25:01.53
a trend to dress
down and going to church.
00:25:01.56\00:25:04.02
Yes. You see if I go to church.
00:25:04.05\00:25:05.81
What isn't that come
from the idea of God accepts
00:25:05.84\00:25:07.96
me the way I
am. The way I'm see,
00:25:07.99\00:25:09.45
and he does accept that
he doesn't leave me that way.
00:25:09.48\00:25:12.55
Well because he accepts
me but you see I ought to
00:25:12.58\00:25:14.54
think more of him.
You know how we dress
00:25:14.57\00:25:16.28
on a particular
occasion indicates how we feel
00:25:16.31\00:25:19.60
about it. That's
true. In other words,
00:25:19.63\00:25:21.06
if a person goes to
a banquet they don't go
00:25:21.09\00:25:24.03
in shorts and cut
offs. Not usually.
00:25:24.06\00:25:27.04
And so if I'm gonna
dress up for a banquet
00:25:27.07\00:25:29.32
you would think it
would only make sense
00:25:29.35\00:25:30.91
that I would
want, you know, to treat
00:25:30.94\00:25:32.82
God atleast on the
level of banquet. Right.
00:25:32.85\00:25:35.44
It is the
spiritual banquet after all.
00:25:35.47\00:25:36.84
But what I'm
leading up to is I think
00:25:37.21\00:25:39.21
the challenge of
keeping our children
00:25:39.24\00:25:42.03
honoring the
Sabbath in the afternoon,
00:25:42.77\00:25:44.22
can have to do something
with the way they dress.
00:25:44.59\00:25:47.15
In other words, if
they come home and we
00:25:47.18\00:25:49.02
change their
Sabbath clothes and we put
00:25:49.05\00:25:50.97
them into some
grungies. Something that they
00:25:51.00\00:25:53.29
usually wear when
they go to a ballgame,
00:25:53.32\00:25:55.15
and then they
gonna want to play ball.
00:25:55.18\00:25:56.88
Yes there is a
connection isn't that.
00:25:56.91\00:25:58.86
Of course there is and
so I think we need to make
00:25:58.89\00:26:01.24
the Sabbath
special all day long.
00:26:01.27\00:26:03.38
I mean, you know
not to threaten them but
00:26:03.53\00:26:05.11
to say the Sabbath is
a special time in which
00:26:05.14\00:26:07.48
we come up see and if
I'm dressing up a little
00:26:07.51\00:26:10.33
bit and I'm having
these in special occasions.
00:26:10.36\00:26:12.41
I think it will bring
out the best in me. Yes.
00:26:12.44\00:26:15.01
And not only in the children
00:26:15.34\00:26:16.31
but in the whole family.
00:26:16.32\00:26:17.29
Well, but I think
society has pressed on us
00:26:17.40\00:26:19.59
and we've accepted it,
the idea that we should
00:26:19.62\00:26:22.87
be so child-centered
and I'm not trying to
00:26:22.90\00:26:25.60
be unkind to
children. You're right.
00:26:25.63\00:26:27.26
Please don't
misunderstand me on that,
00:26:27.29\00:26:29.00
but children can
learn to be respectful
00:26:29.29\00:26:32.39
for a short period of time.
00:26:32.42\00:26:33.75
God has asked
only 1/7th of the week
00:26:33.78\00:26:37.41
and if we don't realize at this.
00:26:38.02\00:26:41.10
This has as a connection
with our being prepared
00:26:41.36\00:26:43.60
for heaven, yes,
our preparedness.
00:26:43.63\00:26:45.83
If we, if we are not trying to
00:26:45.86\00:26:47.54
prepare and strive
toward this then our
00:26:47.57\00:26:50.70
character is not
being developed the way the
00:26:50.73\00:26:52.44
Christ wants it to
be developed and we need
00:26:52.47\00:26:54.80
to think about
these things. Absolutely,
00:26:54.83\00:26:57.35
what a thrill it is
that God shared his creative
00:26:57.71\00:27:02.20
power with us and
that we have our families.
00:27:02.23\00:27:05.10
Yes. And that we
are one with him in this
00:27:05.25\00:27:07.91
relationship and how
important is that our
00:27:07.94\00:27:09.55
families stay strong in
the Lord and stay strong
00:27:09.58\00:27:12.23
in the Lord. Amen.
And we haven't got to
00:27:12.26\00:27:13.42
discuss everything,
but we're gonna have to
00:27:13.45\00:27:14.85
to end with prayer.
Let's do that and let's pray
00:27:14.88\00:27:16.53
for our families.
Yes, we want you to know
00:27:16.56\00:27:18.81
that we'll be praying for you.
00:27:18.84\00:27:20.22
We want you to join us
again, this is the last
00:27:20.92\00:27:23.15
of the plain talk,
plain talk, but we're going
00:27:23.18\00:27:25.75
to be having
other programs coming up
00:27:25.78\00:27:27.72
that I think
you'll be interested in.
00:27:28.06\00:27:29.45
We're gonna have prayer for you,
00:27:30.29\00:27:31.36
please join us in
prayer and I'll see you again
00:27:31.39\00:27:33.06
next time on
Thinking About Home.
00:27:33.09\00:27:34.60
Heavenly Father,
we're thankful Lord for
00:27:35.03\00:27:37.75
our homes and we pray that is
00:27:37.78\00:27:39.89
mothers and
fathers and is grandparents
00:27:39.92\00:27:42.33
and sons and daughters.
Oh Lord may the angels
00:27:42.36\00:27:45.85
be in our homes, may
we have homes where the
00:27:45.88\00:27:48.64
angels love to
dwell and in our homes,
00:27:48.67\00:27:51.15
may the words of our mouth,
00:27:51.53\00:27:52.91
may the
meditations of our hearts
00:27:53.69\00:27:55.02
be acceptable in yours sight
00:27:55.05\00:27:56.73
through Jesus
Christ our Lord we pray.
00:27:57.13\00:27:59.53