Read & Study God's Word

I was reading the intro to a book I recently bought. I found these provoking and stirring words: "Much of what we learned has come from studying the Bible - the Answer Book". What a wonderful, humble and transparent confession.

It got me thinking about how I am reading the Bible. Do I view it as a chore, or as a delight? Do I read because I have committed to it or am I studying it because it has Answers. Good questions to consider.

How about you? How are you going with reading your Bible?

If your not doing so well - today is a new day. Pick it up and be encouraged and refreshed. It is the Answer Book!

If you are new to Bible reading you may wonder, how much should I be reading? Well it doesn't really matter how long - just read... Though, I recently was challenged by a colleague at work. He was sharing that some of the leaders at his church challenged them to remember, when they wrote the date 2010 - to let that be a reminder to spend 20 minutes reading God's Word and 10 minutes praying. That's a helpful idea. But if you don't do 20 minutes that doesn't mean you are not acceptable. It's just a suggestion. So - pick up the Bible and learn about the greatest Answer to Life: J-E-S-U-S!

You know, its one of the disciplines I want my children to see my wife and I doing. Why? Because God's Word is full of wisdom. Mostly importantly, it tells us the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I challenge you - to read & study the Bible... You will learn so much about our wonderful Lord, as well as be guided as you seek to parent with an eternal perspective.

Assuming can get you into trouble!

Have you ever learned about the danger of assuming? Fortunately, I learned an important lesson at a young age.

I remember as a young man, working in a Bible Book Store in Modesto, California. The owner of the Book Store was very professional and taught me heaps.

One of the most important things he taught me was the danger of assuming anything.

There was an order of books that I had marked at the wrong price. The previous lot of books were marked at a different price & I assumed that these books would be marked the same. I was wrong in assuming that.

I remember my boss came to me and asking me why I did what I did. I told him that "I assumed that these books would be the same price." He asked me if I new what assuming does. I said, "no, I don't." He informed me that, 'when I assume things it makes an "ass" out of "u" and "me".'

I have never forgotten that... It was a hard way to learn an important lesson & it has stuck with me.

I hope you are not assuming anything of your wife, children, or friends. Things like, assuming that they know you love them. You are glad that God has given them to you. I also trust that you are not assuming that your colleagues, relatives, neighbours or strangers know who Jesus is. They need to know & someone needs to tell them. Will it be you?

Don't do like I did and assume things...

Another Book For Your Library

You gotta -- gotta -- gotta get yourself a copy of this book!

My son's have enjoyed it so much. Actually, I have enjoyed it as well. How to make paper airplanes, make a battery, learning the rules of chess & poker, learning how to build a catapult, learning the rules of grammar... the book is a must! It will serve you and your boys... Gets em off the Wii, off the computer, away from the TV & out doing stuff with their hands...


Dad's once you get it - go through it with your boys! I've been loven it & I want to do it more...

You can pick up a copy from any of the following places: just click here!

Danger Danger - gotta let your kids try this at home!

Over protective parents can sometimes take the fun out of kids having a go at some "dangerous" activities. It ought not be!

I'm sure you don't want your boys growing up as wimps and we don't want our girls unaware of fun activities that create a bit of danger. They'll have fun - for sure!

There's a book you can purchase with some ideas of dangerous fun for kids. Just click on the highlighted area... but the pictures around, offer few examples of exciting, supervisable, & relatively risk free dangerous things we should let our children do... Have fun with it - I know I will!

No Hope...

I sat with three young men on Friday. I asked each one of them to give me some goals that they would like to achieve this year. One goal in four areas of life. Financially, physically, spiritually & academically.

Out of the three guys - not one of them could offer a goal. So I began to feed them with some ideas on goals that they could attempt to achieve. Still, they refused to dream of what could be.

Where has the dream in young men to do something with their life gone?

I finished the day reflecting on these three boys. Each one healthy, each one capable, each one a man of the future, but with no hope.

Proverbs 13:12 reads: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

In the old testament a woman by the name of Rachel wanted to have babies but could not. She became jealous of her sister just as Jacob (her husband) was of his older brother. This jealousy made their hearts sick.

These young men can look at what others are doing & be jealous which makes their hearts very sick. And yet, they could aim for something & find fulfillment by achieving what God has enabled them to do.

Isaiah 40:31 reads: but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Those who hope in the Lord are described as, "trusting in or looking expectantly to." You see, I want nothing more than these young men to hope in the Lord. Not in money. Not in good grades. Not in physical abilities or musical abilities. There hope must be in the Lord! And when they are trusting in the Lord, He will renew (exchange) their weaknesses which will give way to God's strength.

The Hebrew word used in this passage for this verb is used of changes of clothes which can symbolize strength and beauty. Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ instructs us to clothe ourselves with Christ (Ephesians 4:24).

Well dads, there are alot of young men who need a male role model. They need to be encouraged to hope. How do you help a young man hope?

Here's four ways...

Holler praise

Offer to model obedience.

Patience will be required

Encourage often

Perhaps you can practice this with your own children, I know I need to.

You know - we can often be tempted to think we need to do more. But the Gospel is our HOPE... have a look at Romans 4:18-25 & rejoice in the finished work of the cross...

A great addition for your Library: Do Hard Things

If you have kids that are between the ages of 8-10 you want to get this book and read it before they get to the next age bracket. That way you can prepare yourself for how to encourage your child, and put into practice 'Do(ing) Hard Things'.

If you have kids that are 10-12 you want to get a copy for yourself and a copy for them. Then you can work through the book together and encourage each other to put your mind to 'Do Hard Things'

If you have a child between the ages of 13 - 18 you want to buy yourself a copy, your wife a copy & your child a copy as well as all of their friends...

You can buy copies of the book by clicking on the title: DO HARD THINGS

I trust this resource will help you in your role of parenting with an eternal perspective...

2010 Begins...

Hello - Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all! I trust you have had a wonderful season of celebration with family & friends! I trust you are ready to get cracken into 2010 with new vigor! I trust you have thought through some plans & purposes for the year. My mother always said, "if you aim for nothing - you hit nothing"! How true is that...

Well, even though my entries have been scarce thus far, it doesn't mean that I have given up on this blog. In fact I am trying to marinade in all that I am being taught, and considering what is appropriate to share and what not to share...

As I continue to work through this, let me share just a few random articles/entries I have been chewing over lately...

Haiti crisis : please read this article. Click 'Haiti crisis' to read the article.

Tattoos: a great entry by a mate of mine who has thought through reasons why others get tatted! Well written, comical & provoking. Click on 'Tattoos' to have a sticky beak.

Be back soon with more!

Following the "Godly Man's Picture" Series

Over at the CBMW (The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood) they are running a series on 'The Godly Man's Picture'. I have found this to be a really helpful read. (If you click on the title of the series you can read the post in full.)

Jeff Robinson has done a brilliant job helping us see that there is more to our role as men/husbands/fathers than to lead, protect & provide. He mentions that part of our role has to do with sanctification. And this is rarely mentioned when we are attempting to lead, protect & provide for our family.

In this article, Robinson is committed to reminding himself as well as others of the God given task we have been called to, in leading our homes & churches. But not only what we have been called to - but what we must be first. This list is challenging and yet exciting.

Let me share with you the six attributes that Robinson has borrowed from the Puritan Pastor, Watson and what he says a godly man is: (you can read the article to read the explanation of each attribute)

1) A man of knowledge.
2) A man moved by faith.
3) A man fired with love.
4) A man like God.
5) A man careful about the worship of God. (challenged afresh by this one)
6) A man who serves God, not men.

Lord may we experience YOUR grace as we attempt to apply these attributes to our lives & then in our leadership.

You gotta see this...

When you find something that is awesome, don't you want to tell everyone about it? I do!

Look what I found: CLICK on VERSE CARD MAKER...

This is a wonderful way for us to serve our families and lead them in Scripture memory! A great initiative for 2010 - to have your family meditating on God's Word.

Men Loving Each Other? A Helpful Place To Start

I'm learning that there are alot of guys out there who love Jesus and want to serve others. This is greatly encouraging and exciting, to say the least!

I have only read this blog a few times, but each time I do I find wonderful encouragement. Hope you will enjoy this article. It' is called Men Loving Each Other? A Helpful Place To Start. I think these three suggestions offered will serve all of us in our quest to provoke others to godliness.

It will definitely serve our sons when they see their daddy's putting this into practice.