Being a Father of Twin Girls is Different!

You know, there is something special about having twin girls in your family! It's not that they are more special than your other children. It's that they are unique and bring a different experience and excitement.

I think it was before we left for America, Bella asked me if she and her sister could get hair cuts. I assured her that they would get a hair cut when we returned from the US. So every conversation we had with her, via phone, was "daddy, don't forget about our hair-a-cut when you get home"!

We have been home just over a week and today was the big day to go and get their hair cuts. 6:00 AM Bethy comes and jumps in my lap, grabbing my neck, "daddy, I am so excited about going to get my hair cut today". It was about every 30 minutes after that both Beth & Belle were asking - "are we going yet", "are we going now?" "Should we go get in the car?"

It was a fun date with my girls! We got their hair cut & then went and enjoyed a doughnut & drink!

You know, I have to be honest and say, I felt a bit weird sitting there in a hair salon taking pictures while my girls got their hair cut, but when I got over myself, I really enjoyed being with my girls - and them wanting me to be around!

I hope you will take time to do special things with your girls - dads - even when they are young!

'Just Do Something' by: Kevin DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung has written a helpful book called, 'Just Do something'. It is only 122 pgs, 10 chapters and farily easy reading! I strongly encourage you to pick up this book. You can buy it here for about $9.00 USD + shipping.

Now I am only on chapter 3, but chapters 1 & 2 are so insightful and helpful, I could not help but think that some of you dad's might be served reading this. Especially if you have kids who are concerned about what God want's them to do with their life.

Let me try to encourage you to purchase or get your hands on a copy of this book by sharing this bit with you from chapter 3. DeYoung starts the chapter asking, "why are so many Christians desperate to find out God's plan for their lives?' Then he goes on to say that he is going to provide 5 reasons and explain them. I will give you the five reasons and then you have to purchase the book to get the explanation. Cheeky - aye?!

Reason 1: Because we want to please God!

Reason 2: Because some of us are to timid!

Reason 3: Becase we want perfect fulfillment!

Reason 4: Because we have too many choices!

Reason 5: Because we are cowards!

Sounds enticing I'm sure?!

I strongly encourage you to get this book in your library... It will serve you as you serve the Lord - parenting with an eternal perspective

Doing Things Right - In Matters of the Heart

Guys - have you heard of this book?

'Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart' by: John Ensor. Wow!

John Ensor has done a wonderful job with this book. You want to get your hands on it. Here is a link to it: Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart just click on the title and you can get a copy from Crossway for about $12.00 USD.

Now I wanted to give you a review but Tim Challies gave this review of the book and it does not need me tampering with it - so let me provide you with his review:

"In the first part, "Matters of the Heart," Ensor defines biblical masculinity and femininity as they are presented to us in the Bible. He gets to the heart of manhood and womanhood asking what it means to be a man or a woman and what is distinctive about being one and not the other. He asks how men and women complement each other and fit together. Having answered these questions, he turns to "Doing Things Right," showing the way the Bible outlines how men are to live as men and women are to live as women. He shows how men and women are to relate to each other and are to interact with each other on the basis of their equality and symmetry but also on the basis of their differences.
The chapter titles tell the story.

* He Initiaties...She Responds"
* He Leads...She Guides
* He Works...She Waits
* He Protects...She Welcomes Protection
* He Abstains to Protect...She, to Test
* His Unmet Desire Drives Him toward Marriage...Hers Is Rewarded with Marriage
* He Displays Integrity...She, Inner Beauty
* He Loves by Sacrificing...She, by Submitting
* He Seeks His Happiness in Hers...She Seeks Hers in His
* His Is the Primary Provider for the Family...She, the Primary Nurturer

The book is written from a personal perspective and in such a way that he encourages the reader to benefit from his learning curve. While he leans on the Bible as his authority, what he teaches is often punctuated by words like, "What follows is what I honest think is the right thing to do..." and "I take this to mean..." He gives examples from his life, allowing the reader to learn and to laugh with him.

The sum is this: God has given us each gifts but, with our own reasoning and assumptions we've wasted them by doing things in the way we thought was best. This book is a call to go back to using those gifts, to go back to the guide that teaches us how to use those gifts, that we might do things right and do them in the way God intends.

In this book (and this quote is the blurb I provided for the book's cover) "John Ensor provides a radically biblical alternative to the supposed wisdom of our age. Though sometimes raw, frank, and frustrated, Ensor is always sanctified and often poetic. He celebrates differences, bringing into clear focus the oft-disputed fact that God created men and women to be equal and symmetrical but not identical. For all who are weary of our culture's assault on biblical manhood and womanhood, this book is a refreshing reminder of the Bible's simple wisdom governing love, relationships, marriage, and matters of the heart."

This is a good and important little book that serves as a strong introduction for teens and young adults to the Bible's teaching on manhood and womanhood. What is taught here can largely be found elsewhere but not in so accessible and so practical a form. It has the paternal feel of an older, wiser man writing a concerned letter to those who are younger and in need of counsel. Ensor's advice is good and those who heed it will be pleased that he wrote this book and that they took the time to read it. I recommend this book to teens, to young adults, to parents and to anyone who is concerned with doing things right in matters of the heart."

All I want to add is - Go GET it!

Following is a song that I sang at a conference recently... It sounded amazing with about 800 present. Nevertheless, these words effect my heart EVERY time I hear them. I want to ask you to read them, dwell on them, not to move on from them too quickly. Please, allow these words to stir you and challenge you. For TRULY The Lord IS!!!

The Lord Is

Item # M4235-06-51

Music by Pat Sczebel, Words by Pat Sczebel and Bob Kauflin

As recorded on Psalms

Listen to song sample

The depths of Your grace who can measure
You fully supply all I need
You restore my weary soul again and again
And lead me in Your righteousness and peace

You’re with me through every dark valley
There’s nothing that I have to fear
You are there to comfort me again and again
Protecting me, assuring me You’re near

The Lord is
The Lord is my shepherd
The Lord is
The Lord is my shepherd
I shall not want

You gave Your own life for my ransom
So I could rejoice at Your side
You have shown Your faithfulness again and again
There’s nothing good that You will not provide

I will dwell in Your house
All the days of my life
I will dwell in Your house
All the days of my life

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Nana & Keziah

Just recently, we had the privilege of going to the USA and having my mother meet her grand-daughter. There was something special about that...


They don't look related - do they?

Psalms 22:1

I was deeply effected this morning when I read from Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Readings. I trust you will be encouraged as well. I have tried to rewrite this without the Old style of English- but if you prefer that & you have your own copy of this helpful reading - you may want to go straight to it (pg. 226)- otherwise, you can read it here...

Psalms 22:1 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'

When we read these words, we are reminded of the depth of the sorrows of our Savior. There really is no other place that shows the grief of Christ as Calvary, and no other moment at Calvary is so full of agony as that in which His cry fills the air - 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'

It was in this moment on the cross that we see physical weakness being united with acute mental torture from the shame and infamy through which he had to pass; and to make His grief culminate with emphasis, He suffered spiritual agony surpassing all expression, resulting from the departure of His Father's presence. It is here, we see the great darkness of His horror; then it was that He descended the abyss of suffering. No one can enter into the full meaning of these words. Some of us think that sometimes we could cry out, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' And sure there are seasons when the brightness of our Father's smile is eclipsed my clouds and darkness; but let's remember that God never does really forsake us, but in Christ's case it was a real forsaking. We grieve at a little withdrawing of our Father's love; but the real turning away of God's face from His Son, who shall calculate how deep the agony which it caused Him?

In our case, our cry is often dictated by unbelief: in His case, it was the utterance of a dreadful fact, for God had really turned away from Him for a season. O you poor, distressed soul, who once lived in the sunshine of God's face, but is now in darkness, remember that He has not really forsaken you. God in the clouds is as much our God as when He shines forth in all the luster of His grace; but since even the thought that He has forsaken us gives us agony, what must the woe of the Savior have been when He exclaimed, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'

We can rejoice that He will never leave us, nor forsake us...

This surly causes your heart to rejoice?!