Bedtime Stories, Foundations for Eternity

We sat down on mom and dad's bed sometimes.  Other times I would lay my head in mom's lap down on the couch.  Pajamas on keeping my small body cozy in a creaky old farmhouse.

Magical moments followed as my mother would open up a book and transport us to another world.

I was one of the Boxcar Children.


I was a Hardy Boy


I was the young boy who thought of the amazing things I could do if I was to run the zoo.


"Formative" is too academic to describe what happens when parents read to their children.

Spiritual.

Indescribable.

Fulfilling.

And as I prepare to welcome my first God-designed child into this world, I seek stories.  Story time must be a part of my child's life.  Stories that make us laugh, cry, shudder with fear, leap with joy!

Stories that reveal unseen things; things bigger than explanation.

Stories that connect with God's presence.

Stories that fill little (I can't tell you his name yet)'s heart and mind with a foundation that will weather the storms that come later.

And I need your help.

Please share with me your favorite books to read with your kids, your kids favorite books to reread.  Also, share with me stories you'd love to hear told, characters that inspire you, historical events that ground your faith, anything and all!

I want to write stories, and share the best that are already out there.  Thank you for helping prepare me to become the dad I so desire to be.

In Him,

Matt

How Small We Make Something Big

If you have spent long in church circles, you have heard this question:

If I died when I was about to ________, would I make it to heaven?

Before I prayed the prayer.

Right before I confessed Jesus as Lord.

Right before I was baptized.

The essence of the question is really this: What is really essential? How much must I really do? What are the requirements?

I see two major problems with this mindset.

First, this is the DEFINITION of works. We are saved by grace, not works. Salvation is a gift. Many of these questions arise in the debate over whether baptism is a work or not, but as soon as we begin looking at ANY of our responses to grace as required activities, we are focused on works and not grace.

Therefore we make prayer a work.

We make confessing Jesus a work.

We make baptismal submission a work.

Second, this question displays a worldview problem. We are consumed with the bottom line. The smallest number, the least possible work with most reward idea.

We minimize God's grace on the cross to a checklist.

When did Jesus say he wanted us to complete the paperwork?

Didn't Jesus come to heal sick people inside and out? Didn't Jesus come to seek and save those wondering lost?

The moment of my salvation was about 2000 years ago, halfway across the world.

Everything, and I mean everything I do now is a response to this grace.

Grace.

The books I immerse myself in reflect my response to grace.

My willing submission to Scriptural teaching reflect my response to grace.

My laughter, anger, dreams, fears, lusts, self-control, schedule, work, family, finances, worship, ideas, art, and hope all become recreated in response to grace.

Grace is big, let's stop treating it small