Family
-
Encouragement…from Satan?
I don’t remember the year, but I remember the thought. At one of the Freed-Hardeman University Lectureships I have been blessed to attend, I remember hearing about how God had placed a protective hedge around Job and his family. I remember someone praying for God to place a hedge around us, His people. And the sentiment stuck with me. Through the years, I have prayed the same idea for my family, especially my children. They are faced with so many challenges in today’s world and I pray that God will protect them from some of those temptations and dangers. Recently, I was trying to encourage one of the young people…
-
What Is (and What Should Be) Expected of a Preacher’s Wife
For my entire life, I have been around preachers’ wives. My mom is one. My wife (of course) is one. My sister is one. My wife’s sister-in-law is one. In addition, our family has become good friends with many preacher’s families throughout the years. Also, I have read a great deal written by these sweet ladies and heard many conversations. All that said, one of the common struggles of these godly Christian women is that there are expectations placed upon them by a congregation that are simply not right. Sometimes, those expectations are spoken and overt, while at other times (I believe) people do not even realize what they are…
-
Love Never Fails
Will you go on a journey with me for a bit? I’m asking you to leave the things that distract you and get in a quiet place and engage with me for a minute. I want to take you to the center of yourself to help you investigate something you already know. Life is confusing. We have all of these moving parts to deal with in just living it. All of the physical things are but vanity. All of the spiritual things matter but there is much conflict and doubt sometimes about what they all actually mean. We live and we experience things both inside our hearts and outside in…
-
When Did I Become a Brand?
By the time one has lived as long as I have, there is an awareness of various phases of life. There are a few of them that I do not remember. I, of course, do not remember my birth. In fact, there is not much about the very early years of my life that I do remember. However, as time went on I picked up a variety of “labels” along the way. In terms of relationships, at various times I’ve been known as things like a son, a bachelor, a husband, a father, and a grandfather (all in that order, by the way). I’ve also been known as a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, teammate,…
-
The Devil’s Newest Tool
Those who have heard me speak in the recent past will know what I am talking about. It has taken the place of several other things, all of which are still dangerous tools, but this one seems to exceed them all. It is convenient, small, very smart, and available to almost everyone. Of course, I’m talking about the cell phone. That little computer you can hold in your hand and take with you wherever you go. That thing that connects you to so many people on social media. That device that allows you to connect to sites about which no one else will know (or at least, you don’t think they will know about it). That…
-
Two Free Resources for Overviewing Exodus with Your Kids [Free Printables]
It was announced last weekend that the book being emphasized by Lads to Leaders for the 2019 convention will be the book of Exodus. Even if you are not involved in Lads to california-muscles.net Leaders, however, we want to share two resources with you that you might want to consider using in your family Bible time or homeschool. Both of these are available for free and are in pdf format. Resource #1: Overview of Exodus This pdf contains three parts, each designed to help young people grasp the “big picture” of Exodus. In the following pdf, you will find: (1) “10 Facts about Exodus,” (2) a simple outline of the…
-
3 Reminders for Parents on Dates
Last week, Leah and I got to go on a date. In fact, it was a big date…we stayed overnight in a hotel and everything! (When you have kids, this qualifies as a big deal.) Sometimes, husbands and wives give up “dating” when they have children. There is so much going on in life that those evenings away–just one-on-one–seem to be put on the backburner. However, it is precisely because you are so busy that you need those times. They do not have to be anything big and fancy. Just a dinner out or even a picnic in the park makes for a great evening and much-needed time with one another. But, because…
-
Bringing Us Together Since the Beginning
“Mawwiage, is what bwings up togevah today.” That line from the movie The Princess Bride is iconic. I couldn’t help but think of it yesterday, which was the 48th anniversary of the patriarch and matriarch of “A Legacy of Faith.” Next week, one set of Jeremiah’s grandparents will celebrate 70 years. Last week, Jeremiah and I celebrated 20 years of marriage. In our ceremony 20 years ago, the legacy of long-lasting marriages in our family was mentioned. At that time, between all of our grandparents and parents, there was over 250 years of marriage represented. We have been very blessed by Christian examples of commitment in all of these marriages.…
-
Time in the Social Media World is Time I’m Not in Their World
Today’s article is for me. It is about me, and it is to me. If you get anything out of it, that’s just a bonus. It is an article that had been bouncing around my mind for a little while, then two statements on the same day basically forced me to write it. The first conversation happened just after worship Sunday morning. We got home and Leah was finishing up lunch. The kids were each playing with little toys the floor of the living room and I was tired from teaching and preaching. But, with this article bouncing around my head, I got in the floor and played just for…
-
The Real Problem is the Convenience of Milk
Yesterday I was driving home and I saw her. Let’s call her Betsy. She’s a cow. I see her and all of the rest of the herd every day when I drive home. I like living in town and yet driving by a farm like that. I like seeing Betsy on my way home from work. But yesterday when I saw her I was not thinking of the beautiful farm or the pleasant animals. Instead, I was thinking about how easy it is for us to get milk these days. You see, I don’t have to get it from Betsy. I don’t have to milk her at 4 a.m. I…
