New Year's Resolution

We have the custom of making New Year's Resolutions. It is a fine idea to intend self improvement. However, self-improvement seems to be very limited. New Year's resolutions seem to last a few weeks, don't they?

But real commitment, real calling out to the Lord has transformed lives.

How about commit to a year of prayer, of listening, and of doing what God has instructed us to do?

God has told us what we are to do in the Bible, yet even the most dedicated, more professional Christians largely ignore the Bible. We hear so very loudly our own tradition when we read the text, become confused, ignore it, and often fail to apply the Word in our busy life.

However, look, doesn't God really get it? Aren't we the ones who really need instructions?  Wouldn't listening to the instructions of the Maker and Redeemer God be the best strategy?

So, when we hit a text we know we don't understand, let's ask Holy Spirit to teach us.  Then let's listen. When we are going on auto pilot, on good tradition and custom, let's ask the Holy Spirit to show us in the Bible what God really told us to do.  Then let's realize the big picture, what it looks like to God -- that we would be so much more blessed if we really DID what God tells us to do.  Knowing, or thinking we know, or doing good stuff, but not God's will, really is just junk.  Real blessing comes from hearing, attending, doing.

Make 2010 your best year ever. The challenges will be great. Victory is available.
Blessings and love to you and yours.

Dani Johnson was great

Wow! Listen to the Dani Johnson interview.
You know what, she does what she teaches. She was great to work with. Yeah, we are on a mission : change the world by persuading one child at a time that doing good will be their path to doing well.

Dani Johnson's New Book : Grooming the Next Generation for Success

Dani Johnson's Grooming the Next Generation for Success is the best parenting book I have ever read.

When I was young, I was appalled at how parents spoke to their children. Today I am appalled at how children speak to their parents. I am shocked at how my college students comport themselves. I can't say much for my colleagues, either! Oh dear! Our society is in deep trouble.

Dani Johnson has a lot of help. The part I like best is the verbatim conversations, how she talks to her children In general, they go something like the following:

“You want to succeed, don't you?”

“Yes, mom.”

“Want to try that again?”

“Sure, mom.”

“You understand why this family does things like the 2 %, right?”

“Yes, mom, only 2% succeed and so we don't follow the crowd.”

“Right! Good job!”

Of course, she does tell us what to do when the response is not as is desired.

I was delighted with her distinction between protection and control. I was impressed at the discipline required even in an affluent home. I was amazed at how she and her husband set up a procedure to test and socialize her teenage daughter's potential date/mate into their system of honoring one another. Given the overall foundation, it is believable that their daughter sits through the initial conversation setting up the rules with a suitor, knowing she is a protected princess, not a controlled piece of disrespected chattel.

If you care nothing about Scripture, nevertheless, you will see the efficacy and sense in what she says. If you are a Bible believing Christian, you will see immediately how Johnson's way of parenting connects with Biblical principles and you will marvel that we haven't lived this way before.

It is high time to improve our parenting. Now is the time to step up to the challenges of the modern world, a world where our children are innundated with sexploitation, laziness and poor thinking. Johnson gives principles and realistic examples from her own family to help us take our parenting to a new level.

This is not a collection of trainers' platitudes. This is a book for the times. I am giving this book away for Christmas. My daughter gets the first such present. If you have anything to do with kids -- or are even are a grandparent like me -- you want to read it before you do the next item on your “To Do” list. Bravo! Hallelujah!

Sharon Sarles, Mont.Dip., M.Div., M.A. (Sociology)

www.greatshalom.org

How about a responsible response to the recent classroom sexual assault?

So Lord, right now I admit that I don't really know the situation. I only know the news report, but Lord, I know you know. Holy Spirit, I ask you to pour into this situation. Comfort those that need comforting. Convict those that need conviction. Protect and educate all those who are open to it.

I speak Shalom and healing for these young people. I am not the judge of culpability, Lord, I do know that this is not the kind of behavior and outcomes you want for these children. You want them to be healthy, happy, holy, and to succeed. So we claim your shalom over these children. May they all receive a touch from you.

In the Name of Jesus, I speak healing, to you, darling girl. May Holy Spirit wrap you with warm comfort. May Jesus teach you safer paths. May all the holy angels protect you.

Heavenly Father, I know it is not your will that any should perish, but that all repent and receive eternal life. So I pray that these boys would repent, turn toward you, receive by faith your forgiveness AND your cleansing, your making them righteous. That they one day, may be representatives of your holiness, your goodness, your love.

We know that you are not willing that any should perish, so I pray that harvest come across the paths of these young people, to speak the right word at the right time, that they all be turned to you, and soon walking in your good ways.

Holy Spirit, we invite you in, into our hearts, into our institutions, our clubs, our schools, into our city. I thank you that your wisdom is ever available and I ask you to help the teacher and administrator to see what to do. Change our schools, our city, our nation into what you would have them be. Turn over our filthiness to you cleanliness. Turn over our apathy and stagnation, into the might river of your Spirit. Turn us, O Lord. And rescue our city, save it from the dark kingdom, and transfer it to the kingdom of your Dear Son. Give us a revelation, a revelation of our authority, our responsibility, our power. And we thank you for giving us so much. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Comment on Recent Classroom Sexual Assault in Austin

Folks, if you hear the news, you know that there was a very very sad incident recently in an Austin classroom. Two 13 year old boys are reported to have raped a 14 year old girl while the lights were off for an in-class video. I was told that other students eventually cried out to alert the teacher. The news media reports that the teacher is on administrative leave pending investigation and the boys are charged with a felony.

Someone helping in this ministry alerted me to this incident and suggested that Great Shalom might comment. I feel that indeed, maybe I should. How about you, what do you say?

We can tell what the world is saying.  "Oh, look the teacher is at fault."  "Oh, no, the parents are at fault." In fact everyone is at fault. Everyone who has let this society slide down to this low level. Everyone who allows children to be exposed to soft porn -- like at the grocery store line. Everyone who encourages their girls to dress like hookers. (I have no information about the victim; I just know the sorry state of affairs of fashion.)
Everyone who fails to teach their boys how to behave -- and that manly behavior includes honoring women.

 Every Christian who has failed to be active in the social sphere. Every Christian who once active, failed to correctly represent Jesus.  Every one who threw stones instead of extending grace. Everyone who fell into the trap of being an abusive dictator so that the world thinks Christian parenting is the worst of all. "Which is worse," they say, "taking the risk that children will misbehave or having the parents beat the kids."

Folks? What would Jesus do?

Thanksgiving - or turning up the heat in the kitchen

I have a good guess what educators are thinking right now -- because I am too. "How can I get this grading done and still be ready for Thanksgiving. Oh my, and then there is the rush to end of term and Christmas." Public school educators are thinking "Okay, here goes again, the kids will be restless."  College instructors like me are thinking, "Well, after Christmas, my students will wake up and start turning things in; then I will really have work to do."  Home educators are thinking, "Right, now how will I keep assignments on track AND start decorating this house."  Did I guess right?

Around here, at Great Shalom, it is no different. I am so busy that my eyeballs are... but I am so grateful.  Furthermore, I am trying to remember that the curse is reversed, and I am in blessings. Therefore I should be in rest and not hard labor.  Still seeking the Lord about that one.

So it is probably a good time to pray.  And give thanks. So first let me take the opportunity to thank you all for listening, for praying, and for supporting the broadcast. Thanks especially to all those who contributed their labor, whether in prayer, advertising, or participation of any kind. We want to bless children, spread God's Word, and be obedient. We appreciate what you can do to help us.

THANKSGIVING PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank you so very much for so many things.

We thank you for all your blessings to us this year. Thank you for all your comfort in our hard times.

Thank you that you love us so much. Thank you for all that you have done for us.

Help us shine with that love as we celebrate the holidays with our families. Help us see opportunities to bless, to comfort, and to give. First in our own families, and then in with those around us, and finally to the far ends of the earth.

Help us love them, just as we would want the favored people of the world to think of us if we were in the less favored position. Help us be the hand that helps the orphan, the calms the widow's fear, and that plants for a good harvest in all things.

Lord, I ask for blessing upon these my friends and supporters. Bless them as they bless others. Give them blessings of prosperity, of feeling loved, and having someone to love. Blessings of joy, peace, and a boldness that is kind. Healing to your body, mind, and emotions. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

We thank you for all you do for us.

Sharon Sarles

The Great Shalom Broadcast Ministry, Inc. 50a(c)3

P.O. Box 971

Cedar Park, Texas USA 78630

www.greatshalom.org info@greatshalom.org

prayer of blessing, especially for those who work with students who having learning problems

On The Great Shalom Broadcast (Saturday 7:30 am CT on www.klgo.net) I always pray blessings over my listeners and sometimes my guest, but this morning what the guest had to say was SO interesting that we didn't have time for it. We can't do without it, though, so here it is.

Heavenly Father,
Please bless Dr. Salzman, all his family and staff and all those who diligently work to alleviate the suffering of so many people. We call for a revolution in our society that we get a revelation of how to do things right so we have more healthy children, so we get a revelation of how important it is do educate well, so we get a revolution in character training, so we get a great advance in kingdom principles in all areas of our society, but especially around the upbringing, training, and education of our children.

Lord, I know how many hurting people are listening to us today. Parents and children are hurting. Teachers are hurting. Hurting in all kinds of way. Right now, Father, to all who would receive, we ask for your healing flow


Healing flow in power to heal bodies

to heal minds


to heal hearts
 
to heal brains

to heal lives.

Help us all be that channel of healing, wholeness, and blessing. In Jesus Name.

Believe and receive God's love for you. Speak it out, say, Lord, I receive You, I receive your gifts. Thank you for healing me now. I choose to walk in healing. 

I pronounce Blessing on all my listeners and on their families. In the Name of Jesus.

I speak healing, health, wholeness, peace, total salvation/shalom. Amen. Receive it today.