David turned 18 yesterday. Yes, now begin all the parent clichés – “Can’t believe it, just seems like we sent him to kindergarten, now he’s a college boy” – etc., etc. The thing is, because I’m around David all the time, the fact that he’s grown up is no shock to me. I’ve been expecting [...]
All articles in category: "Family life, Identity, Interior life"
-
David’s birthday a time to remember
-
Winter Olympics and the complexity of human emotion
I’ve seen interesting responses so far by athletes depending on how things went for them in the last week and a half. First, you have Lindsey Vonn, who at the end of the downhill competition, knowing she’d scored a Gold Medal, wept and spoke from the heart about the difficulty and joy involved in winning. [...]
-
Discovery Channel song prompts question: What does the earth sing about?
There’s a lot to praise in creation. And sure, we know we should praise the creator too. But do we? Really? Consider a few psalms from the Old Testament as you also enjoy this commercial from the Discovery Channel.
-
A Penny for His Thoughts
Ever try to solve a problem that won’t be solved? You call on your knowledge, experience and expertise, and the knowledge, experience and expertise of others, but no solution. There’s only one other person to turn to then, the One who really understands.
-
How God Uses Disorder
Our messes are the wake that we’ve left as we’ve tried to follow God with each other, our family, friends and neighbors. So we went from a birthday party for a Bible study kid and then off to the hospital to visit a friend to a softball game for one of our kids. Things get lost in the shuffle with a life like that. Do we still need to work on picking up, on the spot, instead of leaving things? Yes, guilty as charged. But I shoulldn't go crazy just because I find that stuff now and then.
-
China to Pasadena: A worldwide blog
So, according to the rules of blogging there are very few rules. You can just start writing about whatever catches your fancy. It’s the ultimate stream of consciousness literary (that’s a stretch!) form. So, what’s on my mind? Hmmm . . .
-
Forthright and sincere
I admire forthright people. That doesn’t mean I’m always forthright, but I admire it. I hope that I aim for it in my relationship with God and with other humans.
What do I mean by forthright? This kind of person is straight up about what they believe and why they believe it. They don’t hem and haw about motives and reasons for doing things. They’re candid, not afraid to tell you their own mistakes or reveal their wrong thoughts or behaviors. They aren’t proud of those mistakes and missteps, just honest.
Bible, Christian, confessing, confessing sin, Ephesians 4:15, Forthright, genuine, God, guileless, honest, honest about mistakes, honest with God, honesty with God, Jesus, John 1:47, motives, no beating around the bush, not false, real, sincere, speak the truth in love, straightforward, true, WYSIWYG
-
Praising God and being real about it
There are some folks I know who are very good, excellent even, at laying out their internal world. I mean this: they can talk about how a piece of Scripture really stopped them short, or how they’re having doubts about God’s goodness, or how they’re really being pierced over a new understanding of their sinfulness.
There should be more of that kind of disclosure going on in the church. Confess your sins to one another and pray for each other is the counsel of James 5:16. Walk in the light as He is in the light – that’s from 1 John 1:7. Then the blood of Jesus will purify us from all unrighteousness. We need to be getting stuff on the table before God and other believers.
But sometimes, in the midst of the confessing and admissions, it seems like the other end gets missed. Where is the affirmation of God’s goodness, power and faithfulness?
-
God knows best
How many parents out there have used this line: I’m only looking out for your best interest. And you know, no matter how often we say that or explain how that’s true, our kids, and especially teenagers it seems, will question the veracity of that statement. Somehow what we’re asking them to do, say clean their rooms or take out the trash, has to do with our self-interest not their best.
calling, Christian, commands, divine, divine errands, doubting God, Ephesus, false doctrines, fulfilling, giving when its not convenient, God, greatest command, Jesus, John 15, joy, joy in you, joy may be complete, love God, love one another, love the Lord, obedience, obey Jesus' commands, others best interest, Paul, Paul and Timothy, potential, real joy, real love, responsibility, Scripture, self-interest, teenager, Timothy, truth
-
God’s front lawn
With all the recent financial woes, 401K plans nose-diving like kamikazes, Wall Street losing its mind and who knows about the future, I had to conclude: whether it’s my yard or my friend’s yard, my mother-in-law’s car or the new Honda we just purchased, the flat-screen monitor I picked up at a garage sale or the house I’m living in right now, it all belongs to the Lord. The tall fescue belongs to Jesus. I’m just asking for the ability to enjoy it while these toes of mine still grip the earth.
1 Cor. 7, 1 Timothy 6, ascetics, backyard, Bible, Christian, comfort, Dave Howard, don't hope in wealth, emotions, engrossed, enjoy things of this world, financial woes, garage sale, gloomy, God, grass, happy, how does it make me feel, Jesus, Jim Elliot, loose grip, morose, our house, soft grasp, tall fescue, temporary versus eternal, turf grass, wealth, Wheaton
Join me on Facebook
Subscribe to this site
Topics I like to talk/think about
Stuff I’ve blogged about in the past
Random ideas that pop up here
1 Cor. 7 Adam and Even Bible Billy Joel can't go back children choices Christ Christian Christmas David death emotions family Family life fear fear of death God Gospel greasers Honduras hope humility Jesus Job kids liberating Lord make the most of every opportunity no fear in love Pain Parkway Diner Philippians 2 praise Praise God prayer relationships responsibility Salvation Scenes from an Italian Restaurant song true trust God What Does God Want Me to Do? withdrawal
Family life