Parenting with love, humor and the gospel.
"Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger."
Psalm 8:2
A couple had been married for 50 years, and one day, the wife turned to her husband and said, “You know, we’ve been married for so long, but you never tell me that you love me. Why is that?”
The husband looked at her and said, “Well, I told you I loved you on our wedding day, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but that was 50 years ago!” the wife replied.
The husband nodded and said, “Well, if anything changes, I’ll let you know.”
Looking back on last year’s resolutions, I am tempted to simply link to that post and be done. My resolutions for this year are largely the same. The reason I enjoy making resolutions every year is that I don’t like the idea of staying the same. Christians are called to live a life of sanctification, becoming more and more like Christ with each passing day. We are not to stagnate. Therefore, I look at the blank canopy of a new year with enthusiasm for what God has in store for me and my family, and how I can work alongside the Holy Spirit in living my life more for the glory of God and His Kingdom.
For the week of October 17-22, 2022, my wife and I are excited to participate in a book drive and fundraiser to benefit local foster children! The goal is to give a book to each of the 1200 children expected to attend the upcoming Breakfast with Santa 🎅 event put on by Feed Fosters NW …
In my post on New Year’s Resolutions this past Monday, I included a section on reading. A resolution is really unnecessary as I love to read, but I have it nonetheless. I would like to read more, and this gives me something to aim at.
The following list represents the books that I’ve tentatively put before me to read this year. This list isn’t set in concrete, and I have no problem adjusting as the year goes on. In fact, I’m currently enrolled in seminary, and I’ll be adding books from classes this year (there’s a section for that at the bottom).
I usually try to read a book on marriage each year, conspicuously missing below. However, I’m planning on taking a Biblical Counseling class on Marriage and Parenting this Spring semester, including such materials.
One final note, the lists in each category are arranged roughly in priority order. For example, the books I’m currently reading (marked as in-progress) are at the top. Following these are the books I would like to read next. If you would like to follow me on GoodReads you can come along on this journey with me!
Without further ado, the list!
It has been a couple of years since I posted any New Year’s Resolutions. Some Christians swear by them, and others decry them as unbiblical. I think they help frame the New Year with goals for improvement. That can’t be a bad thing, can it?
I recently opened my front door to find a flyer from one of the local churches advertising their upcoming VBS (Vacation Bible School). I quickly dismissed the brochure and continued on my task of mowing the lawn. While I cut grass, I thought more about this practice of inviting the community to your church’s VBS and whether or not I, as a father, should support sending my children to one of these.
As Christians, we should strive to be resurrection families. What, perchance, is a resurrection family? Resurrection families are families whose central and primary focus is living in light of the reality that Jesus has risen!
We live in light of many other realities. For example, you may find yourself standing on the balcony of a hotel room on the 30th floor. Does your heart race a little when you stand at the railing, or even lean over a bit? Do you jump? Of course not! Gravity is a reality that we all must live with and acknowledge. To do otherwise would be to our detriment.
The same is true, more true, of the Triune God of Holy Scripture. One God in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is my Father’s world, as the song goes, and when we deny that fact by our actions and priorities, we are not living as God intends and this is to our detriment.
The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
Proverbs 3:33 (ESV)
I was dwelling on this verse the other morning and was astounded that this verse applies to me, and to my household.
Certainly, I wouldn’t classify my household as a house of the wicked. But, if you asked me if I were “righteous,” that is much harder to answer. Am I righteous? Well, no! Obviously! I know myself all too well. I know the dark thoughts that swim around in my head. I know all my past sins and propensities to sin.
Especially we men, who are supposed to be the head of our household, find it hard to see ourselves in a righteous light. We deal with lust, anger, selfishness, idolatry, greed, pride, and all manner of sins.
How can I be considered righteous? How is my household a household of righteousness?
Once upon a time, I was young enough to think it was a good idea to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.
It is Christmas Eve! The eve of our celebration of the light of men, Jesus Christ. Of course, we Christians should celebrate, praise, and worship the Son of God every day of our lives, but this is a day that we can set aside to focus our attention and our hearts on our Lord and Savior. The prophet, Isaiah, tells of a great light that has been seen by… that has dawned on… people who are dwelling in darkness.