Kids Talk About God from Creators Syndicate

How Would You Pray for America? for 07/14/2008

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"I would pray that I bless all the people in the world and all the animals and my cat Rusty especially," says Noah, age 6. Noah would also ask God to bless his house and other people's houses and "to make the parks really fun."

Somewhere in Petaluma, Calif., there's a blessed cat named Rusty.

"I pray that everyone in the world has food," says Clare, 5 ...

Updated: Mon Jul 14, 2008

]]>

In the Sixth Commandment, Why Did God Forbid Murder? for 07/21/2008

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

There are three reasons Chase, age 11, would never murder anyone: 1) "It is wrong to take a gift of God"; 2) "If you think about it, I don't believe you would want someone to kill you"; and 3) "You don't want to go ZZZZ! in the electric chair."

Yes, life is a gift of God. In the creation account of Genesis, God breathed into Adam the "breath of life, an ...

Updated: Mon Jul 21, 2008

]]>

How Do You Know God Loves You? for 08/04/2008

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"I know God loves me because he gave us our family, sister, mom, dad and dog Sam," says Jeff, age 9. Jeff, I'm glad you mentioned Dad before your dog Sam.

"God made me so that I could run, jump and play," says Megan, 9. "He gave me a very lovable and obedient dog."

Megan, when you and your dog run, jump and play, do you ever cross paths with Sam? You' ...

Updated: Mon Aug 04, 2008

]]>

Why is Courage Important? for 08/11/2008

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"It is real important to be brave so you are not afraid to fight boys," says Chelsea, age 6. Well, before you battle boys, you'll have to battle Rebecca, 5, because she defines courage as: "You don't want to hit anybody."

Courage can be standing up to a bully or restraining an urge to punch out somebody's lights. Real courage requires wisdom.

Courage is importa ...

Updated: Mon Aug 11, 2008

]]>

If You Are a Christian and You Sin, Can You Go to Heaven? for 08/18/2008

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Kids' answers fall into three categories: the smilers, the hopeful and the performers. I call the first group the smilers because Ashley, 9, says: "Yes!! You will definitely go to heaven if you are a Christian and sin!"

The hopeful are represented by Josh, 7: "Yes, you can go to heaven if you sin, but if you sin too much, you might not go to heaven. I hope I go to heaven.& ...

Updated: Mon Aug 18, 2008

]]>

How Does God Have Patience With Us? for 08/25/2008

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"God waits until he gets his turn," says Savannah, age 5.

His turn?

This sounds like something my elementary school principal might have said when I was called to his office.

God has patience with us "by waiting in line," says Ashton, 5. I suppose he's waiting in line to get his turn. Perhaps Ashton was considering how we make God wait in line by trying ...

Updated: Mon Aug 25, 2008

]]>

How Do You Keep Going When Things Get Tough? for 09/01/2008

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity — another man's, I mean," wrote Mark Twain.

If you're reduced to human resources, there's wisdom as well as wit in Twain's quip. Severe personal adversity has a way of undoing us. The self-assured masks we love to wear become difficult to maintain.

Taylor, age 10, knows what it's like to be embarrassed: "Once ...

Updated: Mon Sep 01, 2008

]]>

Why Do Some People Have Inner Peace While Others Do Not? for 09/08/2008

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"Because they think they have more thinking in their head," says Patrick, age 5.

Too much of the wrong kind of thinking in our head is called worry. Lewis and Faye Copeland tell the story of a man who was offered a job to do all the worrying for the boss.

"You get $100,000 to make every worry of mine your own," said the executive.

"Where is the $100 ...

Updated: Mon Sep 08, 2008

]]>

Why Should You Be Honest? for 09/15/2008

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"I was honest once, and it felt really good. If you're not honest, you just look bad," says Brittani, age 6.

Once?

"Honesty is important because people have to trust you to be a friend," says Natalie, 9. "You should be honest so people will always believe in you, no matter what," adds Cecile, 8.

A wise biblical proverb says, "A good name i ...

Updated: Mon Sep 15, 2008

]]>

Why Does God Bless The Poor In Spirit? for 09/22/2008

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).

"The poor will go to heaven, and everyone else has to not sin," says Sarah Jane, age 6. Great news for the poor! Where does that leave the rest of us?

"When I was at a basketball game, I did not have any spirit," says Kelly, 11. "But I made a basket, and so I had ...

Updated: Mon Sep 22, 2008

]]>

Why Does God Comfort Those Who Mourn? for 09/29/2008

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).

"If you cry, it will get better" is the meaning of this second Beatitude, says Brittany, age 6. Brittany, if you cry for the right reasons, you will indeed get better because God will comfort you.

"This verse means to pray for those who are sad," says Todd, 9. "Try to help ...

Updated: Mon Sep 29, 2008

]]>

Why Does God Bless The Meek? for 10/06/2008

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth" (Matthew 5:5).

The subject of meekness reminds me of the man who wrote a book titled "How to Be Humble by One Who Is." About the time you think you've arrived at meekness, you've lost it. Let's see what my friends have to say.

"Meek means to be disappointed," says Taylor, 10. "A good exampl ...

Updated: Mon Oct 06, 2008

]]>

What Does It Mean To Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness? for 10/13/2008

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).

"If you do right, you won't get hungry or thirsty," says Zach, age 6.

Actually, to be spiritually thirsty is something different, says Anna, 10: "It means that people who want righteousness thirst for it like water."

Have you ever been thirsty?< ...

Updated: Mon Oct 13, 2008

]]>

How Do The Merciful Obtain Mercy? for 10/20/2008

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7).

"This verse means if you give mercy, you shall receive it," says Anna, age 9. "It reminds me of the golden rule, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'"

The golden rule is still golden, but Jesus went a step further when he spoke of loving your enemies.

If you' ...

Updated: Mon Oct 20, 2008

]]>

How Do The Pure In Heart See God? for 10/27/2008

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).

"This verse means people that go all out, not halfway, will see God," says Matthew, age 9. Yes, God wants total devotion from his people. Lukewarm Christians make Jesus nauseated to the point of vomiting. I'm not making this up. Take a look at Revelation 3:16.

Have you ever been in love and ...

Updated: Mon Oct 27, 2008

]]>

Why Does God Bless Peacemakers? for 11/03/2008

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).

"A peacemaker is a person who breaks up fights," says Doug, age 10. Is this a referee or more like a bouncer?

Davis, 10, has a slightly different idea: "If you try not to start fights but settle them, you will be thanked." I hope so, but often the peacemaker is misunder ...

Updated: Mon Nov 03, 2008

]]>

How Do You Respond When People Make Fun of You for Doing The Right Thing? for 11/10/2008

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10).

"When I had the flu, I gave my sister my Popsicle," says Halle, age 9. "I got a spanking." Ouch! Halle, I'm sorry your sharing got you into trouble.

Let's hear from Adrianna, 8: "It means when people ignore somebody when they're doi ...

Updated: Mon Nov 10, 2008

]]>

How Does Your Favorite Animal Remind You of God? for 11/17/2008

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

"A giraffe can kiss the clouds because it is long, and God is long," says Tori, age 6. Well, the Psalmist wrote that "with an outstretched arm" God's mercy endures forever. I suppose "outstretched" qualifies as long.

"God created the horse so people could ride on it," says Jacob, 7. "The horse takes care of its babies like God takes care of us ...

Updated: Mon Nov 17, 2008

]]>

How Can You Give Thanks In Everything? for 11/24/2008

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

"Let us be thankful for the fools," wrote Mark Twain. "But for them the rest of us could not succeed."

Is there more to thankfulness than this rather cynical view expressed by one of America's most beloved humorists?

Yes, says the Apostle Paul, who is backed up by a cadre of kids with some rather remarkable ways to apply the apostle's mandate to give thanks in ...

Updated: Mon Nov 24, 2008

]]>

Why Is Gossip Wrong? for 11/28/2008

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

"A small town is a place where there is little to see or do, but what you hear makes up for it," wrote Ivern Ball.

In small towns or large cities, gossip wreaks havoc. "A rumor is in all likelihood an expanded lie, which becomes larger as it goes along," says Scott, 11. "A lot of rumors spread from jealous people who aren't at peace with themselves and have a big ...

Updated: Fri Nov 28, 2008

]]>