First day of school today. The person willing to exegete the photograph will learn much about our family.
(1) Pretty in Pink: Allison opposes pink and all its implications on principle. Pretty much everything Mary Beth wore is pink, from her shoes to her backpack.
(2) We support nuclear energy: If you look over Chris’ shoulder you can see the looming nuclear towers in the background. Here in Northern Illinois, we were nuclear when nuclear wasn’t cool.
(3) It’s football season: There’s a story (perhaps apocryphal) about the Notre Dame team being at the cemetery to visit George Gipp’s grave. On the way out of the cemetary, a few players stopped at the grave of the recently deceased basketball coach’s grave in order to pay their respects. Knute Rockne didn’t approve. He beckoned the players to come at once and said sternly, “It’s football season boys.” All of which is to point out that it’s football season here. Chris is wearing his A.J. Hawk jersey while Ben’s shirt reads, “Don’t take it personally.” On the back it says, “Smashing you into the turf is just part of the job.”
Though we lost both football games this weekend.
(4) We live in a sparsely populated area. You will notice that the population density is not real high here in Ogle County.
(5) I have put off sealing our deck. While this may not be obvious to the untrained eye, I need to seal the deck.
The situation for families continues to worsen. A Canadian recently overruled a father’s decision not to let his daughter go on a school camping trip because of her Internet use.
We increasingly live in a world where authority of any kind: parental, school, or pastoral, is despised.
I was bowled over when I turned on the television Friday evening and saw a graphic at the bottom of the screen that said “Remembering Tim Russert.” He was so much on top of his game and his life ended so suddenly.
For the most part, my background and Tim Russert’s could not be much different. He grew up in south Buffalo, the son of a sanitation worker. I grew up in the Midwest, 8 miles from a town of a thousand people. But, I can so relate to how he sees being the son of hard working people was great preparation for life. Like Tim Russert, my parents taught me that life doesn’t owe you anything; you have to get out there and work hard.
You will be encouraged if you watch even 5 minutes of this.
Read here Al Mohler’s comments about the declining population of children in Japan. He writes:
The nation of Japan faces a devastating population crisis. The crisis, however, is not a problem of too many people living in Japan, but too few. Japan, with several other nations close behind, faces what we might call a population implosion.
As Mohler points out, this is a problem not only in Japan but also in parts of Europe.
The Bible says that children are like arrows in the hands of a warrior - - resources for the future. Young couples: I understand that children are a great deal of work. As Derek Kidner said, “Sometimes they are a handful, before they are a quiver full.” But, they are our investment for the future - - a lesson that many parts of the world need to learn.
” A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate (Psalm 127).”
One of the most valuable things you can do as a family is to spend time together reading the Word of God or a Bible story. It’s not as hard as you might imagine. You can do it in 5 or six minutes. Continue reading ‘Family Devotions Aren’t that Hard’
Jamie and I are taking our children Christmas shopping tonight at a local mall.
After looking at the picture, and reading about, each of the Omaha victims in the newspaper today, it gives me pause. Will we be in danger? Should I allow our 13 year old to take one of her brothers to a different part of the mall to shop? Or, should I require our family to stay in a pack the entire time?
Should I coach my children on how to take cover if a shooting begins?
But, then, I think the odds that anything like Virginia Tech/Columbine/Omaha will happen tonight are relatively rare.
I wonder if the bigger danger at the mall isn’t rampant materialism? How does one take cover at the mall from that?
Children can be the greatest source of joy and the greatest source of pain.What incredible joy is felt with the birth of a child or a grandchild, to watch them grow up and mature. One of my major life goals is to see my children love and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. So, when they demonstrate genuine spiritual interest, my heart is so encouraged.
Children are one of the greatest sources of joy, yet, nothing hurts like seeing children make bad decisions. Thinking back over my years as a pastor, I think the people in the greatest pain are those whose children make bad choices. I think of one couple, their son’s choices were so bad that he ended up in prison. They were left to raise their grandchildren in their retirement years. Continue reading ‘The Urgency of Psalm 127′
“. . . Chris Brauns has done a magnificent job in helping us understand the true nature of biblical forgiveness. Every Christian will profit from reading and applying this book.” Jerry Bridges.
“ . . . Unpacking Forgiveness is an engaging, convicting but emphatically encouraging treatment of this hugely important (and sometimes mindbogglingly challenging) part of life. Dr. Brauns writes from the standpoint of a faithful, wise, experienced and caring pastor . . .” Ligon Duncan, First Pres, Jackson, MS
