CHILDREN FOR SALE

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A couple from Shanghai was charged with the possibility of going to jail for many years after allegedly selling their baby daughter to buy an iPhone and other luxury items as reported by Yahoo.

While this news article is indeed shocking, I so appreciated Ryan Tan’s comment when he posted the news article on his Instagram.

“Before you judge, ask yourself: Am I “selling” my own kids for success, money, fame, convenience?”

He is absolutely right.

While as a parent, I may not be literally selling my kids to a buyer, it is possible that in my pursuit of career, financial gain, or maybe even ministry, I am already sacrificing my children in the altar of success.

This thought pushes me to think about a few things…

1. TIME

Do I spend most of my time for personal gain or maybe even on something world changing while neglecting moments of building life with my kids?

2. WORDS

Do my words build up or do they tear my kids down?

Worse, I don’t even speak to my kids to connect with them.

3. AFFECTION

Do I spend moments to tell them that they are valuable to me?
As an indication of that value, do I physically express my affection by giving them a high five, pat in the back or hug?

I often hear Joey Bonifacio’s voice and his proverbial “Dying Breath” visualization.

“When you are catching your last few breaths in your death bed, the ones who will be around you will not be your golfing buddies. They will be there an hour, maybe 2. It will not be your officemates nor your high school friends. It will be your spouse who has stayed with you all these decades. It will be your children who have been your source of joy for years. It will be your family who will be holding your hand in those last few moments on earth. With this in mind, guess who you should be investing your most precious moments with?”

Just a thought. A good one at that.

RAISE THEIR ARMS

While Pastor Joey was out for an international trip, in one of our Fort Staff Meetings, we talked about the lessons that can be learned from Aaron and Hur.  While Joshua and the Israelites were fighting the Amalekites, Moses, Aaron and Hur went on a mountain.

The Bible says that while Moses’ arms were raised, the Israelites were winning.  When he would grow tired and put them down, they would lose.

So Aaron and Hur devised a plan.

Exodus 17:12  says, “When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.”

As a result, they won.

We wanted to be Aarons and Hurs to Pastor Joey and wanted to encourage him when he came back from his trip.  Thus, we came up with this video which was the spark that birthed the idea to Pastor Steve’s birthday video.

(click here to watch Pastor Steve’s birthday video)

We all are a ‘second man’ to someone.  Learning to encouraging and ‘raising the arms’ of your leader is critical to see your team win any battle.