God created men to lead their families. He also created and called them to lay their lives down for their wives and children. In losing our life, we find our life. In dying we bear fruit. Join us for this sober, yet hopeful, call to be crucified with Christ.

We are affected by the direction of our country and the people who are leading it. We sigh and groan over the destruction of babies in their mother’s womb. We mourn and we are poor in spirit, but, we do not lose hope. For our hope is not in man or what we see, our hope is in God, who never changes.

If I could get in a time machine, or travel though the Imagination Station at Whit’s End, I would like be with Cleopas and his friend on the road to Emmaus when Jesus pointed out all the places where His coming and crucifixion were foreshadowed.

“Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27) With this passage in mind, I often ask the Spirit to reveal Jesus to me, as I read through the Old Testament.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,” (John 5:39)

“This is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

This principle of praying according to the will of God is beautifully applied in the life of Daniel. He had been studying the writings of Jeremiah the prophet and discerned the time of the Captivity was coming to an end. He then prayed that what God had professed would indeed come to pass. As you read through these inspired passages, notice how Daniel discerned the will of God and then prayed until it became a reality.

Steve invited a guest, Lisa Mays, who is a participant in the inaugural Trek to Jerusalem which encourages personal bible reading. As part of the team, Lisa had posted a question about what to do when confronted with puzzling passages in Isaiah. Scripture says that every joint or part of the body, contributes to the whole body. Join Steve, Lisa, and Scott as they share insights and mine the wealth of Isaiah.

Steve invited a guest, Lisa Mays, who is a participant in the inaugural Trek to Jerusalem which encourages personal bible reading. As part of the team, Lisa had posted a question about what to do when confronted with puzzling passages in Isaiah. Scripture says that every joint or part of the body, contributes to the whole body. Join Steve, Lisa, and Scott as they share insights and mine the wealth of Isaiah.

I would love to see churches that recognize that parents are called of God to disciple their children. I dream of the day when the church supports parents without supplanting them. This culture begins in the way mom and dad honor each other. In this episode we will be considering ways that we can have a spirit of honoring an esteeming one another highly in the bosom of our family and then see this attitude seep into the church.

There are many specific ways to love our children as we have each been loved, as children of God. I have addressed them in previous chapters. With the help of God, we seek to be meek, gentle, approachable, and encouraging. We want to possess the heart of a foot-washing servant and look to build up our kids, by teaching them, praying for them, and modeling the word of God. Another way that God has ordained for us to bless our children is not a strategy or a specific practice, but an invisible attitude.

In the ten commandments, there is one that Paul says is the first commandment to be accompanied by a promise. It is the fifth command, directed to children, about their attitude towards their parents. “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 5:16.

The concept of honoring another frail human is not natural. In our carnal natures, we are not inclined to honor others. We want to be honored and recognized, instead of giving honor to another. One of the best examples of someone giving honor to another is the young shepherd David honoring the first king of Israel, Saul.

I have been busy writing books this winter. I listened to a broadcast by Elisabeth Elliot recently where she told the audience they would probably only remember one or two things she said, but her books were on the back table.

The books I am writing are to provide follow through to talks I have given at conferences. Each book may be used for personal follow through, as a resource for a small group, or study material with you and your spouse.

I could use some help. The books have been edited and I need a couple more sets of eyes. If you would like to read a manuscript and provide me some feedback I will make it worth your time by gifting you a complimentary copy of each book when they are released later this spring. Email me if you are interested [email protected].

I had the privilege to attend a three day event for Men’s Ministry leaders. In this episode I will be sharing the overflow of the encouragement we all received. I learned how Bobby richardson, second baseman for the Yankees led Mickey Mantel to Christ. I met Guy Penrod of the Gaither band who has 8 children. Stephen Kendrick and Dennis Rainey also were present. I hope you will be as blessed as I was listening to what God is doing.