It is a lazy Monday at the house today. It is raining outside and the weather looks pretty dreary. It would be a good day just to read, but Hannah is in Christmas mode.
She woke up this morning, wanting to watch Christmas movies. Mickey Mouse Christmas, Winnie The Pooh Christmas and her favorite, Frosty the Snowman. If it was up to Hannah, Christmas would be year-round. So for this rainy day, we will probably hang around and watch some Christmas shows with Hannah.
Merry Christmas in February!
“There are two kinds of Christians.
“Sink Christians” view salvation like they would a sink. The water of salvation flows into the sink so that Christians can soak up all the benefits: eternal life, assurance in the present, strength in times of trial. Those who adopt this mindset concentrate solely on what the Bible says God has done and will do for them.
“Faucet Christians” view salvation differently. They look at the world as the sink and themselves as the faucet. The blessings of salvation flow to them in order to flow through them out to the wider world. They rightly see that the Bible describes salvation as something that God not only does for them, but also through them.”
– a quote from Trevin Wax’s forthcoming book, Holy Subversion: Allegiance to Christ in an Age of Rivals
HT: Trevin Wax
"If you want to conquer a besetting sin, you need to stop loving it."
-Matthew Elliott
Is there anything you need to stop loving?
Today, I read some interesting thoughts about the government bailout on Between Two Worlds Blog. It puts things in proper perspective.
“Amanda Shaw collects the numbers on the price tag for the new "stimulus" plan:
Adjusted for inflation, here are some other massive expenditures:
So the proposed "stimulus" package costs more than the Marshall Plan, the Korean War, and the New Deal combined.
Here are some thought experiments:
To make things worse, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office is saying that the stimulus plan will actually make things worse long-term.” HT: Between Two Worlds
Interesting isn’t it! Many state governments are looking for bailout. Businesses, government programs, people we don’t know, pork barrel projects. I have thought about proposing a church bailout program where we could just get the tithe on the pork barrel projects. That would equal about 40 billion dollars. What could a church do with that kind of money?
We have entered a new phase of life in the Cheney household. Hannah is coming out of her shell. Well, she was already out of her shell, but now she’s decided she will never turn back. I am talking about ATTENTION.
This week she has been non-stop. “Danny, play with me.” “Danny, look at me.” “Danny, c’mon. Let’s play in my room.” Danny, get up!” “Danny…Danny…Danny” For those of you who are new readers, my daughter often calls me by my first name.
I have deduced that Hannah likes attention at home. I know she gets alot of attention already but she seems to want more. When she calls out my name and wants me to play, it is her way of asking to spend quality time with her.
As parents, our children need our attention. Even when we have spent a long day at the office and we are tired, they still crave the affection and attention of their parents. Our children need us! Parenting is often a sacrifice. Kids do not always understand how hard our day was at the office. They do not always understand that we are tired and need some down time. All they know is they want some more of your time.
On many occasions I have sat in the living room while Hannah plays on the floor. I will be watching a little TV and Hannah calls out, “Danny, sit down here with me.” She not only wants attention, but undivided attention. There is a huge difference there.
Here is the fact of life for today. Parents often work 8-10 hours a day, sometimes more. Most of the time, working parents only have 4-5 hours in the evenings to spend with their children. Out of those after work hours, how many are spent giving attention to children? We have so many things to do in the after hours (cleaning house, washing clothes, paying bills, yard work etc.) that we do not have much time left for quality family time. That is why our children are looking for attention. Many of these things cannot be helped, it is the way of life in today’s society, but how can we make more time for our kids?
Only you know how to adjust your life to spend more time with your children. I am quickly finding out that time goes by fast and before you know it, time is gone. Find away to spend at least one quality, undivided hour each night with your kids. They need you.
I read this thought-provoking quote this morning on Justin Buzzard’s blog. It is from the book, Called To Ministry by Edmund Clowney.
"To miss your calling, follow this three-point program: assume that it begins in the future, decide that you don’t know what it is, and sit down to wait for the Lord’s call.
No, he has already called you–to be a Christian. Fulfill that call with all your heart and you will learn in his time what ministry is yours."
When I was about ten years old I was an Astro Buddy. An Astro Buddy was a club for Houston Astros fans that allowed kids to come down on the field and run the bases during a break in the ball game or before the game. I would dress up in my Little League baseball uniform and run those bases because it was a dream of mine to be a pro baseball player.
My favorite players were Jose Cruz and Alan Ashby. I had hoped every time I ran those bases that I would get to meet Cruz or Ashby, but we had no access to the team stars. Only to the “lower tier” players and the bat boys. I remember coming away from the game excited that I got to be on the field of the Astrodome, but disappointed that I had no access to my favorite players.
There is someone else who is a star player that always gives access to His fans. Jesus Christ. We have an all-access pass to fellowship with Him whenever we desire. Sure you have to join His club, which is only through salvation. But the benefits are outstanding. We have access to the Creator of the Universe.
Romans 5:2, “through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
We have access into His grace and into His presence, because of our faith in Him. Saving Faith. Many people want to have access to the world’s stars. Ball players, actors, musicians, but they are nothing compared to having access to the greatest person in the world. Jesus Christ gives us a backstage pass!
Yesterday was a good Sunday. We began a two part series, Elements of our Faith. We talked about the meaning of communion. When we stop and think about the meaning of communion, it should make us more grateful about the price that was paid for our salvation.
Last night, we joined with Trinity Fellowship in Fayettevile for service. It was the dedication of their new building. What an impressive structure they have built for the glory of God!
This morning I was able to have breakfast with our District Superintendent. I enjoyed our fellowship and the wisdom that Pastor Moore shared with me. I always look forward to learning from ministers who have pastored for many years. I truly appreciate him taking time out of his busy schedule to share with me.
Life of a Pastor Blog 