On Vacation...Staycation

I am on vacation this week and next so I probably won't be posting much on the blog. I will, however, continue to send out tweets from my reading (for what it's worth). It is enjoyable to send quotes or reflections.

We are have a great family time at our favorite family place - home. Vacation is a great privilege and blessing.

Daniel's Twitter

Thoughts on My Coming Vacation - 2009

Starting tomorrow, after church, I will start a two week vacation. Last summer I was challenged by C. J. Mahaney to look at the family vacation (as the husband and father) in a different way (see here):

Husbands are called by God to serve and lead. But we are all vulnerable to viewing the family vacation as a well-earned time away from work where we can rest and relax! But this attitude and approach to a vacation normally reveals a self-centeredness that does not please God or serve our families...

And you will know you are serving and leading effectively on your vacation when y

ou fall into bed at night more exhausted than at the end of the most grueling day of work. The father must enter family vacations committed to serve, lead, plan, initiate, and work, and do all this with joy. This isn’t your time to rest. Only your wife deserves to rest on vacation (because no one works harder than she does the rest of the year).

But for the husband, vacations are a unique opportunity to serve and lead and work harder in some ways than he does during the normal work week. But this kind of work is a pure joy like no other work. (Read the entire article here)

The pursuit of this goal last summer, though not perfectly attained, proved fruitful and very encouraging to myself, Molly and the kids. Most importantly, I believe God was glorified.

This summer, during our "stay-cation" (not going anywhere over night but STAYing home) I want to focus on 2 specific goals as I lead my family in this vacation:

• "Skillful Surprises" - Mahaney: "Effective surprises begin with studying each member of your family to discover what a meaningful and memorable surprise would involve. But trust me, each member of your family loves to be surprised."
• "Intentional Togetherness" - At the age my kids are at (6, 5, 3, 1) the best way to be together is by means of a "Stay-Cation". I love going to my parents or in-laws, but less quality time is spent just as a family. Right now (at this age) togetherness is not a thing the kids like to revolt against--they LOVE quality and quantity family time.
  

I guess we'll see how it goes. To God be the glory and from God must come the Help and Blessing...

The Lord's Supper - Not Just That Thing You Do

This Sunday, June 28th, we will be observing the Lord's Supper (also called Communion).

It is important that we prepare our minds and bodies and take serious this meaningful "ordinance". The Lord's supper is not just some thing we do...it has a lot of meaning.

Observe the following by Wayne Grudem (compiled by Dave VanAcker):

The meaning of the Lord’s Supper.

1. Christ’s death. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper we symbolize the death of Christ because our actions give a picture of his death for us. When the bread is broken it symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and when the cup is poured out it symbolizes the pouring out or Christ’s blood for us (1 Corinthians 11:26).
2. Our participation in the benefits of Christ’s death (Matthew 26:26). That is, in taking part in the Lord’s Supper we are acknowledging the fact that we are united with Christ in his death and therefore in the blessings of his life.
3. Spiritual nourishment (John 6:53-57). The spiritual nourishment, so necessary for our souls, is both symbolized and experienced in our participation in the Lord’s Supper.
4. The unity of believers (1 Corinthians 10:17). This is remarkable in the local church. It is even more remarkable when we realize that this is the practice, and has been the practice, for all Christian churches for the past 2000 years.
5. In the Lord’s Supper Christ affirms his love for me. Having instituted this ordinance and inviting us to participate, we acknowledge that it is an example of Jesus affirming his love for us.
6. In the Lord’s Supper Christ affirms that all the blessings of salvation are reserved for me. Again, the Lord’s Supper is meant to remind us of the present and greater future blessings that await all whom Jesus invited to participate (all Christians).
7. In the Lord’s Supper I affirm my faith in Christ. Taking part in the Lord’s Supper is an outward sign that we remain faithful to Jesus.

1 Cor. 11:27-34 says about our coming to the Lord's Supper...

• We must not take in an unworthy manner
• Therefore we must examine ourselves
• In examining ourselves, we must discern the body -- look at our relationships with others in the church and reconcile fractured relationships before we eat of the table
  

Men, You are Called to Be Pastor Dad

This week I came across a great resource by Mark Driscoll. You need to get and read this little book called Pastor Dad: Scriptural Insights on Fatherhood.

You can download the pdf file for free and print it off yourself or buy the book for $8 here.

You can also read the chapters only below – see table of contents.

Table of Contents Preface Chapter 1 Worshiping the God of Our Fathers Chapter 2 The Fruitful Vine Chapter 3 Cultivating Kids Chapter 4 The Masculine Duty to Provide Chapter 5 Instruction Followed by Correction Chapter 6 Protecting From Sin and Folly Chapter 7 Countering Culture

Sermon - MAN UP and Be MEN

Sunday was Father's Day and I preached to myself and to Grace Church giving the charge to men to "MAN UP"-- and fulfill the responsibility God has called them (us) to.

In the attempt to Man Up we face opposition from within (Douglas Wilson says its like riding up-hill because of our sinful nature) and from without -- the culture wreaks with the male-irresponsibility syndrome.

Here were my four points:

1. Man up and be Men of God.
2. Man up and be Men of the Word.
3. Man up and be Men of Responsibility.
4. Man up and be Men of Grace.

Here is the sermon audio -- "Man Up - A Father's Day Sermon."

I welcome your comments, criticisms, questions and suggestions.