It’s About Time

Wow, it’s been quite a couple of weeks since my last entry into this blog. Time flies, even if you’re not having fun! (  Seriously, it’s been busy because of church moving, and various things that crop up here and then.

I am enjoying fatherhood by the grace of God. Amanda is doing well in many sense of the word, and our schedules are falling neatly in place. Can’t complaint much. need to ensure that greater discipline is exercised in the morning so as to maximize the hour before Amanda wakes up.  Life is a series of adjustments.  So what has transpired thus far? For the most part, the church is rightly in place in terms of physical setup except for the mic cables that seem to be sticking out like sore thumb.  

Now I am making up my mind regarding websites.  Will come back to do this later.

In the recent weeks there have been “hoohahs” about a young student whose mobile phone contained scenes of her sexual romp with her boyfriend was stolen and subsequently posted on the internet. It became the talk of town.  Obviously she was upset about the unwanted publicity received – duh.

What’s disturbing is that her case isn’t an isolated but quite rampant among the teenagers here thus prompting parents and others to wonder why there is no sense of shame, and the audacity of youngsters these days.

Indeed, it is troubling to note that young people not only are casual about their promiscuity but even flaunt their immorality as well.  What cause these phenomena?  Most of us would not think it is a single cause that prompted such actions or behavior. I believe several factors were involved:

1. Lax parenting. Since most parents are out working most of the day, children are left to fend for themselves. No doubt they have maids looking after them. Think again, these foreign workers are no substitute for parents.  It is even unfair that they have to assume parenting role without parenting authority. No wonder kids are rude and unruly!  Many parents unwittingly thought that material things can compensate for their absentia.  

1. Where parents are lax, MTV assumes the parenting role often.  Where do you suppose the youngsters get their moral values?  Besides Hollywood, MTV provides the most influential impact on the youngsters.  Just take time to watch the music videos and it should hardly be surprising that MTV aren’t conservative or just plain contemporary. Sex sells.  People should realize that ideas have consequences. As a former professor once said, the battle of the mind is won or lost in the arena of ideas. Without strong parental guidance, our youngsters are raised by MTV and really they are a bunch of cut-flowers that bloom for a short span of time only to wither and fade.  And if parents are lax in their moral standards then they shouldn’t be hypocritically alleging that schools aren’t doing their part well. Get real!

1. Without robust parenting, youngster grew without moral sensibilities or perception.  Such perception or sensibilities not only knows and differentiate between important and trivial, right and wrong, but also has the ability to choose the former over the latter.   Think for a moment, do you suppose that a young person in urban city today has no idea that smoking is bad, or that drug abuse is bad for career and life?  Or that unprotected sex or promiscuity often leads not only to unwanted pregnancy but also AIDS?  They do know such stuff.  How does politician or even schools respond? Give them more KNOWLEDGE!  It is not for lack of knowledge that led to their downfall.  With IT and internet there is literally an informational overload!  So it is not a lack of knowledge but the sensibilities to think and act right.   Knowledge is but a means to an end; knowledge is not the end itself.  

This kind of things would continue to happen so long as parents are careless about what they do. Christian parents, what you do in time, you will reap or pay in eternity.  Robust parenting coupled with wisdom from the Word of God would aid us to save our families.  It is time for Christians to be serious about their walk and notion about parenting. The latter is not for cowards or hobbyists.  Parenting requires moral courage to do right even if it might require one to stand alone. Parenting means investment of time and not just weekends and overseas trip to try and bond parents and children.  A week cannot make up for your parenting in absentia. Quality time is not when you say it is. QT is when they need you or have a question in life.  Quality time is not leftover time either.  James Dobson said aptly, parenting isn’t for cowards.

I’ve been derelict in updating this blog for the last couple of week.  This is in part due to the renovation of the church premise, the need to prepare bible sermons, and being involved in Amanda’s life. Frankly I have a hard time recollecting that happened as time whizzed past rapidly.  

The church renovation is in progress and it appears things are moving and contractor has suggested strongly that he should be able to complete the renovation in time for our move.  With all these going on, it does take a toll on one’s body.

Too tired to write anymore. Sweet dreams!