Parents & Kids of Faith

Posted by Pastor George

Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Gospel Alphabet by Timothy Keller

I is for Intimacy

Through the Gospel we are invited into a living relationship with the living God.  In the love proclaimed at the heart of the Gospel God has adopted us into his family.  “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are” (1 John 3:1).  The Holy Spirit empowers us to believe the Good News and is sent into our hearts, enabling us to cry, “Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6).  Rehearsing the Gospel in our worship, teaching, preaching, fellowship, and service helps us to nurture and celebrate this unfathomably intimate relationship.

SOME LESSONS LEARNED BY MY 8 GRANDSONS IN 2011

No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.

If your brother hits you, don't hit him back. They always catch the second person.

Never ask your 4-year old brother to hold a tomato.

You can't trust dogs to watch your food.

Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a Tic-Tac.

Never hold a dustbuster and a cat at the same time.

You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

Baseballs make marks on ceilings

You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on

When using the ceiling fan as a bat you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit

A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

The glass in windows (even double pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan

When you hear the toilet flush and the words "Uh-oh," it's already too late

Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it

A six year old can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 38 year old man says they can only do it in the movies

A magnifying glass can start a fire even on an overcast day

Legos will pass through the digestive tract of a four year old

Play Dough and Microwave should never be used in the same sentence

Super glue is forever

Garbage bags do not make good parachutes

Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving

You probably do not want to know what that odor is

Always look in the oven before you turn it on

Plastic toys do not like ovens

The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earth worms dizzy

It will however make cats dizzy

Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy

The best place to be when you are sad is in Grandpa's lap.

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Parents & Kids of Faith

Posted by Pastor George

Thursday, December 22, 2011

The Gospel Alphabet by Timothy Keller

H is for Hope

We focus on the Gospel also because it is the source of our hope. In face of the brokenness that fills the world around us and rises up within our hearts, what hope do we have? Apart from the Gospel we have none. But in the Gospel is a great and steadfast hope, and from this hopes springs forth faith and love sufficient for each day (Col. 1:5). Diminished “Gospels” may promote, on the one hand, easy believism or, on the other hand, may put the burden of salvation back on human shoulders rather than locating and leaving it in the hand of God. These deviations can offer no certain hope. The glorious Gospel is a blessed hope indeed (Titus 2:13), an anchor for the soul (Heb. 6:19). Christ in us is the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). This is the hope held out in the Gospel (Col. 1:23). With such a hope fixed within our hearts– based upon the certainty that God has made us his children and the confidence that we will be with Christ and like him forever– we long for and labor toward becoming more like him even now (1 John 3:1-3).


WHY I ALWAYS HATED THE GIFTS WITH THE WORDS, "SOME ASSEBLY REQUIRED"

’Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house
I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse.
Instructions were studied and we were inspired,
In hopes we could manage “Some Assembly Required.”

The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds,
While Deb and I faced the evening with dread:
A kitchen, two bikes, Barbie’s town house to boot!
And, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!

We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat....
Let no parts be missing or parts incomplete!
Too late for last-minute returns or replacement;
If we can’t get it right, it goes in the basement!

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Parents & Kids of Faith

Posted by Pastor George

Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Gospel Alphabet by Timothy Keller

G is for Grace
We need to continually learn and teach the Gospel because Gospel-centricity assures and propels us toward grace-centricity. When we swerve from the Gospel we lapse into either antinomianism (the moral law is of no use) or legalism (the moral law is necessary for salvation). Neither can offer the true beauty or savor of Christ. To be in the presence of individuals or congregations who are not grace-centered is enervating and exasperating. Let us then learn and relearn the glorious Gospel that we may ever stand fast in the true grace of God (1 Peter 5:12) and may indeed “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forevermore. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).


WATCH OUT FOR THIS OLD LADY!
(Maybe this really happened)

This past week I thought I would get a jump on my Christmas shopping and headed to one of the large department stores in town. As I was walking through the store and picking up a few items to get the grandboys, I noticed an old lady following me around. Thinking nothing of it, I ignored her and continued on.

Finally I went to the checkout line, but she got in front of me. "Pardon me," she said, "I'm sorry if my staring at you has made you feel uncomfortable. It's just that you look just like my son, who just died recently."

"I'm very sorry," I replied "is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yes," she said, "As I'm leaving, can you say 'Good bye, Mother'? It would make me feel so much better."

"Sure," I answered.

As the old woman was leaving, I called out, "Goodbye, Mother!"

Then, as I stepped up to the checkout counter, I saw that my total was $227.50.

"How can that be?" I asked, "I only purchased a few things!"

"Your mother said that you would pay for her," said the clerk.


CHILDREN'S CHURCH OR THE FAMILY TOGETHER FOR WORSHIP?
As was announced this past week, starting January 8 we will be offering The Praise Factory as a children’s church program for children in Kindergarten through second grade during the 10:15-11:30 worship service time. I want to explain what this means to families of Faith Bible Church.

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Parents & Kids of Faith

Posted by Pastor George

Friday, December 9, 2011

The Gospel Alphabet by Timothy Keller

F is for Fidelity
Faithfulness to the true Gospel calls for ongoing study and obedience. It calls as well for watchfulness, lest false Gospels be introduced. The battle against counterfeit gospels has always been part of church life. Even in the first century Paul battled against such, as did Peter and Jude and John. Like Paul we must be resolved that we will tolerate no other “Gospel,” even if it comes from a heavenly angel or springs from our own imperfectly sanctified hearts, and we should expect the same fidelity from those with whom and to whom we minister (Gal. 1:6-9). Only a constant learning and reviewing of the Gospel can ensure that we will be astute to separate the chaff from the wheat.


A MOM'S LETTER TO SANTA

Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned, and cuddled my two children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground, and figured out how to attach nine patches onto my daughter's girl scout sash with staples and a glue gun.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find any more free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

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Parents & Kids of Faith

Posted by Pastor George

Thursday, December 1, 2011

The Gospel Alphabet by Timothy Keller

E is for Evangelism
The Gospel is food for believers. But it is also the only saving medicine for those who have not yet believed. And we are compelled by the love of Christ to declare this Good News to all people. St. Francis of Assissi told his friars not to preach unless they had permission to do so. But, he added, “Let all the brothers, however, preach by their deeds.” Francis’s words have often been paraphrased along these lines: “Preach the Gospel always; use words when necessary.” The fact is that words are necessary, every time. We are always witnesses to the Gospel (Acts 1:8) and, as witnesses, we shall be called upon to testify. When we are, we must be sure to get the message of the Gospel right for there are many counterfeit “Gospels” in the world.


MY SUGGESTION TO WIVES ON WHAT TO BUY AND WHAT NOT TO BUY FOR THEIR HUSBANDS

Buying gifts for men is not nearly as complicated as it is for women. Follow these rules and you should have no problems.

Rule #1:
When in doubt - buy him a cordless drill. It does not matter if he already has one. I own 17 and have yet to complain. As a man, you can never have too many cordless drills. No one knows why.

Rule #2:
If you cannot afford a cordless drill, buy him anything with the word ratchet or socket in it. Men love saying those two words. "Hey George, can I borrow your ratchet?" "OK. By-the way, are you through with my 3/8-inch socket yet?" Again, no one knows why.

Rule #3:
If you are really broke, buy him anything for his car, a 99 cent ice scraper, a small bottle of de-icer or something to hang from his rear view mirror. Men love gifts for their cars. No one knows why.

Rule #4:
Never buy men bathrobes. Once I was told that if God had wanted men to wear bathrobes, he wouldn't have invented Jockey shorts.

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