Pastor Claude Thomas Weblog

By Heather Carreiro

“I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Although the same Bible verse from Matthew 28:19 may be used during both baptisms and christenings, the ceremonies do have different feels to them. A baptism is generally less formal and liturgical than a christening ceremony. In recent times, child baptisms have started taking place in the midst of a church service on Sunday, rather than on a separate date. Answering the following questions will help you start planning your child’s baptism service.

When should the service take place?

Before deciding if the baptism should take place during a Sunday service or on a separate date, think about how many people you plan to invite who do not regularly attend your church. If it’s less a dozen close friends and relatives, you’re probably better off inviting them to attend the church service in order to witness your child’s baptism. If you plan to invite a large number of guests that will not be able to fit in the church along with the regular members, then you should plan your event at a separate time. Discuss options with your pastor or minister to see when he is available and when the church hall is available for your function. If you plan to invite guests from out of town, it’s best to schedule the date for a weekend and send out baptism invitations at least one month in advance.

How old should my child be?

This question really depends on how you, personally, see baptism and where your home church stands on the issue. Many denominations will only allow children to be baptized when they are old enough to issue a statement of faith and a personal testimony of their relationship with God. Other denominations will baptize infants and toddlers whose parents are the initiators of the rite.

By Judy H. Wright

Who owns the problem; Parent or Child? It is tempting for parents to assume ownership and responsibility for everything that goes on in the life of their child. However, when the parent jumps in too soon to solve the problem or give the answer, the child never learns to trust his own judgment and become a critical thinker.

Look at the list of situations and see if you can figure out who owns the problem?

1. Throws a tantrum in the grocery store if they don’t get what they want.

2. Fighting with their brother or sister.

3. Leaving their jacket on the floor.

4. Getting in trouble on the playground.

5. Not turning in their homework

6. Not going to bed on time

7. Doesn’t give you a phone message

8. Does a sloppy job on the dishes

9. Talks with mouth full of food at the dinner table

10. Says no one likes him at school

11. Forgets to tie his shoes

12. Drinks a beer with friends, even though he is only 12.

Who owns the problem; Parent or Child? It is easy for parents to assume ownership and responsibility for everything that goes on in the life of their child. However, when the parent jumps in too soon to solve the problem or give the answer, the child never learns to trust his own judgment and be a critical thinker.

If a child is kept from satisfying a purpose or if the natural consequences teach a life lesson,the Child owns the problem.

The parents do not own the problem because the behavior does not interfere with them. If it does interfere with their happiness or peace of mind, then it is a joint problem and we will work together to solve it.

If the child is satisfying his or her own purposes and the child’s behavior is not interfering with the parents, then there is no problem in the relationship. If no one really minds jackets on the living room floor, then don’t argue about it. Teach them to be organized at another time.

If the child is satisfying his or her own purposes but the child’s behavior is interfering with the parents, then the parents own the problem. If the child is drinking beer, it is not only against the law, but it is a dangerous practice and must have intervention.

Pick Your Battles, But Stick to Your Guns

If the behavior is only irritating, you may choose to let it slide and focus on the big picture. If the unacceptable behavior is infringing on the rights of others or is clearly negative in nature, you must set boundaries and consequences.

How the child chooses to react to the boundary is his choice. If he proceeds to make a wrong choice, it is his problem. Your job is to make the rules and consequences very clear. It is your child’s job to make right choices more often than not.

Not Easy to See Who Owns The Problem

It isn’t always easy to spot the ownership and the consequences of behavior. However, it is only through assuming personal responsibility that children and adults become contributing members of society. If each one of us assumes responsibility for our own choices and actions, it will be a much better world.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas

Children learn to speak a language by living in the home. Take a child who grew up in America where the family spoke English. Then teach that child how to speak Chinese. Give them tapes and books so they can learn to speak the language.

Then send the child to China where the language is native to the people. Do you think it is possible for the child to speak Chinese without an accent? No! Why? The language is learned in a climate of the home. And the home had a distinct accent.

Create the right climate and values that build great families will flourish. What are the essentials for that kind of climate? We require the wisdom and power of God!

First, be wise by being careful of the dangers to the family. Be alert to the destructive dangers to the family.

Second, be powerful by being controlled by the Holy Spirit. When a person is drunk with wine, that person is controlled by wine. When a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, that person is controlled by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit gives us ability to live our values so our families can flourish!
Now how do we get the wisdom to detect the destructive and the power to live out the positive? Answer is this: request and release.
Request the wisdom from God. He gives it.
Release ourselves intentionally to the Holy Spirit. He gives power.
Living in the wisdom and power of God creates a climate where the biblical values can be realized and enjoyed by every member of the family!
Let’s build strong families because the family is a treasure to be treasured!

Can you imagine what it would be like to be a pilot flying over the desert and have you plane hit by enemy fire. It did happen to Captain Evans, a pilot in the Gulf War. He had already flown 20 combat sorties over Kuwait and Iraq in a warplane called the “Wart Hog”. Twenty missions without a scratch….a record that came to an end. He was flying sortie number twenty-one against the vaunted Iraqi Republican Guard, when his aircraft was suddenly ripped by 23 mm canon shells and small arms fire. The plane bucked under him and warning lights flashed inside the cockpit–something happened he hoped he would never see outside the simulator.

He trailed a thin line of smoke, and feared his hydraulic system might fail at any moment. With rudders gone, the plane could slip into irrevocable spin.

Yet as part of his training, Evans forced aside his fear and made his mind go through a rigid checklist in preparation for an emergency landing.

Airspeed….check
Altimeter….check
Fuel….check
Family….check
Hydraulic pressure….check
ILS….check
Flaps….check
Family….check
In spite of himself, the one thought

Captain Evans couldn’t hold captive was the one he treasured most of all….home. The picture of a loving wife and three children, the youngest only three, was zipped inside the top pocket of his flight jacket.Just get me home…Just get me home. These words echoed in his mind. Over and Over.Captain Evan’s plane did touch down at his home base that morning sporting eighteen holes in his right wing and fuselage.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas

Paul makes a very important observation in 1 Corinthians 12 about our relationship in the human family and especially the family of faith.

He affirms we are interdependent on each other and not independent of each other… “And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’”(v,21).

Cooperative with each other and not competitive with each other… “there should be no division(schism) in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.”(v.25).

Individual parts make the whole but no part is the whole… “For in fact the body in not one member but many.”(v.14). And again, “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?”(v. 17).
“Now you are the members of the body of Christ, and members individually.” (v.27).

We are individuals but we are together… supporting each other. God made us this way. Why?

1) Supporting each other fulfills an emotional need.

We have heard of the “phantom feeling.” When a person loses an arm or finger or toe, the feeling continues. It is just like the arm or finger or toe is still there.

When a person is missing from our circle of family or friends, we feel the loss of that person. It is like the table has been set, their place at the table is prepared and they are not there.

We need each other because God made us to be together!

2) Supporting each other fulfills a spiritual need.
Paul said it best. We are like the body.

Families get together and put a puzzle together. The pieces will be all over the table. They make no sense separated but when they begin to go together, it makes sense. It makes a beautiful picture.

So it is with us! The family is beautiful when all of us are together and supporting each other. And others will see it.

That is what Jesus prayed in John 17:21 when He said, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that they world may believe that You sent Me.”

There is a spiritual impact to make on others when we are together!

Supporting each other fulfills a practical need.

We can do more together than alone.

Consider the “team concept.” One or two stars on a team can contribute greatly to the team but they are not the team. It takes all working together to reach the full potential.
Let us affirm each other!

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas

Our youngest son did his doctoral work in the United Kingdom. He, his older brother, and I went on a visit to check out the school and where he and his family might live.
While in London we saw Les Miserables. My wife had seen the play in London a year or so earlier. The play is amazing! And of course seeing the play in London added to the whole experience. One of the most moving feature characters is a single. She was in a desperate situation. She could not keep her daughter and earn money to take care of her. So, she let her daughter lived with a couple. And she gave her all for her daughter’s future. The scene of her ultimate sacrifice and death for the future of her daughter had my whole row in tears! It is always an inspiring play.

Another single mom challenges and inspires me! I find her in the pages of Scripture. Her name is unknown to me. But her character and commitment is forever set in the pages of the Bible. Bible students know her as the widow of Zarepath (1 Kings 17). She was in a most desperate situation. She and her only son were facing starvation. They were running out of food. A drought had covered the entire land and there were no crops or food.
In the middle of that horrible situation, God did a miracle as she responded to the word of the prophet Elijah. The meager amount of food she possessed was multiplied because the prophet showed up and she responded to his word.

I cannot help but think of the single moms and children of this world who are experiencing hunger at this very moment. How can we show up? Can we make a difference in their lives? We can show up and make a difference by partnering with organizations like Feed The Children, Inc. For more information how you can make a difference contact Feed The Children, Inc. at www.feedthechildren.org.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas

A proud father stands waiting. He comes here every day. He seems to absorb the view. From where he stands, he can see for miles. He inhales the beauty of the view, but there is something else in his eyes – he seems to search.

He watches with a frown of intensity as the sun hangs directly above his head.
As time passes, his shadow grows longer but he keeps his vigil. He is tireless and persistent, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon for a sign, a picture – A boy. His boy!
Once full of life and dreams, the broken boy now limps upon the horizon. His pride is broken, his will is shattered. He wearily travels toward his former home, where he knows there is a gracious father who would at least let him return as a servant. His belief in his father has brought him home.

The father races toward his son as if his very life was hanging in the balance. The eyes that once pierced the horizon are now full of tears as he sees the familiar face of the son he loves. They embrace, father and son, with the knowledge that all is well and all is forgiven. (Luke 15)

Have you ever known that kind of love? Have you ever believed in someone so much that you knew that the love was without conditions? You can.

God loves you so much that he stands waiting for you to come home. You need not take the time to even dust yourself off – you must run to your forgiveness, flee to the compassionate embrace of the one who loves you most of all.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas

I awoke to my father’s voice as he gently shook me. “It’s time to go to the mountains, bud.” I got out of bed, pulled on my clothes, and prepared myself for the day. Over the roads in the misty morning, my brother and I traveled with dad to the mountains for a day of trout fishing. Dad taught me how to catch those trout. I watched as he cast that lure so gracefully in the ripple of the stream or in the eddy of the current and reeled the trout in with strong carpenter’s hands. I learned how to catch fish watching and listening to him.

My father birthed within me a distinct affinity and love for the mountains and the trout stream. He developed and nurtured that love through our frequent trips, and I learned the joy of fishing.

He left me a legacy that will last. However, the legacy is more than learning how to make my way along a trout stream. It is one of giving. He not only provided me the opportunity to discover the wonder of the mountains and trout fishing, he did more. He invested himself in me. His greatest legacy was that he gave.

My father’s influence on my life has inspired me to instill in my four sons an appreciation for the wonder of the mountains and the joy of fishing along with teaching them the lessons that my dad taught me so well. I have learned that legacies that last are those that are birthed out of love, inspired through commitment, and solidified in sacrificial giving.

What is it about a lasting legacy that is so appealing to us? The answer is that it implies that we are making a difference now in such a way that it will have lasting affects. With that in mind, I am convinced the idea of a lasting legacy motivates us to Christian giving for three reasons.

First, I am persuaded people want to make a significant difference in the lives of others now. When you give in the name of Jesus you are making a difference in the lives of others for time and eternity.

Second, I believe people need to know what they are doing is right. So, from time to time, teach a series of lessons on the Biblical basis for giving.

Third, I believe people want to follow the example of people they admire and love. When Christian leaders are givers in the name of Christ they set an example that will inspire others to give.

And finally, and most importantly, look to Jesus, our supreme example, a see how He gave Himself for us and made the difference in us. We point to Him as our example.
You and I are never more like Jesus than when we are giving. And the inspiring example is a legacy that lasts!

Author: Michael Russell

A child who is born from one set of parents and becomes the child of other parents is said to be adopted. Adoption can provide a home and a family for a child who cannot have the care of his natural parents for any reason. It can also make it possible for people who are childless to have children.

Most people think that adoption is a fairly new practice, but it is centuries old. It was a practice that was well known to the Babylonians, Assyrians, Greeks, Egyptians and Romans. However, the practice of adopting children did not become widespread until the 20th century when it grew in popularity in most European countries. The practice is now most popular in the United States, where during the past 50 years; the number of adoptions has increased by leaps and bounds. Well over 100,000 children are adopted annually in the United States alone.

There are many reasons why children have to be adopted. Sometimes a child suffers the death of one or both parents. Or the parent suffers an illness that cannot be cured, so a court decides that it would be best for the child to be adopted. There also parents who discover that they are not able to take care of a child after it is born, so they place him with a family who wants to adopt him and has the means to look after him. Some natural parents feel that they are not mature enough or suffer the stigma of being unmarried, so they’re not prepared to make a comfortable home for the child. These parents come from every social class and have varied backgrounds in race, religion, educational attainment and economic position. Social workers say that but the child up to adoption does not necessarily mean that the natural parents do not care for the child. In contrast, most parents consent to the adoption of their children because they love them and they wish the children to have the opportunities and the care that they’re unable to provide.

Most of the children who are adopted in the United States are adopted by stepparents or other close relatives. The other children are adopted through child welfare agencies or through the aid of clergymen and doctors. There are public and private child welfare agencies in every state and in all major cities. These are supported by tax money and voluntary contributions. These agencies have in their care children of different ages who need adoption, ranging from babies who are only a few days old to adolescents.

A child who is adopted when he is a very young knows only his adoptive parents and may never guess that he was not born to them. Child welfare experts feel that it is better for a child to know from the time that he was small that he was adopted, otherwise there is a danger that he would find out the truth someday in a way that can hurt him. The fact of adoption need not disturb the parents or the child as long as a child feels that his adoptive parents truly love and care for him.

Author: Wade Robins

Over the last couple of years the number of international adoptions has increased quite substantially as can be seen from international adoption graphs. In this article we are going to look at some of the facts revealed by international adoption graphs for those of you who may be interested in learning more about international adoption.

One document which contains international adoption graphs and useful information for adoption in general is the “Adoption Data and Statistical Trends” study put out by Frank Biafora and Dawn Esposito, both of St John’s University. This report specifically covers international adoptions and domestic adoptions in the United States.

According to this study 5% of all adoptions in the United States in 1992 were inter-country adoptions. By 2001 this figure had increased to 15% of all adoptions. Their figures in this regard were from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2004).

In addition, their international adoption graphs include a graph showing the number of immigrant visas issued to orphans from 1990-2004, according to the US Department of State. According to their graphs, in 1989 8,102 visas were issued to international orphans, whereas in 2004 this figure had increased to 22,884.

The Child Welfare Information Gateway also has links to a number of international adoption graphs relating to the United States. For example, the one link to Office of Immigration Statistics gives a graph covering the total number of children adopted from different areas, and then breaks this down into gender and age groups.

Another of the international adoption graphs found on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website is from the Department of Health and includes a break down of international adoptions according to the state where they were intended to live, their age groups, as well as gender.

If you are interested in finding international adoption graphs, besides looking at these two sources, it is best to look on government websites. The government websites provide many useful statistics regarding adoption, including domestic and international adoptions.

In conclusion, international adoption has increased quite substantially over the last two decades as shown by the international adoption graphs. Government websites in particular offer graphs which break this down into the number of international adoptions in different regions, according to gender as well as age groups. If you are looking for international adoption graphs we recommend starting with the above two sources and then investigating government websites further.

Posted by: Pastor Claude Thomas

Author: Isabal

The decision to adopt is a big one. To take care of a child not biologically yours is, by itself, a complicated life-choice to make. One would think that adopting a child who is also from a different race, a different country and a different culture would make it even more complicated. And yet, every year, thousands of parents make this happy choice and feel blessed by it. What are their reasons? And why should you consider international adoption?

More to Choose From, More to Love

Locally, very few babies are available for adoption. Modern birth control methods and even abortion result in fewer unplanned babies. Often, too, even single mothers are unwilling to give their babies up for adoption. In such a situation, choosing a baby is a luxury you are unlikely to have. Just to get a baby, any baby, you will probably have to wait a long time.

This is untrue with international adoption. Because you have a whole world of babies waiting for your care, you don’t have to wait so long, and you can even choose! You have a greater chance of finding your “ideal baby” or as close as you can come to it.

And when your adopted darling grows up, you can tell her in all honesty, “Of course, we love you. We chose you, didn’t we?”

It Won’t Be a Long Wait

When you adopt from another country, the waiting time is usually just 12-18 months. It may seem like a long time, but that is really nothing compared to the time you’ve already waited childlessly, and to the three years which is about the usual time local adoptions take.

In fact, considering all the paperwork that needs to be done, 12-18 months is really a very short time.

You’re Not Perfect, But That’s OK

Because the demand is so great, in many countries you need to pass certain qualifications to adopt a local child:
- Childless couples are first priority.
- Some agencies require you to be infertile.
- It is preferred that you and your mate be twenty-five to thirty-five years old.
- Ideally, you must have no physical disabilities.
- You must be married.

In addition, birth mothers are allowed to specify the kind of parents they want for their child, and they usually choose young, married, educated couples who are well-off and have active lifestyles.

International adoptions are far less prejudiced. Some countries and agencies allow you to have seven other children, you can be fifty years old, and you can be poor. If you will take care of the child and love her better than her real parents did before they went away, international adoption agencies will give you a fair shot and thank you for it.

You Never Have To Share Your Bundle of Joy

Foreign children usually cannot be adopted unless they are legally orphans. This has three very comforting implications for you:
- The birth mother will not suddenly change her mind.
- No biological mother will ever try to take your bundle of joy away from you.
- It is much less likely that your child will try to leave you for her biological parents when she grows up.

When it comes to custody, a foreign adoption is virtually as safe as bearing the child yourself.

Your World is Enlarged

When you adopt a child from another country, inevitably, you adopt not just the child but also the country. You learn to love another country as much as your own, simply because it is where your child was born. You are gently constrained to learn another country’s culture and history so that you may teach it to your child. Her natural heritage becomes your natural heritage. Her people become your people; strangers from her country automatically become your friends when you meet them in the streets.