You may have had this happen to you as a boy. Your curiosity and sense of adventure gets you into a mess. Then you get into terrible trouble because you didn’t know that it was wrong, or dumb, or foolish.

A few years ago, I became frustrated at one of my children because they did something so obviously foolish that I couldn’t believe they did it. I wanted to explode in my anger, but the Spirit began to instruct me saying, “Neil, did you ever instruct your child about this? When did you teach them a principle concerning this? Never discipline whom you’ve not discipled.”

I learned that I had a responsibility to teach my children. This is not something that I can pawn off to others and expect the results that I want. I can’t shrug off this duty. Yes, I can employ a school and entrust them to be raised in a church but it is my calling to train them in the way they are to go.

Did you know that Abraham was chosen to be in covenant with God because of his teaching ability? That’s right, God chose him because, “he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised to do.”

God actually assigned His covenant blessing to Abraham because he could be trusted to teach.

Children are insatiable learners. If we as parents do not teach them they will get their wisdom from someone else. Unfortunately, they often will go to the unknowing for knowledge. The knowledge that children learn from the world or from their friends is often the knowledge of good and evil. It can be sinful and wicked. You don’t want to relegate your responsibility to others.

Notice, that Abraham’s teaching would ensure God’s promises. God said, “I will bring about for Abraham what I have promised to do.”

If you want to ensure that your child does not depart from the way of God, you must teach them. Here is the simple, three-step strategy I use to teach:

Precept

A precept is an established authority. It is immovable, eternal, foundational truth. When you read the Word of God, look for precepts. When you start with a precept, your teaching is based upon foundational truth and authority. It isn’t because you say so but because it is established. An example of a precept is, “Do not muzzle the ox while he is treading out the grain.” This is an agrarian and ethical treatment rule to allow an ox to graze while he is working.

Principle

A principle is the universal truth and application of a precept. This principle should direct my behavior, belief system, and conduct. Our example of, “do not muzzle the ox while he is treading out the grain” helps us understand that we should employ ethical treatment of an animal that is under our care or in labor of use.

Practice

Practice is taking the precept, converting it to a principle, and applying it to my life. I may not have an ox, so is this precept irrelevant to me? It would seem not, but in fact, the Apostle Paul used this example to teach that ministers of the gospel should receive their financial salaries from ministering the gospel.

We are created with a deep desire to learn and receive knowledge. We should always be looking to expand our mind, to learn, to think. As men, we don’t want to participate in useless exercises based on theory. We want to know what works. Call it street smarts or common sense, but men want practical, real-life applications. Your children are no different. They need real-world knowledge, too. Your children need to know how to make and invest money. They need to know what to do if the car breaks down or they have an accident.

Practically speaking, I teach my children as we go in life—when we’re driving, playing golf, eating, etc. Don’t try to over-structure your teaching time with them. Do it as you do life together.

When God created Man, he placed within him a deep reservoir of purpose. Flowing within that reservoir is a commodity worth more than gold. It truly is the currency of your life. If you can gain understanding of it, you will never again be concerned about the subsistence level of living – clothes, cars, and cottages. You will be able to focus on what really matters – which is the purpose of your existence as an authentic man.

This is what Jesus referred to when he said, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) Most men are in a constant struggle with simply meeting the needs and a few desires of their families. It’s an honorable step. It is also a basic requirement before going further into the purposes that you were created to do. However, don’t stop short. Once you’ve understood this level of achievement, it is time to move on to deeper currents.

The deep waters that Solomon suggests we have as men is an internal counsel which helps us formulate plans. You’ve recognized this counsel before when needing to make a decision and something deep within you whispers wisdom. Don’t let this take you by surprise. Embrace this inner counsel. You are being instructed by something more than your education or experience can provide.

In the book of Genesis, we are told of a river named Pishon that flowed out of the original garden. The name Pishon means increase. Within this river were precious materials like gold and onyx. But these precious items did not just flow into the hands of men, rather men had to dig deep into the river bed to harvest the increase contained within.

Tools for Digging Deep

Look Within

Stop looking outside of yourself to find your purpose. Study 1 Corinthians 2 for an understanding of the secret wisdom that God has for you.

Rid Yourself of Envy

No need to be jealous of what others have. God is a God of abundant resources and He has created you for good works. Ephesians 2:10 says that you are the workmanship of God. This should eliminate any competitive envy or insecurities that you may deal with.

Develop Your Skills

Understand that your potential is buried deep and is only useful if you draw upon it. Potential is unproven skill. Potential doesn’t pay the bills; skill does. Ecclesiastes 10:10 says, “A dull ax means harder work. Being wise (sharpening your skills) will make it easier.”

Use This Reservoir For Personal Advancement

You may currently exchange your labor for an hourly wage or a salary, but until you personally understand how to tap into your real purpose you will never know the incalculable wealth God has placed within you. Draw upon these deep purposes to advance in all areas of your life.

An entrepreneur told me how he had lost a very lucrative patent due to failed legal diligence on his part. Rather than whine and complain about how he was wronged, he isolated himself on the shore of Mobile Bay and prayed, asking God for a new idea. He spent a considerable amount of time digging deep into his purpose. The idea came like a gusher – exploding out of his spirit. That single idea allowed him to employ hundreds of people with their own businesses and allowed him to deposit seven figures a month into his bank account.

George Washington Carver lifted a hand-full of peanuts into the air and said, “God, Creator of the heavens and earth, reveal unto me the secrets that you’ve housed in the peanut.” Carver went on to discover over 300 economically viable uses of the lowly peanut.

What do you have flowing deep within you? What is your personal currency?

After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, leaving 85% of the city under water, many wondered, would the city ever come back? And with their stadium transformed into a makeshift refugee camp, forcing the Saints to play their entire 2005 season on the road, people questioned, would the Saints ever come back?

It takes a special person to turn adversity into success and despair into hope—yet that is exactly what Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees has done—and with the weight of an entire city on his shoulders. Coming Back Stronger is the ultimate comeback story, not only of one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, but also of a city and a team that many had all but given up on. Brees’ inspiring message of hope and encouragement proves that with enough faith, determination, and heart, you can overcome any obstacle life throws your way and not only come back, but come back stronger.

Drew’s new book is now available on Amazon and other stores. (Affiliate link.)

Here also, is a great interview Drew had with ESPN recently to discuss his book. Click here to view on ESPN.

Click here to view on YouTube.

What is the enchantment of the blockbuster hit “New Moon” and the upcoming “Eclipse” movies?   It is a mixture of the age old story line of young romance intertwined with a combination of the mystical seduction of vampires.

For some reason, this movie has not only attracted teenage girls but also has seduced their moms.  One of the young stars of the show revealed the bizarre incident when a mother who stood in line with her teenage daughter to meet him asked if she could take off her panties for him to autograph.

What you should know as a father:

Vampires are mythological beings who feed off of the blood of the living.

This is a direct assault on the teachings of God.  The Bible says, “Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. ” ‘Do not practice divination or sorcery.” God established this on the principle that “life is in the blood.”  It is a practice of sorcery (evokers of the dead).

Vampires are representatives of fallen spirits who look upon women with lust.

The Apostle Paul instructed that women should have a covering of authority for the sake of the angels (1 Corinthians 11:10).  He was referring to the evil practice of angels who lust for women.  As a father, you are the authority over your daughter in the spirit realm.

Vampires are androgynous in appearance, gaunt and pale.

Their thin appearance is very different from their original descriptions as plump, bloated, monsters who gorged on the flesh and blood of the living.   The new image makes them more attractive and seductive to some women.

Vampires were originally synonymous with Satan.

The attraction to the Evil Being has always been on the base ideas of sexual relations.  There was a time that Genesis describes as when the ”sons of God had relations with the daughters of men.“ This is often considered as a time with the fallen angels intermingled with women.

For those who think that this story line is cute, consider this: A modern day vampire would be Jeffrey Dahmer, a serial killer who killed 17 people. His murders were particularly gruesome, involving rape, torture, dismemberment,necrophilia and cannibalism. The details of his story are gruesome and not worth exploring. If you think that its no big deal – think about your daughter being seduced by this vile man.

The bottom line is that creating a fantasy of the mythological vampire in the minds of young women (or for that matter adult women) is dangerous and offensive to what is right and moral.

Dear Dave,

How early should I start teaching my kids about money? Also, how do you feel about giving kids an allowance?

Cathy

Dear Cathy,

I think you should start teaching kids about money as early as you start teaching them about sex—which is the first time they show any interest. Make sure you keep it age-appropriate, and don’t over-answer questions when they’re young.

Neither of these things will amount to a one-time talk, because they’re both just parts of life. That means they’re ongoing processes that will last for years. If you have one talk at an early age with your kids about money, then they’re probably not going to remember a lot of it as they get older. If you have just one talk with your kids about sex at an early age, you’re liable to wind up with a bunch of pregnant teenagers!

To answer your second question, I hate the idea of an allowance for kids, because it makes the whole situation sound like welfare. We put our kids on commission at an early age. They had chores associated with certain dollar amounts, and if they worked, they got paid. If they didn’t work, they didn’t get paid. It was as simple as that. Then, they would split their money between three different envelopes—one for saving, one for spending, and one for giving—and we would teach them to do each one wisely.

Kids need to emotionally connect work to money at a young age. If you don’t teach them four major concepts—spending, saving, giving, and work—you’re going to have major problems by the time they’re 10 years old!

—Dave

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No Pain, No Gain!

Dear Dave,

I’ve heard you talk to people about “gazelle intensity.” What exactly does this mean?

Del

Dear Del,

Basically, it means absolutely going crazy and doing whatever it takes for a little while to get out of debt. I’d much rather endure pain or discomfort for a short period of time and get it over with instead of living my whole life floundering around and accomplishing nothing in the process.

Some people probably think I’m using hyperbole when I give people advice on how to get out of debt, but I’m serious about it all. I’ve lived this stuff, man! There were literally stretches of years when we didn’t go on vacation or see the inside of a restaurant. If you want to get out of debt and get control of your money, you’ve got to be serious and intense enough to makes sacrifices on that level for a short period of time. We call it living like no one else, so that later you can live like no one else.

It’s not just dollars and cents we’re talking about here. It’s also about changing behaviors and mindsets. You don’t need to go to Disneyland every year. You don’t need to eat out every weekend. Until you’re willing to make temporary sacrifices like this—and become “gazelle intense” about taking control of yourself and your money—you’re never going to reach your goal of becoming debt-free!

—Dave

* For more financial help, please visit daveramsey.com.

When a Father speaks, his children are profoundly impacted by his words. We need to be extremely careful what and how we speak to our children.

Our words can have a powerful impact on a child in the positive, they can have tremendous negative impact as well.

I travel each week speaking in churches, teaching seminars, and conducting FivestarMan Encounters. I can’t estimate how many times I have prayed for grown men and women who are still controlled by the loose words that a person of authority spoke over them when they were a child.

Not long ago, while ministering in a church, I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to pray for a couple. I asked them to come forward and asked permission to pray for them. They agreed.

As I laid my hands upon their foreheads while praying, my mind began to see scenes of the woman’s childhood. She was thirteen years old, she was joyfully dancing around in her bedroom, laughing and playing, when her father came by the room and began to speak harsh and angry words over her. He bruised her spirit. It was that moment — that very instance — that caused her to withdraw into a cocoon spiritually and emotionally. She began to accept that a father was mean, controlling, harsh, and angry.

When I described the scene that played out in my mind, the woman uncontrollably burst into tears. Sobbing and wrenching before me, she allowed the pent-up emotion of decades to come forth.

I then turned to her husband, and spoke a word over him. “Without knowing that this occurred in her young life, you have also used harsh words and outbursts of rage to control your wife.” He confessed to me that he didn’t know why he had done this and that it was out of his normal character to do so, but he admitted that he did speak to his wife this way to get what he wanted.

That couple was delivered from that horrific pattern in their marriage that day. The husband pledged to never again use harsh, angry words to control his wife. She released her father in forgiveness, and she committed not to allow that moment from so many years ago to control her life from that day on.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.” -Ephesians 4:29

Steps to Communicating Effectively:

Don’t Use Inappropriate Language – Unwholesome talk means words that are demeaning, harsh, hurtful, or sarcastic. Words have the ability to root within a person – to putrefy within a person’s soul.

Speak Kind and Comforting Words – Carefully select your words. Words should be personally helpful for the listener.

Speak Words That Build Up – Words have the ability to be constructive or destructive to a person.

So, if you have spoken unwholesome words, repent for speaking them, revoke the effect of them, and replace them with positive affirmations that replace their ill effect.

Click here to watch on YouTube.

When things go wrong, the natural tendency is to look for someone to blame. You can go all the way back to the Garden of Eden on this one. When God asked Adam what he’d done, he said it was Eve’s fault. Then when God questioned Eve, she blamed it on the snake. The same thing happens today.

The next time you experience a failure, think about why you failed instead of who was at fault. Try to look at it objectively so that you can do better next time.

Ask yourself:

• What lessons have I learned?
• How can I turn the failure into success?
• Where did I succeed as well as fail?

People who blame others for their failures never overcome them. They simply move from problem to problem.

To reach your potential, you must continually improve yourself, and you can’t do that if you don’t take responsibility for your actions and learn from your mistakes.

Have a great day in Jesus,

Pastor Shane Warren

About The Author
Shane Warren was called to preach at the age of twelve. His passion for the lost and for mentoring men and women of God is the driving force behind his ministry. He is respected inter-denominationally for his teaching/preaching and church growth philosophies. Pastor Warren currently speaks abroad and serves as the Senior Pastor of First Assembly of God in West Monroe, LA., where he resides with his wife Pam and son Adam.