| "If Adam hadn't named the animals, we wouldn't | | | | linguistic freedom, says author Quentin Schultze in |
| know one animal from the other. We might have | | | | his book "Winning Your Kids Back from the |
| cow brains for breakfast, lizard guts for lunch and | | | | Media.""Biblically speaking, the 'name' of something |
| dog toes for dinner," says James, 9.With such an | | | | is a symbol for its true meaning," says Schultze. |
| active imagination, James has more going for him | | | | "Parenting is mostly communication. Adults use |
| than cow brains."If Adam didn't name the animals, | | | | verbal and nonverbal communication to create |
| he would call for an animal, and all the animals | | | | identity for themselves and their offspring."One of |
| would come to him," says Cody, 8.It might ruin | | | | the greatest myths of modern society is that the |
| your day if you had to dodge a thundering herd | | | | media are essentially in the entertainment or |
| of elephants, rhinos and zebras after calling your | | | | information business. Mass media, as vehicles of |
| dog. "Think of how hard it would be for animal | | | | communication, are more fundamentally in the |
| shows," adds Daniel, 9."Adam and Eve didn't want | | | | identity business. They create and/or reflect the |
| to call the animals 'Thing,' because they all would | | | | basic values and beliefs of the people who use |
| be named 'Thing,'" says Elizabeth, 9.Good point, | | | | them."In the book of Revelation, we learn that |
| but remember, Eve came later. Morgan, 7, has | | | | God gives a white stone to those who overcome. |
| some insight on Adam's search for Eve: "Adam | | | | A new name is written which no one knows |
| named the animals because he and God were | | | | except the person who receives it (Revelation |
| looking for a helper for Adam."Yes, after all the | | | | 2:17). Here's your personal ID from the Lord Jesus |
| naming, the Bible says, "But for Adam there was | | | | himself! It's a reward for overcoming.All who trust |
| not found a helper comparable to him" (Genesis | | | | in the Lord Jesus as their savior share in his |
| 2:20). Adam didn't find a match among the | | | | victory over death, but there's something more. |
| animals. He knew he needed a partner, and God | | | | Jesus will award special names to those who allow |
| knew it, too."God delegated authority to men, | | | | him to live his overcoming life through them.Think |
| since the act of naming the animals shows | | | | about this: Let God give you a name, and you'll be |
| lordship or dominion. It was also a spiritual exercise | | | | free from false identities created for you by |
| to prepare Adam and to make him aware of his | | | | advertisers, Hollywood, peers, bosses and even |
| aloneness. None of the animals corresponded to | | | | misguided relatives.Memorize this truth: "And she |
| him," says Kelsey, 12.After creating Adam, God | | | | will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name |
| paraded animals before him "to see what he | | | | JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins" |
| would call them" (Genesis 2:19). The Scripture | | | | (Matthew 1:21).Ask this question: Who is doing the |
| records that Adam's animal names stuck, which | | | | naming in your life?Carey Kinsolving is a |
| may indicate the names were more than titles in | | | | syndicated columnist, producer, author, speaker |
| that they accurately described the animals."Names | | | | and website developer. To see Carey's Kid TV |
| are important to everybody and everything. | | | | Interviews and more, visit The Kids Talk About |
| Adam obeyed God to name every animal," says | | | | God website contains free, online content for |
| Jessica, 8.Names are important to God. Abram | | | | children and families. Print free lessons from the |
| the fatherless at age 99 becomes Abraham | | | | "Kids Color Me Bible" and make your own book. |
| (father of many nations); Jacob the manipulator | | | | Watch for free the adventures of an 11-year-old |
| becomes Israel (prince of God), and Simon, not | | | | girl traveling around the world visiting missionaries |
| known for his stability, becomes Peter (rock). | | | | in the Mission Explorers Streaming Video. Print |
| Peter's confession that Jesus is "the Christ, the | | | | Bible pictures drawn by kids that illustrate |
| Son of the Living God" becomes the rock or | | | | Scripture verses. Receive a complimentary, |
| foundation upon which the universal church of | | | | weekly e-mail subscription to our Devotional Bible |
| living stones (Christians) is built.Adam's exercise of | | | | Lessons. Bible quotations in this column are from |
| naming the animals was more than an exercise in | | | | the New King James Version. |