The theatrics of TV and movies make us laugh, and move us to think that we're glad our life isn't like what we're seeing. Right now I think I would take some of what we may see on the tube over what is happening in the world I'm living in today. I have friends that are not getting paychecks that have children. I have friends that are working over 60 and 70 hours a week to make ends meet, and they are being frivolous. I've got a friend that is a single dad and has to depend on others to make things work with his sons. I have a friend that has a son dying right before her eyes, and I've not been there for her in weeks. I've got a mother that doesn't know when I last came to visit her. She knows it has been a while. The sad part is that if I visit her tomorrow she won't remember it the next day. My super active dad is no longer as active and could use my help at times, but I'm not there for him. I have four children that each has his or her own things going on. I have a wife that is so overworked that I don't know how to help, in all my spare time. I'm a part of the Church that is to reach out to those we don't know and help them with their needs.
One other thing I have. I have a God that loves me and knows my burdens and wants my burden to be light. He is willing to carry the load if I'll just give it to Him. He is so concerned about me that if I would just sit down and talk to Him, He would listen for hours. I'm sure my wife and kids wished that of me. He's the kind of God that takes care of those that are brought to Him in prayer. I keep wanting to take care of all the problems myself and I realize that I can't. I think I'm realizing, yet again, that I need to take it to God. I need to trust God enough that He'll provide what is needed to each of the situations I see.
Would you pray for me? Would you pray for my friends and family? Will you please pray for yourself? Let us lift each other up in prayer. Earnestly seek God's will in your life and in the lives of those we see, realizing that what we want for them may be different than what God has planned. We are here on earth for just a little while; and it seems to be getting faster and faster. Don't forget that God can make your load lighter if you'll let Him. Take your burdens and also take everyone else to Him. He's in control.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Kid's rule, Dads drool? I don't think so!
We hear the adage that "when momma's not happy, no one's happy." The psychothinktoomuchologist seem to think that dads need to be softer to their boys or we'll tend to make them tough. Professional football players have become a bunch of puddin's that can't play because they have sore toes. Where on this ozone-laden earth are the real men? The men that work for a living and are glad to get what they earned. The men that don't complain when a boss asks them to do something extra to help the company (or just to see if a man is willing to go the extra mile, Matt 5:41). Why must a man join in conversations bashing other men about wrong things they did? Why do men follow their wives to church to make life easy?
Some males just need to grow (up) some and stand for what is right. The Bible is clear that the man is the head of the family(Eph. 5&6). They are to lead, lead by example. Pray and pray hard, teach the Word of God to the kids, don't wait on the preacher to do it. Endure trials as they come, and love life.
It is good to seek the knowledge and insight of our wives about the education of our children as well as when deciding what church to attend and even what to allow our daughters to wear. Even the children can have input into major decisions, however, we must consider the amount of practical experience they possess. Dig into the word then make a Godly decision (it may not seem logical). Even if it seems wrong, God will bless it because the decision was made in the right way. The wife is to submit to the husband when the decision is made and support him. I realize this is not popular in today's culture, even in the church. As far as the children are concerned, Ephesians 6 says children are to obey their parents. That means do what they say. The man of the home is the head.
I've been guilty before of not following the Biblical mandate to lead my family and things get a little crazy when I've failed to do this. Sometimes if a man is convicted by the Spirit to take charge of his family after having given in to pressure for a long period of time, there is resentment and counter pressure from the family. As I said before, God will bless it. I'm not saying it will be easy, because it is never easy to lead people out of the sin that you yourself led them into.
Start with repenting and crying out to God for redemption. Then begin reading scripture together. Ask for the self discipline, and provide the heart to have the self discipline, to have regular consistent Bible time. Pray together daily. The whole family praying is pleasing to God and it teaches your children to pray. Attend a church that teaches the Bible rightly, not what makes you feel good. Know doctrine and hold your pastor or elders accountable to what he preaches. Hold your fellow men accountable to the Word of God. Meet with them in humbleness and meekness, knowing that you have been in their shoes, and communicate what God has for you to say to them. Lead by example. Pray, read, hang with Godly men, reach out to the ungodly men with the word, stand up, carry the Sword of Truth and be a man for the kids and wife's sake.
I don't have the actual statistics right in front of me right now, but a father that leads his family in the ways of Christ has over a 90% chance of his children following. If the dad doesn't lead the numbers drop off dramatically. A fathers role can not be taken lightly, nor is it an easy row to hoe. It takes time, sacrifice and love. The work we do here on earth is only for a short while (I Peter 1:6) and the incentives are truly beyond this world.
Some males just need to grow (up) some and stand for what is right. The Bible is clear that the man is the head of the family(Eph. 5&6). They are to lead, lead by example. Pray and pray hard, teach the Word of God to the kids, don't wait on the preacher to do it. Endure trials as they come, and love life.
It is good to seek the knowledge and insight of our wives about the education of our children as well as when deciding what church to attend and even what to allow our daughters to wear. Even the children can have input into major decisions, however, we must consider the amount of practical experience they possess. Dig into the word then make a Godly decision (it may not seem logical). Even if it seems wrong, God will bless it because the decision was made in the right way. The wife is to submit to the husband when the decision is made and support him. I realize this is not popular in today's culture, even in the church. As far as the children are concerned, Ephesians 6 says children are to obey their parents. That means do what they say. The man of the home is the head.
I've been guilty before of not following the Biblical mandate to lead my family and things get a little crazy when I've failed to do this. Sometimes if a man is convicted by the Spirit to take charge of his family after having given in to pressure for a long period of time, there is resentment and counter pressure from the family. As I said before, God will bless it. I'm not saying it will be easy, because it is never easy to lead people out of the sin that you yourself led them into.
Start with repenting and crying out to God for redemption. Then begin reading scripture together. Ask for the self discipline, and provide the heart to have the self discipline, to have regular consistent Bible time. Pray together daily. The whole family praying is pleasing to God and it teaches your children to pray. Attend a church that teaches the Bible rightly, not what makes you feel good. Know doctrine and hold your pastor or elders accountable to what he preaches. Hold your fellow men accountable to the Word of God. Meet with them in humbleness and meekness, knowing that you have been in their shoes, and communicate what God has for you to say to them. Lead by example. Pray, read, hang with Godly men, reach out to the ungodly men with the word, stand up, carry the Sword of Truth and be a man for the kids and wife's sake.
I don't have the actual statistics right in front of me right now, but a father that leads his family in the ways of Christ has over a 90% chance of his children following. If the dad doesn't lead the numbers drop off dramatically. A fathers role can not be taken lightly, nor is it an easy row to hoe. It takes time, sacrifice and love. The work we do here on earth is only for a short while (I Peter 1:6) and the incentives are truly beyond this world.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Time's a Fly'n
How quick time flies. I was at a Court of Honor for an Eagle Scout. This young man I've known for only a few years, but he was young and small when I first met him. There was a slide show at the end of his Court of Honor that showed pictures from his life. The progression of the slides represented a more mature and older young man. His dad and I were talking together afterward, and we wondered how all of this could happen so fast. Even my own older daughter that is 15 is making comments about how fast time gets by.
We are reminded in 1 Peter that we are here only for a "little while." We can't waste our time doing the things that the world wants us to do. We need to do things that are required of us by God to show obedience and subjection to Him. If we have our hope in His inheritance, then our passion will be those things that draw ourselves and others closer to Him. We don't have long here on earth as aliens to do what God has for us to do. If we sit on our haunches and let our kids grow up with no spiritual leadership from us as parents, then we are failing our own Father. If we don't teach them from scripture and also how to take in scripture themselves, then we have not done what scripture itself has for us. If we don't make a move to help someone else find Jesus, then we are lazy and are what the Bible calls a sluggard.
Yes, times are hard and we are all busy. If you have kids at home you are even busier. But remember we only have a "little while" here, and we have them to train for an even shorter time.
We are reminded in 1 Peter that we are here only for a "little while." We can't waste our time doing the things that the world wants us to do. We need to do things that are required of us by God to show obedience and subjection to Him. If we have our hope in His inheritance, then our passion will be those things that draw ourselves and others closer to Him. We don't have long here on earth as aliens to do what God has for us to do. If we sit on our haunches and let our kids grow up with no spiritual leadership from us as parents, then we are failing our own Father. If we don't teach them from scripture and also how to take in scripture themselves, then we have not done what scripture itself has for us. If we don't make a move to help someone else find Jesus, then we are lazy and are what the Bible calls a sluggard.
Yes, times are hard and we are all busy. If you have kids at home you are even busier. But remember we only have a "little while" here, and we have them to train for an even shorter time.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Covering Territory
Whew! We covered more ground than a hummer with high octane. It was lively and reverent. We prayed for you M & J. No meeting next week. We'll be back together on the 29th. Check back here though and you should get a sneak preview.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
July 15th meeting
We are on!! I'm excited about a couple of new possible prospects and reserved about another situation. We will have light snacks at 6:30 and prayer starting around 7:00. Our discussion will be Jesus and some of His more "popular" words and deeds.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Next Meeting
We will meet this next Wednesday on July 8th. We will be discussing who Jesus was and is. His character and attributes being the primary point of the discussion.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Jesus: mean, manic or Majestic
Who was the real Jesus? Was He who He claimed to be? Who did He claim to be? In my travels I have had opportunities to speak to many about Jesus and who He is. I've heard it said that he was a really great guy that He did really great things. Some will say that He is the Son of God; however, their view of God is so small that it belittles what Jesus is, the Christ.
When we ask people if they believe that Jesus was a fraud or a liar about who he was, most Americans would come un-glued. I have never heard anyone state they believe Jesus was a fraud. That says a lot about "the man" himself. If what the man was saying about himself (He is the Son of God, all authority was given to Him, and so forth) be truthful in his own mind, then that leads us to only two other possible conclusions. One of these would have to be true.
The first option would be that he were a mad man, crazy, out of this world insane and in need of some serious medication. There are these people out there. David Koresh thought himself to be the next messiah and he took many down with him. Jim Jones in South America claimed to have a direct link to God and he took many to their graves with himself. We can find these men throughout history that have deceived many a man all the way to hell itself. It would be like someone thinking they were Napolean living today as the great general himself. Many would like him and put up with his antics, but no logical human would follow a lunatic. Jesus was followed. Jesus was a mentor to many. Jesus said some really radical things and shared some outrageous philosophies. While being radical, outrageous, and different than any other, He was consistent, level-headed and emotionally balanced in his daily walk. Jesus had no fear. He loved children and the old. He loved the clean and the dirty. He touched the healthy and the lepers. He walked in large crowds speaking to them as he went and He walked alone in the wilderness and in the gardens to talk to His Dad.
Our only option left is that Jesus is Lord. Jesus is who He said He is. And if He is who is He is, then who are we? We are the ones He came to save from hell. Jesus is all we need. Joseph Smith Jr. came and said he was here to restore the genuine church. I've got news for him and his followers, Jesus already did that. That task is done. Jim Jones came and took hundreds if not thousands to South America because he had a special connection with God, but he didn't. The Watchtower Society (Jehovah's Witnesses) believe that you can't understand the Bible without their book. Muhammad has had an impact on the world second only to Jesus the Christ. All of these came and went. They're all dead; except Jesus is not. He has no grave site. He has no marker as to where His body decayed. He said he would be shamed, murdered and after three days rise up and live physically; and He did. Now He is at the right hand of His Dad. He loves all of us, and wants us to follow his leadership for the little while we are here on earth, so that we can have an inheritance with Him forever and ever.
When we ask people if they believe that Jesus was a fraud or a liar about who he was, most Americans would come un-glued. I have never heard anyone state they believe Jesus was a fraud. That says a lot about "the man" himself. If what the man was saying about himself (He is the Son of God, all authority was given to Him, and so forth) be truthful in his own mind, then that leads us to only two other possible conclusions. One of these would have to be true.
The first option would be that he were a mad man, crazy, out of this world insane and in need of some serious medication. There are these people out there. David Koresh thought himself to be the next messiah and he took many down with him. Jim Jones in South America claimed to have a direct link to God and he took many to their graves with himself. We can find these men throughout history that have deceived many a man all the way to hell itself. It would be like someone thinking they were Napolean living today as the great general himself. Many would like him and put up with his antics, but no logical human would follow a lunatic. Jesus was followed. Jesus was a mentor to many. Jesus said some really radical things and shared some outrageous philosophies. While being radical, outrageous, and different than any other, He was consistent, level-headed and emotionally balanced in his daily walk. Jesus had no fear. He loved children and the old. He loved the clean and the dirty. He touched the healthy and the lepers. He walked in large crowds speaking to them as he went and He walked alone in the wilderness and in the gardens to talk to His Dad.
Our only option left is that Jesus is Lord. Jesus is who He said He is. And if He is who is He is, then who are we? We are the ones He came to save from hell. Jesus is all we need. Joseph Smith Jr. came and said he was here to restore the genuine church. I've got news for him and his followers, Jesus already did that. That task is done. Jim Jones came and took hundreds if not thousands to South America because he had a special connection with God, but he didn't. The Watchtower Society (Jehovah's Witnesses) believe that you can't understand the Bible without their book. Muhammad has had an impact on the world second only to Jesus the Christ. All of these came and went. They're all dead; except Jesus is not. He has no grave site. He has no marker as to where His body decayed. He said he would be shamed, murdered and after three days rise up and live physically; and He did. Now He is at the right hand of His Dad. He loves all of us, and wants us to follow his leadership for the little while we are here on earth, so that we can have an inheritance with Him forever and ever.
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