Week Two, 2019

GROW UP

By John Grant

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 1 Cor 13:11

The word “adolescence,” derived from the Latin verb meaning “to grow up,” likely began to be widely used in the fifteenth century, and was meant to suggest the nearing of full maturity—not only biologically, but now also emotionally, financially, and in terms of character.”

In 1965 less than 10 percent of college students said they “never” attend any religious services, compared to nearly 30 percent today. The Pew Research Center’s Michael Lipka reported that about 35 percent of adult millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) identify as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular.” “Far more Millennials say they have no religious affiliation.

Where have we gone wrong? There is definitely a trend and it is going the wrong way, decade by decade. It’s not only in spiritual matters, but more and more young people want to eat their dessert first.

Socrates said: “He who is not content with what he has, would not be content with what he would like to have.”

There are few more things more important we can do for our young than convince them that production is more satisfying than consumption. Indeed, a hallmark of virtuous adulthood is learning to find freedom in your work, rather than freedom from your work, even when your work hurts.

But more important than work, is spiritual development. We should spend more time being an example to young people in their spiritual development. We need to be an example to be holy, not a synonym for goody-goody time, but rather time set apart for sacred use.

As adults, we are called to lead children through maturing to spiritual maturity, but this calling goes farther than children. Our call is to all, for everyone is in some stage of spiritual adolescence, including ourselves.

We should all strive to grow in our spiritual maturity and lead by example for others to follow, both young and old.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

How Adam got Eve

Nothing like a good Bible story to make your day. Adam was hanging around the garden of Eden feeling very lonely. So, God asked him, “What’s wrong with you?” Adam said he didn’t have anyone to talk to.

God said that He was going to make Adam a companion and that it would be a woman. He said, “This pretty lady will gather food for you, she will cook for you, and when you discover clothing, she will wash it for you. “She will always agree with every decision you make and she will not nag you, and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you’ve had a disagreement. “She will praise you!

“She will bear your children, and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them. “She will NEVER have a headache and will freely give you love and passion whenever you need it.”

Adam asked God, “What will a woman like this cost?” God replied, “An arm and a leg.” Then Adam asked, “What can I get for just a rib?”

And, of course the rest is history.

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The 16th President of our country wrote powerful lessons for leaders.

1) Don’t let fear hold you back! Risk-taking is an essential element of success.

2) Realize that there is life after failure. If you fail, pick yourself up and try, try again.

3) Never write yourself off!

Just look at President Lincoln’s life.

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It’s awful when I am singing a song and the artist gets all the words wrong.

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I haven’t lost my mind. Half just wandered and the other half went looking for it.