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22
Sep

A Tale of Two Families

In case you missed it, here is the link to Sunday’s sermon in which I contrasted the families of Eli and Elkanah. In response to this sermon, I outlined four possible responses to all who were in attendance:

Come to the Tedd Tripp parenting conference, Shepherding a Child’s Heart, on September 31-October 1. You may register on our website here.

Be faithful in your family devotions. The D6 curriculum guide offers wonderful daily devotionals to discuss with your family that tie back to what your children were taught in church. If you have not received one already, contact Zack Polyak at zack@southlakebaptist.com.

D6 also has downloadable weekly family plans called Splink. You can sign up to receive weekly emails here.

If you are a mother or grandmother in our church, please consider joining Moms In Touch International, which is a group of mothers who join together to pray for their children. You can learn more about Moms in Touch International at www.momsintouch.org.

What insight did you take away from the sermon?

12
May

Fighting Like Brothers (Round 3)

In my last post, I talked about fighting as brothers, rather than with brothers. I said we need to quit fighting with our brothers over silly issues and fight for our brothers’ marriages, ministries, and children.

So how do we put this into practice? How do we change our behavior? Read moreRead more

12
May

Fighting Like Brothers (Round 2)

In my last post, I talked about how some Christians fight brothers as if they were enemies. This time, I want to talk about fighting as brothers, rather than with brothers. Read moreRead more

12
May

Fighting Like Brothers (Round 1)

Growing up with brothers is an experience like no other. One minute “blood is thicker than water;” the next minute, you need water to clean up the blood!

As tight as my brothers and I were, we had our share of fights. Trash talking, bruises, hurt feelings, wrestling — even an occasional bloody nose inflicted at the hand of a “loving” brother — were not uncommon. We even had some pretty big battles, with towering egos and fiery tempers on full display. Read moreRead more

1
Apr

Spirit Led Prayer

Effectual Spirit-guided intercession for others is like most enterprises of the spiritual and natural world; the more something is exercised the more it tends to become a normative practice. Contrariwise, when we fail to exercise faith and Biblical understanding in praying, we often pray in opposition to the Spirit. Read moreRead more

14
Mar

468… Make that 260 Marbles

A couple of years ago, I blogged about when Jack (my oldest) turned nine years old, I began to realize how quickly he was growing up and how I used a jar of marbles to keep track of his growth and determine priorities. (read post)

Today, Jack turned 13. This year, the marble jar will be half way empty. It is hard to believe that Jack is a teenager. He is almost as tall as me. He runs faster than me. Read moreRead more

8
Mar

A better way to pray for others (Part 2)

In the last post, we learned that Paul cultivated a sense of thankfulness in his prayers for the church at Colossae. He also celebrated the eternal in their lives, instead of the natural and temporal. Read moreRead more

4
Mar

A better way to pray for others (Part 1)

I know none of us subscribe to a “prosperity gospel,” but don’t most of our prayers for other people sound something like that? Ever sit through a church prayer meeting? Don’t most of the prayer requests you hear center on health, wealth, and success in the lives of the people we pray for? Read moreRead more

23
Dec

A Letter to His Wife – Civil War Soldier

The following is a letter from a soldier in the Civil War that was written to his wife shortly before the soldier’s death at the Battle of Bull Run:

July the 14th, 1861
Washington D.C.

My very dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

Our movement may be one of a few days duration and full of pleasure—and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. Not my will, but thine O God, be done. If it is necessary that I should fall on the battlefield for my country, I am ready. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt.

But, my dear wife, when I know that with my own joys I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them in this life with cares and sorrows—when, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it as their only sustenance to my dear little children—is it weak or dishonorable, while the banner of my purpose floats calmly and proudly in the breeze, that my unbounded love for you, my darling wife and children, should struggle in fierce, though useless, contest with my love of country?

I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm summer night, when two thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying the last, perhaps, before that of death—and I, suspicious that Death is creeping behind me with his fatal dart, am communing with God, my country, and thee.

I have sought most closely and diligently, and often in my breast, for a wrong motive in thus hazarding the happiness of those I loved and I could not find one. A pure love of my country and of the principles have often advocated before the people and “the name of honor that I love more than I fear death” have called upon me, and I have obeyed.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me to you with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when God willing, we might still have lived and loved together and seen our sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me—perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar—that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the garish day and in the darkest night—amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours—always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.
Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again.

As for my little boys, they will grow as I have done, and never know a father’s love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me long, and my blue-eyed Edgar will keep my frolics with him among the dimmest memories of his childhood. Sarah, I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care and your development of their characters. Tell my two mothers his and hers I call God’s blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.

Sullivan