Fridays Are For Family

27 Jan Fridays Are For Family – When Your Family Looks For A Church Family

I found out recently that one of my most faithful, trusted leaders and his family is being relocated due to a job transfer. It was really hard news to hear. This is a man who has taught for me, led Sunday School and Discipleship classes, counseled hurting individuals and families as well as done everything from cooking to cleaning to repair work around the church for the past ten years. I not only appreciate him as a church member, I love him as a friend. So, it was hard to hear this week that the time has finally come and this will be their last Sunday at Temple Baptist Church.

13 Jan Fridays Are For Family – The Number One Reason For Divorce

As a pastor I'm often asked what I think is the number one reason for divorce. I always give the same answer, "Money." Now, to be a little more circumspect, I must admit this answer is not only very simplistic, but it also overlooks a whole host of evident spiritual and personal shortcomings in both parties. However, I think it is fair to say that the majority of couples that come into my office for counseling do so because of something to do with their finances. Maybe the problem stems from the husband wanting more and more money, so he works more and more and never spends time with his family. Maybe the problem is found in a wife that doesn't realize that you can't spend more than you have - at least not for very long. Maybe the issue is that she "came from money" and he didn't have "pot to spit in or a window to throw it out of" when he was growing up. Maybe it it simply the stress that comes from not enough money coming into the family and the constant struggle to just keep the utilities on. Whatever the situation or the circumstance, the majority of couples who come to my office with marital problems do so because of issues related to money.

06 Jan Fridays Are For Family – Missing What Matters

I don't know if you've seen the amazing and powerful movie by Sherwood Pictures Courageous yet, but if you have you'll no doubt remember the scene where the main character, Adam Mitchell, is asked by his young daughter, Lauren, to dance with him in front of a local bank. He refuses to get out of his truck and dance with her because his mind is on other matters and he didn't want to be scene doing something that he thought everybody who saw him would consider silly. I won't spoil the movie for you if you haven't seen it, but he later realizes that it was a HUGE missed opportunity for him to spend time with his precious daughter doing something simple that she'd asked him to do.

30 Dec Fridays Are For Family – Three Simple, Spiritual Commitments For 2012

This is the time of year when many people will sit down and write out a list of New Year's resolutions. Unlike some, I'm not opposed to these sorts of resolutions. In fact, I believe that there are areas of our lives as individuals and families in which it's perfectly fine to make resolutions. However, when it comes to our walk with the Lord I believe that a better word would be "commitment." Let me explain. As I understand it, a resolution has more to do with personal resolve. It is a promise that I make to myself. "I resolve to lose ten pounds. I resolve to be more organized. I resolve to do this or that." I have a personal goal and I determine in my mind that I will do certain things in order to accomplish that goal. I don't see anything wrong or ungodly with making these sorts of resolutions. In fact, I have made a few of these myself for 2012.

16 Dec Fridays Are For Family – Christmas Memories

Christmas is just over a week away. I don't know about you, but for me this time of year always brings back so many great childhood memories. I remember Christmas eve services and musicals at church. I remember trips across Tennessee in a stationwagon to spend Christmas at my grandparents' house. I remember Christmas dinner with cousins I didn't get to see at any other time of the year. I remember hunting with my father and a snowy scene with a little white house in the curve of a dirt road with a huge fir tree next to it decorated to look like a Christmas tree. I remember unwrapping a present, expecting to get some toy I really, really wanted and pulling out a pack of underwear or socks. (The toy was usually unwrapped next.) There were Christmas songs on the stereo and boiled custard in the refrigerator and the smell of pies and cakes in the air - so many wonderful memories. No wonder they call this "the most wonderful time of the year."

02 Dec Fridays Are For Family – A Father’s Touch

This past week the Whitt family spent a great deal of time traveling together as we celebrated Thanksgiving with my wife's parents in Texas. It was a whirlwind trip, with several preaching opportunities and very little down time. Now, I'm always looking and thankful for any opportunity to preach, but I'm becoming even more grateful for any opportunity to be able to spend time with my two children without the normal demands of the average work week. While we were traveling together over the Thanksgiving weekend there were two moments that certainly grabbed my attention and heart as a daddy. The first was on our flight out to Texas. Jack and I were sitting beside each other, waiting for the plane to taxi on to the runway. When the plane started to speed up for the take off, Jack scooted over real close to me and grabbed my hand with both of his. He didn't look up at me or even say anything, but I knew immediately why he had done that. He did if for the same reason I used to grab my dad's hand when I was scared or unsure. He wanted the security that can really only come from a father's touch.