As I have mentioned in posts past, Janelle is working a few evenings as a tax preparer. As such, she does not represent the IRS or a bank's interest, she is there to serve her clients. It is not her job to question the validity of the client's claims (unless it is totally ridiculous like supporting a family of 5 with only $1,000 in income for the year). She is there to listen to what they tell her, what they have signed and sworn to be true, and to record that information properly for them. She is neither judge nor jury, she is there to help. How often in life do we appoint ourselves as both judge and jury when all we have really been asked to do is listen and to help? I need to work harder at listening. Still struggling.
In Him,
David
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Storms
Last night storms came rolling through Music City USA. It was a fast moving system with lots of wind associated with it. It knocked out power in some areas, blew some tractor trailer trucks over, moved some large commercial air conditioner units on some buildings and blew some dumpsters around. After the storm passed through we still had high winds for the next 3 hours. Life can be like that too, a powerful storm passes through wreaking havoc and then we expect the "calm after the storm" but the calm does not come, instead we continue to get blown around. I want God to take away the storms but we are not promised that, we are promised peace - comfort. Even while the storm is raging the master over the storm is holding my hand.
In Him,
David
In Him,
David
Monday, January 28, 2008
Raising Boys
Janelle is working part-time during tax season as a tax preparer, leaving me to take care of the boys on many evenings and on weekends. I love spending time with the boys and had a great time with them this weekend. The thing with Christopher is finding the balance, discipline without breaking spirits. I don't think I have ever come close to doing that, but I often remind myself to discipline without breaking his spirit. He's two and he likes to run and push and jump and wrestle which are all natural activities for a young boy to do. I just need to guide him towards when it is appropriate and when it is not. Twice this weekend he played with older boys, lots of running and lots of pushing, which is great because he held his own. The bad part was he was playing where lots of other children were playing and he would get excited and could not distinguish between who was playing his game and who was not. We'll keep working on that. The best part about all that running and jumping was that he went to bed well on Friday and on Saturday and took a 2 and 1/2 hour nap on Sunday. That gave Jacob and me over an hour on Sunday for just the two of us to play....big fun.
We are having a warm snap so the boys are able to go out and play some. We had a great time int the backyard yesterday for about an hour, till we had to go in and eat and get ready for church. Christopher went up on the stage for the first time last night and sang with the other children. I was told he behaved very well, which of course makes me proud. I missed it as I was donating blood in the Family Life Center. It did not take me long to donate but while I was there 2 people passed out (one guy twice) and for the Red Cross people it was all hands on deck tending to them....leaving the rest of us stuck on the tables for quite some time. No matter, it was for a good cause.
Have a great week,
David
We are having a warm snap so the boys are able to go out and play some. We had a great time int the backyard yesterday for about an hour, till we had to go in and eat and get ready for church. Christopher went up on the stage for the first time last night and sang with the other children. I was told he behaved very well, which of course makes me proud. I missed it as I was donating blood in the Family Life Center. It did not take me long to donate but while I was there 2 people passed out (one guy twice) and for the Red Cross people it was all hands on deck tending to them....leaving the rest of us stuck on the tables for quite some time. No matter, it was for a good cause.
Have a great week,
David
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Thanks Lamar
What is the opposite of holy?
Think about it............
If you say unholy then you are just where I was 24 hours ago, till a class on Leviticus last night. I think unholy, I think Satan, evil and all that stuff but lets ask the question again, "what is the opposite of holy?" Look what God says to Aaron and the priests in Leviticus 10: 10 "You must distinguish between the holy and the common". That was a wow moment for me. The opposite of holy is common.
How many times have I tried to fit in, not cause a stir or blatantly exhibit my Christianity? How many times have I been satisfied in being common? 6 times in the New Testament we are called to be a holy people and yet I still try to be common. I can fit in and common myself straight to the firey pit if I am not careful. I think this is Satan's most powerful deception yet. I must choose to be uncommon, I must choose to be Holy.
In Him,
David
Think about it............
If you say unholy then you are just where I was 24 hours ago, till a class on Leviticus last night. I think unholy, I think Satan, evil and all that stuff but lets ask the question again, "what is the opposite of holy?" Look what God says to Aaron and the priests in Leviticus 10: 10 "You must distinguish between the holy and the common". That was a wow moment for me. The opposite of holy is common.
How many times have I tried to fit in, not cause a stir or blatantly exhibit my Christianity? How many times have I been satisfied in being common? 6 times in the New Testament we are called to be a holy people and yet I still try to be common. I can fit in and common myself straight to the firey pit if I am not careful. I think this is Satan's most powerful deception yet. I must choose to be uncommon, I must choose to be Holy.
In Him,
David
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Sick
Okay, I am sitting around feeling kind of sorry for myself because Sunday I spent over 12 hours throwing up. (What a way to start a blog). But really, I felt bad all day Monday, went to work Tuesday and wake up this morning sick again. Poor me. Then I get an e-mail from a friend about a message that I should listen to. I don't know how many of you are familiar with the Rick & Bubba radio show, but one of the hosts, Rick Burgess lost his 2 year old son this weekend while he was speaking at a youth rally in Pigeon Forge. Below is a link to the message he gave during his son's funeral service. I pray to God that he will give me such a faith.
http://216.69.161.56/audio/BronnerMemorial-RicksMsg.mp3
If the link does not work, go to www.rickandbubba.com and listen to "A Father's Heart".
Anything else I might say would be meaningless in light of this powerful message.
In Him,
David
The video is now on You Tube
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PUHUZWyFeg
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7aNDixS2J0
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUT8Bk6Ou90
http://216.69.161.56/audio/BronnerMemorial-RicksMsg.mp3
If the link does not work, go to www.rickandbubba.com and listen to "A Father's Heart".
Anything else I might say would be meaningless in light of this powerful message.
In Him,
David
The video is now on You Tube
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PUHUZWyFeg
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7aNDixS2J0
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUT8Bk6Ou90
Thursday, January 17, 2008
What am I doing here?
Have you ever asked yourself the question above? I think we all have or one similar such as, "is this all there is?", "how did I end up here?", "how did I get stuck here?", or "why doesn't God help me find a better job?" I wish I knew the answer but I don't. I know he loved the poor woman who gave her last coin as much as he loved David who was a king and composed those amazing songs to God.
I don't think it matters to God what job we do just that we do it to his glory. God wants us to be happy, but I think we confuse that happiness to mean that we have everything we want instead of its true meaning of knowing that whatever happens to me, God is in control. Its hard to let go and let God be in control. It is hard at times getting up and going to a job that you don't like or live in a place that you don't like. I don't have an answer for that as I struggle with these questions at times myself. I do know that I have a God who loves me and a God who knew I would sin but had a plan to redeem me before he even created the universe. I have a savior who formed the earth and shaped the hill that he would one day have to die on, but did it because he loved me. I have a wife and kids who love me and support me and all of these give me peace.
Where do you find peace/comfort? Do you have a special place that you like to go in times like these?
In Him,
David
I don't think it matters to God what job we do just that we do it to his glory. God wants us to be happy, but I think we confuse that happiness to mean that we have everything we want instead of its true meaning of knowing that whatever happens to me, God is in control. Its hard to let go and let God be in control. It is hard at times getting up and going to a job that you don't like or live in a place that you don't like. I don't have an answer for that as I struggle with these questions at times myself. I do know that I have a God who loves me and a God who knew I would sin but had a plan to redeem me before he even created the universe. I have a savior who formed the earth and shaped the hill that he would one day have to die on, but did it because he loved me. I have a wife and kids who love me and support me and all of these give me peace.
Where do you find peace/comfort? Do you have a special place that you like to go in times like these?
In Him,
David
Friday, January 11, 2008
Neighbors
What ever happened to neighbors? (sounding like Andy Rooney) When I was growing up I can remember Naitha, Margie and Shirley who all lived on our street just popping in to visit. They would drink coffee with mom while my brother and I would played with their kids. It was fun. There was also Juanita, Helen, Judy and others who lived across town who were often at our house or we at theirs. None of these people went to church with us, they were just friends/neighbors.
Sharon Black lived across the street from us and we were a two person welcoming committee to anyone who moved onto our street. We visited every house and knew everyone. With neighbors like this you could not get into much mischief without your parents learning about it, often before we even got home. None of these people went to church where we did, the were simply neighbors.
We don't get much of that anymore. Now we have to form neighborhood watch groups because nobody knows their neighbors. We come home, turn on the tv, eat dinner, check the e-mail, watch a movie and go to bed and it is tearing away the fabric of our society. People don't trust others like they used to. People are quicker to sue each other, I think in part because there are no consequences....there are no bridges to be burnt because they were never built. Kids can't play outside like they used to. When I was a child, the whole neighborhood looked after each others children. Now parents are afraid to let their children out of their sight.
My circle of friends here revolve around my spiritual family and people that I work with. If you are not in one of those two groups and we are friends, it is probably because our lives did intersect at somepoint due to one of those two groups. My question is, if we are to be light in the world, wouldn't it be smart to begin with our neighbors?
In Him,
David
Sharon Black lived across the street from us and we were a two person welcoming committee to anyone who moved onto our street. We visited every house and knew everyone. With neighbors like this you could not get into much mischief without your parents learning about it, often before we even got home. None of these people went to church where we did, the were simply neighbors.
We don't get much of that anymore. Now we have to form neighborhood watch groups because nobody knows their neighbors. We come home, turn on the tv, eat dinner, check the e-mail, watch a movie and go to bed and it is tearing away the fabric of our society. People don't trust others like they used to. People are quicker to sue each other, I think in part because there are no consequences....there are no bridges to be burnt because they were never built. Kids can't play outside like they used to. When I was a child, the whole neighborhood looked after each others children. Now parents are afraid to let their children out of their sight.
My circle of friends here revolve around my spiritual family and people that I work with. If you are not in one of those two groups and we are friends, it is probably because our lives did intersect at somepoint due to one of those two groups. My question is, if we are to be light in the world, wouldn't it be smart to begin with our neighbors?
In Him,
David
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