To Train Up A Child

My friends and I gathered around the supper table. It had been a long day of classes and lectures. Our conversation turned to our favorite things: our spouses and our children!

We enjoyed a good chuckle over the antics of our children, and got to know each other a little better.

One of the people there was a bearded farmer named Johnny. His face lit up as he talked about investing a few dollars so that he could get each of his kids a headlamp. When the days get short, his crew plays outside a little longer. I could just imagine hearing little ones laughing and running, playing tag after dark, while their battery-operated lights cut through the night.

We could tell Johnny missed his family -- especially his wife! He seemed a little lost without her.

The conversation turned to the sadness we sometimes see in families and marriages. Johnny's eyes took on an earnest twinkle as he said, 'What most men don't realize is that women are like crock pots.'

I wasn't sure where he was going with this. Was he talking about handles or the shape?

He seemed amused by our puzzled looks and continued.

'Well if you want to have a good meal for supper that night, you've got to put some good stuff in the pot and turn it on long BEFORE you expect to eat. If you wait 30 minutes before eating and toss some frozen stuff in there, you can't blame the crock pot when your supper is cold and undercooked. It's the same with wives and marriage. You gotta think ahead, fill it up with the right ingredients, add a spark and keep it warm if you want something good in return.'

I stopped chewing and stared. He was right. Farmer Johnny got it right and put the profound in simple terms. You want fun? Invest in fun. You want a good marriage? Put good stuff in there. Makes sense. Smart man!

If you'd like to hear Johnny and his wife Terri share their testimony click the play button to hear "I Like My Wife"
(click the play button twice to engage audio)



Hear Johnny and Terri share more of their testimony by listening to "Young Love And Pig Farming"
(click the play button twice to engage audio)



Terri mentions that women should "read the book" to discover her the secret to keeping a happy husband. She was talking about Created To Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl. If you'd like to 'read the book' too, click on the title for ordering information.

"Somewhere over the passing years and changing culture, women have lost their way. This book is written to lead them back home. Regardless of how you began your marriage or how dark and lonely the path that has brought you to where you are now, I want you to know that it is possible today to have a marriage so good and so fulfilling that it can only be explained as a miracle."

The following was posted on No Greater Joy Ministry's Facebook Page.
Take the time to add No Greater Joy to your friend's list today!

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It has come to may attention that a vocal few are decrying our sensible application of the Biblical rod in training up our children. I laugh at my caustic critics, for our properly spanked and trained children grow to maturity in great peace and love.

Numbered in the millions, these kids become the models of self-control and discipline, highly educated and creative—entrepreneurs that pay the taxes your children will receive in entitlements. When your children finally find an honest mechanic or a trustworthy homebuilder, it will be one of ours.

When your children apply for a job it will be at a company our children founded. When they go to a doctor, it will be one of our Christian children that heals them with cutting edge innovation. When your adult kids go for therapy it will be one of our kids-become-psychologist that directs them to the couch and challenges them to release their self-loathing and embrace hope for a better tomorrow. When your children grow old and realize their mortality and seek to make peace with their Creator, it will be one of our children that shares with them the message of God’s love and forgiveness.

My five grown children are laughing at your foolish, uninformed criticism of God’s method of child training, for their kids—my 17 grandkids—are laughing . . . because that is what they do most of the time. They laugh when Daddy is coming home. The laugh when it is time to do more homeschooling. They laugh when it is time to practice the violin and piano. They laugh when they see their Big Papa coming (that’s me) because Big Papa is laughing and they don’t care why just as long as he laughs with them.

My granddaughters laugh with joy after giving their baby dolls a spanking for “being naughty” because they know their dolls will grow up to be the best mamas and daddies in the world—just like them.

People all around the world, in places like Russia, China, Germany, New Zealand, Guatemala, Peru, Africa, and fifty other countries are laughing with joy because after applying the Biblical principles found in our books they finally have happy and obedient children.

Even my chickens are laughing . . . well, actually it more like cackling, because they just laid another organic egg for my breakfast and they know that it was that same piece of ¼ inch plastic supply line that trained the dogs not to eat chicken....

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In the most recent issue of No Greater Joy Magazine, Michael Pearl re-visits some of his childhood memories. He tells the story of his boyhood snake collection:

I never had any affection for snakes, but to catch one and hold its cool, dry, wiggling, body in your hands, and then to turn it loose to slither away to its shadowy existence was a mastery of self more than of the serpent. ~ Boys, Snakes and Men

The article then goes on to give an example of how he built on that childhood adventure to make a VERY memorable experience for some boys visiting his home.

Reading Mike's article can be an encouragement if you are looking for some ideas on how to do this for your little ones. Another helpful resource is the No Greater Joy 2010 Calendar. These cost less than $3 each AND there is NO SHIPPING fee for orders in the US & APO!

Each month includes simple and fun-to-do crafts for you and your children to enjoy completing. Have FUN together all year long!

Quantities are limited so order extras today!

THE JOY OF TRAINING

Michael & Debi Pearl tell how they successfully trained up their five children with love, humor, the rod, and a King James Bible. The 2-DVD set contains the same high-quality, digitally-filmed content as the VHS set and hundreds of snapshots and video clips of family and children, illustrating the things being taught. The three hour seminar covers basic child training principles, training children to enjoy work and homeschooling. There is also a section on winning the heart of your teenager followed by a question and answer session.

Don't miss out on this special!
Good through February 27, 2010.
Normally, these two DVD's would cost $38.95
If you order before February 27, 2010
BOTH can be yours for $24.95

That's over 35% savings!

ORDER YOURS TODAY BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK TO ORDER ITEM #2007-05

CHILD TRAINING 101

In the middle of January 2009, we held a seminar in southern California. The three sessions were packed out with 1200 happy souls. We took along a professional videographer and got some great footage. Our evening session, Child Training 101, takes the viewer back to the basics. The audience was great, and Deb and I had loads of fun. The audience laughed and hooted when I wasn't even trying to be funny!

You and your children will enjoy and benefit from this 90-minute session. If you want to introduce child training principles to a friend, this professionally-produced DVD will make a great impact.

That's right. You heard it here. A while back, one of Michael Pearl's own grandchildren in exasperation with her brother uttered words that seemed to have just the right cadence and smack to express her utter frustration --

"JOE!!! You DOUGHNUT COCONUT COCONUT COCONUT!!!"

-- much to the delight of everyone listening.

That grandchild's mother is Rebekah (Pearl) Anast. At the grown-up age of 12, she penned the following verse:

There’s a hole in my shoe,
And my toe is coming through,
There’s a scab on my knee
Cause I fell so gracefully,
There’s a patch on my eye
Cause the ball didn't go by.
There’s a song on my tongue,
But it’s stupid cause I’m young.

A poetic streak seems to run in that family line, and it seems to come with quite the sense of humor.

If you're wondering what magic formula Michael and Debi Pearl used to homeschool five children and STILL be wearing a smile, then you'll be glad to know that they've produced a CD called My Favorite Homeschooling Ideas. If your homeschooling days have become a drudge, don't miss another minute of the fun you should be having. Click on the picture of the CD above to order your copy today.