Valentines Month Is Not Over!

Since Dr. Howard Hendricks recently passed away, I’ve been reading various quotes of his.  One of his, from 1975 was; “In Dallas/Ft. Worth it takes three weeks of intensive training to become a garbage collector, but about all you have to do to get married is to stand before the justice of the peace and grunt and you are in—you are married!”  A couple weeks ago, I wrote about the effort that marriage takes and the importance of putting effort into our marriages.

Why?  Isn’t God more important?  Yep.  But, quoting Dennis Rainey, "Marriage and family are about the glory of God."  Dennis goes on to write; “Genesis 1:27 makes it clear, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”  From the beginning, marriage has been central to God’s glory on planet Earth. The Bible begins with a marriage and ends with a marriage. What God designed, lifted up, and gave a transcendent purpose, man has dumbed down."

"Many today make the purpose of marriage to be one’s personal happiness—of finding another person who meets my needs. God created marriage to reflect His image, to reproduce a godly heritage, and to stand together in spiritual battle.  Your marriage, your covenant-keeping love, will be your greatest witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Marriage is about the glory of God—not about the happiness of man."

Rainey goes on to list 39 more “Lessons from 40 Years ofMarriage”.  It’s worth your time to read through them.  Slowly.  Thoughtfully.

SDG.

Quote to Ponder

“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.”  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

How about you? 

How were you raised?

How are you raising your kids?

I’m guessing most all of us would answer the same way.

Trash or Truth?

Do you have young kids or grandkids?  Do you have an iPad or smart phone?  If so, check out the app,  "Trash or Truth".

Looking Backward & Praying Forward

Today -- July 5th -- marks 25 years since my moms passing.  I have reflected a bit on this by myself as well as with my sister via email and the phone.  Even as I begin to type this, emotions start to well up from deep inside.  About mid-November every year, the elder board has a practice of sending notes to those in the congregation who have lost loved ones over the course of the year.  Every time I sit down to compose one of those notes, it is truly an emotional effort as memories come flooding back in.

It's not that I mind it.  I think it is good for me.  Even though I tend to tear up a bit as I do it, it is a great reminder of not only my mom, but my dad as well -- who died seven years after mom.  I look backward and am so thankful for the Godly heritage I have been a part of.  And I pray forward, hoping that I can continue that legacy in my life; my children's lives;  and all who come after them.

Fortunately (or unfortunately), my car is old enough that it still has a cassette player.  A little while ago, I listened to my mom's memorial service driving to and from work.  Pastor Ken Meyer noted that the dash between a person's year of birth and year of death on the tombstone represents so much that goes on in our lives.  In her later years, mom had this side business of "coloring" people.  She would help them figure out what colors looked good on them and also, what colors to avoid.  You would end up with a little color packet so when you shopped for clothes, not only would you pick out something you liked, but you would also choose it in a color that made you look better!

Pastor Ken pointed out that mom's license plate was "CJ Color", and that she colored people's lives.  And he didn't just mean the color swatches.  She volunteered at the hospital; served with my dad in senior high ministry at church for many years; was on the Pastor's Reading Committee (to help with sermon prep); was involved in various other ministries at church.  She even had my grade school teachers over for lunch once a year (we had 90 minutes for lunch).  I can't say I really enjoyed that!

Someone had written a note to my mom as she battled leukemia during that last year, about how she exemplified Matthew 5:16, especially in illness.  A letter from one of my sisters' friends commented about how they always "sensed" a Christian atmosphere when she came over to our house.

One thing that I treasure is a recording that my folks made when the doctors told my mom she had limited days.  My sister, thinking ahead, came up with 50 questions to ask my mom so our kids could know -- at least a little bit -- about their grandma.  In God's providence, as my dad "interviewed" my mom, he also answered the questions.  When he died unexpectedly, seven years later, we had his answers too.  (If you would like a copy of these questions, for you or your parents, I would be happy to send them to you.)

Reminding our children about the importance of family; what we believe and why we believe it, is a great gift both to receive and to give.

Soli Deo Gloria

For Women (Wives) Only

Since Father's Day is this weekend, I thought I would pass on a couple links I've read in the last couple weeks.  One is from the Family Life Today website:  15 Things Wives Should Stop Doing.

The other is from Perry Noble's blog, though he is actually redirecting you to a link from Clayton King: Ten Things Your Husband Wants To Tell You.

So, no comments beyond these links.  I'll let you formulate your own.

Great Christmas Gift Idea

Towards the end of Pastor Brett's sermon this morning, he mentioned knowing the Love Language of family members (not just your spouse).  This would be a very good Christmas present for all in your family - for each to know the Love Language of the other.  As I explained to my kids at lunch, typically we give the gift of love that we like.  Then, we don't understand why our spouse or children don't appreciate it.  Well, duh!  It's not their Love Language.

Here is your Christmas gift idea - and it's free!  Go to the online assessment and take the Love Language quiz.  Have the rest of your family do it as well.  Then, put their results in a place where you will see them frequently.  Your Bible, your computer, your wallet.  Some place where you will be reminded on a regular basis how to "love" your family.

Confession.  I had Ellen do this a couple years ago and I cannot tell you at this minute where the results are.  Thus, my comments above about putting them in a place where I will see them on a regular basis if not daily.