When you think of parenting, esp to the novice, it becomes a bewildering subject!. When you first start to parent it can become an overwhelming task. First, you start with the obvious: diapers, schedules, feeding, sleeping routines, and much more. Then, you start with teaching, discipline, correcting, training, etc. (not to mention the praying you must do). However, the Christian parent who begins this journey struggles with not only these things just mentioned but with what the world or the secular tries to tell them. In other words, they struggle with the pressures the unbelieving world tells them about child rearing. The attractiveness of the world's so-called "experts" entices them. They are drawn to the so-called "experts" of child rearing: child psychologists, sociologists, pediatricians, etc. Indeed, these experts seem to be on every show and seem to be very knowledgeable on the topic of parenting. In fact, every time you go to the doctor's office they seem to have the magazines all around encouraging you to read the so-called experts. Now this seems to be the obvious for many would-be and new parents. Now, this isn't to say that you can't find something worthwhile in these sources but caution and discernment must be exercised. This, should also be the obvious, however, not nearly done as often as it should.   The obvious thing,,it seems to me, that where the "true expert" is; there must be by necessity and corollary also must be the authoritative source and voice on the subject as well. This my beloved is the Bible! You're probably thinking that's obvious. But, for so many Christians its not obvious! The usual response to the ineptitude of parenting is to get a book and see what this author says about the topic without again discerning the author's credentials or aptitude biblically. So, they plunge head-long into one book that seems to them the panacea for all their parenting questions, struggles, and worries. My beloved, I direct you to the obvious--the Bible--the one and only manual, text, and authority on the subject. The Creator of the family summons you to His Words on the subject. Immerse yourself on the pages of deep wisdom and everlasting knowledge and expertise. The obvious is that the Word of God must be scrutinized first and then everything else must come under the microscope of this enduring Parenting "Mag"--The Bible. The obvious: don't fret over the obvious!--the Bible contains the info and authoritative "expertise" for your parenting. Rejoice all you parents that God has given you the key to a life-long parenting success. Grow in this knowledge my beloved.   Sampling of passages at your disposal and they become your armamentarium: Hebrews 12:3-11; Col3:20, Eph 6:1-4, Proverbs 3:11-12; 6:20-23; 10:2;12:1-2,15-16; 13:1,24; 15:10,20-21,32-33; 17:10,21,25; 19:13,18,26-27; 22:6,15; 23:13-16,19,22,24-26; 26:3-5; 29:11,15,17; 30:11,17; 31:25-29; Rev 3:19.   Blessings, Pastor James T. Cater Miramar Church 6390 SW 32nd Street Miramar, FL 33023 (954) 981-4677 pastorjim@miramar.org www.miramarchurch.org

"A king, realizing his incompetence, can either delegate or abdicate his duties. A father can do neither. If only children could see the paradox, they would understand the difficulty."     Today we once again set apart a day in which we celebrate and recognize our fathers. These unsung heroes are the missing piece in the great fabric of society. We cannot survive as a civilization without the crucial and vital role they play in the family. Many of our social, domestic, spiritual, and public woes can be traced to the inept, inadequate, and almost absent dad. May our generation be kindled afresh for the fatherly role model! Our fathers should set the pattern and be the mentors they ought to be. This morning Fathers would you stand up and be counted as the father you are? Would you take the baton and run the race that many have left a legacy for you to follow? Decide today to follow the spiritual commands and ask God to place in you a strong desire to invest in your role where the dividends will be incalculable! Don’t delegate or abdicate your role, but desire and appropriate the role.   Proverbs 2:1-5, Ephesians 6:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 2:6-12 PastorJim cater