Heritage Of Honor

A New Years Tradition
Sunday, January 4, 2009

This New Year, we, my family, added a new family tradition. In prior years, New Year’s was a time to light the sky with burning minerals (fireworks), eat boiled seeds (black-eyed peas), and make self-promises (resolutions) of things to do the next year. In reality, the memories of the fireworks slowly fade and the resolutions fade even faster. The memories left are the times spent with family; the life stories created and shared among each other.

This New Year, I wanted to create more of those memories and let the children choose how we were to accomplish this. Each of my children was to identify what event last year they were thankful for. This was to guide them in write down five things they would want to do, as a family, this New Year. Each child created their own list of five family events. Then, with parental guidance, the family voted on one of the five items. With my five children, this created a top five list of things do, as a family, in the New Year. The results:

1. Go to Schlitterbahn.
2. Go on a family campout.
3. Have a family picnic in the park for a day.
4. Go to the Zoo
5. Make brownies and the eat them while watching a Princess Movie.

We wrote this list up, framed it, and to remind us, hung it in the dinning room.

What did you do for the New Year?

Posted byAnonymous at 1/04/2009 1 comments    

Labels: traditions

A Father's Journey into a New Family Tradition
Wednesday, January 9, 2008

After reading Voddie Buacham Jr's book, titled "Faith Driven Family," I have decided it was time for my family to start the day together.

I am using "Our 24 Way Family Devotional" as a resource for our devotional time. The book focuses on a method called ARTS (Ask about it, Read about it, Talk about, and Share). The book provides daily devotionals for the family to interact together in discussions concerning biblical character.

Our first morning when surprisingly well; that is waking the kids up two hours earlier than what they are use to. Justin, our youngest son, woke up with much energy; he is typically the one who does not want to get up in the morning. This was encouraging for me.

Our second morning waking together, enjoying a home cooked breakfast, and spend time in devotion to God's word went a little more difficult. I had to drag a few children out of bed and did what I could to keep there attention during the devotional. I though I would have to give Justin a cold shower in his bed to get him up. My oldest son, James, did what he could to wake-up and pay attention. My oldest daughter, Melanie, was her usual chirpy self as she is a morning person.

Our third morning I relented and let everybody sleep-in. This day is usually a late night for everybody with church activities. So we will continue our new tradition tomorrow.

Lord willing, this will turn into a new habit. However, it sure is difficult to change the families sleeping habits.

Posted byAnonymous at 1/09/2008 0 comments    

Labels: fathers, heritage, leadership, new year, traditions

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

Posted byAnonymous at 1/08/2008 0 comments    

Labels: child development, family, family reformation, generations, heritage of honor, leadership, marriage, spouse, traditions

When I Say . . . I am a Christian
Wednesday, January 2, 2008

This is not my work. Yet, It is a great poem that needs to be shared.


When I Say . . . I am a Christian
I'm not shouting "I am saved."
I'm whispering "I get lost"
That is why I chose this way.


When I Say . . . I am a Christian
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need somone to be my guide.

When I Say . . . I am a Christian
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I am weak
and pray for strength to carry on.

When I Say . . . I am a Christian
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I Say . . . I am a Christian
I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are too visible
but God believes I'm worth it.

When I Say . . . I am a Christian
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
which is why I seek HIS name.

When I Say . . . I am a Christian
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority
I only know I'm loved.

- Unknown

Posted byAnonymous at 1/02/2008 0 comments    

Labels: testimony, traditions

Another Christmas Gift
Thursday, December 27, 2007

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:

"The League of Grateful Sons"

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.

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."

Posted byAnonymous at 12/15/2007 0 comments    

Labels: child development, family, foundations, money, traditions

Commission V's Allowance
Tuesday, December 11, 2007

During my upbring, it was either do the chores or get the belt. We did get allowance, but it was just that; an allowance. Dave Ramsey suggest that children should receive a commission instead of allowance[1]. The purpose is to use chores as an opportunity to teach children the biblical concept of work and money. Commission for chores does not denote that chores are voluntary.

I find Mr. Ramsey's use of the term commission interesting. The word "commission" as a transitive verb is defined as "to appoint or assign to a task or function [2]." Would this mean we are to commission our children for their commission?

Mr. Ramsey's way of rewarding children for completion of chores teaches them that they will be compensated for entrust responsibilities. Ensure each child knows how to do the task, what quality is acceptable, and when it is to be completed. Based on their performance, they are given either commission or discipline. If a child does more than what is expected, then compensate them. If they fail while attempting to do additional choirs, then help them get back-up and encourage them to continue. Hum, this is beginning to sound just like an every day job. Mr. Ramsey recommends using a dry-eraser board to keep weekly record of chores completed and how much they earned.

I write this because I have yet to fully assimilate this plan in my home. I find this way of assigning choirs to be a good teaching tool. At the dinner table, my family read about Paul's warning against idleness (2 Thessalonians 3: 6-19). This is one way to teach our children the importance of earning our food; that things in life are just not free.


Footnotes:

1. Ramsey, Dave. "DAVE RAMSEY’S FINANCIAL PEACE JR. TEACHES KIDS THE IMPORTANCE OF MONEY MANAGEMENT". DaveRamsey.com 11 Dec 2007. http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/cms/index.cfm?intContentID=3203

2. "Commission." Merriam-Webster Online. 7 Dec 2007
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/commission

Posted byAnonymous at 12/11/2007 0 comments    

Labels: child development, money, traditions

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