Hello, and welcome to today’s Joy City podcast, I’m your host, Stuart Welch the Lead Pastor of Life Connection Church located in Modesto, CA. If you are familiar with the show, thank you for your support and encouragement – if you are new to the show, I want to welcome you and let you know that our central theme is God and our relationship to Him through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ and how to maintain that relationship. And in his book The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence encourages us to practice the presence of God daily and try to know the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. Now Brother Lawrence was a lay member, not a cleric, priest or pastor – an ordinary, and I’m putting that in air quotes, brother who loved God. It demonstrates for you and me and millions of others, God wants to draw close to us.

I welcome back my co-host, Brother JC, man it’s been a minute. Bro. JC is now pastoring Christ Centered Missionary Baptist Church in Hayward, CA. Today we discuss the latest book by author Richard Watts, entitled, “ENTITLEMANIA-How Not to Spoil Your Kids, and What to Do if You Have.” Watts is a personal advisor and legal counsel to the super wealthy and spends his days within the castle walls of the most successful families in America. For the book, go to the website at www.entitlemania.com.

Entitlemania is the state of mind in which children believe they should have anything they want, while also believing they shouldn’t have to make any effort to get it. The responsibility lies with us as parents for creating these children.

Watts discusses the two concepts that cause this: One, giving too much which takes away incentive and Two, not allowing the consequences of a child’s actions.

Let’s listen in as Watts shares his thoughts and then Bro. JC and I will discuss it.

In the U.S., we spend just over $36 billion dollars on back to school shopping. The American debt climbs during this time, placing many purchases on credit cards or even borrowing money to pay for kids back to school supplies. The average household will spend $864 on back to school supplies.

Sports or activities training for lacrosse or tennis and using high profile coaches to “get results.” We no longer allow our children to choose, we have “mini-me” syndrome and we do not OWN our children.

Listen is as we discuss many of the concepts Watts discusses and how does our faith or relationship with God play into this concept.

So when God opens our eyes in Joy City we can clearly celebrate others for our differences, we can support one another in our efforts and we can cheer one another on in the spirit of unity and when One wins we all win.

No one can come face to face with what God is like and ever be the same. Welcome to Joy City. Seeing His true image, touches the depths of our soul and beholding His glory will renew our minds, transform us and give us strength to live this life for Him. Come on in, where the table is spread and the feast of the Lord is going on. I want to invite you to be a part, a resident of Joy City. A place where the Body becomes stronger and our love for others only increases.

I’ve enjoyed being your host and you can comment below, or email me at pastorstuart@lifeconnection4christ.org or call me at (209) 522-3583.