Daddy's Little Girl
Monday, December 1, 2008
It is excitingly profound the ways in which lives move under the sovereignty of God. I had the privilege of taking pictures for my sister-in-laws wedding. It was only a short time ago that she, the youngest of the sisters, was the flower girl at my wedding. An now, here stands daddy's little girl, the youngest of my children, a flower girl for my sister-in-law.
I like to talk about paving the future for our generations to come; yet, I am perplexed at how quickly time passes, at how little time we have to start paving that path. Here, two generations have merged in such a short amount of time.
Steven Curtis Chapman's said it well in his song Cinderella:
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ohh-oh ohh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song,
Cuz all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
She'll be gone."
Posted byAnonymous at 12/01/2008 0 comments
Labels: family, generations, marriage
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
Labels: child development, family, fore-fathers, generations, heritage of honor
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
Labels: family, family reformation, fathers, heritage of honor
Faith Driven Family
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
I have just finished reading the book, "Family Driven Faith," by Voddie Buacham Jr. This book was given to me as a Christmas present from my sister-in-law; thanks Jess. I throughly enjoyed this book. Mr. Buacham address issues that result in generations of children turning away from the faith.
Moses saw the home as the principle delivery system for the transmittal of God's truth from generation to generation. There is no hint here - or anywhere else in the Bible - of the multigenerational teaching of the truths of God being abdicated by parents in favor of "trained professionals." An excerpt from Faith Driven Family
As homeschool parents, we are raising our children with a foundational focus on biblical truths. However, Mr. Baucham help me, a father, reflect on our methods of accomplishing this. This book is applicable to not only homeschoolers, but to all families seeking to build a multigenerational foundation of biblical truths. This is a great resource for not only families, but teachers, elders, youth leaders, and even older youth.
Posted byAnonymous at 1/08/2008 0 comments
Labels: child development, family, family reformation, generations, heritage of honor, leadership, marriage, spouse, traditions
My Fathers
Thursday, January 3, 2008
I am
Jason Brooks Reagan
son of
Maurice Randell Reagan
son of
Robert Brooks Reagan (1905 - 2000)
son of
Robert Bunyon Reagan (1884 - 1970)
son of
William Henry Reagan (1851 - 1936)
son of
William Daniel Reagan (1825 - 1904)
son of
Joseph D. Reagan (1790 - 1839)
son of
Daniel Reagan (1767 - 1827)
son of
Ralph Reagan (1736 - 1795)
son of
Joseph Reagan, Jr. (1709 - 1783)
son of
Joseph Reagan, Sr. (1683? - 1727)
son of
Francis Regan, Sr. (1662 -1727)
son of
Daniell Regan, Sr. (1626 - 1687)
son of
Ira Regan
Posted byAnonymous at 1/03/2008 0 comments
Labels: family, fathers, fore-fathers, hetigate
Destroy Children- "Exasperate Them"
Monday, December 31, 2007
Ephesians 6:4 (New International Version) (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Exasperate - (Defined by Merriam Webster's Dictionary)
Involved in my own feelings, I fail to follow God's instruction on raising my child. I was not compassionately nurturing my child. Later that evening, my wife revealed that my son did not properly clean the floor because he did not now how. You see, my son was trying to honor me with the best of his ability, but it was not enough for me. He had the proper attitude, I did not. As he was lying in bed, a broken father had to ask his son for forgiveness.
Children prepare for adulthood by witnessing our actions. Do not push your children to the point of anger, instead teach them compassion and kindness. Focus on correcting the attitude. If the attitude is right, then make sure they clearly understand the issue. Have patience as God has unending patience for us. Also, never discipline with an angry hand. If your heart is not right, then take heed and do not punish. Instead step back and ask your spouse to help. Also, teach you children why you discipline so they may truly understand a biblical world view. Guidance without understanding leads to dictatorship.
Posted byAnonymous at 12/31/2007 0 comments
Labels: child development, family, foundations
Homeschool Fun
Thursday, December 27, 2007
posted from:
http://www.timhawkins.net/video-audio.htm
Posted byAnonymous at 12/27/2007 0 comments
Another Christmas Gift
Posted byAnonymous at 12/27/2007 0 comments
Labels: family, traditions
A Christmas Gift
A Christmas gift from grandchildren.
Posted byAnonymous at 12/27/2007 0 comments
Labels: family, traditions
Debt: Building Honor or Causing Destruction?
Monday, December 17, 2007
Over the last 50+ years, we have become dependent on the all mighty 2 1/8 inch by 3 1/8 inch sheet of plastic with a magnetic strip. It comes wrapped in any color or image of your choice. Toys are teaching children to just charge it. Commercials chastise the use of cash for slowing down efficiency. Customer loyalty is built by advertising to high school students. Deals come by means of low interest rates or no interest for 3, 6, or even 12 months. And there is my all-time favorite, "Let's cash advance our Visa card to pay the Discover card."
I am not alone in knowing how the chains of debt feel. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis, for every $1.00 earned, each American spends $1.22 [1]. This snowball of a spending trend, sparked by credit cards, leads to an enslaved path of destruction.
In biblical times, debt could lead to slavery; see Mathew 18:26-28 . "If you're in debt then you're a slave, in the sense that you do not have the freedom to use your money to powerfully change your family tree[2]."
Let me clarify, I am not stating that the use of credit is evil. However, I do agree with Dave Ramsey's comment that the use of debt limits our ability to build a Heritage on Honor. A mortgage is not evil; it is the person who sinfully purchase more than what they can afford. We should be good stewards of what we have been entrusted with.
Our children need to be taught and given examples of how to live without debt. They will be bombarded with advertisements that teach them to live the American dream by using a credit card. Without our example and teaching, our grandchildren may seek a life of servitude to debt. I like Dave Ramsey's example how a family tree can change from a debt-free life. Imagine a life of financial freedom giving you the ability to have no mortgage. Your children have learned how to manage finances and live a debt-free life. What kind of heritage could you build by being able to purchase your children's first home for them, with cash, as a reward for living a debt-free life? What kind of example will this set for your generations for come? Good stewardship is way to build a Heritage of Honor, but debt is the destructive opposition to stewardship.Footnotes
1. Sourced from "Financial Literacy" from Ad Council web site at http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=373.
2. Sourced from Dave Ramsey on "Dept" from MyTotalMoneyMakeover.com https://www.mytotalmoneymakeover.com/members/index.cfm?fuseaction=dspCat&intCatID=52
Posted byAnonymous at 12/17/2007 0 comments
Labels: family, hetigate, money, traditions
Preservation of Honor Contest
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Do you have a blog, web page, or on-line journal? Do you have a story about how you preserve family traditions, events, lineage, or stories; stories that develop a focus on Godly living? If you do not have a blog or such, then email it. Well here is your chance to win a great movie produced by Vision Forum:
Curious about the movie? Read my blog about it here.
Here is what to do:
1. Post an article about how you or your family preserves testimonies, stories, heirlooms, or anything else in order for future generations to turn to God. What is it, why is it important, and how will it build a "Heritage of Honor?" Must be posted before 12/20/2007.
NOTE: If you do not have a blog then email iT to HeritageOfHonor@sbcglobal.net or post it in the comments.
2. Leave a comment here with the location of your posting and a way to contact you.
3. A winner will be chosen on 12/22/2007.
Give all thanks and credit to:
Become a Vision Forum Affiliate...
Posted byAnonymous at 12/16/2007 0 comments
Labels: family, fathers, fore-fathers, heritage, heritage of honor, traditions
Traditional Spending Habits
Saturday, December 15, 2007
As a child, I watched my grandfather purchase a saw when he needed one. When the garden tractor broke-down, he would buy another one. When fishing tackle went on sale, he would add to his tackle boxes. My grandfather enjoyed life and I learned to buy whatever, whenever I had the money. My parents' love taught me many truths about life, but I personally failed to learn good spending habits.
When my wife and I purchased our first home, I needed to fill to it with all the stuff that took my father and grandfather years to acquire. My spending habits caused years of servitude to debt. Unfortunately, I had to learn about bad spending habits through experience.
It is fairly common knowledge that it takes twenty one days, or twenty one times, to make something a habit[1]. The problem lies in the time it takes to realize a bad habit and the consequences of those habits. As the saying goes, "Bad habits die hard."
To protect my heirs from learning my bad habits, I must change mine. Also, I must teach them how to become good stewards of the money we are entrusted with. After they learn where money comes from (see Allowance vs Commission), then they should be taught how to handle that money. I like Dave Ramsey's approach to split the money into three envelops; Giving, Saving, and Spending [2]. A child that tithes his earned money will learn more than a child who is given dollar to put into the offering plate. The child learns how to set-aside hard earned money for savings or emergency funds. In addition, he learns how to manage funds for buying toys or candy.
This is what Dave Ramsey considers changing the family tree; I consider it a way to establish a heritage of honor. Let's not give our children the opportunity to learn bad spending habits. Instead, we should teach them to properly manage funds and how they can teach their children to do the same.
I would like to recommend the use of Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace Junior."
Footnotes:
1. McDonald, T. "Breaking Bad Habits - 5 Simple Steps fro Changing a Habit," http://ezinearticles.com/?Breaking-Bad-Habits---5-Simple-Steps-for-Changing-a-Habit&id=71021
2. Ramsey, Dave. "Financial Peace University," 2006, www.daveramsey.com
Posted byAnonymous at 12/15/2007 0 comments
Labels: child development, family, foundations, money, traditions
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
Generations of Men
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
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
