In day to day life, I try to think about things from the Father’s perspective. I’m not talking about a flesh and bone father, but the Father of our souls. It’s a battle though.

The flesh is continually at odds with the spirit – but one thing always helps bring me back to focus.

My Kids

Being a father myself, I tend to be a very loving yet strong and stable helper for my children. Just like the Father who wrote His law for man and for the spirit, whereby we could rest sure in the eternal salvation presented therein.

They whine and complain when I tell them they can’t have something. They try to ask my wife for something I’ve already said no to. Much like when the Father is trying to guard us from harm, but “WE WANT IT!”, or we try to go about getting it “our OWN way”.

They demand so much and yet, when they show the smallest act of love and charity, or they speak with clarity and respect in public, I’m reminded of just how much I love them and how long I am willing to suffer for their sakes. So too does the Father smile down on us when we present Him with these works.

When my kiddos mess up, I require that they repent to whomever the offense was against immediately. So also, when Christ paid the price for our sins, He required us to acknowledge our sins and repent.

There is so much wisdom to behold as a man in the role of a father. We all fall short, but at least do your very best to set forth a good example, encourage and love on your spouse and children and enjoy the fruits the Father has given you.

I hope you got a chance to lift up a father on Father’s Day and I hope you took a moment to give thanks and praise to the Father of our souls.

Joshua Jones

I’ve been working with my daughter, Kamille, helping her practice riding her bike since she was 3.  She’s been getting really good at it and just yesterday, she actually took off all on her own, multiple times and rode over 150 feet in all!

Talk about a sense of pride coming from a daddy!  Here’s the video:

Kamille Riding Her Bike!

I made this with my new flip video!

I know.. some of you may think I’m just off in la la land – but that’s ok.

I’ve seen the damage it’s done: the toll it’s taken on our youth.

I’m not just sitting here complaining about it though. I’m not even judging or condemning people for going through a public institution. My kids just won’t be attending a public education institute as long as I walk this earth. God called us to instruct our children in the way and keep them in the knowledge of God. That entire principle has been utterly stripped from our public education system. I remember when I was a youth in school reciting the pledge of allegiance. It was an allegiance to “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”. Bah! Where did all that noble lip service get us?

Stop... and think!

Take God out of the school! He’s religious.. ohh please!

I’m just sick of the system that turns out ignorant drones by the droves. Granted they have some knowledge of the world (though, only a tiny bit about how it actually works), but what is that worth in the grand scheme of things? Absolutely nothing. Zero, zilch, nada… when compared to the knowledge of God!

Anyhow, off my soap box I go for now… and as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord!

In Christ,

Joshua Jones

It’s been an topic on my mind for a long time, well before I had children of my own.  The two little ones, given my wife and I, are now four and three years of age, and this question is becoming more and more clear.

It has become comon sense to me, as no doubt it has to you, that children attempt to reproduce the actions and behaviors of the role models in their environment.  It has been said by many folks that I’ve talked with, that, “sometimes kids will just be kids”.

That’s where I have a challenge – not in the statement itself, because certainly none of us are perfect, so they are expected to fall short – it’s the constant use of this phrase to excuse behavioral problems with the parents or other role models.

The perspective throughout the generations of parents I’ve spoken with, shows a very clear pattern.  Children are more disconnected, wild, unable to be controlled, and flat out unruly.  Gleaning wisdom from both Word of God, parents and grandparents in their 80s, and above, I’ve determined the source of the problem: parents, (ie the root) and their lack of Jesus Christ, obedience or ignorance.

Oh no, bible trumpery, right?  Well, in a way, sort of…

Jesus Christ, to be clear, is the Word of God made flesh:

Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The Bible has been taken from the majority of public schools, though now it is everywhere on the internet (including the thousands of translations).  New ones being produced every week it seems.  How’s the situation at home?   Wat are the child’s role models? A violent, volatile couple that physically and/or verbally abuse the family?  A loving, yet firm, husband and wife that spend time with their children and teach them in the way they should go?  There is an enormous difference, right?

A child can perceive that and it will register over time… think about how fast the past  years has passed, you’ve been exposed to a lot, and chances are, children are at the peak of exposure now.  My own have made me plainly aware of my errors, bad decisions and have even been a catalyst for a decision to changes some things about my own parenting strategy and tactics.

I challenge you, the next time you hear “they are just being kids”, stop and ponder the situation – consider the facts of the environment and the kids’ role models.  I am certain you will find the challenge is not with the children, and anyone that has love flowing over can impact children for the better, by being a role model for them.

I hope this was a help to some.

Joshua Jones