Spouse V's Family
Thursday, November 29, 2007
During a class assignment, we were asked to identify priorities of our life. The priorities included family, faith/religion, school, work, and such. However, when I said, "My wife," a debate with a fellow student developed over the difference of spouse versus the family. Separating these as two different priorities is vital in establishing a family legacy that is honoring to God.
Biblically, marriage is a solemn covenant bond between a man and a woman with God being the "bonding glue." See Mathew 19: 4-6. Within this covenant, the husband is called to be the spiritual leader of the home (head of house hold) and present himself to her holy and blameless. This relationship is to imitate the one God exemplified through Christ and the Church.
It is through this covenant that the husband and wife are entrusted with the gifts of children. These gifts are the continuance of a heritage; the future for other generations. According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary the family is :"The collective body of persons who live in one house and under one head or manager; a household, including parents, children and servants, and as the case may be, lodgers or boarders."
Therefore, a family is composed of multiple relationships. The first is the individual's relationship with God. The second is the covenant bond, the husband/wife and God relationship. The third is the family, which includes the marriage and any gifts. It is vital for a husband and a wife to exemplify the importance of these relationships. God reveals ways for the husband and wife to honor the covenant of marriage. Then, the marriage becomes a visible example for the children. If it is a God honoring marriage, the children will learn how to honor God individually and through marriage. As our children learn from this example, so will their children and grandchildren. These relationships become examples for generations to come.
Therefore, do not lower your spouse to that of just family. My wife is more than just family. The inside of our wedding rings reads "Became One 10-21-95." I must protect and build on our covenant marriage. The way I treat my wife teaches my sons how they should treat their wives. It also gives my daughters a way to measure who they shall court and marry. If I treat my wife as just part of the family, then it will be the children that she will focus every moment on, not our marriage. Again, the marriage is part of the family, but it is not just a family.
So, how does the marriage develop a Heritage of Honor? If you don't know, then read this blog again!
Posted byAnonymous at 11/29/2007 0 comments
Labels: covenant, family, marriage, spouse
Everything is Meaningless
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Ecclesiastes 1:2 (NIV)
"Meaningless! Meaningless!"
says the Teacher.
"Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless."
Everything we do under the sun is meaningless. That is if we don't do it for God's glory. But what caught my eyes during a Sunday morning service was:
Ecclesiastes 1:11 (NIV)
"There is no remembrance of men of old,
and even those who are yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow."
Attending a memorial service for a church elder, Bob, that lived what we would consider a worthy life, would cause anyone to say "What?" to this verse. On his death bed, he choose songs and scripture for his memorial service. Why? Memorial services, gravestone, and funerals are not for the dead, but for the living. We try to feel better about the death of a loved one by attempting to contain memories of their life. But yet, this is meaningless.
Researching genealogy brings me to wonder what my family was like. The stories of my forefathers were forgotten, never told, or maybe purposefully hidden. There was no remembrance of these men, except for names that were written in a document. I can recall memories of my grandfather, but yet my children did not know him. If they, my fore-fathers, wanted remembrance for something they did, it was utterly meaningless. The family knows nothing of the lives of our fore-fathers.
As for Bob, choosing his songs and scripture for his memorial service, he knew the answer. Bob had an insight that many men tend to over-see or reject. I too do not want to be remembered for what I did; however, I wanted people to remember what God has done in my life. The patents I have my name on, the toys I've acquired, my projects, and even the number of children I have are all meaningless. All is lost, if I do not do it for the glory of God.
This is why it is important for fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers to tell their sons and daughters what God has done in their life. This gives the generations memories that are Christ centered. The family stories of what God has done generates a family Heritage of Honor, honor that is serving to the Lord and Father.
Posted byAnonymous at 11/20/2007 0 comments
Labels: death, fore-fathers, generations, heritage, meaningless
Brainless TV
Monday, November 19, 2007
It is interesting what a young mind, as old as 8, can think-up.
Brainless TV
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| From James_comic |
"Ha, ha"
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| From James_comic |
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| From James_comic |
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| From James_comic |
Child: "Why?"
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| From James_comic |
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| From James_comic |
Brain: "NO!"
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| From James_comic |
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| From James_comic |
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| From James_comic |
Reference Material:
Posted byAnonymous at 11/19/2007 2 comments
Labels: brain, comic, funnies, TV
Thanksgiving Day Traditions
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Personally, it is my favorite time of the year. Homes are being prepared to host many traditional family events. Families get together for a feast and fellowship.
Ummm. Smoked turkey, Dressing, Pumpkin Pie, and Pecan Pie. A game of dominoes, poker, football, or even nertz. These traditions create memories for generations. But the question begs to be asked; is our traditions honoring to the Lord almighty?
Over the last couple of weeks, I have been plagued with properly answering this question. Are we celebrating Thanksgiving or Turkey day? Thanksgiving should be a day of overflowing thankfulness to our Savior for providing use with a nation to freely worship and honor Him. I for one will stop using the phrase "Happy Turkey Day."
Vision Forum has presented a Thanksgiving Day Collection titled "Plymouth Set."
I have yet to review this material, but it may be a great resource for building family traditions that honor God.
Please share your traditions; I would like to hear...
Posted byAnonymous at 11/14/2007 0 comments
Labels: heritage, heritage of honor, plymouth, Thanksgiving, traditions, turkey day
Generations of Men
Their future, your heritage, is molded by your actions.
Posted byAnonymous at 11/14/2007 0 comments
Labels: family, fathers, hetigate, leadership, sons, video
Veterans Day Traditions?
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Many influential, life changing events have happened on this day in history. For instance, in 1620, the "Mayflower Compact" was signed by the 41 Separatists among the passengers of the "Mayflower," serving as the basis for combining themselves "into a civil body politic." Democratic in form, the Compact comprised the first written American constitution, and remained in force until 1691. (See Reference)
However, on highly under-observed activity for today is Veterans Day. In what ways do you thank the individuals that have sacrificing time, education, and financial opportunities in order to protect our freedoms; freedoms which are under constant attack, by both other countries and Americans?I for one will start with my family, teaching my children to overflow with thankfulness for what God has entrusted us with. Telling them the stories of there forefathers than have fought in Bacon’s Rebellion, the ones that served in the Revolutionary War, and about there great-grandfather which served in WWI; which ended this day in 1918. Maybe we should observe this day by building a time line illustrating our descendants which have scarified much in order to protect us, their future generations. How will you and you family honor your heritage on this day?
Thank You…
Posted byAnonymous at 11/11/2007 0 comments
Labels: family, heritage, Mayflower, veterans day
The League of Grateful Son's
Friday, November 9, 2007
Why this extreme curiosity to discover my forefathers footsteps? I was never one to dwell on the past. High school history class was a past era that did nothing for me. As I have grown a little wiser, I found that knowing my roots gave a man a strong example to stand on. It is a way for young men to find what his fathers before him have sacrificed for what he now has.
This great revelation has come to light with a moving documentary I recently purchased. The movie "The League of Grateful Sons," was produced by Vision Forum Ministries. It is comprised of faithful stories from son's, fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers which served on Iwo Jima. The movie reveals the biblical importance telling the stories, or testimonies, of what God has accomplished in your life to your sons and grandsons. A child will not remember the algebra solution tomorrow, but he or she will remember the stories you tell them while fishing, planting flowers, or just while eating dinner.
I have missed the opportunity to ask my father's father about his stories. He didn't share them with his grandchildren. He did however take us under his loving mentorship and teach us many things. Now I must do diligence and research my forefathers' lives, so my sons and daughters will have something to hold them strong during trials and tribulations. My children need stories of manly forefathers, so that my children will guide the way for their children, my grandchildren.
Posted byAnonymous at 11/09/2007 0 comments
Labels: fathers, heritage, heritage of honor
Building Foundations
Thursday, November 8, 2007
When Dr. K, my professor at DBU, challenged the class to a statement, I was shock to find myself in the disagreeing minority. The statement: "Universities are the most critical influential time during a person's life." Speak with any engineer and you will find that preparation is the most critical aspect in building a foundation. Without proper soil preparation a foundation will move, shift, crack, and sometimes self-destruct. This in turn, destroys what sits upon that foundation. I find it amazing this knowledge was given to us from biblical times.
Mathew 67:24-27
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Yet, I sit in a Christian college class with a diverse group of adults believing the most influential aspect of a person's life is after they flown the coup, trying to become adults. Yes, society wants us to believe this so our institutions can become a powerful force in shaping societal culture.
Take heed in building the moral foundations of your children, as the most influential years of a child's life is before the age of seven. Character is permanently shaped by a strong moral foundation. Character is like studs of a building or the pillars of a bridge. Without proper preparation, a young adult's character and beliefs are easily shifted, moving from one side or the other.
Absence of a strong foundation will allow an institution, peer group, instructor, or even a girlfriend to simply shift a person's beliefs. If you want to empower others to greatly influence your children, then by all means, don't spend time building your child's foundation. The most influential part of a person's life is the family.
Posted byAnonymous at 11/08/2007 0 comments
Labels: child development, family reformation, foundations, heritage of honor
Beginning with the End in Mind
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Welcome to the beginning of what I hope to become an active piece in the family reformation. Lord willing, the family reformation will end with families turning to God to find purpose for life. It is within the family where the foundations of life are established. For upon these foundations, whether they are solid or moving, people lay their bricks of character, ethics, and morals.
A Heritage of Honor is a means by which families can establish a concrete, strong, non-shifting foundation. A Heritage of Honor is knowing how God's providential hands have worked within the family. This can not only be done by researching family history, but also through developing such, here and now. This applies not only to young families, but also to empty-nester's, children, and especially grandparents.
This blog is a means to explore, research, and develop ways for people find and establish a Heritage of Honor. I am amazed at the importance of knowing God is the God of our father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; just as God identified Himself to Moses in Exodus. Without that foundation of knowledge, would Moses have gone back to Pharaoh to demand to let his people go? Building a foundation that includes a Heritage of Honor will provide people with a purpose that is not utterly meaningless. It is here that we find ways to glorify God, not man.
Posted byAnonymous at 11/07/2007 1 comments
Labels: family reformation, heritage, heritage of honor
