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10/01/03
When Sheri and I speak publicly, we almost always make the point that our romantic relationship has never been better. Then I cringe when Sheri goes a step further and says, "After twenty-five years, few couples can say their sex life is better than ever!" Click here to learn how.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, And will not even bring it back to his mouth. (Proverbs 19:24)
When I read this verse, I thought, “How lazy can you get?!” But, then I felt a finger pointing at me. How about when I took courses in college and passed without actually learning anything? Following that, I got married and vowed to care for and protect my bride but how often have I diligently tried to genuinely understand her needs and desires? My life has been dedicated to God in baptism. Or, has it? Is this particular day given to Him or am I mainly focused on looking out for Myself? It’s relatively easy to become a father in the flesh – but, am I and have I been a father that in humility understands his children, prays for them, guides them, challenges them and causes them to feel loved and affirmed? Instead, I have sometimes manifested anger coming from pride or, conversely, felt despair and escaped into entertainment or work. I accepted, maybe too casually, the responsibilities of being a leader at home and church – but, rather than doing what is necessary to finish the job, is my hand still buried in the bowl?
But, there is a yet higher standard as a disciple of Jesus -- And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. *
The reality is that we absolutely can not do what we ought without guidance, motivation, and help that comes from beyond ourselves. Too often, I coast along doing what seems good (or easy) without having taken time to try to get God’s perspective and guidance. I can get my hand into the bowl in my own strength but it takes grace from above to properly finish the job. Beginning is easy, properly finishing is another story. We often work hard on the wrong things because of our laziness in prayer, listening and sincerely seeking God's right way. Powerlessness in our life, messed up relationships and unfulfilled responsibilities can all flow out of being a sluggard in our relationship with God. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. **
Project:
* (Col 3:17)
** (2 Thess 2:17)
California Christians urged to take their children out of the public schools.
click here to see article
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. …. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals;.. (Luke 10)
Over the years, my wife and I have sought God’s direction many times for our schedule and activities so that our children would learn, mature and, in the long run, be blessed. But, many times our children missed out on the intended blessing because they too effectively resisted. Sometimes, the exercise was pretended, carrot juice was flushed, cheating took place and the study was actually a nap. But, whoever and whenever the disciplines, studies and chores were embraced, there eventually were rewards of rich knowledge, stronger character, improved health and valuable self-discipline.
When Jesus said “Go!”, how many of Jesus disciples responded by saying, “I don’t feel like it!”, or “I don’t think that’s a good idea”? Over time, Jesus gradually lost disciples and the crowds got smaller. Those who obeyed the dictates of their comfort lost interest in the challenges of following Jesus. But, they also missed out on the adventure and the incredible blessing of seeing and experiencing God’s provision and power.
Often, our strength will grow the most in the very areas where we must exert the most effort to overcome our natural feelings. In other words, the most growth happens when we get into the discomfort zone. Do you feel like speaking to your neighbor about Christ? Do you feel like conversing with your wife about issues important to her? Is there a home repair that you just don’t feel like working on? Do you feel like reading God’s Word everyday? Did you feel like it today? Boys become men and men become heroes by receiving God's grace to overcome the whispers of fear or the siren call of comfort.
Project:
Job 33:14 – Why?
Matt 4:4 – How?
“When a government monopoly limits competition, we can’t know what ideas would bloom if competition were allowed. Surveys show that most American parents are satisfied with their kids’ public schools, but that’s only because they don’t know what their kids might have had!... I bet we’d see cheap and efficient Costco-like schools, virtual schools where you learn at home on your computer, sports schools, music schools, schools that go all year, schools with uniforms, schools that open early and keep kids later, and, who knows what? Every economics textbook says monopolies are bad because they charge high prices for shoddy goods. But it’s government that gives us monopolies. So why do we entrust something as important as our children’s education to a government monopoly?... It’s time to give parents more options. Instead of pouring more money into the failed government monopoly, let’s free parents to control their own education money. Competition is a lot smarter than bureaucrats.” —John Stossel
Or, what man is there among you, when his son sall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, will not give him a snake, will he? (Matthew 7:9-10)
Recently, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill which requires even Christian colleges (where students receive state grants) to condone perverse sexual perspectives such as: transsexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality. It is becoming increasingly clear that children of Christian families are being given a "free" education based on how to be a submissive, politically correct atheist. This is a free ride to hell for many children. The fact that a few children retain or acquire faith in Jesus after going through the government education mill reveals that the system has not yet reached its full power. There are still some heroic Christian teachers who find ways to communicate faith. There are still a few parents and churches who can counteract the effect of the atheistic evangelism built into the curriculum of most public school systems. But, the system is constantly working to reduce the effectiveness of these "subversive" elements.
California Christians are being encouraged to pull their children out of the government schools and to educate them in Christian or Home Schools (see news article). Even though the agenda of all government school systems is not as obvious as in California, the results are still pretty uniform. Studies show that for children of Christian families, most (over 90%) believe in Jesus when they graduate from a Home-school, but only a relatively small percent (less than 40%) retain their faith after graduation from the government school system. Somewhere around 80-90% of Christians parents send their children into the government school system. Some are ignorant of the danger, others have conflicting priorities and many just don't think about it. Many Christian parents need to stop acting like a bunch of lemmings who thoughtlessly send their children off to public schools where they can be molested by the curriculum.
Project:
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up." - God (Deut 6)
Vox Day's article on the value of marriage may seem little shocking. But, it highlights the unique value of a Christian woman of noble character who has the priorities of God, family, and self in the proper order.
WorldNetDaily: The value of marriage
"The voice of weeping shall be no more heard."-Isaiah 65:19
The glorified weep no more, for all outward a causes of grief are gone. There are no broken friendships, nor blighted prospects in heaven. Poverty, famine, peril, persecution, and slander, are unknown there. No pain distresses, no thought of death or bereavement saddens.
They weep no more, for they are perfectly sanctified. No "evil heart of unbelief" prompts them to depart from the living God; they are without fault before His throne, and are fully conformed to His image. Well may they cease to mourn who have ceased to sin.
They weep no more, because all fear of change is past. They know that they are eternally secure. Sin is shut out, and they are shut in. They dwell within a city which shall never be stormed; they bask in a sun which shall never set; they drink of a river which shall never dry; they pluck fruit from a tree which shall never wither. Countless cycles may revolve, but eternity shall not be exhausted, and while eternity endures, their immortality and blessedness shall co-exist with it. They are for ever with the Lord.
They weep no more, because every desire is fulfilled. They cannot wish for anything which they have not in possession. Eye and ear, heart and hand, judgment, imagination, hope, desire, will, all the faculties, are completely satisfied; and imperfect as our present ideas are of the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, yet we know enough, by the revelation of the Spirit, that the saints above are supremely blessed. The joy of Christ, which is an infinite fullness of delight, is in them. They bathe themselves in the bottomless, shoreless sea of infinite beatitude. That same joyful rest remains for us. It may not be far distant. Ere long the weeping willow shall be exchanged for the palm-branch of victory, and sorrow's dewdrops will be transformed into the pearls of everlasting bliss. "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." - C.H. Spurgeon
When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. (Matthew 5:1)
and disciples. One of the first changes we experienced was a desire to know God’s Word and to spend time alone reading and thinking about what it all meant. Gradually, this reading, thinking and praying led to dramatically changed values and goals. We began to see major changes in our lives. God blew up the box we had built around our life and He keeps knocking down any new walls that we put up.
