April 21, 2010

Men at Home

Joshua 24:15

EARS TO HEAR is the radio ministry of FAMILIES. BY GOD. For EARS TO HEAR, here’s Tim Glisson.

The devil is having a field day with men these days. No matter where you look the Biblical notion of a strong man at home guarding his family is being obliterated.

The business world rewards long hours on the job and on the road; celebrity glamorizes divorce and dysfunctional families; the media mocks men at every turn and the laws are promoting their emasculation.

In short, the devil has convinced the world that men at home are irrelevant so we go looking for significance everywhere else. Yet, insanely enough, the answer to most of society’s problems: adultery, crime, drugs, violence and all types of abuse, is a strong man at home.

So what’s stopping us? Only ourselves. Simply put, if true religion as James says includes being unspotted before the world, we men need to change our spots. We men need to ignore the sirens of secular success. We men need to follow God.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Men, it’s up to us.

If you have EARS to HEAR, please visit our website at FAMILIESBYGOD.org. For EARS TO HEAR, I’m Tim Glisson.

April 16, 2010
Righteousness Exalts a Nation
Proverbs 14:34

EARS TO HEAR is the radio ministry of FAMILIES. BY GOD. For EARS TO HEAR, here’s Tim Glisson.

French politician and historian Alexis de Tocqueville is often quoted as saying that “America is great because America is good” and America itself is quick to agree.

Philanthropists, non-profits and politicians alike all like to claim this philosophy as the backbone to their missions or missives. Americans are good; we give billions to charity; we fight for democracy; we hunt for the truth and we prosecute evil. Collectively we the people of these United States have huge hearts.

Trouble is, that’s not what de Tocqueville was talking about. When he said those words he wasn’t talking about our generosity or compassion. No, he was describing our obedience, our submission, and our total surrender…to God!

De Tocqueville came to America in 1830 specifically to discover what made it great.

He looked everywhere he claimed “in harbors and rivers, fields and factories, he went to America’s democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution — but not until I went into the churches of America, de Tocqueville said and heard her pulpits aflame with righteous­ness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.

Righteousness, a right relationship with God, not goodness, no matter how good it is, exalts a nation says Proverbs 14. Something America and Americans would be wise to remember.

If you have EARS to HEAR God’s plan for His children, please visit our website at FAMILIESBYGOD.org. For EARS TO HEAR, I’m Tim Glisson.

April 19, 2010
“Care”
Romans 14

EARS TO HEAR is the radio ministry of FAMILIES. BY GOD. For EARS TO HEAR, here’s Tim Glisson.

In the fourteenth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans, the apostle writes that “every one of us shall give account of himself to God”.

The idea here in context is not one of being condemned as Paul makes clear earlier in this epistle: if God is with us who can be against us, and thus there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.

No, the idea of accounting is similar to the parable of the talents; what did you do, God may ask, with what I gave you to use? When you saw me naked, did you clothe me? When you saw me hunger, did you feed me? When you saw me fatherless – did you care?

Making a lifetime commitment to the fatherless in comparison to making a meal for the hungry make seem daunting – and it is. But remember, God is the father to the fatherless; their defender, their provider.

What if in the spirit of adoption God isn’t asking you to physically adopt a child, but rather to care enough as James 1:27 might suggest, to spiritually lift a child back up to God in prayer; in concern; in love?

There are many ways to care for a child other than through adoption, looking into the conditions of those trapped in America’s Child Welfare System among them. The 500 thousand kids right here in the United States who aren’t in danger of losing their birthright as Esau did – quite frankly because they never had one.

If you hear God’s call to care for the fatherless, through prayer, inspection, or selection, won’t you please let us know by visiting our website at FAMILIESBYGOD.org? For EARS TO HEAR, I’m Tim Glisson.

April 14, 2010

Kids In Limbo

James 1:5

EARS TO HEAR is the radio ministry of FAMILIES. BY GOD. For EARS TO HEAR, here’s Tim Glisson.

The question of “why so many kids are seemingly stuck in the Child Welfare System?” is asked quite often.

The answer rests in large part in the Family Court process. Like most, Family court decisions rely on two different inputs – information and legislation.

Information comes from a number of sources including law enforcement, social services, case managers, therapists, counselors, law guardians, attorneys and sometimes even the children themselves.

When that information is slow in coming or just plain absent it often results in a decision not to make a decision, which translates into a child in limbo: not going home, but not freed for adoption either.

The current legislative strategy is called concurrent planning meaning workers prepare for both outcomes – a return to birth parents or an adoptive placement – at the same time.

Confusing? It gets worse. The law requires workers to identify potential parents without being able to guarantee those parents the children will ever actually be free. Not surprisingly, many adoption minded couples don’t bite.

The result is kids in limbo.

It make take someone with the wisdom of Solomon to solve this dilemma, but James 1:5 says if we ask God for wisdom He’ll give it to us. On behalf of all the kids in Child Welfare limbo, won’t you please pray – for wisdom?

If you have EARS TO HEAR please visit our website at FAMILIESBYGOD.org For EARS TO HEAR, I’m Tim Glisson.