Skip to main content

My Children...Disciples

I am just sitting in the library listening (well...half listening as I write a sermon) to the Exponential Conference online (it's a conference for people planting churches), and just heard this one little bit from Greg Nettle.

It is a convicting example, and maybe it's harsh and probably it's not the way I would have spoken it, but here is approximately what he said...then adapted it to my situation.
One day when I stand before God, I don't want to stand there and say to him, "God, look at what happened at Grace Point! People whose lives were destroyed received grace and love, people who needed hope, got it in you through what happened there.  Isn't it great?!" Only to have God say to me, "Yeah, but where are your kids? Where's Ben? Where's Hannah? Where's Owen?"
I don't know if he meant it as a guilt thing, but I am sitting in the library crying my eyes out.  Am I discipling my kids? Do I care more about the grace and hope that people gain at grace point then the grace and hope that is needed at home...I don't want that to be true.  And the wave of emotion I am feeling is indicating to me that there may be some truth to it.

I don't think I am taking it as a guilt thing, maybe more as a convicting thing, something that will lead me to be a better husband and Father.  I hope so.

I love my kids, and I don't intend to leave them with the leftovers, but so many times I am tired and worn out by the time they get my time.  Other times they are the ones who get neglected because I am busy with other people.  Other times, I just don't take the time to sit down with them and talk about what hope and grace God offers them...

It's not to devalue other people in my life...but just to value my family, the way they should be.

Where does this leave me?

I don't know, it's raw, and maybe shouldn't be broadcast on the internet...but I thought I needed to process this thought while it was fresh...and no one in the library seemed to be willing to comfort me and wipe my tears.  So, there it is...

Comments

Oldnag said…
You and me both. I spend so much time worrying about the people I work with and then I take my kids for granted. What do they need to see from me daily? More than what they are currently seeing. Not that my co-workers don't need Jesus, but as a father, my kids need to be more of a focus instead of an afterthought in this arena.
1:45 pm
Oldnag said…
My comment is only 8 months late - that's not so bad right?
1:46 pm
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Should I Bring Jesus to the Poor?

I met this young lady who works for an inner city organization that works with children. She has been working there for 10 years. She said one thing in particular that really struck me. She said, "I used to think that when I came to the inner city to work with these kids that I would bring Jesus to them, but when I got here and started working with them, I started to realize that Jesus was already here." It struck me because I think that we middle class people (not just Christians) think that we should go into the inner-city and "rescue" people from their situation. We often feel as though we have all the answers and they have everything wrong. Is it possible that it is the other way around? Is it possible that people who live on the streets...those who don't worry about tomorrow, those who are not obsessed with money or material possessions actually have something to teach us? I think so. So in response to the question, "Should I bring Jesus to the po...
2 comments
Read more

Broken Hand - And I didn't even hit anyone!

I have been absent from posting for a few weeks mostly for one reason. I broke my hand. I know, I know it is possible to type with one hand...but I found it incredibly frustrating to do so, I can't stand hunting and pecking! Especially with my left hand. How did I injure my hand? I am glad you asked, since I have only told the story about 1000 times in the last two weeks, so you are lucky number 1001. I was in Pinawa at some natural waterslides close to the old Pinawa Dam(n!). I was there with a bunch of youth leaders as part of a leadership retreat that we were doing. We were having a great time going down the rapids on the (relatively?!) smooth rocks for about 45 minutes. My friend Jason and I decided that it would be a great idea to go down on a tube, together. My friend Matt held the tube for us as we got on and released us down the rapids (I mention names here because there is a pending lawsuit, and I am still not sure who is at fault...Jason for rolling off the tube ...
6 comments
Read more

"Christian" Music

The whole idea of "Christian" music has bothered me lately. There is this whole industry that exists to produce and sell "Christian" music. It's as if the music itself could be Christian...I am pretty sure that music itself does not have a soul (well OK there is Soul music, but c'mon!). I prefer to think that music is just music, sometimes Christians play it, sing it or write it. What if Christians did not have the advantage of having Christian labels producing their music, or Christian radio stations playing their music and Christian book stores selling their music? I think it would be wonderful...I think there would be more "Christian" music on secular radio stations and in regular music stores. There would be Christian artists who are more prepared to be honest about their faith. There would be people outside the Christian circles who might be exposed to some good Christian artists (I think there are a couple of those!?). I think this would make...
4 comments
Read more