Grace Point First Baptist Church of Newtown-Family Life Center

Don't forget to register for the upcoming seminar on youth culture. Tickets are $5 and the speaker, Walt Mueller, is top-notch. Click the link below for more information about the event and how to get tickets.

Grace Point First Baptist Church of Newtown-Family Life Center

Good words/quotes for me today

All the Google quotes and the word fit me in different ways today. Let me explain...

Word of the Day
quondam: former; sometime

I believe that I am either a full fledged quondam conservative or at least a quondam Republican. At any rate, either of these phrases would express the fact that while I used to buy into the respective political philosophies, I don't as much. Still, my old political leanings formed my politics today. Not that I have abandoned these philosophies full scale, but that I now look at them with much more discernment. Certainly, I am still more conservative than liberal and more likely to vote Republican than Democratic, but I would no longer use these terms to define myself.

Quote of the Day
Genius might be described as a supreme capacity for getting its possessors into trouble of all kinds.
- Samuel Butler

Of course I'm not a genius intellectually, still I feel that I have a certain way of looking at the world that is different, and in some ways, perhaps more developed than many who just see the easy way to survive or to earn a buck. It is this way of looking at the world that often causes me to say things that are frustrating to others, or to cause me to get down upon myself.

America had often been discovered before Columbus, but it had always been hushed up.
- Oscar Wilde

This quote relates to me only as I have been reading about the Basques of late partly of basque heritage. In my reading I've learned that there is good evidence that basques fishermen came to the Americas long before Columbus, but did not share their discovery out of want to keep their new found fishing hole a secret.

One doesn't have a sense of humor. It has you.
Larry Gelbart

Again, not that I'm particularly funny all the time, but when something is funny to me, I can't control the desire to share it, think about it, or do something creative with it. The sense of humor takes me.

Inside Bay Area - Bay Area Living

Inside Bay Area - Bay Area Living: "DEVELOPMENTAL psychologists have identified four different child-rearing styles: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and uninvolved. Of these four, the authoritative approach shines above the others, is recommended by most child-care experts, produces self-confident and self-controlled children and is backed by 30 years of conclusive research. But don't confuse this with authoritarian parenting ('My way or the highway!')."

Prayer for 2006

The following is a prayer that I'd like to pray throughout 2006. My hope is to pray this everyday and occationally update it so by the end of the year, it will be meaningful for my whole life.

Lord, give me a light to show me the way: a pilar of fire that goes before me. May my path be full of godly adventure. May there be many unknowns before me. But guide me each step that I may never feel alone or stumble.

Give me stregth to stand up against sin: my own sinful deeds and thoughts first, and then let me speak out against the sin I see around me.

Renew my love for other people that no one would be a bother in my day.

Lord, bring the most loved one back into the rightful place in my life. Let me be a leader in my family: to Stef and to my girls. Help me to lead them in my love for you through my actions and attitude. Keep my mind and eyes pure and my thoughts directed to Stefanie. Make me an example of a gracefilled man to my Moriah and Elisa. Let me also learn to lead in my greater family and may I have time to spend with them. May I be drawn closer to my parents in their autum years. May I be an example of your wisdom and peace to my brothers and sister, and may I be may I have a renewed relationship.

Make me a man of prayer interceding for those around me: my family, the families of my church, my neighbors, and the missionaries that I love and respect.

Lord, the Body of Christ needs good men-show me the best way to lead it. Make me spiritual enough to lead the church but never one dimentional. Make me one who drives people to serve you and show me how to deligate you work. Let me always be understanding of other's struggles with sin, but always helpful in returning them to their relationship with you.

Strengthen my love for your Word and for prayer. Be my dwelling place. Be my home. Be the one I share first all the experiences of my life. Be the center of all my attention.

Psalm 90

"I like world peace"

Did anyone else hear it? The street reporter, whose name escapes me right now, was talking to three police officers about their New Year's resolutions. The first officer spoke of his desire to loose weight. She responded, "Yea, loose weight," as she patted at his stomach.

The second officer intensely stated his resolution. "I'm going to pray for world peace." That was a I nice sentiment from one who see the peaceful-less side of the world so closely. And our reporter's wisest response was....

"I like world peace."

Come one now. What kind of response is that from a reporter? Can't ABC do better than that? "I like world peace." That isn't even the truth. At least, who could know if they like world peace? It has never been experience. "I like the thought of world peace." "I like the idea of praying for world peace." "World peace is something we all desire." Those could have been good responses. "I like world peace only shows that young reporters are either incompetent or it show that this young person has no concept of the true evil that runs wild in this world.


ABC.com - Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2006

My Dream

I had a dream last night that I feel pictures my predicament. It is a little odd, because it is a dream. But if you follow, it makes sense.

My wife and I went to seminary to study to be church leaders. Our home in the seminary appeared livable, but a little old. We were on the 4th floor in a corner apartment. The 4 buildings formed a square with a courtyard between. Everyone knew that the old buildings had some squeaks and rattles, but on the surface they seems good enough.

After a time, officials were called in and all people in the building to our left were asked to leave because it had deteriorated to a point of being uninhabitable. After this many problems throughout all the buildings where uncovered. I left to examine the state of our home and found that the 4th floors throughout the complex were in near immediate danger of collapsing. There were holes in the walls that were hidden with plaster patches. The patches were cosmetic and a person could have easily fallen through to the ground 4 floors below.

As I wandered the ground, I began to realize that they had dismantled the stairway that I would normally use to return to my apartment. I could not find a way back. Certainly they would have left one way, but I was on my own to find it.

While looking, I walked through he hotel mall next door. Of course, this was not the quiet, peaceful place that the seminary was (or had once been). The mall was full of activity. People were buying things and partying. The crowds overwhelmed some. Others laughed as they took money from strangers. Still, I was drawn to the stability of the building, the nicely constructed apartments attached, the sweet treats being sold by the vendors, and the entertainment. This things all distracted me from my search for a way home.

The mall police were quite obvious. They were busy chasing penny thieves and bigger criminals. I witnessed one officer receiving a complaint. At first, she seem to respond quickly, but en route, she stopped to share a quick laugh with her friend about some poor soul who she had arrested in the past. The child she spoke of was the son of a werewolf. Could it be him that she was after again? I was interested, and even chuckled at the joke that she shared.

Then, my phone rang. It was my wife. She was wondering where I was. I told her that I was looking for a way back to the 4th floor. Others had been too. She had been talking to the other people stranded on the floor about how they could get their lost spouses to them, but, at this point, no one was sure. Perhaps the answer would be in the mall. Maybe I should try one of the new Hovercoppers being sold down the way.

Then I awoke. Now what?

Another thought on Christmas

Many have asked me in the last week or so, "Are you ready for Christmas?" My answer has been, "I'm not sure what you mean be 'ready for Christmas'."

It seems that we have confused the celebration of the coming Savior with the accumulation of gifts and the hold of family traditions. You know: the spritiual one's like decorating the house with green, red and gold things and baking copious amounts of sugary snacks.

If that is the Christmas that I'm supposed to be getting ready for, then, no, I'm not ready. Nor do I plan to get ready for that. See, I believe that me and my family would be much better ready for Christmas if we took our minds away from the hoopla that has been made a part of Christmas, and instead spent some time focusing on the Greatness of God that he should send His Son into this world to rescue people from the evil and the greed of this world.

This year, I have an idea about how I'm going to share the Christmas story with my children. In stead of reading the passages normally read on Christmas eve or Christmas morning (usually Luke 2 and Matthew 1 and 2), I'm going to read passages that talk more about the purpose for Jesus coming to this world. I thought that I could start with John 1 and talk about the spiritual reality of Jesus setting aside his glory to dwell amoung people. I think this will help us to move beyond the traditions of the season, into a realization of the great thing that we celebrate on December 25.

Read Cal Thomas' comentary on Christmas. He has an interesting message to the Church about our unwillingness to separate the holy event from the unholy practices of this world.

google_circa_1960.jpg (JPEG Image, 726x557 pixels)

Click the link. Need I explain how much things have changed in my life time.

theGoodSteward.com

Are you saving for retirement? Maybe you shouldn't be. You may be taking valuable resource from things that you need. It is possible that this is hording; taking resources that others could use and saving thme for your own selfish or prideful purpose.

It is also possible that your retirement savings is keeping you from being the best parent you can be. Face it, the most noble purpose of a retirement plan is assure that your late-life needs are not a burden on your children or society. However, if you are witholding valuable resources from your children in the years that they are with you, you may be doing them a bigger dis-service. You only have your children for 18 to 21 years. Use God's provision now for their development and for building family memories.

If your working for a early retirement consider Why you are doing that. God's word calls those who don't provide for themselves "sluggard". One can argue that they worked hard for their early retirement, but if you retire before your working days are over, you have likely done so for selfish reasons. (An exeption would be one who retires from paid employment in order to take a unpaid or underpaid ministry.)

That brings the final point to mind, if your working long days and long weeks to create that nestegg in the days that your family is growing, who's raising your children? In your 30s, your life focus needs to much more on the necessities of the children in your home and your spouse and less on what your life will be like in your 80s.

Retirement sounds like a great idea; defired enjoyment of life until your in your later years. Unfortunately, it isn't a biblical principle and it isn't one that comes without costs to your family. Focus on using God's resources for God's purpose today. If you do this with full faith in God and His purpose in mind, He will provide even as you reach the golden years.

Setting boundaries is a teaching process | IndyStar.com

One of the more difficult aspects of teaching children to become adults is helping children to take ownership of right and wrong. Recently, was was talking to a professional about first year college students. Too many of those student find themselves in trouble because their voice of moral reason has been removed from their lives. Most college students find that they have much more freedom than living at home. How they use that freedom is greatly dependant upon how much they personally own the moral system their parents tried to teach to them.

"Setting boundaries is a teaching process" is an article published on Indystar.com. It offers a helpful guide for developing boundaries in children through different stages of life. If appropriate boundaries are taught at each developmental stage, presumably children will take ownership of the values that the boundaries demonstrate.

How to set boundaries through the stages
Infant
Even babies should be stopped from doing something wrong. Wag your finger and say no, or find another nonviolent way to convey displeasure. Never, ever shake a baby, which can kill, blind or cause brain damage.

Toddler
Toddlers are inherently curious and lack impulse control, so they have to be reigned in often. Encourage their natural inclination toward exploration, but teach them how to do it safely and at appropriate times.

Most parenting experts oppose corporal punishment. Among other things, those who are spanked are more likely to be violent themselves. If you do spank, limit to a few strokes with a bare hand and avoid the face, neck and head. Spanking that leaves bruises, draws blood or breaks bones is illegal and abusive.

Elementary school
Children at this stage are slightly more independent, but still need close supervision. Go over the rules frequently, and remind children of established boundaries when you see violations looming. Punish swiftly after an infraction, and clearly state the reason for punishment. The punishment should fit the crime and be applied consistently.

Tweens
Gradually increase freedom to test adherence to family rules when children are on their own. If the children prove trustworthy, reward them for good behavior. If they do not, decrease freedom. Discuss your position on drinking, drugs and pre-marital sex often, and be sure children are adequately supervised, especially during after-school hours.

Teens
Gradually shift teens to independence, but remain vigilant on such matters as chores, curfews, homework and grades. If you have strong feelings about clothing, piercing and hairstyles, make sure your teenager knows that. Establish clear boundaries related to drinking, driving, dating, drugs and sex, and enforce limits consistently.

-- Compiled by Courtenay Edelhart (Published on Indystar.com)

[Note: I don't agree fully with the author's corporal punishment analysis. There are still many parenting experts who believe corporal punishment, when used in the right context can be an appropriate expression of love. Dr. Tim Kimmil offers some questions to help the family think through the issue of corporal punishment.]

Workshops deal with homework, parenting

examine workshops like this for flc....

The Sad Thing About TO

SPORTS - VITO'S VIEW - Comcast.net
Vito has it right. The TO thing is sad. The man is sick and needs help. More importantly, you can have it all and not be happy if all means that you are the center of the world. The only way to true happiness is to have Jesus at the center. Then, you don't mind putting others first, you team winning without you, or the fact that others make more than you.

I hope TO gets the help that he needs.

Affluenza: PBS Program on the Epidemic of Overconsumption

Affluenza: PBS Program on the Epidemic of OverconsumptionInformation on the PBS program.

CSU RAMS.com - The Official Site of Colorado State University Athletics

CSU RAMS.com - The Official Site of Colorado State University AthleticsGotta love the Rams!

Buber's Basque Page: Basque Word List

Buber's Basque Page: Basque Word List: "maite "A good list of Basque words with english meanings.

EiTB24.com

It is incredible how the modern rules of treasure hunting have complicated things. My guess is lawyers end up with 98% of the treasure the state 2% and the individuls get the stisfaction of knowing they paid their lawyers well.

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Paying the price for Afghan adoption

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Paying the price for Afghan adoptionPray for Zam. She is a special girl who needs a home in America.

Quote Details: Fran Lebowitz: I must take issue... - The Quotations Page

Too often too true...

Quote Details: Fran Lebowitz: I must take issue... - The Quotations Page: "I must take issue with the term 'a mere child,' for it has been my invariable experience that the company of a mere child is infinitely preferable to that of a mere adult.
Fran Lebowitz
US writer and humorist (1950 - ) "

Quote Details: Joe Theismann: Nobody in the game... - The Quotations Page

To think, I never heard of Norman Einstein before today.

Quote Details: Joe Theismann: Nobody in the game... - The Quotations Page: "Nobody in the game of football should be called a genius. A genius is somebody like Norman Einstein.
Joe Theismann, Former quarterback"

Quotation Search - Quote Search - The Quotations Page

The hedgehog principle restated...

Quotation Search - Quote Search - The Quotations Page: "My son, observe the postage stamp! Its usefulness depends upon its ability to stick to one thing until it gets there. "