So, for at least a little while I am going to read and comment on, The End of Molasses Glasses.  Getting Our Kids Unstuck is the subtitle, and if it lives up to its name even a little bit it will be worth discussing for a while.

I really hope you will join the discussion.  In fact, I will keep track of everyone who makes a comment and in a month I will give a copy of The End of Molasses Glasses to one of you.  Totally random, not simply the best comment, because who’s to judge the best comment.  Oh, I guess that would be me.

But it will still be totally random.  You can watch the drawing if you want.  I’ll have a kid do it.

Now back to this brilliant book.  One Hundred and One Chapters!   I could talk about this book for a long time!

Chapter one:  Teach Children to Believe in Themselves and Don’t Destroy the Dream.

As a kid I fought low self-esteem for about the first fifty years of my life.  At least it felt like it at the time.  I never remember being told to dream big dreams.  I don’t think my dad knew how, and I think my mom just wanted to be a good mom.  She got it right.  She was a great mom.

But that doesn’t mean we cannot or should not facilitate big dreams in our children.  A president or preacher would be cool.  A hero or a heroine would be great.  A star?  Not so much.  But we can help our kids dream big dreams.  Especially if we introduce them to the love, grace and salvation that comes from God.  Because HE dreams even bigger dreams.

So, help your kids be dreamers of God’s dream.  Give them encouragement and direction.  Avoid discouragement and misdirection.  Being a sports star is not a big dream. It’s a long road to failure in almost everything for almost everybody who tries that road.  Even the most gifted of athletes rarely makes it out of a sports career intact.  So try for something significant, not simply important.  If athletics is your child’s main gift, then nurture it.  Alongside a great work ethic, sportsmanship, discipline, and determination, they could grow into something significant whether they become a superstar or not.

Prepare your kids to be the best they can be whatever that might be.  I like what Clark says,  “Of course, I realize that the odds of any student becoming president are small, but that isn’t important.  What is important is that we see that there is potential in our children.  Once we see potential in them, they will begin to see it in themselves.”*

Maybe they will be a sports star, or a rock star, or a shooting star.  As you guide and direct, help them see how they can make a difference in the world, maybe just one person at a time, but hey aren’t each of us just one person? 

Believe in your kids and help them believe in themselves, then help them believe in something bigger than both of you; bigger than all of us.

Now that is going some place.

Ron L. Clark, Inc   The End of Molasses Glasses,  2011, Touchstone Books

* Page three

I need to be reminded when reading through the Bible that it isn’t all about me.  Sure redemption is written into every syllable, love on every line.  But the lists of names and regulations!  Sheesh!  Every time I read some of these passages I wonder (not always out loud or in print) why it is there.

Then slowly, subtly, almost inperceptibly, I hear the Spirit whisper, “There are no insignificant people in that list; We loved every one of them enough to….”   And the mesage slowly sinks in, and I am reminded how much I am loved and the price that was paid for me.

These people lived and died centuries ago, and I am reminded of them.  Fifty years from now, I might have a neice or nephew who says, “Do you remember…I can’t think of his name, but he lived in…hmmm, I can’t think of that either, but one time he told me…hmmmm, I can’t remember that either.  But I think he liked me.”

And that will be it.

Except for the fact that my name is written on The Unforgettable List.  Written in the blood of the Lamb, who loved me, and gave himsel for me.

I will keep on reading my Bible.  My plan is to read the Old Testament once and the New Testament at least twice this year. And I will continue to be greatful beyond measure that this nobody, from nowhere in particular, with no memorable features or characteristics, will be remembered by the One Who Matters Most.

Kids, and adults for that matter, need to want the knowledge more than they want the reward.  At least that’s the way we think it should be.  But sometimes the game, the reward is just the little motivator to move a child from spectator to full-fledged participant.  Some kids thrive on the game.

Which is why we offer kids small rewards for bringing their Bible to church.  Who knew that a cookie could entice someone to good behavior?

I think we will be doing the same thing for Bible memory pretty soon.  You know something like memorize the book of Genesis and get a cookie.  Think that will work?

Many of us worry about what the world is teaching our children.  Many are reasonably concerned about the many less than positive influences that are attempting to assert their authority over the hearts and minds of today’s children.  How can we as parents and leaders effectively protect our children from the confusing array of almost true “facts” they are getting from the world?  And more importantly, what will stop the onslaught of outright lies, filth, and dangerously deceptive information that is coming at them from every direction?

The biggest weapon, offensively or defensively that is available to anyone is Truth, with a capital T.  And that truth  is found in The Truth, God’s Word.

I remember Sarah.  She had only been coming to church a few weeks.  When she found out about our grand prize, (for twenty verses, repeated twice and explained) she said, “Where’s the list?”  And she went to work.  After just two weeks, two weeks, Sarah  popped off  seven verses, word-perfect.  She did it with a smile, and with delight that comes from accomplishment, and from wanting to please.  And from wanting to win.  I marveled and rejoiced.  All seven verses are words that will guide and direct her path.  That will be the Truth she needs when the world whispers lies.  Truth, that she can use right now and for the rest of her life.  Those verses are still in her mind to this day, when she needs them.

I like it that some kids naturally want to learn God’s Word.  I also like it that we have a way to motivate others to hide his Word in their hearts, because someday, they are going to need it, and I really don’t care how it got there, just, that it got there.   After all, it is their biggest weapon.

Truth.

Guess what.  Kids need your help with this.  They would love your help with putting the appropriate passages, in an understandable translation, into their study plans.  Maybe some of the verses from Experiencing God.  There is nothing better you can do to prepare them for the future.

For the present, too.

I remember very little of my childhood, but I remember that assignment because it was there that the love of writing was birthed in me.  I have written (but not published) several books for children, and writing assignments in school always seemed to be the easiest things I had to do.  Even in college, thought pieces, essays and analysis always came easier than other assignments.

So, imagine the kerfuffle I find myself in, being at a loss for words.  It’s not as if I have had an encounter with the supernatural, and am at a loss for words in awe.  It’s not because I was knocked on the noggin and can’t remember how to write (at least I don’t remember being knocked on the noggin). I haven’t been writing or talking a lot, so I am not overdrawn at the word bank.  It’s not because I am afraid, aflame or afoul of the law.  I am simply at a loss for words.

I have dozens of dribs and drabs of drafts; half completed thoughts of.

Sort of like that, only longer.

So now, a week has gone by and I have posted nothing new.  Re-runs don’t even work.

So I will wait a bit longer, and hope I don’t have to take up painting.

I wore him out.  But I’ve told you that story, and the one about my dear friends replacing Yogi fifty years later.  Now every day I am reminded of how blessed I am.  Yogi oversees everything I do at work, and every day I am reminded of the treasure of the gift.  But more importantly the treasure of my friends.  I miss my them.  Some days a lot.  But all I have to do is look at Yogi and I smile.  I remember the first time I received him and the second.  And I thank God for treasures in my life.

Opening the Word of God and re-reading the familiar storied does that for me too, on a different level.  I am going to read the Bible front to back this year.  It won’t be the first time, and it won’t be the last.  But There will be places where I stop and frown, and places where I stop and smile.  there will be places, genealogies come to mind where I must force myself not to skip a section because of its apparent irrelevance to my life.  But even as I read the table of nations in Genesis 10 I had to remind myself that every single person counts.  Some may read that chapter and yawn, some other may read it and say, “See, this stuff couldn’t be made up!) and some of us will be reminded that our names are written in a book even more permanent than the Word of God! 

There will be places that leave me puzzled, and I will be glad that even with the mind of Christ I don’t know everything, yet.

There will be places where I think, “Why so harsh?” and be reminded that a Holy God has paid a high price for my love.

There will be places where I will be reminded of the stranger who took me down the Roman’s Road so many years ago.

My daily reading will help me know God better.  I hope I will be more holy because of this discipline.  I will be more able to answer critics with love and grace because of the time spent in God’s Word.

But most of all, I will be more grateful.  It’s already starting.  I had to keep from shedding a tear when thinking of my dear sweet friends.   I won’t try to stop it when thinking of my dear sweet savior.

So here are a few thoughts about God that might help us with our thoughts about ourselves.  And our prayers.  The bold type is Matthew Henry’s commentary.   I have added a minor thought or two.

 God is infinitely strong and can do all that he pleases,     Anything he wants to do he can do.  And he does do.

God is infinitely righteous so that he only does what is right,    Everything he does is the right thing to do.  As a reminder to us…the right thing to do is always the right thing to do.  Always.

 God is  infinitely good so that everything he does is perfectly good,     Not just sometimes good, infinitely, perfectly good.

God is infinitely wise so that he always knows perfectly what is right and good,     And he helps me make the wise choice.

God is infinitely loving so that in all his strength and righteousness and goodness and wisdom he raises the eternal joy of his loved ones as high as it can be raised.

I can trust him no matter what.

This is post number 555 for me.  I wonder if there is enough for a book.  Well, there are more than enough words, but they are not arranged anywhere near good enough or fun enough or valuable enough for a book.  I haven’t said 555 important things.  Maybe 5.   Another 50 that were funny, and then 500 that were simply my opinion on what I had been observing, but not necessarily important

.  Maybe the next 555 will be better.  I am doing some things differently, and may actually start a different blog dealing only with ministering to kids.  What do you think about that idea?

It is December 31st, and Diane and I are attempting to set some personal, professional and spiritual goals.  The biggest challenge for Diane is to get me to be involved in the process.  But, we are thinking that perhaps John 13:34 should be our guiding verse for the year.  What do you think?  ” “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

So, as the new year is about to begin,  I am resolved to love better.  In addition to that I will ponder something Diane shared the other day:  “Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.”  ~Harriet Braiker  This is such a great quote about striving and perfection I tried to find a few more.  Hopefully I now provide you with the perfect number of quotes.

“Certain flaws are necessary for the whole.  It would seem strange if old friends lacked certain quirks.”  ~Goethe
“Nothing that is complete breathes.”  ~Antonio Porchia, Voces, 1943, translated from Spanish by W.S. Merwin
“A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault.”  ~John Henry Newman
“Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in.” ~Leonard Cohen
“To escape criticism – do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.”  ~Elbert Hubbard

Those are all pretty good.  I hope you all remember those when you find one of my innumerable typos.  I have not found that balance of writing, re-writing and proof-reading that allows me to put out flawless posts.  Maybe that’s so my perfectionist friends (of whom I have several) continue to have something to do.  If you promise not to be to hard on my imperfections I promise to continue to strive for excellence.  And maybe even learn to spell it.

I do have a few other goals, besides the ones Diane and I will finish putting together tomorrow.  They are not resolutions. 

I hope that this year I get a book or two taken up by a publisher.  I hope to write one  poem as good as Robert Frost’s Birches.

I hope to share the love of God with a million kids, but will settle for a few, the one’s God puts in my life.

I hope to bless you with my miscellaneous wanderings, well into the new year.

I hope I can be half the man Diane thinks I am.

About two blocks from our house is sight repeated a hundred times in our small community.  Mary and Joseph kneel near the Christ Child.  Some are illuminated from within, while others sit in the light of a spot.   The Holy Family residing near our house is about two feet high, and made of the brittle plastic from several decades ago.  Brightly painted (Mary as always in blue and white) and illuminated from within, most likely by a  sixty watt bulb.

A slight difference with this particular scene, being probably thirty years old or more, Joseph has been dropped, and his nose has been broken off.   The hole glows from the internal bulb so that poor old Joe almost looks more like Rudolph.

If  I lived there I  probably would put a band-aid on Joe’s nose, but I wouldn’t replace him either.  There is something more than cool about “old” Christmas ornaments. Each and everyone carries decades of memories, thousands of smiles, and a history of hope.

Growing up, even as a five or-six-year-old, it seemed like all of our ornaments had always been there.  I can only distinctly remember buying a box or two of silver tinsel every year, and one year, out of necessity we bought a lighted angel for the tree top.  The number of bubble lights diminished each year untill there was only one or two left, but the number of ornaments themselves never seemed to grow smaller or larger, even after my little brother took a bite out of one.  Every year we had a crocked tree, held in place with wire and nails, and decorated with the very same ornaments,

For a while, as a teen I questioned this, and actually longed for something, anything new on the tree.  And I am sure there were new ornaments purchased or produced, but my memories only remember the old ones.

As Diane and I have now done 35 Christmases together, we have amassed enough ornaments to fill four or five trees, and some years we have done that.  I love the “snowman” tree, the icicle tree, the gold tree and the “old-fashioned tree. But hands down, the one I enjoy the most, the one that recalls the most and best memories is our traditional tree.  The tree with ornaments from friends, ornaments we made, and those we found one, two or three at a time.  There are no ornaments on this tree that we bought by the dozen, almost every single ornament, close to two hundred of them, carries a story.  And even with my feeble memory, I can recall most of them.  Looking at any or all of our trees is nice.  I really like each of them.  And Diane decorates our home beautifully and homey at the same time.  But it is that tree that brings back the warm joyful memories of Christmases past, and the friendships we shared.

As you go through life, not just the Holiday season, but life, pick up the new and improved when you can, or when you must, but hold on to the old and the dear whenever you can.  Hold gently and lovingly.  Don’t let go.

Especially when it comes to friends.

I could keep writing about this because it really is close to my heart today, but I have a noseless friend I have to get ahold of.

When someone says they sleep like a baby…

Do they mean awake and screaming every two and a half hours?  Do they mean a four-year-old on Christmas Eve?  Are they thinking of a seven-year old with battling parents, or an eight-year old-with an empty stomach?

Or, when someone says they sleep like a baby do they mean a well fed newborn?  Do they sleep like a child whose parents love him to matter what?  Do they get the rest of a girl who knows that Jesus loves her no matter what?  Are they as peaceful as a boy who had an adult who prays with him every night?

In a world where children sometimes have more to worry about than their parents do, we can be part of the peace process.

We must be part of the peace process.

Finally I got out of my car and approached this scene being repeated over and over in front of me.  After being certain my eyes were not deceiving me, I said, “Wouldn’t it be quicker to knock the apples out of the tree and let them eat of the ground?”

He stared at me in am mixture of annoyance and confusion and said, “What’s time to a pig.”

Okay, I didn’t really see that happening.  But it’s such a great segue to a brief conversation about questions, and answers.  As parents there are questions that stay of the surface and those that go to the heart.  I’m sure you know plenty of each, questions like, “How was school today?”  “Was Church fun?”

Those are not the right questions.  But I am sure you already know that.

You might go deep with, “Did you try to make friends with that boy everyone picks on?”   “What can we do differently based on what you learned?”  “Who should we be praying for?”  Now, those are the right kind of questions.

“What will you do differently because of what you learned today?   “How can we as a family…”  Are the kind of questions that not only explore what was really learned, but also delve into areas of potential growth.

To get past questions about time-keeping pigs, and get to the heart of why you might hand-feed a pig, our questions must relate to responding to the stimulus.  What are you going to do with the information you learned.  How does it make you feel, think and act.  information can be regurgitated forever without results or impact.  But doing something with the lesson knocks the apples right out of the tree.

I could finish this post with the question, ‘So, did I teach you anything today?”  But a better question would be…. No I won’t tell you.

You tell me.