Procreating For Prizes!

Here is a story you may have heard about out of Russia.

A Russian region of Ulyanovsk has found a novel way to fight the nation's birth-rate crisis: It declared September 12th the "Day of Conception," and for the third year running gave couples time off from work to procreate.

The hope is for a brood of babies exactly nine months later on Russia's national day. Couples who "give birth to a patriot" during the June 12th festivities win money, cars, refrigerators, and other prizes.

Ulyanovsk, about 550 miles east of Moscow, has held similar contests since 2005. Since then, the number of competitors, and the number of babies born to them, has been on the rise.

Russia, with one-seventh of Earth's land surface, has just 141.4 million citizens, making it one of the most sparsely settled countries in the world. With a low birth rate and a high death rate, the population has been shrinking since the early 1990s.

In his state-of-the-nation address last year, President Vladimir Putin called the demographic crisis the most acute problem facing Russia and announced a broad effort to boost Russia's birth rate, including cash incentives to families that have more than one child.

Ulyanovsk Gov. Sergei Morozov has added an element of fun to the national campaign.

The 2007 grand prize went to Irina and Andrei Kartuzov, who received a UAZ-Patriot, a sport utility vehicle. Other contestants won video cameras, TVs, refrigerators and washing machines.

So, it amounts to procreating for prizes. Is there anything morally wrong here? Not so far as I can tell. One would simply hope these Russian parents will be even more interested in a proper upbringing of these children than they are in the prizes that may result. If God has blessed you with children, take this moment to remember His counsel regarding the priceless treasure that is yours:

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127:3-5, ESV

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Don't Lose Sight Of The Positives!

Is the church of Jesus Christ facing threats from within? Certainly. Influential individuals and entire congregations have introduced doctrine and practice over the years that have sought to move what should be a body without schism (1 Corinthians 12:25) toward an organization that mirrors the concept of the church in the denominational order of things.

However, great effort must be made not to lose sight of the multitude of positive, Biblical works ongoing in the kingdom of God today. If we are not careful, we can become so "wrapped up" in keeping tabs on those weighing the church down that we overlook or even refuse to see those who are doing great things to build her up! I speak from experience.

The more brethren I meet from across our nation -- yea, across our world -- the more I am encouraged and convinced the church is strong and very active in carrying out her mission. I recently had the opportunity to attend the Polishing The Pulpit seminar in Birmingham, Alabama. I met men and women from all over our own nation, and several who are doing the Lord's work on other continents. We have an abundance of talented people who are serving the Lord and his church in mighty ways. Let us remember to unceasingly pray for the church around the world, and to be active supporters of as many workers for the truth as possible.

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
3 John 5-8

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A Cure For Worry

This one's for me.

Well, truthfully, every one of these articles apply to me just as much as anyone; it's just that this one is especially needed on my part.

Kelly and I are sitting at almost ten months since we placed our house in Tennessee on the market. We were surprised when we hit the three month mark and no offers had come in. Well, seven months after that three month mark, nothing has changed. There sits a great house with not a single offer to date.

Would I be lying if I told you Kelly and I have not worried about this situation very much? Yep. No doubt about it -- that would be a "whopper." We have talked and fretted about it ad nauseum.

Why do we worry, you and I? Is it not because situations and circumstances sometimes fail to go according to plans -- OUR plans? Sure enough. That really is what it comes down to -- that and the fear of what may be.

God's word tells us how to combat that ever so natural urge to worry in Philippians 4:6-7...

• Unloading -- by prayer (v. 6a)
• Committing -- by supplication (v. 6b)
• Praising -- with thanksgiving (v. 6c)
• Leaving -- the burden with God (v. 6d)
• Getting -- God's peace in return (v. 7)

Now, to put that into practice!

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