Musings and Nuggets

Jesus had just finished praying when the disciples asked Him to "teach them to pray" He gave them a hypothetical scenario to teach them that persistence in prayer is important.  Although the friend did not want to be inconvenienced, he knew that the person at the door making the request would not give up.  He got up, gave the friend the bread, but not out of the goodness of his heart. He knew that the friend would not stop bugging him until he complied.   His friend was the squeaky wheel.       I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.    Luke 11:8  (nkjv) The Oxford dictionary defines persistence as "firm or obstinate continuance of a course of action in inspite of difficulty or opposition".  Simply put, it means being too stubborn or desperate to give up. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened

                                                  Photo by A aron Burden on Unsplash *Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6 (nkjv) I am always annoyed when someone says that "children are the church of tomorrow".  I totally disagree. If children are a not functioning part of the church today at some level and allowed/encouraged to participate, then they are apt to lose interest, being reduced to being a mere spectator. They will be ill prepared to be tomorrow's church leaders.   For example, a person who is always sitting "on the bench" and never allowed on the court to develop their skills, or build camaraderie with the team, cannot be expected to jump in at the last minute and be effective participant with any kind of confidence.  They are at a disadvantage.                                                       You may question the second part of the scripture and ask what happens when par