Copying a good idea

We read Gene Edward Veith's blog as I often use his posts as the beginning of a writing assignment for my teenagers. I plan to continuing doing that this year with the one teenager left that I'm homeschooling.



On his blog, though, on Monday mornings, he posts about church the day before. Comments on sermons, hymns, etc. Because we also use those as beginning points of discussion, my children encouraged me to do the same and share about our time at church, so I will, even if it is blatantly copying someone else's good idea.



We have a new (to us) Pastor whose been installed here for four weeks. We are enjoying Pastor Widger's sermons very much. Now -- I don't want this to leave the impression that we didn't enjoy our last Pastor's sermons. But these two men preach very differently, and we're enjoying the new while appreciating the old. Hope that made sense.



One thing Pastor Widger said today that made me think of my previous post was when he was talking about discipline and how most of us have heard from our parents just before being spanked, "This is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you." Now don't get your knickers in a knot because I am advocating spanking. I do not advocate the kind of corporal punishment that is abusive, done in anger, or often used. But the hand of wisdom applied to the seat knowledge at an appropriate time and for appropriate reasons is an effective disciplinary tool for parents. And what I quoted above is also another example of what I thought I would never say as a parent, but I have.



It was interesting to hear the words "hunky dory" during our Pastor's sermon today about discipline and the difference between being punished and being disciplined. Good food for thought. Especially the example he used to share about well-meaning friends and how, like Job, they really sometimes are not about pointing you to God and His saving grace, but instead pointing you to trying to be "good enough" to earn God's favor again.



Praying your Sunday is filled with relaxing times spent joyfully with your family!