I’m now a Granddad.  It’s hard to believe that the years have whizzed by so fast that now my wife and I are grandparents.  But it’s true.

For all of you who one day will be grandparents, and for all of you who are grandparents, let me share with you a couple of thoughts I’ve learned as a part of being a granddaddy:

It’s really fun.  I mean really, really fun!  As someone once said, if I’d known grand parenting was so much fun, I’d have skipped the parenting gig altogether!  There’s nothing like it.

Being a grandparent is like heaven.  In heaven, there will be no justice, only love.  All of God’s justice is done before heaven begins.  All that is left is love.  Similarly, being a granddad is all love and no justice.  You don’t have to discipline the grandchild.  You just love them, all day long, then give them back to the parents to do justice!  Does life get any better than that!

Being a grandparent is really cool.  I hope all of you get to enjoy it one day!

Today’s verses are Mark 6:35,36: “And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.’”

Wherever Jesus went, crowds followed him.  He could not refuse their needs.  Even in this desolate, remote place, a place to where Jesus had retreated to give rest to himself and his disciples, the throngs followed.  Later, we see that this crowd numbered 5,000 men, probably over ten thousand women and children were gathered together.  He taught them about the kingdom of God.  They listened intently.

The day grew later and later.  Realizing how late the hour was and how hungry the people must be, the disciples made a request of Jesus.  They said he needed to disperse the crowds into the countryside and villages where they could find some food.  It seemed like a logical conclusion.  But it wasn’t Jesus’ conclusion.

Isn’t this like us?  We are confronted with a problem, perhaps even a huge problem, and our first reaction is to find a human answer.  We calculate the issue, conclude how possible or impossible the situation may be, then find a solution.  Often then we ask God to baptize our human ideas and are surprised when God doesn’t respond to us the way we thought he should.

Are your confronting an issue in your life today?  Is there a problem staring you in the face that is confusing, daunting, seemingly impossible to solve?

If so, before trying to figure out the problem in your own ingenuity and then telling God what you think should be done, stop and ask God what He may want to do.  Seek his will first.  Seek his solutions first.  Seek his kingdom first.

You may be surprised to find out, as the disciples are soon to discover, that there is a miracle-working power available to you you never dreamed possible!

Here’s another parenting tip for you all today: You’re children may outgrow your lap but they will never outgrow your heart.

When I first became a parent, my Dad said to me, “Son, you may not believe this right now.  But it’s true: you will always be a parent.”

I didn’t pay much attention to his words until my children now are all grown and I have grandchildren!  It doesn’t matter if my kids are teens or in their twenties or thirties.  I still hurt when they hurt.  I cry when they cry.  I weep when they weep.  I laugh when they laugh.  I shout for joy when they are victorious.

Dad was correct.  You’re always a parent.  You’ll always deeply love your kids, no matter what age they are.

It’s true.  Children may outgrow your lap.  But they will never outgrow your heart.

You may as well accept it now!

Today’s verses are Mark 6:33,34: “”Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.  When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  And he began to teach them many things.”

Jesus and his disciples needed rest.  They were trying to retreat to a remote place where they could escape the constant clamor of people.  But the multitudes followed.  The throngs pursued them, waiting for them even before they arrived.  When Jesus saw the multitudes, his heart was moved with compassion.  He saw the people like sheep without a shepherd.  So he stopped and taught them about the kingdom of God.  He knew the importance of a Godly spiritual leader.

Sheep are dumb animals.  Without a good, kind shepherd, they will wander and get themselves into trouble.  They walk into briar patches, even off cliffs!  That’s why they need to be overseen and taught by a good shepherd about life’s dangers and pitfalls.

People can be like sheep without a shepherd too.  In our own human stupidity and willful rebellion, we can cause ourselves much pain.  We too need good, Godly spiritual leaders in our lives.  We need leaders who will teach us God’s truth from God’s Word.  They need to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.  They need to show us God’s path and nurture our dry souls.

James 3:1 says that teachers of God’s Word will one day face a “stricter wrath.”  Before the Judgment Seat of God, we who teach God’s Word will be held to a higher standard of judgment.  Why?  Because of the importance of Godly spiritual leaders.  We are God’s present day shepherds.  When we look upon people and their painful problems, we should feel compassion.  But we should also teach them God’s truth, how to avoid life’s briars and cliffs.  We are essential for the continued advancement of God’s kingdom.

Please make sure you are in a “flock,” a community of believers in a church that is being led by a Godly spiritual leader.  Make sure he rightly and regularly unfolds and teaches God’s Word.  Be sure he warns and exhorts.  Both need regularly to be a part of his teaching.

The spiritual shepherd today is essential for God’s continued kingdom expansion.

Jesus knew this truth.

Here’s another tip for proper parenting: Be careful about the level of your voice.

Constantly yelling at your kids does not produce the best results.  In fact, someone once said, “Shouting at your children to get cooperation is about the same as steering your car using the horn…same results!

It’s a great analogy.  If you drove around the city blowing your car horn all the time, after a while, no one would take seriously your car horn!  They wouldn’t see you being serious at all in any driving situation.

Similarly, if your kids hear you yelling, screaming, shouting at them all the time, they won’t take you seriously when you are truly trying to make a point.  Use the raising of your voice only in the most dire of situations, only when you are REALLY trying to make a point.

Then your kids will know you’re serious and, most likely, will listen to you more seriously.

Today’s verses are Mark 6:30-32: “The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.  And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’  For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.  And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.”

The Gospel writer Mark here refers back to Jesus’ sending out the disciples in verses 7-13.  They had healed people’s illnesses, performed exorcisms and proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom of God.  They now report back to Jesus what they had done and taught.

After hearing their report, Jesus adjures them all to go away to a remote place to rest for a while.  They were most assuredly tired from their missions trip.  Ministry to others is very demanding work. Plus, the demands of ministry were continuing.  “For many were coming and going.”

The needs of others never ceases.  Ministry needs are always present, they never go away.  According to the verses, the disciples didn’t even have enough time to eat!  So Jesus forced them to get away in a boat and go to a place where there weren’t any people.  Therefore, there were no ministry needs.  There they could rest and recharge their batteries.

Jesus was basically saying to them and to us, “If you don’t come apart, you’ll come apart.”  Someone else said something similar, “If you burn the candle at both ends, you’re not as bright as you think you are!”

All people, especially those in ministry, especially those caring constantly for others (and Moms this includes you!) need regular times to escape the pressure of constant care and go rest.  That’s why God ordered a Sabbath weekly, one day of rest where we can escape and recharge.  Humans aren’t machines.  We’re not robots.

However, in these verses, Jesus takes the command to rest beyond just the Sabbath.  We don’t know how long they stayed in this desolate place to rest and recharge, but I’d bet it was more than just a day.  He knew humans were created to have times of rest.

Make sure you rest, especially if you’re constantly caring for others!  Do so daily, if possible.  Find a “desolate place,” perhaps in your own home, a place where you can close the door and have a few moments of rest and reflection with God without anyone demanding anything from you.  Take your Sabbath day of rest weekly, one day that is set apart to worship and renew your life.  Finally, if possible, do what Jesus demanded here of his disciples: find a “desolate place” out of town, a place to where you can go that is away from the demanding crowds.  Is it the beach?  Or the mountains?  If possible, spend a couple of days there.  Spend time with Jesus.  Pray and read God’s Word. Sleep a lot!  Eat well.  Drink lots of water. Get yourself ready to return.  But return recharged.

The needs of others will always be there.  Trust me.  They will all continue to need your care.  The needs of others will never cease.

But to serve over the long term, Jesus knew that if you don’t come apart, you’ll come apart!

A wise command from our Master and Lord who created us and knows best what we need.

Let’s spend several Moments of Hope this week on parenting tips.  I’ve personally raised three children and know the joys and challenges of parenting.  Here are some tips I’ve learned on parenting, especially today as we focus on teens.

Someone once said that raising teenagers is a lot like nailing Jell-O to a tree.  Someone else once said that you should lock your 13 year old in a closet and not let them out until they are 19!

There’s no question that raising teens is challenging.  But it can be done and one well: Just remember: They are still humans.  They feel everything you feel, just on steroids! Their bodies are rapidly changing.  They are trying to figure out this new world they are living in.

Therefore, they need you now more than they’ll ever need you.  Make sure you spend regular, weekly time with them.  They need an adult to help them navigate all these changes.  You may think they don’t want you in their lives but they really do.

Parenting teens doesn’t have to be awful.  Love them in their change!  It can be very meaningful to them…and you!

Today’s verses are Mark 6:27-30: “And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head.  He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.  When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.”

Herod Antipas fulfilled his vow to Salome and had John the Baptist beheaded.  His head was brought to Salome and she gave it to Herodias, her mother.  Herodias’ revenge had now been completed.  John’s disciples came and lay the body in the tomb.

In my opinion, this evil deed primarily rests on the shoulders of Herod Antipas.  He could have stopped it at any moment.  He could have stood up to his wife, Herodias, and said, “No, I will not have John killed.”  He could have said to his guests, “To my great embarrassment, I made a rash decision.  It was a mistake.  I’m sorry.  I will not have John killed.”  But he didn’t.  He allowed his desire for acceptance to cause a stupid vow to become an even worse decision.

Herod Antipas forgot the purpose of leadership.  The purpose of leadership is not to use people to get what you want.  The purpose of leadership is to serve people to help them get what they want.

Servant leadership is always the best way to lead.  Jesus gave an example of this kind of leadership when he washed his disciples’ feet.  With this act he was saying to his disciples that their job was to serve others, not use others.

If anyone is following you today, in your job, or at home, or as you lead in the community, always remember the purpose of leadership: to serve others and help them become all God created them to be.

It will always be the most effective leadership style.  John the Baptist’s fate would have been entirely different if Herod Antipas had understood this truth.

Today’s verse is Mark 6:26: “And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to to her.”

Salome, Herodias’ daughter, performs a dance, perhaps extremely sensual, yet very gratifying, for King Herod Anitpas.  So moved is he that he promises to her anything, up to half his kingdom.  She goes to her mother and asks what her request of Herod Antipas should be.  Herodias wants the head of John the Baptist.  He had villified her publicly for her adultery to Herod.  She held a grudge.  She wanted him dead.

Salome goes to Herod Antipas with the request for the Baptist’s head.  Although Herod Antipas does not want to kill John (he feared a rebellion among the people), he also feared not keeping his word that he’d made publicly to her before his many, honored guests.  He wanted and needed their approval.

Bottom line: Herod Antipas was about to commit murder because of people-pleasing.  He wanted the approval of his guests so much that he would take the life of John the Baptist.  He was “exceedingly sorry” for the decision he was about to make.  But he would make it nevertheless.

Here is a truth I learned a long time ago: people make lousy gods.  If you are making life decisions to gain people’s approval, don’t!  They are too fickle.  They will believe one way one day and another the other day.  They are making their own decisions for their lives and their opinions of yours based solely on what will best make their worlds operate.

My Dad once said to me, “Son, don’t worry about what other people are thinking about you.  They aren’t thinking about you at all.  They are too busy thinking about themselves.”

Make decisions today and all days based solely on what would God have you do.  Don’t make decisions based on what people will think.  It’s a bad reason by which to make a decision.

Why?  Because people make lousy gods.

Today’s verses are Mark 6:21-25: “But an opportunity came when Herod on his birth day gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.  For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests.  And the king said to the girl, ‘As me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.’  And he vowed to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of m kingdom.’  And she went out and said to her mother, ‘For what should I ask?’  And she said, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’  And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’”

Herod Antipas throws a birthday and invites three special societal groups to attend: 1) nobles, the high-ranking government officials of Galilee; 2) military officers, those with power to oversee the people; 3) leading, wealthy and prominent citizens from Galilee.  It was a “who’s who” of dignitaries in that day and region.  He wants to impress these powerful people.

Was there a great deal of alcohol at the party?  I’d presume so.  Herodias’ daughter, Salome, comes in and dances for all the guests.  Was it a seductive, highly-charged sexual dance?  I think so.  If there was alcohol with a mixture of sexual innuendo, plus him trying to impress powerful people, Herod Antipas was in a position to be easily manipulated.

Probably without thinking, Herod offers Salome anything, up to half his kingdom in appreciation for her dance.  Salome goes to her mother and asks for what she should ask.  Herodias wants the Baptist’s head.  She did not like John the Baptist publicly calling her out for her adultery with Herod.  She held a “grudge” against John (vs 19).  She wanted him dead.  So Salome goes to King Herod Antipas and asks for the head of John the Baptist, as her mother requested.

Surely Herodias knew her husband.  Surely she knew, if indeed he was inebriated, and moved sexually, plus trying to impress important people, that he was capable of making rash vows and promises.  Surely she knew all that was necessary that would cause him stupidly to make rash vows and promises.  Surely she set up and planned this entire scenario with her daughter to get John killed!

There is a great danger of controlling, manipulative people in our lives.  We need to watch out for them.  We need to be aware of them.  They use us for their benefit.  Their end goal is self and only self.  They really don’t care who they hurt in the process.  They want what they want when they want it and will let nothing get in their way to achieve their goals.  They are narcissistic in nature, manipulative in behavior.

If you have a person(s) like this in your life, run from them!  Get away from them.  They will destroy your life and others in the process.

How do you know if you are in a relationship with this kind of person?  Simply ask this question: Does he/she want my best interest or theirs?  True love/friendship wants the best for the other.  True love/friendship seeks the other’s highest good.  True love/friendship loves people for their benefit, not uses people for their own benefit.

Herodias was a controlling, manipulative person. She was destroying lives.  Please learn today from her evil example.

Flee controlling, manipulative people!