Dear Family and Friends,

The Lord blessed our family with a gift this week, a beautiful grandson. Both baby and our daughter-in-law are doing well.

In honor of our newest grandson we’ll look at this well known verse.

“Train a lad in the way he ought to go; He will not swerve from it even in old age.” Proverbs 22:6 Jewish Study Bible

Because this verse is pretty self-explanatory I’ll share just a few comments.

1. Training entails much more than telling a child what to do. Training includes instructing, modeling, encouraging, correcting, and repeating often with God-given patience.

Modeling, doing what we ask our children to do, is an essential step to training a child. Children learn by watching our actions.

Why is it critical that we do as we say? Because when we say one thing but do another, the lesson we teach is – how to be a hypocrite.

2. If you must train your child in the ways of the world, instill Godly values into those ways.

As we raise and teach our children the ways of the world, recognize that the world’s values are imbedded in many of those ways. Values that can lead our children down the wrong path.

Look for and guard against those worldly values. As Jesus once said, the stakes are high. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” Matthew‬ ‭16:26‬ ESV

Before you get depressed because the ways of the world cannot be avoided, please know that it is possible to avoid teaching our children the values of the world.

I recently participated in a leadership webinar called Leaders Eat Last hosted by Simon Sinek’s company. Mr. Sinek is a highly respected thought leader and consultant in the business world.

This webinar, attended by business leaders from around the world and one incognito pastor curious to see what today’s leaders are learning, filled my heart with hope.

Simon Sinek is promoting leadership values consistent with the values of Jesus, as opposed to the cut throat values esteemed by my generation.

Here’s a sampling of what was said.

“To Lead doesn’t mean you are the one in charge. Being a leader means you are responsible for those in your charge.”

“Leaders are not responsible for the numbers. Leaders are actually responsible for the people who are responsible for the numbers.”

“If you have to choose between a person or the numbers, choose the person, tilt towards the person.”

As we search for ways to instill our faith’s values into the ways of the world, let’s be inspired by this statement found on Simon Sinek’s website.

“There is an entire section in the bookshop called self-help, but there is no section called help others. We are helping to build the help others industry…”

All they need to add is a scripture reference…

3. Our responsibility to train never ends.

Aileen and the kids have begun telling me that I look and act more and more like my dad. I won’t go into the details other than to say it’s hilarious how we grow up to be like our parents.

Did you notice that my wife and the kids only knew my dad in his later years?

I never stopped watching my dad, even into his golden years. The lessons he taught me just kept on coming, the good as well as the funny ones.

So, for those of you who have grown children, beware – they are still watching you.

And with that comes a responsibility – to keep modeling Jesus and His ways for our children. Our verse for today extends well beyond their college years.

But let’s not view this as a burden. Look at this as a great opportunity to keep pouring into their lives. There are no boundaries to the life lessons we can provide.

In love always,