"Church Punishment?"

  The conversation went like this. A dad and his son were in a disagreement. The son was upset and not responding while the dad was yelling.This wasn't their first encounter like this. The son had begun a rebellious stage and the dad thought he could continue to strong arm his son into doing what he wanted done as he had done when he was younger. Too old and too late! As the situation grew the dad had nothing left and told his son: "I'm going to send you to gramdma's house for a while. You think its rough here, she will make you go to church!" What a sad, sad statement for a dad to make to his son.

  Too many are seeing assembling with the saints as punishment. They may not say that but that's how they feel and they push that mind-set off on their children. PUNISHMENT! Worshiping God has become so heartless and meaningless that it has become a wearying to the soul. People so far removed from fellowship with the Lord they do not have any desire to worship and honor Him for their salvation much less their daily living. You see it in the children. Where are the children? Look at our worship assembly, where are the children? What is going on in the home that make the children detest being there? 

  A home built around the Lord is a home of love, safety and peace. It is a place where Christ is foremost and every thing done revolves around thanksgiving to the Lord. It affects the children as they see where all blessings come from. They see mothers and fathers bowing humbly before the Father who gave His Son for them. Too many times we find the home is where the children want to escape from. Parents are busy with things of the world that the Lord is used as nothing more than a 'by-word'.

  What do you do in your home? Where do you direct your children? It takes effort. It takes time. It takes a heart. As I have aged I see it. You can see the homes where Christ is Lord. It affects the children. Listen, you only have ONE shot at this! There are NO re-dos. Train your children. Teach them to love the Lord by your example. Teach them to love the truth as well as telling the truth. Their path to eternity begins with you.