Awakening to the De-population Bomb

South Korea laments birthrate drop from anti-child emphasis
Baptist Press

WASHINGTON (BP)--South Korean officials are searching for ways to reverse a decline in the country's birthrate, concluding that a policy of denouncing more than two children per couple as "unpatriotic" has had adverse effects.

The push for a higher birthrate comes as some of South Korea's doctors have asked for forgiveness for performing illegal abortions for years and are working to cut the number of the abortions in the Asian country....More

Evangelism Remixed?

Evangelism Remixed: Empowering Teens to Reach Teens

At the Christian Post

“…after two years of research on youth groups that have been successful in seeing teens come to Christ, Linhart found that adults are "super important" in helping young people develop a faith that is "courageous and contagious…." more >>

I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry at this one. After years of youth ministry failure did they really have to study this for two years to find out that the involvement of godly parents in the life of their children is "super important"? Why didn’t they study their Bibles to find out what makes for a successful youth group? Of course then they would find that a successful youth group consists of godly parents raising their own children and that God doesn’t even direct us to have youth groups and that would put a real damper on their whole career path.

Babies Win Wars

An interesting article in the Wall Street Journal:

• Babies Win Wars
  By GUNNAR HEINSOHN

Dying nations are usually defined as those with fertility rates of 1.5 or lower. By that measure, 30 European countries are either dying today or -- like France -- seeing their cultures and populations transformed by growing ethnic and religious minorities.

Europe is shrinking just as the population in Islamic, African and Asian countries is exploding. In 2020, there will be one billion "fighting-age" men (ages 15-29) world-wide; only 65 million will be Europeans. At the same time, the Muslim world will have 300 million males, often with limited opportunities at home.

Little can be done to reverse Europe's demographic fate. Germany's 80 million inhabitants would need 750,000 skilled immigrants every year up to 2050 to offset the declining fertility rate that started in 1975. Even if such an unrealistic immigration level could somehow be achieved (only 10,000 skilled immigrants a year are arriving now), Germany's median age would still jump to 52 from 42 while ethnic Germans would become a minority in their own country.....more

Already Gone

Already Gone: Why Your Kids Will Quit Church
and What You Can Do To Stop It
By Ken Ham & Britt Beemer with Todd Hillard / Master Books

A recent study by Britt Beemers America's Research Group found that those who faithfully attend Sunday school and all the other youth ministries in their churches are more likely, as they get older, to question the authority of Scripture, leave the church , defend premarital sex, legalized abortions and gay marriage.

They are far more likely to disbelieve that all the stories in the Bible are true, doubt the Bible because it was written by men, believe God used evolution, believe that good people do not need to go to church and more.

Ken Ham from Answers in Genesis recently published a book entitled Already Gone: Why your kids will quit Church and What You Can Do to Stop It dealing with the findings of this study. I have not read the book personally but I have read Ken Hams Already Gone blog and I've heard several interviews with Ken Ham and others who were talking about this survey and sadly it seems that most of the answers being proposed have to do strictly with getting better curriculum in our Sunday Schools.

What would Sunday School have to do with these kind of behaviors and beliefs? There are really only two answers to this question: 1) the thousands of people surveyed all had bad curriculum or 2) the principles underlying these ministries are all wrong.

I think Kevin Swanson of Generations Radio hit the nail on the head in this program entitled Sunday Schools Detrimental? when he discusses how the church has irresponsibly put someone other than parents in charge of a job that God specifically gave to parents and now parents assume that that job is being taken care of and they do not disciple their children themselves.

It's the whole welfare mentality in a slightly different package which seems to be part of our fallen nature; start doing something for someone that they are supposed to be doing for themselves and before long they will quit seeing it as their responsibility and start expecting that you're going to take care of it.

The government has ruined a large segment of our country because it has failed to understand this simple facet of our sinful natures and the Church is making the same mistake; once again it looks like the church is just following in the footsteps of big brother.

Mother and Father Government

• U.S. government: We know parenting better than you
  Proposals would give Washington unprecedented control over kids
  By Chelsea Schilling
  

The True Meaning of Beauty

• The True Meaning of Beauty: A Pastoral Letter to Fruitful Vines
  Dougs Blog
  

Catching the Family Vision

New at Polemos
Audio Links
Fatherhood/Manhood/Patriarchy
Children
Parenting/Grand parenting

• Why Visionary Fathers are a Rarity
  Kevin Swanson • Constructing a Family Vision
• Visionary Families that Leave a Legacy
  Kevin Swanson • A Two-Hundred Year Vision

if you would train your children rightly

J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) From The Duties of Parents

"First, then, if you would train your children rightly, train them in the way they should go, and not in the way that they would. Remem­ber children are born with a decided bias towards evil. Therefore, if you let them choose for themselves, they are certain to choose wrong.

The mother cannot tell what her tender infant may grow up to be— tall or short, weak or strong, wise or foolish. He may be any of these things or not—it is all uncertain. But one thing the mother can say with certainty: he will have a corrupt and sinful heart. It is natural to us to do wrong. "Foolishness," says Solomon, "is bound in the heart of a child" (Pro 22:15). "A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame" (Pro 29:15). Our hearts are like the earth on which we tread: let it alone, and it is sure to bear weeds.

If, then, you would deal wisely with your child, you must not leave him to the guidance of his own will. Think for him, judge for him, act for him, just as you would for one weak and blind. But for pity's sake, give him not up to his own wayward tastes and inclinations. It must not be his likings and wishes that are consulted. He knows not yet what is good for his mind and soul any more than what is good for his body. You do not let him decide what he shall eat, what he shall drink, and how he shall be clothed. Be consistent, and deal with his mind in like manner. Train him in the way that is Scriptural and right and not in the way that he fancies.

If you cannot make up your mind to this first principle of Chris­tian training, it is useless for you to read any further. Self-will is al­most the first thing that appears in a child's mind. It must be your first step to resist it."

Bringing Up Children for God

A good word from Edward Payson (1783-1827) on bringing up children.

"Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy -wages." —Exodus 2:9

THESE words were addressed by Pharaoh's daughter to the mother of Moses. Of the circumstances that occasioned them, it can scarcely be necessary to inform you. You need not be told that soon after the birth of this future leader of Israel his parents were compelled by the cruelty of the Egyptian king to expose him in an ark of bulrushes on the banks of the Nile. In this situation, he was found by the daughter of Pharaoh. So powerfully did his infantile cries excite her compassion that she determined not only to rescue him from a watery grave, but to adopt and educate him as her own. His sister Miriam, who at a distance had watched his fate unseen, now came forward like a person entirely unacquainted with the cir­cumstances of his exposure and, on hearing of the princess' determi­nation, offered to procure a Hebrew woman to take the care of him until he should be of sufficient age to appear at her father's court. This offer being accepted, she immediately went and called the child's mother to whose care he was committed by the princess in the words of our text—"Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages."

In similar language, my friends, does God address parents. To eve­ryone on whom He bestows the blessing of children, He says in His Word and by the voice of His Providence, "Take this child and edu­cate it for Me, and I will give thee thy wages." From this passage, therefore, we may take occasion to show what is implied in educating children for God.

The first thing implied in educating children for God is a realiz­ing, heartfelt conviction that they are His property, His children, rather than ours. He commits them for a time to our care, merely for the purpose of education, as we place children under the care of hu­man instructors for the same purpose. However carefully we may educate children, yet we cannot be said to educate them for God unless we [believe] that they are His; for if we [believe] that they are ours exclusively, we shalt and must educate them for ourselves and not for Him. To know that they are His is to feel a cordial, operative conviction that He has a sovereign right to dispose of them as He pleases and to take them from us whenever He thinks fit. That they are His and that He possesses this right is evident from innumerable passages in the inspired writings. We are there told that God is the former of our bodies and the Father of our spirits, that we are all His offspring, and that consequently we are not our own but His. We are also assured that as the soul of the parent, so also the souls of the children are His. God once and again severely reproves and threatens the Jews because they sacrificed His children in the fire to Moloch (Eze 16:20-21). Yet plain and explicit as these passages are, how few parents appear to feel their force. How few appear to feel and act as if conscious that they and theirs were the absolute properly of God, that they were merely the foster parents of their children, and that, in all which they do for them, they are or ought to be acting for God. But it is evident that they must feel this before they can bring up their chil­dren for Him; for how can they educate their children for a being whose existence they do not realize, whose right to them they do not acknowledge, and whose character they do not love?

Throwing Our Posterity Under the Bus

My 15 year old son and I were discussing economics recently (he's very interested in politics and economics) when the wickedness of what we are doing economically as a country really struck me.

We have created a economic situation in our country that is sure to do harm to our posterity if we don't do something about it. If we don't start taking drastic measures to change things, somewhere down the line our posterity will pay the price, yet we keep on doing the same old irresponsible things that started it all in the first place.

Because it hasn't had a very adverse effect on us yet we just go on our merry way. Because we're still fairly comfortable we're happy with the way things are. Working to solve the problem would be difficult and that might be uncomfortable, and why make ourselves uncomfortable when we can possibly avoid the consequences of our actions and leave them to another generation to deal with?

If you think about it we do the very same thing in numerous other ways. We put our children in government schools because its easy and the immediate consequences of our actions are hard to see. We elect the politicians who keep the status quo because we're comfortable with life the way it is right now. We make all sorts of compromises with sin because it makes our life easier at the moment. We don't share the gospel which could potentially change generations of a family because we fear the discomfort of possible rejection or persecution. We sit in bad churches because we're comfortable or our kids like it there, unconcerned about the long range effect it might have on them spiritually. We fail to train our children because right now it's easier not too. Or worse yet we just skip having the children because in the short term it's a lot less of a hassle.

We seem to be spiritually myopic and all too willing to throw our posterity under the bus, so to speak, in order to be comfortable now and avoid some difficult work.

swine, dunces, and blockheads

Some Good Quotes
Children
Marriage

"Most married people do not desire children; in fact, they dislike them and hold that it is better to live without them because they are poor and do not have the where­withal to support a family. This is true particularly of those who are given to idleness and laziness and flee from the sweat and labor of married life. But the purpose of marriage is not pleasure and ease but the procreation and education of children and the support of a family. This is truly an immense burden, full of great cares and labors. But that is why God created you: to be a husband or a wife and to learn to bear these moles­tations. People who do not like children are swine, dunces, and blockheads, not worthy to be called men and women, because they despise the blessing of God, the Creator and Author of marriage."

-Martin Luther as quoted in What Luther Says: A Practical In-Home Anthology for the Active Christian

Healthy Parent-Child Relationships

New at Pol'-e-store
Home Schooling/Education


Upgrade: 10 Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child
By Kevin Swanson / B & H Publishing Group

CBD says "A seasoned education advocate who works with thousands of families each year, Kevin Swanson provides an expert's framework for positive learning experiences in this book. He teaches the importance of healthy parent-child relationships and having a biblical foundation, regardless of whether or not a child is homeschooled."


New at Pol'-e-store
Children

Suffer the Children: The Blessing of 'Imperfect' Children Audio CD
By Kevin Swanson / Vision Forum

Children.... in the Worship Service?

New at Polemos
Children
Family Worship at Church


Heres another one of the good sermons I had the chance to listen to while traveling here and there on the subway in New York city. A message by an old acquaintance of mine, Pastor Mark Chanski. While I would personally be a little more conservative than pastor Chanski concerning the use of nursery for infants (I would suggest training them to sit quietly from the beginning, they can do it if parents will just take the time to train them), this is an excellent message concerning what the Bible says about children in the worship of the church by a pastor that I have a great deal of respect for.

• Parenting #15: Children in Worship
  Mark Chanski

The Children of Caesar

New at Pol'-e-store
Home Schooling/Education



I just got done watching this two disk DVD yesterday, very good! This is one that everyone needs to watch and then give away to someone else.

Disk one is entitled The Children of Caesar and deals with the subject of what the Bible has to say about public schools.

Disk two is entitled Getting your House in Order and deals with what an orderly Christian Home should look like.

Consider Your Children

Consider your children
Matthew Henry (1662-1714)

"Consider what your children are now capable of, even in the days of their childhood. They are capable of receiving impressions now which may abide upon them while they live. They are capable of honoring God now, if they be well taught; and by their joining, as they can, in religious services with so much reverence and application as their age will admit, God is honored. The hosannas even of children well taught will be the perfecting of praise and highly pleasing to the Lord Jesus.

Consider what your children are designed for, we hope, in this world: they must be a "seed to serve the Lord," which shall be "accounted to him for a generation." They are to bear up the name of Christ in their day, and into their hands must be transmitted that good thing which is committed to us. They are to be praising God on earth, when we are praising Him in heaven. Let them then be brought up accordingly, that they may answer the end of their birth and being. They are designed for the service of their generation and to do good in their day. Consult the public welfare then, and let nothing be wanting on your parts to qualify them for usefulness according as their place and capacity is.

Consider especially what they are designed for in another world: they are made for eternity. Every child thou hast hath a precious and immortal soul, that must be forever either in heaven or hell, according as it is prepared in this present state—and perhaps it must remove to that world of spirits very shortly—and will it not be very sad, if through your carelessness and neglect your children should learn the ways of sin, and perish eternally in those ways? Give them warning, that if possible, you may deliver their souls, at least, that you may deliver your own, and may not bring their curse and God's too, their blood and your own too, upon your heads."

There's an odd phenomenon being reported

For a Few, the More Kids the Merrier
By LISA TAKEUCHI CULLEN

"There's an odd phenomenon being reported.....highly educated, highly compensated couples popping out four or more children--happily and by choice. "

Can anyone believe it??? Smart people having several children? What could be going on here?

"What most outsiders want to know, though, is how in heck these parents keep straight who's got Taekwondo class and who needs new sneakers and who's desperate for some quality time alone with Mom or Dad...."

How on earth do they do it?

Click here to read more....

Killing your babies to save the planet???

Meet the women who won't have babies - because they're not eco friendly
Daily Mail

"Had Toni Vernelli gone ahead with her pregnancy ten years ago, she would know at first hand what it is like to cradle her own baby, to have a pair of innocent eyes gazing up at her with unconditional love, to feel a little hand slipping into hers - and a voice calling her Mummy.

But the very thought makes her shudder with horror.

Because when Toni terminated her pregnancy, she did so in the firm belief she was helping to save the planet."

Click here to read more...

Now this is insanity! Killing your babies to save the planet??? Taking a life to save a ball of dirt? What exactly are they saving it for anyhow?

Don’t such people ever stop to consider that while people cause problems, it is also people that solve problems? How does she know that she didn’t just murder the person that would solve most of the world’s ecological problems? Perhaps one of the children that she would have had would have perfected a new form of fuel that would have been good for the environment? Perhaps one of her children would have grown up to solve all the problems in the Middle East?

A similar decision by many Christians not to have children, or not to have anymore children, is almost as sad; how do we know that the next child might not be another George Whitefield, another John Calvin or another Mathew Henry? How do we know that God may not use that next child to bring thousands to salvation and change the course of world history? Or maybe have a profound effect on someone else who will change the course of world history? We of all people ought to have hope in what God might do with our children.

"Children are a blessing from the Lord"

George wouldn't stand a chance in our day

The kids and I just recently finished reading The Autobiography of George Muller, which I highly recommend reading, and now we're moving on to The Biography of George Whitefield (I guess we have a George theme going on) by Arnold Dallimore, which I even highlier (I know thats not a word) recommend reading.

This condensed version of Dallimore's two volume biography is among the best biographies I have personally read, I think I would have to put it in the top five at least.

I have often wondered why God does not send such men in our own day, and last night while reading chapter one I discovered one reason why; George Whitefield was the seventh son of seven children. George and four of his brothers and sisters wouldn't stand a chance in our day, they would have been victims of the birth control mentality for sure! Who cares how God might use the next child to bless the entire world and change the course of history, another child would be too much work!

Family Driven Faith

New at Pol'-e-store
Children, Family


Family Driven Faith
By Voddie Baucham / Good News & Crossway

CBD says: "Family Driven Faith equips Christian parents with the tools they need to raise children biblically in a post-Christian, anti-family society. Voddie Baucham, who with his wife has overcome a multi-generational legacy of broken and dysfunctional homes, shows that God has not left us alone in raising godly children. He has given us timeless precepts and principles for multi-generational faithfulness, especially in Deuteronomy 6. God's simple command to Moses to teach the Word diligently to the children of Israel serves as the foundation of Family Driven Faith."

"...justly charged upon their parents..."

One cause of the decay of religion in our day
From the Preface to the Second London Baptist Confession of'1677

“...And that in this backsliding day, we might not spend our breath in fruitless complaints of the evils of others, but may every one begin at home to reform in the first place our own hearts and ways; and then to quicken all that we may have influence upon to the same work; that if the will of God were so, none might deceive themselves by resting in and trusting to a form of godliness without the power of it and inward experience of the efficacy of those truths that are professed by them.

And verily there is one spring and cause of the decay of religion in our day, which we cannot but touch upon and earnestly urge a redress of; and that is the neglect of the worship of God in families by those to whom the charge and conduct of them is committed. May not the gross ignorance and instability of many with the profaneness of others be justly charged upon their parents and masters, who have not trained them up in the way wherein they ought to walk when they were young? But have neglected those frequent and solemn commands which the Lord hath laid upon them so to catechize and instruct them, that their tender years might be seasoned with the knowledge of the truth of God as revealed in the Scriptures; and also by their own omission of prayer, and other duties of religion in their families, together with the ill example of their loose conversation, have inured them first to a neglect, and then contempt of all piety and religion? We know this will not excuse the blindness, or wickedness of any, but certainly it will fall heavy upon those that have thus been the occasion thereof. They indeed die in their sins; but will not their blood be required of those under whose care they were, who yet permitted them to go on without warning, yea led them into the paths of destruction? And will not the diligence of Christians with respect to the discharge of these duties, in ages past, rise up in judgment against, and condemn many of those who would be esteemed such now?

We shall conclude with our earnest prayer, that the God of all grace will pour out those measures of His Holy Spirit upon us, that the profession of truth may be accompanied with the sound belief and diligent practice of it by us that His name may in all things be glorified through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

From the Preface to the Second London Baptist Confession of'1677

Key to youth happiness

Poll: Family ties key to youth happiness

“NEW YORK - So you're between the ages of 13 and 24. What makes you happy? A worried, weary parent might imagine the answer to sound something like this: Sex, drugs, a little rock 'n' roll. Maybe some cash, or at least the car keys.

Turns out the real answer is quite different. Spending time with family was the top answer to that open-ended question, according to an extensive survey — more than 100 questions asked of 1,280 people ages 13-24 — conducted by The Associated Press and MTV on the nature of happiness among America's young people.

Next was spending time with friends, followed by time with a significant other. And even better for parents: Nearly three-quarters of young people say their relationship with their parents makes them happy.”

Click here to read more…

An interesting article from Associated Press. We really shouldn’t be surprised to find that the happiness and wellbeing of our children is found in their family and parental relationships; God wired them this way. We parents aught to be taking advantage of this truth by spending all the time we can with our children. God wired them to follow us, look to us and be our disciples; it is only when we keep pushing them away to spend all their time with other people that we really begin to loose their hearts.

Would You Give Your Car to a Stranger?

"Most of us wouldn't let a stranger drive our car - why do we let them have our children?"
-an anonymous blogger