MEETING CULTURAL CHALLENGES Daniel 1:1-21

Every adult is acculturated into his or her society. Normally this cultural assimilation happens gradually and subtly as one is raised in the culture. Educational, family, and societal factors impact all adults concerning general cultural knowledge and practices, customs and traditions, and what is acceptable and not acceptable. Television and other media reinforce the culture's ethos. People of biblical faith, however, discover they cannot merely conform to all their society's standards and mores. Thus they must decide to be true to a higher standard. For people of faith, this is a deliberate decision. But just how far should a Christian go in conforming to his or her culture?

HOPE: When Society Abandons Godly Ways   2 Kings 22:1-23:27

You and I have each had the experience of overhearing co-workers or family members sharing their views on politics, national events, or some other public venue. Often, the views shared sadden us because of their antipathy to scriptural principles. So many today advocate personal freedoms and liberties over personal and community responsibility. Many would eradicate God from the public conscience, the government, and education, just as they already have in their own private lives. What is a believer to do in such a world?

Many of you know that we had noticed our 4-year-old son Adrian doing some strange things with his eyes. They would roll back to the top of his eyelids for a few seconds and he would kind of zone out, then be back to normal again. We continued to see this more frequently, and decided that we needed to have it checked into. Yesterday was his appointment at LeBonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis. They performed an hour-long EEG while having him lay still, blow on a pinwheel, watch a strobe light, etc. Earlier that day during lunch Becky and I had watched him do this again while telling us something, right in the middle of a sentence. He did it 4 times during the test and once again later while talking to a specialist after the test.

They are called Absence Seizures, which is a form of Epilepsy. Untreated it can cause learning problems in school and could progress to other more severe forms of Epilepsy. It is treatable with medications that have been around for years and years, 3 main ones that are used for these kind of seizures. He will go back to Memphis once a month for a few months while they adjust the dosage to eliminate the seizures. Then, when the correct dosage is found, less and less until we go back only every 6 months. The treatment regemin is at least 3 years, possibly as many as 5. These seizures do go away as he grows and matures, but some control over them is needed for normal learning and to prevent the condition from worsening.

We thought that our trips to Memphis were over with Aaron receiving a clean bill of health with no more swallowing problems, but alas, here we go again. Please pray for Adrian and for us as we begin this new chapter of medical problems in our lives.

Adrian during the EEG test. He did so well being still and cooperating!! We are so proud of him! Here he is watching the tech put on the EEG leads in a mirror.

Here he is during the test letting me take his picture on my phone. He was still and cooperative during the entire test.

Sickness is a reality of life. I am reminded of it each day as I review our church's prayer list. I have been reminded of it this week as sat with some who are caring for parents battling with illness. Reports from many who are undergoing tests, treatments, and suffering are a regular occurrence. Is there hope when sickness strikes?

Back-to-School Prayer

The best way to prepare yourself and your kids for a new school year is to start out on your knees in prayer. Praying for your children is a monumental task, but it makes a difference in their life and in yours. Where do you begin? Take a look at these 10 areas that relate to your child's daily life and put them on your prayer list. Your prayers will make a difference in their life, and you will experience greater wisdom and peace for the parenting challenges you face during this school year.

1. Relationships. Your child interacts daily with teachers, friends, coaches, and family. Pray that your children will be considerate of the people around them. Pray that they will choose words that build up others. Pray that they will choose to surround themselves with people who know and love God. Pray that your children will share their faith and experiences in Christ with others.

2. Positive Peer Pressure. Your child's friends are important companions. They are the ones your child grows and learns with. Friends are the ones they share their emotions with and seek advice from. Pray that your child will be secure in his faith and values and will make right decisions. Pray for your child to be a positive influence on his peers.

3. Dating Relationships. Pray for your child's (teen's) purity, wisdom, and his ability to withstand temptation. Pray for your teen to find a Christian person to date. Pray for your teen to seek wise counsel in addressing difficult decisions in the dating relationship.

4. Wisdom. Your child makes a lot of choices. Choices can be as simple as selecting clothing for school and as complex as deciding which classes to take to prepare for college. Choices can also affect things that determine whether your child lives through the day or ends up in a life-threatening situation. Pray that your child will have the ability to think through and process situations before acting or speaking.

5. Right from Wrong. The best source for your child to determine right from wrong is to lead her to the Bible. Pray that your child will read God's Word and clearly know the difference between right and wrong. Pray for her to have the courage to take a stand for what is right and to act on her beliefs.

6. Protection. Your children are living in a frightening world. You can't protect and shelter him forever. The best thing to do is to take seriously your responsibility to pray for your child's physical, emotional, and spiritual protection daily.

7. Self- Acceptance. Growing up is hard to do. Children need a boost in their self-esteem every day. Pray that your child will develop a good sense of identity. Pray that you will encourage your child through your words and actions daily. Pray for your child to accept both his successes and failures and still know of his worth in Christ's kingdom.

8. Good Role Models. Ask for God to place in your child's life people who will exemplify the Christian life. Children need Christian examples in their lives, in addition to their parents. Pray for other Christian adults to surround your child when you may not be available.

9. Pray James 1:19. Pray: "May (your child's name) be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry."

10. Balance. Today's kids juggle lots of activities at school, church, and home. Pray that your children can choose wisely from all the available demands on their time and be able to balance everything in a reasonable manner.

HOPE: When You're Discouraged  1 Kings 19:1-18

Discouragement. The word conjures up black clouds in our minds. Who among us has never felt its sting? And yet, discouragement is part and parcel to life lived on this sin-tainted earth. The Bible has many stories of people God used in mighty ways but who also found the path of service for God difficult. Moses struggled with the Israelites' unbelief and threats even though he had stood firm against the powerful Egyptian pharaoh. Jeremiah spoke mightily and faithfully for God, yet the Israelites beat him and threw him into a pit. In the New Testament we are not promised an untroubled life but the opposite. In the words of Jesus, "You will have suffering in this world" (John 16:33). Jesus Himself found the cup placed before Him a bitter one and prayed "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." (Matt. 26:39). God's Son hung dead on a cross. That's hardly a persuasive commercial for a life free from discouragement.

GOT HOPE? When Overwhelmed by Responsibilities

1 Kings 3:1-15

"It is good to remember that the tea kettle, although up to its neck in hot water, continues to sing." - Anonymous

What troubles you right now? What is it that weighs heavily on your mind, making it difficult to stay focused on what you are reading? Currently I struggle with numerous personal burdens that include ministry responsibilities and disappointments, current and future ministry assignments and deadlines, health issues concerning me and some in my immediate family, dreams and frustrations regarding my future, and.....  Can you identify? Sure you can. So where do you go for help with it all?