Well we picked mom up on Friday from the airport and brought her home to live with us until we can find her permanent residence of her own. 5 days into it and everything seems to still be OK. Heather and the kids have all been great. Everyone has been very helpful. I’m very thankful to have such a supportive family.

The word blessed means; divinely or supremely favored, blissfully happy or contented. It also means: consecrated, holy & sanctified. Some synonyms are; exalt, hallow, glorify, magnify, beautify.

Lately I have felt very blessed. My marriage is the best it has ever been. My relationship with my children has never been better. I have a wonderful job that makes me feel like it has been designed just for me. I also have a wonderful church with Biblical leadership. Mostly I have a God that keeps on loving and caring for me and my family.

Not a day goes by that I don’t hear of someones hardship in the body of Christ. Or of Christians persecuted in other parts of the world. I know of broken families in the body of Christ. Those with lost jobs and illnesses. Yet, I know most of these people would praise God for their blessings in spite of their sorrows.

Then there are those I know outside the body of Christ in similar situations that would not feel blessed. Being blessed to them seems to be characterized by happiness or good fortune. Not that there is anything wrong with either of those things. Except when credit to the God in Heaven for that happiness and good fortune is not given.

This all makes me wonder how I will react when a tragedy happens in my family. How will I react? Will I be like those Christians I know that praise God no matter what comes their way? Will I react like those in the world who are only grateful when “life blesses” them?

This much I know, life does not bless us. God the Father in Heaven does. Romans 10:12

I pray that I will react in those days of adversity the same as I do during these times of blessing (divine favor and contentment). My God is a good God! Psalm 84:10-11

Our church the last couple of months has been presenting a class by Focus on the Family called Bringing up Boys. I really wanted to take this class because my relationship with my son is very important to me. He is 10 years old and we never really connected as father/son – man/man until these past couple of months. Thanks to this course from Focus on the Family.

My real father died when I was 4 years old. My mother didn’t remarry until I was 14 or 15 and the father figure role was pretty much over by then. So when I had my son I was pretty much clueless as to how important our bond actually was in his development into a man.

Everyday I pray that God will strengthen our relationship and build an everlasting bond.

God has revealed to me that it takes more than a man being in the mix he has to be mixing it up as well. Mothers can tell a boy how to act like a man, but only a father can show him. Mothers can tell a boy how to respect women, but only a father can show him. If I want my son to be a reflection of his father than I have to show him who his father is. Hopefully I can model the reflection of my Father in heaven.

Justin I know you will read this and I want you to know I love you very much and I’m proud of the man who you are becoming.

I remember inviting Jesus into my life in 4th or 5th grade at a summer VBS at the local Baptist church. Unfortunately, there was no followup to that. I wasn’t brought up in the church. Ever since that day however, though I ignored it most of my life , I have always felt God’s hand in my life.

Most of my adult life I had an arrangement with God. It seemed to work pretty good. He didn’t bother me and I didn’t bother him. I went through life with the attitude that if it doesn’t hurt anyone it must be O.K.. You live your life and I’ll live mine. To each his own.

I didn’t have any Earth shaking epiphany or life threatening experience. Nor did I witness a miracle or some inexplicable situation. I was, however ,weary of life. Of banging my head on the wall and never seeming to get anywhere. Doing the same things over and over and never getting a different result.

I remember the night God called me back. He brought me to my knees in repentance. I remember the freedom of that moment and the joy of hope that was given to me. I was saved from life’s emptiness and shackles of sin. I had been reborn into a new life.

I’m sure this story is common and the question that follows is even more common. How do I know I’m saved?

I would answer that question with a question or two. (These questions assume you have been born again and believe Jesus to be the son of God and the only way to the Father in Heaven.)
1. When you sin, do you feel compelled to bring it to your Father in Heaven and ask his forgiveness?
2. Can you intentionally sin without repentance?

A man who is born again, made new through repentance (the turning from the old ways and seeking not to repeat them) and the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, will answer no to both of these questions. If you can answer no to these two questions than rest assured you have been saved.

Here are a few pictures of some of the things we did 2011.

My family is no exception when it comes to being busy. With the kids extra activities my being lame for a month a Spring and Summer that seemed like it would never stop raining and all the activities in between, this year has been exceptionally busy. So busy in fact, I just realized that it is going to be Christmas in a few days.  This is really surprising to me, because I work for one of the largest retailers.  We have been pushing Christmas since September and I hadn’t even noticed. I even went Christmas shopping with my wife a couple of times.

I think the thing that brought Christmas to my attention is all the complaining I have been hearing the last couple of days about how no one has any time to get all the shopping done, because they are so busy. It started me thinking. What the heck is going on.

Why are we so busy? Are all these things that keeps us from realizing the time of year it is, really necessary? It seems like Christmas has become just another party that we have at the end of December. We clean the house and shop for food. Run all over town trying to get the best deals. The most bang for the buck.

I’m not complaining about those who complain about not having enough time. I’m only thinking out loud. Because I have fallen prey to the same mentality myself. Then before I know it BOOM!!! it’s over. I am left empty and disappointed. Not because I didn’t get what I wanted, but because I let a perfect opportunity slip through my hands.

An opportunity to understand the true meaning of Christmas. To Harold the good news of Jesus’ birth like Gabriel and the shepherds. Christmas isn’t about lights or spending hours shopping and giving gifts, it’s not even about family, but for telling about the greatest gift ever given.

I think the reason for this opportunity slipping through our hands is because we as a society have effectively taken Christ out of Christmas. There is no Joy in a Holiday that celebrates commercialism.

Don’t let Christmas become just another Holiday. Praise God for he has given us a perfect gift and a time of year for telling others about it. (Luke 2)

I’m not sure what the deal is with the sound, but it’s  not bad. It makes a father proud to watch his child serving God with a beautiful talent he gave her. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. (Of course I’m Biased:)

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This is the first time in 25 years I have had a regular work schedule. Now working  banker hours and off on the weekends. It’s taking a little gettin used to, but I think I could like being off on the weekends. 

Why is the first day back from vacation always so long? I can’t believe how beat I am. My feet and my back are killing me. It’s not like I did nothing on vacation. I don’t even feel like eating. Uuuhhhhh. 

IT’S NOT FAIR!!!

In a recent Bible Study that I was in we explored the characteristics of SATAN and how he sells his lie to the masses. We found a common ploy used by Satan was to tell us we deserve better and that we have been dealt a raw deal.(Like Eve in the garden) He makes us believe that we are being duped by someone (God) and that we could do better.(eat the apple and be like God) “Life is not fair” is his battle cry. Why? Because while we are trying to get our “fair share” we loose focus on the one who created us (God) and provides for our every need. We make our needs our focus.

If you believe that you are being treated unfairly or that God has abandoned you than you have lost perspective of who you are and who God is. God sacrificed his only son so that we, his creation, could be equally and fairly loved. A “fair share” is not what you get out of life, but what you give to preserve it and make it better for others.