Category: Family

Friday’s Findings

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Evangelism, Family, Marriage

7 Things Your Church Needs From You – Tim Challies writes one of those, “Man, I wish I had written this one!” blog posts. This is spot on.

Practical Evangelism Help – What if faithful evangelism didn’t involve anything extra but simply intentionally doing what you already do?

Making Time for Romance When Life Is Too Busy – This is one of my favorite marriage blogs. Here’s some practical tips that will help you add what is often missing in so many marriages today!

The Importance of Family Mealtime – “Our family table can never be replaced by a restaurant table!” This was a good follow up comment to this blog post written by my precious wife who went to great lengths to provide wonderful food and great memories around the table! Thanks, Hon!

It’s All in the Presentation – One of my favorite moments from the Cosby Show.

 

Friday’s Findings

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Family, Joy, Marriage, Parenting, Prayer

The goal of each Friday on my blog is to share a potpourri of links I’ve found to feed your soul, encourage your heart, bring a smile to your face, and cause you to rejoice.

What Will Your Kids Remember About You?  Parents, especially Moms, will need this one as you come to the end of your week.  A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones (Proverbs 17:12). A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

Be Yourself In Prayer  This is an extremely practical, well-written help for all believers as we engage in the best work.  Remember, prayer is only beneficial and accepted before God the Father when you go through the only advocate, Jesus Christ the Righteous One (1 John 2:1). Our goal is not pray perfect prayers, but to simply talk to our Heavenly Father through the Perfect One, Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).  Share your heart, your burden, your praise, and let the Perfect One handled your prayers perfectly (Psalm 18:30). His ears are open to our cry (Psalm 34:15).

Marriage Takes More Than Love – A quick read with three practical helps for marriage.

Fall Foliage in the Blue Ridge Mountains  This is one of the most spectacular times of the year as God paints His creation with colors from His perfect paintbrush along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Enjoy the pics!

The Zipper Story – Enjoy!

Contaminated!

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Church, Discipleship, Family, Parenting
 

Wal-Mart is not. Ball practice is not. Homework is not. Family gatherings are not. Working at McDonald’s is not. But . . . church sure is! Or at least that’s what it appears to be. When I hear the excuses parents make for not faithfully attending church, youth activities, Sunday School, ministry opportunities, regular services, I begin to wonder, “Is church contaminated with something?”

Look at the following written by Mary Louise Kitsen, “Generations of Excuses,” found in the Good News Broadcaster.

  • our baby Timmy’s birth
  • Timmy’s just a baby
  • Timmy always catches a cold in the nursery
  • Timmy’s too noisy and too active
  • Timmy can’t get along with the other children
  • the birth of Timmy’s baby sister, Sally
  • Sally’s just a baby
  • Sally always catches a cold in the nursery
  • Sally’s too noisy and too active
  • Sally can’t get along with the other children
  • we’re all so busy that Sunday is our only day as a family
  • my husband’s boss wants to golf with him on Sundays
  • I work during the week and Sunday is my only day to relax
  • Timmy’s soccer games are on Sundays
  • Timmy thinks going to youth group is dumb
  • Timmy’s married now, and you know how it is with newlyweds!
  • Timmy’s baby’s birth
  • Timmy’s baby is too noisy, too active, might catch a cold in the nursery . . .

Many parents don’t mind exposing their children to the germs at the grocery store, because after all you must eat. Or exposing their children to the other children at school, because after all they must get an education. Or exposing their children to the “clean world” of McDonald’s, because after all they must get a job. No excuses are uttered here for these temporal endeavors. BUT, exposure to eternal, life-changing truths, people who preach and teach the Truth, activities that help children hear the Gospel and eventually understand salvation, summer camp that enriches the lives of children spiritually, the local church which is the body of Christ, now we had better be careful! There must be something about those eternal things, so we make excuses to protect them! (By the way, my favorite line at the door on Sunday morning as folks are leaving is, “We probably won’t be back tonight for church.” Oh really????)

What excuses are you using to keep your children from being impacted by Truth? What excuses are you using that your children are learning and will use someday as well?

Luke 14:25-26    Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

The Thou Shalts of Digital Media

by Dale, posted in Family, Parenting

It’s the world we live in. The Jetson’s have moved from TV cartoons to reality. The internet has changed our lives. Who would have thought that a cellphone would have such possibilities? Let me be quick to say that my wife and I own and use our smartphones all the time.   For many of us, it is our office away from our office. Seems like everywhere you go, people young and old are using their cellphones to text, talk, search the internet, find directions, get information, etc.  I even use mine in the pulpit and class.

Speaking of youth, gazillions of kids and teens have cellphones. They are attached to them like an appendage. The point of this blog post today is to join up with a parent who has attempted to guide and give some discipline to her children concerning their digital media. Parents, our children and teens need your help in all areas of life including the proper use of their digital media. I believe you will find Susan Maushart’s “The Ten Commandments For Using Modern Media” to be helpful.

  1. Thou shalt not fear boredom
  2. Thou shalt not “multitask” (not until thy kingdom come, thy homework be done)
  3. Thou shalt not WILF (WILF describes the “What Was I Looking For” phenomenon of using Google to look for one thing, and then burning two hours hunting down random and unimportant facts)
  4. Thou shalt not text and drive (or talk, or sleep)
  5. Thou shalt keep the Sabbath a screen-free day
  6. Thou shalt keep thy bedroom a media-free zone
  7. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s upgrade
  8. Thou shalt set thy accounts to “Private”
  9. Thou shalt bring no media to thy dinner
  10. Thou shalt bring no dinner to thy media.

Friday’s Findings

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Family, Parenting

As we close out this week, I’m sharing some links/blogs that have impacted me this week.  I believe they will be of encouragement to you.

 

Christ’s Body: The Mission of the Church —Watch as Jason Ormiston delivers a message that all believers need to hear.  (Bob Jones University Chapel, September 24, 2014)

  • You would also be greatly edified by listening to Dr. Steve Pettit’s messages on Walking in the Spirit.

How I Learned to Win Souls — You will find this practical post by a dear man of God, Dr. Don Sisk, to be a rich blessing in obedience to the Great Commission.  One other feather in his cap is the fact that he is a UK Wildcat fan! 😉

Parenting – Have We Lost Our Way?— How grateful that we have the blessed opportunity to support this family on the mission field.  Here are some very timely questions that need to be answered in regards to modern-day parenting.  If you are a parent, please read and answer with genuine honesty and transparency.  Here is hope for you.

Are You Leeching the Local Church? — Enough said.

Eliminating and Concentrating — Help for busy ladies!

You Are the Best!

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Family, Marriage

PA Trip Sept 2014 893

In keeping with my theme of gratitude for this week, I must tell you about one particular person that tops them all.

  • She prays constantly with great passion and assurance.
  • She studies the Word because she has a personal relationship with its Author.
  • She knows me better than anyone, and yet she loves me unconditionally.
  • She is my number one cheerleader.
  • She is a lady of character.
  • She loves the ministry, especially with children and women.
  • She has always been by my side.
  • She truly fears the Lord.
  • She knows how to make a house a home.
  • She thirsts for discipleship.
  • She memorizes the Word.
  • She lives what she believes and knows about her God.
  • She is unselfish.
  • She loves to laugh and once-in-awhile be ornery.
  • She is willing to try something new and out of her comfort zone.
  • She takes the hits sometimes that are unwarranted, unkind, and directed at me.
  • She has given her life to the best mom possible.
  • She continues to do the best thing for her husband, daughters and son-in-laws, pray.
  • She weeps with those who weep and rejoices with those who rejoice.
  • She speaks with wisdom.
  • She works hard.
  • She rises early.
  • She is hospitable.
  • She has overcome my unreal expectations and become a humble, faithful servant.
  • She is an excellent teacher and a good learner.
  • She has endured trials that have broken her heart.
  • She sings with a melodic, soothing voice that comes from her heart.
  • She makes me proud to call her mine.

She is my precious wife that God gave me over 33 years ago. She is the mother of our three precious daughters.  She is the “Tonto” that keeps me from being the “Lone Ranger.” Outside of my personal salvation, she is the greatest grace gift God has bestowed on me.  Thank you, Sweetheart, for who you are and what you do.  You are the best!!

What Are You Praying For Your Children?

by Dale, posted in Family

You want a blessing?  Come to our church and watch the precious children as they sing and quote Scripture on Sunday morning or watch them play their instruments for an offertory or see them gathered on the floor for Pastor’s Pals or watch them run eagerly to FrontLine Club.  What an opportunity we have in front of us!

Parents and grandparents, I encourage you to watch this brief video.  Then, would each of you begin to fervently pray as suggested by Dr. Rogers?  We are training and preparing the next generation.  Let’s make sure we are praying correctly.

Praying For Your Children

Rude or Polite Children? It’s the Parent’s Choice

by Dale, posted in Family

Recently, Denise and I were eating in a local restaurant with an unruly child across the aisle.  The mother was so embarrassed by his antics that she apologized as she was leaving.  I really felt sorry for the mother.

In contrast, I have eaten with folks who have small/grade-school children, and the waitress and/or even folks nearby have stopped to remark about the good behavior displayed by these children.  How refreshing to be seated at the table with them and hear, “May I please have a Coke?” or “May I please have the kids pizza?” Not only is it refreshing to hear such polite communication, but the parents do not talk for their children.  They have spent time training their children how speak up, to be polite, and respectful.  Yes, it takes time, but it glorifies God, builds lives, and leaves a good testimony.

Here is a most helpful blog post entitled Ten Forgotten Ways to Teach Politeness to Your Children that serves up some very practical help.  Read it, put it into practice, and enjoy taking your children out to the restaurant in the future.