Perspective

Today is my day off and as usual I am enjoying a day with the FAB 5. This morning, because of my seasonal sinus problem, I’ve been up since O’Dark Thirty (Before the sun woke-up). At the request of a friend of mine, I watched a video by a guy named Seth Godin. I don’t know a whole lot about the guy, but he has an amazing grasp of cultural anthropology. As a ‘motivational speaker’ (my term… not his) he excels. Here is something that really got me thinking about leadership and ministry:

“My job is not to tell you what to do. My job is to make you uncomfortable enough about not doing anything that you will look at the opportunities around you…” (my paraphrase)

Good insight. Applying this to my situation is rather simple:

My job, and the job of the elders, is to see that every member of the church has the opportunities, tools, and Biblical foundation to grow in their relationship with Christ.

Or… as the Apostle Peter said:

… but growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)

Like Father, Like Son

There is a saying that someone came up with that goes like this:

The Apple does not fall too far from the tree.

There’s a lot of truth in that. As I look at my kids, I am constantly amazed at how many spiritual lessons there are in raising them. Today I will look at how my son (Samuel) relates to all this. Consider the following:

• My son’s growth is his father’s responsibility.
  
• My son’s well being is his father’s responsibility.
  
• When my son steps out of line, his discipline is his father’s responsibility.
  
  

And the list goes on. I’m sure you saw the connection. Our growth, well being, and discipline are contingent on our Heavenly Father being the sort of Father who loves us and cares for us.

Here is some food for thought.

How do you know if you are growing? If you are looking and acting mor and more like your Heavenly Father.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him
be glory both now and forever! Amen.

(2 Peter 2:18)

Worship the King

Evening ya'all.

I got back from the Spurgeon Fellowship, a Pastoral Fellowship hosted by Western Seminary, and am amazed at the teaching I sat under. Much of what was learned will be shared in later posts, but right now I'd like to share this:

Worship is not about how you feel, necessarily. It is about praising the King of kings and is one of the offerings we bring to Him.

Since worship is an offering, it is also a sacrifice.

Something to think about the next time you come to the Lord in worship of His glory.

WHY ARE THEY SO SLOW?

(Someone has said, “God gives us children to teach us lessons.” Here is a case-in-point.)

My children do not move as fast as Daniela and I do, nor should they be expected to. They are smaller and need help with the larger things. They are weaker and need help with the stronger things. They are patient and I need help with the slower things.

I write this on the heals of eating lunch with my three oldest kiddos. Anabelle, our second born, has a habit of eating slow. (I hear that this is really good for digestion.) When the kids were done eating their hotdogs they had some yogurt. I watched in utter amazement at how patient and gentle she was in opening the package. As I watched I couldn’t but help think:

She prefers quality over quantity.

I don’t know how that principle applies in your life, but I know how it applies in mine. By the grace of God all of us will come to the realization that in some things we need to slow way down and do things patiently rather than quickly.

Shalom.

As soon as I can

While on vacation in Miami last month the FAB 5 and I went to Hollywood Beach. What can I say??? The Beach in S. Florida is amazing, even in February. I took a bunch of pictures and a few videos, but lost the cable that allows me to upload them from the camera to my PC. The Lord taught me several really, really important lessons while we were away, not the least of which is this:

A father who loves his children loves spending time with his children.

And such is the case with the Lord. That He loves us is evident from the cross, but as Clair Huxtable told Sandra on an episode of the Cosby Show, “Baby, I don’t just love you… I like you.”

The next time you feel overwhelmed, unappreciated, or even full of joy remember that your Heavenly Father loves you and loves spending time with you.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God (1 John 3:1)

Redeeming the Time

Job 14:1-2 (NIV) "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure."

Not everyone is as pessimistic as Job, but then again... he did suffer a lot for the Lord. Read his words though, MAN'S TIME ON THIS PLANET ARE SHORT. If that is the case, and it is, what are we to be doing during our short stay?

The Bible contains many commands. Don't murder. Don't steal. Don't commit adultery. Someone once questioned the Lord Jesus about one law's superiority to another. This is what the Bible records:

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (NIV, Mark 12:28-31).

Notice that the Lord grouped these two together:

1. Love the Lord your God with your total being.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

This is what we are to do while we enjoy our stay on Earth. The questions is:

Are we doing it?

Busy Days are not Always "Bad"

Some one once told me: "Of you want something to get done, give it to a busy person."

The last few days have been extremely busy for me and it is amazing how much the Lord has allowed me to get done.

All of that to say this... I have not been updating this site, but I do intend on posting regularly again.

I'll keep ya posted (pun intended).