A very Proud Father

Last Night my son Jesse was on the Mic, on stage, and giving his Bible reading. The bible reading was Exodus 1:1-19. Only 19 versus but imagine getting on stage reading in front of almost 100 folks. It can be scary.

I was working at the time but caught middle of his reading over the phone. I'm so glad you can call in and listen to the meeting if you cannot make it. After his reading was over I felt proud that he is moving forward and toward his spiritual goals.

In this system of things it's very hard to maintain a moral balance. Kids are doing whatever, saying whatever, having sexual intercourse, doing drugs, and of course have no spiritual sense of things. I've even spoken to a few who dismiss the fact that there is a God.

Youths growing up in Christian homes should know that one of the greatest threats to their spirituality is materialism. Why? Because to have many fine things, like houses, cars, boats, televisions, and so forth, is equated with success, and youths want desperately to be successful.

While there is nothing wrong with possessions in themselves, the Bible warns against “the love of money” and the ‘determination to be rich.’ It shows wealth to be deceptive, because it can neither deliver from death nor give health and life. Riches can lead one away from the faith, even cause one to forget Jehovah.

Therefore, the Bible wisely counsels: “Let your manner of life be free of the love of money, while you are content with the present things. For he has said: ‘I will by no means leave you nor by any means forsake you.’” Youth must come to appreciate and trust this promise of God, that he will not forsake them. Then they will know that it is “the blessing of Jehovah—that is what makes rich, and he adds no pain with it.”

How can Christian youths be guarded against the subtle snares of materialism? First, parents can help greatly by seeing to it that their own lives are free from the “love of money,” that they reflect a contentment with the things that they have, and that they set a strong spiritual tone in the home.

Parents can also direct attention to the Scriptural examples of Jesus and his apostles. Jesus said: “The Son of man has nowhere to lay down his head.” Peter declared: “Look! We have left all things and followed you.” Paul wrote: “I have taken the loss of all things and I consider them as a lot of refuse, that I may gain Christ.”

Not that Christian youths are forced into an austere way of life. Not by any means! Jesus promised them that if they put God’s service first in life, then God would, in turn, add the needed material things. But to combat materialism, it is essential to deny oneself unnecessary luxuries. Emphasis must be placed on spiritual things.

The apostle Paul counseled: “Pursue righteousness, godly devotion, faith, love, endurance, mildness of temper. Fight the fine fight of the faith, get a firm hold on the everlasting life.” Then materialism will prove to be no major problem.

Where there are growing children in the family, sooner or later the problem of dating will come up. How can parents help? Those not guided by Bible principles can easily give misguided counsel. Oh it's fine to Date, it's ok to have sex as long as you use a condom. Christian parents should teach and convince their children that, by Bible standards, views like that are wrong, and that God condemns loose conduct.


Jehovah is a happy God, and he wants youths to be happy with life too—not on a debased, corrupt level, but on a high moral plane. Therefore, he says: “Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart and in the things seen by your eyes. But know that on account of all these the true God will bring you into judgment. So remove vexation from your heart, and ward off calamity from your flesh.”

God wants youth to be happy in a responsible way. For they are accountable to Him for their actions. That is why dating or “going together” is so serious. Dating may serve properly to bring couples together, not for the purpose of petting or necking or sex play, but to acquaint themselves with each other on a social level before marriage. Outside of marriage, sexual arousal can lead to vexation, to emotional upsets and even to calamities such as abortions and suicides. Even couples who are engaged to be married have not the right to toy with sex. Single persons who engage in sexual activities—an exclusive right of married persons—will incur God’s disapproval and inevitably suffer for it.

Parents can help children to appreciate God’s laws by being frank and open with their children in discussing the subjects of dating and marriage. In this way children may gain wholesome knowledge and feel the concern and love that God and their parents have for them. Children can be reminded that their youthful years provide grand opportunities for developing into real men and women, and then if later they want the responsibilities of marriage, they will be well equipped to take them on. They may also grow to spiritual maturity by becoming examples to those who look up to them.

For me, it's hard to just pick one thing to be proud of when it comes to Jesse. He goes to school, he listens to his parents, he loves Jehovah God, and he is putting his spiritual needs first. When I hear that parents allow their kids to date it really scares me. I'm very thankful that Jesse is waiting and saving himself for marriage. Here is a true story about some kids who got Aids.

A doctor is going to tell Cheryl that she has AIDS.

She had heard all about how to avoid getting AIDS. She just figured it couldn’t happen to her. She was just 15. She didn’t know anybody who had it. And Billy was so-o-o hot.

They said Billy was into heavy drugs. Maybe it was true. All she knew was that his smile filled every empty place she had in her. If only he would take her seriously, notice her, treat her like a woman — like he treated the others. If only ...

Then one day, he smiled at her.

Later, when he put his arms around her, she thought the world would be OK forever. He didn’t say much. He just held her, gazed deep down inside her and told her she was beautiful. She felt so good when he was near her, she would do anything to keep it that way.

They had sexual intercourse. Only once. He didn’t use a condom. She couldn’t bring herself to say she had one with her. Her friend Tanya had given it to her — "just in case."

But Cheryl didn’t dare bring it up. What if it turned him off? What if he got angry? What if he walked away? What if he made fun of her? She said nothing. She thought, "Maybe, just this once without protection won’t matter."

She was so worried about what might happen, she really didn’t enjoy having sex with Billy. But she always heard you don’t enjoy it the first time anyway. She just hoped she wouldn’t lose him.

But she did lose him — to drugs. He was even sharing needles with the junkie who got him the stuff. Finally, Billy just ran off. Nobody knew where he went or how he was doing.

That was seven years ago.

After Billy, there was one other time Cheryl thought, "Maybe, just this once, it won’t happen to me." That time, she got pregnant. She didn’t know she was already infected with HIV. Little Danielle is almost a year old now.

Next Friday, when the doctor tells her she has AIDS, Cheryl won’t have time to figure out how she got it. She has other things to worry about now. She has to worry about staying alive. And taking care of her baby. And praying her baby doesn’t develop AIDS, too.

Tanya will learn that her friend Cheryl has AIDS. Cheryl will call her as soon as she leaves the clinic.

Tanya remembers the time she gave Cheryl a condom to use "just in case." Cheryl said she already knew all about condoms and AIDS. Tanya told her, "It doesn’t matter how much you know about it. What matters is what you do about it."

She really hoped Cheryl would take her seriously. Tanya knew how important a condom could be.

There was a time when Tanya, like Cheryl, took chances. She thought, "I’m a good kid. It’ll be OK this time — it can’t happen to me."

But when she missed her period, Tanya went to a family planning clinic for a pregnancy test. She was 16, and she had no idea what she would do if she were pregnant. When it turned out she wasn’t, she was so relieved she cried.

From then on, she decided not to take any chances with pregnancy or infection.

Tanya knew how Cheryl felt. There was a time when she thought Billy was hot, too. But when he made his moves on her, she was ready. He said he didn’t want to use a condom. She figured he was just embarrassed about not knowing how, so she helped him put it on.

Tanya felt hurt when she realized that, for Billy, she was just another one-night stand. Later, when she heard he was fooling around with needles, she was glad she didn’t let the guy talk her out of using a condom.

That was eight years ago. Now, she is glad that Billy is out of both their lives.
Tanya will let Cheryl pour her heart out. She can’t imagine what it must feel like to be told you have AIDS. She is frightened for Cheryl. But she will tell Cheryl that she’s a friend no matter what. She will do whatever she can while Cheryl’s ill. And she will make sure that someone looks after the baby the way Cheryl would want.

All of this would not have happened if and only IF these young females just didn't have sex in the first place. It wouldn't have happened if they just listened to God.

http://www.plannedparenthoodosbc.org/education/aidsStories.asp

More stories at that site. think about this to. Wouldn't it be more special to wait till you are married? Jesse is and I'm sure whomever he marries will appreciate the fact that he saved himself for her. Have a great day.