The folloiwng includes notes from a Message given June 21, 2009
          (If you would like a CD of this message email us at NLICF@aol.com)
Equality doesn't mean Sameness. Don't measure equality by performance.
Ability does not equal Responsibility - Abilities may be talents, developed traits, or
            special gifts from God's Spirit. But Responsibilities are usually "assigned" and
            have a "claim" on us.
Responsibility does not mean Ability - this may need to be acquired
          or developed through Training and Practice.
Sacrifice - Life Has Always Required It.
        There were several different "Sacrifices" established for the Jewish people.
        Some focused on the expression of worship. But, several were introduced in
        response to mankind's sin as a statement that a debt needed to be satisfied
        and this could only take place through the offering of life.

        That's why Psalm 40:6 states that God doesn't desire these sacrifices for sin,
        because He would rather have our obedience.
        But Sacrifice as the denial of self  in the choices we are required to make has
        always been a part of human existence.
        Mom's and Dad's make sacrifices. It is our God-given responsibility.

Quote:                                           "I know my rights and I will not demand them.
I know my responsibilities and I will not shirk them."
                                                                                                                                                Dad Jorgensen
What are some God-given responsibilities for Fathers? [See PR For Fathers]

Aura Effect: If a person excels in one area, we tend to extend our regard to other, often unrelated, areas. So, a popular movie celebrity now becomes a political advisor, or a talented athlete is looked to as a parenting model.
Our strengths can hide our weaknesses. and the reverse can be true also.

"Mothers make boys. Fathers make men." Becoming a man is an achievement - the task of detaching from or disidentifying from mom and identifying with dad.
        ("A Parent's Guide to Preventing Homosexuality" Joseph Nicolosi, Ph.D  p. 23)

Men, who usually have a penchant for striking out to take on responsibilities, often need encouragement to do so.
(But, don't "tell me" what I can, must, or cannot do! HA!)

Husbands are to live with their wives "kata gnosis" - according to knowledge or in an understanding way.
Greek scholar Marvin Vincent expressed it this way - "with an intelligent recognition of the nature of the marriage relation". And I would add - "and what it entails." 1 Peter 3:7
Wives and Women need to do this as well.

God has made men and women just enough alike so we can enjoy the deepest fellowship and companionship (Genesis 2:23), but just enough different so we have to take the time and effort to develop our understanding and appreciation of each other. It doesn't just "happen".

     Honor and Respect - Ephesians 5:33 ("fear" or reverential respect)  
                                          1 Peter 3:7      (honor, respect, value)
From The Desk

The Origins of Christmas: For the first several centuries of the Church no Christmas celebrations took place. There were no trees, no lights, no strains of White Christmas. Well, of course we know there was none of that! But there was also no recognition of a day on which Jesus of Nazareth was born! And when was Jesus born? We don't know. There is support for almost every day of the year, especially in the spring, but also for the late fall and early winter. The celebration of Christmas was actually not a celebration of the day of His birth, but of the fact that He came - as truly human - as a child!  Christmas is a combination of Christ and Mass. It was the service (mass) that celebrated Him! So the Church was not necessarily saying Jesus was born on the 25th of December, but that this would be the date when we would celebrate His coming. The first Christ-mass is recorded around 336 AD. The actual chosen date of December 25 appears to be influenced by two other celebrations:
     First was the "Celebration of the Conquering Sun" on the 25th following the week long celebration of Saturnalia. This was a Roman festival celebrating the God Saturn as well as the lengthening of the days following the Winter solstice. Christians may have adopted this day to celebrate Jesus - the "Sun of Righteousness". Malachi 4:2
     Second was the Jewish Feast of Hanukkah (which means "dedication" or as the 1st century Jewish historian Josephus called it - the "Festival of Lights"), an 8 day celebration that begins on the 25th of Chislev in the Jewish calendar. Because of the difference in our calendar and the Jewish, the first night of Hanukkah falls on different nights in December, but often close to December 25th (this year it goes from the 12th through the 20th). The origin of Hanukkah dates to the victory of the Jewish people over the occupying army of the Syrians in 165 BC. The year before, the Syrians had desecrated the Temple and Altar as part of their attempt to force the Jewish people to leave their customs and religious beliefs and adopt Greek ones. Those who resisted in any way, including even the possession of Scripture, were usually put to death. Thousands died. But in 165 Jerusalem was liberated by forces under the command of Judas Maccabee. The Temple was repaired and cleansed and the old altar torn down with a new one built and dedicated in its place. The old altar stones were placed in a corner of the Temple until "a prophet would come to tell them what to do with the stones" (1 Maccabees 4:46). An 8 day holy celebration was declared, which included feasting and candle lighting to celebrate the "dedication" of the new altar. Later the feast came to commemorate the "miracle of the oil". The tradition recorded in the Talmud (around the 5th century A.D.) is that when the temple was cleansed, the Menorah (the great lamp in the holy place of the Temple) was relit, but only one flask of consecrated oil had been found. This would be enough for one day's burning of the lamp which was supposed to burn continuously, and it would take a week to consecrate more. Jewish tradition says "a great miracle happened here" with the oil lasting for eight days, the time necessary to consecrate additional oil.
     Hanukkah is mentioned in the New Testament in John 10:22.  Jesus was in Jerusalem for this holiday (called the Feast of Dedication in our translations). Messianic expectation was very high as people remembered the great victories of the Jewish forces over their Syrian oppressors. (And don't forget those stones of the altar still awaiting the coming of "a Prophet".) The questions posed to Jesus related to whether or not He was the Messiah. So probably Christians were also responding to this observation of Hanukkah when they chose December 25 as the day to celebrate the Messiah's birth. Whatever the reason, what a wonderful celebration it is!
    Other observances passed down to us include hanging mistletoe, the "golden bough" that was thought to be so powerful in promoting love among enemies that, upon encountering it, they would lay down their arms until the next day. Santa Claus (from the Dutch Sinterklaas) is Saint Nicholas of the 3rd century AD, the venerated Bishop of Myra in what is now the modern day province of Antalya, Turkey. Regarded as the patron saint of sailors, he is known from early church history for his generosity and his feast was celebrated early in December. And what were once shoes set out to be filled with candies and small gifts have become the stockings that are hung in our homes. But, whatever the traditions, the message is the same: "God so loved the world that He sent His One and Only Son" - Jesus - the true gift of Christmas!

Celebrate The Gift!
Merry Christmas!