Dad's Love

As the data rolls in (Read "Transforming Your Children into Spiritual Champions" by George Barna), the critical value of whole-hearted, intentional parenting is glaring. Children develop their worldview and spiritual moorings much more quickly than most of us can imagine. If you are a parent and your heart breaks for a spiritually blind and hurting world, you have an outlet to make a difference and it is right in your home. The future of the life-giving message of the Gospel depends on the success of our efforts to impart a Christ-centered passion for the world to our children. If not our children, who else? The authenticity of our passion for God is revealed in how well it transfered to our kids - it is that simple.

We can someday look back at our lives with satisfaction, knowing we spent all for the Glory of God -nothing was left on the table. Our life story can be a litany of life change, encouragement and spiritual blindness removed but it will not happen without the "team effort" of our families.

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Psa. 127:3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
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Why are sons (and daughters) a heritage and reward from God? Because there will come a day when "they" (the family fighting together in the gate) will not be put to shame. Together, by the grace of God, they will bring great Glory to Jesus Christ.

Here is a more thorough treatment in audio form:
The Emerging Church in Your Home

Soli Deo Gloria,

Mitch

Chuck Colson: All You Need is Love (and a prenup)

"Love is all you need unless the marriage ends in divorce," wrote Washingtonian editor Kim Eisler. Then a prenuptial agreement is the best defense. He called the prenup a divorce insurance policy. Well, that's probably true but wouldn't it be better for couples to have a marriage insurance policy?


The subject of this article is worthy of many posts, perhaps an entire blog. My wife and I both come from split families, and both sets of parents split after over 20 years together. The first question we asked when we were dating was, "how are we not going to end up like our parents?" Divorce has affected, and continues to affect both of our families in many ways that obviously could not have been imagined when the signing of the papers took place.

Having only been married 5 years, I can't yet speak from decades of experience, so I approach this topic humbly, and carefully, knowing that I have many obstacles to face over the period of time I promised to my wife, commonly known as "till death." I hope that I will always maintain a spirit of humility and meekness towards marriage, never saying, "It could never happen to us." This is surely one step to maintaining a healthy marriage, never alllowing yourself to relax. (Naturally, this task gets more and more difficult the longer you're with a person.)

I'm sure the secrets to a happy, lifelong marriage, are much like many of life's other truths; extremely simple to understand, while at the same time terribly difficult to put into habit.

When you put two selfish, stubborn, sinful people in a marriage ceremony, what do you get? Two selfish, stubborn, sinful people, who are "married." However, when you add God into the picture, marriage becomes transcendent, far more glorious (This is one of the many reasons we oppose changing the definition of marriage). It can't be just about two people who "love" (such a prostituted word) each other. In a Christian's life, it should be about two people who love God and will commit their lives to Him and to each other, forsaking all others. This is the marriage insurance policy that my wife and I applied for 5 years ago. How much does it cost? Our very lives. Everything. I wish more couples understood and believed this before getting married. I pray earnestly that I never forget it. Is it difficult? Understatement. But think about the times when you've seen it done right. It is a reflection of our Creator, and a beacon of light in this dark, confused culture.

I'm excited to let you all know that Mitch Majeski will be joining me in adding content to this blog. He is a pastor at Summitview Community Church in Fort Collins, CO, where we used to attend.

He has been a close brother, and friend of our family for around 4 years. He has provided an incredible example for many Christ followers in that he gave up a career in Civil Engineering (after getting his master's degree from Colorado State) to become the church secretary around 3 years ago. Since then he was appointed as Pastor, has impacted many lives, and continues to nurture the church body there in Fort Collins. I have not met many people with whom I connected so well, and shared with such passion and vision for ministry.

Mitch is the man after whom we named our second son, Grayson Mitchell.

You will be blessed to read the insight he will provide from his own experience of being a husband/father/pastor. He has three kids, one girl (6), and two boys (2, 3 1/2). He maintains his own blog at cornova.blogspot.com.