Loving Children

I was listening to a good sermon this morning, a sermon on discipling children. I found it to be a good challenge to me in many ways. I probably don't agree with the speaker at all points, but I appreciate his 'shoot from the hip' style of speaking on family matters. I also appreciate that he agrees with me on a lot of the family issues - which made the challenge even more of a challenge, I couldn't dismiss him out of hand for not having a proper view of the family. You can listen to the sermon here: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=5209234630

I may have it easy in part of this aspect, I have always loved children, and for the last 10-12 years have been convinced that biblically, the number of children I would have is not up to me, but up to God. For this reason, Jen and I have not, and will not practice any form of birth control. We have heard comments from many about "Well, what if you have 8 kids?" (Only two to go, then!), or "But we have a responsibility to not have more children than we can afford" (Even though we live in one of the wealthiest nations on earth - afford? Really?) We haven't broadcast our views on the subject, so often have heard "Have you figured out what caused it yet?" And I'll have to admit, the comments have, at times, soured my view of children.

My main point today: I want to encourage you to have a positive view of children. God's Word tells us children are a blessing from the Lord. We pray that God would bless us, we pray that God will bless our church, we hold out our hands and sing "Showers of Blessing" at church, but then we turn our noses up at one of God's most precious gifts. How many other things in Scripture are directly called a blessing or reward from God? Children must be one of his best. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that everyone should have 20 kids, I'm just saying that I think most of us could use a biblical attitude adjustment from time to time and should ask God to help us see children for the blessing that they are. When we do, we won't be counting how many children we have, or worrying about the expense of another pair of sneakers, we'll be basking in whatever blessing God brings our way - whether in our own family, or in families around us.

"Except the LORD build the house,
they labour in vain that build it:
except the LORD keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows:
for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;
so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:
they shall not be ashamed,
but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
- Psalm 127

Success in Marriage

I know, coming up on my 10th anniversary this year, I don't have a lot of experience to share, but I can share what I've learned from others. You see, last week we celebrated my parent's 40th wedding anniversary. All of us kids got together and had a banquet to honor our parents with a nice meal, family togetherness, and sharing with them what the strength in their marriage has meant to us.

When each of us kids got married, our dad picked a verse to go with our wedding day (He got the idea from Ron Smith in Wappingers Falls, NY) For example, I got married on August 7th, 1999 - and my verse was Song of Solomon 8:7 -

"Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned."

So I spoke about the fact that I have seen in my parent's marriage the strength of their love for each other. Through illness & injury (most of the injuries were mine), through blessing and trial, through the good and the bad their love has stood unquenchable. But love does not just happen. At times, the feelings can come in waves of joy and gladness, but at times love means doing that extra something for your mate, and love always means sacrificing ourselves to our mates: husbands in a sacrificial love, and wives in sacrificial obedience. When love involves giving, it cannot be quenched.

There were other characteristics shared as well. Contentment with "such things as ye have," and contentment with the "wife of your youth." Godliness - which has value in all things. And the priority of putting God first - seeking God early and often.

Our parents have been faithful to one another for 40 years. Not a ground-breaking landmark, but certainly a good opportunity for us to honor them, their faith, and their success in the marriage God has blessed them with.

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Rules and Variances

I have recently been forced to think about rules and variances. A variance is basically permission to break a rule. Growing up, I think I took advantage of many variances, either granted by someone in authority (parent, teacher) or self-assigned. I was good at the self assigned variances. Then again, I think we all are. We all tend to let ourselves off with a lesser judgment than we use on those around us.

Anyway, the reason for my most recent thinking about variances is that we have started the process of adding on to the parsonage that we live in. The first step (so I thought) was to get a building permit - ah, but Dept. of Health has to sign off, you need drawing, and oops, you may need a variance. Practically, a variance will mean that the code enforcement officer will send letters to all my neighbors explaining that we want to add on, and ask them if they have any objections, and set a date for a public hearing on the matter. (I know, how official) The reason for the variance is that the parsonage sits on a sub-standard lot by size. I guess 1/2 an acre isn't enough - if the farmer who donated the land would have known this 130 years ago, this wouldn't be a problem today, he simply would have deeded the church more land. Oh well.

Some people cringe at the idea of needing a variance. Why can't the code enforcement official just make a decision? To me, it seems that the variance process is just another example of the democratic principles that make our nation great. Rather than the power resting in one individual, the power rests in the community. A hassle, but in principle, I agree with the idea. It really makes you think twice about being a good neighbor.

So you may be wondering, there is usually a sermon in here somewhere. Here it is, simply: I am so glad that God doesn't work using variances. When it comes time for judgment, He won't say, "Well, you've broken my rules, let's see if we can get you a variance. We will ask everyone who ever knew you if they think you should get into heaven." What a nail-biter that would be for many. God made a new rule. For those who had broken His law (everyone), His new rule is:

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Christ paid the penalty for us, and since he did, the law is no longer broken, and no variance is needed.

Still hoping no variance is needed for the house, but always grateful that a variance is never needed with God.

Sabbath Rest and Trust

All through the Old Testament, we see God's repeated emphasis on a Sabbath rest for His people. What amazes me is how few times it is mentioned that there is a great deal of trust that goes into enjoying a Sabbath of rest.

In Leviticus 25, God details for His people the Sabbath rest required every 7 years for the land, and every 7 sets of seven years a 50th year celebration of Sabbath rest was held. That made for 2 years of trusting God to provide without tilling, or pruning, or harvesting the land. On top of that, they had to trust God to provide enough to see them through planting season the following year!

There is a principle at work here that we see through scripture. God's blessings are available to those who trust in His promises. There are many who can't make themselves take a day off in the week because there is too much work to be done, or their needs are so great. They often look down on those who take their weekly day off as simplistic, or envy them for their 'blessed' circumstances. Not only in Sabbath rest, but in all areas of Christian blessing, what we often view as 'lucky' believers are simply believers who have chosen to trust God in that area of their life, and have reaped the abundant harvest of God's blessing. The same blessing that is available to all who would take God at His Word and put their trust in Him.

I trust each of you will choose to trust God for His blessing.

"And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. And ye shall sow the eight year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store." - Leviticus 25:20-22

Being Part of a Family

This week we have had the pleasure of having Jen's parents with us from Wednesday through Sunday afternoon. There is just something special about people with similar values and many shared experiences. We can feel comfortable talking about many different topics, or just sitting quietly in a room together. There is the added benefit of having people to play with the kids during the day more, enabling Jen and I to get much more done. Particularly appreciated as Jen was in charge of the ladies brunch at church this morning.

Anyway, the wonders of family are compounded by the love that God had for us in giving us the adoption of children! God not only included me in His family through faith in Jesus Christ as my savior, but I have a much larger family in the family of God - His church. Now, no matter where we go, we can worship with those who have many similar values and many shared experiences, even if we've never met before. In some regards, it is an artificial family, but in the spiritual sense, it is the only true family we could be a part of.

It is a joy to be around our physical, genetic family, but what a blessing to consider what joy God has given us when He made us part of His family!

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." - Romans 8:15

Cutting Ourselves Off at the Knees

A common desire among Christians is to be more like Jesus Christ. I guess that should be an obvious statement, or should be reworded as all Christians should desire to be more like Jesus Christ. Why don't more Christians have the desire, or why isn't the desire stronger in us? I've noticed an interesting trend as I have been eating healthier the last few weeks - the less candy I eat, the less desire I have for it. Oh, that's not to say that I wouldn't love to eat a Hershey's bar (or two or three), but the longer I go without one, the less the thought of a Hershey's bar comes into my mind. What does this have to do with being Christlike? Well, Romans 7:11 talks about the deceptiveness of sin: 

"For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew [me]." 

Sin is deceptive: it tries to get us to think that we are missing out on something. "If you stop watching CSI, you're not going to know what happens to the characters." So What! "If you don't see this movie, you're missing out on some great entertainment." "You don't know what you're missing out on." Sin's lie from the beginning. Satan told Eve that she didn't know what she was missing out on by not eating from that one tree. He neglected to tell her all the negative aspects she was also missing out on, just as sin neglects the negative today. Sin doesn't tell us "CSI will make you have a cheaper view of human life, of marital relationships, of holy living in general." Sin doesn't tell us "That movie will strengthen your flesh and weaken your relationship with God." Sin doesn't tell us that we are 'missing out' on many things we would like to miss out on. As we listen to the deceipt of sin, it dulls our senses for the spiritual. It dulls our appetite because we've filled ourselves up on spiritual junk food, and don't have the hunger for God that we should have. By filling up on junk, we can easily sabbotage our efforts at godly living. We can effectively cut ourselves off at our knees.

"The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding" Proverbs 9:10

Serving God on His Terms . . .

Have you ever noticed that many times in life, there doesn't seem to be enough to go around. I mean, you look at what you have to do, and how much you have to do it with, and you come up short.

I've always been a bit of a budget person (ok, since graduating from college), and I remember when Jen and I were anxiously anticipating our wedding day. We had plans to get jobs and start off on our own. I got out the budget, and started figuring how much money we would need to live on - tithe, housing, car, food, insurances, gas, clothes, gifts, and added it all up. It came to slightly more than I was currently making as a waiter. Then, we made our job search trips and applied for jobs at two Christian Schools, and got offers from both schools for each of us. The problem was, my income was not quite up to the level I had figured I needed. Jen's income was going to pay off her student loans, and we were going to live off of my income.

I've come to learn that God enjoys these moments in our lives - those moments when we look and say "I can't do it!", because God likes us to know that He is the one who 'does it' and makes things work in our lives. Think of Gideon with his 32,000 men. God said "The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own had hath saved me." (Judges 6:2) God reduced Gideon's 'army' to just 300 men, a group that could easily fit in most church sanctuaries, against a foe that were "like grasshoppers for multitude."

Knowing this is helping me in learning that when we don't have enough, it should not discourage us, it should encourage us that God is looking to do a work that we cannot deny His hand in. When it comes to serving God on His terms, cherish those times when "you can't", because those are the times that "He will!"

"And he said unto me, 'My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
- 2 Corinthians 12:9