Ernie Wood
Mark 10:13-16
I was born in the state of Florida,
The second of three sons.
My brother Don was only 22 months old when I was born, and I was followed 14
months later by my brother Karl.
I tell you this so that you know a little bit my background, and so that you can offer
pity to my mother when you speak with her.
In 1970 or 1971 we moved to Massillon, Ohio and began worshipping with the
congregation that meets on State Street.
Soon after our arrival I obeyed the gospel and became a member of the Lord’s body.
Due in part to my age, my birth order and the fact that I was a “southerner” I had
many struggles
Much the same as any other child might have.
I had two loving parents at home, and most of my schoolmates did as well.
I attended public school because the law, and my parents, insisted that I do so.
It was during this difficult time of move and change that I met a
man at church named Ernie Wood.
Ernie had already raised his family. (Many of you know his son Jim)
Ernie loved people and was always talking with us kids.
All the kids knew that Ernie had those little pink wintergreen candies in his jacket
pocket and so we sought him out for candy each week.
I began to sit with Ernie and Violet on a regular basis during worship services and it
was not long before Ernie invited me to his home and then to his “farm” in southern
Ohio.
I spent many wonderful hours with this happy Christian man who was always
whistling a tune
I grew to love him and Violet as my own family
Ernie taught me how to shoot a gun
He taught me how to shuck corn
And Ernie taught me something else…
He taught me about my Christian family by his words and by his actions.
Ernie made this nondescript, chubby, little freckled face boy a part of his life and
took me with him everyplace he could.
We left Massillon several years later and moved to Struthers Ohio.
But each time I came back here for the Youth Rally I stayed with Ernie Wood.
I always knew that I had a pal in Ernie
the years passed, I grew up,
and that ended much of our time together.
Ernie recently passed away
But his influence and the blessing that he was to a little boy remains today.
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You know being a child in today’s world can be a lonely, fearful and uncertain
experience.
Many children today do not feel loved or wanted by anyone.
A lot of them have the feeling that no-one cares about them.
A large number of today’s children do not come from two parent homes.
In many cases they come home each day to an empty house.
Often, they are not getting daily hugs and loving touches at home.
And as a result, children often do things that are harmful to themselves.
They try drugs… or alcohol
They resort to violence, and turn against authority.
They seek sexual partners and relationships to fill the void left by the emptiness, the
nothingness, that invades each day of their lives.
Some fail in school
They may get into trouble
Some lose their lives
and many, their souls.
Those of us who grew up in two parent homes,
Those of us who had the benefit of Christian parents,
WE recognize the value of our parents,
WE recognize the value of the Ernie Wood’s of the world.
And it is specifically to us that I ask these questions...
How do we give children the relationships they need in today’s world?
What kind of acceptance are children finding from each of us?
And what can WE do to help today’s young people?
Now before your mind wanders off to answer those questions with things like
“parental responsibility”, “Youth Ministers” and such...
Let me remind you that we live in a very different age.
For the most part, even in the church… children do not have two parents at home,
much less two Christian parents!
And anyone who works with young people will tell you that:
Adult Involvement is THE key to good programs at school or at church.
Adult involvement is the key to getting the kids to the events,
To even having an opportunity to develop a relationship with the children.
And let me remind you again of Ernie Wood.
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Tonight, I'd like to share with you some thoughts about the word “blessing” as it is
used in scripture.
In the Bible, the word “blessing” is used in three distinctive ways:
It is first of all used in regard to the worship of God.
In this context Bless means:
To speak well of, or to bow down in front of, or simply to worship.
That is the way the word is used in Psalm 28:6
When it says “Blessed be the LORD, because He has heard the voice of my
supplications!”
The second way the word is used means:
To receive good things from God
In Genesis we read about God blessing the birds and the fishes.
The concept is that He wants the best for them.
And in Revelation 22:14 we read “Blessed are those who do His commandments,
that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the
city.”
Here we see God’s promise of giving good things for all eternity to those who
prepare for eternity, to those who obey.
And then, there is a third way, that the word “Blessing” is used.
The third way the word is used refers to
The role we play in passing the good things of God on to other people.
This is the usage that I want us to spend a few minutes focusing on today.
You see...God’s wants to give us good things!
We are His creation, His children and just as we want the best for our children…
God wants the best for us as well!
Sometimes the gifts come from the hand of God Himself...
And sometimes they come through another person.
I would remind you that blessings are not necessarily physical in nature … they may
be spiritual.
They may include speaking well of another or simply wishing the goodness of life
for another…
They may be simply in doing what we can do to encourage another in this life.
Blessings are so wide in scope that we may not even recognize them at the time that
we are receiving them.
In our reading from Mark 10 we see children being brought to Jesus.
The Disciples, thinking that Jesus was too busy for the children were attempting to
stop this from happening.
But Jesus, apparently angry over what is happening, rebukes the Disciples and
allows the children to come to Him so that He can touch and hold them (verse 16)
What a beautiful picture!
Jesus blesses the children, in the midst of His Ministry...
In the midst of His schedule
He has time for the children!
And today’s children need blessing as well!
They often lack significant adults in their lives.
Many are lonely,
Many are afraid,
Many are confused and fearful of the future.
They need SOMEONE to bless them!
See.. “Blessing” is all about bringing significant adults into meaningful relationships
with children.
Let me say that again!
“Blessing is all about bringing significant adults into meaningful relationships with
children.”
It involves adults welcoming, nurturing, touching, accepting, listening, teaching and
supporting the children.
You know... children are not meant to be alone!
Children are not meant to be isolated!
Children are not meant to be shuffled off into a corner until they become adults.
They are meant to be a blessing to us…
And we to them, as well.
Children today are pleading for love and acceptance
They are seeking guidance in their homes
And in society.
They long for the love of a family...
They need the love and blessings of our churches!
Children need to know that they are not alone!
Think about it for just a moment:
As adults we recognize our need for love...
We understand our need to know that someone cares,
That we did a good job,
That someone is proud of us!
How much more do our children need those same things?
“Blessing is all about bringing adults into significant relationships with children!”
We live in a society that has much confusion about “touching”.
And as the church, we must take a very clear stand against those who abuse children
by improper touching…
But… we must also be a place where godly touching is encouraged and exhibited!
Some of our children lack even a single hug or pat on the back most days of their
lives!
Do you wonder why some children turn to sexual encounters at such a young age?
Perhaps it is seeking the love that they are not getting elsewhere!
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Jesus no longer walks among us.
He has left the challenge to us.
Just as Jesus blessed the children, so we must bless the children,
And be a blessing to the children!
As God’s people we can either be like the Disciples who sought to keep the children
away...
Or, we can fulfill our mission to bless each child that we come in contact with!
And it is the church that must teach parents how to bless their children!
It is the church that must be a blessing to the children.
It is the church that must re-introduce the idea of blessing one another and the
children by our own lives, and words and examples
And by the time we spend with each of them.
It is the church that must produce the “Ernie Woods” that touch children.
Society will not do it!
Many children will never get a blessing from their parents.
And adults who never received the blessing as children will struggle to pass it on to
their own children.
We, the church, must be on their side
And at their side to bless them and teach them how to bless others!
And without the this blessing, our children will seek acceptance, meaning and
affection elsewhere!
We, as the church, MUST lead society in making the world a better place.
A place where children are loved, and valued and blessed!
Churches must be the place where parents find the will and the words, and the
examples to bless their own children!
Churches must be the place where children are blessed by those who are not related
to them.
Churches must bless parents… and they will then bless the children they parent.
Recall that we serve a God who blesses,
A God who wants the very best for His children,
A God who has left to us a charge...
A charge to bless the children.
And we must not fail in this mission!
____________________prayer____________________________
As I look back on my own childhood
I see the great blessing that came to me because of Ernie Wood and so many others.
I see the great blessing of being raised by two Christian parents.
Today one of the greatest blessings you can give your children is to be a Christian
parent.
And one of the greatest blessings you young people can give yourself and your
parent’s is to be a Christian.
If you have never been baptized for the remission of your sins
You have that opportunity now
Or if you have obeyed but have need of prayers of the Church
we offer you the opportunity to do that as well.
Whatever your situation
I want to leave you with a charge and a challenge:
“Bless a child!”
“Develop a significant relationship with a child”
Be like Jesus and bless the children.
Be like Ernie and influence a child for eternity.
If you have a need
Please come now while we stand and sing.
Earl Ash