We’re obliged to give our children a breathing example of a joy-filled, authentic and resilient faith in Jesus Christ.

It's the one only sword and shield able to empower them to walk triumphantly through this earth's race to chaos, madness and oblivion.

Our assignment and privilege is to show a way through. Shall we send our own into a race we will not run with all our courage and vigor?

They must see humble, jubilant, ferocious men and women of honor. Not pretty, well-dressed, culturally cool and rhetorically adept chasers of vain fads and passing pursuits.

None of us does this faith flawlessly. And, our kids will understand. But if we live it half-heartedly, they will be repulsed. They see enough in the world of people selling causes for which they themselves won’t pay full price. Our willingness to live for and die for our King is Jesus’ explicit expectation - the state in which the whole of His kingdom is ours. If that is not our standard, shall we expect it of someone else?

Let us be awakened - aroused as men of war. Hearts on fire, not silken talkers and witty, worthless pretenders.

Believers in Christ have always been mocked, and will be still. But once upon a time they were feared.

They acted like people who weren't from around here.