“I’m a Believer” was a smash hit for The Monkees in 1966. A key line in the popular tune was, “I believe in love.” Of course the song was about feelings of love for a girl. A question beckons - Am I a believer of feelings or of something more substantial?
Brittany Maynard tugged on our feelings this past week. The 29 year old, diagnosed with a lethal brain tumor, took her life Saturday, November 1st with a fatal dose of medication. Such a dose can be obtained legally by terminally ill patients courtesy of Oregon’s right-to-die law. This case was widely publicized through an organization called Compassion and Choices, an end-of-life advocate. Chief program officer, Mickey MacIntyre told CBS News he considers it “the next civil and human right.”
If anyone had a “right” to determine when and how they were going to die, would it not have been Jesus the Christ? ...read on
What bold stance have you taken recently? I have been impressed by the growing number of dads that are dropping cable and satellite service, and in general cutting back significantly on time spent in front of the television, on the internet time and on cell phones in favor of more family time. These dads are taking a bold stand against social media and worldly influence in the home.
Recently, it was encouraging to see over 30 pastors across the Houston area, a senator and the Liberty Institute stand beside five local pastors whose sermons and other church communication had been subpoenaed by the mayor’s office. read on ...
Peyton Manning is known as one of the National Football League’s greatest quarterbacks blasting past Brett Favre’s record 508 career touchdown passes this week. Behind the performance on the field he is known as a man with a tremendous work ethic and discipline, watching hours of video to know the next week’s opponent and running offensive drills that will help prepare his team. He is known as an athlete that pushes himself physically and mentally even through the valley of multiple neck surgeries just a few years ago. These are great qualities to be passed on to the next generation.
What are you known for? During several overnight campouts on church grounds this month, we distributed interview cards to the dads and kids participating to see how well they knew each other. Questions included: read on...
I confess that I do not like to run. I have never had a desire to run a marathon nor compete in a triathlon or Iron Man. My son challenged me to join him and a group of buddies to do a Tough Mudder this fall. I told him I was happy being a walkin’ fadder.
I think walking is one of the most underrated exercises. Research has shown that walking and moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day can help: reduce risk of coronary heart disease; improve blood pressure & blood sugar levels; maintain body weight; reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes; and reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer. There are emotional and relational benefits as well. My bride and I have been walking just about every night since our kids were in middle school. For the last 15 years we have used a 2 to 3 mile trek to discuss family issues, process challenges our kids were going through and even prepare ourselves for the empty nest phase of life. read on...
Would your friends say you are generous with your time, talent and treasure? How about your family or your church? A pastor may challenge you to look at your check book or debit card statement to assess how generous you have been with your money. The sermon usually goes along the lines of, “where your money goes reflects where your heart is.” In a similar vein, kids may challenge you to look at your calendar to see how generous you have been with time committed to them. Where you spend time does reflect priorities in life.
Ideally, the checkbook would reflect at least a tithe to the church and support for great para-church ministries. Likewise, your calendar would show birthdays, anniversaries, school events and other kids’ activities as priorities across the year. Time, talent and treasure are all gifts from God and He is glorified through generous giving of those gifts for Kingdom work.
I had a friend that failed to read up on the traffic rules and signage for Holland when he visited the country on a business trip. He knew it wasn’t England so he would get to drive on the “normal” side of the road and thus assumed all else would be similar to his American experience. Upon arrival in Amsterdam he promptly drove into the centrum and found a handy parking spot in front of a restaurant. After ordering some breakfast he looked out the window to see the car being towed off! He had parked in a “No Parking” zone. Pleading ignorance to the foreign sign was not an adequate excuse and did not reduce the fine. A very expensive lesson in obedience was learned.
King David had a similar experience when he tried to move the ark of God ...read on
Is spanking a crime? The media seems to be using high profile child abuse charges levied against a dad as fuel to give that argument credence. There has been a new flurry of articles written by “experts” on the subject. But be alert to phrases like, “And while the modern scientific consensus is clear …” when they are not backed up with objective scientific evidence. Biblical writings are absolutely clear that discipline is foundational in raising a godly generation – young people that respect authority, the rule of law and honor their father and mother. There is a good argument that the present trend of lawlessness and disrespect for authority that percolates in parts of our government and society is the result of a generation raising children with more concern about hurting self-esteem than building self-esteem through sound disciplinary practices in the home.
“Do not withhold discipline from a child; read on...
Are you ready for some football? It doesn’t appear that the NFL was ready for what it got the first couple of weeks of the season. I confess, I am old school and still embrace the rule of law that guarantees us due process when charged with a crime. The way the media and society obsess over YouTube videos and other picture postings, innocence until proven guilty is being turned on its head! We as consumers should not tolerate this, but I digress.
What I find fascinating is the level of physical discipline that professional athletes must practice in order to compete at the level they do. Many of them are able to apply similar levels of discipline to the emotional and spiritual aspects of their lives as well but those athletes do not typically make the paper.
You do not have to be a professional athlete to struggle with inconsistent physical, emotional or spiritual disciplines in life. We see pastors fall from grace and CEOs mismanage the company’s pension funds. We see men struggling with alcohol and dads losing their temper.
Paul provides an example for us in 2 Corinthians, ...read on
My daughter and I were backpacking with other dads and daughters in the Weminuche Valley of the San Juan Mountains back in June. It was our overnight on the trail so after a great day, we enjoyed dinner and good discussion around the campfire. Then the moon rose over the ridge. It was a full moon in full glory illuminating the whole valley in grand fashion. It was so bright that we cast giant shadows as we walked in its light! It provided a brilliant reflection of the sun that night and was certainly the brightest moon we had ever experienced.
I was struck by the analogy of that experience to my walk as a Christian. I am to be a reflection of the Son in order to illumine the valleys of life that family or friends may be walking through. While the moon waxes and wanes through its phases, I as a Christian am waxed to the full by the Holy Spirit. The only waning that goes on is by choice. read on...
It was October 4th, 1997, on The Mall in Washington D.C. – I was one of over a million men attending Promise Keepers’ Stand in the Gap event. We listened to some of the nation’s top preachers & teachers challenge us on the many fronts of manhood; we heard of Jesus’ example of loving selflessly and sacrificially and were challenged to love our wives in the same way; we sang in force, “A Mighty Fortress is our God”, “As for Me and My House” and other hymns; we were on our knees with billfolds open to pictures of our family, praying for them; and we were encouraged and equipped in the word of God to Stand in the Gap for marriage and family, and for the Church. That was the first time I had heard with such clarity what it meant to be a man.
To put an exclamation point on the experience, the Lord worked through a stewardess on the flight returning a plane load of men to Houston early on October 5th, almost all of whom had been on The Mall the day before. After the safety briefing, the stewardess said, “Men, I know y’all received a lot of negative press for the gathering on The Mall yesterday. But I want you to know that we women love you, we love what you are doing and pray that you will keep on doing it!” Applause and Amens erupted. read on ...
