"That reminds me of a story told that in the fourteenth century there were three brothers that were all Dukes in Belgium. One of them was named Renald and he was a very large man and had a nickname of Crassis which was Latin for fat. He and his younger brother Edward got into a dispute. And Edward took over his brother's kingdom. Edward put his brother in prison in the Newkirk Castle. He built a special cell for him - special because it had a door and windows but no locks. The problem was that the door and windows were a little smaller than normal and Renald could not get through them. Every day Edward would send sumptuous foods for his brother to eat. Crassis instead of dieting and losing weight to get out of the prison in fact put on weight. When charged by others about the cruelty of imprisoning his brother Edward would tell them that his brother is not a prisoner, he could leave anytime."
Direct text taken from siddye.blogspot.com
Originally heard story from James McDonald sermon.
Research more before actually using
Showing posts with label Stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stories. Show all posts
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Church hands out $100 bills
Taken from Church Around the World, March 2009
A church in central Illinois used an innovative method to raise money for the poor. It's the power of multiplication. The Rev Ric Schneider of St. Mary's Church in Bloomington passed out $100 bills during a Sunday service last summer. The 180 parishioners ($18000) who accepted the cash promised to multiply it and return with more. They used the seed money to put on fundraisers that included a euchre tournament, a motorcycle run, a bake sale, and a car wash. More than $60,000 was raised for an Appalachian mission. To encourage effort, Schneider preached about teh Parable of the Talents.
A church in central Illinois used an innovative method to raise money for the poor. It's the power of multiplication. The Rev Ric Schneider of St. Mary's Church in Bloomington passed out $100 bills during a Sunday service last summer. The 180 parishioners ($18000) who accepted the cash promised to multiply it and return with more. They used the seed money to put on fundraisers that included a euchre tournament, a motorcycle run, a bake sale, and a car wash. More than $60,000 was raised for an Appalachian mission. To encourage effort, Schneider preached about teh Parable of the Talents.
Friday, February 13, 2009
The Dragon In My Garage by Carl Sagan
This gives you PLENTY to think about. Could be used to start a discussion on faith, God, or any number of topics normally considered 'off-limits' to Christians. If reading this makes you feel uncomfortable... GOOD... do something about it.
The Dragon In My Garage by Carl Sagan
“A fire-breathing dragon lives in my garage”
Suppose (I’m following a group therapy approach by the psychologist Richard Franklin) I seriously make such an assertion to you. Surely you’d want to check it out, see for yourself. There have been innumerable stories of dragons over the centuries, but no real evidence. What an opportunity!
“Show me,” you say. I lead you to my garage. You look inside and see a ladder, empty paint cans, an old tricycle–but no dragon.
“Where’s the dragon?” you ask.
“Oh, she’s right here,” I reply, waving vaguely. “I neglected to mention that she’s an invisible dragon.”
You propose spreading flour on the floor of the garage to capture the dragon’s footprints.
“Good idea,” I say, “but this dragon floats in the air.”
Then you’ll use an infrared sensor to detect the invisible fire.
“Good idea, but the invisible fire is also heatless.”
You’ll spray-paint the dragon and make her visible.
“Good idea, but she’s an incorporeal dragon and the paint won’t stick.”
And so on. I counter every physical test you propose with a special explanation of why it won’t work.
Now, what’s the difference between an invisible, incorporeal, floating dragon who spits heatless fire and no dragon at all? If there’s no way to disprove my contention, no conceivable experiment that would count against it, what does it mean to say that my dragon exists? Your inability to invalidate my hypothesis is not at all the same thing as proving it true. Claims that cannot be tested, assertions immune to disproof are veridically worthless, whatever value they may have in inspiring us or in exciting our sense of wonder. What I’m asking you to do comes down to believing, in the absence of evidence, on my say-so.
The only thing you’ve really learned from my insistence that there’s a dragon in my garage is that something funny is going on inside my head. You’d wonder, if no physical tests apply, what convinced me. The possibility that it was a dream or a hallucination would certainly enter your mind. But then, why am I taking it so seriously? Maybe I need help. At the least, maybe I’ve seriously underestimated human fallibility.
Imagine that, despite none of the tests being successful, you wish to be scrupulously open-minded. So you don’t outright reject the notion that there’s a fire-breathing dragon in my garage. You merely put it on hold. Present evidence is strongly against it, but if a new body of data emerge you’re prepared to examine it and see if it convinces you. Surely it’s unfair of me to be offended at not being believed; or to criticize you for being stodgy and unimaginative– merely because you rendered the Scottish verdict of “not proved.”
Imagine that things had gone otherwise. The dragon is invisible, all right, but footprints are being made in the flour as you watch. Your infrared detector reads off-scale. The spray paint reveals a jagged crest bobbing in the air before you. No matter how skeptical you might have been about the existence of dragons–to say nothing about invisible ones–you must now acknowledge that there’s something here, and that in a preliminary way it’s consistent with an invisible, fire-breathing dragon.
Now another scenario: Suppose it’s not just me. Suppose that several people of your acquaintance, including people who you’re pretty sure don’t know each other, all tell you that they have dragons in their garages–but in every case the evidence is maddeningly elusive. All of us admit we’re disturbed at being gripped by so odd a conviction so ill-supported by the physical evidence. None of us is a lunatic. We speculate about what it would mean if invisible dragons were really hiding out in garages all over the world, with us humans just catching on. I’d rather it not be true, I tell you. But maybe all those ancient European and Chinese myths about dragons weren’t myths at all.
Gratifyingly, some dragon-size footprints in the flour are now reported. But they’re never made when a skeptic is looking. An alternative explanation presents itself. On close examination it seems clear that the footprints could have been faked. Another dragon enthusiast shows up with a burnt finger and attributes it to a rare physical manifestation of the dragon’s fiery breath. But again, other possibilities exist. We understand that there are other ways to burn fingers besides the breath of invisible dragons. Such “evidence”–no matter how important the dragon advocates consider it–is far from compelling. Once again, the only sensible approach is tentatively to reject the dragon hypothesis, to be open to future physical data, and to wonder what the cause might be that so many apparently sane and sober people share the same strange delusion.
The Dragon In My Garage by Carl Sagan
“A fire-breathing dragon lives in my garage”
Suppose (I’m following a group therapy approach by the psychologist Richard Franklin) I seriously make such an assertion to you. Surely you’d want to check it out, see for yourself. There have been innumerable stories of dragons over the centuries, but no real evidence. What an opportunity!
“Show me,” you say. I lead you to my garage. You look inside and see a ladder, empty paint cans, an old tricycle–but no dragon.
“Where’s the dragon?” you ask.
“Oh, she’s right here,” I reply, waving vaguely. “I neglected to mention that she’s an invisible dragon.”
You propose spreading flour on the floor of the garage to capture the dragon’s footprints.
“Good idea,” I say, “but this dragon floats in the air.”
Then you’ll use an infrared sensor to detect the invisible fire.
“Good idea, but the invisible fire is also heatless.”
You’ll spray-paint the dragon and make her visible.
“Good idea, but she’s an incorporeal dragon and the paint won’t stick.”
And so on. I counter every physical test you propose with a special explanation of why it won’t work.
Now, what’s the difference between an invisible, incorporeal, floating dragon who spits heatless fire and no dragon at all? If there’s no way to disprove my contention, no conceivable experiment that would count against it, what does it mean to say that my dragon exists? Your inability to invalidate my hypothesis is not at all the same thing as proving it true. Claims that cannot be tested, assertions immune to disproof are veridically worthless, whatever value they may have in inspiring us or in exciting our sense of wonder. What I’m asking you to do comes down to believing, in the absence of evidence, on my say-so.
The only thing you’ve really learned from my insistence that there’s a dragon in my garage is that something funny is going on inside my head. You’d wonder, if no physical tests apply, what convinced me. The possibility that it was a dream or a hallucination would certainly enter your mind. But then, why am I taking it so seriously? Maybe I need help. At the least, maybe I’ve seriously underestimated human fallibility.
Imagine that, despite none of the tests being successful, you wish to be scrupulously open-minded. So you don’t outright reject the notion that there’s a fire-breathing dragon in my garage. You merely put it on hold. Present evidence is strongly against it, but if a new body of data emerge you’re prepared to examine it and see if it convinces you. Surely it’s unfair of me to be offended at not being believed; or to criticize you for being stodgy and unimaginative– merely because you rendered the Scottish verdict of “not proved.”
Imagine that things had gone otherwise. The dragon is invisible, all right, but footprints are being made in the flour as you watch. Your infrared detector reads off-scale. The spray paint reveals a jagged crest bobbing in the air before you. No matter how skeptical you might have been about the existence of dragons–to say nothing about invisible ones–you must now acknowledge that there’s something here, and that in a preliminary way it’s consistent with an invisible, fire-breathing dragon.
Now another scenario: Suppose it’s not just me. Suppose that several people of your acquaintance, including people who you’re pretty sure don’t know each other, all tell you that they have dragons in their garages–but in every case the evidence is maddeningly elusive. All of us admit we’re disturbed at being gripped by so odd a conviction so ill-supported by the physical evidence. None of us is a lunatic. We speculate about what it would mean if invisible dragons were really hiding out in garages all over the world, with us humans just catching on. I’d rather it not be true, I tell you. But maybe all those ancient European and Chinese myths about dragons weren’t myths at all.
Gratifyingly, some dragon-size footprints in the flour are now reported. But they’re never made when a skeptic is looking. An alternative explanation presents itself. On close examination it seems clear that the footprints could have been faked. Another dragon enthusiast shows up with a burnt finger and attributes it to a rare physical manifestation of the dragon’s fiery breath. But again, other possibilities exist. We understand that there are other ways to burn fingers besides the breath of invisible dragons. Such “evidence”–no matter how important the dragon advocates consider it–is far from compelling. Once again, the only sensible approach is tentatively to reject the dragon hypothesis, to be open to future physical data, and to wonder what the cause might be that so many apparently sane and sober people share the same strange delusion.
Experience at Bank
I recently was waiting in a LONG line at a bank... actually it wasn't long... it was just really slow moving. You could feel that everyone in line was edgy because things were moving so slowly. So I asked myself: 'What would Jesus do?'
The answer seemed pretty obvious after a little thought: Offer your place in line to someone behind you.
yikes! I've been waiting here for 5 minutes... I don't want to move to the back.
It was easier to not think about what Jesus would want me to do... I could have brought a small glimpse of Christ into the bank that day... but I chose not to.
The answer seemed pretty obvious after a little thought: Offer your place in line to someone behind you.
yikes! I've been waiting here for 5 minutes... I don't want to move to the back.
It was easier to not think about what Jesus would want me to do... I could have brought a small glimpse of Christ into the bank that day... but I chose not to.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Lavishly Loving Devotion
Week 3, Summer 2008, Camp of Champions
1) Read I John 3:11-18
2) Read this story from James Chally's blog
3) Break into groups and brainstorm how you can show Revolutionary Love.
1) Read I John 3:11-18
2) Read this story from James Chally's blog
3) Break into groups and brainstorm how you can show Revolutionary Love.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Stuff to remember from 'Bringing up Boys' by James Dobson
Chapter 1: The Wonderful World of Boys
pg 2: boys are 'all afterburner and no rudder'
pg 3: Plato said; "of all animals, the boy is most unmanageable" (that was over 2300 years ago!)
Check out this entire chapter if you want SEVERAL good and funny stories of boys being boys.
Chapter 2: Vive La Difference
pg 10-12: Look here for Great lists from kids of why Girls are better than boys & boys are better than girls.
pg 15: "Of major concern to the feminists was what they considered to be the 'sexism' in children's toys. As with so many issues during that era, it was Germain Greer who said: "So where does the difference come from? If it's all bred into us by people like toy makers, who steer boys toward these trucks, girls to the dolls, and by teachers, parents, employers- all the wick influences of a sexist society..."
Great pressure was excerted on companies to 'fix' the problem. Retailers of toys were therafter put on nitce that segregation of merchandise by sex was not to be tolerated. They got the message. For more than two decades Toys R Us implemented a 'gender-neutral' approach to marketing... It was not succesful. Finally the company administered more than 10,000 customer surveys to learn more about the preferences of children. It turned out that boys and girls were interested in different things."
pg 17: Biblical teaching on sexes: Gen 1:27, Matthew 19:4-5. God created TWO sexes.
Chapter 3: So What Is the Difference?
Dobson's Dad, on having a perpetually different view & thoughts than his wife: "Any proposal that gets past both us us must be pretty good."
For Dobson's take on ADD check pages 28-31
Chapter 4: Wounded Spirits
pg 33: Too many sad facts about boys
It was at this point in my reading I realized that Dobson has yet to mention the important of Christ (though to be fair he didn't claim it was a spiritually focused book).
Pg 48: There are 14,000 sexual references a year on TV. $2 billion is spent on Alcohol ads.
Takeaway: Squish bullying immediately whenever you see it.
Pg 49: Marijuana's harmful effects
Chapter 5: The Essential Father
pg 53: "Stable Life long marriages provide the foundation for social order. Everything of value rests on those underpinnings. Historically, when the family begins to unravel in a given culture, everything from the effectiveness of government to the general welfare of the people is adversely impacted. This is precisely what is happening to us today." (and it continues)
Pg 54: "If I may be permitted to offer what will sounds like a hyperbole, I believe the future of Western civilization depends on how we handle this present crisis. Why? Because we as parents are raising the next generation of men who will either lead with honor and integrity or abandon every good thing they have inherited. They are bridges to the future. Nations that are populated largely by immature, immoral, weak-willed, cowardly, and self indulgent men cannot and will not endure. These types of men include those who sire and abandon their children; who cheat on their wives, who lie, steal, and covet; who hate their countrymen; and who serve no god but money. That is the direction culture is taking today's boys. We must make the necessary investment to counter these influences and to build within our boys lasting qualities of character, self-discipline, respect for authority, commitment to the truth, a belief in the work ethic, and an unshakable love for Jesus Christ. The pursuit of those objectives led me to undertake the writing of this book."
Fact: only 34% of American children will live through age 18 with both of their biological parents.
pg 55: "Toddlers are especially obvious in their assertions of fatherneed: they will seek out their father, ask for him when he's not present, be fascinated when he talks to them on the phone...
quoted from Fatherneed by Kyle Pruett: " Teenagers express fatherneed in yet more complex ways, competing with their father and confronting his values, beliefs, and, of course, limits."
I prayed this after reading this section: "Lord, I want to be there for my kids. I know my life is in your hands, but please perserve it until my children are solidly grounded."
pgs 56-57 have a heartbreaking story of a 58 year old man who still remembers his father being too busy for him.
"No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a boy."
"Tie a boy to the right man and he almost never goes wrong."
pg 60: Sobering stats on prison population... Barbara Jackson quote: "It is far easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."
Bill Houghton, president of a large construction firm, has hired 1000s of people. When thinking of male interviewees he primarily considers the relationship between the man and his father. A great question to ask potential camp staff.
My thought: No matter how early God calls me home I am responsible to leave a memory & legacy that will lead my wife & kids."
Divorse effects kids for a lifetime!
Chapter 6: Fathers & Sons
General Douglas MacArthur- "Nothing has touched me more deeply than [this honor given to me] by the National Father's Day Committee. By profession, I am a soldier and take great pride in that fact. But I am prouder, infinitely prouder, to be a father. A soldier destroys in order to build. The father only builds, never destroys. The one has the potentialities of death, the other embodies creation and life. And while the hordes of death are mighty, the battalions of life are mightier still. It is my hope that my son, when I am gone, will remember me not from the battle, but in the home."
"I'd rather see a sermon than hear one."
Dobson's point (which I agree with): The best way to raise a son is to be the best possible person as a Father.
Dobson's Suggestions in instructing boys: If you speak disparagingly of females, or if you refer to them as sex objects, that will translate directly into their dating and marital relationships.
Prepare a boy to lead his family when he's grown. Make a concerted effort to teach sexual abstinence. "Of course you can do it! Young people are fully capable of understanding that irresponsible sex is not in their best interest and can lead to disease, pregnancy, rejection, etc." pg 76
For Dobson's take on masturbation see pages 78-80
A great set of verses on avoiding sexual immorality: pages 81-82
Chapter 7: Mothers & Sons
Mother's duties-resident psychologist, physician, theologian, educator, nurse, chef, taxi driver, fire marshal, and occasional police officer.
pg 86- results from a USA Today study on child care.
pg 88, 2nd full paragraph- This totally described Jackson at the time I originally read this book. (toddlerhood)
pgs 91-92: Story of Dobson's father sacrificing his career to keep James on the correct path.
Family relationships (via parental involvement and eating together) are VITAL for your kids- stats on pgs 91-92.
Comparing the breakdown of communication in Iraq for the first gulf war to breakdown in family communication- pg 96
Chapter 8: Chasing the Caterpillar
Story of French naturalist Jean Henri Fabre's experiment with processionary caterpillars. Am I keeping Brittany from falling over 'of starvation'? - pg 99
Stories & stats about needing a Sabbath. 2nd paragraph pg 102
Vince Foster, deputy counsel to President Clinton, reportedly committed suicide July 20, 1993. 8 weeks previous he gave these words to graduates of the University of Arkansas School of Law:
"A Word about family. You have amply demonstrated that you are achievers willing to work hard, long hours and set aside your personal lives. But it reminds me of that observation that no one was ever heard to say on a deathbed, I wish I had spent more time at the office. Balance wisely your professional life and your family life. If you are fortunate to have children, your parents will warn you that your children grow up and be gone before you know it. I can testify that it is true. God only allows us so many opportunities with our children to read a story, go fishing, play catch and say our prayers together. Try not to miss a one of them."
Chapter 9: The Origins of Homesexuality
Pg 116 - an obvious reason why homosexuality is not genetic. (2nd paragraph)
Joseph Nicolosi: "In 15 years I have spoken with hundreds of homosexual men. I have never met one who said he had a loving, respectful relationship with his father." pg 121
Scary quote from homosexual agenda: published in 'Gay Community News', read during a congressional debate, "We shall sodomize your sons, emblems of your feeble masculinity, of your shallow dreams and vulgar lies. We shall seduce them in your schools, in your dormitories, in your gymnasiums, in your locker rooms, in your sports arenas... " It continues.. scary! pgs 125-126
pg128: "Most men have inherited a lust for women. Their natural tendency is to have sex with as many beautiful girls as possible, both before marriage and after. Abstinence before marriage and monogamy afterward are accomplished by discipline and commitment. If men did what they are genetically programmed to do, most would be sexually promiscuous from about fourteen years of age onward. Would that make such behavior any less immoral? Of course not."
Chapter 10: Single Parents and Grandparents
pg 135: Novelist pat Conroy- "each divorce is the death of a small civilization"
pg 137: Scripture references for fatherless children- Deut 10:17-18, Deut 27:19, Psalm 68:5, Zechariah 7:10
COCUSA should be a place where single mothers can send kids for a positive male influence. How can we equip single moms?
An interesting networking website for those working in youth ministry: youthworkers.net
pg 146: An old African song: "when an old person dies, it's as if a library burns down."
Chapter 11: Let's Go for It!
pg 147- Bill Dolan story about competition: "I can remember the night at the dinner table when Tom wouldn't drink his milk and I made an issue out of it. I said, 'You're not leaving until you drink the milk.' He said, 'I don't want the milk.' I said, 'That's not the question. You're drinking the milk before you leave the table.' We were at a real Irish stalemate. So, finally it dawned on me that I know this kid, and I went and got a glass, and I filled the glass with milk. Then I said, 'I'll race you.' He said, 'Cool.' And we drank the milk, he put it down and said, 'Let's do two out of three.'
pg 148 Endurance want ad: Men wanted for hazardous duty. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness, constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Hnor and recognition in case of success." More than 5000 men applied in 1914. only 27 were accepted.
pg 150 "Children are going to disappoint us" How will I react? Snap at them? Or be wise and respond with love and warmth.
pg158 A judgment of skill or power is not a judgment of my person worth- my personal worth rests in God
Chapter 12 Men R Fools
pg 164-165 Why do ads make fun of men? (great examples of this on these pages)
"Do we like being dpected as dumb, horny, fat, nerdy, and ugly? Apparently."
pgs 166-167 Men on Titanic: Reality (masculine; self sacrificing) vs Movie (selfish jerks)
pg 168 "If a man belittles a woman, it could become a lawsuit. But if a womn belittles a man, it's a Hallmark card."
pg 169 Women's strengths: networking, cooperating, facilitation, teaching, training, caring
Men's strengths: entreprenurial enterprise, independent thinking, building, risk taking, planning, leadership
Chapter 13: Boys in School
Chapter 14: Predators
pg 200- Description of a postmodern worldview: "We owe existence to randomn chance in a chaotic universe with no design and no designer. We are accountable to no one to live for a meaningless moment in a dying cosmos that will end in total darkness." Try to pull hope out of that!
Chapter 15: Staying Close
pg 219: "Former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton told a story about her father who never affirmed her as a child. When she was in high school, she brought home a straight-A report card. She showed it to her dad, hoping for a word of commendation. Instead, he said, 'Well, you must be attending an easy school." Thirtyfive years later the remark still burns in Mrs. Clinton's mind."
Chapter 16: Discipling Boys
pg 241: illustration of materialism: "It is important to realize that this item was not purchased with your money; it was bought with your time, which you traded fo rmoney. In effect, you swapped a certain portion of your alloted days on earth for that piece of junk that now clutters your home."
Chapter 17: The Ultimate Priority
pg 253: Parental prayer: "Lord, give us wisdom to raise the precious children whom you have loaned to us, and above all else, help us bring them to the feet of Jesus. This is more important to us than our health or our work or our finances."
"A rookie playing for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA. One night, the incomparable Michael Jordan scored sixty-six points, and teh rookie was sent in for the last couple of minutes of the game. When the young man was interviewed by a reporter afterwards, he said, 'Yeah, it was a great night. Michael Jordan and I scored sixty-eight points.' That's the way I feel about parenting and prayer."
I realized as I was reading this that my time with Jackson and Adrian is already flying by! (as of Feb 2009, 10% of my time with Jackson and 5% with Adrian) I need a constant reminder of this!
pg 2: boys are 'all afterburner and no rudder'
pg 3: Plato said; "of all animals, the boy is most unmanageable" (that was over 2300 years ago!)
Check out this entire chapter if you want SEVERAL good and funny stories of boys being boys.
Chapter 2: Vive La Difference
pg 10-12: Look here for Great lists from kids of why Girls are better than boys & boys are better than girls.
pg 15: "Of major concern to the feminists was what they considered to be the 'sexism' in children's toys. As with so many issues during that era, it was Germain Greer who said: "So where does the difference come from? If it's all bred into us by people like toy makers, who steer boys toward these trucks, girls to the dolls, and by teachers, parents, employers- all the wick influences of a sexist society..."
Great pressure was excerted on companies to 'fix' the problem. Retailers of toys were therafter put on nitce that segregation of merchandise by sex was not to be tolerated. They got the message. For more than two decades Toys R Us implemented a 'gender-neutral' approach to marketing... It was not succesful. Finally the company administered more than 10,000 customer surveys to learn more about the preferences of children. It turned out that boys and girls were interested in different things."
pg 17: Biblical teaching on sexes: Gen 1:27, Matthew 19:4-5. God created TWO sexes.
Chapter 3: So What Is the Difference?
Dobson's Dad, on having a perpetually different view & thoughts than his wife: "Any proposal that gets past both us us must be pretty good."
For Dobson's take on ADD check pages 28-31
Chapter 4: Wounded Spirits
pg 33: Too many sad facts about boys
It was at this point in my reading I realized that Dobson has yet to mention the important of Christ (though to be fair he didn't claim it was a spiritually focused book).
Pg 48: There are 14,000 sexual references a year on TV. $2 billion is spent on Alcohol ads.
Takeaway: Squish bullying immediately whenever you see it.
Pg 49: Marijuana's harmful effects
Chapter 5: The Essential Father
pg 53: "Stable Life long marriages provide the foundation for social order. Everything of value rests on those underpinnings. Historically, when the family begins to unravel in a given culture, everything from the effectiveness of government to the general welfare of the people is adversely impacted. This is precisely what is happening to us today." (and it continues)
Pg 54: "If I may be permitted to offer what will sounds like a hyperbole, I believe the future of Western civilization depends on how we handle this present crisis. Why? Because we as parents are raising the next generation of men who will either lead with honor and integrity or abandon every good thing they have inherited. They are bridges to the future. Nations that are populated largely by immature, immoral, weak-willed, cowardly, and self indulgent men cannot and will not endure. These types of men include those who sire and abandon their children; who cheat on their wives, who lie, steal, and covet; who hate their countrymen; and who serve no god but money. That is the direction culture is taking today's boys. We must make the necessary investment to counter these influences and to build within our boys lasting qualities of character, self-discipline, respect for authority, commitment to the truth, a belief in the work ethic, and an unshakable love for Jesus Christ. The pursuit of those objectives led me to undertake the writing of this book."
Fact: only 34% of American children will live through age 18 with both of their biological parents.
pg 55: "Toddlers are especially obvious in their assertions of fatherneed: they will seek out their father, ask for him when he's not present, be fascinated when he talks to them on the phone...
quoted from Fatherneed by Kyle Pruett: " Teenagers express fatherneed in yet more complex ways, competing with their father and confronting his values, beliefs, and, of course, limits."
I prayed this after reading this section: "Lord, I want to be there for my kids. I know my life is in your hands, but please perserve it until my children are solidly grounded."
pgs 56-57 have a heartbreaking story of a 58 year old man who still remembers his father being too busy for him.
"No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a boy."
"Tie a boy to the right man and he almost never goes wrong."
pg 60: Sobering stats on prison population... Barbara Jackson quote: "It is far easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."
Bill Houghton, president of a large construction firm, has hired 1000s of people. When thinking of male interviewees he primarily considers the relationship between the man and his father. A great question to ask potential camp staff.
My thought: No matter how early God calls me home I am responsible to leave a memory & legacy that will lead my wife & kids."
Divorse effects kids for a lifetime!
Chapter 6: Fathers & Sons
General Douglas MacArthur- "Nothing has touched me more deeply than [this honor given to me] by the National Father's Day Committee. By profession, I am a soldier and take great pride in that fact. But I am prouder, infinitely prouder, to be a father. A soldier destroys in order to build. The father only builds, never destroys. The one has the potentialities of death, the other embodies creation and life. And while the hordes of death are mighty, the battalions of life are mightier still. It is my hope that my son, when I am gone, will remember me not from the battle, but in the home."
"I'd rather see a sermon than hear one."
Dobson's point (which I agree with): The best way to raise a son is to be the best possible person as a Father.
Dobson's Suggestions in instructing boys: If you speak disparagingly of females, or if you refer to them as sex objects, that will translate directly into their dating and marital relationships.
Prepare a boy to lead his family when he's grown. Make a concerted effort to teach sexual abstinence. "Of course you can do it! Young people are fully capable of understanding that irresponsible sex is not in their best interest and can lead to disease, pregnancy, rejection, etc." pg 76
For Dobson's take on masturbation see pages 78-80
A great set of verses on avoiding sexual immorality: pages 81-82
Chapter 7: Mothers & Sons
Mother's duties-resident psychologist, physician, theologian, educator, nurse, chef, taxi driver, fire marshal, and occasional police officer.
pg 86- results from a USA Today study on child care.
pg 88, 2nd full paragraph- This totally described Jackson at the time I originally read this book. (toddlerhood)
pgs 91-92: Story of Dobson's father sacrificing his career to keep James on the correct path.
Family relationships (via parental involvement and eating together) are VITAL for your kids- stats on pgs 91-92.
Comparing the breakdown of communication in Iraq for the first gulf war to breakdown in family communication- pg 96
Chapter 8: Chasing the Caterpillar
Story of French naturalist Jean Henri Fabre's experiment with processionary caterpillars. Am I keeping Brittany from falling over 'of starvation'? - pg 99
Stories & stats about needing a Sabbath. 2nd paragraph pg 102
Vince Foster, deputy counsel to President Clinton, reportedly committed suicide July 20, 1993. 8 weeks previous he gave these words to graduates of the University of Arkansas School of Law:
"A Word about family. You have amply demonstrated that you are achievers willing to work hard, long hours and set aside your personal lives. But it reminds me of that observation that no one was ever heard to say on a deathbed, I wish I had spent more time at the office. Balance wisely your professional life and your family life. If you are fortunate to have children, your parents will warn you that your children grow up and be gone before you know it. I can testify that it is true. God only allows us so many opportunities with our children to read a story, go fishing, play catch and say our prayers together. Try not to miss a one of them."
Chapter 9: The Origins of Homesexuality
Pg 116 - an obvious reason why homosexuality is not genetic. (2nd paragraph)
Joseph Nicolosi: "In 15 years I have spoken with hundreds of homosexual men. I have never met one who said he had a loving, respectful relationship with his father." pg 121
Scary quote from homosexual agenda: published in 'Gay Community News', read during a congressional debate, "We shall sodomize your sons, emblems of your feeble masculinity, of your shallow dreams and vulgar lies. We shall seduce them in your schools, in your dormitories, in your gymnasiums, in your locker rooms, in your sports arenas... " It continues.. scary! pgs 125-126
pg128: "Most men have inherited a lust for women. Their natural tendency is to have sex with as many beautiful girls as possible, both before marriage and after. Abstinence before marriage and monogamy afterward are accomplished by discipline and commitment. If men did what they are genetically programmed to do, most would be sexually promiscuous from about fourteen years of age onward. Would that make such behavior any less immoral? Of course not."
Chapter 10: Single Parents and Grandparents
pg 135: Novelist pat Conroy- "each divorce is the death of a small civilization"
pg 137: Scripture references for fatherless children- Deut 10:17-18, Deut 27:19, Psalm 68:5, Zechariah 7:10
COCUSA should be a place where single mothers can send kids for a positive male influence. How can we equip single moms?
An interesting networking website for those working in youth ministry: youthworkers.net
pg 146: An old African song: "when an old person dies, it's as if a library burns down."
Chapter 11: Let's Go for It!
pg 147- Bill Dolan story about competition: "I can remember the night at the dinner table when Tom wouldn't drink his milk and I made an issue out of it. I said, 'You're not leaving until you drink the milk.' He said, 'I don't want the milk.' I said, 'That's not the question. You're drinking the milk before you leave the table.' We were at a real Irish stalemate. So, finally it dawned on me that I know this kid, and I went and got a glass, and I filled the glass with milk. Then I said, 'I'll race you.' He said, 'Cool.' And we drank the milk, he put it down and said, 'Let's do two out of three.'
pg 148 Endurance want ad: Men wanted for hazardous duty. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness, constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Hnor and recognition in case of success." More than 5000 men applied in 1914. only 27 were accepted.
pg 150 "Children are going to disappoint us" How will I react? Snap at them? Or be wise and respond with love and warmth.
pg158 A judgment of skill or power is not a judgment of my person worth- my personal worth rests in God
Chapter 12 Men R Fools
pg 164-165 Why do ads make fun of men? (great examples of this on these pages)
"Do we like being dpected as dumb, horny, fat, nerdy, and ugly? Apparently."
pgs 166-167 Men on Titanic: Reality (masculine; self sacrificing) vs Movie (selfish jerks)
pg 168 "If a man belittles a woman, it could become a lawsuit. But if a womn belittles a man, it's a Hallmark card."
pg 169 Women's strengths: networking, cooperating, facilitation, teaching, training, caring
Men's strengths: entreprenurial enterprise, independent thinking, building, risk taking, planning, leadership
Chapter 13: Boys in School
Chapter 14: Predators
pg 200- Description of a postmodern worldview: "We owe existence to randomn chance in a chaotic universe with no design and no designer. We are accountable to no one to live for a meaningless moment in a dying cosmos that will end in total darkness." Try to pull hope out of that!
Chapter 15: Staying Close
pg 219: "Former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton told a story about her father who never affirmed her as a child. When she was in high school, she brought home a straight-A report card. She showed it to her dad, hoping for a word of commendation. Instead, he said, 'Well, you must be attending an easy school." Thirtyfive years later the remark still burns in Mrs. Clinton's mind."
Chapter 16: Discipling Boys
pg 241: illustration of materialism: "It is important to realize that this item was not purchased with your money; it was bought with your time, which you traded fo rmoney. In effect, you swapped a certain portion of your alloted days on earth for that piece of junk that now clutters your home."
Chapter 17: The Ultimate Priority
pg 253: Parental prayer: "Lord, give us wisdom to raise the precious children whom you have loaned to us, and above all else, help us bring them to the feet of Jesus. This is more important to us than our health or our work or our finances."
"A rookie playing for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA. One night, the incomparable Michael Jordan scored sixty-six points, and teh rookie was sent in for the last couple of minutes of the game. When the young man was interviewed by a reporter afterwards, he said, 'Yeah, it was a great night. Michael Jordan and I scored sixty-eight points.' That's the way I feel about parenting and prayer."
I realized as I was reading this that my time with Jackson and Adrian is already flying by! (as of Feb 2009, 10% of my time with Jackson and 5% with Adrian) I need a constant reminder of this!
Monday, September 22, 2008
What Working Alone gets You
The following letter shows what can happen if you try to take the journey without
partners. Taken from 'Getting off the treadmill of Good intentions' by Bill Allison of cadreministries.com.
National Health Insurance, Inc.
ATTN: Claims Review
PO Box 17342
New York, NY 12276
Dear Sir/Madam:
I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In block number 3 of
the accident report form, I put "trying to do the job alone" as the cause of my accident.
You said in your letter that I should explain more fully, and I trust that the following
details will be sufficient.
I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the accident I was working alone on the roof
of a new 6-story building. When I completed my work, I discovered that I had about 500
pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower
them in a barrel by using a pulley, which fortunately was attached to the side of the
building, at the sixth floor.
Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out, and
loaded the brick into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it
tightly to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of brick. You will note in block number
11 of the accident report that I weigh 135 pounds.
Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of
mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate
up the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured
skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent not
stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley.
Fortunately, by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold
tightly to the rope in spite of my pain.
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground—and the
bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed
approximately 50 pounds.
I refer you again to my weight in block number 11. As you might imagine, I began a
rapid descent down the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two
fractured ankles and the lacerations of my legs and lower body. The encounter with the
barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks, and,
fortunately, only 3 vertebrae were cracked.
I'm sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks, in pain, unable to stand,
and watching the empty barrel 6 stories above me—I again lost my presence of mind,
and I let go of the rope. The empty barrel weighed more than the rope as it came back
down on me and broke both my legs.
I hope I have furnished the information you require as to how the accident occurred.
Sincerely,
Billy the Bricklayer
partners. Taken from 'Getting off the treadmill of Good intentions' by Bill Allison of cadreministries.com.
National Health Insurance, Inc.
ATTN: Claims Review
PO Box 17342
New York, NY 12276
Dear Sir/Madam:
I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In block number 3 of
the accident report form, I put "trying to do the job alone" as the cause of my accident.
You said in your letter that I should explain more fully, and I trust that the following
details will be sufficient.
I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the accident I was working alone on the roof
of a new 6-story building. When I completed my work, I discovered that I had about 500
pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower
them in a barrel by using a pulley, which fortunately was attached to the side of the
building, at the sixth floor.
Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out, and
loaded the brick into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it
tightly to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of brick. You will note in block number
11 of the accident report that I weigh 135 pounds.
Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of
mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate
up the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured
skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent not
stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley.
Fortunately, by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold
tightly to the rope in spite of my pain.
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground—and the
bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed
approximately 50 pounds.
I refer you again to my weight in block number 11. As you might imagine, I began a
rapid descent down the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two
fractured ankles and the lacerations of my legs and lower body. The encounter with the
barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks, and,
fortunately, only 3 vertebrae were cracked.
I'm sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks, in pain, unable to stand,
and watching the empty barrel 6 stories above me—I again lost my presence of mind,
and I let go of the rope. The empty barrel weighed more than the rope as it came back
down on me and broke both my legs.
I hope I have furnished the information you require as to how the accident occurred.
Sincerely,
Billy the Bricklayer
Monday, August 18, 2008
Some hilarious stories of frugality in this article
The following is from: frugalinvirginia.blogspot.com
Going CVSing, “the deals”, couponing, stockpiling, ECBs, Money Saving Mom- these new phrases have recently become part of my everyday life. Why? I’m the husband of a money-saver.
And I’ve had to adapt.
My wife started showing an interest in cutting our expenses several months ago. Great! I thought. Go for it! We were married young, with a newborn baby, the mortgage bills coming in—you know how it is. Obviously, any added frugality would help us meet our financial goals.
As I look back I pause to smile at my naiveté. I had no idea the new changes that were in store. Over the next few months I have seen my wife transform into a frugal warrior, armed with a new vocabulary, couponing-weapons, and shopping battle strategies. The change was more intense than I could have ever anticipated.
Read on if you’re curious about my brave new world.
1. Strange Products I Get to Try
Apparently product companies test their goods on the families of frugal moms. They give products away for free (through coupons) in an attempt to penetrate the market. The Frugals find these products long before the rest.
Joint Juice is one such product. It’s seeking to gain market traction to an elderly demographic fatigued by joint pain. These days, I drink enough Joint Juice to grease the joints of an entire retirement home. I’m serious. My buddies bring Gatorade to basketball, and as they drink their dollars away, I can’t help but feel lucky. My supply of energy drinks is free. Plus, my joints have never felt better. The stuff’s not so bad.
There’s plenty of products like this for me. Some lead to interesting conversations. When my co-workers found a batch of Go Diego Go Yogurts in the break room they were naturally curious. I explained that yes, adults eat them too. “And actually”, I explained “the yogurts are quite tasty, and they have healthy additives to help you grow.”
I don’t always have positive experiences, (Kashi Vive tastes like dog food) but overall, I’m really starting to enjoy the strange products I get to try now. Perhaps it’s made me a braver, more cultured husband.
2. The Coupon Box
Ah, the coupon box. The primary organizational tool of a Frugal, this mandatory accessory appeared early in the transformation process. There are two things that I’ve learned about the coupon box. First, it goes everywhere. Why? Because, you never know when you’ll need it. Miles into a casual day-trip we’ve turned back upon realizing the box didn’t make it to the car. I now know that where my wife goes, the box goes too.
Second, the box cannot be tampered with. “Don’t touch my box.” My wife doesn’t allow others to mess with her trove of glossy money-paper. I can see why, the organizational process is complex and delicate. A small change could result in catastrophic results in the grocery aisle. Not pretty.
3. CVS Used as a Verb
This one blew my mind. CVS isn’t just a store. It’s a verb. And it turns out, CVSing is the act of snapping up exceptional deals at CVS.
“Did you go CVSing today?” A few months ago, this would have been a nonsensical question. Now, I ask it several times a week as an entry point into further conversation about free diapers and ECBs (extra care bucks). The Frugals love their CVS.
4. Shopping with a Money Saver
It’s not for the faint of heart. Remember, for a Frugal this is the hour they’ve long awaited. The plans are laid far in advance. The grocery store is the battlefield, and my wife becomes the general and infantry. She travels from aisle to aisle with her shopping cart shaped assault vehicle. She’s clearly on a mission. And grocery missions, as you know, often take longer then the haphazard shopping a typical husband relies upon. For the husband of a frugal wife, patience is a virtue.
Then comes checkout. One not used to the process should expect embarrassment. I mean, the sheer volume of coupons is enough to make an amateur blush. But here’s a typical scenario: I look down to check my cell phone and look up to see the clerk dipping into the till to give my wife money. He’s giving her money for purchasing groceries! Holy smokes, what just happened? Was that a transaction or a holdup? Nervously, I rush our family out of the store.
Of course, if you’re looking for more excitement at the grocery store, wait for your Frugal to face up against the distrustful, ornery checkout clerk. It’s a Clash of the Titans!
5. “The Mail Is Here!!”
My wife and I were upstairs yesterday discussing plans for the day and mid-sentence, she stops me. “Shhhh…” I pause thinking Sadie (our baby daughter) must have awoken from her nap. I couldn’t hear a thing. “I think the mail’s here.” Amazed I concentrate on a sound, barely audible. Maybe a plane traveling 10,000 feet above our house. No, it’s getting closer. Perhaps a car. Then it hits me. Incredible! My wife has actually trained her ear to pick up the sound of the mail carrier. Her sense so honed it verges on premonition.
Why the excitement over the mail? A letter from a lost relative? No!
Free samples of course! I’m talking about a pack of Uncle Bens Cajun-Style Rice in neatly packaged orange. The sheer glory, as if Uncle Ben himself descended from heaven and bestowed his ricey goodness to our mailbox. I’ve tasted the newest flavors of Starbucks Coffee, pumped my body full of 6-hour energy, and freshened up my morning shower with Old Spice Shower Gel. Free shipping, free samples, delivered on demand. She’s a genius.
I could go on. I haven’t yet mentioned The Stockpile. (In the event of a nuclear winter, our toothpaste stockpile would ensure clean teeth for the entire neighborhood.) But I think I’ve made the point; there have been a few adjustments in all this money-saving.
But I will say this. I now eat healthier, save more, and am enjoying new and interesting products on a weekly basis. My wife’s frugal living has really helped our family. Thanks to her hard work, we’re living a better life.
I wouldn’t change a thing.
__________________
Author of this Guest Post
Ryan Adams is the husband of frugal-mom, Dana Adams, the author of this blog, Frugal In Virginia. Ryan has his own blog which he uses as a podium for his ideas about business, technology, jobs, and entrepreneurship. He finds his wife's blog much more interesting.
Going CVSing, “the deals”, couponing, stockpiling, ECBs, Money Saving Mom- these new phrases have recently become part of my everyday life. Why? I’m the husband of a money-saver.
And I’ve had to adapt.
My wife started showing an interest in cutting our expenses several months ago. Great! I thought. Go for it! We were married young, with a newborn baby, the mortgage bills coming in—you know how it is. Obviously, any added frugality would help us meet our financial goals.
As I look back I pause to smile at my naiveté. I had no idea the new changes that were in store. Over the next few months I have seen my wife transform into a frugal warrior, armed with a new vocabulary, couponing-weapons, and shopping battle strategies. The change was more intense than I could have ever anticipated.
Read on if you’re curious about my brave new world.
1. Strange Products I Get to Try
Apparently product companies test their goods on the families of frugal moms. They give products away for free (through coupons) in an attempt to penetrate the market. The Frugals find these products long before the rest.
Joint Juice is one such product. It’s seeking to gain market traction to an elderly demographic fatigued by joint pain. These days, I drink enough Joint Juice to grease the joints of an entire retirement home. I’m serious. My buddies bring Gatorade to basketball, and as they drink their dollars away, I can’t help but feel lucky. My supply of energy drinks is free. Plus, my joints have never felt better. The stuff’s not so bad.
There’s plenty of products like this for me. Some lead to interesting conversations. When my co-workers found a batch of Go Diego Go Yogurts in the break room they were naturally curious. I explained that yes, adults eat them too. “And actually”, I explained “the yogurts are quite tasty, and they have healthy additives to help you grow.”
I don’t always have positive experiences, (Kashi Vive tastes like dog food) but overall, I’m really starting to enjoy the strange products I get to try now. Perhaps it’s made me a braver, more cultured husband.
2. The Coupon Box
Ah, the coupon box. The primary organizational tool of a Frugal, this mandatory accessory appeared early in the transformation process. There are two things that I’ve learned about the coupon box. First, it goes everywhere. Why? Because, you never know when you’ll need it. Miles into a casual day-trip we’ve turned back upon realizing the box didn’t make it to the car. I now know that where my wife goes, the box goes too.
Second, the box cannot be tampered with. “Don’t touch my box.” My wife doesn’t allow others to mess with her trove of glossy money-paper. I can see why, the organizational process is complex and delicate. A small change could result in catastrophic results in the grocery aisle. Not pretty.
3. CVS Used as a Verb
This one blew my mind. CVS isn’t just a store. It’s a verb. And it turns out, CVSing is the act of snapping up exceptional deals at CVS.
“Did you go CVSing today?” A few months ago, this would have been a nonsensical question. Now, I ask it several times a week as an entry point into further conversation about free diapers and ECBs (extra care bucks). The Frugals love their CVS.
4. Shopping with a Money Saver
It’s not for the faint of heart. Remember, for a Frugal this is the hour they’ve long awaited. The plans are laid far in advance. The grocery store is the battlefield, and my wife becomes the general and infantry. She travels from aisle to aisle with her shopping cart shaped assault vehicle. She’s clearly on a mission. And grocery missions, as you know, often take longer then the haphazard shopping a typical husband relies upon. For the husband of a frugal wife, patience is a virtue.
Then comes checkout. One not used to the process should expect embarrassment. I mean, the sheer volume of coupons is enough to make an amateur blush. But here’s a typical scenario: I look down to check my cell phone and look up to see the clerk dipping into the till to give my wife money. He’s giving her money for purchasing groceries! Holy smokes, what just happened? Was that a transaction or a holdup? Nervously, I rush our family out of the store.
Of course, if you’re looking for more excitement at the grocery store, wait for your Frugal to face up against the distrustful, ornery checkout clerk. It’s a Clash of the Titans!
5. “The Mail Is Here!!”
My wife and I were upstairs yesterday discussing plans for the day and mid-sentence, she stops me. “Shhhh…” I pause thinking Sadie (our baby daughter) must have awoken from her nap. I couldn’t hear a thing. “I think the mail’s here.” Amazed I concentrate on a sound, barely audible. Maybe a plane traveling 10,000 feet above our house. No, it’s getting closer. Perhaps a car. Then it hits me. Incredible! My wife has actually trained her ear to pick up the sound of the mail carrier. Her sense so honed it verges on premonition.
Why the excitement over the mail? A letter from a lost relative? No!
Free samples of course! I’m talking about a pack of Uncle Bens Cajun-Style Rice in neatly packaged orange. The sheer glory, as if Uncle Ben himself descended from heaven and bestowed his ricey goodness to our mailbox. I’ve tasted the newest flavors of Starbucks Coffee, pumped my body full of 6-hour energy, and freshened up my morning shower with Old Spice Shower Gel. Free shipping, free samples, delivered on demand. She’s a genius.
I could go on. I haven’t yet mentioned The Stockpile. (In the event of a nuclear winter, our toothpaste stockpile would ensure clean teeth for the entire neighborhood.) But I think I’ve made the point; there have been a few adjustments in all this money-saving.
But I will say this. I now eat healthier, save more, and am enjoying new and interesting products on a weekly basis. My wife’s frugal living has really helped our family. Thanks to her hard work, we’re living a better life.
I wouldn’t change a thing.
__________________
Author of this Guest Post
Ryan Adams is the husband of frugal-mom, Dana Adams, the author of this blog, Frugal In Virginia. Ryan has his own blog which he uses as a podium for his ideas about business, technology, jobs, and entrepreneurship. He finds his wife's blog much more interesting.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Parents Night Out Storm Stories
At the 4/4/08 PNO I told some storm stories.
1) The story of the tent collapsing at the Lace's cabin when I was a child.
2) The story of Jesus walking on the water.
Just a reminder that I know these things and could use them again.
1) The story of the tent collapsing at the Lace's cabin when I was a child.
2) The story of Jesus walking on the water.
Just a reminder that I know these things and could use them again.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Why we have songs about Love
Noticing the dominance of the rain theme in the art and music of the Hopi people, an anthropologist asked a Hopi tribal leader why so many of his people's songs dealt with rain. The Hopi replied that it was because water is so scarce in the land where they live. He then asked the anthropologist: "Is that why so many of your songs are about love?"
CCCA InSite March/April 2008
CCCA InSite March/April 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Attitude of some campers
At a recent marketing event two boys were looking at the picture on the COCUSA display. One of them said to the other: "look, we can make friends here!"
To which his comrade responded, "I'm not a friend-maker"
Some of the campers this summer will not be good at 'friend-making'.. and some of them (unlike the boy mentioned above, will not have the choice about whether they go to camp or not. We need to be the friend makers with all the campers this summer.
To which his comrade responded, "I'm not a friend-maker"
Some of the campers this summer will not be good at 'friend-making'.. and some of them (unlike the boy mentioned above, will not have the choice about whether they go to camp or not. We need to be the friend makers with all the campers this summer.
Friday, March 7, 2008
DL Moody 'Trouble' quote
One time D.L. Moody was asked by a reporter, “Which people give you the most trouble?” Moody replied, “I’ve had more trouble with D.L. Moody than any other man alive.”
How do you deal with yourself? Do you have a plan to deal with the person who gives you the most trouble? Do you agree with this quote?
Devotion given Week 11, COCUSA 2008 to Pekin & EP staff.
Who gives you the most trouble?
Give Moody quote.
Spiritually this will be true. We will hold ourselves back (battle with apathy and sin) spiritually more than anyone else ever will... especially in America.
What do we do about it? Let's look at I Timothy 4
We need a specific plan for it!
Write and share SMART goals. (explain SMART)
How do you deal with yourself? Do you have a plan to deal with the person who gives you the most trouble? Do you agree with this quote?
Devotion given Week 11, COCUSA 2008 to Pekin & EP staff.
Who gives you the most trouble?
Give Moody quote.
Spiritually this will be true. We will hold ourselves back (battle with apathy and sin) spiritually more than anyone else ever will... especially in America.
What do we do about it? Let's look at I Timothy 4
We need a specific plan for it!
Write and share SMART goals. (explain SMART)
Why Should I Be Here? story
One time I was sitting where you are sitting, in the audience. (It was at the 2008 CCCA IL sectional.) I personally thought that the speaker was decent, but apparently not everyone around me did. I glanced to my left and saw a gentleman doodling on his notebook paper. Does anyone here doodle? I'm a doodler! Anyway, i could clearly see that this guy had written "Why Should I Be Here?" THREE times on his paper. It was pretty legible too.
Well, unfortunately I can't answer the question for my friend in Illinois... but I can tell you:
1) My goal is to keep you from even asking that question.
2) Why you should be here... this is what I'm saying that you NEED to here
3) I'm not sure why you should be here, but since you are, his is what you should listen for
4) God put you here, that's why you should be here. You might as well listen and pay attention!
Well, unfortunately I can't answer the question for my friend in Illinois... but I can tell you:
1) My goal is to keep you from even asking that question.
2) Why you should be here... this is what I'm saying that you NEED to here
3) I'm not sure why you should be here, but since you are, his is what you should listen for
4) God put you here, that's why you should be here. You might as well listen and pay attention!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Superbowl Sunday Lightning Strike
Last night we went to the Walbergs' house to watch the Superbowl. As we were getting ready to go, we could hear thunder and noticed that it had started "raining" little snow pellets. We headed out (without our heavy winter coats because it was so warm), making a quick stop at the grocery store.
As we left the store, it had definitely started snowing harder, although it was still thundering and lightning. Some of the streets in town had gotten a little snow-covered, but we assumed that at least the interstate would be plowed. Our assumption, however, proved false; the interstate looked untouched. After a few miles creeping along at 30 mph, we even discussed turning back, but decided that it would be just as far to the Walbergs' as it was to go back home.
Just as we were crossing the 474 bridge at the Adams Street exit, there was an extremely loud clap of thunder and blinding flash of fluorescent light. Out of the corner of the front window, I saw a bolt of lightning hitting a streetlight on the side of the road about 20 feet ahead of us.
With the bad roads, there was no way to swerve or brake suddenly. I watched in disbelief and horror as the streetlight exploded and sent a shower of burning pieces down onto our car. It was straight out of a movie! Unfortunately we didn't have our camera ready. (Who would?) God was truly protecting us though. We came away from the incident a little shaky, but totally unharmed!
We did finally make it to the Walbergs in one piece (although we were still a little skittish every time it would lightning) and enjoyed some fellowship and awesome homemade hot wings. Plus, it was a great game (yea for Brittany who picked the Giants to win)! By the time we left, the snowplows had been out and the roads were totally fine. We made it home safely, thanking God for watching over us throughout the night!
What a great display of God's power. Do you have the fear of God? It should leave you shaking.
As we left the store, it had definitely started snowing harder, although it was still thundering and lightning. Some of the streets in town had gotten a little snow-covered, but we assumed that at least the interstate would be plowed. Our assumption, however, proved false; the interstate looked untouched. After a few miles creeping along at 30 mph, we even discussed turning back, but decided that it would be just as far to the Walbergs' as it was to go back home.
Just as we were crossing the 474 bridge at the Adams Street exit, there was an extremely loud clap of thunder and blinding flash of fluorescent light. Out of the corner of the front window, I saw a bolt of lightning hitting a streetlight on the side of the road about 20 feet ahead of us.
With the bad roads, there was no way to swerve or brake suddenly. I watched in disbelief and horror as the streetlight exploded and sent a shower of burning pieces down onto our car. It was straight out of a movie! Unfortunately we didn't have our camera ready. (Who would?) God was truly protecting us though. We came away from the incident a little shaky, but totally unharmed!
We did finally make it to the Walbergs in one piece (although we were still a little skittish every time it would lightning) and enjoyed some fellowship and awesome homemade hot wings. Plus, it was a great game (yea for Brittany who picked the Giants to win)! By the time we left, the snowplows had been out and the roads were totally fine. We made it home safely, thanking God for watching over us throughout the night!
What a great display of God's power. Do you have the fear of God? It should leave you shaking.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Dawson Trotman Salvation Story
Dawson Trotman's salvation story highlights the importance of memorizing scripture. This would be great to use with COCUSA staff to highlight the importance of memory verses.
Trotman's high school years featured impressive credentials. He was class valedictorian, student body president, chairman of the student council, and captain of the basketball team.
However, the next several years saw Trotman's life drift dangerously. He gambled. He drank. He became a noted pool shark. However, a late night encounter with a local policeman was the catalyst for a spiritual encounter with Jesus Christ.
Drunk and unable to find his car, Trotman was arrested at an amusement park. Fortunately, the officer saw a deeper problem than alcohol.
"Son, do you like this kind of life?" the officer questioned. "Sir, I hate it," Trotman replied. The policeman returned Trotman's keys and encouraged him to change his lifestyle.
Two days later, Trotman attended a youth gathering at a local church where contests were conducted for Scripture memorization.
Given ten verses on salvation, Trotman was the only person in the group who memorized them for the next week's meeting. Given ten more verses to memorize on spiritual growth for the next week, Trotman quickly grasped them as well.
Several weeks later, one of the Scripture verses on salvation flashed through his mind. And it was then that he asked for Christ to change his life. "Oh God," he said, "whatever it means to receive Jesus, I want to do it right now."
Copied from http://www.matthew633.net/famous/archive/trotman.htm
Trotman's high school years featured impressive credentials. He was class valedictorian, student body president, chairman of the student council, and captain of the basketball team.
However, the next several years saw Trotman's life drift dangerously. He gambled. He drank. He became a noted pool shark. However, a late night encounter with a local policeman was the catalyst for a spiritual encounter with Jesus Christ.
Drunk and unable to find his car, Trotman was arrested at an amusement park. Fortunately, the officer saw a deeper problem than alcohol.
"Son, do you like this kind of life?" the officer questioned. "Sir, I hate it," Trotman replied. The policeman returned Trotman's keys and encouraged him to change his lifestyle.
Two days later, Trotman attended a youth gathering at a local church where contests were conducted for Scripture memorization.
Given ten verses on salvation, Trotman was the only person in the group who memorized them for the next week's meeting. Given ten more verses to memorize on spiritual growth for the next week, Trotman quickly grasped them as well.
Several weeks later, one of the Scripture verses on salvation flashed through his mind. And it was then that he asked for Christ to change his life. "Oh God," he said, "whatever it means to receive Jesus, I want to do it right now."
Copied from http://www.matthew633.net/famous/archive/trotman.htm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)