Under Attack

Take heed that you do not despise any of these little ones, for I tell you, that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father in heaven. (Matt 18:10)

As a parent, I've sometimes (too often) let anger and irritation drive away the spirit of love and peace. I've sometimes put my desires, comfort and convenience ahead of providing a healthy emotional environment for our little ones.

In an analogous way, this world and culture makes noises about loving children while constantly waging war on children. From the time of conception until death, children are vulnerable and under attack. While the Church and government are supposed to be helping parents fulfill their responsibility, parents still have the primary responsibility. When a church or government is failing to help or even working against children, it is the parents who must recognize the danger and take to appropriate steps.

Consider how many children are being:

• killed before birth
• neglected (e.g. latch key kids)
• damaged by broken families
• orphaned and killed by war, immorality and disease
• sexually abused
• medically abused by drugging for school
• given an education based on godlessness
• fed lies instead of truth by the constant flow of electronic communication media
• indoctrinated and raised to be terrorists
• taught to worship false gods
• drawn into drugs and immorality
• unprepared for real life

The protection of children requires vigilance, activity and prayer. Choosing convenience, comfort or the path of least resistance (going with the flow) is essentially despising them to the extent that we won't suffer for them. Going with the flow will be like floating peacefully along until the current is so strong that we can not escape the destruction at the waterfall. If you are a parent, consider what influences are affecting your children. What can you do provide more truth, protection and growth in faith and love? Take action today.

Healthy Children

Child Health Care
Ouida and I started out following very medically conservative procedures for childbirth and early childhood health procedures. This included Ouida almost being knocked out with gas during delivery and on a later pregnancy she received an epidural. But, as more children came along and our knowledge and experience grew, we discovered that it was not necessary to treat pregnancy, childbirth and every childhood illness as a potential major medical emergency. The following website http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/birth.htm#chems points out some of the possible long term dangers of currently standard medical practices. It also provides alternative ideas for healthy births and babies. Several of the sources listed on this website are doctors who are speaking out. Some of the practices that are standard in the United States are not standard in other countries. Many countries have better health statistics for births, babies and children then the U.S. The reasons behind standard medical protocols can be complex and sometimes have more foundation in legal concerns than in medical issues. The ideas discussed on this website and standard medical practices should both be carefully researched by parents concerned with giving the best in medical care to their children. Gather some questions and quiz your doctor. But, even though it's his responsibility to be knowledgeable on standard procedures, alternative treatments and their related issues and to be able to communicate it to you, his hands may be tied when it comes to any possibility of recommending a treatment outside those recognized as standard protocols.

Child Discipline
A Love and Logic child discipline class will be offered at RE on Tuesday nights beginning in January. We've heard some of the material and highly recommend it.

We live in a complex world but we are promised wisdom if you ask for it in faith. Wisdom is definitely needed in the care and raising of our children.