Teach a class?

My friend Brandon and I are planning on teaching a class. Not sure if it will be at our church, there are probably too many other ministry/teaching things going on for it to be effective. I am going to ask a friend of mine who is a pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church to see if we might be able to do it there..but, there might not be the interest at that church either. In any case, it might just be Brandon and I...but, we want to do it for our benefit (as well as others) anyway.

The idea is teaching what the Bible says about parenting. We purposely decided to stay away from a book that is full of interpretation and psychobabble and thought we should leave hearing and understanding to each of the fathers. If the Word is alive and speaks, as it does, then it's not my expertise or Brandon's that is important, but, what God says about these topics. That should leave each individual father with issues to deal with directly from the Lord and not worldly books (even by godly men)or teachers.

The topics as I see it currently:
Children
- Defined in scripture
- Examples of children
- Responsibilities

Wisdom
- Defined in scripture
- Examples of wisdom
- How it's acquired
- What to do with it

Discipleship

Fathers
- Defined in scripture
- Examples of fathers
- Responsibilities of a father

I figure this might be a 4 - 1 hour class/discussions. The class will probably go like this:
Open up by discussing the topic
Discuss the topics
Share issues

Simple huh?

Goals:
The goal of this class is to:
-Better equip Godly fathers with biblical information on the responsibilites of their task and understanding how God would have us raise and treat our children.
-Develop deeper relationships with other fathers
-To further relationships with OUR Father by researching His word and listening as His word comes alive for us.

The point?

I am wondering what the point of prayer is. So many times I have prayed about things only to watch the natural scheme of things play out. Or, been desperate and still refused. Or, earnest and denied. However you want to say it, Gods will and way is so far beyond me, what's the point in doing it at all?

 

Scripture says that we should pray without ceasing, that by prayer and petition present out requests to God, and he will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Jesus said that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, jump into the sea and it will be done....

 

My faith must be smaller than a mustard seed. Nothing is moving...in fact, the more I find myself asking, the more I realize that my prayers must be hitting the ceiling so to speak. The more critical a matter is to me, the less I hear or see results, answers or changes.

 

Don't get me wrong, this is not a question of faith but of relevance. MY relevance in the scheme of God's grand design and plan. Since I am human I often resort to human type thoughts and I am sure that's a downfall especially when compared to scripture. But, I liken it to a scenario at work. If I am running a project and have a goal of what I want to see happen at the end and this blathering fool of a person is constantly making recommendations on what I should change, or how, if I would change this one part they'd be so thankful..or they desperately need to have such and such on their systems. Much of that would be shrugged off and I would think very little of it since my goal is defined and I am working toward its completion. Now, if it happened that one of their request happened to line up with my goal…well, wouldn't they be a happy camper! They probably would think it would be their request that caused it as well. But, in reality…they just annoyed me and wasted my time.

 

So, that irrelevant, blathering fool…well, that's me. The guy in charge? We know Him – I don't want to annoy, right?

 

The issue I am having is if "the fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much", how do I become righteous? Are there any that are righteous?  Paul says no…"There is none righteous, no not one." Is it futility? I don't believe that…

 

Until I have some revelation I am just resigned to hang in there and watch. Let God's will unfold before my eyes and just know that He's in control. I think it may be a little more quiet on this end until I understand a bit more of being righteous though. For even a fool that's quiet is thought to be wise.

 

If angst and worry equates to lack of faith…it's no wonder He doesn't intercede on my behalf.

Came to realize

For years I felt like my family and I were oddballs....grinding our own wheat, steering clear of too many refined sugars, avoiding scavengers like the plague. Even during that time I could see so many benefits in our health in regards to obesity and sickness in general. Even friends thought it strange and would attempt to trip us up with various scripture...but, we stayed firmly planted. I thought we were wacko zealots.

Not even close.

Due to an illness to my precious wife we have truly discovered what it means to eat healthy. We have also been exposed to the extreme difficulty to even acquire healthy food. In addition the revelation of my incorrect assumption that the label "vegetarian" or "vegan" doesn't necessarily equate to healthy. White flour and sugar are "on the ok list" for them - both of which we want to avoid. That eliminates quite a few cookbook choices from the menu...

It's been a struggle to make the adjustment. And, honestly, I have been frustrated by it quite a few times. But, I have also realized quite a few benefits from it. The primary benefit is the pounds that have fallen away. I haven't changed anything else besides WHAT I eat. Quantities are still large..no more exercise than normal. 20 pounds gone. That is speaking volumes to me. It's opening my eyes more...

It's funny how we think we suffer something or are doing something in an effort to improve - but, when we make a drastic lifestyle change, are able to look back and see how deficient we were...and thinking we were really something. Just like now, there will probably be a time when I look at this and think of how minimal my attempts actually were...

Follow your dreams or listen to wisdom?

Just dropped mom and dad off at the airport. Mom wanted to talk to me about my wife's condition and how important it is for me not to get sick...she stressed, - "you have 9 kids". Her intentions were gold and the message was clear. She said, "you have got to think of yourself first" which, is typically the wrong advice. But, everything she said around that would translate that to, "You have to think of your health to take care of everyone because in order to help your family you have to be there so don't do things on a hunch." Such great advice...She's so wise.

On the drive home I thought about the silliest thing though - the deception of the worlds advice to "follow our dreams". Where in the world will that advice lead, really? For some, it may be attainable, for others a complete waste of a life. How do you really know the difference? There are several things that bug me about the "follow your dreams" maxim. The first being that most dreams are had when we are young and naive. The thought that comes to mind are kids that play basketball and dream of the NBA. I suppose some will make it. After all, SOMEONE has to be on the court to play. But, for the most part...not so many will make it. It reminds me of the stories my friend told me about his son making it a few rounds in American Idol tryouts. There are soooo many for just 1 spot. I guess the trying makes you better though. But, in the case of basketball...I imagine the numbers are even more lopsided. For a guy that is 5'3" or so to really follow that dream, well, Muggsy Bogues and Spud Webb are the only 2 that I know of that made it to the NBA. It should be considered foolish for a majority of people...those 2 were extraordinary at it. That's the bar. Extraordinary...not just really good.

So, for kids to have that dream and have parents that are 5'3" tall - would be considered a longshot at best. Is it really wise to follow that dream? The kid may be better than all his friends and kids in school...but, more than likely there'll be a day when he gets overshadowed...literally.

Having dreams at such a young age without the wisdom of understanding things around you or seeing potential obstacles that may be outside your control to overcome (like how tall you will be)...could lead you to waste your life, don't you think? I mean, some dreams are good to always try to follow...like; loving better, being sweet to everyone, helping others....But, the career dreamer? Maybe that person should wake up and see what they need to dream about in realistic terms..then dream about reality.

What in the world got me thinking of that? Well, in short, something a very good friend of mine said, "Just because you have an idea, doesn't necessarily mean it's a good one". More and more I see the wisdom of those words. I understood them as advice and not a put down...meaning, they aren't words meant to squelch my creativity...but, rather reign in the pompass attitude that could easily go along with the successes of previous ideas and have the attitude of, "I just told you what's going to work in the idea I just gave, duh." The wisdom of others could see the shortcomings of my idea without having to implement them first. Even MY ideas? I know..hard to believe.

My mom shared with me some of her great wisdom...my idea is to encourage my wife's diet and furthermore encourage her in what she's having to go through by eating the same way to spur her on. And I have seen great benefit in it. My mom's advice about my idea was to get tested for the foods and seek a doctor's opinion (don't get me started) about MY food allergies and how a diet like that might affect me. Because, doing what's good for my wife and family and ACTUALLY DOING what's good for my wife and family might be miles apart right now. They might be dead on...but, the point is to have that checked out. Just because it's MY idea, doesn't even remotely mean that it's truly a good idea or beneficial for the long term like I think it is.

Thanks mom!

Birthdays a plenty!

Here at the Tagg household we are in our season of birthdays-a-plenty. 5 birthdays in a month’s time. It’s really a fun time for us. Some of the special stuff about it is the tradition where the birthday person gets to pick all the meals. You should see all the “recommending” that goes on from the non-birthday folks. It really adds to the special-ness of it.

 

The kids have all graduated to making lists of what they prefer as gifts too. This helps a ton…However, some of their requests are pretty expensive. But, it never hurts to ask I suppose. :-) One of my favorite requests this year was from #5 – he requested a ManSpot Protector… Then, he asked that we not read the list out loud because of it. Funny stuff…

 

A very joyous time around here….

 

 

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Test from phone....

Study I'm going to start posting on facebook

Sweet son

Ok, enough doctor bashing. I actually do really respect them...but, just sometimes feel like it's a big scam. Oops...there I go again. Sorry...

I wasn't feeling well today and stayed home from work. I look over on my nite stand and there's a black case that holds a Sony PSP. It's a handheld game. I wasn't sure what it was doing there...but, popped it out and played a couple of my sons games.

My oldest boy (the owner of the PSP) worked for 7 hours today...and the man that hired him said he did a really good job. THAT makes my day. I have always known that he's a diligent faithful young man, but, honestly, didn't know if he knew how to work hard for someone else. I was blessed to hear that he does. To top it off, after I picked him up from work and he had a bite to eat..he had come back to my room to ask his mom if there was anymore food any where...I asked him what his game was doing here. He said he left it there for me since I wasn't feeling well.

That kid blessed my whole day.

When I walked out to make sure the house was shut down, he had already fallen asleep on the couch with his Henry Blackaby devotional in his hand and his Bible by his side. Man, I love that boy.

Bad example continued

So, where was i?

Ah....yes, doctors. I have more information that is very useful in understanding doctors. Especially MDs. It appears that they are taught how to use medicine to treat patients. Nothing on curing unless the medicine does it. That fits with the experience that i have encountered and is the principal cause of my frustration. So, it is really not their fault, they just do what they're taught. I still don't care for that. Someday we will all learn of the pharmacutical conspiracy...but until then we will just do what we have to. ;-)

ALL of that runs through my mind when the doctors tell you what your problem is and how they recommend managing it. My response is anger. Top that with the desire that we not even have the problem at all and i get pouty too.

Then, after i see my kids behave that way i am all like, where in the world did they learn to behave like that?

See, bad example and short term memory loss! Lethal combination.