Participants: Richard O'Ffill, Kathy Matthews
Series Code: TAH
Program Code: TAH000139
|
00:31 Welcome to Thinking About Home.
00:32 I am Kathy Matthews and I'm glad you're with us. 00:35 We've been going through a series called Plain Talk, 00:39 and this is the last of our series and our guest 00:41 today is the director of the Men's Ministries from 00:44 the Florida Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist 00:46 and that's Pastor Richard O'Ffill. 00:48 We've been having lot of fun, haven't we? 00:49 I've enjoyed it immensely. I have, and you take 00:53 away my nervousness. We've been doing 00:55 plain talk and you know, I think Kathy that 00:58 it's important that we talk clearly we don't, 01:01 you know maybe there is a time to talk. 01:04 You know with the hidden agenda, not, not, 01:07 not not really or to you know kind of be really 01:10 careful but I think that by enlarge if our 01:14 Christian lives are gonna work, then we have 01:16 to as they say let it all hang out and 01:19 and I have found and I don't know if you 01:21 experiences the same, but though our lives are 01:25 different in many ways, as different individuals 01:28 has different families. We more are like 01:30 then we are different. There is kind of a generic 01:33 something about us all and I have found 01:35 in my own life, in my own preaching, 01:38 then when I began to talk about myself and 01:39 some of my own challenges and people will say 01:42 that's like me. That's just like me, I know, 01:44 our subject today is going to be about the family. 01:48 The relationship with the family to the church, 01:50 to the church, is that correct? You know. 01:52 What does the family have to do with the church? 01:56 You know we talk about the family of God 01:59 and whenever we go to church and we will say 02:01 aren't we? We are so glad. We will even sing that, 02:03 we are so glad, we are part of the family of God. 02:05 Yes. So, I got thinking about this and thought 02:08 you know, if we can see the human family. 02:11 Our God showed us as one family. 02:14 That this though it would be one family 02:16 it is really comprised of many, many families. 02:19 And, and as they say the whole is the sum of 02:22 these parts, and so it was seem to me that 02:25 the condition of the church at a particular 02:28 time wouldn't that reflect the condition 02:31 of the families that comprise it? Yes, 02:34 so would the church be changing the family 02:37 or the family changing the church? Now that was 02:40 profound, how would you answer that? 02:45 Well I would say that's in it it's comprised of 02:48 its parts then it would be the family that 02:50 changing the church. The family is changing 02:52 the church, but how be at when we come together 02:54 as families it's to encourage all the parts, 02:57 but I would say although its. What's happening to 03:02 our families? Yeah, what's happening to 03:04 our families is changing our church. Yes I agree. 03:06 And, in fact, you know there is lots of 03:07 discussions about what's going on in the church. 03:10 But what we are doing on Sabbath is tending to 03:14 reflect these days the way we live 03:15 the rest of the week. We don't know, 03:17 I don't think lot of people have the family 03:20 altar or the family worship as much as they 03:22 could and I believe that's really unestablished 03:26 principle in God's word and probably we ought to 03:30 be looking to that more. And of course this is 03:33 the challenge before we begin the program, 03:35 remember we were saying. You said, well 03:37 let's discuss the issue of family worship. 03:40 Well I don't know if the family worship 03:42 is an issue, is an issue, 03:43 but it's definitely a challenge. 03:44 Well it is a challenge, that' right. 03:45 It's not debatable, it's not an issue and then 03:47 it's debatable. As you just said it's got to be, 03:50 it was meant to be all of the, you know the 03:53 great heroes of the faith they had a family-altar. 03:56 Yes. And so here in the 21st century, 03:59 we need to have a family altar and we called that 04:01 family worship. So, how can we have more 04:03 meaningful than worship? May I ask you a 04:05 question? No, are you kidding yes. 04:09 You have two daughters of course Sarah and Rachel 04:12 such beautiful name, the Bible names. 04:15 Oh thank you. So surely you and Tom have a, 04:19 you know you have a family worship. 04:20 Well, in fact, I had been having breakfast with you, 04:22 you know, as we've been here and Tom leads 04:24 in worship every morning. 04:26 Is that what you usually do? Well that's what we 04:28 always do, but that didn't come natural, that didn't 04:31 come before those children were born. 04:35 It didn't even come at first when we became 04:38 Christians because we didn't know to do that 04:41 and then we saw the example and we wanted to 04:45 set that example in our own home. 04:47 Then we had learned little about how to do it. 04:49 And then when the children were small, 04:52 it was different then it is now, yes of course, 04:55 and all of those factors made a difference. 04:57 So, yes we tried to have morning and evening 05:01 worship of which we learned to do after 05:04 we did a study on the sanctuary. 05:05 Yes, you know I noticed this morning, 05:07 if I might refer to breakfast? 05:09 Yes, as we sat around the table and Tom had 05:12 the Bible there, yes, and I think he began 05:15 with prayer and he prayed and I remember 05:18 he said and Lord as we open your word bless us 05:21 and then he read out, like a little Psalm and then 05:26 we sang a little song. I didn't sing because 05:27 I didn't know the song. You know, I guess he did, 05:29 I didn't know the first part of it. Yes. 05:31 And yesterday you were saying a scripture, 05:33 the scripture Psalm, of which we don't always do. 05:37 That's one area where we have to become 05:39 comfortable, because when the children were 05:41 little we had to become comfortable hearing our 05:44 own voices acapella. Yes, you're right. 05:46 You are not singing in the choir or the shower, 05:49 where nobody can hear you. That's right. 05:50 This was becoming comfortable with 05:52 ourselves. Now, now when you all have 05:56 morning worship is usually around the 05:57 breakfast table or might it be often. 06:00 It often times is out in the living room. 06:03 Yes. Sometimes it's at the table. Well because 06:06 I suppose if our audience today has considered 06:11 about having, you know, family worship where 06:12 you have it will affect what is going to be, 06:15 when you having around the breakfast table 06:18 you can't have it too long. No, yes and 06:21 especially if you are expecting the children to 06:23 stay calm and, just to stay focused, 06:25 yes and focused. When I was ill we had it 06:28 around the bed. Around the bed, right. Yes. 06:30 You know Rachel is the, youngest, child that you 06:34 have at home now. Yes. Because Sarah is away 06:36 and but isn't that there is big difference between 06:41 the kind of worship you'll have when your child 06:43 is 15 than when it's five. Little more in depth. 06:47 Well do you know let me just say that, I make a 06:50 confession is the doctrine, is a fair, that 06:56 of course Betty and I have four children 06:59 and because they are all growing. 07:00 Is this going to be your confessing story that I 07:02 asked you for? Yes this is a confession that you 07:03 asked me to confess. So, she made me do this. 07:07 So anyway Betty always led in worship believe it 07:11 or not. She led in worship and she and of course 07:14 we were doing worship for little people. 07:16 So she was doing little people worship, 07:20 guess what I was doing, well you sleeping, 07:24 I'm so embarrassed, you should be, 07:26 you know I feel so ashamed to myself, 07:29 but as I look back on it and by the way you know 07:31 there is two ways of looking back. You know 07:34 you can look back and you feel just so guilty that 07:36 you just hate yourself or you can look back and say. 07:39 You know if I had to that do it again. 07:40 This is the way everybody do. See I think 07:42 this is what the Christian life is got 07:43 to be ultimately. Well that's what we have, 07:44 that's what we have in this program for us so 07:46 the things that we realize that are very important, 07:50 we can pass on to someone else and hopes that 07:52 they will do better than we did. 07:54 Well that's the point and we learn by experience. 07:57 Yes. So I can always, you know, tell you to do 08:01 what I did, sometimes I have to say don't do it. 08:04 Do what I did exactly. And so, and so I'm ashamed, 08:08 but I know the Lord forgiven me for all the 08:10 worships that I slept through, but as I 08:12 look back on it and this is not to critic Betty, 08:15 but then see Tom knows what he supposed to do 08:18 in worshiping, but you see I guess I didn't know. 08:21 I guess I was so may be little indifferent 08:24 isn't not that I didn't care that I should have 08:27 had in the sign role in worship. 08:28 Now Betty was going to read the Bible stories 08:31 to her little friend, but I should have had 08:34 the opening prayer or the closing prayer or 08:37 an input along the way, where it would have been 08:38 kind of like a Sabbath school program. Right. 08:40 And then I had to stay awake. Yes. 08:42 That would keep you going; well mine was 08:45 kind of to lead the music especially when they 08:48 were little it was always expected that mother 08:50 would start the music. And then you got to 08:52 where we would let the children start or choose. 08:55 Of course, we have some counsel that says 08:57 when they are capable of reading they could join in 09:01 and they could read scripture and we were not 09:05 always though into a lot of entertainment 09:10 and we need to do, we need to balance out that 09:13 to where there are times that is very serious 09:16 and yet on their level, but we didn't do a lot of 09:19 song and dance for our children. No, no. 09:22 We expect that was the time, where we wanted to 09:24 prepare them to be in worship for church. 09:27 And this was the time that it needed to be done 09:29 and we realized that the God gave us the grace 09:32 and understanding to realize that. 09:34 If we are going to have them to enjoy or to be 09:37 trained to be reverend in church and worship 09:42 then they needed to do adhere in family worship, 09:44 where we would take care of it all. 09:46 It's really important what you are saying 09:48 because some parents are so frustrated 09:50 when they take their children to church 09:51 because they won't stay still. 09:53 They seemed to be out of control and the time 09:56 in which we prepare our children to learn to 10:00 worship is in the family worship because, 10:03 because if they have done that six days 10:05 a week then church is not going to be a change, 10:08 but if they haven't had family worship during 10:10 the week or if the family worship is so far out. 10:13 It was sort of a wrestle or rough-and-tumble. 10:15 Yes. Then this other situation. Do you know 10:18 I was in a home one time and we are sharing 10:21 in family worship. I want to say something 10:22 about that before we get off this subject, 10:24 but go ahead, well anyway I was in this home 10:27 with family worship and they were two boys 10:30 and of course their parents. Kathy they did 10:33 something I thought was wonderful, they had 10:35 this part of the worship in which one member of 10:38 the family would turn and tell what they liked 10:41 about the person sitting next to them. Yes. 10:43 All we have been through that. 10:44 Oh that was wonderful, we should keep that up, 10:46 it was wonderful, because you know 10:48 siblings especially are always insulting 10:51 each other, each other. You know, if I don't like 10:53 about the person sitting next to me, yes. 10:55 It was blessed experience. They got the sweetest 10:58 smiles on their face and not only, you know, 11:01 did it bring the good out in the person who was 11:04 having to, having to think of something 11:05 that they like, but these others, you know 11:08 the others just glowed and so I like what you say 11:11 that family worship has to be participatory. 11:14 That's a non-conflict time to build bonding. 11:17 It's what is about. Yeah I mean well, of course, 11:18 you don't build much bonding in conflict 11:20 but it was a time, when bonding could be, 11:25 you know, always remembered in that 11:28 beautiful moment of worship, family worship. 11:31 And this is where we also thought. 11:34 I've tried to mentor young parents. 11:39 And one of the things that they always have 11:41 trouble with here is worship, and this is 11:44 an area where if you have little ones that not 11:49 allowing them to crawl all over the place 11:51 while prayer is taking place. That's right. 11:53 Is something that mother and dad have a 11:56 responsibility to do, you might think that you 11:58 wanted to set the example because you know you 12:00 want to have your prayer in reverent position, 12:03 but it's your duty to watch out for them 12:05 and then somewhere along the line they are gonna be 12:07 watching you to see what you do all the time. 12:09 That's right, that's right, 12:10 but you are in a position of a parent, 12:12 where you are going to be watching them to train 12:14 them at these moments. If you wanting them to 12:18 close their eyes or fold their hands or do 12:20 some sort of reverent position of which I 12:22 feel like is necessary. But on the other hand, 12:25 you know if the little child sitting there, 12:26 you know, you are not spanking their hands. No. 12:28 And you know giving them hits on the back sides 12:31 you got to be reverent bang. 12:33 Now we are talking about hands on when they are 12:36 so small that you can put your hands over 12:39 their hands and that sort of thing and 12:41 and helping them just for a short prayer not a 12:44 15-minute prayer but a short prayer to help them 12:47 to understand that this is the time 12:48 and the place you need to be still in reverent. 12:50 There is nothing wrong with the child being still, 12:53 but they have to learn to be still. Do you know 12:55 if you permit me to say this, when you talk 12:59 about praying and praying with our children. 13:01 It occurred to me one day and I may have been 13:03 listening to my self prayer or may be to 13:06 Betty pray with the grandchildren. 13:10 And I don't say this disrespectfully because 13:12 I appreciate so much, you know, the prayers 13:13 of the mothers and prayer of my own wife 13:15 for her children, but I listened to the prayer 13:18 and it seem like, it seem like that many times 13:23 our prayers are at the children. You know, 13:25 dear God, you know help, help Rachel to be a 13:28 good girl, help her to be obedient, 13:30 help her not to do this, help her not, poor Rachel 13:32 see I hope this prayer gets over fast. 13:34 And so and I thought to myself. 13:36 You know, if we are going to confess our children 13:38 sins at worship. We ought to confess 13:41 a few of our own, our own of course. Yes. 13:44 And so if I'm gonna say you know help, 13:45 help Andrea to be a good girl and to love 13:50 Jesus you know I could add and help grandpa 13:53 to be kind and forgiving. And we should. 13:56 I could confess a few of my own. That's right, 13:58 and that would be very enduring I think and 14:01 balancing, and they can see that. 14:02 Well, how is the child gonna learn to repent 14:04 if they have never seen it done and they need 14:06 to hear you. Absolutely they do, 14:08 actually one of the things that we did when it, 14:11 it came to discipline it was not necessarily 14:14 a family worship but it was around discipline 14:15 and it was coming to me I was trying to teach 14:19 them to come to me to confess what they 14:22 had done and then, but then I didn't just 14:25 have me as the only confessor, but I said 14:30 and I will, and this was after they were 14:32 old enough, and I will take you to the 14:34 throne of grace and I will take you to Christ. 14:37 And in that way I want you to learn now to 14:39 soon bypass me and go to the throne of grace 14:42 for yourself. And this was effective, 14:46 that kind of thing was effective for them, 14:48 absolutely, but that's the time to in worship 14:51 that you can train them to go to the grace 14:54 or go to the throne of grace, so that 14:57 the confession of sin and then you don't 14:59 have to be confessing it for them. 15:01 I can do it for themselves. 15:02 Well I hope that those who are with us 15:03 have gotten some ideas and I'm sure that 15:06 if we could talk with them that they could give 15:08 us many ideas because it's challenge. 15:11 If we're going to have family worship, 15:12 we're gonna do it in a regular way. 15:14 We have to do it intentionally 15:15 and we have to work at it. 15:17 And, and I have really found that you know 15:19 in our lives we're usually into what we're 15:22 spending time on, it takes planning, 15:24 it takes planning and we have to know 15:25 in advance we don't just do it Adhoc and if 15:29 we would give God time all the change in our lives. 15:32 If we will give him time at home, our homes 15:34 would be different places, but you know maybe we 15:36 ought to just kind of a gone from family worship, 15:40 because family worship is really getting ready 15:42 for corporate worship where all the families, 15:44 right, as we said at the beginning of 15:45 the program all the families come together 15:47 as the family have got for corporate worship. 15:50 Well corporate worship begins when? 15:54 Oh come on now answer your question. 15:56 Well it seems to me though that as the world 15:59 gets together for the Sabbath 16:01 and honoring the Sabbath. Yes. 16:02 That corporately by faith we get together 16:04 at the beginning of the Sabbath. Well I thought 16:06 that's where you are coming from, absolutely, 16:08 in the preparation day Friday and then 16:10 coming to the beginning of the Sabbath 16:12 the opening hours. Well of course the scripture 16:15 is very clear that from the sunset to sunset. 16:18 Right, you mean it doesn't start at worship service. 16:21 That that's a good point, that's a good point 16:24 it does it, it does it. You know, I think 16:25 we ought to discuss just a little bit this matter 16:29 of the Sabbath I know and of the worship 16:31 and of honoring the Sabbath and I needless, 16:35 needless to say because of our kind of modern 16:38 lives it's getting more and more challenging, yes, 16:43 to be ready when a Sabbath comes and it's pretty 16:47 hard you know to be going 60 miles an hour 16:53 and then just hit the brakes that could put 16:56 you through the windshield and so I think 17:00 that if we're going to be ready for the Sabbath 17:03 we got to be slowing down before sunset. 17:06 Well we need to be slowing down in our thoughts 17:09 in preparation for the Sabbath 17:11 well on in the week. Yes. Planning toward the 17:14 Sabbath and it is, it is a sad thing that many 17:20 are not thinking about the Sabbath as much as 17:24 they should nor planning, and this is what we 17:26 want to do is to revive their interest in this 17:29 sort of thing and then and the command to do so. 17:32 Do you know have you heard the expression 17:34 anticipation is greater than the realization 17:37 and in some ways this is true because 17:40 getting ready for an event is what makes it 17:42 exciting and of course I think in many homes 17:46 the Sabbath is kind of the punishment, 17:48 it's kind of threat, you know, 17:49 you better stop doing that at Sabbath. 17:51 You better get ready Sabbath is coming 17:53 and so the child in their minds are saying well, 17:55 you know, I just hate this, I just hate this, 17:58 but we don't hate going on a vacation. 18:00 No, you know, we don't hate going to, 18:02 preparation is exiting you know, visit a friend. 18:03 It's because, this what makes it go and so, 18:06 in someway we need to see the Sabbath 18:10 as a joy or something that hey when Sabbath, 18:13 Sabbath is almost here. Yes. 18:15 It's going to be Sabbath, 18:16 oh great it's going to be Sabbath. 18:18 And it is not just for the fact that you can sleep. 18:19 It's going to be special. Yes something special. 18:21 I don't know, but that's where the planning 18:23 comes in and that's the responsibility of 18:25 the parents or those who are guardians 18:29 that if you can do some planning toward that 18:32 and then cause a little anticipation 18:33 or little excitement and as they get 18:36 older they are understanding; 18:37 that it's their responsibility 18:38 to prepare ahead of time. 18:39 I will tell the story Kathy about how when my 18:42 children and grandchildren come to visit, 18:45 how you know for a week in advance 18:47 Betty is getting cleaning the guest the room and 18:50 you know buying some little gifts and 18:52 by the way when our grandchildren with us. 18:54 Betty has what she calls as Sabbath surprise. 18:56 Oh really. Yeah. That's a nice thing. 18:58 And you see something special for the Sabbath 19:00 by the way I've heard that it's good to have 19:04 what we call Sabbath toys, had you hear that before, 19:07 the soft thing. Yeah right. 19:08 It's some special for them for this moments. 19:09 It's something that comes out only on Sabbath 19:11 you see because a child can't just sit there, 19:14 you know for a 24 hours and just say. 19:16 Now you just sit there and don't move, 19:17 you can't do this, you can't do that, alright. 19:19 Sabbath has to be a time in which you can do 19:21 things that you can't do any other time. 19:22 So the child says, oh I can wait for Sabbath, 19:25 this is what our grandchildren they say, 19:26 oh grandma do you have the Sabbath surprise. 19:29 It's not a video game right by the way, 19:31 it's not a video game, something very, 19:33 very appropriate. Oh, you need to make that clear. 19:34 Yes. In other words it's not something that 19:36 speeds up the course in the pace of their life. 19:39 It's something that's appropriate to the 19:40 Sabbath hours. You know, I think that generally 19:43 speaking probably Friday night can be made 19:46 very special and of course Sabbath morning 19:51 is not so difficult but may I have bounce 19:53 something off of you. Oh you know I may be wrong 19:57 when I say this may be it's a personal opinion. 19:59 But there seems to be a trend to breakup 20:03 the family during the worship service. 20:04 Now I'm not talking about in Sabbath school 20:07 obviously we have our Sabbath school 20:08 departments for the little child. 20:09 You understand where I'm coming from. 20:11 But the society now, that we are gonna have 20:13 babysitting, you know in other words the church 20:15 advertising babysitting, so that mother and daddy 20:18 can sit there. You know listen to the sermon. 20:20 Now I think it's important you know for the mom 20:23 to be able to you know to listen to the sermon, 20:25 able to hear, but I know that Betty for so many 20:28 years she would have those four children 20:30 on the front row. I don't know how many 20:32 sermons she was hearing, but thank God she was, 20:36 she was doing something as important as the sermon. 20:38 Right. She was teaching these little children 20:40 to worship. You know, I can understand having 20:43 all the mothers poise in the back. 20:46 They used to have mothers poise in the back 20:48 they were listed as that and that can be 20:51 important for the reverence of the 20:53 sanctuary and but I found that if I carefully 21:00 tried to take care of. If I was striving for 21:03 taking care of worship during the week and then 21:06 I put them on the front in Sabbath on Sabbath 21:11 then they tended to listen better than if they 21:14 were in the back and I'm not trying cause 21:15 confusion in any church congregation. 21:17 No, no, of course. And distractions but if I 21:21 took care of it during the week I had more peace 21:25 on Sabbath morning and then they could listen. 21:27 They were right there listening. 21:28 That's right, that's right. 21:29 And that help them through the years. 21:31 I mean to say as you say that because 21:33 I might say personally that, well, well let me 21:37 say you know as Pastor will say to people 21:39 why do you want to sit in the back 21:41 come to the front, you know come to the front 21:42 and we always say that. One day I was going to 21:44 a meeting of ministers and I walked in and I 21:46 went right for the back row and I thought 21:47 here I'm doing what I'm telling people 21:49 not to do and then I tried to figure out 21:51 you know what was the sought of the pathology 21:52 of that and I realized that where I sit in the 21:56 church depends on how much I 21:58 intend to participate. Well, yeah. 22:00 And then if I sit in the back it means 22:02 I'm gonna watch. The further down that 22:06 I sit in the church is an intention of 22:08 my determination to participate in it. 22:10 And so, I think mental participation, and so 22:12 I think it's very meaningful what you say 22:14 that if we have our children on the back 22:16 row then they don't even what's going on. 22:18 It's like being you know at a ball game in the 22:19 back and all they see is people heads. 22:22 That's right and that's why and you know you 22:23 might think well I'll never do that 22:25 with my children. Betty had four children 22:27 on the front row. Well I want to be gentle 22:29 with those who may be first coming into 22:31 the church and they are striving toward this, 22:33 but I just want to encourage you that it is 22:35 possible that during the week that this 22:38 sort of things can take place and you will have 22:40 some success and if you'll be consistent and 22:43 you won't give up don't weary in while doing. 22:47 Can we say something maybe, yes our time 22:49 is already. Well you know you get into these 22:51 subjects and just there are so many wonderful 22:53 things and I would hope that those who are 22:56 with us, would not think well they are gonna get 23:00 the last word, they are gonna tell us what to do 23:01 and we've got to do it their way. 23:03 What we want to do is begin to think 23:04 about these things. Yes. We're gonna 23:06 turn our minds on because I think all of us 23:08 together are more creative than any of us 23:10 just by ones or twos. But it's really not just 23:13 optional, we do it or we don't do it. 23:15 God has asked us to be reverend 23:17 about the Sabbath. You know Sabbath 23:19 afternoon is a big problem. Yes it is. 23:21 May I bounce something off of you, 23:23 when we go to church on Sabbath day I suppose 23:25 I could get into discussion on this too. 23:27 Should I stop you before you get into the 23:29 discussion on this because I want to ask, 23:31 give you a little commercial. 23:32 Yes, I want if there are those that have topics 23:36 for the future or suggestions, 23:38 thoughts in your mind needs that you have 23:40 something that you would like to hear 23:42 Thinking About Home discuss then call or write 23:45 3ABN and the address is 3ABN, PO Box 220, 23:50 West Frankfort, IL 62896 or 23:53 call the 800 number 800-752-3226. 23:58 And mention Thinking About Home 24:00 and give a suggestion for a topic 24:02 I don't know that we can handle all that 24:04 we will hear from but we will try to do the best 24:07 of what we can and there probably would be 24:09 some subjects that we might not be able to get 24:11 into but possibly some that we can 24:14 and we'll do what we can do best for you. 24:17 Now we're back to you. Okay, well and I think 24:20 when I hear you little commercial you are saying. 24:22 You're saying to the people not only share 24:23 with us but think about yourself. Yes. 24:25 Our homes are under attack these days, 24:27 we're in big problems. Our homes are breaking up, 24:30 our children are having huge problems and, and 24:33 as men and women of God at Christian homes. 24:35 We've got to fight back, we've got to fight back, 24:38 but let me say something going back to 24:39 the subject of Sabbath and how to honor the Sabbath. 24:41 Yes. You know the Sabbath afternoon 24:44 is really a tough time and let me say this and 24:47 we won't be able finish this by any means. 24:50 You know, I think how we act has a lot to do 24:54 with how we are dressed. Yes well that would bring 24:57 up the subject to Christian standards. 24:58 Well it really does because see there is even 25:01 a trend to dress down and going to church. 25:04 Yes. You see if I go to church. 25:05 What isn't that come from the idea of God accepts 25:07 me the way I am. The way I'm see, 25:09 and he does accept that he doesn't leave me that way. 25:12 Well because he accepts me but you see I ought to 25:14 think more of him. You know how we dress 25:16 on a particular occasion indicates how we feel 25:19 about it. That's true. In other words, 25:21 if a person goes to a banquet they don't go 25:24 in shorts and cut offs. Not usually. 25:27 And so if I'm gonna dress up for a banquet 25:29 you would think it would only make sense 25:30 that I would want, you know, to treat 25:32 God atleast on the level of banquet. Right. 25:35 It is the spiritual banquet after all. 25:37 But what I'm leading up to is I think 25:39 the challenge of keeping our children 25:42 honoring the Sabbath in the afternoon, 25:44 can have to do something with the way they dress. 25:47 In other words, if they come home and we 25:49 change their Sabbath clothes and we put 25:51 them into some grungies. Something that they 25:53 usually wear when they go to a ballgame, 25:55 and then they gonna want to play ball. 25:56 Yes there is a connection isn't that. 25:58 Of course there is and so I think we need to make 26:01 the Sabbath special all day long. 26:03 I mean, you know not to threaten them but 26:05 to say the Sabbath is a special time in which 26:07 we come up see and if I'm dressing up a little 26:10 bit and I'm having these in special occasions. 26:12 I think it will bring out the best in me. Yes. 26:15 And not only in the children 26:16 but in the whole family. 26:17 Well, but I think society has pressed on us 26:19 and we've accepted it, the idea that we should 26:22 be so child-centered and I'm not trying to 26:25 be unkind to children. You're right. 26:27 Please don't misunderstand me on that, 26:29 but children can learn to be respectful 26:32 for a short period of time. 26:33 God has asked only 1/7th of the week 26:38 and if we don't realize at this. 26:41 This has as a connection with our being prepared 26:43 for heaven, yes, our preparedness. 26:45 If we, if we are not trying to 26:47 prepare and strive toward this then our 26:50 character is not being developed the way the 26:52 Christ wants it to be developed and we need 26:54 to think about these things. Absolutely, 26:57 what a thrill it is that God shared his creative 27:02 power with us and that we have our families. 27:05 Yes. And that we are one with him in this 27:07 relationship and how important is that our 27:09 families stay strong in the Lord and stay strong 27:12 in the Lord. Amen. And we haven't got to 27:13 discuss everything, but we're gonna have to 27:14 to end with prayer. Let's do that and let's pray 27:16 for our families. Yes, we want you to know 27:18 that we'll be praying for you. 27:20 We want you to join us again, this is the last 27:23 of the plain talk, plain talk, but we're going 27:25 to be having other programs coming up 27:28 that I think you'll be interested in. 27:30 We're gonna have prayer for you, 27:31 please join us in prayer and I'll see you again 27:33 next time on Thinking About Home. 27:35 Heavenly Father, we're thankful Lord for 27:37 our homes and we pray that is 27:39 mothers and fathers and is grandparents 27:42 and sons and daughters. Oh Lord may the angels 27:45 be in our homes, may we have homes where the 27:48 angels love to dwell and in our homes, 27:51 may the words of our mouth, 27:53 may the meditations of our hearts 27:55 be acceptable in yours sight 27:57 through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. |
Revised 2014-12-17