I've Been Away From Blogging!

I have been away from my computer over the last two weeks. We spent a week visiting friends and family in Dallas, Houston, and Lake Charles. I've been working with a friend from church this week. So my blogging time has been absent.

I hope to pick things up within the next two weeks or so.

Until then please stay tethered to God and His grace and by all means stay tethered to the gospel and live the gospel each day.

Please visit the links to the left and these brothers will help usher your soul to God in word.

God Bless!

The Best Way To Discipline Your Kids

In his autobiography, John Paton, Scottish missionary to the New Hebrides, reflects on how his father so effectively responded to his children's disobedience:

If anything really serious required to be punished, he retired first to his "closet" for prayer, and we boys got to understand that he was laying the whole matter before God; and that was the severest part of the punishment for me to bear! I could have defied any amount of mere penalty, but this spoke to my conscience as a message from God.

We loved him all the more, when we saw how much it cost him to punish us; and, in truth, he had never very much of that kind of work to do upon any one of all the eleven—we were ruled by love far more than by fear. (John G. Paton: Missionary to the New Hebrides, p.17, paragraphing added)

(HT: Desiring God)

If Any Parent Is In Christ...

"Christian parents have to build their self-understanding on who they are in Christ, not on the quality of their parenting. This is more important than learning child-rearing techniques, because it changes entirely the framework of our child-rearing, moving us from performance-based living into grace-based living.

The great challenge of Christian parenting is learning to rest in our perfection in Christ and not be consumed with our performance or the performance of our children."

Dr. Eric Johnson

(HT:Life2gether)

One of the many things that I'm learning more about parenting and not just from reading books, but every day practice, is I'm beginning to see God work in the minds and thoughts of our boys. Their thoughts are becoming more biblical and therefore God-centered. This is pushing me more to live a gospel-centered family life, rather than just making sure my kids "perform" well in our home and in front of others.

Our church is a family friendly church and as a pastor who has 5 children I'm tempted to just make sure that my kids "act right" instead of pursuing their hearts for godliness.

It's an easier thing for me to get them to 'act right' than it is to pursue them for godliness. Many people's kids can be well-behaved, but from what kind of motivation? Coercion, reward, or love for God?

Frankly, I'm glad that God has shown me this early on in my parenting. Now I must be faithful to live it out. This is gospel living at its core.

"It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." ~ Luke 1.17

James 1.13-16 And Your Children

Over the last few weeks I have been preaching through James 1.13-16...

"Let no one say when he is tempted , "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren."

As a family we have been talking about all the many ways we are tempted to sin against God. One of the things that I was challenged to do is to find out what my wife is being tempted with each day and our older children. And one of the interesting and humbling things that has come out of these daily discussions with our children is that Stephanie and I now have one of our boys, Micah, who is asking us almost every day, "have you been tempted today to sin?" Wow!

This is something that I wasn't expecting to happen or even ready for, but in a good way is 'rocking our world'. I mean...I wasn't expecting to be held accountable by my six year old and have to give an account of the things that are tempting me in life...whether I stand firm against them or not.

So have any of you found this to be taking place in your family?

Maybe you're a few years ahead of us in the parenting years and can offer some good biblical advice or encouragement. I find this to be very interesting and healthy, but at the same time it is somewhat different for your child to ask you this question every day expecting a truthful answer.

I am happy and thankful to God that he is taking temptation to sin very seriously and I hope he perseveres in his life to always battle the enemy within and remain strong in the grace of God.

To Have A Godly Father

Each of us has been placed by God in a specific time, in a specific place, with a specific family, and I'm sure a million other specifics. And one of the things that I have really come to enjoy, as I've gotten older (I'm now 35), is listening to how God has used earthly fathers to spiritually encourage their sons, who are now pastors/ministers in the gospel ministry.

I'm a first generation Christian. I don't have years of godly advice and wisdom that has been passed down to me from my dad. God didn't save my dad until I graduated and left home to prepare for ministry. My dad and I have an incredible relationship and friendship to this day. But since God saved me, almost 20 years ago, and my other brother and sisters, we've had to by God's grace, begin this tradition of passing on the legacy of faith to our children.

I say all this, because when I read what some other brother's dad passed on to him spiritually it encourages me and blesses me. But the truth is there is also a little in me that wishes that I could have had a good jump in life for Jesus from my dad. It is in those moments when I know that I must repent and trust that Christ is doing a good work in me for my children today. I must lean on His providence and wisdom and not my own.

Anyway, I was reminded about all this when I read what Ray Ortlund's dad told him growing up.

"My dad used to say to me, when I was a kid, 'Listen, son. Half-hearted Christians are the most miserable people of all. They know enough to feel guilty, but they haven’t gone far enough with Christ to be happy. Be wholehearted for him!'

I used to roll my eyes when you said that. I don’t any more."

Happy Birthday Dad...#70!

Today my dad is celebrating his 70th birthday.  Next to my wife no one has encouraged me and pushed me more to trust God in this life than my dad.  And although we both spent most of the years that we were together in one house NOT honoring God, God has definitely allowed us to use these last many years to talk and discuss more things about God than before. 

I treasure our God-talk together.  And it was sweet to pray with him over the phone this morning on his 70th birthday.

I love you man!

I Pulled It!

A very first as a dad.

Yep, I pulled Micah's loose tooth this weekend while visiting family in Louisiana. It was a great moment for father and son. One I will remember forever. Take a look at a son who is proud to be without a tooth.

Man, he is digging it! I forgot how much a kid feels grown up when a tooth is pulled.

I love you Micah!

What is the most effective way for parents to influence their children?

Gary Thomas gives a great answer to a great question. As parents we should be asking similar questions like this often.

You can click Here to watch Gary's answer in under 2 minutes.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Over the last couple of months I've been extremely busy. I have wanted to blog, but literally haven't had the time to think through things enough to make a coherent thought. I've missed it greatly.

Due to the Thanksgiving holidays I have taken this week off and will be enjoying some time with family down in Alabama. I'm anticipating my schedule opening up a bit over the next several weeks, so Lord willing I will put some much needed time back into blogging.

Please pray for our family as we will be traveling and for us to enjoy one another's fellowship!

I would love to hear how you are spending your Thanksgiving and any sweet family traditions that you like to celebrate.

Legalism and Children

My Father's Daughter

I encourage each of you to take a moment and read up on my wife Stephanie's new blog. She has called it My Father's Daughter.

It is her spiritual effort to encourage, minister, and lead others to lean on Christ, who are facing the realization that they have been Donor Conceived.

I love my wife and I knew that it was just a matter of time before she picked up this crisis in her own life and turned it into a way to help people see the beauty and worth of Jesus Christ through it all.

Please pray for her b/c she longs for her blog to be a means of God's grace to so many people. Something that is very encouraging is....within the first few hours of her blog going public she already had a good number of hits from all over the world.

These precious people are hurting and they need to turn to Jesus. If you happen to know anyone who is wrestling with this in their lives, please encourage them to contact Stephanie.

Praise God for His comfort to comfort others!

Moralism or The Gospel?

Here is an excellent article from Al Mohler that every pastor, parent and I'm trying to think of another 'P' word but I can't, needs to read.

Take 3-5 minutes to read this article on whether or not your preaching moralism and/or 'raising your kids right', but in the end all your doing is teaching people/children how to be moral.

This is NOT the gospel!

This is a really good article and worth the few minutes to read it.

Let me hear your thoughts on it!

http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=4388

It's 4 AM. Do You Know Where Your Kids Are?

Well it's about 4.15 am. I just finished my sermon for this Sunday and I'm exhausted. The reason for the late night is, my three oldest children are coming home tomorrow or today actually! Seth, Micah and Abby should be on their way to Memphis right now from spending time with my folks in Louisiana. My dad likes to leave early!

I finished up my sermon, so that I could spend the rest of the day with them. I usually polish up my sermon on Saturdays, but I really wanted to be unhindered so I can hang out with my kids for the first time in over a month.

God I pray that you keep them safe today as they travel. Help them to enjoy You and Your creation as they travel the countryside. May they think much about Your handy work. Keep those around them safe as well. Amen!

I'm Now A Bi-Vocational Pastor!

Well about 4 weeks ago I became a bi-vocational pastor. God provided a sweet job to help us meet some financial needs. A church just outside of Memphis was needing someone to work as their maintenance guy and so I pursued it and it was a good fit.

It has been a blessing for our family, but has taken me away from blogging, which I really enjoy doing.

Anyway, we are thankful to God for providing for our needs. Please pray that I will be able to juggle this new schedule.

Also, I start back at school in a couple of weeks. My classes will be every Monday evening. I am attending Union University and pursuing a degree in Organizational Leadership. Hopefully over the next few weeks I'll have a pretty good routine down, so I would appreciate you praying for me!

Vacation Time!

My family and I are on vacation this week, so I will be away for the most part from the blog world.

Pray that God will bless our time with family and friends as we spend some good time on the river down in Alabama!

'UP'

Today I took my two oldest boys to see our very first movie together. Yep, you read correctly, our very first movie. As you can tell I'm not the big screen movie buff, but I tell you, it was a great time hanging out with my boys....just the guys. We don't get to do that much. But I had some brothers in Christ recommend the movie and so we went to see it.

The movie is called 'UP' and it's in 3-D, which is really cool and overall it was a pretty good movie. The movie really uplifts marriage in a big way.

But obviously the best part was hangin' out with my boys with a big jumbo tub of popcorn and of course we washed it all down with good old Diet Coke.

Well I'm about to take the boys to go play their baseball game....it's been a good day and hopefully we'll be able to get a good game of baseball in tonight....Lord willing it doesn't rain, again!

How Do I Stop 'Losing It' With My Kids?

This is a really good post from Jordan Thomas' blog on parenting.

"As parents we are desperately needy (usually more often than we're aware) for God to enable us to point our children toward Christ by being accurate reflections of Him.

Not even Mary and Joseph, the earthly parents of Jesus, set the example perfectly. We're all flawed, and we all need help. As we seek the Lord's face, He will provide!

In his tiny-but-excellent (19 pg!) pamphlet, William P. Smith quickly gets to the heart-problem for many parents:

When your agenda, your will, your desires, and your reputation become more important than God's, that's a sign you are trying to be your child's god. That's right. Whether you thought about it or not, you want your child to treat you like God.

Instead of pointing to the only true God, our parenting-by-force approach projects to our children that we want to be their god. A poor trade indeed! Duck now warning: Here comes another painfully-true ouch quote from Smith:

When you lose control with your children, you are communicating to them that their priority is to wrap themselves around you. They must give you what you want or pay the consequences. You are, in reality, demanding their worship. Instead of teaching them to live according to every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, you are teaching them to live according to every word that proceeds out of your mouth.

A prayer: Lord help us to point our children to the matchless glory and worth of King Jesus through our parenting!

(I highly recommend this resource, and all of the similarly-small-but-excellent life-application and counseling booklets from the ministry of CCEF.)"

How to Spark Substantive Conversations with Your Spouse

Tony Reinke:

[David] Powlison suggested three categories of questions to ask your husband or wife. Each of these categories can be asked on a daily basis. And each of these categories are simple and broad, but certainly provide helpful reminders. Here are the three:

1. What are your present burdens?

The Bible tells us that we are born for trouble (Job 5:7). So what is the trouble? A sin? A responsibility? An issue at work? A particular conflict? What weighs you down? What was your lowlight of this day? These burdens are the “heat of life.”

2. What are your present joys?

What were your highlights from the day? These joys are the “dew of blessing.”

3. What is your calling?

This could include the mundane tasks, or broader life-purpose questions. What are your duties for this day? What do you need to do? What are your goals for this day? For example, a parent could say, “Today, I don’t want to lose my temper with the kids.” It could be as simple as this.

For more on this, see Powlison's very helpful little booklet on Renewing Marital Intimacy.

(HT: Justin Taylor)

I've Been Occupied...

I've been away from the blogging world as of late.

Over the last two weeks this is what has been happening....I started a new sermon series in Colossians, I had the opportunity to join some godly men for a monthly lunch fellowship, my folks were in town from Louisiana, we celebrated Mother's Day, Stephanie's birthday, Abby's ballet recital, we had a couple of baseball games for the boys, we celebrated the graduation of one of the teenagers in our church, we went to a home school book sale in Millington, we cleaned the church, all of our children were sick last week except for Abby, Stephanie was also sick for three days and tonight we are celebrating Micah's graduation from Kindergarten.

Whew! We've been busy!

So hopefully I can begin this week by getting back to my 'normal' routine. But as I say this, Stephanie's mom and aunt are driving in from Alabama, so we will be spending the next couple of days with them. They are coming in town to celebrate Micah's graduation with us. Thanks Nana and Aunt Nette!

Pray for our family as we persevere through all the transitioning of becoming a 'pastor's family'!

Carrie Prejean's Story Points To Deeper Issues In Evangelical World

Nancy Leigh DeMoss gives a pretty sobering assessment about Miss California and her launch into the public arena of 'moral' debate...

She says, "Those who hold to the biblical concept of marriage couldn't help but be glad that this young woman courageously stood for the Truth, knowing that to do so could be costly.

Yet, for those who affirm and cherish the biblical perspective of femininity and sexuality, this story has an important subtext and raises a number of issues that should be of great concern to us as followers of Christ." Read the whole article.

Please be sure to take note of the last paragraph....a true righteous response!

(HT: Josh Harris)