The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director. Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year. God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started inve
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| The kids a few years ago on vacation in Pittsburgh |
Let me give a word to the wise to parents who wish to raise children who grow up to have Christian character and good values...get yourself a blindfold and a good pair of ear plugs. You'll need it to block out what family members and friends who don't share your values will say.
"Isn't Larry kind of harsh with him?"
"Are seventeen spankings in a row really appropriate? Do you really think that's going to work? Isn't that just doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? That's kinda insanity if you ask me..."
"You aren't letting him participate in drum line at school because they practice on youth group night? How much church does any one kid need? I'm sure he will get positive experiences being a part of the drum line too. How is that really any different from a youth group?"
"Why does your summer revolve around youth camp? Isn't that kind of weird? What if the kids just don't want to go? I never went to church camp and I turned out okay...right?"
"I know so many people who were forced to go to church as kids, and they resent it now and don't ever want to step foot in a church. Hopefully it works out for you."
"Dr. ___________________ says it's a barbaric practice to spank kids. That's what parents did before they knew better."
"You don't let them stay overnight with friends from school if you don't know the kids parents well or agree with their values? Isn't that kind of controlling?"
"Kids will be kids. We did a bunch of crazy crap too when we were kids. Why should your kids be any different? You turned out alright in the end."
"You should just let them go out with whoever they want to, and not worry so much. You're too strict. You're like a parent from the 1950's or something..."
"You're so old school."
"You can't put your kids in a bubble, you know."
Hindsight is 20/20.
Most of the people who said things like this to us now have older teenagers or adult-kids who are a rip roaring mess. Hell on wheels.
I'm so glad I had a very good pair of spiritual ear plugs and a blindfold.
At the end of the day you're the one who's going to have to answer for how you raise your kids.
So raise them right.
You're not raising kids, you're raising adults.
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