I'm lying on the couch with a bad cold this morning - this glorious Christmas morning. Couldn't sleep due to my symptoms, so I rose early to spend some time with God. Have been watching videos of Pastor John Piper expound on the idea of "Christian hedonism" - that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Please find time to read his book or watch him preach on this topic - it will bless your life immensely. I may have written on this concept on here already. No problem - emphasis is a good thing!
I want so much for you, my sons, to know the same joy I have found in God, through an intimate relationship restored by the work of Jesus. These writings are all in vain if I only encourage you to seek worldly pleasures in this life. However, there are innumerable pleasures that, when we realize that they were graciously given to us by God, bring him glory when we delight in them.
Piper mentioned that the fruit of a joyous heart, delighting in God, is love. Not merely obedient servitude, but fervent, heart-felt, emotional love - sincerely wanting the very best for others, indeed God's best. So, the quick lesson for today before I enjoy a celebratory morning with you both is this: Your ability to love effectively (the horizontal relationships) is proportionally dependent on your satisfaction/contentment with God (the vertical relationship). Seek God's glory in every experience you can, requesting that you may find it and be enraptured by it! Thereby you can find contentment (joy/peace) in this life, and the love that you share throughout will leave a glorious legacy.
I love you boys so, so much - chiefly because I see God's glory in you so easily.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Dad
Friday, December 25, 2015
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Don't Waste Your Time
Rhett, you and I are in the living room watching the baby channel while the rest of the house sleeps in. You keep reaching over and grabbing the hair on my leg and pulling vigorously - during commercial breaks, of course. Harry the Bunny and Rainbow Horse have your complete attention otherwise.
Mom and I watched a movie I checked out at the library. The title is of no concern. I picked it out thinking we would be watching an adventurous movie of someone hiking from the Mojave Desert to Canada. Most of it, however, was more concerned with telling the sad tale of a woman whose life was marred by drugs, adultery, divorce, and the death of her mother. She takes to the trail to "find herself", all the while cursing God and quoting vain philosophers. Because she ends the film (based on her highly successful book) talking about getting remarried and having two kids, one of which she names after her mother, she makes it seem as if she has reached a perfect ending. In truth, she is no better off than when she started - Godless, meaningless and hopeless. Other than some picturesque cinematography, the movie was a total waste of time for us.
I walked away resolved of two things - 1) I'd like to take the family, or at least you boys on a hike of the Appalachian or Pacific Crest Trail (whether in part/s or whole) and 2) not to waste more of my time on anti-Christian movies that peddle humanist philosophies.
While most Christian movies are generally poor quality, I don't have to suffer through them as an alternative. It is not my Christian duty to watch them (although there are some that are very, very good). There are media not intended to glorify God that can still be used for that purpose, and that can still enrich my life. For example, I can glorify God watching a 30 minute video simply highlighting the trails I spoke of above and getting exciting about them, exploring his beautiful creation.
Movies are just one way in which we can use/misuse our time. Best to give a little thought before committing to something. Would God want me to give ____ my attention?
Life is short, so focus the time he grants you on the positive. Meaning, on things Philippians 4:8,9:
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
I love you boys!
Dad
Mom and I watched a movie I checked out at the library. The title is of no concern. I picked it out thinking we would be watching an adventurous movie of someone hiking from the Mojave Desert to Canada. Most of it, however, was more concerned with telling the sad tale of a woman whose life was marred by drugs, adultery, divorce, and the death of her mother. She takes to the trail to "find herself", all the while cursing God and quoting vain philosophers. Because she ends the film (based on her highly successful book) talking about getting remarried and having two kids, one of which she names after her mother, she makes it seem as if she has reached a perfect ending. In truth, she is no better off than when she started - Godless, meaningless and hopeless. Other than some picturesque cinematography, the movie was a total waste of time for us.
I walked away resolved of two things - 1) I'd like to take the family, or at least you boys on a hike of the Appalachian or Pacific Crest Trail (whether in part/s or whole) and 2) not to waste more of my time on anti-Christian movies that peddle humanist philosophies.
While most Christian movies are generally poor quality, I don't have to suffer through them as an alternative. It is not my Christian duty to watch them (although there are some that are very, very good). There are media not intended to glorify God that can still be used for that purpose, and that can still enrich my life. For example, I can glorify God watching a 30 minute video simply highlighting the trails I spoke of above and getting exciting about them, exploring his beautiful creation.
Movies are just one way in which we can use/misuse our time. Best to give a little thought before committing to something. Would God want me to give ____ my attention?
Life is short, so focus the time he grants you on the positive. Meaning, on things Philippians 4:8,9:
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
I love you boys!
Dad
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