The Experts Say (Only for the fathers of girls.)
(This is something I wrote for Kai, my ten year old daughter, while I was on my way to Israel…so guys who don’t have daughters, you’re dismissed until the next topic…) How long does it take to become an expert? The experts say it takes 7-10 years and 50,000 “chunks” of new knowledge. You can’t paint a picture in Sunday School class, sit around and in 7 years call yourself an expert. You have to gain new knowledge and continue to gather this new knowledge everyday for 7 years. Many of your friends will appear to be experts at many …
A Word to Fathers about their Daughter's Clothes
I started working on an article today based on Paul’s words to Timothy in regarding how women should dress. I came across this incredible word to fathers on C.J. Mahaney’s blog. Dads, I want to urge you to take responsibility for your daughters’ dress. Fathers are absolutely essential to the cultivation of modesty. When a young lady dresses immodestly, it usually means her father has failed to lead, care for and protect her. Without a father’s care and protection, she may be daily exposed to the lustful minds of men. My three daughters are grown and married now, but from …
Work Life Balance
This weekend my son, Noah, was playing with some of his K’Nex (I think that is how you spell it.) After about 30 minutes he had to show me his contraption. He had made a spoke and wheel and then put it on an axle. He then began to spin its fast as he could. (Here is an example of the K’Nex Coaster that may help you visualize what I am saying: http://www.knex.com/Shop/media_viewer_2.php?n=Ferris%20Coaster%20Help% 202&v=ferrisCoaster2final.wmv ) I suggested that he take one of the spokes off of the wheel to see how it would spin. It didn’t really spin, but instead …
Shift Happens
After visiting Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, after reading The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman and after watching the video below titled “Shift Happens”, I was trying to digest a paradigm shift that was happening in me. One afternoon, I was driving down the road with my family in my Suburban and while stopped at a traffic light, I turned to my three oldest children (Kai, Avery and Noah) who were sitting behind me and I said: “Guys, school is important. There are kids in India and China right now that are studying …
Life Plan
When I was in my late twenties, I almost ruined my life. No, I wasn’t on drugs. I didn’t have a drinking problem. I wasn’t addicted to golf. I was trying to do too much. I had just gotten out of law school, was practicing law, was an adjunct professor at several colleges, making major improvements on my first house, celebrating the arrival our first child, teaching Sunday School, serving on several committees at church and running for School Board. I was trying to live my life…in one year. My wife finally pulled me …
Blocking Sled
When I was in 7th grade, I was a bit overweight so when it came to playing football, they put me on the offensive line. Actually, I was a left guard. I really didn’t think I belonged there. I hated blocking and playing “bit parts” in the success of the team. I also hated the blocking sled. Most people know what a blocking sled is, but if you don’t, its just a bunch of metal that is on a “skid” platform that lineman “hit” and push in order to practice their skill. (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YL0o-kjEGA) Notice I said skill because that’s …
My Worst Fear is a Movie
You may not know this, but my worst fear is a movie. I get to heaven and God sits me on a couch. He gives me a Coke and some popcorn and says “Watch this”. The movie I watch lasts for four hours, but it seems like it only lasts 15 minutes. There’s action and adventure, romance and comedy, and ethical dilemmas all wrapped up into the best movie I’ve ever seen. The leading man is making all the right decisions and all the right choices. Its the best of every movie I’ve ever seen in my life all wrapped …
The Importance of Christ-Centered Bedtime Stories
Every night I am home, when it is time for the kids to go to bed, I am the one ‘chosen’ by them for the job of tucking them in, and the same question is always asked during our bedtime routine, “Daddy, will you tell us a story?” I love telling the kids stories. Sometimes I fall asleep while I am laying on the floor telling them. I know this happens because I mumble my way through the story, floating in and out of consciousness, before accidentally ending with the word “Amen” instead of “the end.” To which Jacob promptly …
diamonds and a bb gun
In spite of what you hear on TV commercials … diamonds are not forever. Neither is a bb gun. When I was 8 years old all I could think of was a Daisy Air Rifle … my very own bb gun. I saw pictures of one in magazines and watched television ads promoting “my gun” between Saturday morning cartoons. I had to have one … “please God, let this happen this Christmas” was my prayer. And it did. A few months later I left this “can’t live without” Christmas gift outside in the rain. It had lost it’s value. Life …
where to go … what to do ?"
I have watched men and women of all ages … including teenagers … struggle with direction. They have doubts, questions, and even pre-conceived ideas about life issues. Every now and then someone asks me for advice. I soon discover that my thoughts and opinions are pretty much worthless. Oh sure God has allowed me to go through some rather ugly circumstances … and has brought me out a changed man. But actually the best counseling advice I have to offer can be summed up in two thoughts: “Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” …
