Wednesday, November 28, 2007
For those of you who love kids, like to hang out with kids, or just like being a kid, here's a group that I've found to be a lot of fun. This is my Christmas Card to you. I pray your holiday's are filled with the awareness of Christ, and His blessing over flow from your cup. Just click on the link and enjoy!!!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ
Monday, November 19, 2007
Today I recieved a letter from one of the teachers here at WestWay. Attached to this letter was one of the best clips I've heard in a long time. A young man (12 yrs old) made a remarkable phone call to Houston radio station KSBJ FM 89.3. It is so profound, I've added it to my links or you can type it in yourself. Enjoy. http://www.ksbj.org/eblogs/morningShow/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/logan-calf-story.mp3
Monday, November 12, 2007
As I mentioned, this is a new experience for me, having a blog and all, so I don't have it in my routine to keep it up to date. The last few weeks have been very busy for me. I know these are only excuses and I pledge to try to do better at adding new posts.
We had the blessing of having our grandchildren around the house for almost a week. The blessings come in the form of adoration. It seems that they both adore their Pa Pa.
Kadence, (2 1/2 yrs old) loves to sit on PaPa's lap and have PaPa lightly rub his fingers across her back. She arches her back and giggles as it tickles a lot. But if PaPa stops, she is quick to say, "More Papa, more." She loves to sing songs for PaPa and Nana, and loves to talk with whoever will listen. A favorite fraise for her right now is, "That's amazing."
Brayden too, (5 months) loves to talk to his PaPa. He loves to lay on the bed and just jabber up a storm. If PaPa gets distracted and stops listening, he will add in a few squeals which are sure to bring PaPa's attention right back to him. When he hears PaPa enter the room, he watches PaPa, until PaPa looks at him, at which time he grins from ear to ear, as if to say, "You just come right over here and get me so we can visit."
I believe that we can learn a lot from little children. Like Kadence and Brayden, we should desire to be in the presence of our heavenly father. Communicating with Him should make up a big part of our day. Children spend every waking moment of the day learning. Maybe we should be doing the same. If we did, we might be using that fraise, "That's amazing," more often ourselves.
I pray you are taking advantage of each moment of each day to practice His presence. Scripture tells us that, "If you seek Him, He will be found by you." 2 Chronicles 15:2.
We had the blessing of having our grandchildren around the house for almost a week. The blessings come in the form of adoration. It seems that they both adore their Pa Pa.
Kadence, (2 1/2 yrs old) loves to sit on PaPa's lap and have PaPa lightly rub his fingers across her back. She arches her back and giggles as it tickles a lot. But if PaPa stops, she is quick to say, "More Papa, more." She loves to sing songs for PaPa and Nana, and loves to talk with whoever will listen. A favorite fraise for her right now is, "That's amazing."
Brayden too, (5 months) loves to talk to his PaPa. He loves to lay on the bed and just jabber up a storm. If PaPa gets distracted and stops listening, he will add in a few squeals which are sure to bring PaPa's attention right back to him. When he hears PaPa enter the room, he watches PaPa, until PaPa looks at him, at which time he grins from ear to ear, as if to say, "You just come right over here and get me so we can visit."
I believe that we can learn a lot from little children. Like Kadence and Brayden, we should desire to be in the presence of our heavenly father. Communicating with Him should make up a big part of our day. Children spend every waking moment of the day learning. Maybe we should be doing the same. If we did, we might be using that fraise, "That's amazing," more often ourselves.
I pray you are taking advantage of each moment of each day to practice His presence. Scripture tells us that, "If you seek Him, He will be found by you." 2 Chronicles 15:2.
Monday, October 15, 2007
parenting
I've really been enjoying a book by Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott called "The Parent You Want To Be". I'm previewing the book with the plans of using it and the series of lessons that accompany it, in a parenting class that will start after the first of the year. Wow! It's good stuff. It's built around the statement, "Who you are matters more than what you do."
In the first section of the book, Les & Leslie discuss the fact that your kids will remember your parenting traits, asking the question, "How do your child perceive you?" and giving advice on how to identify what personal parenting traits you already have.
In the second section of the book they discuss, TEN TRAITS WORTH CONSIDERING. Those ten traits are - Affirming, Patient, Attentive, Visionary, Connected, Celebratory, Authentic, Comforting, Insightful, and Prayerful.
The stories they use to illustrate these traits are just awesome. For example, in the chapter on being attentive, they give the advise that attentive parents listen for a Child's fears. With listening ears, they work to understand the source of a child's fears in order to soothe them. The Parrotts share the story how a mother discovered that her young son was so afraid of the Madison Square Church in New York that he refused to set foot inside it alone. They write, "He was terrified, she discovered, of something called the "zeal." Teddy feared it was crouched in the dark corners of the church, ready to jump out at him. When his mother asked what a zeal might be, young Teddy said he wasn't sure but thought it was probably a large animal or perhaps a dragon. He told her he'd heard the minister read about it from the Bible. Using a concordance, his mother read him those passages containing the word zeal until suddenly, excitedly, Teddy told her to stop. The line was from the book of John: "And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." Patiently, tenderly, attentively, Roosevelt's mother listened to understand and appreciate his fear. She didn't say, "Teddy you're acting silly - quit being afraid of nothing."
I wonder if Teddy would have grown up to be such a fearless leader of the Ruff Riders, and President of the United States, if his mother wouldn't have taken the time to listen and understand his childhood fears? I also ask myself the question, "How well are you doing at being attentive?" I know there is room for improvement.
I'm looking forward to finishing the last section of the book where Drs. Les & Leslie give advice on becoming the parent you want to be. The book is loaded with good advice and bunches of quotes worth remembering. I can't wait to get the class started. I hope you will make plans to attend. Be watching WestWay's Sunday bulletin and the Monthly Update for the specific dates and times that the class will be held. Oh, I'll let you know in my blog too.
Have a great week.
In His Service,
Joe
In the first section of the book, Les & Leslie discuss the fact that your kids will remember your parenting traits, asking the question, "How do your child perceive you?" and giving advice on how to identify what personal parenting traits you already have.
In the second section of the book they discuss, TEN TRAITS WORTH CONSIDERING. Those ten traits are - Affirming, Patient, Attentive, Visionary, Connected, Celebratory, Authentic, Comforting, Insightful, and Prayerful.
The stories they use to illustrate these traits are just awesome. For example, in the chapter on being attentive, they give the advise that attentive parents listen for a Child's fears. With listening ears, they work to understand the source of a child's fears in order to soothe them. The Parrotts share the story how a mother discovered that her young son was so afraid of the Madison Square Church in New York that he refused to set foot inside it alone. They write, "He was terrified, she discovered, of something called the "zeal." Teddy feared it was crouched in the dark corners of the church, ready to jump out at him. When his mother asked what a zeal might be, young Teddy said he wasn't sure but thought it was probably a large animal or perhaps a dragon. He told her he'd heard the minister read about it from the Bible. Using a concordance, his mother read him those passages containing the word zeal until suddenly, excitedly, Teddy told her to stop. The line was from the book of John: "And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." Patiently, tenderly, attentively, Roosevelt's mother listened to understand and appreciate his fear. She didn't say, "Teddy you're acting silly - quit being afraid of nothing."
I wonder if Teddy would have grown up to be such a fearless leader of the Ruff Riders, and President of the United States, if his mother wouldn't have taken the time to listen and understand his childhood fears? I also ask myself the question, "How well are you doing at being attentive?" I know there is room for improvement.
I'm looking forward to finishing the last section of the book where Drs. Les & Leslie give advice on becoming the parent you want to be. The book is loaded with good advice and bunches of quotes worth remembering. I can't wait to get the class started. I hope you will make plans to attend. Be watching WestWay's Sunday bulletin and the Monthly Update for the specific dates and times that the class will be held. Oh, I'll let you know in my blog too.
Have a great week.
In His Service,
Joe
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
This last weekend, I had the privilege of attending our annual Men's Retreat. This retreat has been held at the beautiful historic Fort Robinson near Crawford, NE. It was fun to hang out with the 27 other men who attended and sing praises to our Heavenly Father and Creator and be challenged by his word. It was also fun to golf on the course there by Crawford and spend some time with Jim, whom I'd not known before this trip.
Golfing 18 holes on a beautiful afternoon in the midst of awesome scenery is right at the top of what I'd call a great day. The next day 8 of us took a long hike on the Trooper Trail west of Fort Robinson. This trail climbed to the top of some hills over looking the valley the Fort sets in and you could see the trees lining the stream that flows down through the valley. These trees are changing colors at this time of year from green to different shades of yellow's and gold's and red's. It was beautiful. The trail continued to circle back to the west where it ran through an area that had burned in a large prairy fire not long ago.
As we traveled along we found places where the fire had been so hot that it had literaly burned the trees down into their roots and all that was left was a hole in the ground with little tunnels branching out where the roots had been. Fence posts had completely burned up, leaving holes where the posts had been standing.
It reminded me of the passage in James that says, "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. NIV" I've seen the damage the tongue can do. It has left holes in families and churches that have taken years to fill. I pray that God will keep me from ever using my tongue to do that kind of damage. Instead, I want to be like the scouts who have gone to those areas that have been burned and planted little trees to replace the ones effected by the fire. I want to be a seed planter.
A little further on in that passage in James, it says, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom (James 3:13)." That's like planting little trees. In verses 17 and 18 in that 3rd chapter of James it says, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." God wants my life (and yours) to be a life that has a positive affect on those around me. A life that encourages growth. A life that comes from a relationship with Jesus.
With the help of His Spirit I can be pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. A peacemaker who sews in peace, hoping to raise a harvest of righteousness. When is the last time you've had a chance to take a hike and think about how you're doing in life? This time of year is a great time to do that. Go for it.
Golfing 18 holes on a beautiful afternoon in the midst of awesome scenery is right at the top of what I'd call a great day. The next day 8 of us took a long hike on the Trooper Trail west of Fort Robinson. This trail climbed to the top of some hills over looking the valley the Fort sets in and you could see the trees lining the stream that flows down through the valley. These trees are changing colors at this time of year from green to different shades of yellow's and gold's and red's. It was beautiful. The trail continued to circle back to the west where it ran through an area that had burned in a large prairy fire not long ago.
As we traveled along we found places where the fire had been so hot that it had literaly burned the trees down into their roots and all that was left was a hole in the ground with little tunnels branching out where the roots had been. Fence posts had completely burned up, leaving holes where the posts had been standing.
It reminded me of the passage in James that says, "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. NIV" I've seen the damage the tongue can do. It has left holes in families and churches that have taken years to fill. I pray that God will keep me from ever using my tongue to do that kind of damage. Instead, I want to be like the scouts who have gone to those areas that have been burned and planted little trees to replace the ones effected by the fire. I want to be a seed planter.
A little further on in that passage in James, it says, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom (James 3:13)." That's like planting little trees. In verses 17 and 18 in that 3rd chapter of James it says, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." God wants my life (and yours) to be a life that has a positive affect on those around me. A life that encourages growth. A life that comes from a relationship with Jesus.
With the help of His Spirit I can be pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. A peacemaker who sews in peace, hoping to raise a harvest of righteousness. When is the last time you've had a chance to take a hike and think about how you're doing in life? This time of year is a great time to do that. Go for it.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Why the blog?
Hello All,
I have found it a joy to write about thoughts that God has placed on my heart as I walk through life with him. Some have expressed interest in reading about those thoughts, so I will attempt to share them with you in this blog. I pray you will find them interesting, thought provoking and maybe even challenging at times. I pray you will always weigh what I say with the scripture as you should with anything you read or hear. Thank you for taking a few moments to stroll through life with me.
I have found it a joy to write about thoughts that God has placed on my heart as I walk through life with him. Some have expressed interest in reading about those thoughts, so I will attempt to share them with you in this blog. I pray you will find them interesting, thought provoking and maybe even challenging at times. I pray you will always weigh what I say with the scripture as you should with anything you read or hear. Thank you for taking a few moments to stroll through life with me.
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