Back in October, we started back up the WMU at our church. WMU stands for “Women’s Missionary Union,” and it is the thrust of all of our Women’s ministry. It is going really well. God surely has His hand in it. Each meeting is different, but the focus of the WMU is prayer and ladies fellowship.

This past Tuesday, they had a special occasion WMU. It was a “Ladies Tea.” From what I have heard, it was so nice. There were over 50 ladies there to hear the special guest speaker, Kim Wigginton. There was special music, wonderful food, and a powerful message. All of the ladies were impacted by God’s Word with one lady that night believing in Jesus and asking Him to save her.

We are so humbled at what God is doing in our ladies.

In the mornings, JJ & Eli sometimes watch this show called “Word World.” Its pretty cool. It teaches kids how to spell and read. One episode I saw was really cool. It was explaining how simply adding an “S” to most words will make it plural.

Like the word cookie becomes cookies when you simply add an “s” to it.

Thats a really neat concept for a kid to grasp.

Just add an “s” to it, and you go from having 1 of something to having many of that something.

Well, as I was thinking of that, I was reminded of how people in Fairdale do that with places. Its really cool.

For example, Kroger is often called Krogers. Or Meijer is often called Meijers. I have heard people add an “s” to all sorts of different places.  Big Os, Bass Pros, White Castles, Moby Dicks, and so on.

Its really cool and fun and local. Listen out for it.

No matter what the place….just add an “s” to it.

Every night, JJ asks for me to read him the story of David & Goliath. This night without any planning, we acted it out. David wins! God is great!

I have always found this interesting.

Why is it that people think that certain actions or WORDS that, I guess, would be ok outside of a church building all of a sudden turn bad or wrong once you are inside the building? When I get to thinking about it… its quite troubling and humorous!

And this happens pretty regularly. I hear people say things like “man, don’t talk like that in a church.” or “you’re not supposed to say that in church.”

I appreciate the attempt at respect. But I am more concerned at the major misunderstanding.

The church has never been a building; its always been a bride… a body… a community…  a people.

If something is wrong in a church building, then it is most likely wrong outside of it too.

Listen to what the Bible says in Ephesians 5:4:

“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”

This is so helpful to this discussion. There is a type of talking that is out of place. That is why I said I appreciate the attempt at respect. But where is out of place? Not in the building. A building is a building. God lives in hearts not buildings.

So where is out of place?  In our lives! In our walks. In verse 1, we are told to be imitators of God. God never spoke inappropriately, and we should not either. In verse 2, we are told to walk in a certain way. Verse 4 is a continuation from that. Wrong, bad, dirty, filthy, inappropriate speech is out of place. But not in a building… in your life.

So, lets clean it up. CLEAN UP YOUR WAY OF TALKING. Ephesians 5:4

Be slow to speak. Let your words be few. Guard your tongues. If necessary, put your hand over your mouth.

Because according to God, its out of place in your life.

Yesterday, Valeria and I went and had an ultrasound done.

It’s a boy!!!

We thank God for him…our third son.  Valeria is 17 weeks, and the boy is due October 18. He measured weighing 7 ounces already.

When we came home and told JJ and Eli that they were getting another brother, JJ literally raised his hands, jumped up and down and begin yelling “Yeeeyyyyyyy!” It was awesome!

Psalm 127:3 says “children are a heritage from the Lord.”

God gives them. We do not take them for granted. JJ and Eli do not deserve another brother. We do not deserve any sons, much less a third. All of this is undeserved grace. We are humbled.

Psalm 127:5 “blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!” Three isn’t a lot, but it is a start.

But remember, its not me or Valeria that can fill it…its God.

He gets all the attention and glory. We are humbled.

Thank you, Jesus.

I totally realize that no one cares, but I still want to say it.

Almond Joy pieces are my favorite candy. They are so good. Reese’s Pieces are awesome too. But these are incredible.  If you ever want to get me a surprise gift, this would be best.

So delicious! Does anyone else love these? Please let me know, I’ll get you some.

This past Sunday, I opened up my sermon with 2 different ways of learning.

1)     You can take someone with experience’s word for it.
or
2)     You can learn the hard way.

The Bible teaches us to take advice and instruction from people. Especially from those who have gone before us and know better than we do. And the Bible teaches us that to not take instruction is foolish.

Proverbs 8:33 “Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.”

Proverbs 1:7 “fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

One thing in my life that I regularly seek after is older men who will help me. Older men that clearly know more than me and have experienced more than me.  God has given me several of them, and I am so grateful for that.

This week I was speaking with one of them. And I was telling him how much I need older men who are willing to invest in me…. Invest their mind and experiences with me.

Here is what he said.

“Experience finds itself wasted on old men.” Wow! That is true.  In other words, experience is only good if you give it away. Experience only has its value when it is given away.

I had never heard that before. It is sticking with me.

If you do not have older people mentoring you, please go find one today. Simply go to someone you admire and ask them to give you advice for life regularly. And at the same time, be looking for a younger person that you can share all your knowledge and experiences with.

Or else, it will be wasted.

(I am 30 years old. The men that influence me with simple life lessons are 58, 58, 75, 80 & 81.)

Here are some things that Valeria and I remind ourselves often to help us in marriage. Marriage is primarily about Jesus. I hope these help you too.

1)     Don’t Keep Score! = (Marriage is not a competition. Who cares who’s winning? Why would you want to prove to your spouse that you are doing better than them at marriage?)

2)     100%/100%, not 50%/50% = (Being a good husband or wife is not and should not be dependent upon whether your spouse does his/her job. You give your 100% no matter what!)

3)     Approach all issues thinking “I am the issue!” (In every marital issue you face, look first to your own flaws and selfishness and sin. There is no room at all for pride and arrogance.)

If you are passionate about “every tribe, tongue, people, and nation” like the King Jesus is then you will absolutely love this video. Please watch.

It gives me goosebumps each time I watch.

This week I was watching a video of some wedding vows.

Something the groom said really caught my attention. He said, “I vow to lay down my life everyday for you.”

Wow! That is something strong. But it is so true. So accurate. So marriage-proper. So Biblical. And so Jesus.

Every husband needs to make that vow to his bride and then stick to it.

Jesus already has. For that I am redeemed. For that I worship.

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us…”