The Personal Weblog of Travis Kaiser

I read some research today from HomeWord ministries. I wanted to share them with you so here they are:

• The cell phone will be the greatest distributor of pornography for kids before the year 2011.
• “Sexting” is the new craze reported CBS news last week. 1 out of 5 kids have received an unwanted text photo of someone naked on their cell phone.
• 160,000 kids stayed home from school today (and everyday) because of bullying and they literally are afraid to go to class.
• 12 million people in America participate in self-injury (mainly cutting) each year with most of them being young people.
• Today there are at least 25 different Sexually Transmitted Diseases people can catch. Time magazine reported: of the young people who are sexually active, they will have 7 different partners by age 25. One out of five has a sexually transmitted disease. Do the math – it isn’t pretty!

It might sound gloomy but since Eden the people have God have always had the responsibility of sharing in the redemption process. It’s crucial that we help this generation grasp the calling to family life. As adults we need to apply more of the Bible into our life, read about parenting more, actually SPEND time with our kids and INVEST in them, and model family life to those students with a broken concept of the family. Let’s start TODAY!

You can visit HomeWord ministries at www.homeword.com

Usually heroes are heard about through a television clip, radio blurb, or news article. Not true for this hero. This is a guy who had humble beginnings - few know the street he grew up on, few understand the kind of work he has always done, or the hobbies that occupy his extra time. Yet, in spite of being “normal”, this hero is quite popular.

Who is this caped crusader? It’s my dad – Jerry Kaiser! He grew up in what is known as the Germantown area of Louisville and has been in production management for almost 40 years in the food industry. His hobbies include gardening (not that rare) and raising/showing pigeons (that’s different).

So why write about him now? Well, it’s not because my dad just became my hero recently, but the past few weeks have served to remind me why my dad is one of my heroes. You see – trying times show the character of a person much like squeezing a toothpaste tube shows you what is really inside the tube…toothpaste! A few weeks ago my parents were able to go on vacation with my family. We had a wonderful time and made a lot of memories but the day after we returned my dad found out he lost his job. As a man in his late 50’s losing your job doesn’t exactly launch you into retirement anytime soon. Rather, it raises questions, brings up fears, and pushes you to the limit. Oh… unless you’re my dad. I’m not saying it’s not hard but just let me share with you some of the events that took place on the last day he walked into work.

            - One of his bosses in customer service said “If the chance lends itself, I want to work for you someday!”

            - One particularly “rough around the edges” guy cried, hugged my dad twice and said “This company is losing a REAL man.” He pointed at my dad and in front of other men complimenting my dad saying “He is the most influential person in my life besides my pastor and my wife.”

            - The lady who worked in the human resources office and has been in an office setting for decades commented, “Jerry, you are the most influential person I have ever seen in a company”. She then asked if she could just hug my dad as a way to say goodbye.

            - The Vice President shook my dad’s hand and told him “Of all the decisions to make, the hardest was deciding to let you go.”

            - One guy recently told him, “You’re the kind of dad everybody needs” while another man told some co-workers “I’ve had more conversations about being a dad with Jerry than anyone else.”

WOW! Those are the statements made about a hero! Those statements only explain part of the tears people shed on that last day. They don’t share that my dad has carried around a piece of folded paper in his pocket along with a pen so he can write down anyone’s prayer request and then seriously pray for it. Those statements don’t share that he’s been to see countless people in the hospital. They don’t share that even in his last full week of work before we went on vacation he shared the gospel with a guy at work. They don’t share that at a reunion held by the last company he worked for, with several bosses and company owners present, a faint cheer became a roar shouting “best boss, best boss, best boss” – all for my dad!

Now you see why he’s one of my heroes? While even doing his job as a production manager and being known as a great employee he is better known as a great man. One who is characterized as being a great witness for the Lord and a caring family man. People seek his advice. People want to be around him. People love my dad and I do too! I think to myself: Would people notice if I left? Would people say similar things about me? Would people cry if I had to say ‘goodbye’? When the tough times of life come and I’m squeezed would I respond like my dad who sees this as another journey he gets to start with God? Whew… I’m not sure that would be the case. But it is for my dad! He’s a hero to me because he models what real men, real Christian men do. They love God and they love people – and that’s my dad!

The New Year is here - 2008! I like the beginning of new things. It always brings about a sense of evaluation. I heard James Dobson, president of Focus on the Family, speaking about being busy and said, “Every year you should cut out 20% of what you did next year. This will provide room for those new things you want to do.”

In an article on Family.org, Tim Geare and Tim Sanford try to help parents with their too-busy teens (http://www.family.org/parenting/A000000807.cfm). Below is a great checkup from their article:

Do a “too-busy” checkup:

• o List all the activities you’re committed to - daily, weekly, seasonally, occasionally
• o Divide them into 3 groups: essential, important and pleasurable
• o Beside each, write down something you must say “no” to in order to make that item a priority. Take your time and be honest.
• o Determine if you’re doing too much, and how you can adjust your schedule

If being busy is hurting your marriage here is great article from marriage teachers Les and Leslie Parrott - http://www.focusonthefamily.com/focusmagazine/marriage/A000000825.cfm

You can also purchase “Parents’ Guide to Teen Health” by Paul Reisser - a guide full of practical advice from over 50 leading physicians, psychologists, and parenting experts.

Have you ever seen something that tricked your eyes? An illusion perhaps? I like illusions and enjoy them unless there is more than meets the eye.

 Such is the case with The Golden Compass. The artsy, childish, adventurous movie is much more than meets the eye. Director Chris Weitz draws the movie from Phillip Pullman’s trilogy “His Dark Materials”. What’s the point behind the books and movie? Pullman quotes “I’m trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief”(Gorski, att.net). I’ve read a couple of articles where Pullman said he “wants to kill God”, a basic teaching of Neitzsche. Other critics have called it “atheism for children”.

 So will you be taking your children to see it on Friday? You decide but I at least want you to make an informed decision.

 Here are links to a few articles. I encourage you to keep digging about the truth of this movie.

1. Movie Ministry Webpage - if it the article doesn’t come up then search for Golden Compass in the search box.

2. Associated Press

3. Focus on the Family - This link will take you to Focus’ webpage search for “Golden Compass”

4. Albert Mohler - Here is a great link to a great thinker’s blog. His post on the movie is very well written!

I love this time of year. I love the presents (I already sent my wish list out), the parties, the food, and the kindness in the air. I’m stunned every year that because of a holiday it seems that people treat each other nicer for about a month - Christians and non-Christians alike.

Sunday night was a sweet time for our family as we decorated our home. Mary Julia and I decorated the tree while Will wanted to play with the boxes of ornaments. We hung lights, talked about family traditions, and took pictures. (I’ll try to get some on here before the weekend.) Then last night, out of the back of my house, I could see the father and son that live behind us putting their tree together. It was heart warming (tear), but then my tears came to anger as ABC postponed Charlie Brown’s Christmas Special to 4pm on Sunday for some stupid Titans live talk show. Who cares that the Titans are stinking it up? It’s not more important that the CLASSIC Charlie Brown Christmas show!

Why do I write all of this? Well just a couple of days ago I was with some of our staff praying together. In our discussion beforehand it came up that sometimes the Christmas season can be a blur. Ah, I hate that. I think last year Christmas was kind of a blur for me. The calendar gets full and before you know it Christmas was just like another day off spent with more of your family. I don’t want that to happen to me this year. I want more moments with my family like Sunday night. I want to make memory moments for Mary Julia and Will. More importantly I want to celebrate Christmas for the real meaning - that Christ has grabbed my sorry bottom out of despair, hopelessness, and utter ruin to set me apart as a family member.

How’s your Christmas season shaping up? I’m protecting mine because I want to start right now in shaping the kinds of Christmas’ the Kaiser’s will have for years to come. I encourage you - don’t let your calendar get too full. Don’t let Christmas be a blur. Slow down and enjoy your family both your physical one and your spiritual one!

It’s so cliche but truly - Jesus is the reason for the season!

For you parents reading this “rents” is a short form for you - parents!

I love parents. I love my parents. I love Mary Julia’s parents. I love my parents’ parents. And I love the parents in our church. For me, my parents have been the most influential people in my life. They trained me, guided me, encouraged me, disciplined me (see post from 10-17), supported me, and honestly, just loved on me.

 As I talk with parents today many of them do not feel that they are the most influential people in the lives of their teenagers. I know teenagers fold thier arms, say “I know” more than they should, and act like they’re giving the cold shoulder - but they’re listening. From our society, research, and the Bible, parents rule! Parents are the most important influencers in the lives of their children. Everyone knows it…..except parents.

For a great article on the importance of parents by Steve Wright click here. This is one of the best concise articles on parenting that I have seen in a long time.

Mary Julia and I were having a discussion the other day about our son Will and discipline. God brought to mind one of my favorite passages of Scripture, Psalm 127:3-5a which says, “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” I’m not sure what a “full quiver” will be for our family but I do know that we would like a lot of kids. Part of raising children is the undeniable fact that they need to be disciplined. When Will disobeys I can guarantee there will be consequences. It’s just a fact of life and sometimes those consequences include discipline from his parents. If I love him enough I will get beyond that cute, adorable face of his and discipline him. It’s tough sometimes but I want to be an arrow maker.

As our conversation carried on, Mary Julia brought up Hebrews 12:5-6, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those the loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” When first reading those words they sound kind of painful. However, they are really words of love. I discipline my son out of my love for him. It is my God-given responsibility to make him a sharp arrow for the Kingdom. In order for that to happen I must guide him and discipline him to chip away everything that doesn’t look like an arrow. Remember, crooked arrows don’t fly straight. Our conversation ended with a greater sense of God disciplining us in order to make us more like Him. If He needs to, God will painstakingly chip away from us those things that do not look like Him. Why? Because anything that does not look like Him in our lives is only harmful to us. How mighty is His love that He would love me enough to discipline me!

PS – If you’re wondering – NO scripture does not come up in all our conversations. I’m not as spiritual as she is.