Learning from your kids

The old Indian chief thought he'd seen it all, done it all and with nothing else to die for, decided he should go ahead and die. So the tribe had a celebration banquet with food cooked over the campfire, and of course the obligatory dancing, when the chief observed a young boy rubbing his fingers in the mud before picking up his char grilled food. The old chief asking the young boy why he did so, he said the mud protected his fingers from the hot meat and he could eat without burning his fingers. The chief acknowledged, "I've learned something new from this small boy," called off the feast and went on to lead his tribe for 10 more years before joining the "great white spirit."

This weekend my son was home from college, and as we were driving together he came out with "The difference between temptation and testing," very clearly and distinctly... "The devil, or his minions, seek to tempt us to exploit our sin nature, call attention to our unworthiness for salvation, get us depressed, and take us out of our game. God does not temp anyone, nor is He tempted by sin, but rather tests his children (gives us the chance to respond correctly under trial) to confirm our godliness and holiness as He sanctifies us, to encourage us that He's working in our lives.

The old man learned something new from his kid, so I guess I'll keep on keeping on.

I've got a lot I can learn yet, how about you?

The Benefits of “M”

Men who are “M” earn more money that those without “M.” Men who are “M” have less illness, accidents, and are less prone to alcoholism and suicide that men who are not “M.” Women who are “M” are wealthier, physically healthier, and less likely to be victims of violence. Couples who are “M” report being more satisfied with their sex lives than any other group. The children of couples who are “M” have better academic performance, less criminal behavior, and are less likely to live in poverty.

By now you’ve probably guessed that “M” is for marriage. But both the Family Dynamics Institute and my wife and daughter say that I should say “HM” for the benefits of healthy marriages.

A healthy marriage would be one that followed the institution’s creative design… Oh yes, you did know that marriage was God’s idea. You remember, the leave and cleave, the love and respect, the mutual submission, the help-mate and completed man thing.

So as our culture tries to redefine marriage, and as cohabitation and children out of wedlock continues its popularity, I wanted to remind us of the original plan, and of the statistics validating doing it God’s way.
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* The Case for Marriage (2000), by Linda J. Waite and Maggie Gallagher, and the Family Dynamics Institute

Bread Alone

When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert wilderness after 40 days of fasting, Satan suggested to Jesus, appealing to his flesh, "Turn these stones into bread." But, Jesus answered him, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

As we thing about God's word, several things come to mind:

Whole wheat or rye, bread can keep the physical body alive, but not the Spirit and Soul. The bible says that we are dead, separated from God until we respond to Jesus' good words, the Gospel, and make him Savior and Lord of our life.

God's word, as opposed to ours is full of his infinite power. His Word keeps the very stars and earth in their appointed orbits. His Word created everything in the Universe. And His Word created and formed us, and sent a Savior to redeem us.

God's word, the bible, is His message to us on how He wants to relate to us and how we should live. It is our owners manual, for how to live successfully.

His Word, the bible is also our repair manual, for how to fix broken lives, mend them, and put them back on track.

The real you, and the real me, our soul, that part which can have eternity in view, lives by the Word of God.