Discipline

• Monopoly    I had an interesting game of Monopoly one snowy school-called-off day, with my children. We have only played a few times since the game can take ever so long. They thought they had gotten good at the game and understood how to play. I absolutely wiped everyone out in under two hours. They hadn't had to play against someone quite so ruthless in the past. I'm not sure they will ever play with me again!    Monopoly is fun and somewhat educational, as it can teach you a few things about handling money and how basic business is carried on. The decisions to buy property or make certain trades, no matter how small they may seem, can have far reaching results on the rest of your game. Buy a little property now and short yourself of cash, and you can end up mortgaging to stay in the game. Then there is no income and down you go. Don't buy a key piece of property now and you may end up paying rent to someone else down the line.    It's a game, but it is like real life. The decisions you make today can effect you for the rest of your life. Let God have a say in what your doing and you will have guidance from someone who can see the rest of your life.    In 2 Samuel 11 & 12 you can read the account of David and his sin with Bathsheba. In 12:7-14 Nathan reveals to David the far reaching results of his sin. Although David continued to serve the Lord and God took care of him, he lost the special blessings he had on his kingdom. The child that was born because of the sin died. In verse 14 Nathan points out "...because of this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme..."    Life is not a game that you can walk away from and play another day. Choose wisely. Walk with God.

• Exhorted Children   This summer I have taken the time to go golfing a little with my older boys. Sometimes it can be a lot of fun. Sometimes it is not! When I get out on the course and hit the ball in the fairway, I enjoy the game. When I hit it off into the ruff, the game gets a little less enjoyable. I like the walk but I hate the searching for balls. My boys don't like it either. I guess no one really does.    Hitting the ball straight and where you want it in golf, baseball, tennis, and I imagine many other sports, is often a function of how you stand. If you don't stand right, or bend right, it is a lot harder to hit the ball right. I try to teach the boys when we are playing golf, how to stand right. Seems like one of the biggest parts of the job of raising kids is correcting the way they "stand." As parents we are supposed to work towards bending our children in the right direction so they can play the game of life right. Paul said his mission to the Thessalonians included "exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you may walk in a manor worthy of the God who calls you..." (1 Thessalonians. 2:11-12 in part).    Paul's idea of what it meant to minister to the Thessalonians should be adopted by us as well. We should be receptive of this and take part in it as God leads. Lets all strive to walk in a manner worthy of the God who called us to our salvation.

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