The Lightfoot Lane Blog

So Chris preached on family on Sunday 22nd October. Quoting a modern translation of Proverbs he said, “Don’t fail to correct your children. They won’t die if you smack them.” Proverb 23:13 New Living Translation

Well, I confess to having smacked my girls when they were little, but I do believe this passage points to something beyond smacking. The real issue is understanding that loving discipline is vital for our children. It teaches that there is a right and a wrong and that there are consequences to both. As parents God’s book makes us responsible to do this in a loving and constructive atmosphere. In fact, if we don’t, the Bible says we are disowning our children. See Hebrews 12:9-11

Looking back, I regret resorting to smacking as a short cut to better more imaginitive and patient discipline. But I don’t regret loving them well enough to discipline them and giving them lots of big hugs and telling them in three simple words, “I love you!”

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I think the real issue for many Christians is, “To what lengths will you go to be holy?” We act like holiness is something God the Holy Spirit will magically waft into our lives. Clearly God may encounter us with His holy presence and this can make a huge difference� - see Isaiah 6:1-8. But whilst He does change our heart, Jesus says that if our eye offends us, we should pluck it out. (Matthew 5:29) So what action will we take to become holier? Automatically sending our web visits to a friend on a weekly basis may remind us not just that our friend, but our God of holy love is watching, working�and waiting with longing for us to “Be Holy!” (Visit www.xxxchurch.com�)

So when I preached about sex within marriage I mentioned a web site - xxxchurch.com I said they had free software which you could download to you and a friend who would then receive a log of all the web sites you had visited. How intrusive or how holy making is that?

Personally, I have found that a friend who asks me hard questions is well worth it.

A first post on the blog bog from Sue Chastney - Pastoral church worker I would like to welcome all of you to the Lightfoot Lane Blog . My husband is an accomplished blogger but this is something very new to me ! I am actually unsure of what to write but my husband ( The web site administrator) is keen that someone makes a start, so why not me ! I hope that you find our web site enjoyable & informative. Although still very much a novice with all things IT I do enjoy reading blogs and surfing the net.I am constantly amazed at what you can find at the touch of a button. At the moment a lot of my time is spent�preparing for our ladies weekend away in just over two weeks time. I have searched for some illustrations that I can use and that are funny and have found some great ones ( if your coming on the weekend I hope you enjoy them).�I also get sent a lot of funny things from friends and colleagues some of them seem to come just at the right time, they cheer me up when I am sad & encourage me when I am�low. Some just make me count my blessings and turn my heart toward God.� Although I do find computing a constant learning curve I do enjoy having it. I love not having to rub out and start all over again when writing something, cut & paste is brill! I love MSN ( It’s often the way I call my son from his bedroom for his tea !!!) I enjoy email, its the first thing I do when I get home is to just check to see if I have anything in my inbox. It is no substitute for real letters though but will do as a good second.