The Cross Is My Statue Of Liberty...

 I have been a fan of the Gaither's since I was in High School and my Friend Caleb introduced me to them.  I primarily listen to the Gaither Vocal Band.  However, one album that I like of Bill & Gloria's is their compilation of other artists joining them titled Freedom Band.  There is one song in particular that has been on my mind as we approach the 4th of July.  The song is Statue of Liberty sung by Ivan Parker.  Please read the lyrics below and then continue reading.

The song reminds us of the amazing freedom that we have in this amazing country.  But, it also reminds us that we experience a greater freedom as citizens of the Kingdom of God.  Lately there has been a lot of hulla-ballo about the Supreme Court ruling about health care and the upcoming Presidential elections.  However, no matter where you stand on the politics of of this Kingdom, I pray that all who belong to the Kingdom of God will stand in unity for Christ.  For the freedom gained to be a citizen of that Kingdom came at a much greater cost.

Depending on when Christ comes the United States of America may fall.  But no matter what the Kingdom of God will stand forever.  So I challenge you to celebrate this Independence Day not just for the freedom which we receive in this great nation, but also for the freedom we experience in the Greatest Kingdom!

Statue of Liberty

In New York Harbor stands a lady

With a torch raised to the sky

And all who see her know she stands for

Liberty for you and me

I'm so glad to be called an American

To be named with the brave and the free

I will honor our flag and our trust in God

And the Statue of Liberty

On lonely Golgotha stood a cross

With my Lord raised to the sky

And all who kneel there live forever

As all the saints can testify

I'm so glad to be called a Christian

To be named with the ransomed and whole

As the Statue liberates the citizen

So the cross liberates the soul

Oh the cross is my Statue of Liberty

It was there that my soul was set free

Unashamed I'll proclaim that a rugged cross

Is my Statue of Liberty

No lesson...That's O.K.

Recently I took the youth to Camp Impact.  There we had a great night where we played volleyball, a bunch of water games which included slip and slide kickball, ate a lot of food and had an overall good time.  However that wasn't everything that I had planned to do.  I had planned to teach a short devotional lesson to them while they were eating or just after.  Well, it wasn't until everyone had been picked up and I was about to leave after I had loaded everything in my car that I realized that I hadn't taught the lesson.

But, I wasn't that bummed that I forgot to do that.  The reason was that the night couldn't have been a bigger success.  I was reminded that sometimes we need to get together for the sole intent of enjoying one another's company.  Like anything in our lives we need balance.  Sometimes we just need to provide a safe environment for students to connect and have fun.  In doing this we do teach a valuable lesson.  The lesson is that they can have a good time where they can interact with other believers and enjoy one another's company without the assistance of drugs, sex, or alcohol. We will have plenty of other events this summer that have actual teaching time attached to them.

I'm currently looking forward to both a church wide movie night which will have a very brief challenge and to a youth only swim and study.  At the swim & study they will get an unspoken lesson again regarding modesty.  I have a rule that both girls and guys must wear shorts and a dark colored t-shirt in the pool.  Some may whine about it at first, but they quickly learn that they don't need to look 'sexy' to have fun swimming.

I guess this is all to say that in both church activities and in parenting it is about modeling how to live just as much as it is about having a great lesson.  You can't seperate the two.  If you do hypocrisy and double lives quickly follow.

1 + 1 = 1...or Jack + Jenny = Sophia

It's amazing how God has opened up my mind to different things now that He has blessed Jen & I with Sophia!  For instance, I've been reminded by Him that Sophia is the perfect illustration to point out Genesis 2:24 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Or, as I like to understand it 1 + 1 = 1.  If a husband and wife split than they are splitting their child in two.  Now many of you know that fact.  But, remember when there is turmoil in your relationship that there is inner turmoil in the heart of your child(ren).  For they see you fight and wonder what is wrong.  They want to experience peace and will do what it takes to find peace.  I believe that this is why some children take on the role of peace maker.  Because, if mom and dad aren't at peace than they can't have peace even if they don't fight in front of him/her.  A child can sense when mom & dad aren't happy with one another.  And the longer this goes on the worse it gets for the child.  That is part of the reason why I believe that God tells us, 

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:26–32, ESV)

Anger alone is not a sin.  It is how we express our anger that can lead to sin.  Especially fathers need to be on constant guard regarding how they express their anger to their wife and child(ren).  We need to be men that know how to build up.  It is easy to tear someone or something down.  But, it takes skill and patience to build up someone or something.  So I would like to encourage everyone, but especially fathers, to meditate on the final verse of this passage.  This is the key to saving not just the sacred relationship of husband & wife, but to having a home of peace and a child who is at peace knowing that mother and father are united.  That mother and father are one.  And as a result, that he/she is one.

One of the ways that I do this is that I sing hymns to Sophia.  I do this especially when she is fussy at 1 A.M. and I'm tired and all I want is a quiet baby and to fall asleep or when she decides to make the changing table into a slip and slide while trying to change her diaper. -- I find that when I sing these songs to her that it often soothes her.  Even when it doesn't help her much it calms my spirit and helps me to be at peace.  The lyrics refocus me on God and not the current situation.  For if I focus on God, He reminds me that this to shall pass and that I can find joy in any situation...even a slip and slide changing table.

Mothers, Jenny takes time when she is feeding Sophia to pray to God and just spend time with Him.  It is during these times that she takes advantage of to find strength in Him.  You can do it at almost any time.  The important thing is that you do it.  When she is resting we tell one another about the time we spend with God and in so encourage one another.  These are all different ways to fill your home with the Spirit of God and the peace which He offers us.  If you and I do this, then we won't have to worry about 1 + 1 = 1/2 & 1/2