A Smelly Remembrance
Monday, January 28, 2008

I once heard somebody say, "We have to be reminded more often than we learn."

During lunch today, I picked up my book to finish reading it. The book reeks of smoke, left over from this weekends camp-out. I could not focus on reading because the smell kept drawing my attention back to the activities of the camp-out and spending time with my son. My mind would travel back and reflect on the mental images of the fun activities.

It is funny how certain smells triggers certain memories. I am forced to wonder if God instilled this in our being; a way to help remind us. I can smell a freshly mown field while in a car moving at 60mph. This smell draws me to the times I spent with my father and grandfather doing weekend yard work. As a child, I loved mowing the yard because my father(s) were always involved in that activity. This memory usually leads to a remembrance of the stories my father shared with us while taking a break. I can recall the time my father used a weed in the grass to exemplify sin and what happens when it is left to grow. This lesson (sin=weeds) is ingrained in my memories, even 30 years later.

This reminds me of the movie "Ratatouille" when the food critic is drawn to childhood memories while eating a simple peasant dish at an exquisite restaurant. The passage in Psalms 78: 1-8 tells of the importance of telling our children the praiseworthy deeds of our Lord. I pray that my children may remember the testimonies of their father when they smell a campfire, the stories of a grandfather while telling their children stories, or the teaching of a mother when smelling a freshly cooked meal.

I, for one, will have to start paying more attention to opportunities to tell my children what the Lord has done for me and my family. The time we spend fishing, camping, or building something in the garage are times I will need to spend telling my children the deeds of our Savior.

Posted byAnonymous at 1/28/2008 0 comments  

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Refresh my heart in Christ
Wednesday, January 23, 2008


Philemon 1:20 (NIV)
"I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ."

As part of a challenge, Paul asked Philemon to glorify God so that Paul's heart may become refreshed. On her eleventh birthday, my daughter lead the devotions at Wednesday nights youth activities. A discussion took place on what was the favorite thing you like to do with your family. My daughters response, "It doesn't matter what we do, as long as we do it together."Later that week a a person thanked my wife for providing a godly example to our children. You see, my daughters response refreshed this persons heart in Christ.

I am not writing this to brag about my daughter or my spouse. I am writing this to note that developing a heritage that is honoring to the Lord exceeds the boundaries of the family. The simple, but yet profound response of a child's heart can, and will, open an adults heart to Christ. Thank God that He works through the simple things in life so our over-complicated thoughts may find clarity.

Refresh my heart in Christ - change your family tree to honor God.

Posted byAnonymous at 1/23/2008 0 comments  

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Letter from Birmingham City Jail
Sunday, January 20, 2008

Letter from Birmingham City Jail
Martin Luther King Jr.

"... You speak of our activity in Birmingham as extreme... But though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Was not Amos an extremist for justice: "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Was not Paul and extremist for the Christian gospel: "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." and John Bunyon: "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience." ... So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. ... I also hope that circumstances will soon make it possible for me to meet each of you, not as an integrationist or a civil rights leader but as a fellow clergy-man and a Christian brother..." (Bennett, William J. "The Book of Virtues." pg.258-262)

I can remember learning about Martin Luther King Jr. in public school, but we were never taught that he was a Baptist minister. His biblical worldview and use of it as just cause for his battles were conveniently left out.

Posted byAnonymous at 1/20/2008 4 comments  

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Family Man, Family Leader
Saturday, January 19, 2008

For the fathers:

"A Father initiates action and sustains it toward a goal. He makes things happen; he is the leader of his family. What he starts he continues; he sustains his family by providing for the protecting those under his leadership. All that is done for one overriding purpose: to bring glory to God by offering Him a wife and children who know, love, and obey Jesus Christ." (Lancaster, Phillip "Family Man, Family Leader" pg.100)

Build a heritage which honors and glorifies God.

Posted byAnonymous at 1/19/2008 0 comments  

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A Father's Story
Monday, January 14, 2008

I owned and operated a landscaping business. To meet upcoming expenses, I had to quickly finish a landscape job. After the crew and I completed the job, the customer approved of the work and paid in cash. It was a sizable amount that barely fit into my wallet.

I had to make a stop at the local city dump before dropping off the crew. We barely made it before they closed for the day. After unloading the trash and dropping of the crew, my manager and I stopped by the car wash to wash out the trailer and equipment. I reached into my back pocket to find no wallet. My muscles squeezed my stomach tight and my mind started backtracking all my steps. We jumped back into the truck and headed back to the house to think things through.

I was a nervous wreck. You see, this payment not only covered payroll, but also many other expenses. It was a considerable amount. I was sure this was the end of my business. The only possible location I could have lost it was in the city dump. My manager, a fellow brother in Christ, challenged me to go search for it. They were closed, it was dark outside, and I knew the heavy bulldozers had already buried everything in sight. So I found a flashlight, grabbed a bottle of water, and make the trip back to the dump.

The dump was closed so I had to jump the gate. I new it was a lost cause, but the prayer on the way there helped restore my faith. I climbed up the massive hill to the spot where we dumped the trailer. I turned on the flash light, pointed it to the ground, and light up my wallet laying in the mud. The bi-fold was opened, the cash was still in it, and all the credit cards were bent in half from the bulldozer running over it. I feel to the ground in tears thanking my Savior.

I tell my story to my children and no matter how many times I tell it, they still listen.

Posted byAnonymous at 1/14/2008 3 comments  

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When a Generation doesn't Remeber

Exodus 16:32 (NIV)
Then Moses said: "This is what the Lord has commanded:" 'Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt."

Judges 2:10-15
After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. ... v14 In his anger against Israel the Lord handed them over to raiders who plundered them.

And I thought I was one of the few who quickly forgets things. As we see here, God prepared a historical artifact for the generations of his people to remember. Yet, it took only one generation to develop a destructive cultural defiance to God. I wonder what it took for one generation to know nothing of the Lord or what He did in their family?

Posted byAnonymous at 1/14/2008 0 comments  

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