Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

I'm Tired of Being a Good Father


Good enough. I bet any dad who reads this wishes to be a good father. The good enough policy is, well, good enough in a lot of life's areas, but fatherhood is not one of them.

I'll confess I strive to be a great father. I fail far too often. Sometimes I come home and I want my alone time. I veg on my ipad or watch my show on TV. I've worked hard that day and I deserve it... so I think.

I'm always hearing older fathers tell me that, "They'll be grown and out of the house before you know it." I usually smile and nod politely dismissing their wise words. But they are too right.

If a Dad spends an average 6.5 hours with their children every day week, as research shows, that means in a year they will spend 338 hours with their kids. That comes out to a grand total of 2 weeks out of the year with their kids. During the first 18 years of a child's life the father will spend 254 total days with their kids... That's not even 1 whole year before they leave the house. Wow, that sucks. No wonder they're gone before we know it. On average we don't spend a whole year with our kids before they're gone. [Compare that to almost 3 years will be spent with our TV during that same 18 years period, ouch.]

Courageous Movie Trailer

As fathers it is time we start to bump that number WAY up. Come on guys let's at least get an hour a day in (And much more). The time we have to invest in our children is extremely valuable and apparently quite rare. Don't go home a ignore the kids. Go home and invest. The difference that we can make as a father is incredible.

Here is your homework- Go see Courageous in theaters. Get a baby sitter for the kids (This time away from them will be well worth it) and you and the wife go out and see this movie. It might give you a swift punch to the stomach, but sometimes we need that. You'll cry, you'll laugh, and you'll leave changed.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Don't Believe Everything People Say The Bible Says


Do you want to know what gets on my nerves? When biblically ignorant people make a point using the Bible to invalidate our faith. Do you know what really gets on my nerves? When equally biblically ignorant Christians get stumped by it.

Ok, I'll calm down and try to write a coherent post today. I believe that Christians in America have a huge problem. We don't know our own Holy Book (The Bible). Many Christians are swayed and shut up by
arguments that are not only irrelevant, but often times false. We need to learn to not only deflect these arguments, but crush them as it says in Philetus 1:3*.

Those who doubt the Bible often pull verses out of context and misinterpret passages. Then they use those passages to prove their points. Many of those arguments and questions would be easily squashed or answered with some basic Bible knowledge. For some, studying the Bible may seem beyond your abilities, but let me assure you that it is not. If you can read and write you can study the Bible.

1) Today I can't give you all the answers, but I do want to encourage you with this. Start actually reading and studying the Bible. It will mean a little hard work, but in the end it will be worth your effort. Read, study, and meditate on God's Word. It will not only transform your life, but it will strengthen your faith. When questions are asked and lies are proposed you'll recognize them easily.

2) Research the claims people make. If someone throws a verse in your face don't just believe what they say. Look it up! Many times people don't even know the verses they are referencing and their
ignorance will quickly bubble to the surface if you look up the passage. What about Pastor Trey and myself, should you double check us? Absolutely. Both of us encourage everyone to double check the passages we quote. Make sure we're correctly teaching the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15).

Get into the Bible, build your confidence, and blow your mind! The Bible is a supernatural book. Check out some free Bible study tools at YouVerson.com.

You can check out this video that will lead you through some simple questions to ask when studying the Bible.
*Philetus isn't a real book... I made it up. I hope you figured that out and didn't just soak it in without question.

In Closing:
Carowinds: We have very limited space, and I have to order the tickets Thursday. The full price of the trip (Carowinds ticket, lunch, and transportation) is $55. Get your money to me this Wednesday.

Haunted House interest meeting July 31: We're looking at doing a Halloween haunted house without all the witches, ghost, etc... Ours will actually be scary. The point would be to show people the reality of their mortality. We would end off the tour with a Gospel presentation. TAKING BACK SATAN'S NIGHT! #KSITT