Pastor's Note

It seems a part of human nature that we look for the easiest way to do things. That is the success story of the fast-food distributors. It's easier to buy a quick lunch than to take the time to make a sandwich with wholesome stuffings and a piece of fruit. You better believe that many food advertisers have discovered that flaw in our human nature.

Deep down you know that not everything that is fast and easy is good. Sometimes time and effort are necessary investments for the more enduring and healthy things of life. "Now," you'll say, "you're sounding like my mother." Well let me tell you the truth; I'm trying to sound like the Apostle Paul who said, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15). I'm sure that most of us are embarrassed when it comes to someone asking us about how much we read and study the word of God. It's easier to sit in front of the TV, or busy ourselves with some kind of handcraft than to open the scriptures and read the message that is intended to equip us and make us better believers. The prophet Amos saw a day when there would be a famine across the land. Not a famine for lack of bread and water and the essentials of the physical life but a famine of the Word of God. "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign Lord, "when I will send a famine through the land-not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord." (Amos 8:11). Obviously, the reference applies to a generation just like ours. We get after our kids for stuffing themselves with 'junk food' and, yet, spiritually speaking, we do the same thing by not putting ourselves up to a daily diet of the Word. Many years ago, we used to have Bible reading before our first class at school. In case you haven't heard, it's not happening any more.

If you want to know why it is so easy for kids to go wrong, let me explain. 'There's a famine of the Word.' Our kids aren't getting the moral teachings of scripture. They're not hearing that anger, brutality, abuse/self- abuse, respect for authority, matters of sex and other serious issues all have very dangerous consequences. That's not their fault. We have got to get the principles of God's Word into their hearts and one hour in a bible class on Sunday is just
not going to do it. Every one of us, as parents, needs to get the Word into the lives of our kids on a regular basis. If we don't have family devotions or at minimum a reading of a devotional book at the level of our children that is used every day, we are not giving our kids an adequate spiritual diet to help them when the time comes for the important decisions on the real issues of life. Please listen to me carefully! ! The spiritual heritage of the next generation is at stake. We've got to take this matter seriously and make the time and invest energy in directing our kids to what God is saying to the world today. There is no better time to begin a new program than right now. Visit a Christian book store for ideas on devotional aids.

in His grip,
Larry