Comments on: They Look Weird

By: jeanne

jeanne — Thu, 17 May 2007 19:52:10 +0000

But, we will keep loving and loving and praying and praying. Because Christ does. We (I) have to learn not to judge by sight only, but by the heart, or the fruits shown. We can be so quick to see the wrong that people do and not the good that they could be doing, with the right type of encouragement. Love and Prayers guys, signing off for the day.

By: Betty Hagenrater

Betty Hagenrater — Thu, 17 May 2007 18:30:19 +0000

Here I go again. Some of you have young ones now and I have been where you are. So here is what worked for Wil and me: Our children didn’t go out with anyone unless we had met them and had the young people come to our house. (Some times we really gave them the 3rd degree.) The girls didn’t go to anyone else’s home unless I had been there first and met the parents. I needed to know what kind of people they were associating with and if they didn’t agree…they they didn’t go. That simple! This has rubbed off and the girls are now applying the same standards with their children. Mitchell doesn’t see why his mom has to know his friends, but she tells him it worked for her when she was growing up and it will work for him. Oh, to be able to raise our children in the era in which we were raised. I still say those were the best years of our lives. God Bless!

By: Brenda

Brenda — Thu, 17 May 2007 16:29:55 +0000

Jeanne, you are so right about so many things, along with others that I have read. Yes, we do have to be on top of things when it comes to our kids, we have to be observant, mindful, informed and the list goes on and on. I am a firm believer in that we have to be in our childrens lives, we have to know where they are, who there friends are, what is on their MP3 players, what type of video games are they playing, on and on and on, and yes unfortunately it still no guarentee that they will walk the straight and narrow. I don’t know how parents of children who are not christians make it through the days because of the amount of prayer it takes to raise children. On the other side though, we still can’t throw the babies out with the bath water. Even though love may not be everything it is still mandated. We have to love them unconditionally and never turn our backs on them. There is a big difference between loving someone and enabling/condoning their behavior. When we talk about our kids it is easier to love our own when they are doing wrong then loving someone elses and this is where we often times fall short. we have a tendency to forget that they are someone’s daughter or son and that we still have to attempt to reach them for Christ even though “they look weird” Jim has a philosophy when he talks to Jaime about some of the music that the kids listen to. It has a tendency to talk down about girls and i know i don’t need to go into detail. Jim always will say that this is someone’s daughter, sister, neice, cousin, etc. and it seems to bring it home for Jaime because he is so close to his cousins. Jaime would never want anyone to talk about Brianna that way. I guess i have said all that to say this. I am scared to death of what is waiting for my son, and YES I am in his business and don’t tell him this but I am an excellent evesdropper although, I think he is figuring that out, and I know that I will always be there for him regardless of his mistakes. There are many children in our community that the parents feel the same way and there are others that don’t give a hoot. I wish that everyone would worry more about their eternal future more than their success in the big world, how much money they will make or what they look like. I guess that is why I hang on every word that some of you say because you have been through some of the same troubles that I may face in the future with my family. I could go on for hours because of the what ifs so I will end with this. God help us to spread your Word every day to anyone that will listen and guide our words so that they hear from you and not us. Give us the patient to work with our young community so that they will see Christ in us and want what we have. I love you guys and know that everyone so far commenting on this subject would walk miles to show someone Jesus.

By: jeanne

jeanne — Thu, 17 May 2007 15:27:39 +0000

The Lord is so good. He knows what we need just when we need it.
Back to the wierd thing. I have been on both sides of the pink hair and tattoos and piercings with my two kids, who I love so much it hurts sometimes. Is it just individuality, or is it total rebellion? Sometimes it really does mean something bad. We need to be aware of what some of this stuff represents. We cant’t, as Christians, be unaware. Our kids would have us believe it doesn’t mean anything, when it really is something other than being unique. As in the case of “a monkey on my back”. And then the parents find out it is a heroin addict depicted in a rap song. That is why music says alot about who we are and what we like to do. We need to be aware of their friends and who they are running with. And what they are listening to. It is not always good stuff, and sometimes they will outgrow it. But sometimes it does lead to bigger and badder things, and those things need to be confronted because evil is real and it can be personified in the most unlikely places and people. Sometimes love does not fix everything.

By: chas

chas — Wed, 16 May 2007 21:21:24 +0000

I think we should always “give”! But sometimes we give a “hand-out” and sometimes we should give a “hand-up”! Sometimes the best thing we can do for someone is to insist they let us help them stand on their own two feet. If they will not take our “hand-up,” that is their choice. But we are still willing to give it! Isn’t that what God does for us? He gives us the greatest blessing when He makes us “grow up.”

By: jeanne

jeanne — Wed, 16 May 2007 18:50:30 +0000

I think that there are more adults that way then kids. But does the Lord want us to always give with no expectations from them?

By: Phyllis

Phyllis — Wed, 16 May 2007 18:13:20 +0000

You are right Jeanne. A lot of adults are that way too. (Just looking for a handout) Even Christians. I guess we just pray that our example of giving will be what God uses to change their hearts.

By: jeanne

jeanne — Wed, 16 May 2007 15:34:33 +0000

When Christ saves, Christ changes. We have to be aware of His Presence and leading. (the still, small voice). The longer we serve Him and the more we grow in His grace and Holiness, the more we should become like Him. No man can do the changing, only God Himself. Unless we want converts of our own and not Christ’s. We as a church should reach out to the youth with our means and our hearts, because we need to remember where we were at one time. But, should we not also expect respect and responsibility, because so many today just want handouts with no thought to anyone but themselves.

By: Betty Hagenrater

Betty Hagenrater — Wed, 16 May 2007 13:50:18 +0000

RIGHT ON!!! My two daughters didn’t always dress according to my will; however, they both turned out pretty good in my opinion. As you can tell by my responses, I’m really proud of my girls and will brag on them at any opportunity. Sometimes they need to see themselves as others see them, e.g., Carol and I were out driving one day when we saw a young girl walking down the street. She was dressed as many of the teens at that time. Carol was floored! She said, “Do I look like that?” I answered honestly and said, “Yes.” Needless to say WE WENT SHOPPING.

By: Ronnie Coburn

Ronnie Coburn — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:09:08 +0000

Pastor, I find your remarks to be right on target. I have worried and prayed for the younger generation for some time. I think many people want to run our youth through a machine that will stamp them out to look just like us. Well when we were young our elders probably thought we looked funny. I think we need to get the younger generation under the sound of the gospel and than let God do the rest. Don’t worry about how they look, just love them and let them see the love of God in your life. If they should ask what you think about dress, than you can tell them what you think because the Bible is not clear on it. So all you can tell them is what you THINK.