Stuff That Matters in Life

Some interesting finds as we read through the book of Leviticus:

Chapter 19:14 “Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind…” Audrey commented: It’s sad that God even had to tell them not to do that.

Chapter 20:14 “If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is wicked.” Yeah, that’s pretty wicked!

Chapter 21:5 Priests must not shave their heads or shave off the edges of their beards or cut their bodies.” Is it ok to cut their beards, but just not shave off the edges?

Just heard Dr. Laura say this on her show:

People have a million excuses for their own behavior, but show disgust when others act the same.

Have you ever been asked to do something challenging? On the one hand, you don’t want to do it because it’s scary and you’ve never done it before. On the other hand, you think you have sufficient skills and it would be kind of fun to test yourself if you can do it.

These are my mixed feelings as I was asked to do something that I never thought I would do. I am not afraid of failing for my own sake. I am afraid of doing a bad job for the sake of others who will be affected.

I pray that God will enable me and make it clear that I should take on this task.

This is a good piece, something to make you think.

How God “Hears” Prayers All At Once

by Greg Koukl

How can God hear all our prayers at once? This is what little kids ask, but the question has occurred to adults, too. The answer is easy. God doesn’t listen to requests the way we do. We have to pay close attention to the details or else some distraction will cause us to miss something. We then decide how we’re going to act.

Since God is omniscient—He knows everything, including our prayers before we pray them—He gains no information when we pray. He has always known what our prayer would be. Having always known, He’s also always known how He would respond. The purposes of His will regarding the prayer have been eternally established.

Prayer is not just an empty ceremony, though. God’s knowledge of our prayer depends on the fact that we will choose to ask in the future. If we don’t pray, then there is no prayer for God to have known in advance. He only knows our prayers beforehand because we actually choose to pray them in the future. That’s why, even with a God who knows everything—including our prayers in advance—prayer still matters.

Highlights of our weekend with my extended family at Lake Gregory:

A 2.5 mile walk around the lake, taking our time to feed the ducks, trying out the “fitness” apparatuses along the course, and talking with one another.

Waffles with berries and maple syrup on Sunday morning.

Went to Lake Arrowhead Village and bought the book “The 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do”, a good read.

Playing Guessture and Password in the evening.

Finished a 750-piece puzzle at 1:15am, but with one missing piece. That missing piece was found in Audrey’s pocket the next day.

Got belated birthday presents.

The swing outside our cabin that swings over a small creek.

is the kind of Christianity that I have, the practice of my walk with God, one that, if I could pass on my relationship with God today to my kids, and my child could never experience anything more than what I have today, would you be satisfied with passing that on to your children? – Dennis Rainey, Family Life

That’s a good question for me to remember. I would not be satisfied. I would love for my children to experience more of God than me. So why am I not pursuing that for myself?

Crawford Loritts says

…there are only four things that you will find in common about the person that God uses in leadership in the Scripture, and none of it has to do with personality, not one of them has to do with personality. Here they are – brokenness; secondly, communion, and by that I mean there is a special degree of interaction; thirdly, servanthood, not as an activity but as an identity; and, fourthly, radical, complete obedience. You study leadership in the Scriptures, and those will be the four things you see consistently.

I want to keep those 4 things as goals for my life.

Today’s program on Family Life was “Ten Ways to Romance Your Wife.” They had some pretty good ones.
What do I find romantic with my husband?

Take a walk in the evening together, hand in hand.

Sit close together on the couch and chat about our day.

When he opens the door for me or serve me first.

Non-sexual touching – stroking my hair, my face, my feet – I love to have my feet massaged!

(I don’t want flowers, and I don’t eat candy or chocolates.)

Dennis Rainey of Family Life is right when he said that women view romance through the eyes of a relationship. We want to be courted, we want to be pursued, we want to be loved, known, valued and appreciated. We want to remain mystery so our men will continue to pursue us.

Dennis Rainey: …I think romance is the sugar and spice of a relationship and of a friendship that adds the spark, the fun, the creativity and, yes, is it hard work? Yeah. But, hey, haven’t most things in life that have really been worthwhile come through really having to pay a price for them?”

Last night, Amy and I saw a real shooting star!

It looked just like the way it’s drawn in the cartoons! From where we were standing, the star fell from right to left in an arch. It was incredible.
I didn’t know there was really such a thing!

Amy and I each made a wish. Of course I can’t tell you what my wish is.