No Wieners!

Have you ever said to someone;
‘Hey Yeah, I’ll be there...’
‘I’ll pray for you…’
‘That’s tough, I know exactly what you mean…’


When you really have no intention of going, forget that you said you’d pray, or have no clue what someone else might be going through? Why do we feel the need to put up a good front, to wear a mask that really is quite different from what we feel and think, or minimize what others are experiencing by comparing it to our own circumstances?



Do we really think that God is going to reward us for fakery? Or have we gone so far as to deceive ourselves into thinking that we actually will follow through, when our past actions tell us otherwise?
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. – James 1: 22-26 (NIV) (formatting for emphasis)



What does keeping a tight rein on our tongue look like? I mean, I don’t swear, I don’t gossip, I don’t take God’s name in vain, so I am obeying this right?



How about keeping your word?

How about not telling white lies?

How about following through when you say you'll do something?

What do those around us think of our Faith and our God when our actions don't live up to what we say?



"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out....In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13.., 16)


I think it's sometimes more important to practice what we preach, than preach at all. If your words don't match your actions, you are not only not fooling those that are watching you (you know they are, right?) but even worse, you're fooling yourself...

I listened to a podcast a while back by C. Swindol who confessed that he struggled with this - that he often told people that we would pray for them, but then neglected to follow through. He was convicted that when someone asked, he would pray for them then and there, rather than tell them he would and forget later.

I have made the decision that I will let my yes be yes, my no be no, and instead of trying to be everything to everybody.... to be real... to be honest with my own heart, my God, and myself
and quit being a wiener.

Think right, choose right

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.

Think right..... Choose right.....

I've made a few choices at the start of the new year, decisions that I have come to that I believe will help me to grow as a father, a husband, a brother and a leader.

Looking back over 2009, I can honestly say it has been a wonderful year, and that I have been truly blessed and fortunate in life... But at the same time I ended the year with a sense that there are areas that I know require greater discipline, narrower focus, and increased dilligence.

One area is my physical health:

Though not overweight or unhealthy, I have never had a routine workout plan or been very careful in my eating habits. In the past I have rationalized that because I enjoy golf, snowboarding, softball, and frisbee, and because I work hard, that in some way I was exempt from the need to have any strutured excercise routine. However, I've noticed that keeping up with my two and eight year old kids is not as easy as it should be, and through the house remodel this fall there were many mornings I rolled out of bed in the morning wondering who had beaten me all through the night. ( of course some of this should be chalked up to my birthdate...) In any case, I have been convicted to be a better caretaker of this temple... And went and purchased a gym membership.
Now I know that a whole lot of people do this at the start of a new year, but I don't know how many blog about it, so anyone reading my thoughts here can now hold me accountable!

Accountability is the second thing:

A bunch of the guys that I am connected to meet every two weeks early on a Sarurday morning for coffee and fellowship. It has taken some time to build our relationships to the point where we can be open and honest with each other, but I can't think of anything in the natural that we as men that is more important to spiritual health and strength. Think about it, when the diciples were sent out, Jesus sent them two by two. David through all the struggles he had before reaching his throne had Jonathan, Moses had Aaron, Paul didn't travel alone, but had Timothy or Silas or one of the other diciples travel with Him. Every guy should have someone that has his cell number, that he can call at any time of night, that knows what struggles he faces, that he can meet with for prayer and encouragement. My second decision is to be a better accountability partner, and not only because I need it in my life, but because I owe it to my friend and his family to be available and purposeful in our relationship.

Spiritual health:

Pro 24:6 '...For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.'

More good books, more Bible, and more questions answered. I asked one of the the older, more experienced guys in my church if he would meet with me answer some questions, to be the Paul to my Timothy, and help me understand how to be a better father and husband. If you want advice on life, find someone who has been doing it awhile, someone who is respected and willing to point you in the right direction when you have things you need to unlearn and help to keep your feet to the fire.

I need to read some more good books, memorize more scripture, do more of what I hear and less of what has consumed my past.

Resolutions get forgotten...
.... Priorities change..

I want this year to be different, and the end see me closer to my savior, a more loving husband and father, and with the knowledge to make good chioces at the right time.

If knowledge is knowing what do to, then wisdom is knowing the right time to do it.

Are you a farmer?

Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you..... Our future harvest will only come if we plow the ground.