London Gold!

The London Olympics proved to be golden for the American Olympic athletes. The United States not only won the overal medal count ... but in doing so amassed more gold medals than any other country. The US team especially shined in the pool and on the track. But one small country was able to outshine the American men on the track in the sprints ... and that was the country of Jamaica, led by three-gold medal winner Usain Bolt (whose last name is so very appropriate given this guy's speed!). Usain not only won the individual 100 meter and 200 meter sprints ... he won them handily. It wasn't even close! After anchoring the winning 4x100 relay for Jamaica ... he declared himself  "a living legend."

When I heard that ... I winced. Not because I disagree with his assessment. In my opinion and in the opinion of many others, he is indeed the greatest sprinter of all time. But if I could speak to Usain this is what I would tell him: "Usain, you might very well be a living legend, but let OTHERS say it!" When Usain (or anyone else for that matter) goes around blowing their horn ... celebrating themselves .... putting themselves on a pedestal  ... what does that communicate about them?  Doesn't take a college degree to answer that!

The Old Testament book of Proverbs offers up a lot of wisdom. Among its wisdom sayings is this helpful advice: "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips" (Proverbs 27:2), 

So Usain ... you may indeed be a living legend ... but let someone else put that tag on you. It wears better that way! 

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Back from the Beach!

Every summer we take a "family" vacation to the beach. "Family" means my wife and me, our adult children and their spouses ... and of course, the grandkids. Each summer gets a bit more challenging, especially packing all the baby/toddler gear needed and, once arriving, deciding who is going to sleep where! With 8 adults, one tweenager and four little ones age three and under ... it does get interesting!

Many people asked me this past Sunday if I enjoyed my vacation. Yep! Hands down a great time was had by all (I am guessing that is true of four-month old Molly as she is not up to talking much yet!). Almost two year old Jack kept saying "beach" every time we got in the car and 14 month old Nolan couldn't figure out how to catch a sea gull (though he never gave up trying!). Three year old Ella laughed and giggled on the rides at the boardwalk ... and tweener Nathan just loved it all (as did all of us adults)!

But I must admit that even though my mind is full of pleasant memories ... my body is half empty of its normal energy. Even though the week was a boatload of fun ... it was tiring. Perhaps it's because I am getting older ... or maybe it's just living with 13 people - including 4 little ones - for a week under one roof.  I sure am glad  that I have a year to rest up before our next family vacation!

One of my takeaways from the week is the importance of our relationships. And if these relationships are to be the kind of relationships God designed them to be ... then we must invest in them. And that is just what my family did down at Bethany Beach. Living, loving, laughing together --- I love you, family!!!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Beyond Saying, "I Do!"

I published this posting back on June 30th. Given that I have another wedding tomorrow AND given all the media attention on the topic of marriage (thank you, Dan Cathay, for your stand for traditional marriage - if you have not yet done so, go support his right to speak his opinion by eating at one of his Chick-fil-A restaurants!), I thought it appropriate to re-post these thoughts on marriage.

Today on my calendar I have marked the word "wedding rehearsal." Yep. I get to officiate another wedding tomorrow ... something I have enjoyed doing a few times across the course of the past thirty years.

Marriage has been in the news a lot in recent months ... especially since our president has come out in support of gay marriage. There has been a lot of discussion about marriage and what it is and who it is for. So ... here are a couple of thoughts on the issue.

- Marriage is a gift ... a gift from the God who made us and who knows what is best for us. He knows that for the vast majority of us, it is in our best interest that we be married (see Genesis 2:18-24). 


- Marriage is to be between a man and a woman. From the beginning, marriage was designed by God be a one man ... one woman relationship (see also Matthew 19:4-9). 


- Marriage is also to be life-long. Jesus makes it clear in the Matthew 19 passage that marriage that from the get-go, God clearly intends that people marry for life.


Now ... I could say more, but based on what I have said above, here are some implications for all of us who claim to follow Jesus! 


1. We must take a stand for traditional marriage. The term "gay marriage" is actually a contradiction in terms. A gay marriage may be a relationship ... even a civil union ... but it is not a marriage (at least not in biblical terms).

2. We must take just as strong (if not stronger) stand on the permanency of marriage. Far too many Christians have adopted our society's view of marriage ... that it is more than a "going steady" relationship ... but not much more. Therefore, when things aren't working out in the marriage ... it's time to be getting out of the marriage.

3. We must treat our spouse as a gift from God to us. When you start thinking about one another in these terms ... it has a way of changing the relationship .... for the better!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Thursday A La Carte

Here is this week's "vacation" version of "Thursday A La Carte." 

1. Randy Alcorn writes about his father's conversion to Christ at the age of 84. Praise God, it's never too late for God's grace to break even the hardest of hearts! 

2. Here is a powerful post from a survivor of the Colorado movie theater massacre. The title? So you still think God is merciful?

3. Here's a segment of the Olympic's opening games you did NOT see. Be sure to click on the link to the BBC video of this moving memorial. 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

To the Beach with the Fam!

This week I will be enjoying some "down time" with my wife, kids and grandkids down at Bethany Beach, Delaware. Should be a great week (although with four preschoolers, three of whom are under the age of two, I am just hoping we all get enough sleep ... my guess is that it will be more than the kids taking afternoon siestas!).

Family is important to me. This is why my wife and I make this investment in our family. We want to strengthen the bond that exists among us. Spending a week together under one roof and away from the normal demands of work and life help us to do just that.

Please pray for me and my family this week.

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Birdiegate!

This past Wednesday, 8 women badminton players were kicked out of the Olympic games ... and it was not for doping (although what they did could qualify them as dopes!). Two Korean pairs and a pair from China and Indonesia all tried to LOSE their matches (and given that these pairs were playing each other ... it was tough to do so!). Why would Olympic athletes try to lose? All four teams were looking ahead. All figured that by losing they would receive a better draw for the next round and therefore an easier opponent. So ... in their minds, losing seemed the path to take toward their ultimate goal of winning! Unfortunately for them it was the wrong path to take!

How many of us are guilty of the same thing? When faced with a choice of two (or more) paths, we take the wrong one. There are many reasons for this ... but by far the number one reason is that we ignore God's Word. Given that the Bible is "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path," when we are deficient in our knowledge of Scripture and what it teaches we are setting ourselves up to stumble in the darkness and head down the wrong paths that life offers us.

So let me ask you some questions. How often do you open your Bible? When you do, what are your reading? Do you have a plan for Bible intake? Are you seeking to put into practice (Matthew 7:24-27) what you learn from God's Word?

I encourage you to set some time aside and read through Psalm 119. Note the writer's attitude toward God's Word. Ask God to give you the same passion for Scripture.

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

P.S. - I am using M'Cheyne's Bible reading plan for this year. I have found it to be a real blessing!

Thursday A La Carte

Here is this week's offerings . . .

1. With all the flack in the news recently about Chick-fil-A's founder and president and his comments about traditional family ... this is a must read: Why the Chick-fil-A Boycott is Really about Jesus. 


2. Another amazing prayer by Scotty Smith ... I am going to pray this prayer for myself and both my families (immediate and church) for the next week!

3. Here's a great devotional based on the apostle Paul's words, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain" (see Philippians 1:21-24).

4. Here is a great resource from the Evidence Bible. If you are serious about sharing your faith, you will want to bookmark this page (from the Way of the Master web site).

5. Finally ... on a lighter note ... 

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj