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Don’t forget the Psalms, esp Psalm 82 “Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.”
Don’t forget Isaiah 61: “The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me…to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners….to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
Both very good verses to add to the discussion!
Don’t forget Isaiah 58:
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen, to loose the chains of injustice, and untie the cords the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? … If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will be like the noonday…Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins, and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”
Again, regarding the bookstore:
Titles to add to your colleciton:
For the adult section:
“The Adult Child of Divorce: A Recovery Handbook” by Robert Burns and Michael Brissett Jr. Oliver/Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee, 1991
For the teen section:
“Broken Hearts…Healing: Young Poets Speak Out on Divorce” Edited by Tom Worthen. Poet Tree Press, Logan, Utah, 2001,
It would be cool to see a section devoted to peer support group programs. These are rare, but they do exist. Names that spring to mind right away include Rollercoasters, Rainbows, Kids’ Turn, CODIP, and Banana Splits. Let me know if you’d like more info.
Don,
I would add Divorce Care 4 Kids to that list. You are clearly passionate about this issue. I’d love to correspond more with you on it. Please e-mail me at wayne@divorceministry4kids.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
Also, please let’s not forget that children of divorced parents don’t all come from Christian homes. Hindus get divorced. Jews get divorced. Buddhists get divorced. Muslims get divorced. Are we saying that children from non-Christian families whose parents divorce are somehow outside the scope of God’s compassion? The Jesus I meet in the Gospels is a man who crosses customary racial, ethnic, and social boundaries, sometimes in shocking ways, as when he heals the daughter of a Canaanite woman, when he commends a Roman centurion for his faith, when he tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, and when he reveals himself as Messiah to an adulterous Samaritan woman.
Don,
No doubt that this issue crosses all geographic, racial, religious and ethnic lines. I don’t think any of us are outside of God’s compassion, and I’ve not doubt that God has a heart for all children. Jesus clearly reached out to those outside of Judaism. He is not interested in religion. He is interested in people willing to have a relationship with himself.
That all said, Divorce Ministry 4 Kids is a Christian ministry. One of our our primary missions (as reflected in our mission statement) is the call the church to minister to children of divorce. That will, hopefully, include ALL children. I believe, in all things, that ultimate healing comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Accordingly, our ministry, while it can certainly be to ALL people, must be done from a Christian worldview.
So, do we forget children of divorce from non-Christian homes? By no means! Do we in ministering to children of divorce teach them all methods and means of dealing with and overcoming the issues associated with being a child of divorce? Of course! Is one of those primary means a relationship with Jesus Christ? Absolutely! Our goal in all things is to reflect the love of Christ to all people, and ultimately to bring glory to His name.
Thank you for insights.