No Pressure

A few reasons to take sermon preparation seriously. . .

No pressure...

Please don't think that we think the kids "have arrived",

they do "normal" stuff during the sermon too . . .

(Cole's team's record of wins and losses last season. 

Always handy to have there beside your sermon notes, for reference of course.)

Sometimes There Are Distractions. . .

I've been studying a bit at the kitchen table these days. Even in the midst of three wriggling kids "doing school" and a wriggling one year old "doing life" I'm able to get more done there than I'd ever have imagined.

Gretchen says I get so much accomplished because I have to concentrate so hard not to get distracted by the circus going on around me. She may have a point.

I've discovered, though, that there are some priceless benefits of distraction. . .

Hamburger 101

When in the course of family events it becomes necessary to make an emergency fast food run, the choice for our gang is usually McDonald's.  Gretchen and I, though fond of the sweet tea at this establishment, are usually disappointed, let down, and irritated by the quality of the burgers we receive in meager exchange for the dollars we fork over.

As we arrived in Myrtle Beach a few weeks ago, we drove by a Fuddruckers restaurant.  In our "married without children" days in Durham, NC we frequented this restaurant chain occasionally and remembered the hamburgers.  Hamburgers made with juicy beef.  Hamburgers made with lots of juicy beef on pillowy soft kaiser buns.  Don't even get me started about the melted cheese...

Pointing out the window at this wonderful hamburger joint, I told the kids that we'd be back...back to show them what a real hamburger looked and tasted like.  I told them that they'd never want another McDonald's burger again (wishful thinking I know).

Meg agreed.

Cole agreed.

Kate really agreed.

Molly, unable to get anyone to share a bit of their hamburger with her,

was forced to settle for some very big french fries.

Sorry McDonald's.  It was unanimous.  I'm building an imaginary Fuddrucker's next to my imaginary Chick-fil-A up at the Highlands!

Suggestions For Reading

Here are some tips on reading that I gleaned from Dr. Al Mohler, President of Southern Seminary in Louisville Kentucky.

1. Maintain Regular Reading Projects. (Develop different categories of reading)

2. Work through major sections of scripture.

3. Read all of the titles of some authors.

4. Get some large sets and read them through.

5. Allow yourself some fun reading, and learn how to enjoy reading by reading enjoyable books.

6. Write in your books. Mark them up and make them yours.

TV and Your Family

Josh Harris, pastor of Covenant Life Church in Maryland, has a great summary of a blog about TV watching and its affect upon the family. Click here to check it out.

The Pastor's Kids

Gretchen and I decided to take a poll among the children.

The big question was:

What's cool about being the "Pastor's Kids"?

1. We get to play for a long time after church while Dad talks to people.

2. We have a seemingly endless supply of chewing gum and band-aids.

3. We get invited to eat out alot.

4. Sometimes we get to travel with Dad to meetings and conferences.

5. We get lots of birthday cards.

6. We like cheesecake too!

7. "Is Ben C.'s daddy a pastor?"

"No."

"Good. I want to be in that family because they have more brothers there."

The Cure For Everything

I happen to believe that there is a cure for everything that "ails" you. What is that cure you ask? Is it tylenol? No. Is it cough syrup? No. Is it vick's save ? No, even though Gretchen's grandma would disagree. Is it windex? No, even though the father in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" would disagree. Aren't you dying of curiosity? Well, wait no longer. The cure for everything that ails you is ice cream!!!
After having a very stressful day, where nothing seemed to go right, I was preparing to conclude Wednesday evening Bible Study (well, we were almost done), when Gretchen came in to tell me that once again I had exceeded the specified time limit. Along with this announcement came an invitation from the children's director to join the children downstairs to for homemade ice cream, in honor of national ice cream week.
After visiting with several friends, I made my way to the fellowship hall to partake of this special opportunity.
It has been my experience that the whole world looks different after a great big bowl of ice cream!