We enjoyed a visit last week with Sean and Anna (my sister) Gossett and Dad and Mom. They camped in the area and we were able to visit with them from time to time. Dad and Mom stayed over the weekend and Dad preached at our church on Sunday. He taught on "The Money Trap" from Luke 16:1-16. You can listen to it here, which is a recording of when he gave this message at his own church earlier this summer. Here is a link to the Powerpoint presentation that goes with it, if you would like to see the notes while you're listening.

The summer reading book for all incoming Freshmen at Appalachian State this year is the #1 NY Times bestseller Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Since I am teaching a First Year Seminar in the Fall ("Discourse in Politics and Religion"), I will be incorporating this into my class. It looks like it will be a great resource for discussing politics and religion. In the introduction, Relin describes Mortenson as a man who had "become a humanitarian who'd found a meaningful path to follow for the rest of his life" (p. 2).

Besides the wonderful things that Mortenson has accomplished, I believe the reason that this book has captured the attention of so many readers is because we are drawn to passionate people who are consumed with a meaningful, charitable call in life. Unfortunately, one of the reasons we are drawn to such people is that so many of us do not possess our own meaningful paths. It is my conviction that God has designed us all for such fulfilling, others-centered purposes. Have you found yours?
 

The definition of “train” in the Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains is “disciple, i.e., broadly instruct in accordance with proper rules of conduct and behavior which would include both principles and teaching holy ritual.”

Disciple your children. Teach your children. Training is primarily teaching. But it cannot be one class, or one semester, or only in class. Training is life teaching. Discipleship implies and walking through life together and giving instructions along the way. Discipleship would naturally include example and demonstration as well. This is also teaching.

The other day, Dana and I discussed this question: “Why are we educating our children?” Education cannot be an end in itself because knowledge is an incomplete virtue. Knowledge is valuable and important, but the most significant issue is what one does with his knowledge. Many have wrought great evil and destruction with their knowledge. Children are to be trained in the way they should “go.” The main concern is not merely what they know, but what they do. Thus, we must broaden the view of Christian education to wisdom. Wisdom adds righteousness and fear of God to knowledge. God’s purposes for us are to love him and love others. All education and knowledge, then, is gained in order to fulfill God’s purposes.

Training a child has this broader goal in mind for it does not simply convey knowledge, it teaches a way of life – “in the way he should go.” It is a way, a path that goes on and on. It is not just a particular skill or behavior. As the definition above states, it includes principle and holy ritual. Principles are eternal truths that transcend particular circumstances. Principles inform wise and right decisions no matter what the particular problem or choice one faces. “The way” is one that will last one’s entire life. Thus, when the disciples are old, they will still be able to follow it.

This way is not a personal, traditional, or cultural way. It is the way one “should” go. This assumes a right way, a transcendently true way. Therefore, the child is taught God’s way – the way of righteousness, love, and wisdom.

Our garden is growing pretty well. We put a fence around it to keep deer and rabbits out. We have bush and pole beans, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, melons, potatoes, sweet potatoes, sunflowers, grain, tomatoes, greens, peppers, okra, carrots, and radishes.