DeLon Family Update

Are you in the Middle of the Road?

2011-04-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

This is the April 13th "Moments With You" article by Dennis & Barbara Rainey.

How long will you hesitate between two opinions?
1 Kings 18:21

Barbara was driving into town from home one day when, topping a hill, she spotted a two-year-old boy standing there in his diaper -- smack dab on the yellow line in the middle of the road. Without enough time to brake, she swerved wildly onto the shoulder, coming to a screeching stop a good distance past the child.
Flinging open her car door, she ran back up the street to retrieve the toddler from danger, when the mother -- having heard the squealing tires and commotion -- raced out into the road herself. She scooped up her crying child into her arms, trembling with shock and fright at what might have been if Barbara hadn't been driving so carefully.

Truly, the middle of the road is no place for anyone to be.
But sadly in our culture today, far too many Christian families are parked in the middle. Not sure what they believe. Not sure what they expect of their children. Not willing to take a stand on certain issues that are clearly biblical. Basing their lives on "near beliefs."

I believe that God is calling families like yours today to be counter-cultural -- not in a weird, obnoxious way, but establishing a lifestyle that communicates at a glance, "This family is different. They're distinctive in their beliefs and practices. They represent Jesus Christ."

There is no reason why so many Christian marriages should end in divorce. There is no reason why people who call themselves evangelicals should account for one in every six abortions performed in America. There is no reason why more than half of our Christian teens are engaging in some form of sexual involvement to the detriment of their own hearts and futures

We've spent enough time in the middle of the road. It's time to get in gear in the right direction and head for home.

Discuss
How would an outsider tell the difference between your family and one who didn't claim to be Christian?

Pray
Pray for the courage to determine and live by your convictions -- biblical convictions -- no matter the cost.

________________________________________

Excerpted from Moments With You by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. Copyright ® 2011 Dennis and Barbara Rainey. All Rights Reserved. Published by Regal Books, Ventura, CA 93003.

Be a Hero - Watch this 4 minute video to learn how

2011-03-22T11:48:00.001-07:00

R U Leading a Balanced Life?

2011-02-16T09:14:00.000-08:00

click this like to view the video from Shaunti Feldhahn.

ShauntiFeldhahn3-L

This is a GREAT resource for women. Grab a few of your girl friends and learn the Biblical Rx for a Balanced Life. Find out more here.

What is your dream?

2011-01-17T06:18:00.000-08:00

The Gift of Max - Chuck and Emily Colson

2010-11-30T18:38:00.000-08:00

Life can change in a moment. Emily Colson, joined by her father Chuck Colson, talks about the birth of her beautiful son, Max. Reeling from a difficult divorce and fearing what might underlie Max's difficulties, Emily persevered in seeking help for her son, who was eventually diagnosed with autism.

Listen to FamilyLife Today

Build Godly Marriages with the Art of Marriage

2010-10-14T06:05:00.001-07:00

The Art of Marriage is a new 6-DVD series that allows YOU to host an engaging marriage event at your church. The Art of Marriage give YOU the tool you need to have a thriving, impactful marriage ministry to those in your sphere of influence.

Will you consider hosting an Art of Marriage event on 2-11-11? That's the launch weekend for this new resource. We are praying for 1,000 Art of Marraige events across the nation that weekend.

If you have questions, please call or email me.

Have a great day!

Believing the Truth of the Gospel

2010-06-25T13:41:00.000-07:00

Believing the Truth of the Gospel - FamilyLife.com

Author Randy Alcorn gives great insight into suffering and the gospel. This is day 1 of a 3 day series from FamilyLife Today. Hope you can listen to all of them.

Appreciating Your Husband - FamilyLife.com

2010-03-30T12:53:00.001-07:00

Are you worthy of your husband? Listen to author Gary Thomas as he talks with Dennis Rainey about what men most need from their wives.Appreciating Your Husband - FamilyLife.com

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What it takes to STAY married.

2010-02-12T06:38:00.000-08:00

(From Moments with You email by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)

On-the-Job Training

Marriage is to be held in honor among all. - Hebrews 13:4

When a buffet restaurant offered a free Valentine's Day lunch to any couple who's been married for 50 years or more, over 300 people showed up. At a gathering like that, you get a lot more than a good time and good food; you also learn some good advice on what it takes to make a marriage last:

• "If I want anything fairly expensive, I'll talk it over with him, and he'll do the same with me."

• "When you go to bed, always kiss good-night. We always kiss good-bye when we leave each other."

• "I'm the boss. I make sure that everything she wants gets done."

• "Treat each other with kindness, love and respect. Just work it out together. Don't fuss. We stay mad an hour or two, but that's it ... and it's fun to make up."

• "Look at things in different ways and concentrate on the ‘good' in your relationship. I always say, ‘This too shall pass,' and it usually does."

• "You do a lot of counting to 10 ... or 20, if necessary."

• "We were always taught, ‘Till death do you part.' Divorce was never discussed in our house."

• "When he was young, he was high-tempered, so I usually didn't say much. But when you don't say anything, you don't have to take anything back."

• "When we said ‘I do,' we didn't say it was just for tomorrow. You've got to tie the knot where it can't be untied."

Spoken like real pros.

Learning to Love, Lead and Last in marriage is an on-going work. Stay committed. Though it may become difficult, it is most definitely worth it.

The Importance of Dad

2010-01-26T07:14:00.000-08:00

** From the Moments With You daily email from FamilyLife

January 26

He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children.
Malachi 4:6

When I gaze at the family snapshots on my desk, a lump forms in my throat. Where are the grinning little boys proudly holding stringers of fish? When did they grow up to become fathers with their own little boys? Where are the little girls in pigtails? When were they transformed into stunning brides?

Time does not stand still, nor does the life of a family.
But there is one thing that doesn't change: the importance of a dad. A boy needs the heart of his father and the fellowship of men. He needs at least one man who pays attention to him, spends time with him, admires him and teaches him how to become a man himself. A boy needs a role model.

From experience, I can tell you how easy it is for dads to be selfish. When our children were younger, I struggled with placing my children's needs above my own desires. I realized that I had a choice to make every day. If I had gone home from work and retreated into my own world, I would have squandered my responsibility to build into my kids.

It requires perseverance, not perfection, to be the father that your children need. You will not be flawless. But you can learn how to reserve energy so that you don't come home from work so emotionally exhausted that you have nothing left for our kids. You can choose not to bend to selfishness but instead to say yes to investing in the next generation.

When our children were little, it occurred to me one day that I needed to save some energy for home. On a card I wrote, "Save Some for Home." I clipped that card to the shade of my lamp on my desk and for more than a decade, it reminded me of my children's needs for a daddy.

Dads, do you have an extra paper clip?

Discuss
On a 1- to 10-point scale (1 being poor and 10 being outstanding), grade yourself as a father. How involved are you in your children's lives emotionally, relationally and spiritually?

Pray
Pray that you will be there for your children.

Praying BIG for your family!

2010-01-05T06:11:00.001-08:00

If you're like me, you struggle in your prayer life. This 2-day series from FamilyLife Today has really helped me. I hope it helps you.

FamilyLife Today - FamilyLife.com

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Marriage: God’s Showcase of Covenant-Keeping Grace

2009-11-28T06:24:00.000-08:00

This is an article by Pastor John Piper from February 11, 2007 that I found on his website: www.DesiringGod.org.

Colossians 2:13-15, 3:12-19

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. . . . 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

What we have seen in the last two weeks is that the most foundational thing you can say about marriage is that it is the doing of God, and the most ultimate thing you can say about marriage is that it is for the display of God. These two points are made by Moses in Genesis 2. But they are made even more clearly by Jesus and Paul in the New Testament.
Jesus: Marriage Is the Doing of God

Jesus makes the point most clearly that marriage is the doing of God. Mark 10:6-9, “From the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female’ [Genesis 1:27], ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’ [Genesis 2:24]. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” This is the clearest statement in the Bible that marriage is not a merely human doing. The words “God has joined together” means it is God’s doing.
Paul: Marriage Is the Display of God

Paul makes the point most clearly that marriage is designed to be the display of God. In Ephesians 5:31-32, he quotes Genesis 2:24 and then tells us the mystery that it has always contained: “‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” In other words, the covenant involved in leaving mother and father and holding fast to a spouse and becoming one flesh is a portrayal of the covenant between Christ and his church. Marriage exists most ultimately to display the covenant-keeping love between Christ and his church.
A Model of Christ and the Church

I asked Noël if there was anything she wanted me to say today. She said, “You cannot say too often that marriage is a model of Christ and the church.” I think she is right and there are at least three reasons: 1) This lifts marriage out of the sordid sitcom images and gives it the magnificent meaning God meant it to have; 2) this gives marriage a solid basis in grace, since Christ obtained and sustains his bride by grace alone; and 3) this shows that the husband’s headship and the wife’s submission are crucial and crucified. That is, they are woven into the very meaning of marriage as a display of Christ and the church, but they are both defined by Christ’s self-denying work on the cross so that their pride and slavishness are cancelled.

We spent the first two messages on the first of these reasons: giving the foundation for marriage as a display of the covenant love of God. Marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman in which they promise to be a faithful as husband and a faithful wife in a new one-flesh union as long as they both shall live. This covenant, sealed with solemn vows and sexual union, is designed to showcase the covenant-keeping grace of God.
A Solid Basis in Grace

That is today’s title: “Marriage: God’s Showcase of Covenant-Keeping Grace.” So we are turning to the second reason I mentioned that Noël is right to say that you can’t say too often that marriage is a model of Christ and the church: namely, that this gives to marriage a solid basis in grace, since Christ obtained and sustains his bride by grace alone.

In other words, the main point today is that, since Christ’s new covenant with this church is created by and sustained by blood-bought grace, therefore, human marriages are meant to showcase that new-covenant grace. And the way they showcase it is by resting in the experience of God’s grace and bending it out from a vertical experience with God into a horizontal experience with their spouse. In other words, in marriage you live hour by hour in glad dependence on God’s forgiveness and justification and promised future grace, and you bend it out toward your spouse hour by hour—as an extension of God’s forgiveness and justification and promised help. That’s today’s point.
The Centrality of Forgiving, Justifying Grace

I am aware that all Christians are supposed to do this in all your relationships (not just married Christians): live hour by hour by the forgiving, justifying, all-supplying grace of God, and then bend it out to all the others in your life. And Jesus says that all of our lives are a showcase of God’s glory (Matthew 5:16). But marriage is designed to be a unique display of God’s covenant grace because, unlike all other human relationships, the husband and wife are bound by covenant into the closest possible relationship for a lifetime. There are unique roles of headship and submission, but that is not my point today. That will come later. Today I consider husband and wife as Christians per se, not on the analogy of head and body. Before a man and woman can apply biblically and graciously the unique roles of headship and submission, they must discover what it means to build their lives on the vertical experience of forgiveness and justification and promised help and then bend it out horizontally to their spouse. So that’s the focus today.

Or to put it in terms of last week’s message: The key to being naked and not ashamed (Genesis 2:25), when, in fact, a husband and a wife do many things that they should be ashamed of, is the experience of God’s vertical forgiving, justifying grace bent out horizontally to each other and displayed to the world.
The Coming Wrath of God

Briefly, let’s see the foundation for this truth in Colossians. We will start with Colossians 3:6, “On account of these the wrath of God is coming.” If you say, “The last thing I want hear about in my troubled marriage is the wrath of God,” you are like a frustrated fisherman on the western coast of Indonesia on December 26, 2004, saying, “The last thing I want to hear about in my troubled fishing business is a tsunami.” A profound understanding and fear of God’s wrath is exactly what many marriages need, because without it, the gospel is diluted down to mere human relations and loses its biblical glory. And without it, you will be tempted to think that your wrath—your anger—against your spouse is simply too big to overcome, because you have never really tasted what it is like to see an infinitely greater wrath overcome by grace, namely, God’s wrath against you.
The Removal of God’s Wrath

So we begin with the wrath of God and its removal. Now go back with me to Colossians 2:13-14, “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him [Christ], having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”

Those last words are the most crucial. This—this record of debt that stood against us—God set aside, nailing it to the cross. When did that happen? Two thousand years ago. It did not happen inside of you, and it did not happen with any help from you. God did that for you and outside of you before you were ever born. This is the great objectivity of our salvation.
The Record of Debt Cancelled at the Cross

Make sure you see this most wonderful and astonishing of all truths: God took the record of all your sins that made you a debtor to wrath (sins are offenses against God that bring down his wrath), and instead of holding them up in front of your face and using them as the warrant to send you to hell, he put them in the palm of his Son’s hand and drove a nail through them into the cross.

Whose sins were nailed to the cross? Whose sins were punished on the cross? Answer: My sins. And Noël’s sins—my wife’s sins and my sins—the sins of all who despair of saving themselves and trust in Christ alone. Whose hands were nailed to the cross? Who was punished on the cross? Jesus was. There is a beautiful name for this. It’s called a substitution. God condemned my sin in Christ’s flesh (Romans 8:3). Husbands, you cannot believe this too strongly. Wives, you cannot believe this too strongly.
Justification Goes Beyond Forgiveness

And if we reach back and draw in here all our understanding of justification from Romans we can say more. Justification goes beyond forgiveness. Not only are we forgiven because of Christ, but God also declares us righteous because of Christ. God requires two things of us: punishment for our sins and perfection in our lives. Our sins must be punished and our lives must be righteous. But we cannot bear our own punishment (Psalm 49:7-8), and we cannot provide our own righteousness. None is righteous; no, not one (Romans 3:10).

Therefore, God, out of his immeasurable love for us, provided his own Son to do both. Christ bears our punishment and Christ performs our righteousness. And when we receive Christ (John 1:12), all of his punishment and all of his righteousness is counted as ours (Romans 4:4-6; 5:19; 5:1; 8:1; 10:4; Philippians 3:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Justification Bent Outward

This is the vertical reality that must be bent outward horizontally to our spouses if marriage is to display the covenant-making, covenant-keeping grace of God. We see this in Colossians 3:12-13, “ Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

“As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive”—your spouse. As the Lord “bears with” you, so you should bear with your spouse. The Lord “bears with” you everyday as you fall short of his will. Indeed, the distance between what Christ expects of you and what you achieve is infinitely greater than the distance between what you and expect of your spouse and what he achieves. Christ always forgives more and endures more than we do. Forgive as you have been forgiven. Bear with as he bears with you. This holds for whether you are married to a believer or an unbeliever. Let the measure of God’s grace to you in the cross of Christ be the measure of your grace to your spouse.

And if you are married to a believer, you can add this: As the Lord counts you righteous in Christ, though you are not in actual behavior or attitude, so count your spouse righteous in Christ, though he is not—though she is not. In other words, Colossians 3 says, take the vertical grace of forgiveness and justification and bend them out horizontally to your spouse. This is what marriage is for, most ultimately—the display of Christ’s covenant-keeping grace.
The Need for Gospel-Rooted Wisdom

Now at this point, hundreds of complex situations emerge that cry for deep spiritual wisdom rooted in these gospel truths and in long years of painful, faithful experience. In other words, there is no way I could apply this message to everyone’s particular needs. Besides preaching, we need the Holy Spirit, we need prayer, we need to meditate on the Word for ourselves, we need to read the insights of others, we need the counsel of wise friends who are seasoned with suffering, we need the church to support us when everything falls apart. So I have no illusions that I could say all that needs to be said to help you.
Living Vertically, Then Bending Outward

It may help to close by giving several reasons why I am stressing covenant-love as forgiveness and counting the other righteous. Don’t I believe in being delighted in the other person? Yes, I do. Both experience and the Bible push me there. To be sure, Jesus is married to his bride the church, and clearly it is both possible and good to please the Lord (Colossians 1:10). And he certainly is infinitely worthy of our pleasure in him. This is the ideal in marriage: two people humbling themselves and seeking to change in godly ways that please our spouses and meet their physical and emotional needs or to please them in every good way. Yes. The relationship of Christ and the church includes all that.

But the reasons I stress living vertically from the grace of God and then bending out horizontally in forgiveness and justification toward your spouse is 1) because there is going to be conflict based on sin and strangeness (and you won’t be able even to agree with each other about what is simply strange about each other and what is sin); and 2) because the hard, rugged work of enduring and forgiving is what makes it possible for affections to flourish when they seem to have died; and 3) because God gets glory when two very different and very imperfect people forge a life of faithfulness in the furnace of affliction by relying on Christ.
In Christ, God Has Forgiven You—and Your Spouse

Now I will pick it up here next time and tell you about a discovery that Noël and I made. I predict that the sermon will come to be called “the compost pile sermon.”

Till then, husbands and wives, drive into your own consciences these huge truths—greater than any problem in your marriage—that God “has forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Believe this with all your heart and bend it toward your spouse.

© Desiring God

Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Desiring God.
Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org

Whom Are You Going to Trust?

2009-11-25T06:07:00.003-08:00

Do you have a grateful heart???

Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Barbara Rainey remind us not to forget the mercies of God, but to continually rejoice in the Lord and give thanks, no matter what we may be going through.

FamilyLife Today - FamilyLife.com

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FamilyLife Today - FamilyLife.com

2009-11-25T06:07:00.001-08:00

FamilyLife Today - FamilyLife.com

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Have You Met Your Match???

2009-09-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

When a couple is right for each other many times we’ll say, “they’re a perfect match.”

Have you met your match?

Jill and I are embarking on a journey to meet a match of our own. We need to raise MONTHLY support. Some generous donors have stepped up to help by pledging to match the annual equivalent of all new monthly support we raise in the next 6 weeks.

Here’s how it works:

Every dollar of increased monthly support given thru. Oct. 31st will be matched 12X up to $12,000. The $12,000 Match money is a one-time gift that will help us in the short-term. Your increased monthly support will help sustain our family and ministry long-term. We will only receive Match money up to the amount of increased monthly support we receive. No increase… No Match.

Here’s what it looks like:

Monthly Increase / Match Amount
$10 / $120
$25 / $300
$50 / $600
$100 / $1,200
$1,000 / $12,000

Our Goal: $1,000 in increased monthly support by Oct. 31st.

Our Need: Over the past 18 months we have lost monthly support, lowered our salary, and decreased our expenses. At the same time, costs have risen, our boys are growing (Wow! are they growing), and now… it appears we’ll be adding to our family! Adopting Kahnya is a huge blessing to our family. It also brings additional living expense. We seek to live a very modest lifestyle and fully understand the sacrifice you make to partner with us. Please know how grateful we are for you! We ask that you seek the Lord and do what you can do to help us meet our match.

Thanks for doing what you can to enable us to Meet our Match.

To Give, click the green "Give Now" button on the top right of this page.

Is this True Love???

2009-09-03T05:29:00.001-07:00

If you have strong feelings for someone, how and when do you let it be known? Elisabeth Elliot, talks about using your head before awakening your heart.

Listen to this compelling interview on FamilyLife Today - FamilyLife.com

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Men as Fathers

2009-06-09T10:59:00.001-07:00

Pastor Matt Chandler talks to men about the responsibilities they bear as fathers. Hear him explain why fathers shouldn't provoke their children to anger, and how the discipline of the children squarely falls on the father's shoulders. FamilyLife Today - FamilyLife.com

Download today's audio from The Village Church

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What is Adoption?

2009-06-02T10:35:00.001-07:00

What is a Father?

2009-06-02T09:40:00.001-07:00

Listen as RV Brown talks about what it means to be a dad. VERY good listen!

FamilyLife Today - FamilyLife.com

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"Coming Clean" from an Affair

2009-04-23T07:47:00.001-07:00

Keeping sin silent will destroy you (Psalm 32:3-4), but confessing it brings healing (Psalm 34:5). Learn how to bring the sin of an affair to light on FamilyLife Today - FamilyLife.com

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What Causes Affairs?

2009-04-21T17:45:00.001-07:00

Why do affairs happen in the first place? Dave Carder, points to the root cause of a marital affair. Listen to this interview on FamilyLife Today - FamilyLife.com.

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The Suffering Servant

2009-03-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

Jesus Christ is known as "the suffering servant." Today's sermon was from 1 Peter 2 where we learn about how we should suffer under unjust circumstances just as Christ did. This is a high calling and only possible as we yield to the Spirit of God.

Practical Steps to Weather the Financial Crisis

2009-03-25T15:42:00.001-07:00

Follow this link to hear a biblical approach to keeping your finances in-line: FamilyLife Today - FamilyLife.com

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Overcoming Sin & Temptation

2009-02-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

I'm reading a book of three of John Owen's classic works. John was a puritan pastor whose understanding of the sinfulness of the heart is amazing. It's a very convicting read! I'm reading his "Of Temptation" currently.

I've often looked at the sin in my life and wanted to repent of it and stop performing it. John tells us that no man should "pretend to fear sin that does not fear temptation to it. Tehy are too nearly allied to be separated.... He hates not the fruit who delights in the root." (pg. 193)

I'm realizing that I too often delight in the root of a particular sin more than I hate the fruit that it produces. I'm asking the Lord to change my heart and fill me with more of His Spirit so that I will desire Christ more than anything.

If you have ever struggled with sin, I highly recommend the writings of John Owen.

Doing Live Radio

2009-01-30T06:34:00.000-08:00

We are in day 3 of our Annual "Live Legacy Radio Days" on FamilyLife Today. We go "Live" in select cities across America to share how the Lord is changing lives as we proclaim His message, and to invite others to join with us financially on a monthly basis.

We've heard many wonderful stories, and even one salvation!

Thanks be to God!

A Very Ice Day

2009-01-27T05:48:00.000-08:00

The ministry is closed today due to the threat of ice. Caleb is off to Houston for a speech & debate tournament with his Team (about 7 other students and 4 adults). We're praying for safety as they drive today. I'll be hanging out at home, doing a bit of work and playing some games.

Currently
36.7 °F
Light Drizzle Mist

Choices we must make

2009-01-20T05:38:00.000-08:00

I have the privilege of teaching 5th & 6th grade boys (young men) Sunday School and AWANA. I'm teaching through the book of Colossians this year in AWANA. In studying chapter 3:1-4, I am struck by the simplicity of the message:

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

IF you are a believer in Jesus Christ, THEN you must choose to "seek" the "things that are above" and "set your mind" on the "things that are above". "Seeking" and "Setting" are choice we each have to make. It's a matter of focusing our thoughts on Christ, His glory, His righteousness, His holiness and the joys and pleasures that are at His right hand (Ps. 16:11).

This is a moment-by-moment "battle" of the will (Gal. 5:16-17). When we pursue the "things that are above" we will find more benefit than when we pursue the "things that are on earth."

I hope you can read, study and meditate on this portion of Scripture. There is SO MUCH more to be learned.

Bongo Buddy

2009-01-07T09:29:00.000-08:00

Jeremy received his bongo stand last night, finally answering the question, "What can brown do for you?" He greeted the UPS driver with a hugh smile and immediately began opening the box. Within minutes he was playing in style.

He and I are playing together almost nightly... he on bongos, me on the guitar. I call him my "Bongo Buddy" and he calls me his "Guitar Hero"!

These are great bonding times and a whole lot of fun (and noise!).

Kahnya Kicking It Up

2008-12-12T11:15:00.000-08:00

This is one of Kahnya's favorite exercises. What a joy to see how happy she is kicking at things.

Very cool toy that Jill picked up at a garage sale for $3. Now THAT's cheap entertainment!

Jeremy's Cool Pics

2008-11-26T05:19:00.000-08:00

As I come to Thanksgiving, I am reminded of what I am most thankful for.
1. The gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
2. The gift of marriage to Jill.
3. The gift of children - Caleb and Jeremy bring blessing to me each day.

In the past year, Caleb and Jeremy have grown in many ways. Caleb has learned to edit videos and Jeremy has increased in his taste for music. This video combines both of these into a pretty impressive 2 minute showing. I hope you enjoy it.

Give thanks with a grateful heart!

Happy Thanksgiving.

A True Colts Fan!

2008-11-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

Kahnya now has her own seat for watching her favorite football team. Now we just need to teach her how to hold and run the remote!

How’s the PULSE of Your Marriage?

2008-10-31T07:57:00.000-07:00

Your pulse indicates the rate of your heartbeat. Typically your pulse increases when you are excited and goes down when you are relaxed.

Recently I was studying Ephesians 5:25-33 where Paul discusses how I am to love my wife. This is a challenging passage for a number of reasons, but on this day, the Lord stopped me on the word “as.” Paul writes in vs. 25, “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church….” So I asked the Lord, ‘How do I love Jill as Christ loved the church’?

First, I needed to better understand how Christ loved the church, His Bride.
As I pondered this, He revealed to me a 5-part plan for monitoring the “pulse” of my marriage. For me to love Jill “as Christ” loved the church, I need to love her:

P - Proactively - Christ loved the church before the church loved Him. He stepped out of heaven and came to earth to save sinners and to win His Bride. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” This tells me that I need to love Jill before she loves me. I need to not wait for her to “satisfy my needs” before caring for her, I need to take the initiative and meet her needs. By loving her in this way I will be following the example of Christ.

U - Unconditionally - Christ loved the church with no expectation of getting anything in return. He lived a sinless life and died in our place, taking the punishment for our sin upon Himself, then He raised from the dead to secure our salvation. All of this He did to love us knowing that many would never pay Him any attention. Our response made no difference in His love. This is how we are to love our wife… with no expectation of getting anything in return. When we put “strings” or “conditions” on our love, we really are not loving; we are really serving our self.

L - Lavishly - Christ held back nothing in His love for the church. He gave all that He had… and He did it, as Hebrews 12:2 tells us, “for the joy set before Him.” Christ was able to love the church lavishly because He was looking to His reward not from the church, but from His Father in heaven. When I love Jill with all that I have and hold back nothing, the reward I receive is the affirmation from the Lord that I am serving Him by loving her.

S - Sacrificially - Jesus “gave Himself up” for His bride. He could have chosen many other ways to love her, but He models for us the greatest love through dying. Every day gives me opportunities to “die to myself” and love Jill sacrificially. It’s not easy by any stretch of the imagination! I have to consciously choose to put her needs ahead of my own (Philippians 2:3-4) and act in her best interest.

E - Enduringly - Christ’s love for the church extends throughout eternity. It will never end. I need to love Jill in this same fashion. My commitment to her as part of our covenant marriage is that I will never leave her. It also means that I will love her regardless of the circumstance we find ourselves in. 1 Corinthians 13:7 tells us that love “endures all things.” This kind of love is only possible as we submit to the Holy Spirit and keep our eyes on Jesus. Saying “I do” is a lifetime commitment. It’s a commitment to love your wife enduringly.

So how is the PULSE of your marriage??? Apply these 5 practices and you’ll feel your heartbeat increasing as you love your wife as Christ loved the church (these also apply to a wife loving her husband).

Be Content

2008-10-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with such things as you have, because God has said--Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5

These words are very simple. A little child might easily understand them. They contain no high doctrine; they involve no deep metaphysical question; and yet, as simple as they are--the duty which these words enjoin on us, is of highest practical importance to all Christians.

Contentment is one of the rarest graces. Like all precious things--it is most uncommon. To practice contentment, is very hard. To talk of contentment in the day of health and prosperity is easy enough; but to be content in the midst of poverty, sickness, trouble, disappointments, and losses--is a state of mind to which very few can attain!

The fallen angels had heaven itself to dwell in, and the immediate presence and favor of God--but they were not content. Adam and Eve had the garden of Eden to live in, with a free grant of everything in it excepting one tree--but they were not content. Ahab had his throne and kingdom, but so long as Naboth's vineyard was not his--he was not content. Haman was the chief favorite of the Persian king--but so long as Mordecai sat at the gate--he was not content.

It is just the same everywhere in the present day. Murmuring, dissatisfaction, discontent with what we have, meet us at every turn. To say, with Jacob, "I have enough," seems flatly contrary to the grain of human nature. To say, "I want more," seems the mother tongue of every child of Adam.

Paul's direction ought to come with power to all our consciences: "Be content with such things as you have," not with such things as you once used to have--not with such things as you hope to have--but with such things as you now have. With such things, whatever they may be--we are to be content. With such a dwelling, such a family, such health, such income, such work, such circumstances as we now have--we are to be content.

Ah! reader, if you would be truly happy--seek it where alone it can be found. Seek it not in money, seek it not in pleasure, nor in friends, nor in learning. Seek it in having a will in perfect harmony with the will of God. Seek it in studying to be content.

You may say, that is fine talking--but how can we be always content in such a world? I answer, that you need to cast away your pride, and know your deserts, in order to be thankful in any condition. If men really knew that they deserve nothing, and are debtors to God's mercy every day--they would soon cease to complain.
Let me tell you why there is so little contentment in the world. The simple answer is, because there is so little grace, and true godliness. Few know their own sin; few feel their desert; and so few are content with such things as they have. Humility, self-knowledge, a clear sight of our own utter vileness and corruption; these are the true roots of contentment.

Let me tell you--what you should do, if you would be content. You must know your own heart, seek God for your portion, take Christ for your Savior, and use God's Word for your daily food. Contentment must be learned at the feet of Jesus Christ. He who has God for his friend, and heaven for his home--can wait for his good things, and be content with little here below.
-J.C. Ryle

Thanks to my friend Jason Lapp for sending this to me. I found great comfort in this.

Where Is Your Focus?

2008-10-14T14:07:00.001-07:00

I just received this email from Steve Sellers, VP of the Americas for Campus Crusade for Christ. I thought it was a timely and well written email that calls us to keep our Focus on the Kingdom and His Promises. Here's an excerpt. I hope you enjoy it.

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Over the past 2 weeks I have been spending my quiet times in Matthew 6 and 7. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus admonishes us, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

There is probably never more appropriate a time to hear these words. As I meditate on them I realize that the Lord wants me to check my heart to make sure I am concerned about the things that concern the Father rather than treasures on earth. Am I abandoning myself to trusting in Him, knowing that He will be the one to sustain me even as times get tough?

Jesus goes on in verse 25 to say, "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?"

God cares for us, His children, more than anything else on earth and He is committed to meeting our needs. I should be reminded by this passage to not be overwhelmed by the circumstances of this world because my Father in heaven loves me and is concerned about me.

Economic turmoil is part of our current reality. Yet we are engaged in a higher calling. We are connected to a God who not only controls that reality, but who is deeply and intimately concerned for us.

Jesus also says in Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you and seek and you will find and knock and it will be open to you." In the midst of Jesus telling us to be careful where our heart is focused and where we lay our treasure, He reminds us that God is in control.

What He wants us to do is simply come before Him as His children and ask. He calls us to lay before Him our concerns, our needs and our desires because He wants to meet them.

God cares about us and loves us. He is committed to meeting our needs no matter what happens. This has been a great reminder to me -- to relax and trust in the Lord and in the knowledge that He is in control.

***************************************************************************

Rest assured, God IS in control! None of what happens to us is a surprise to Him. I believe that He actually allows everything that happens to us to happen to us so we'll see how we react, compare it to Christ and see how we need to change (Romans 8:29).

May you find great comfort and peace as you seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness.

Positively Puzzling

2008-10-10T06:34:00.001-07:00

Last night Jeremy wanted to put together a Batman puzzle with me. I don't like puzzles! But I love my son!!

We sat on the floor and sorted pieces, build the "frame" and began working on the inside. This is a challenging puzzle because of the many different colors.

The cool part was when Jeremy figured out how to get the "frame" to fit together when it looked like we were missing some pieces. It was a small victory for both of us.

Then, the "master puzzle putter-togetherer" Caleb , came to our rescue. He helped on two sections and added to our frustration by taking a piece that we couldn't figure out where it went, and placing it in the right spot within seconds. He gets this talent from his Mother.

It took us 45 minutes or so to complete. It was a fun time with my boys, and a good reminder that what matters is the time that I invest in being with them, regardless of what we're doing. I'm sure we'll be talking about the Batman Puzzle for many days.

Invest some time today with your loved ones doing what THEY want to do. You'll have fun and build a deeper relationship.

Playing with Poison

2008-10-06T11:55:00.000-07:00

How much poison would you take it?

Are you willing to "test your limits" and see how much you can use before it harms you?

My guess is that you AVOID poison like the plague.

This week on FamilyLife Today we're talking about a different kind of poison - the Poison of Pornography. This is a poison that too many take it with their eyes, never realizing the devastating effects it WILL have. Listen to this 3-day broadcast and take heed from this poison.

Many times this becomes an addiction leading to other issues like Emotional and Physical Affairs. Next week on FamilyLife Today we'll air an interview where Judy Starr tells of her emotional affair and how the Lord healed her marriage. Here's a link to an excerpt from Judy's book, Enticement of the Forbidden.

Take the counsel of these victims and STAY AWAY from these poisons.

Remembering God's Promise

2008-09-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

Whenever I see a rainbow I am reminded of God's promise, His love, His mercy and His faithfulness.

I saw this one outside of FamilyLife one evening. It stopped me in my tracks and caused me to give praise.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the skies proclaim His handiwork. (Ps. 19:1)

The War of Words

2008-08-29T06:43:00.001-07:00

This is a post that a friend of mine put on his blog today. I found it so convicting that I too wanted to share it. Thanks, Jason, for your heart and transparency.

Speech

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
-Ephesians 4:29

I love this verse and hate it all at the same time. I love the verse because this is how we are to be as followers of Christ but I hate it because it's a huge struggle of mine. Jerry Bridges, in his book Respectable Sins, says this, "We see that we are not to let any corrupting talk come out of our mouths. Corrupting talk is not limited to profanity or obscene speech. It includes all the various types of negative speech I mentioned previously (lying, slander, critical speech, etc.). Note Paul's absolute prohibition. No corrupting talk. None whatsoever. This means no gossip, no sarcasm, no critical speech, no harsh words. All of these sinful words that tend to tear down another person must be put out of our speech. Think about what the church of Jesus Christ would look like if we all sought to apply Paul's words." I debated whether to post this or not. This is not easy stuff but Christ did not promise easy, He promised a battle that can be won by His grace. These challenges or convictions should do nothing more than take us to our knees in prayer to the Father. We are called to examine ourselves and last night was a wake up call about my speech. Praise God for the cross that allows us to confess and repent and keep pressing on toward the goal in Christ Jesus.

We got floored!

2008-08-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we installed an oak hardwood floor in our house. It was a family-affair as we all pulled out the carpeting, removed the tack-strips and prepped the floor. Then, on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., we began troweling out the glue and laying the boards.

This was the 1st floor that Caleb and Jeremy helped to install. The did great fitting the boards, measuring the end boards that needed cut to length and actually using a chop-saw to cut them.
I think they enjoyed helping, though it was a long day.

We worked 11 hours on Saturday, then Jill and I worked another 3 hours on Sunday afternoon to finish. It looks beautiful!

My favorite part is the transition between the living room and the hallway because there is no transition strip. This floor fits together perpendicular as easily as it does parallel (and to think, I never knew that I'd use those words outside of Geometry class).

We are so grateful to the Lord for His provision and kindness. We prayed as a family before we began and this was completed without a major injury or error.

Laying this floor reminded me of how we need to stick together as a family. Though life gets rough at times, when we come alongside each other we can provide the support needed to endure whatever comes our way. The Lord has placed us in the family we are in and we need to give Him thanks and show gratitude for His many blessings.

Cast Away

2008-08-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

Jeremy finally got his cast off!!! I tried to tell him what to expect, but until you've experienced it first hand, it's difficult to describe.

Caleb, our resident movie director, produced this piece so you too could enjoy this momentous occasion:

There was a surprise finding although ...

After the cast was removed they took another X-ray and found that one of the bones (the top one in this photo) had not healed completely. So, Jeremy is now wearing a removeable splint for a few weeks.

Jeremy is thrilled to be able to bend his elbow once again. It won't be long before he's playing as if he'd never broken his arm. God certainly has made the body in an amazing way where it can heal itself over time.

Detour Ahead

2008-08-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

I teach 5th/6th Grade Boys Sunday School. We were talking about how God banished Satan and 1/3 of the angels from heaven after 1 sin. They have no hope of forgiveness or reconciliation. We contrasted that with the kindness of God to offer us the free gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You see, God had provided a "detour" for us in Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect life and died on the cross to propitiate God's wrath and bring us back into a perfect relationship with the Father. Jesus is our "detour" from hell.

Have you taken the Detour? If not, may I encourage you to reconsider your path? Detours are established for our own good.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY path to a right relationship with God. You can accept the free gift of God's "detour" and find true life, or you can keep going your own way and trying to make your own way to God, but in the end, you'll die trying.

Learn the lesson of the fallen angels and take the Detour.

The 3-Year Old Murderer

2008-08-13T18:55:00.000-07:00

This is a short movie we made in our backyard while watching a friend's son for a few days. We hope you enjoy it.

Caleb DeLon
Director, Producer, Cameraman

Single Handed Corn on the Cob

2008-08-08T18:24:00.000-07:00

There's no stopping a determined young man!

Jeremy is left handed, and his left arm is in a cast. As we were eating the other night, he was having a difficult time eating an entire ear of corn. As I glanced across the table an idea popped into my head. In less than a minute we had Jeremy's one-handed corn-on-the-cob contraption fully implemented. From that point on, the corn didn't have a chance!

They say that "Necessity is the Mother of Invention!" and I can see why. Think this idea is patent-able???

The Elusive Fan

2008-08-08T09:32:00.000-07:00

We found it!!!! THIS is the fan that we need!

It's the A/C Condenser Fan, as opposed to the Engine Cooling Fan shown below.

After all of this searching, it dawned on me that the initial diagnosis was that the fan wasn't coming on when the engine was started. We thought that we were looking at the Engine Cooling Fan. Now I believe that we were actually looking at the A/C Condenser Fan which should NOT work unless the A/C is turned to the "on" position. That sure would explain a lot!

I'll re-diagnose this and see where the Lord leads me.

Proper diagnosis is 90% of the solution. Once we are sure of the "problem", only then can we prescribe an accurate solution. This is true in car repair, parenting, marriage and life. I am normally too quick to prescribe a solution; which gets me into trouble at times. I think the Lord is showing me to be more thorough in researching the situation BEFORE making a recommendation.

I think we'll be able to save a few dollars on this repair... but I won't know for certain until I invest a few minutes testing, researching and diagnosing. I had a similar thing happen with the Cruise Control on our van, but that'll have to wait for another Post....

Stay tuned....

The Lesson of the Snail

2008-08-08T07:54:00.000-07:00

"By perseverance the snail reached the ark." - C. H. Spurgeon

That's how I'm feeling about now as I'm slowly, and methodically trying to locate the correct a/c cooling fan for the '96 Accord I've been working on. So far we've ordered 2 fans and both have been the wrong fan! We'll try again!

The Lord allows all things into our life to conform us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus (Romans 8:29). Patience is a Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), so this is simply part of my "sanctification saga."

Stay tuned...

Caribou

2008-08-08T07:10:00.000-07:00

A co-worker returned from the Great North of Minnesota with a bag of Caribou Coffee. This morning we are enjoying the smooth, vibrant taste. What a way begin a Friday! Thanks, Michelle (and Megan for brewing it).

Fire Proof Your Marriage

2008-08-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

This is a MUST SEE movie!!! FamilyLife is partnering with the producers to find ways to build godly marriages. This is NOT your typical romance movie that ends at the beginning of the relationship. This begins 7 years into a strained marraige and shows how the gospel can change a life and marriage. Watch the movie trailer & other clips below.

Let's Make a Deal

2008-08-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

Remember the old TV Game Show, "Let's Make a Deal"??? I was reminded of this show recently after reading an article in the Answers in Genesis magazine.

In our culture, people want many ways to get to God... many "doors" if you will. This game show presented contestants with a choice of 3 doors. Their "fate" depended upon which door they chose.

Similarly, our eternal fate is determined by which door we choose. The Bible states very plainly that there is only One Door through which we must enter to be saved. Jesus said:

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:9-10 ESV

Don't be fooled by the hope of multiple doors. There's only One Door that leads to God, that's the door of God's only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Neck Breaking Experience

2008-08-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

Well, it happened again. My friend, Jason, and I were working on his car, attempting to replace one of the two cooling fans attached to the radiator. Three simple bolts and one electrical connector - a real "no brainer", or so I thought. Within 5 minutes of starting I realized this was going to be more challenging. The bottom bolt was located directly in front of the metal frame of the car, with barely enough room to get a socket on it. After many failed attempts, I decided that it'd be easier to remove the radiator to access this screw (who designs these things anyway???).

When I loosened the top radiator hose clamp and twisted the hose to break it free, the radiator inlet broke. That's NOT what I had planned! Seems like it had corroded from the inside. In about 20 minutes we had the old radiator removed and laying on the driveway.

Then we were off to the auto parts store to buy a new one. As we were exchanging the parts from the old one to the new one we realized that the fan we were going to install was the WRONG FAN!

Jason encouraged me numerous times during this adventure and reminded me to "smile" often. It was a blessing having him along for this journey as he is a bit more level headed than I am and his perspective on the situation allowed me to realize once again that God IS Sovereign and for reasons unknown to us, He chose to have this happen at this time for His glory and our good.

We installed the new radiator and all seems to be working fine. As I've pondered this fiasco, I find that it reminds me of my spiritual life. Many times I look fine on the outside but am rotten on the inside. It only takes a little bit of "twisting" from the Lord, or anyone else for that matter, to cause me to "break" and spew what's in my heart all over the place.

You see, I too am corroded on the inside. My heart is sinful and wicked. I'm full of pride, anger, selfishness, control, and many other harmful contaminants. I need Jesus to change my heart like we changed this radiator. I need His "fluid" (the Holy Spirit) to flow through me like Prestone flows through this radiator. I need Him, His Word and His Spirit more than you'd ever know.

I'm very good at concealing the corrosion inside my heart. Fortunately, God sees it all and He lovingly and graciously reveals my true condition to me and allows me to confess and repent. He alone can make me new.

The car is working properly again, and so am I. I'm growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and pray that in the future I'll respond differently when He brings these opportunities into my life. I am grateful for His love, and the trust and friendship of Jason and his wife. They've no idea how much joy I receive in providing what little service I can give.

Be sure to come back often to read of my ongoing sanctification saga.

I Just Saw Jesus!

2008-07-30T05:06:00.000-07:00

I've had this image for nearly two decades. My brother gave it to me. It's a picture of Jesus's face... well, at least what we white Americans portray Jesus as looking like.

Anyway, this hangs on my wall in my Strategic Work Environment (cube) at work. A couple of co-workers and I were discussing it the other day and only one of them could recognize the image. It can be difficult to see Jesus at times.

On Monday, I was talking with the one who wasn't able to recognize the image when, mid-sentence, she exclaims, "I just saw Jesus!" Her excitement overflowed to the rest of us as her "eyes were opened" and she finally realized that we were NOT crazy or trying to pull her leg.

It's easy to miss seeing Jesus because many times He is disguised. He appears in the form of someone serving another, a kind word spoken to encourage, a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. Most of the time I see Jesus through the pages of Scripture. He has revealed Himself clearly in the Bible. Some of my best days have followed from investing my quiet time reading the Bible, asking the Holy Spirit to open my eyes and allowing the Word of God to show me something I've never seen before.

Have you seen Jesus today??? If you haven't, it's not because He isn't nearby. Slow down a bit and seek His face. Look at a tree, a flower or into the eyes of a loved one. But to see the clearest image of Jesus, open your Bible and read about Him. Once you see Him, you'll never be the same.

Ladder Ball

2008-07-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

We learned about this game from some friends. We call it "Ladder Ball." It's easy to build and fun to play. Watch the video to see how simple it is.

You make 2 "ladders" from PVC pipe (don't glue them together), then use 12 golf balls that you drill a hole through. We used clothes line to connect the balls together (each set of balls is 16" on center). One person has 3 sets of all white balls, the other person has 3 sets of one white & one colored ball (to tell the teams apart for scoring purposes). You could use all colored balls for Team 2, we just didn't have that many colored golf balls.

Scoring: Top rung = 2 points, Middle rung = 3 points, Bottom rung = 1 point. Top scoring Team wins.

The best part is that it's portable. Simply take it apart, pack it into a bag and off you go. Sets up in under 5 minutes.

We hope you can have fun playing Ladder Ball with your family. If you want the building instructions, just email us.

Spiritual Equivalent: In Ladder Ball, getting the ball close to hanging on the rung doesn't help you win... you have to wrap it around perfectly. In the Christian life, being close to perfect doesn't get you to heaven, only being perfect will. Since we are not perfect, the only way to do this is through Jesus Christ, God's perfect Son. He is our "ladder" to heaven.

Whenever you play Ladder Ball, remember that to get to heaven we must rely on the One and Only way, God's perfect Son, Jesus Christ.

A Moving Experience

2008-07-26T18:26:00.000-07:00

The Lord, He is good!

I picked up the window motor assembly at 3pm - it had a few more components than I had thought it would. Fortunately, the removal of the old one was simple and the new one installed easily.

After connecting the motor to the switch, I quickly realized that the wires going to the motor were wired backwards, which means that when I pushed the window switch to the "up" position, the window went down. Not good! So, after a few minutes of re-wiring the motor, all was heading in the right direction. (see video below)

While re-assembling the door panel, I had some "issues" with a stubborn door latch rod which insisted on popping out multiple times. The Lord impressed upon me that I needed to be patient and allow Him to use this to develop patience and perseverance. I obeyed and all came together.

The Lord is so gracious to allow opportunities for growth in every day projects. I'm coming to learn (I'm a bit slow at times) that I can learn how to follow Christ more fully and closely through every situation He brings into my life.

This window wasn't working right because the power wasn't flowing through the motor. The same is true for all of us. When we don't allow God's power (His Holy Spirit) to flow through us, we won't work as we were designed. It's only when we yield to His prompting and allow Him to change our hard, defective hearts that we begin "working" as He desires.

Please join me in "flipping the switch" and allowing God's Power to flow through us. When we do, we'll be headed in the right direction.

Accord-ing to Hoyle

2008-07-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

Our family enjoys playing card games. I grew up playing Euchre and my wife taught me to play Pinnochle. Many card games follow the strategies developed by Edmond Hoyle. When you're unsure of what to do next, knowing what Hoyle would do is a great backup.

Well, this morning I wasn't playing cards, but working on a Honda Accord for a friend. We were trying to locate the fuel pump relay. After 40 minutes of searching, removing various parts and praying, we gave up. Sure could have used "car repair according to Hoyle"!

Next we found the solution to a weak windshield washer sprayer, and then moved on to a slow moving power window. In spraying the window track w/ WD-40, the motor suddenly stopped working... before the window was all the way up (I thought that stuff was supposed to lubricate and make things work more smoothly, not stop all together).

Again, Hoyle would have been a great resource.

After a few moments of pondering & pricing, we decided to remove the door panel and replace the motor.

At the time of this writing, I'm waiting for a window motor to arrive at the auto parts store. Lord willing, I'll get this installed and the door put back together without any further issues.

It's times like these when I have to remember that the Lord IS Sovereign and that He allows all events into my life. In doing so, I need to see how I respond, compare my response to how Jesus would respond, then pray for His Spirit to conform me into the image of God's Son. (Romans 8:29)

Sactification is an on-going process. I'm still learning to take what the Lord brings my way, pray for wisdom and humbly follow Him. Following Christ is not as simple as following Hoyle, but it is much more profitable.

Jeremy's Broken Arm

2008-07-26T06:35:00.000-07:00

Jeremy was playing "capture the flag" at church a few weeks ago. Running at full speed, he extended his arms to stop himself against the wall. The wall didn't move, but the 2 bones in his lower arm did - OUCH!!! He had the presence of mind to re-set his arm on-the-spot.

Here's the X-Ray of his broken arm

Here's Jeremy displaying his "Colts Blue" cast.

Jeremy will get his cast off in mid-August. He'll still have plenty of time to swim.