5th Advent Candle - A video Devotional

4th Advent Candle - a Video devotional

3rd Advent Candle - A Video Devotional

What capacity

I read an article this week Inc magazine about Evernote a note taking program that works across platforms and syncs on all of them so where ever you are using Evernote the info stored is always the same.  I was reading it because I use Evernote and in fact I was probably an early adopter (which surprised me because I'm normally slightly behind the curve) either way thats not the point I would like to make.  As I read the article I realized once again I have a fairly powerful tool with lots of excellent features that I use very little of.
Which seems to be the story of my life, I have a mac book but only use a few of the features and an Iphone same there, digital camera, video camera, etc the list goes on.  But what about my life?  What skills do I have that I'm only using a portion of the capacity?  What about my talents?  Or spiritual gifts what about those?
At this time of year I like to take a look at the goals I set last year to see how I did (15%) and set new goals for the coming year or extend the old ones for another year.  Sometimes my goals are probably just ideas I would like to pursue and just didn't get around to, but sometimes they are concrete and are things that should be done.  Either way I'm not operating at capacity either at meeting goals or using my gifts and talents.  So then the real issue may be setting realistic goals that are in line with my gifts and talents.
Then to drive home the point while I took a break in writing this post I was checking out our sewing machine and looking for the model number so I could order a manual to see how to repair it.  As I was looking around in the sewing cabinet that houses the machine, I saw some sewing "stuff" (pin cushion, needles, bobbins etc in a compartment to the side.  Well now first of all I didn't know we had that stuff and second I didn't know that drawer actually existed.  How's that for not using things to there capacity.  As I think more about it maybe it has more to do with being impatient than not really fulfilling a capacity.  Because if I took the time to actually be aware of what I had i.e. read the manual or explore all parts, find out what it has, etc... I would probably use it, but then again maybe not.  Maybe I'm just content getting by rather than excelling.  Too many options to explore in this post maybe I'll save that for another time.

2nd Advent Candle - A video devotional

Preparations for the future

I was listening to the Hugh Hewitt show the other day and he had author Eric Mataxasspeaking about his book "Bonhoeffer". Eric stated that he believes God told him to write it and that God's hand has been on the whole process, even in its success. Which led me to ask the question "Why?". The immediate answer (to myself) was that God is preparing us for something to come. The gist of the book and Bonhoeffer's life (not to over simplify but just to make a point) is his stance as a pastor against the Nazi regime and his death at the hands of Nazi concentration camp soldiers. Could it be that God is once again preparing Christians to take a stance against an oncoming world leader or system that is anti-christian and anti-God? Have you seen the video 180 Movie by Ray Comfort you need to. It could happen! The old adage that those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it is true. Having just read a book on the history of the Roman Republic before it became an Empire I see things daily in the news that remind me of the politics prior to the collapse of the republic. I'm not saying that we are doomed to become Nazi Germany but I do believe we will see more open persecution of Christians and others who are willing to take a moral stand against an out of control government and it's "submissive" population. So then the question is are we ready? Am I ready? I don't know that answer but in the years to come I feel that each one of us may have to answer that question for ourselves.

A video devotional

Planting the right idea's

I just finished reading an article in Mission Frontiers titled Ideas Can Be More Powerful Than Money.  The author is basically making the case that by planting an idea in the mind of nationals and missionaries it has broken the cycle of unhealthy dependance upon foreign support.  I thought it was an interesting article as I have been thinking about the concept of ideas lately anyways.  The author makes his point by citing concrete examples that he has encountered.  Although the idea was actually planted some 10 or more years ago.
But this led me to ask the question "What Ideas am I planting into my kids?"  And are they solid ideas?  Or shallow ones?  Then the bigger question is for me "What are the essential ideas I should be teaching/planting into my kids?  In my mind ideas aren't necessarily "taught" I think they are 'shared' or embodied, something that can be caught as well as taught.  There is a time for formal teaching but also a time for quick "idea plants"  An idea that is formed over time, that takes root and grows.
So what are the essential ideas?  Here's my short list:

• There is a God
• Jesus Christ is God
• The Bible is true

These are the first 3 that came to mind when I asked myself the question this morning.  I'm sure there are others and I will explore them as well in the future but for now I'm going to stick to this short list and see where it takes me and more importantly where it takes my kids.

Learning to speak their language

I was having breakfast with a friend this morning who has just recently entered the world of "texting".  I was surprised when he text me yesterday to confirm the meeting.  When asked about his new found ability to communicate he shared with me that while sitting at a meal with his family the other day he decided to text the rest of his extended family (sons and daughter-in-laws) something that had happened with one of his children.  To his surprise he got responses from his extended family almost immediately, when he had previously not heard from them in months.
We discussed how I had realized that it is an effective way to communicate with my teens as well.  When I send an e-mail it may or may not be read in a timely manner.  But when I send a text I get almost immediate response.  As we grow older we have to continue to adapt to the communication forms of our children and the next generation if we want to remain a frequent part of their lives.