“Oh Say, Can You See?”

Hosts: Stan Cox and Larry Fain

In this episode Stan and Larry discuss the importance of a strong father in the home.  This to avoid delinquent children, and from a Christian perspective, to better ensure the child’s faithfulness to God.  Obama’s stimulus package, $800 billion strong is discussed, along with his claims that his administration will be fiscally responsible (boy is the public gullible)!  Finally, did you hear that Obama had lunch with the four living Presidents?  In Stan’s opinion, who doesn’t belong in this picture?  Hint:  His initials are Bill Clinton!

Show Notes:

• Kaleigh Cox sings the National Anthem. Stan has uploaded to the internet a short video of his 18 year old daughter Kaleigh, singing the national anthem at a high school basketball game on January 9, 2009.  If you are interested in hearing a good, traditional rendition of the anthem, here is the link.  (Her daddy is very proud!)
  • Kaleigh Cox sings the National Anthem
    
• The Absence of Fathers is Criminal. Stan was listening to Mark Davis’ radio program on WBAP.  Studies were quoted indicating that the primary cultural commonality among prison inmates is not race, but the lack of a father in the home.  Stan and Larry discuss this, and have some important insights on the importance of fathers in the home.
• Obama:  Fiscal Liberal?  Or Fiscal Conservative. Obama is quoted this past week as advocating first nearly a trillion dollars for his soon to be passed stimulus package, while at the same time promising fiscal restraint in the future.  And the gullible public seems to be buying it!
  • Obama to include accountability in spending plan
  • 2009 budget deficit is estimated at 1.2 trillion
• Four Presidents and a President Elect. President Bush invited the three former Presidents, along with President elect Barack Obama to lunch last week.  Stan was impressed by Bush’s graciousness, which has been evident throughout the transition process, but is still rankled when he sees Bill Clinton in the Oval Office.
  • Obama has lunch with 4 presidents
    
• Stan’s Weekly Rant: It is Called “Personal Accountability. In our society, too few are willing to take responsibility for their actions.  The problem even exists among some Christians.  It is certainly present among the leaders of our nation.  To read Stan’s rant, click here!
• Stan’s Web Site Review: You will be able to tell when listening, Stan got a new microphone.  It is made by Blue Microphones, and is called the Snowball.  It is a USB microphone, so it plugs directly into your computer and has a wonderful sound.  We need more preachers in the podcasting business, so get your’s today! (No, this is not a paid advertisement).
• Larry’s Bible Verse: Larry comments on Romans 5:3-5, noting that the child of God is able and willing to persevere through the trials and tribulations of life because of the hope we have in Christ.  Larry has read the last chapter, WE WIN!

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Music provided by the JPFM Band, from their album Paris S.K, via Jamendo under the Creative Commons Liscense.

A Hodge Podge, a Compendium, a Smorgasborg, a Veritable Potpourri!

Hosts: Larry Fain & Stan Cox

Finally, we get away from election talk, and cover a “hodge podge” of different issues.  The President-elect is still top on the list, but we talk basketball, stem cell research, abortion, Sarah Palin, Providence, Toothless and Hairless Dogs, and Gay Marriage.  Now you understand the title!

Show Notes:

• Obama the Con Man. Satire, not fact.  But… isn’t there a little bit of truth in every successful satire?
  • Internation Con Man Barack Obama Leaves U.S. With $85 Million in Campaign Fundraising.
• Obama’s Agenda – Executive Orders. It looks like the first order of business when Obama is sworn in is the issuing of executive orders on social issues like stem cell research and abortion.  Obama has Clinton insiders and liberal activists seeking to determine how much damage can be done, and how quickly they can do it!
  • Obama Positioned to Quickly Reverse Bush Actions
    
• Quirky Obama News. Two quick notes:  First, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban voted for Obama.  Why?  And is his reasoning legitimate.  Second, Peru has offered the Obama family a four month old hairless/toothless UGLY dog.  Ain’t that sweet?
  • Cuban: Proud to be An American
  • Peru offers bald dog of Incas to Obamas
• What Will Palin do?  And Is God Telling Her to Do It? Stan and Larry discuss the inaccurate slant of an AP article about Palin’s possible plans to move from the Alaskan capital to the Senate.  Is she hearing the voice of God?  Or trusting His Providence.  Should her words concern Christians?
  • Palin Leaves Door Open for Possible Senate Run
• Gay Marriage In the News Again.  Connecticut State Supreme Court ruled that the state must allow gays to marry.  The people of California voted to amend their constitution to ban it.  Who has the momentum?  Is it inevitable that Gay Marriages will become legal throughout the nation?
  • Gay Couples Start Marrying in Connecticut
• Stan’s Weekly Rant: Apathetic parents lead to out of control, and underperforming children.  Parents, when you abdicate your duty, you disobey God, and handicap your children!  To read Stan’s rant for the week, click here!
• Larry’s Bible Verse: Ephesians 6:1-4. Stan rants, then Larry backs up the rant with scripture.  The text Larry exposits clearly establishes the responsibility,  before God, that parents have to raise their children right.
• Stan’s Software Review: Skype, and PrettyMay.  The two programs that make Watchman Digest possible.  Skype (the telephony software) is free, and PrettyMay (used to record the Stan and Larry’s conversations) costs $25.  You can be a podcaster like Stan and Larry.  But we were here first!

We want your input! Feel free to post your comments using the form below!

Music provided by the JPFM Band, from their album Paris S.K, via Jamendo under the Creative Commons Liscense.

My son Joshua is in his first year of teaching at Castleberry High School.  Castleberry is in an independent school district, and there are a lot of advantages to having your children in a relatively small school district.  However, at Castleberry there has been a real change in demographics in the past decade or so, that has led to a real problem with the lack of parental involvement.

As Josh has said, it is hard to get the students motivated to learn when the parents themselves do not care.  They do not demand discipline in their children, they do not require the kids to do their homework, they often run interference for the kid’s bad behavior, and they do not demand competent instruction for their children.

The same apathy can be seen in extracurricular activities as well.  In my example, while the Castleberry band has developed a strong booster club, other school organizations have not fared as well.

For example, the athletic booster club for the last several years at Castleberry has only had a handful of parents volunteering.  Great efforts have been expended in recruitment of members, to no avail.  I witnessed one mother get absolutely hostile when the booster club president made yet another appeal for help.

The apathy can also be seen in the stands.  As a sports’ photographer, with a son as a coach, I go to a lot of games.  I am constantly dismayed at the empty stands.  Not only are there few fans, but often the parents of the players themselves do not come.  The kids are so appreciative when you cheer for them, win or lose, and tell them they did good at the end of a hard fought contest.  They appreciate it, even if they don’t know who you are.  Just think about how good it would be if those words came from someone they love.

I’m not talking about parents who have to work, or who miss an occasional away game.  I am talking about parents who do not have an interest in their kids.  They ignore them at home, and they ignore them while they are at school.  They are too wrapped up in their own lives to give their children correction and instruction.  And, support and love.

Parents, understand that this is a God given duty.  Children are precious (even when they have reached that infuriating adolescent stage).  You need to love and nurture your kids, and you can’t do that unless you pay attention and make an effort.

Believe me when I tell you that I am not a big fan of freshman volleyball.  When my daughters moved on, I thought I would never watch a freshman game again.  But my son is the coach, and I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed those freshman games this year.  They went 24-5, and the girls loved how he coached them.  He may be 23 years old now, and a man.  But, he’s still my kid, and there is nothing I love more than to watch and support him in his efforts.

They grow up too fast, parents.  My baby is 16 years old.  He is about as tall as I am, and growing like a weed.  Your kids will not be kids forever.  Love and nurture them while you still can.

Charles Schultz’ point was clear.  In this little universe, it was all about the kids.  Adults existed simply to accommodate Charlie and his friends, and were only tangential to their lives.

And, this seems to be true in our universe as well.  Every day I get in my car to go pick up my children from school.  When driving my car at the school, I constantly have to hit the brakes, and be on the lookout, because the kids are oblivious to the traffic.  The parents in their cars exist to serve them, and they will be looking out for them, so why be concerned?  It seems crazy that a 7th grade boy, weighing in at 100 lbs. soaking wet, with his pants perched halfway down his backside, would stroll insolently across the street, not even acknowledging the 2,000 lb. hunk of metal that has to quickly stop to let him pass.  A honk on the horn gets only a disdainful glance.  Or perhaps, a quick middle finger to impress his friends.

When I occasionally have reason to visit the school, young people I have known for years will see me, and not acknowledge my presence.  Many of these are the kids who have visited in my home, and are the friends to my children.  But, I’m on their turf here, and as an adult I am not worthy of their attention.

You might ask, why do you put up with it?  Well, often I don’t.  I have on a number of occasions taken them to task for their impoliteness, but my point is that it is epidemic in its proportion.  And this is why… While so much emphasis is placed on protecting our children; in practice we are pandering to them instead.

Children need to be taught to be polite.  They must be taught to have respect for their elders.  You have to tell them, time and again, to say “Yes, Sir.”  Or, “Yes, Ma’am”.  It is not something that comes naturally.

Where I preach we have some young adults who to this day refer to me as Mr. Stan.  When they were kids, their parents wanted them to address others at worship in a respectful manner.  Mr. Cox was a bit too formal, and brother Cox, though very appropriate, seemed a bit out of place for a small child.  So, I was Mr. Stan, and my wife, Miss Debbie.

And to this day, though they are now in their early twenties, and adults themselves, I am still Mr. Stan.  It is not necessary anymore, but it still warms my heart to hear the words.  These young adults are respectful.  They are polite.  And they are that way because their parents expected and demanded it.

And, they are the exception rather than the rule.  We all complain about the younger generation.  They have no work ethic.  They are lazy.  They are materialistic.  They are disrespectful of authority.  Well, not all of them are.  But most, yes, most do not seem to behave as they should.

Whose fault is it?  Well, I’m not about to give them a free pass.  Right is right, and when they act wrong, they should be ashamed.  But, people, the problem is with the parents!  Make your kids respect you first, and then teach them to respect others.