Don't ever stop!!

To the handsome Conductor driving this happy train!!  You are so creative, hardworking and fun with our sweet boys!   Thank you for showing the love of Christ to our children through your fathering.  I don’t think they will have much trouble understanding what God is like through your example.

Jim is after Him

I was figuring we would one day have to start evaluating what our children read and watch, but I was not really concerned about it with my one year old.  That was until he started biting me.

We did not know where he had learned it.  We did not think it came form his books!   What bad could come from Hop on Pop?  I mean really?  Well, he can learn to bite people.  It took us a couple of months to figure that out.

Soon after we started to really pay attention to the books we were reading to Luke as well as what the pictures were communicating (which were more influential back when he did not understand a lot of language).  As we received lots of books from people as hand-me-downs or gifts, some of which we really could not read to him.  I did NOT want to be the nit picky censoring parent. Now I am.  I know I cannot keep him from sin, as he is a sinner by nature and by choice.  The only answer to that sin is Jesus.  However, we do have to continue to put before him the reality that sin is sin and Jesus is savior.  Things that tell him sin is okay or is even good, that goes against everything.

Here’s some things we found:

1)  Disobedience to parents

The most common plot or subplot in children’s books is disobedience to parents.  Pretty much any of the “Five Little Monkeys” books are about disobeying their mother and yet not getting that terrible of consequences.  We had to throw out a book about the “Bopples” because the whole book was about how fun it was to disobey your parents at bedtime.  Rebellion and disobedience is by far the number one thing we disciplining Luke for.  As it says in scripture:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. (Eph. 6:1-3)

God commands obedience to parents.  I’ve already written about how random strangers already try to encourage rebellion in my kids.  Now it is clear that books are as well.  Actually, a number of kids movies are all about disobedience to parents.  That is not good!  Elsewhere it scripture it says:

For rebellion is as the sin of divination (1 Sam. 15:23)

Or in other words, disobedience to your parents is like being a witch.  In the Law it says “Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother” (Dt. 27:16).  Disobedience is a big deal and it leads to much worse sin later in life.

2)  Anger

Luke started saying to me “don’t make me mad!” and then hitting me.  Neither of us have ever said that.  Where did he get that?  Oh, over in a Sesame Street book about Oscar the grouch, where he gets angry and annoyed with the readers.  We have another book where the mother gets angry at her children and starts doing some rash things in anger.  While we tell him about anger, our conversation does not seem to counteract the clear model of the book that anger is okay.  But Jesus says otherwise:

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. (Matt. 5:21-22)

3)  Fear

We got a Sesame Street book called “Are you afraid of the dark?”  Luke has never even had the concept of fearing the dark.  Why on earth would I want to even suggest such a thing?  Honestly?  Who is writing this junk?  Do I really need a book to teach my child to fear something other than God?

As Jesus said, “Do not fear, only believe” (Mark 5:36)  and John the Apostle wrote “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18) and the Apostle Paul encourages his disciple Timothy:

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Tim. 1:6-7)

The world tells us to fear things in the world.  Jesus tells us “Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28).  And as the book of Proverbs tells us:

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. (Prov. 15:33)

So yes, now we are actively evaluating what books we read Luke.  Ones that clearly teach that sin is not sin, we toss away.  Ones that teach about ungodly concepts (like the magic in Cinderella) we are sure to stop while reading to remind him that only God has real power.  Book with clear make-believe things (like Santa or Monsters) we are sure to tell him that they are not real.  Books that have good and honorable examples, we are sure to point them out and teach him to follow them.  Plus we are sure to read him a lot of Bible.

I realize the battle is only going to get tougher as he gets bigger.  Please God help us!

Today I heard on the radio about this site:  http://www.pluggedin.com/.  This can help with your evaluation of media for your family.

We noticed something interesting.  Luke specifically decided on two people who he calls “Mama” and “Daddy” when he is playing with his people.  Can you guess which ones?

Which one is Mama? From left to right, A, B, C, or D?

Which one is Daddy? From left to right, A, B, C, or D?

Which ones did you guess?  Post a comment to share!

The one Luke calls “Mama” is B from the first picture.  The one Luke calls “Daddy” is A from the second picture.  Why these ones?  I’m not sure.  When I asked him, he pointed out to me that the Daddy has a mustache like I do.

We look forward to how Luke will be impacted by growing up in such a diverse part of the city where we see lots of different people and play with kids from many different countries.  One African-American guy (and former gang member turned Christian) who we hung out with this summer said, “I can’t believe he isn’t afraid of me!  All little white kids run from me!”  For Luke, interacting with him was not out of the ordinary.

We are thankful for Luke to have an opportunity to have a heart like Jesus, because Jesus loves all people form every tribe, tongue, and nation.  Everyone is equal in Jesus’ eyes, as he died for all of us sinners.  The book of Revelation tells us that this song is being sung to Jesus in heaven:

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:9-10)

Kaelin: Luke you’ve been so obedient lately. Thank you so much!
Me: Luke, is it because you’ve been realizing that sin leads to death?
Luke: I got no sin.
Me: You have no sin?
Luke: No, I got no sin.
Me: Let me tell you what First John says about that: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us”
Luke: I GOT SIN. I GOT SIN!
Me: Well that’s good to know. You know, First John also says that if we confess our sin, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The more people you add to your family, the more of a miracle it is to get everyone looking and smiling!  But here we are with our TWO boys!  We were at my parents’ for “Daddy’s birthday party,” where Luke played Unckie Dylan’s boom booms for hours.  He now thinks you play the boom booms at everyone’s birthday party!

He's pointin'!

What a miracle you are!

Jungle Gym Mama

My Mom thinks I’m really funny

Some of you are asking what my new tricks are.  Well, I quite like to eat out.

Mmmm

Father, what shall I have?

And I can crawl a bit, pull myself up and I also REALLY love to talk!!

I love the swings!

I like hanging with my buds,

And shopping at Costco with Mommy and Daddy

See, I have my card, Sir.

I can’t wait to tell you all I have to say!!