Kayla: Daddy, what do you do for the church? You sound pretty important…
Dad: I do a little of this and a little of that. I try to do whatever needs to be done.
Kayla: Well, what’s your title?
Dad: Titles don’t mean much sweety. I’m the Executive Director.
Kayla: That really sounds important.
Dad: (chuckling) Its not as glamorous as you think.

After service today Ill be able to show her one of the many things I enjoy doing.

I picked up the boys from wrestling yesterday at 5pm.

Noah: Dad, did you bring us any snacks?
Dad: Sorry bud, I didn’t even think about it.
Noah: What kind of Father are you?
Dad:  Uh, well, I guess I just suck.
<a minute passes and I hear crunching from the back seat>
Dad: Are you eating chips? <incredulously>
Noah: <laughing>  Yeah, I was just testing you.  It’s ok, we still love you, but tomorrow you should bring snacks.
Dad:  I’m tempted to pull this truck over and kick your little narrow butt.
<Insert everyone laughing>

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Dad - What are you thinking?
Son - I’m not thinking anything.
Dad - You were in the middle of saying something, so what was it?
Son - I don’t know what you are talking about…
Dad - You do know what I’m talking about and now you are lying about it.
Son - I’m not lying!
Dad - Do you lie like this often or is this an isolated case?
Son -  I’m not lying!!
Dad -  Then tell me what you were going to say when you stopped in the middle of your sentence.
Son - I didn’t say a word.
Dad - I know, you said several words, so I’m either crazy or you are lying.
Son - It’s not really homework.
Dad - What??
Son - It’s not really homework, the teacher said I could do it if I want.
Dad - Are we in the same room?
Son - Yes.
Dad - Am I crazy?
Son - No.
Dad - Am I deaf?
Son - No.
Dad - Then why did I hear words coming out of your mouth, forming a sentence that turned into a disgusted look and a scoff? But you suddenly can’t remember that?  Instead, in the middle of our conversation you jump to a completely different conversation?  You do realize we are not talking about homework right now, right?  We are talking about you not telling me what you were thinking and saying?  Do you remember that?
Son - I’m not lying.
Dad - I give up, go to you room and do your homework.

Jennifer and I were sitting outside tonight getting caught up on the day when Caleb came walking out.  “Hey Dad, why do you have a picture of the Eagles running back on your blog?”

Crap.  I wasn’t ready to talk to him yet.  I wanted to spend some time thinking through how to guide him in his affections.  But, no time like the present.

Dad:  Well, I was talking about how football season makes some people go crazy and forget Jesus.
Caleb:  I don’t get it.
Dad:   Well, some Christians can love things more than they love Jesus. Soon they think about it all the time, they talk about it all the time and if there is a bad game it can put them in a bad mood.  People can allow their lives be affected by something as silly as grown men running around with a football.
Caleb:  Ah, like me?
Dad:  Yeah, like you and there are other people who let football and other things get in the way of loving Jesus.  You are still young and learning these things.  Most of us Christian adults should have already learned it, but sometimes we forget.
Caleb:  So, it’s like people can get addicted to something and it controls them.
Dad:  You got it.
Caleb: I got it now.

And with that our conversation was over.  I am thankful for a son who has a soft heart.  I am praying for a soft heart for myself…like Caleb.

(An open letter to my son.)

1 John 5:18-21
19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.  20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

This is a funny time of year – it’s football season!  You can smell the excitement in the air, see the flags flying on the cars, and hear the clamor of news updates.  I know it’s here because I live with a child obsessed with the game.  One of my sons loves football and baseball.  He can out stat you, out strat you and name more personal history about players than you have any hope to…and he has only been an American for two years.  How did he develop such a love for sports?  I have no idea.  He didn’t get it from me.  He has naturally gravitated to it and is quickly becoming obsessed with it.  I also have friends who are obsessed with the game.  They love it, they talk it and they plan their calendar around it.  It’s time for a talk with him and with you.

First, let me say that I know the obsession.  I know it’s grip.  I know the justifications and pathetic defense that we often try to put up.  I know it and it’s sick. What do some of these sound like?  See if you have ever stated any of the following:

1. This is my idol worship time, and I don’t want to be disturbed.
2. This is my idol worship season.
3. Worshiping my idol is the only way I can relax.
4. My passionate pursuit of my idol doesn’t really affect me.
5. You are a woman, you can’t possibly understand my idol.
6. I can walk away from my idol at any time, and it doesn’t have a grip on me.
7. I wait for my idol all year.
8. I can’t go to that event because I need to worship my idol.

If you are gripped by an idol then lose hope in truly worshiping God.  Lose hope in loving your wife and leading your children.  Lose hope in discipling others.  Lose hope in deepening your love and understanding of the Lord.  Lose hope in being missional.  Lose hope in modeling Christ to your children.  Lose hope.  When you remove Jesus from the throne of your life and replace him with a football, shotgun, weight bench, truck, computer, wife, children, alcohol, guitar, book, or anything or anyone else – then lose hope.

If you try to make your throne a two-seater then lose hope.  Jesus shares power with no created entity.  He does not sit on the throne waiting to hold the next thing that grips you so that you can worship them both.

My son, keep yourself from idols.  We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.  My son, keep yourself from idols.

Remember your first love.  Remember to be killing sin because it seeks to kill you.  You once loved these things, but you have been given a new life.  You must put it away and focus your affections on the One who has redeemed you.  You must remember that we are in a battle that has eternal consequences.  You must remember that you have been chosen – not to be consumed by the trifles of this world but to reflect the glory of God.

My son, keep yourself from idols.

Love,

Dad

John Piper has an article on how to Discern Idolatry in Desire

Verses to Reflect on:

Psalm 115:3-8
3 Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.

Colossians 3:1-17
3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I was eager to hear about President Obama’s impact on my kids today, so as soon as they jumped into the truck I began firing questions.  Nah, just kiddin.  I had actually forgotten he was talking to them today…oops.

Kayla:  Dad, someone fell asleep during the President’s speech today during lunch…It was kinda funny.
Dad: Oh yeah, I forgot to ask you guys about that.  How did it go?
Emma: He did a good job…
Dad:  Ok, besides rating his public speaking abilities what did you learn?
Emma:  Oh, why didn’t you just ask?  Well, let’s see.  I need to work hard, not skip school even if I don’t feel like going and do my homework.
Kayla:  He also said that his mother, or was it grandmother, can’t remember…but, she got up real early and helped him get a good education because he wasn’t very smart.
Emma: He didn’t say that!!
Kayla: Well, if you have to get up that early….And now he’s the President.
Dad:  Caleb, what did you learn?
Caleb:  Nothing really.  I’ve heard it all from my parents.
Kayla:  So, how do you become President?
Dad:  Why, do you want to become President?
Kayla:  YES!!

So my children were encouraged to work hard at learning and Makayla now has her sights set on the Presidency.

At last nights family Bible time we were going around the room answering questions regarding some of the things that we had been studying.  We eventually came around to Caleb.

Dad: How did God make the first people?
Caleb: C’mon Dad, easy one.  God made Adam’s body out of the ground and Eve’s body out of Adam’s zipper.

Caleb immediately knew that he hadn’t gotten it quite right as everyone burst into laughter.  Once Caleb understood what he said, sweet tea shot out of his nose and we all had a good life.

Next up…Josiah

Dad: What did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies?
Josiah: A secret cabinet?
Dad: What?? <laughing>
Josiah: Uh, no, that’s not it…

Yet another laugh fest began.  Good times around the truth.

Do you ever get tired of picking up after your children? Yeah, me too. Today I came home to find my 10, 9, 5 and 4 year old’s stuff dropped in the middle of the living room. Book bags, blankets, stuffed animals, lunch box, socks, shoes, half eaten snacks, etc. I am also tired of picking it all up and putting it in their room. That only makes their room look like a jungle. So today I had enough.  Jennifer and the kids had left for a bit, so I took action.

The kids came home with Jennifer and found all of their misplaced belongings piled up in the front yard. Needless to say there was much shock and dismay over Dad’s new tactic.