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Practice Makes Permanent

Mark HambyA fraction of a second was enough to make headlinesand lasting famearound the

world for what Sports Illustratedcalled the single greatest athletic accomplishmentof the twentieth century. It was the breaking of the four-minute mile. No one on

record had ever run faster than this four-minute, psychological-barrier mile.1But in 1954, just a few weeks after the skinny Oxford medical student, RogerBannister, had accomplished the impossible, Australian runner John Landy

surpassed the new record time. The following season saw a few more recordbreakers and, within three years, no fewer than seventeen runners had conquered

what had been considered an impenetrable barrier.

This type of achievement does not come as the result of wishful thinking. As with allaccomplishments, dedication, perseverance, sacrifice, and a commitment toconsistent practice are essential.

There is no doubt that Christianity can once again usher in a renaissance in the arts,

architecture, education, economics, science, medicine, health, government, andtechnology. But there must be a return to the discipline of daily practice. The ApostlePeter understood the importance of practice and gives us a plan to follow:

. . . Make every effort to supplement [at ones own expense] your faith with virtue,

and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with

steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherlyaffection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are

increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our

Lord Jesus Christ. . . . Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your

calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.2

I dont know about you, but Peters promise motivates me to persevere and practice

these qualities with great diligence. But how do we motivate our children to practice

anything diligently, without constant coercion, threats and reminders? I believe theanswer is found in one of the first instructions given on parentingthe oft-quotedProverbs 22:6: Train up a child in the way he should go . . . .How many times

have you heard this verse quoted? It is very possible that, in its familiarity, and

because it has been presented with such varying interpretations, its original meaningmay have escaped us. The English word train does not translate the full significanceof this word. The Hebrew word, hanak( ), or its expanded form, Hanukkah, carries

the idea of dedication and describes the feast of Hanukkah, also known as the Feast

of Dedication. Perhaps this means that, as parents, we are to dedicate our childrento the Lord. But this definition falls short of its true meaning.

The root word for trainmeans to instruct, to initiate, to narrow.In Arabic it alsocarries the idea of palate or of rubbing the palate of a child. The ancient Hebrews

and Egyptians rubbed the palate of a newborn child with dates or figs, perhaps to

create a sucking reflex so that the child would begin nursing.

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Training our children requires more than simply providing an education. We must

create an environment of captivating learning, with experiences that motivate them

to passionately pursue worthy goals. External rewards will not suffice; motivationmust be intrinsic. We must help to ignite a fire from within so that the childs passion

becomes the driving force behind persevering practice that leads to the achievementof excellence. Turning passivity into passion by providing experiences that cultivate

their taste for what is Godly, great, and glorious is the essence of true Biblicaltraining.

Audios to Listen ToRavi Zacharias delivers a powerful message that is sure to ignite a fire in the heart of

any listener who desires to have a meaningful and significant life. He conveys howthe necessary foundation to moral absolutes is being destroyed by one of thegreatest cultural roadblocks known to man. This is a must-hear for every parent:

www.oneplace.com/ministries/let-my-people-think/listen/the-problem-of-pleasure-part-2-of-2-238268.html.People to Meet

John Campbell: world-renowned composer who has produced music for theaudio dramas Chronicles of Narnia andLes Miserables, forAdventures

in Odysseyand Lamplighter Theatre John Fornof: president of the alumni for Act One, former script writer for

Adventures in Odyssey; producer, director, and script writer for LamplighterTheatre

Todd Busteed: sound designer and engineer for Les Miserables,Adventures inOdyssey, Lamplighter Theatreand many other internationally recognized

dramas, too long to list Kathy Buchanan: script writer forAdventures in Odysseyand Lamplighter

Theatre Allen Hurley: pastor of music, former sound designer forAdventures in

Odysseyand Westar Media Group, and sound designer for Lamplighter

Theatre Peter Moreton: celebrated actor in London and Broadway and leading voice in

many Lamplighter Theatre dramas Philip Glasborow: producer, director, actor, script writer and British liaison for

Lamplighter Theatre. Philip also played Mr. Tumnus in the audio drama,Chronicles of Narnia.

Lizzie Glassborow: music instructor and voice teacher at the LamplighterGuild3

Endnotes:1. From The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle, p. 100.2. 2 Peter 1:58, 10, (ESV), emphasis mine.3. Each of these master teachers will once again share their experience andexpertise with students at the Lamplighter Guild for Creative Disciplines, July 1520.

If you are a lifelong learner between the ages of 16 and 99 and have longed for an

opportunity to be mentored and apprenticed by godly teachers who are masters intheir fields, we invite you to join us at the Lamplighter Guild. Learn more atwww.lamplighterguild.com.

http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/let-my-people-think/listen/the-problem-of-pleasure-part-2-of-2-238268.htmlhttp://www.oneplace.com/ministries/let-my-people-think/listen/the-problem-of-pleasure-part-2-of-2-238268.htmlhttp://www.oneplace.com/ministries/let-my-people-think/listen/the-problem-of-pleasure-part-2-of-2-238268.htmlhttp://www.lamplighterguild.com/http://www.lamplighterguild.com/http://www.lamplighterguild.com/http://www.lamplighterguild.com/http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/let-my-people-think/listen/the-problem-of-pleasure-part-2-of-2-238268.htmlhttp://www.oneplace.com/ministries/let-my-people-think/listen/the-problem-of-pleasure-part-2-of-2-238268.html

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Mark Hamby is the founder and president ofLamplighter Ministries, where he

serves with a dedicated staff to make Lamplighter Publishing, Lamplighter

Theatre, Lamplighter Guild, Lamplighter Life-Transforming Seminars, andLamplighter Moments Daily Radio Broadcast a reality. It is his mission to make

ready a people prepared for the Lord by building Christlike character . . . one story ata time. You can read or listen to the most recent Lamplighter production at

www.lamplighter.net.

Copyright 2012, used with permission. All rights reserved by author. Originallyappeared in the March 2012 issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, the family

education magazine. Read the magazine free at www.TOSMagazine.comor read it on

the go and download the free apps at www.TOSApps.comto read the magazine onyour mobile devices.

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