HackerNoon is one of the leading tech blogs to learn about coding, blockchain, and startups. With over 7000 writers and 200,000 daily readers, Hacker Noon has become the voice of hackers around the world.
The urban dictionary classifies a hacker as: as someone who strictly pursues creature comforts through completely legal means that while frustrating to others; allow him to live his best life
We are all hackers looking for shortcuts or ways to do things which are less stressful and more comfortable.
Olive Oil - Make Up Remover - The hack: Mix one part olive oil and with two parts water together and apply it to your skin in small circular motions. Then remove it by using a hot cloth. Voila!
Olive Oil - Wood/Shoe Polisher
Olive Oil - Teeth Whitener an ancient Ayurveda ritual
Life is hard enough so finding the fastest way to, or through, the obstacles of life seems like an appropriate subject in this covid reality we have found ourselves in.
So we will be sharing simple shortcuts to help you live your best life. Over the next few weeks, we will offer parenting/leadership, purpose, work and even a simple shortcut to God.
Today, we will look for our parenting and leadership in general using a shortcut from the Old Testament book written by a man who many believe was one of the wisest ever. Its challenging to raise the next generation. (not just parents but anyone who leads children with example) We wish it was simple. Here’s a simple saying we have all heard and maybe put our hope in...
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not depart from it.
(Prov 22:6)
Now, the problem with many of us is we read this as a promise. A promise that if we raise them in the faith, they will stay on the course. But that’s not what it says, nor is that the truth. It’s a PROVERB, not a PROMISE.
(1) Don’t forget the first story in the Bible (Just review Genesis 1-3)
Tell the story of Adam and Eve along with God as the perfect parent/ leader giving them everything they could have wanted and yet...
Perfect PARENTING/Leadership + Perfect ENVIRONMENT + No SIN NATURE = still demonstrates REBELLION at its worst - death
So we have a challenge that even if we raise the next generation in the right truth, we have no guarantee that it will take hold of their life always. So we should be realistic about that challenge.
Similarly, we should be realistic about who is guilty when children go astray because...
(2) Don’t count on a promise God never made in fact, refer to Ezekiel 18 (especially 1-4, 20)
We may feel extremely guilty about the next generation going astray… taking this idea upon ourselves. Exodus 20:5, “You shall not bow down to [idols] or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation...” Specific instance to specific audience… idolatry. When the parents worship an idol, you can expect that practice to trickle down through the generations (old idols or new ones like money, self-satisfaction, or possessions).
The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. Ez 18:20
The truth as defined in scriptures says in essence, “each of us is responsible for our own actions.” Parents and leaders are called to lead well but the results of another person’s life is between them and God. There are always consequences for rebellion and always mercy and grace for those who repent. This helps us to not have false guilt about choices made by the next generation.
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not depart from it.
The proverb doesn’t say they will COME BACK - It says they won’t DEPART. What this means is that no matter what happens, “the Word of the Lord is in them.” His Spirit is calling theirs. If they want to fight, they will come to know the “hole in the soul” as St. Augustine said. They know something isn’t right and your lessons early on may be the reason they return.
Able to minister to Steve before death, mentioned before he was an alter boy, made an impression, before he died he confessed Jesus as savior, with that memory of serving God as a mile marker that God never left him.
<story of person admitting they knew God but weren’t ready to come back or someone who finally does come back>
So even if we do not have full control over what the next generation does with Gods truth in their lives, what are some key steps we can take to set milemarkers
There are some critical lessons we must be cognizant of as both parents and leaders.
The first lesson is to make sure we’re aiming at the RIGHT objective
We have all seen those men on the street videos where they ask people what the purpose of life is. There are a variety of answers given from “be happy” to “be good.” However, as a Christian, we know those answers are fleeting at best and deadly at the worst. Jesus says it best when talking to his disciples about what it means to call oneself a follower of his. He says, “ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36) The truth is our purpose is to reflect the light within us to the world around us. You and I have surrendered our earthly existence to Him to reach as many as possible before He returns in final judgement. We no longer live but it is He who lives in us. As such, we must lead our children, the next generation and even those at work to understand the greater goal is not possessions but “abundant life.”
The second lesson to great leadership and parenting is the understanding that the demonstration of our lives will always eclipse what we say. It’s the reason we encourage each person who claims to be a Christian to live as a little Christ. Experience has proven demonstration before proclamation is the most powerful evangelism tool. We all know the faux Christians. The ones who claim Jesus is everything on Sunday but cheat business partners and the church. The people who wear the gold cross but never feed the hungry, offer water to the thirsty or clothes to the naked. These are the ones who sing loud in church but post hateful and derogatory statements on facebook. These are the blind and the lost. It’s reason God gave Moses the following words
“4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
The third and fourth critical lessons for great leadership are tied together so it's no wonder Paul tied them together in Ephesians 5:21 through chapter 6.
How many have ever heard, or read Ephesians 5:21-6? Ephesians is an incredible letter to one of the 35 house churches planted and referenced in the New Testament. Paul is talking to a group of leaders about a problem that exists and is encouraging them to be good examples in leadership. He begins by speaking to the leadership about the high value of marriage and its correlation to Christian leadership.
Eph. 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The third critical lesson comes out the resistance to put anything or anyone in front of your designed purpose - Honor God is our primary purpose. He uses family roles to clarify the role of a believer as a witness to an alternative leadership. Remember, men had ultimate authority. A woman had about as many rights as livestock. Paul is pointing out this behavior must be rebalanced in light of the truth. In your family, avoid placing your needs above anyone else in the family. Avoid putting your kids at the center of your marriage. If your work life, avoid putting the company or its needs above God. These scriptures on marriage, family and work are often misunderstood. Some may even say they are a set of scriptures that are repulsive and even detrimental to message. However, the principle is the same. When leading or following, God must be honored above society's standards.
PETER:
Which brings us to the fourth critical lesson, being respectful when under authority. In the beginning of chapter 6, it is written:
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.””
If you had Christian parents, you may remember these words. This is a favorite verse for many a parent of a misbehaving child. We pull the Jesus card trying to get them to obey. Unfortunately, all too often, the child has no idea what the phrase means and our use of this scripture leads to the next question by the quick witted child, “So what is God going to do, smite me?” Nice God Mom. Nice Dad. Sounds real loving. Hence, the reason the next verse reads:
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Paul goes on from this verse to address slave and slave owner relations. But don’t miss this, Paul is not endorsing women as property, children as insignificant or slaves ownership. He is simply stating Christians must alway strive to keep the other person’s best interest at heart. In so doing, Christ is glorified. Honoring Christ must always be the goal in either position. If we are graced in leadership, we must wield authority with Christ in mind. If we are under someone’s authority, we must strive to adhere to their power unless they are telling us to do something immoral or illegal.
<Personal story is appropriate for the speaker> I will never forget a vice president of a fortune 500 company telling me of a story where the president of the company grabbed him and threw him against the wall with his hand on his throat because he wouldn’t fire an entire group of people at a factory just to improve the quarterly margins.
The fifth critical lesson of good parenting and leadership is to take a genuine interest in their world (john 1:14, Philippians 2:3-5)
Teddy Roosevelt once said, "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care."
Along these lines, Maya Angelou, poet and writer once said,
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Research backs them up. To gain influence, we all need to understand what compels people to invest their attention, emotion, and action. If you’re going to make a difference, you have to use the science of what makes people care. Interest begats interest.
<personal story of the best leader or coolest relative you have been engaged with and how you knew they cared>
Finally, the fifth critical lesson to parenting and leadership is simply to know when to pick your battles. When to intervene and when not to is an art. I’ve often quoted a friend, there are two types of business, my business and none of my business so which business is this? If it’s “none of mine,” then I need to let it go no matter how disturbing it is.
(Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:2)
Ending into communion….
