The Origin of the Jack-o’-Lantern. Go the Extra Mile. Bleach-Free Pumpkins

.

The Origin of the Jack-o’-Lantern

“The jack-o’-lantern is now associated with the holiday of Halloween. Where did this mysterious symbol come from? What should we do with that knowledge?

Where did the jack-o’-lantern come from?

The childhood of many a person has been haunted by a dark, headless figure on a horse holding a flaming jack-o’-lantern. Washington Irving’s classic horror story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” has intrigued and terrified millions for over 200 years.

Interestingly, Washington Irving never mentioned his dark rider bearing a jack-o’-lantern. The author only referred to a shattered pumpkin found the morning after the main character’s disappearance. Adaptations of Irving’s story since then have made the famous pumpkin into the glowing jack-o’-lantern that we all imagine today. Since that fateful connection, the pumpkin with a sinister grin has become an integral part of Halloween.

But where exactly did the jack-o’-lantern come from, and what made it fit in so well with this haunting story and the holiday of Halloween?

Why carve up pumpkins?

The origin of the jack-o’-lantern goes back several centuries, starting with pagan customs that predated even the term jack-o’-lantern. In the dark woods of Ireland, England and Scotland, the Celts ruled. In their religion, the shortening days of autumn indicated the merging of the spirit world with our physical world. This merging was believed to fully happen on their holiday of Samhain (pronounced sah-win) on the night of Oct. 31.

Because of this terrifying belief, the Celts prepared for this time when they believed the spirits of the dead wandered the earth. They imagined that some of the spirits just wandered around, while others were vengeful spirits.

People were mostly defenseless against these dreaded spirits, except for the use of costumes and root vegetables such as turnips with carved faces. To add to the effect, they were “then illuminated by coal, wooden embers, or candles as a way to ward off evil spirits” (Merriam-Webster.com, “The History of ‘Jack-O’-Lantern’”). Displaying these ghastly vegetables was said to keep the spirits from visiting a person’s property.

English historian Ronald Hutton states that root vegetables were “hollowed out to act as lanterns and often carved with grotesque faces,” in association with Samhain, later known as Halloween, in the Celtic part of the world (The Stations of the Sun, 1996).

Eventually, the Roman Empire took over and “christianized” this pagan festival of Samhain, creating All Saints’ Day Nov. 1, with All Hallows Eve (Halloween) the night before. As Irish celebrants eventually moved to the United States, some of the ancient practices came with them. In the United States, the pumpkin was abundant and quickly became the vegetable of choice for carving.

But why call it a “jack-o’-lantern”?

There are various ideas about where the name “jack-o’-lantern” comes from. Britannica in its article “Why Do We Carve Pumpkins at Halloween?” states that it started with the Irish tale of Stingy Jack, who tricked the devil. When he died, the story goes, the deceitful Jack was not allowed to go to heaven due to the life that he had lived. The devil, however, wouldn’t allow him to enter his domain either.

Jack-o’-lanterns may appear fun now, but they have a very dark past that involved pagan worship and an attempt to keep roaming spirits away. To God, anything associated with any of those pagan customs cannot be tolerated in any way, shape or form.Destined to restlessly roam the earth forever, the spirit of Jack was given a burning ember by Satan. Placing that ember in a carved-out turnip, Jack wandered the countryside with his ghastly lantern. The superstitious Celts believed that mysterious swamp fires, called ignis fatuus, that actually occurred when decaying matter combusted, were evidence Jack’s spirit was roaming nearby. Over time, “Jack of the Lantern” became shortened to “jack-o’-lantern.”

Carved turnips and other vegetables were placed in the window at night to ward off Jack and other unwanted spirits. Naturally, the ghostly tale of Jack of the Lantern came to be associated with Halloween and added to the allure of the dark holiday.

According to History.com, when the Scots and Irish migrated to the United States, they used the abundant pumpkins to ward off evil spirits and celebrate Halloween (“How Jack O’Lanterns Originated in Irish Myth”).

Another, less dramatic, theory for the origin of the name is that a night watchman was generically known as “Jack” (similar to our phrase “John Doe”) and was called a “jack-o’-lantern.” How a night watchman would become associated with the Halloween holiday isn’t clearly explained, so the legend of Stingy Jack seems to be the more likely origin of the term.

What does God think of jack-o’-lanterns?

Many today think that jack-o’-lanterns are cute or fun symbols of a holiday celebrated by many Christians, Halloween. (For more about the origin of Halloween, read “Halloween: Should Christians Celebrate It?”) The symbolism in the minds of some has even changed from one of horror and wandering spirits to one of community, according to National Geographic.

Admittedly, very few will set out jack-o’-lanterns this year hoping to scare off evil spirits. Probably no one will do it in honor of Stingy Jack. Does that mean the symbol has been cleaned up and is okay to use?

Some pagan religions, including Wicca, do still use jack-o’-lanterns for their originally intended purpose.

However, the ultimate question is, What does God think of people using jack-o’-lanterns?

God warns us to avoid spirits or anything associated with them (Leviticus 19:31). He abhors witchcraft and pagan religions, as well as any of the dark arts that delve into an evil spirit world.

God also has strong words to say about mixing His true religion with false and pagan practices: “Take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods” (Deuteronomy 12:30-31).

Jack-o’-lanterns may appear fun now, but they have a very dark past that involved pagan worship and an attempt to keep roaming spirits away. To God, anything associated with any of those pagan customs cannot be tolerated in any way, shape or form.

God knows the origin of the jack-o’-lantern and will not have anything to do with it. What will you do now that you know the origin of the jack-o’-lantern?”  From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/plan-of-salvation/holy-days-vs-holidays/halloween/origin-jack-o-lantern/?

________

Matthew 5:41   Go the Extra Mile

(41) And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

• New King James Version

“In this passage, Christ addresses the Roman practice of commandeering civilians or their property (mules, horses, oxen, camels, carts, wagons, etc.) to carry the luggage or other burden of military personnel for, in this case, one mile.

Evidently, the practice did not originate with the Romans but with the Persians. As there were no post offices at the time, and in order that royal orders might reach their destination quickly, Cyrus set up a system not unlike our Pony Express. A rider in this service was empowered to take a civilian's horse (usually his best or only horse), if his was worn out or lame. In addition, he could press a boat, cart, or any other vehicle into the king's service.

In recent centuries, this practice, often used to force seamen into the service of another nation's ships, has been called impressment. In America's Revolutionary War period, British ships would often intercept other nations' ships and force any American sailors found on them to work for the Royal Navy. In Roman times, a man could have worked all day, his family waiting for him to come in from his fields, and suddenly, a Roman soldier could order him to carry a heavy load for a mile.

No one likes to be made to do someone else's work. At the very least, we are apt to complain, argue, or simply refuse to be so used. Being compelled to engage in "community service" by law or by might is demeaning and perhaps unjust. But Jesus tells us to take the sting out of the situation by being willing to carry such a burden an extra mile in a cheerful attitude.

In a similar vein, Solomon advises, "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you" (Proverbs 25:21-22). Jesus says something very similar in His subsequent teaching (Matthew 5:44-45). Being struck, sued, or forced to carry a heavy load can bring out the worst in human nature: anger, resentment, outrage, and even violence. But when those who have been called find themselves in difficult and trying circumstances, their attitude must not be belligerent, spiteful, or vengeful, but helpful, willing, and good-natured. "Above and beyond" must be their motto.”

— John O. Reid.  To learn more, see:  Go the Extra Mile  From: https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/7345/ver/NKJV/matthew-5-41.htm

_______

Bleach-Free Pumpkins

“People spend a lot of time and effort on their jack-o’-lanterns and want them to last as long as possible, so some use bleach to preserve them and deter animals from snacking on them.

But bleach is dangerous to wildlife.

Squirrels, raccoons, and deer are just a few animals who may nibble on your masterpiece.

A great alternative to bleach is vinegar. Use one part vinegar to 10 parts water to help preserve your pumpkin.”  From:  https://therainforestsite.greatergood.com/clicktogive/ars/home

________

1,000 Years—the Millennium. We Don’t Want The World To End. Or Do We? Heart Disease Starts In Childhood.

.

1,000 Years—the Millennium

“What is the Millennium?

Is the Bible’s prediction about a thousand years of peace on earth real? What is the Millennium, and what will Jesus’ 1,000-year reign mean for you?

The Millennium is the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ described in Revelation 20. The Old Testament prophets also announced and longed for this messianic kingdom of peace on the earth.

Why is this called the Millennium? “Since in Latin mille means ‘thousand,’ a millennium lasts 1,000 years” (Merriam-Webster.com).

1,000 years of peace

In an unstable world threatened by wars, terrorism, weather disturbances and natural disasters, the concept of a 1,000-year period of peace—often called the Millennium — fascinates us.

It’s not surprising that people should be curious about the future. What is surprising is how little true information is available about the Millennium of peace spoken of in the Bible and how little most people understand about the topic.

The Bible is the only sure source of understanding on this topic; and it, in fact, has a lot to say about an upcoming 1,000-year period of time. Yet the common English translations of the Scriptures don’t use the term millennium. And there are not that many explicit references to a “thousand years” in the Bible.

Even so, the Scriptures do contain much information about the coming Millennium and an absolute assurance that it will come.

1,000 years in the Bible

Let’s take a look at those passages that speak of a “thousand years.”

Psalm 90:4 tells us that “a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.” For God, the passage of time is different from the way we experience it. Being eternal, and not dependent on food, water and other physical factors, God views time differently.

The apostle Peter adds to the thought: “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8).

1,000 years Revelation

The first explicit statements that the Kingdom of God will reign on earth for a thousand years appear toward the end of the Bible, in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 19 describes the return of Jesus Christ, coming in glory and power to take over the kingdoms of this world and to institute a new, just reign here on earth (verses 11-16). He will put down rebellion, remove the last human empire ruling on earth and institute the reign of the government of God for the 1,000-year Millennium.

We believe these passages clearly refer to a literal thousand-year reign after Jesus Christ returns. This has been called premillennialism, since Christ returns before the thousand years (compared to postmillennialism and amillennialism, which we don’t believe fit what the Bible says).

Satan bound before the Millennium

Next, we read of one of the first events to take place following the return of Jesus Christ the Messiah: “Then I [the apostle John] saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while” (Revelation 20:1-3).

Here we read for the first time of the duration of this initial phase of the reign of God on earth—1,000 years! We are also given insight into why it will be a very good time: Satan the devil, the enemy of God and His plan, will be banished for those same 1,000 years. Welcome to the Millennium!

Jesus’ 1,000-year reign

But let’s keep reading. John writes, “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them [the saints of God]. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (verse 4).

Here we see that the saints of God, those who refused to follow the beast power of the last days, will have the privilege of reigning with Jesus Christ for 1,000 years.

Jesus’ 1,000-year reign is the focus of so many beautiful messianic prophecies. Some favorite descriptions of this age of peace include:

• “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9).
• “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:5-6).
• “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
  “He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken” (Micah 4:1-4).

The apostle Peter summed these prophecies up this way: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:19-21; see our article “The Prophesied Restoration of All Things”). See below.

What happens after the Millennium?

Continued at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/revelation/1000-years-millennium/?

______

We Don’t Want The World To End. Or Do We?

“The “end times” or the “end of the world” is typically said with a frown. So how could something so negative be something anyone would want?

We’re usually left hanging after anyone mentions the end of the world. There’s no silver lining; it’s just the end. But in “End of the World—Why It’s Good News!” we talk about what comes next—the Kingdom of God, which the Bible describes as an age of:

• Peace.
• Plenty.
• Love.
• Obedience and good.
• Liberty and glory.
• Leaders who are true servants.

The good part isn’t the destruction. It’s what comes after the destruction. Here’s to new and better beginnings!”     See below:

_______

The Prophesied Restoration of All Things

“Bible prophecy foretells the times of restoration of all things. What will be restored to its former state? When will this longed-for renewal occur?

The apostle Peter spoke of the coming “times of restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21). The word restoration implies “a return … to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition, or the restitution of something taken away or lost” (Dictionary.com). Just what is this prediction about?

Peter was speaking of a future time when things would be restored to their original state. The apostle explained that God had spoken this prophecy “by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” and that Jesus would remain in heaven until it was time for this event to unfold. Christ’s return and the times of restoration are thus linked together, and many Bible passages point to these events happening in various stages, right here on earth.

The Day of the Lord must come first

Numerous Bible verses describe the coming Day of the Lord as a prerequisite to the first phase of the “restoration of all things.”

Find out how the book of Revelation is relevant to our lives today. Download the free booklet.

God warns that a dreadful time of punishment will come upon the inhabitants of the earth because of disobedience to God’s laws (Isaiah 13:11; Malachi 4:1-3; Joel 2:11; Revelation 6:15-17). This short, agonizing period will climax with Christ’s return to earth in great glory, to be witnessed by the whole earth (Matthew 24:29-30).

Then, as people humble themselves and repent of their sins, an era of global peace will begin. As God told the ancient Israelites, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).

The first phase

Once Christ returns and establishes His Kingdom on earth, the times of restoration can begin. The Bible often uses terms like “in those days” and “in those days, and at that time” to introduce explanations of what will occur during the reign of Christ on earth for 1,000 years and beyond (Joel 2:29; 3:1; Jeremiah 33:15).

The “restoration of all things” includes changes to the earth, the way it is governed and the relationship God will have with humanity. Regarding this last change, God desires to have a close relationship with all humans similar to what He had with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before they sinned. Genesis 3:22-24 shows that their sin led God to banish them and the rest of humanity from the tree of life, which symbolized the opportunity to receive eternal life.

The first group of humans to experience a fully restored relationship with God will receive eternal life at Christ’s return (1 Corinthians 15:22-23, 51-52).

Describing this wonderful event, Paul wrote, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the [entire physical] creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption [decay and destruction] into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:19-22).” Continued at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/end-times/restoration-of-all-things/

_______

Heart Disease Starts In Childhood.

“By age 10, nearly all kids have fatty streaks in their arteries. This is the first sign of atherosclerosis, the leading cause of death in the United States. So the question for most of us is not whether we should eat healthy to prevent heart disease, but whether we want to reverse the heart disease we may already have.”

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/AkWd0R05ZEs

Below is an approximation of this video’s audio content. To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video.

“It was this landmark article, published in 1953, that radically changed our view about the development of heart disease forever. A series of 300 autopsies performed on U.S. battle casualties of the Korean War, average age 22. 22 years old, but 77% of their hearts had “gross evidence”—meaning visible-to-the-eye evidence—of coronary atherosclerosis, hardening of their arteries. Some of them had vessels that were clogged off 90% or more.

As an editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded, “This widely cited publication dramatically showed that atherosclerotic changes appear in the coronary arteries years and decades before the age at which coronary heart disease…becomes a clinically recognized problem”—before symptoms arise. Follow-up studies on the hearts of thousands more soldiers over the subsequent years confirmed their results.

How young does it go? Fatty streaks, the first stage of atherosclerosis [were] found in the arteries of 100% of kids by age ten. What’s accounting for this buildup of plaque, even in childhood? In the 80s, we got our first clue, with the now-famous Bogalusa heart study, looking at autopsies of those dying between the ages of 3 years old to age 26, and the #1 risk factor was cholesterol.

You could see the stepwise increase in the amount of their arteries covered in fatty streaks as the level of bad cholesterol in the blood increased. As powerful as this was, this was only looking at 30 kids. So, they decided to study three thousand—3,000 accidental death victims, ages 15 through 34.

After thousands of autopsies, there were able to produce a scoring system, able to predict advanced atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries of young people. The higher your score, the higher the likelihood you have these lesions growing in your heart.

So, if you’re in your teens, twenties, early thirties, and you smoke, your risk goes up a point. If you have high blood pressure at such a young age, that’s four points. If you’re an obese male; six points. But, high cholesterol was the worst. If your non-HDL cholesterol (meaning your total cholesterol minus your good cholesterol) is above, like, 220, that’s like eight times worse than smoking.

So, let’s say you’re a young woman with relatively high cholesterol, but you don’t smoke, you’re not overweight, your blood pressure and blood sugars are fine. At your sweet sixteen, there’s just a few percent chance you already have an advanced atherosclerotic lesion in your heart. But, if you don’t improve your diet, by your 30th birthday, there may be like a one in five chance you have some serious heart disease. And, if you have really high cholesterol, it could be closer to one in three.

Bringing your cholesterol down to even just that of a lacto-ovo vegetarian, and you’re down to here. And, if you exercise to boost your HDL, you can extrapolate down a little further. So, what this shows us is that: “Even in 15- to 19-year-olds, atherosclerosis has begun in a substantial number of individuals, and this observation suggests beginning primary prevention at least by the late teenage years, to ameliorate every stage of atherosclerosis and to prevent or retard progression to more advanced lesions.”

You start kids out on a low-saturated fat diet, and you may see a significant improvement in their arterial function by 11 years old. “Exposure to high serum cholesterol concentration [even] in childhood may accelerate the development of atherosclerosis. Consequently, the long-term prevention of atherosclerosis might be most effective when initiated early in life”—as in seven months of age.

“Atherosclerosis [hardening of the arteries] begins in childhood…” Remember, by age 10, nearly all kids have fatty streaks, the first stage of the disease. Then, the plaques start forming in our 20s, get worse in our 30s, and then can start killing us off. In our hearts, it’s a heart attack. In our brains, it’s a stroke. In our extremities, it can mean gangrene. In our aorta, an aneurism.

If there is anyone watching this video that is older than ten years of age, the choice likely isn’t whether or not to eat healthy to prevent heart disease; it’s whether or not you want to reverse the heart disease you already have.

Ornish and Esselstyn proved you can reverse heart disease with a plant-based diet. But we don’t have to wait until our first heart attack to reverse the clogging of our arteries. We can start reversing our heart disease right now. We can start reversing heart disease in our kids, tonight.” From:  https://nutritionfacts.org/video/heart-disease-starts-in-childhood/

_______

Sticks and Stones. Three Tips for Parents. Why It’s So Hard to Give Up Cheese.

.

Sticks and Stones: 6 Ways to Improve Your Words

“The old saying that “words can never hurt me” is far from reality. How can we make sure our words aren’t destructive but are a force for good?

It happened in the cereal aisle. I was so stunned that I stood there, frozen in place, shocked by the cruelty of a mother’s words.

The store was crowded, and we were taking turns working our way down the aisle. A mother and a couple of children took their turn. The mom told a girl about 12 years old to reach an item on a lower shelf. The girl reached down to get the item.

As her hand touched the item she thought her mother wanted, the mother screamed at her using a string of profanity and asked if she was stupid. She then proclaimed she had to do everything herself, pushed past the girl and got the item she wanted.

The girl did not react except to back out of the way. She wrapped her arms around her body and, with an emotionless mask on her face, walked down the aisle behind her grumbling mother.  She was apparently used to the cruelty of the woman’s words.

We’re probably very familiar with the adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” In reality, words can hurt worse and leave more debilitating wounds than a stick or stone.

Whether the words target a child or a spouse or a friend, the effects of cruel words can be devastating.

God’s view on words

How important is it to God that we use our words positively? Matthew 12:36 and 37 tell us that we will be justified or condemned by every idle word we speak.

The context of these verses is being known by our fruits. What are the fruits of our words? Do our words soothe and heal? Are they gentle, even when offering correction? Or do our words, in tone or in meaning, sometimes act like a weapon—a stick or a stone?”      More at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/communication/sticks-and-stones/?

______

Three Tips for Parents

How can we work with children to help them learn and grow?

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/m79tI9p_uY4

[Gary Petty] How many times have you heard an exasperated parent say, "I just don't know what's going through that child's head?" Well, we shouldn't be surprised. Children can be very foolish. In fact, we have Solomon in the Bible say, "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child. The rod of correction will drive it far from him."

Now, there's two important things about this verse we need to look at. First of all, children are chained. They're bound by foolishness. It's just part of their nature, and not all foolishness is bad, but let's face it. I mean, what can seem cute at 2 would be disastrous at age 16. So we have to deal with childish foolishness. And then the second thing he talks about here is the rod of correction. In other words, there has to be discipline involved in teaching children about foolish behavior, and how to avoid foolish behavior.

Now, let's look at three points then that have to do with foolishness in a child. The first thing is just what we read here. Some childish behaviors are serious enough to involve discipline. But understand, discipline has to be age-appropriate in what you do and also, it has to fit the crime, so to speak. Sometimes we can overreact so much. How does a child know when something is really important and not important? Because we're just overreacting to everything because of our frustration. It is important that children don't see discipline only as an expression of parental frustration or anger because then they're gonna think, "Well, being good means not making mommy or daddy angry or frustrated." But we need to help them understand that there are principles of good and principles of bad, and we're there to teach them that.

So it's very important that we don't express too much anger, too much frustration, that we are calm in explaining why we want them to do something or not to do something or why something is foolish or why something is wise. Another thing is to realize that some childish behaviors are due to lack of experience or ability. You know, a smaller child isn't gonna understand what an older child does.

I'll give you an example. A number of years ago, they were doing some construction in my neighborhood. And I took three of my grandchildren out just to look at the construction. We were walking around. There was nobody out there that day. And the two older ones began to pick flowers and find very interesting rocks to take back to their mother, and so they had...in fact, there was three of them. There were four kids with me. The three older ones, they find all these great things.

And so we're headed back home. And they all have flowers, they all have pretty rocks, and they're excited, "You know, Mom is gonna be so excited about this." I looked down at the two-year-old. He's got this big grin on his face, and his fist is clenched, and he's got his stuff for mom. And I said, "Oh, you found some stuff for mom," and shook his head yes. I said, "What do you have?" And he opened his hand up, and there was a cigarette butt and some dog poop.

Okay. Now, I could get upset. That's a foolish thing. But he's two years old. He doesn't understand. He thought he was doing something exciting. He had found something that none of the other kids had found. So I told him, "These are very dirty and wipe these hands off," and said, "Don't touch your face till we get home." He did what I said. And we got home, and I went in and scrubbed his hands, washed his hands, and washed my hands, and then explained to him, "There are certain things you shouldn't pick up because they're dirty. They can make you sick." I never saw him do anything like that again. See, sometimes we think of discipline as some kind of punishment. Discipline involves simple teaching. It also involves rewards. In his case, even at two, he figured out, "Those things I shouldn't pick up because they can make me sick." And so he learned from the lesson. So we have to realize that when we deal with children, we have to deal with their age and what they actually have the ability to understand.

And then a third point that I wanna bring out here is that teaching children principals of right and wrong, of foolishness and wisdom, is a parental responsibility. We can't give this as parents or grandparents to the school system or even to the church. Those can be helped sometime. Your church could be a real help in teaching your children. It is not the primary way that they learn. Here's what we have in the book of Deuteronomy. One of the most important instructions about child-rearing. "And these words which I command you today," God said, "shall be in your heart." What God teaches should be in our hearts as parents. We have to know Him first.

We have to know what God wants first. "And you shall teach them to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk, by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up." In other words, teaching children is not just a formal activity. It's a lifestyle. Teaching children right from wrong is a lifestyle. We not only teach it, we have to model that behavior. And believe me, children figure out right away if there's a huge difference between what we say, and what we do, and they resent hypocrisy.

Foolishness is chained up. It's bound in the heart of a child. And it is responsibility of all parents to help them to learn the difference because as they grow older, those decisions they make that are foolish ones can have terrible, terrible results and consequences but making wise decisions can give them a good life."  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/three-tips-for-parents

_______

Why It’s So Hard to Give Up Cheese

“The following is an excerpt from “The Cheese Trap: How Breaking a Surprising Addiction Will Help You Lose Weight, Gain Energy, and Get Healthy”, which was released by Hachette Book Group. Which foods do you find most addictive? That’s the question University of Michigan researchers asked. The idea was, which foods lead you to lose control over how much you eat? Which ones are hard to limit? Which ones do you eat despite negative consequences? The researchers surveyed 384 people and here is what they found:

Problem food #5 is ice cream.

Problem food #4 is cookies.

Chips and chocolate were tied for #3 and #2.

But the most problematic food of all was—drum roll, please—pizza.

Yes, gooey cheese melting over a hot crust and dribbling down your fingers—it beat everything else. And here is what matters: The question was not, which foods do you especially like, or which foods leave you feeling good and satisfied.

Rather, the question was, which foods do you have a problem with? Which ones lead you into overeating, gaining weight, and feeling lousy? Which foods seduce you, then leave you with regrets? So, why did pizza top the list? Why are we so often tempted to dig in and overdo it? Three reasons: salt, grease, and opiates.

As you have no doubt experienced, salty foods can be habit-forming. French fries, salted peanuts, pretzels, and other salty foods are hard to resist, and food manufacturers know that adding salt to a recipe adds cash to the register.”    More at: https://www.forksoverknives.com/wellness/addictive-food-cheese-pizza/?

________