Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

Sin

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:34:47 +0000

QUESTION: What ever happened to sin?

ANSWER: In lieu of my regular format, I want to address a disturbing shift I have noticed in talking to parents. The shift away from “sin” to “mistakes.”

The other night on the evening news, I heard of a college sports figure that was caught shoplifting. When he was interviewed (no doubt couched by his lawyer), he spoke of “making a mistake.” There was no talk of “doing something wrong”, no talk of committing a crime, no talk of making a choice to steal…he had “made a mistake.” The transformation did not stop there. A few minute later, the reporter referred to the act as “an unfortunate mistake.” Follow the implication? This young man’s CHOICE to STEAL somehow just “happened” to him…a matter of “chance” or “fortune.” The act was somehow beyond his control or responsibility. He was a “victim” of bad fortune and circumstance.

Follow the implication further…how can this “unfortunate” man, the “victim” of circumstance, be held accountable? Don’t we all make “mistakes”?” Don’t we all experience bad “fortune”?

The next morning on The Today Show, a former Neo-Nazis was being interviewed. The interviewer asked: “During the time you were involved with this hate group, were you sick? Crazy?” Follow the implication? Hate is now a mental illness…a disease. Hate isn’t even a mistake; it’s an illness. I fear the A.P.A. (American Psychiatric Association) will soon develop criteria to help professionals diagnose S.H.D. (Severe Hatred Disorder). Sound too outrageous? Practically every other behavior is categorized in the D.S. M. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

It is my deep concern that this “shift” from sin to mistakes has begun to infect many in the church. Our youth especially are susceptible to this shift in thinking. Sins become “mistakes”. After all, we don’t want to offend anyone, or damage someone’s self-esteem. Things like hatred, lust, lying, greed, stealing, abuse, divorce, idolatry etc…just “sort of” happen to us…they aren’t really our fault. They might just be mistakes, or a mental illness, or just bad luck.

I’m convinced that many of us don’t have a deep appreciation for the Cross of Christ because we don’t think we are “that bad”. With this mindset, how do we understand, experience, and live for Christ? God sent his Son to die for our “mistakes”? God so loved the world that he gave his Son to help us through our “unfortunate” circumstances? Doesn’t sound terribly moving or transformational to me. It might sound “nice”, but not wonderful, or overwhelming, or life changing, or humbling, or awesome. How much devotion, appreciation, surrender, commitment or inspiration do you suppose we will have for a God who gave up his Son to pay the price for our “mistakes”? How excited will we be to share the incredible Good News when we might not see it as that “good”? How much awe and gratitude will we have for a God who gave everything to forgive us when we don’t feel we are really to blame?

When sins are no longer sins, forgiveness loses its wonder, its richness and its incalculable cost. In his great sacrificial love, God gave, and continues to give, that which we most desperately need—priceless, cleansing forgiveness. Without a deep and personal awareness of our “choice” to repeatedly sin, we will have little use for God’s greatest gift, and little love for him.

Parents, don’t be afraid to call sin, sin. Our children already live in a morally confused world. The home and the church are the last fortress against this confusion.

Shy

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:33:24 +0000

QUESTION: My seven-year-old is very shy. As a parent, what can I do?

ANSWER: Shyness as a character quality is part of how God knits a specific child together in the womb. Although fear, humiliation, failure and rejection certainly contribute to shyness, the character quality is innate. Social failure especially increases the probability that a child will remain shy as a self-protective strategy (All behaviors have a function.). When dealing with extreme introversion, control and compensation is the goal. A child can learn skills and techniques to make the shyness manageable, but the innate character quality will usually be present to some extent. Overcoming shyness is a process not an event.

Shy children are usually trapped in a spiral of disappointing experiences that serve to increase and solidify their shyness. Because they are innately shy, they often go unnoticed. Their peers perceive them as dull, boring, uncaring and insensitive because they don’t present themselves well, are self-conscious, and communicate poorly. Shyness prevents peers from seeing the child’s good qualities. As a result of these negative experiences, they retreat further in terms of social interactions. If this behavior is not curbed early in life, these children often have lonely, fearful and depressed adolescent and teenage years (40% of teens describe themselves as shy.).

Shyness needs to be overcome not just to improve the quality of the child’s life. We Christians are called to spread the Good News.

We are called to involve ourselves deeply in the lives of others in order to reveal Christ. Shyness stands in the way. Shyness at 7 is understandable; shyness at 27 is a choice (Although it doesn’t seem like one.) to protect self rather than risk involvement with others for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

God will use this obstacle to draw both you and your child to him, if you seize this opportunity!

1. Have a heart-to-heart talk with your child about shyness. Tell her you want to help. Tell her she can learn to overcome her shyness (control and compensate). Pray with her consistently.

2. Conference with her teacher for observations and input.

3. Conference with a professional to consider other factors such as an anxiety disorder.

4. Consistently practice the physical aspects of overcoming shyness (i.e. eye contact, clear voice, smiles, personal hygiene, general appearance, etc.). Reward success!

5. Provide safe and numerous opportunities for one-on-one playtime with peers whom your daughter feels the most comfortable with. Realize that many children prefer interacting with one friend at a time. (This is the difference between introversion and extroversion.) Plan in advance some activities with your daughter that she can do with the friend. Have plans “B” and “C” in reserve.

6. Realize that this “practice” must be consistent, usually successful, and long-term for it to work. This is a process. Observe her without being too obvious. She will require your gentle, but accurate feedback.

7. Model the behavior you want from her.

8. Seek out a peer socialization group if you don’t think you can teach these skills. Consult the self-help section of the bookstore for age-appropriate materials on making friends. Consider a children’s theater group, etc.

9. Reward successes! Celebrate!

10. Help her take small, comfortable steps.

11. Watch that you don’t overprotect her. Pray with her about risk taking.

12. Consider assertiveness training.

13. Role-play situations. Make it a game.

14. As with all phobias, gradually introduce her to more challenging situations.

I believe her relationship with Christ is paramount in this situation. It can help her move beyond a preoccupation with self, and help her relax knowing God’s Spirit is within her. She has wonderful gifts to give others in the name of Christ in the context of relationships. You can help!

Sex

admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:31:51 +0000

QUESTION: My 4^th grade son has been caught joking about sex. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was. I want to talk with him, but I need some suggestions.

ANSWER: Most kids know far more than their parents think they do about sex. Unfortunately, most of what they know (or think they know) doesn’t come from godly sources. It comes from peers, TV, music videos, magazines and bathroom walls. Horrifying thought isn’t it. I continue to be saddened by kind of movies and TV young children are exposed to, often right in their own homes. Too often, Christian parents and the church are conspicuously silent about much of this topic, but the media sure aren’t. Night after night, program after program, our children are made very aware of every aspect of sexuality. Kids are hungry for information about sex, and they will find out what they want to know from any source that will give it to them. As Christian parents, we want them to understand sexuality in the context of God’s Word. Sexual behavior is not a matter of opinion or preference or age, it is mandated in Scripture.

At the 4^th grade level, your son is aware enough about sexuality that he should have numerous heart-to-heart talks (in language he can understand) about genitalia (parts and function), arousal, masturbation and nocturnal emissions, orgasm, virginity, pornography, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy all in the context of God’s holy plan. God WANTS TO PROVIDE FOR US a sexual life that is within the context of a committed marriage (It is God who makes marriages.) that is free from past guilt, free from sexually transmitted diseases, free from fear, and free to get better with time and practice. He also WANTS TO PROTECT US from the guilt of past sexual encounters, disease, unwanted pregnancies, emotional scars, and sin (The Bible says sexual immorality is a sin against God. GEN. 39:9 and many more.)

If you’re worried about what kind of language and just how much you should tell him, there are some great Christian resources available, including the materials SOTHCS sends home to you. Parents are essential in helping to form a child’s sexual attitude, morals and desire. Although mothers are often “stuck” with the role of Sex-Ed. teacher by default (Dads chicken out.), research indicates that fathers are the more influential parent in determining their child’s attitude about sex and the kind of partner he/she will choose.

Realize that sex-ed. is an on-going process with your child. Be open and honest. MODEL godly affection and sexual purity in your life. Help your child come up with a set of Christian values and expectations. Teach them how to set limits and say “no!” Use age-appropriate TV and movies as conversation starters. Insist on standards of modesty in dress. Help him/her understand and recognize behavior like flirting, seduction and promiscuity. Talk seriously about sexual perversions and abuse. Pray about your child’s future spouse with him/her. Familiarize yourself with some of the great chastity programs available through your church or Christian publishers. Equip your child for life in this sexually-charged world! If you won’t, the media will.

Sermons December, 2011

tglandon — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:38:32 +0000

December 4

10:45 am Traditional Service
"In the Name of Jesus"
Mark 1:1-8

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

Sin

Shy

Sex

Sermons December, 2011

Sermons November, 2011

Sermons October, 2011

Sermons September, 2011

Sermons August, 2011

Sermons July, 2011

Sermons June, 2011