Sunday, January 17, 2010
Book Review : Living Life in the Zone : A 40-Day Spiritual Game Plan by Kyle Rote Jr. & Dr. Joe Pettigrew
Living Life in the Zone is an easy to read book that provides short snippets of encouragement and challenges to men in a number of aspects of daily living. These are provided as short chapters utilizing various sports analogies and terms that should make the information easily relatable and readable for many men. For those who are put off by the thought of a heavy study in theology, yet recognize their need for personal spiritual growth, this book may fit their needs and may even provide a spring board for further study, prayer and growth.
Though I am not a sports fan, or male, I find that the regular format used for each chapter will really help to draw in many men who otherwise would not pick up a non-fiction book. Most chapters are about 6-8 pages in length and provide an appropriate introduction to each topic followed by scripture to support the message, examples from other lives (mostly prominent sports figures) and personal challenges for further introspection.
When first provided with the opportunity to read this book, courtesy of Thomas Nelson’s BookSneeze review program, my initial reaction was that it would be a book filled with little more than words on paper. However, I have come to find great value in this book and believe it has a purpose that could serve to minister to the hearts of many men. My prayer is that it would speak to men in such a way as to inspire them towards further study and growth with their Lord. In fact, I hope that it will be made available in an affordable audio CD solution so that those who are resistant to reading or strained for time will be able to benefit from the guidance and direction offered by Mr. Rote and Dr. Pettigrew.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Finding Balance : Goals vs Expectations
One of the wisest things I think I have ever read from somewhere other than the Bible was (I think) from Teri Maxwell in her book "Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit". She was talking about training our children and she talked about how our expectations should not be the same as our goals. Our expectations are what we expect out of our children as they are trained towards the goals. Whoa. That really hit home for me.
I am a driven person and often feel like everything within my children is intent on fighting against me in achieving and accomplishing what I want done. (oops, doesn't sound too good does it?) I have high expectations for them in many areas of life, often too high. They are too high when those expectations are at the same height as my goals for them and thus become unrealistic. Don't they need room to grow from, for example, having no idea how to clean a room to keeping it tidy and organized? Isn't there a learning process that involves failure and trying again? Somehow I too often forget that they are human and sinful, that they are children and maturing, and that they need lots and lots of training to reach a goal. More than anything, I forget that they need grace from me, just as I receive it from the Lord. This occurs on a daily basis. May I do the same for my children.
It's a tough balancing act isn't it? Discipline, training, grace...parenting. Phew. In a constant desire to find balance I find myself swinging from one end to another, but to remain in the middle would be to become stagnant.
Oh Lord, please help me to more patient and to wisely discern proper expectations for my children as I train them towards wisely discerned goals in all aspects of life. Help me to show firmness and swift action when necessary and grace and forgiveness when appropriate. May my children learn more about you as I live my life to glorify You. - Amen
I am a driven person and often feel like everything within my children is intent on fighting against me in achieving and accomplishing what I want done. (oops, doesn't sound too good does it?) I have high expectations for them in many areas of life, often too high. They are too high when those expectations are at the same height as my goals for them and thus become unrealistic. Don't they need room to grow from, for example, having no idea how to clean a room to keeping it tidy and organized? Isn't there a learning process that involves failure and trying again? Somehow I too often forget that they are human and sinful, that they are children and maturing, and that they need lots and lots of training to reach a goal. More than anything, I forget that they need grace from me, just as I receive it from the Lord. This occurs on a daily basis. May I do the same for my children.
It's a tough balancing act isn't it? Discipline, training, grace...parenting. Phew. In a constant desire to find balance I find myself swinging from one end to another, but to remain in the middle would be to become stagnant.
Oh Lord, please help me to more patient and to wisely discern proper expectations for my children as I train them towards wisely discerned goals in all aspects of life. Help me to show firmness and swift action when necessary and grace and forgiveness when appropriate. May my children learn more about you as I live my life to glorify You. - Amen
Monday, January 4, 2010
Our Christmas & New Year's Vacation (at home)
There are so many times I have all these great ideas to blog and by the time I can sit in front of the computer, POOF, those squirrely ideas have wandered off into the great abyss. Rarely do any land on a shelf and wait for possible rescue. In fact there are about six on a shelf now that are nearly ready to dive farther into the deep unknown never to be retreived again. Sigh...
Perhaps I can at least take a a few minutes to share some of the highlights of the last couple of weeks, beginning with Christmas. We didn't have family in town and we weren't to have my step-son, Christian, until noon the day after Christmas. I was really thankful to be home and relaxing with the family on Christmas Day. We had invited others to join us but none of them could attend. So, we still had a large breakfast of crust less quiche (oh my goodness...truly the finest breakfast I have ever had) and sticky buns. I managed a full turkey dinner with parmesan mashed potatoes, green beans roasted with olive oil and seasoning, home made stuffing and gravy. Yum!
The children requested that gifts arrive Christmas morning despite the fact that they couldn't open them for a day and a half. Tanner and Riley were up before 5 AM taking a look and cuddling up near the tree and fireplace in a blanket. The children knew they could open stockings once everyone was up. Daimeian and I got up around 6 and woke up Liana so the boys wouldn't have to wait any longer. Liana and Riley were each given a requested Webkinz in their stocking. Riley's was a clown fish. As he held his stocking with the fish sticking out of it, he proclaimed "I got a clownfish!!" He then immediately proceeded to look into the eyes of the fish and in a much deeper voice commanded the fish... "Tell me a joke." Of course we all laughed pretty hard.
On Christmas Day Daimeian had to drive to San Antonio to pick up Christian. The children were all very ready to open gifts as soon as he got here. I think the most memorable moment for me was when Riley gave Liana his present. He had it under the tree for a couple of weeks already and was so proud of it. I had previously let Liana know that it was something he came up with all on his own and not to expect too much. She did such a great job in her reaction. At first she looked with a scrunched up face, "What in the world?". Then she pulled out a black plastic hangar and a stick and was still confused. Riley replied in all seriousness, "What? It's a bow and arrow." Another moment with plenty of family laughter. :) I love that.
A couple days later we all headed to Goldthwaite to spend time with our friends in their beautiful family cabin. We love hanging out with them and we love going to the cabin! Tyler came with a friend for the first night and then they left. Tanner had a friend with us and Liana and Riley play constantly with our friend's daughters. Daimeian and Christian were set on hunting a deer and I enjoyed time to read, clean out email on my laptop and just relax.
After three nights and sights on several deer, the guys still hadn't gotten a good shot. We thought about leaving Friday night but they wanted to try one more time Saturday morning. Christian shot one around 7 AM and they tracked it for SIX hours! Finally, the guys all came in and ate and rested a bit then Daimeian and Christian went back out. We had been packed and ready to go for awhile now inside the cabin, waiting for the guys to be done while the guys waited for a deer. I'd been praying every day for a the guys to get at least one deer. The whole time I had this feeling that God was going to show Himself in control in some way. I prayed that God would use the experience to speak to my boys, even if we didn't come home with a deer.
In the deer blind Daimeian and Christian prayed around 5 PM for a deer. A few minutes later they saw a baby doe. They chuckled and someone stated that that must be God's sense of humor. Christian urged D' to pray more specifically. So they did and only a few minutes after that came the perfect deer for them! Christian shot it in the heart and it was down quickly. This was at 6:05 PM and it was already getting dark. We still needed it loaded in the car and I had had the car packed already, including our coolers full of food and other items and at the bottom of everything. The guys gutted it in the dark and Tanner and I rearranged the packing to fit the deer in a cooler. We were on our way out from the cabin just after 8 PM!
On the way home Christian asked Daimeian, "Where did that deer come from anyway?" As usual, the child we don't give thought to as being one to pay attention (Riley), speaks up and answers for Daimeian. "Heaven."
Perhaps I can at least take a a few minutes to share some of the highlights of the last couple of weeks, beginning with Christmas. We didn't have family in town and we weren't to have my step-son, Christian, until noon the day after Christmas. I was really thankful to be home and relaxing with the family on Christmas Day. We had invited others to join us but none of them could attend. So, we still had a large breakfast of crust less quiche (oh my goodness...truly the finest breakfast I have ever had) and sticky buns. I managed a full turkey dinner with parmesan mashed potatoes, green beans roasted with olive oil and seasoning, home made stuffing and gravy. Yum!
The children requested that gifts arrive Christmas morning despite the fact that they couldn't open them for a day and a half. Tanner and Riley were up before 5 AM taking a look and cuddling up near the tree and fireplace in a blanket. The children knew they could open stockings once everyone was up. Daimeian and I got up around 6 and woke up Liana so the boys wouldn't have to wait any longer. Liana and Riley were each given a requested Webkinz in their stocking. Riley's was a clown fish. As he held his stocking with the fish sticking out of it, he proclaimed "I got a clownfish!!" He then immediately proceeded to look into the eyes of the fish and in a much deeper voice commanded the fish... "Tell me a joke." Of course we all laughed pretty hard.
On Christmas Day Daimeian had to drive to San Antonio to pick up Christian. The children were all very ready to open gifts as soon as he got here. I think the most memorable moment for me was when Riley gave Liana his present. He had it under the tree for a couple of weeks already and was so proud of it. I had previously let Liana know that it was something he came up with all on his own and not to expect too much. She did such a great job in her reaction. At first she looked with a scrunched up face, "What in the world?". Then she pulled out a black plastic hangar and a stick and was still confused. Riley replied in all seriousness, "What? It's a bow and arrow." Another moment with plenty of family laughter. :) I love that.
A couple days later we all headed to Goldthwaite to spend time with our friends in their beautiful family cabin. We love hanging out with them and we love going to the cabin! Tyler came with a friend for the first night and then they left. Tanner had a friend with us and Liana and Riley play constantly with our friend's daughters. Daimeian and Christian were set on hunting a deer and I enjoyed time to read, clean out email on my laptop and just relax.
After three nights and sights on several deer, the guys still hadn't gotten a good shot. We thought about leaving Friday night but they wanted to try one more time Saturday morning. Christian shot one around 7 AM and they tracked it for SIX hours! Finally, the guys all came in and ate and rested a bit then Daimeian and Christian went back out. We had been packed and ready to go for awhile now inside the cabin, waiting for the guys to be done while the guys waited for a deer. I'd been praying every day for a the guys to get at least one deer. The whole time I had this feeling that God was going to show Himself in control in some way. I prayed that God would use the experience to speak to my boys, even if we didn't come home with a deer.
In the deer blind Daimeian and Christian prayed around 5 PM for a deer. A few minutes later they saw a baby doe. They chuckled and someone stated that that must be God's sense of humor. Christian urged D' to pray more specifically. So they did and only a few minutes after that came the perfect deer for them! Christian shot it in the heart and it was down quickly. This was at 6:05 PM and it was already getting dark. We still needed it loaded in the car and I had had the car packed already, including our coolers full of food and other items and at the bottom of everything. The guys gutted it in the dark and Tanner and I rearranged the packing to fit the deer in a cooler. We were on our way out from the cabin just after 8 PM!
On the way home Christian asked Daimeian, "Where did that deer come from anyway?" As usual, the child we don't give thought to as being one to pay attention (Riley), speaks up and answers for Daimeian. "Heaven."
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