Stronger affections needed
Great quote from C.S. Lewis in The Weight of Glory : "If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased."
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Temporary Hiatus
Your primary blogger is traveling in the Lord's service and will not be posting anything until after Nov 25. Check back then! If you send me a note to beboldgentle@yahoo.com, I will send you a reminder message about the next posting. God bless you as you strive towards being a great husband and dad.
Your primary blogger is traveling in the Lord's service and will not be posting anything until after Nov 25. Check back then! If you send me a note to beboldgentle@yahoo.com, I will send you a reminder message about the next posting. God bless you as you strive towards being a great husband and dad.
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
"Annabelle Sees Light"
That's the wonderful tag line in the Des Moines Register, a story they're reporting about a seven year old girl who sees light for the first time because of surgery. She's a picture of joy, her face beaming as she looks out a bright window.
Psalm 36:9 comes to mind: "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. "
It reminds me of the joy I have in Christ, because of His mercies and power, that I can see light! The shekinah glory of God is ours to enjoy -- safely -- in Christ. Praise the Lord!
Men, I long for two things as I read this:
1. There are many I'm praying for that will see light. Lord, speed the day when I will read headlines about family members, coworkers, neighbors, and nations seeing the light of Jesus!
2. May our joy in the light of Christ match this picture of Annabelle, so that the whole world will see us and give you glory.
Be bold, be gentle, be filled with light.
That's the wonderful tag line in the Des Moines Register, a story they're reporting about a seven year old girl who sees light for the first time because of surgery. She's a picture of joy, her face beaming as she looks out a bright window.
Psalm 36:9 comes to mind: "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. "
It reminds me of the joy I have in Christ, because of His mercies and power, that I can see light! The shekinah glory of God is ours to enjoy -- safely -- in Christ. Praise the Lord!
Men, I long for two things as I read this:
1. There are many I'm praying for that will see light. Lord, speed the day when I will read headlines about family members, coworkers, neighbors, and nations seeing the light of Jesus!
2. May our joy in the light of Christ match this picture of Annabelle, so that the whole world will see us and give you glory.
Be bold, be gentle, be filled with light.
Monday, November 10, 2003
Jihad isn't limited to US and Israel targets
Walid Phares has a sobering and convincing analysis of why terrorists are attacking Saudi Arabia.
Walid Phares has a sobering and convincing analysis of why terrorists are attacking Saudi Arabia.
Thursday, November 06, 2003
Men’s Rules
One of our CrossTrainers speakers used these “Men’s Rules” to highlight some key differences between men and women. (Warning – there are many versions of these rules on the Internet – I have sanitized these.) Give these a read, and then stick with me for some follow-up thoughts.
“Please note ... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!
1 Ask for what you want. Subtle hints don’t do it!
1 Most guys own three pairs of shoes - tops. What makes you think we’d be any good at choosing which pair, out of thirty, would look good with your dress?
1 Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1 Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That’s what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1 If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
1 You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1 Christopher Columbus did not need directions, and neither do we.
1 ALL men see in only 16 colours, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a colour. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1 We are not mind readers and we never will be. Our lack of mind-reading ability is not proof of how little we care about you.
1 If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing’s wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1 When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really.”
Pretty funny, right? A few hours after laughing with all guys, I became convicted in my heart that I needed to review these again. They’re funny because there is truth here. Ephesians 5:25 comes to mind: “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the church” This morning I prayerfully turned these “Men’s Rules” into a means of examen. Where am I on this one? What do I need to do (or stop doing) to grow into the marriage relationship that Christ desires for us? These may reflect the current state, but by God's grace they need not reflect the future state.
My wife is the best, most noble woman on earth. Proverbs 31 was written about her. She is an incredible blessing to me. I pray that each of us can say this.
One of our CrossTrainers speakers used these “Men’s Rules” to highlight some key differences between men and women. (Warning – there are many versions of these rules on the Internet – I have sanitized these.) Give these a read, and then stick with me for some follow-up thoughts.
“Please note ... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!
1 Ask for what you want. Subtle hints don’t do it!
1 Most guys own three pairs of shoes - tops. What makes you think we’d be any good at choosing which pair, out of thirty, would look good with your dress?
1 Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1 Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That’s what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1 If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
1 You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1 Christopher Columbus did not need directions, and neither do we.
1 ALL men see in only 16 colours, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a colour. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1 We are not mind readers and we never will be. Our lack of mind-reading ability is not proof of how little we care about you.
1 If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing’s wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1 When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really.”
Pretty funny, right? A few hours after laughing with all guys, I became convicted in my heart that I needed to review these again. They’re funny because there is truth here. Ephesians 5:25 comes to mind: “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the church” This morning I prayerfully turned these “Men’s Rules” into a means of examen. Where am I on this one? What do I need to do (or stop doing) to grow into the marriage relationship that Christ desires for us? These may reflect the current state, but by God's grace they need not reflect the future state.
My wife is the best, most noble woman on earth. Proverbs 31 was written about her. She is an incredible blessing to me. I pray that each of us can say this.
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
We won the Tet Offensive
There's plenty of lousy sound-bite thinking about what really happened in Vietnam. Would Vietnam have fallen to the Communists if we had stayed? I appreciated Robert Bartley's analysis in Iraq: Another Vietnam?
There's plenty of lousy sound-bite thinking about what really happened in Vietnam. Would Vietnam have fallen to the Communists if we had stayed? I appreciated Robert Bartley's analysis in Iraq: Another Vietnam?
A democrat's perspective on George Bush vs. the "Naive Nine"
Zell Miller writes about why he will vote for George Bush for president, though he's voted for the Democratic nominee in the last 12 presidential elections. On of the most interesting comments is this: "For I believe the next five years will determine the kind of world my four grandchildren and four great-granchildren will live in."
How's your multigenerational vision, men?
Zell Miller writes about why he will vote for George Bush for president, though he's voted for the Democratic nominee in the last 12 presidential elections. On of the most interesting comments is this: "For I believe the next five years will determine the kind of world my four grandchildren and four great-granchildren will live in."
How's your multigenerational vision, men?
Monday, November 03, 2003
Another helpful resource for dads
Fathers.com is worth bookmarking. Ken Canfield has compiled a lot of valuable articles -- I found some helpful information in the fathering teens section. You can sign up for the encouraging newsletter, as well.
Fathers.com is worth bookmarking. Ken Canfield has compiled a lot of valuable articles -- I found some helpful information in the fathering teens section. You can sign up for the encouraging newsletter, as well.
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