Hello all – I am jumping out of the penalty box and taking another slap shot at the blog. Maybe I will score? A little over a month away and the Capitals will be hitting the ice. LET’S GO CAPS!

My daughter is heading back to Arizona today. It is a weird feeling when you have to say goodbye – for an extended period of time. I know each time will be a little longer then the last. She is sharing a place with some friends and will be possibly landing another Vet assistant job. So a good start for her second year at Arizona.

I have been studying through the Gospel of Mark. The parable of the “sower” and How Jesus explains His parable has been on my mind (Mark chapter 4).

Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

So do we understand the parable? well here is one thought -

I want to challenge parents today. See my daughter is heading off to Arizona and I have a peace because of this parable. Because I did not leave to chance that one day back when she raised he hand in Sunday school and offered a prayer.You see I believe the warnings that Jesus makes in the parable about wealth, desires, and troubles are true. Life will get the opportunity to “cross check” my daughter. This is why Angel and I discipled my daughter. We are now doing the same with the other two.

This weekend there is an event in DC. This is highlighted my need to take this discipleship to a new level. The event is the “CALL DC”. Some Christian leaders are inviting people especially young people to come out – seek the Lord and pray for our nation. There should be several thousands teenagers from all over the US. The event is not what I want to highlight here. It was the indifferent attitude that my teenagers had; “Dad, whatever if you want to go – we will go with you.” Nothing wrong with that – I appreciate their trust in wanting to follow and go with me. Maybe they know I will stop at Starbucks. Yet these words hit me as luke warm – neither hot or cold.

So today on the train ride into work I aksed myself - Am I creating good soil in my children? Are you? Are we asking questions – "Do you understand" as Jesus did with his disciples? Have we created a safe environment in our homes for our young people to share “I don’t understand that or right now I don’t believe that? Do we ask on Sunday - What did you get from the message today? I hope we are not trusting in Sunday school, youth group meetings to carry the burden of discipleship of our young people. My son or daughter is saved because when they were 5 years old they raised their hand in Sunday school and invited Jesus into their heart. I hope you have not left everything there in that moment and thanking Jesus for spiritual fire insurance?

Let’s look at a few facts: (http://www.barnagroup.org/)

One out of every five teens(21%) said they did not learn anything of value during their time attending Christian churches. When asked about specific religious beliefs, though, many teenagers embraced views that are inconsistent with the Bible. For instance, two-thirds stated that Satan is not a living being but merely a symbol of evil. Six out of ten argued that a good person can earn eternal salvation through good deeds. A majority (53%) said that Jesus committed sins while He was on earth. The view that Jesus committed sins was endorsed by four out of ten born again teens (40%) and half of all teenagers(52%)who attend a Protestant church. Only 3 out of 10 twentysomethings (31%)attend church in a typical week.

In our secular – post-Christian – society do we think it will get better?

I am not saying turn off your TV, take away the video games, or keep them out of public school. I am saying - do your best to make them salt and light! I am saying “Parents we need to wake up to the call and mandate to disciple the world!” A good place to start may be at home with our kids – don’t you agree. You know the old saying – the fruit does not fall to far from the tree! Just think about it!

Are we discipling our children? Maybe the first question is: Am I a disciple? Take an inventory ask your kids the questions – see what is the result of your discipleship. They are your first fruits. I am not saying this to condemn anyone or to put anyone in the penalty box, but parents we need to take this role seriously. We need to be bold and not leave it to chance. Be certain of this - The world is not leaving it to chance.

What can we do? Get genuinely involved in the small groups or families in your church. Get prayer and ask other parents what they have been talking about. Bring the relationship into the light and stop hiding our mistakes. Trust me – I have made a lot of mistakes as a parent and I have had to ask my kids to forgive me. Stop building the wall - Maybe we need to stop trying to protect them so much from the world and start introducing them to heaven. Could it be possible that Jesus would be come their first love?

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done HERE ON EARTH as it is in heaven.
I know this one was long but I hope worth it –

sean

let’s go caps!!!