The bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1)

In other words, “faith is not faith” if it is based on what we “have” or what is “inevitable”. 

Actually, faith only becomes a reality when it is applied to something “hoped for”… that has little or no evidence of being possible.

The RENEWANATION vision of ‘offering tuition-free Christian education to anyone who wants it’ will require an enormous amount of faith.  It just hasn’t ever been done before.  There are no models to follow.  There are no case studies to review. And God is calling us to start in a time of economic slowdown that is unprecedented in recent history.  Well meaning people may look and say, “It’s impossible.”

But faith doesn’t see it that way. 

Faith remembers Noah who was told to build an ark to save his generation.  He did. 

Faith remembers Abraham who left his comfort zone to receive the promises God offered.   He did.

Faith remembers David who was inexperienced and unprotected, with little in his hand, but determined to defeat the enemy that threatened …and everyone feared.  He did.

Faith remembers Mary when she responded, “How can this thing be… nevertheless, let it be to me…”

Faith remembers God, and says with Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Noah didn’t know how much faith it would take when he started gathering wood.  Abraham didn’t know how much when he started walking.  David didn’t know when he said, “I will.”  Mary didn’t when she agreed with God for the impossible.  Paul didn’t when he responded to God’s call.  But that is what faith looks like.

We realize that we don’t have any idea how much faith it will require …yet.  But we will.  And still we are committed to the cause because of the “faithfulness of God” and the “significance of success” - when anyone who wants their child to receive a Christian education can have it.

God-sized vision must not be measured solely by feasibility studies.  It must be measured by the power of God and the faith of His people.

God, give us faith that trusts YOU to do what some think is impossible.

As adults, we are responsible for the training of our children.  But are we being responsible?

The following includes excerpts from an article by Mike Parker who writes for The Free Press.  Used by permission. 

We constantly hear, “Christmas is for children.”   I am not exactly sure what that statement means, but I do know that during this time of year, most of us have our children on our hearts and minds in a special way.  I want to suggest that this Christmas season, we spend some time focusing on something more important than tinsel, presents, and parties. We need to focus on the moral education of children.

One writer shared his view on the conduct of children:

“The street conduct and language of … children seems rather distressing to one who is native born, and who notes the deterioration of general demeanor on the part of these non-intentional miscreants.”  -          New York Times on July 29, 1912

Another article reports:

“But juvenile delinquency was up 20 percent over last year in Los Angeles; in New Orleans it was up 56 percent among Negroes, 5 percent among whites; in Boston up 15 percent. Said Dr. Mary Fisher, head of Vassar's child-study department: ‘There are thousands of 12-to 15-year-old girls who flirt with men in uniform. Educators should do something about them. They are war casualties.’”  - from an article titled “Children Without Morals” in Time magazine on Oct. 5, 1942.

A recent Josephson Institute study published this year surveyed 29,000 children. The study showed that 64 percent said they had cheated on a test; 36 percent said they have used the Internet to plagiarize school work; 42 percent admitted they had lied to save money; 30 percent admitted to shoplifting.  Of this same group, 93 percent said they were satisfied with their personal morality.

The unethical behavior of children and teens has been a concern for years. Whether we are talking about July 1912, October 1942, or December 2008, most of us express concerns about the morals young people practice.

But one of the most important realizations we can have is that attitudes toward what is right and wrong, and what is good and evil, are caught – not taught.

Children did not engage in the shady deals that devastated the savings and loans 20 years ago. Children did not make loans that produced the current credit crunch and brought the stock market to its knees. Children did not skim off millions to grant themselves Golden Parachutes as businesses failed.

If adults are concerned about children lying and cheating, then maybe they should take a look at their own behavior. In every generation, adult behavior – especially parental behavior – drives the moral attitudes children display.

Adults express concern about the selfishness we see kids display.   But are we concerned about our own materialism?  Are we setting the right kind of example?

As one old evangelist once said, "If we educate the minds of children without educating their sense of morals and ethics, we do little more than create “clever devils.”"  

We all need to be the type of people we want our children to become.

I hope some of the attributes we want to see in our children are honor, integrity, honesty, compassion, kindness, and generosity. If we want our children to display these traits, we must show them how.   Sometimes our actions talk so loudly that children cannot hear our words.

Mike Parker is a columnist for The Free Press. He can be reached at mparker16@suddenlink.net or in care of the newspaper.