Book Review: Average Joe

I was excited to receive (provided to me by Multnomah Waterbrook Press for review) the newly released book entitled Average Joe which also includes a great study guide in the back of the book. This book is geared for men but would entertain all types of readers with a deep hunger of wanting to do great things for God.

This book helped me understand the importance of simply serving God in the work place one currently finds himself in. The first section of this book focuses on the author's drastic turn in careers, which was not by his own choice. However, the reader will soon see the guiding hand of God when the author begins to serve the Lord freely in the place God has put him.

Section two of the book focuses on the different men of the author's life who were ordinary men that God chose to use in a big way. This book ends with section three which focuses on different events in the author's life helping him to see God's purpose in the author's normalsy in his career.

This is a quick and good read for the average Christian man looking to serve God right where God has placed him. I give this book a 4 out of 5 star rating. I deducted a star because of the fading focus on motivating the reader to change his current mindset into more of a servitude focused life instead of telling stories about men and events that impacted the author's life.  

Don't Be a Cicada Christian!

Remember that old movie Poltergeist? Man, that was scary to watch as a nine-year-old boy who still wore Spiderman pajamas to bed. If you've ever seen that old horror movie you will remember the character's house was built over a sacred graveyard. This caused a huge territorial dispute. In the end, I'm glad the humans won.

As I quickly discovered last week, my house seems to fall into the same predicament, except I'm not battling ghosts and unsettled spirits but millions of tiny, ugly, and annoying creatures called cicadas. My house seems to have been built on an ancient cicada-harvesting plot, while my neighbors' houses go cicadaless. 

I'm now having dreams at night of my neighbors sitting in their porch swings sipping lemonade as I'm shoveling cicadas off my sidewalk. In these dreams my wife is Googling a recipe for home made cicada pesticide while my children are in the backyard making cicada shell necklaces! Our house is infested with this every-thirteenth-year curse. 

Yesterday, as I was taking out the trash, the nasty crunching noise I made as I walked through our cicada crop made me think about us Christians. It was an odd thing to realize the resemblance between these creatures and some Christians. May I share with you four similarities? I always like to ask (unlike the cicadas).

1.    Cicadas make a lot of noise but I never see them do anything. Don't be a Christian that's all talk and no action. All these cicadas seem to do is sit. Don’t be a Christian that comes to church just to sit. Be an active Christian.

2.    Cicadas come out of the World's dirt, enjoy the sunshine, and go right back into the dirt for 13 more years. Don't come out of a life of sin and then dig yourself back into your old lifestyle. Remember, you are a NEW creation. The old lifestyle of enjoying sin has passed. 

3.    Cicadas shed their skin.  Don't put on the moral coat of a Christian on Sunday only to shed it off Monday through Saturday.  

4.    Cicadas take over your place without asking. How rude! Some of the bossiest people I know are professing Christians. Don't have the "I'm right, your wrong, so I can do whatever I like" mentality that many Christians carry around today.

Let us all put to good use these lessons taught from our infesting friends. Well, I must get back to work. Now, where did I put that shovel?  

Book Review: Desiring God by John Piper

Although Desiring God (by John Piper) has been in circulation for years, today it is still greatly consumed by many. Therefore, I was excited to receive (provided to me by Multnomah Waterbrook Press for review) this Revised Edition which also includes a Study Guide! This study guide is a great tool for those desiring to easily use this book as a discipleship training class or a small group study.

Now, I must confess: the central idea of this work is an amazing concept to grasp.  At first glance the idea of the words Christian and Hedonist used to describe a sold-out Christian was rather awkward.  By very definition, the concept of Hedonism is for one's pursuit of pleasure as a matter of ethical principle.  In turn, the common idea and concept of a Christian is for one's pursuit of God as a matter of ethical principle. Therefore, my curiosity was slapped by this idea of a Christian Hedonist. 

As you will find in this scripture-soaked book, God's happiness and pleasure for His glory is at the heart of a Christian Hedonist and is the absolute focus and purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This book will answer many great questions, such as:

1.What makes God happy?

2.How should Christians come to God with our conversations, our worship, and our love?

3.How can I make God happy in my marriage and my finances?

If you've ever wanted to grasp a solid and understandable answer to these questions and more, then this is the one book you must read. Pick up your copy today and enjoy the pleasures of becoming a Christian Hedonist!

Book Review: The Walk by Shaun Alexander

I was excited, to say the least, upon receiving my early copy of Shaun Alexander’s The Walk. While I’m not a huge sports fan (please don’t walk away), having met Shaun at our church I was intrigued enough through our casual conversation to read his book. WaterBrookMultnomah quickly shipped this small 228 page book and so, I dug in.

The Walk starts off with a grueling football scene, which is expected but takes a rather awkward turn in the story. In this opening scene we find Alexander and some teammates laying hands on an injured player. Through prayer and the laying on of hands this man was miraculously healed.

While the reader will quickly find out the opening scene is only a dream, the overall flow and focus of The Walk seems to be on healing by prayer and laying on of hands. I counted five other instances through my reading of The Walk demonstrating a healing through prayer and/or touch.

While there are many who believe in such supernatural powers being bestowed on the modern-day church and it’s believers, those who believe the healing gifts are no longer necessary in today’s time may have an urgency to place this book in the fantasy category of their mind.

As an example, the story Alexander shares with the reader beginning on page 158 is a very dramatic story of a woman resurrecting her dead husband and then brining him to the conference she was attending. While I am not against hearing stories of modern-day miracles, I had a different expectation of The Walk. I was anticipating a book geared toward all male Christians struggling to walk through his culture according to God’s will.  Instead, all I could concentrate on was looking for the next miracle scene in The Walk. 

I have rated this read as a 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Hey Dad, Wake up! It's Christmas!!

By this time, unless you are the ultimate last-minute shopper, you should be done with most of the hassles of holiday shopping. You are tired, your wallet is now malnourished, you have made yourself sick several times from overeating all the sweets people have cooked for you and your family, and you are already thinking about the deadlines and work obligations for January. Because dads are prone to mentally skip over this holiday season, I would like to give four quick ways of how to slow down and truly enjoy this Christmas with your family.

1. Don't be a Scrooge! Christmas is the time of celebration for the Savior that was born unto this world. Even though Christmas has become so material, you have the blessed opportunity to teach your child the true meaning of Christmas. On the morning of Christmas I always read the story of Christ's birth from Luke 2:1-20.

2. Be a Christmas Helper. Don't leave all the gift wrapping in the hands of your wife. I am one of the worst gift wrappers of all time, but I still wrap. I dream of one day purchasing Christmas patterned duct-tape that I could tape around the gift! As ugly as your wrapping skills may be, your wife will welcome the help and your child will appreciate the fact of you caring enough to wrap his gift.

3. Be a Giver and not just a Spender. Having a Christmas spirit means more than forking out money to your wife. Because this time of the year reminds me of the gift God gave me (a perfect Sacrifice), I'm inspired to also be a giver of good things to my family and to others. Put some thought in your gift purchases.

4. Let your Family schedule your planner. Don't fill your holiday time off with errands, chores, or opportunities to catch up on work obligations. Give your calendar this weekend to your family and ask them of fill it in. You will be amazed at the simple things they want to do with you (all of which will revolve around precious time with dad).

Let these quick Christmas tips be a blessing to you and your family this season.

From the Daddy Disciple: Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

And the Winner is????

Congratulation to Becky! She is our November Giveaway Winner of The Apologetics Study Bible!

Becky, please contact us at thedaddydisciple@gmail.com with your mailing address and we will ship this Bible to you.

Thanks to all those who participated in this event and keep your eyes open for our next Big Giveaway!

1,000+ HITS

Wow! Within the short time (a month & 1/2) since this blog launched, we have already received over 1,000 hits! The original intent of this site was to share my experience and continual journey as a Christian father. Yet, this site has turned into so much more. I never dreamed there would be such a variety of people who frequent this site. It is such a blessing to be able to minister to and share with such a diverse group.

Since we are growing so fast, it would be a wise thing to stop and ask you: How are we doing? What could be improved? What is missing that you would like to see added to this blog?

Post your answers below or simply email your suggestions to: thedaddydisciple@gmail.com

In appreciation for our 1,000+ blog hits, here are five of the greatest football hits of all time. Enjoy!

Funny of the Week: Attention to Detail

Childbirth: Men vs Women

With the birth of our sixth child (Truett) and with many hours spent on the vinyl-covered concrete seat/bed/couch in the hospital cubical (I mean room), I had ample time to ponder the rather large contrast between men and women when it comes to childbirth. Here are just a few I find to be true.

When the baby first breaches the canal during labor:

The woman thinks, ‘Pull it out! I can’t push any longer.’

The man thinks, ‘Thank you, my Sweet Jesus for making me a man!’

When the nurse places the child on the mother’s stomach:

The woman thinks, ‘Does he have all his toes and fingers?’ Immediately, the mother starts unwrapping the baby and checking.

The man thinks, ‘What is he going to be when he grows up? What type of man will he become? Who will he marry? I hope he marries someone with money.’

When the mother changes the first diaper:

The woman thinks, ‘Look at how cute and tiny that diaper is.’

The man thinks, ‘I hope the size of the diaper is not relational to the cost of the diaper.’

When the mother first nurses:

The woman thinks, ‘It is amazing how God designed me to provide for this child.’

The man thinks, ‘This is just weird.’

When the baby cries at 2am on the first night:

The woman thinks, ‘I should check on the baby.’

The man thinks, ‘I wish she would check on the baby.’

When the hospital photographers are listing the options of each picture package:

The woman thinks, ‘These pictures are priceless.’

The man thinks, ‘These pictures are pricey. I have a camera on my phone.’

When the birth certificate needs to be filled out:

The woman thinks, ‘We have to decide on his middle name.’

The man thinks, ‘Middle names are so overrated.’

When it’s time to leave the hospital:

The woman thinks, ‘What is the baby going to wear home?’

The man thinks, ‘How do these car-seat straps buckle? I wish I had brought the duct-tape!’

When the new family finally arrives home:

The woman thinks, ‘I can't wait to get into my own bed.’

And the man thinks, ‘I wonder what she is going to cook for dinner. I’m starving.’

November Giveaway for Dad!!

Need a great Christmas gift for Dad?  We've got you covered!  Anyone to post a comment on this posting will be entered into our drawing on November 15th for a hardback version of The Apologetics Study Bible (a $40 value)!

The Apologetics Study Bible helps today's Christians better understand, defend and proclaim their beliefs in this age of increasing moral and spiritual relativism. More than one-hundred key questions and articles placed throughout the volume about faith and science prompt a rewarding study experience at every reading. Highlights of this new thinking person’s edition of God’s Word include the full text of the popular Holman CSB® translation, an introduction to each Bible book focusing on its inherent elements of apologetics, and profiles of historic Christian apologists from Justin Martyr to C.S. Lewis. Also featured are valuable contributions from a who’s-who of modern apologists such as Chuck Colson, Norm Geisler, Hank Hanegraaff, Josh McDowell, Albert Mohler, Ravi Zacharias, and many more.

You don't want to miss out on this giveaway!! Post a comment below!  The winner will be announced on November 15th! This Bible will ship just in time for Christmas!

Funny of the Week: The Dad Life Video

a NeW FaMiLy FuN GaMe!

Hey Dad, here is a new family game that is sure to make the entire gang laugh, think, and grow together! It’s called the 5 Cents Game and here’s how it works:

Place one empty cup or bowl in the middle of the group. Then give each player 5 pennies.

One person (the Moderator) will need a blank sheet of paper and a pen to record the answers. Note: The Moderator can participate in the game as well.

Here are the questions the Moderator will ask the group:

1. What is your favorite thing to smell? Anyone that wants to share their answer will have to put one of their cents into the cup or bowl. They will then share with the group their answer. The moderator will not move to the next question until everyone has placed a penny in the cup and gives an answer to this question. After everyone has had their turn answering the above question, the moderator will then ask the next question.
2. What is your favorite thing to taste? The group will then repeat the same steps as above.
3. What is your favorite thing to hear? Repeat the same process as above.
4. What is your favorite thing to touch? Repeat the same process as above.
5. What is your favorite thing to see? By the time the Moderator asks this last question every player should have one penny left in his possession.  

After all questions have been answered, the moderator can start the game over by redistributing the pennies and asking a new set of questions: What is your worst thing to smell, taste, hear, touch, and see?

We played this as a family and we had a blast! We have a three year-old that used the word “snake” as his answer on every single question, which made for many laughs. It was interesting to learn of my wife's favorite things to smell, hear, and touch. It was also a great educational tool for our children in relating how they use their own five senses; they really had to think of practical ways in how they use and experience these senses. I also took the opportunity at the end of this game to speak to our children about God granting humans the ability to experience His creation in so many different ways. It was a great time of sharing and relating God's purposes for our senses.

This game is easy to play, costs just pennies, and makes for a great time of family fun! Try it out tonight with your family!

Funny of the Week: Man Babies!

Hey Dad, have you ever wondered what it would look like to swap heads with your child? Me neither! But in case you do feel the hunger for such a Photoshop experience, you can check out tons of hysterical pics over at ManBabies.com

The Art of Spiritual Drafting

Today a co-worker and I went for a quick jog during our lunch break. Since he is a faster runner, within the first quarter mile I fell in behind him and tried my best to keep stride for stride. With it being a windy day, I instantly felt the lack of wind resistance when I aligned myself directly behind my friend’s body. In that moment of non-resistance I felt like an Olympic sprinter! We were hurdling potholes, dodging small dogs, and passing light poles as if they were pages being thumbed through in a book. It was great!

However, after mile marker 2 my running partner kicked his pace into a higher gear; a gear I evidently do not possess.  As I tried my best to keep up, the wind slowly began to push on my chest resulting in my friend running on in victory and me eventually walking while faking a leg cramp for the passersby.

While comical, this is a great lesson for dads. Each dad has been blessed with a family that is designed by God to run behind his spiritual pace. Dad, you are the spiritual pacesetter of your home! Your child may need to run behind you because she is not spiritually mature enough to run beside you. This spiritual pacesetting is not the church’s primary job but yours as a dad. By following behind you, your family can avoid the winds of doubt, loneliness, and spiritual ignorance that would otherwise slow them down.

This pace requires a dad to stay spiritually conditioned and one step ahead of his family. The more spiritually grounded and mature Dad is, the easier it is for his family to draft behind. Spiritual drafting allows the family to share in the thrills of loving and serving God at a healthy pace.

So Dad, lace up those spiritual shoes! And run the best race of your Christian life so powerfully that any family could easily draft behind.

Chat Live with NFL Running Back Shaun Alexander!

This Thursday night, October 21st, at 5pm central time you will have the opportunity to chat live with Shaun Alexander thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers! Shaun will be discussing his new book The Walk: Clear Direction and Spiritual Power for Your Life and answering your questions. You can participate in this chat right from our website! Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to chat live with NFL Running Back Shaun Alexander this Thursday night!

waterbrookmultnomah on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Don't stiff-arm your child!

One weekend my family and I were at our local park when I noticed a father throwing ball with his son. As we got closer to this father and son, I could hear the dad giving instructions to his son on how to throw a curveball. The young boy was listening intently with both ears poking out from under the rim of his loose ball cap. The boy’s glove was visibly new and you could sense this would be his first season of playing organized baseball. 

The dad instructed the boy on how to properly hold the ball in his hand, where to place his fingers to give the correct rotation and spin, what type of speed to project, and how to perform a flawless rocker-step. It was a good lesson. I learned a lot about how to throw a curveball.

After the dad was done instructing his child he said, “Now, let me show you how to do it!” The boy and father walked several paces away from each other, reminding me of an old western gunfight. The boy squatted down to play the hind catcher and the dad took the imaginary mound. After such good instructions from the dad, I had to watch the performance.

The dad threw the first pitch, which missed his boy’s glove by 20 feet!  After the second pitch I started looking for my wife and children in fear of them being hit. After the third pitch I wanted to move my car!  This was comical to me as a dad. This man had given great and proper instructions to his son but could not perform the act himself.

Then the Lord spoke to my heart. I thought about how many times I have given clear Biblical instructions to my children and yet I could not perform the act myself because of my spiritual weakness.

Dads, many of us are great at giving Biblical instructions and can teach amazing classes on how to throw spiritual curveballs but can we perform per our own instructions?

We parents need to stop spiritually stiff-arming our children with an instruction-only lifestyle! Let us actively show them how to live by the Bible and only when necessary, should we use words!

Funny of the Week: Getting down on their level.

And the Winner is?

Congratulations to Trey Brunson of Jacksonville, FL! He is the first winner of our Book Giveaway!
Our second winner is Rebecca Ingram Powell of Nashville, TN!

A special thank-you to all who participated in this event. Be looking for our next big giveaway starting soon!

The Man Drawer. Do you have one?

In our kitchen we have one drawer that is labeled as the Man Drawer. To me, this drawer is the most handy part of the kitchen. I utilize this drawer to store basic tools needed around the house (tape measure, allen wrench set, screwdrivers). This drawer keeps me from having to rummage through the garage just to find a screw or wire pliers. If you don't have a Man Drawer you need to apply for one today!

Needing to mend a broken toy for my daughter, I opened the Man Drawer to grab a pair of pliers. It had been some time since needing to use this drawer and to my surprise all I could see was junk! Junk everywhere! There were old batteries, bent paperclips, crumbled-up paper, broken crayons, scattered thumbtacks, and several items that I was unsure of their origin. What had happened to my neat and organized Man Drawer?! Two words: WO-man. I fussed, grumbled, and declared the blame while digging for my pliers.  Almost instantly, the Lord reveled the true source of the problem.

The truths of the matter are this:
1. It was a Man Drawer and not a Woman Drawer. Therefore, I am responsible for the way this drawer is kept or not kept. That was the agreement when I acquired this drawer. This is also true with a man's family. The Bible makes evident that God will hold the man of the family accountable for the order and organization of that family. This was the agreement when you acquired your family.
2. It had been too long since the Man Drawer had been opened. If I would have regularly kept check on this drawer I would have been able to address the issue when it had little junk. Now it gathered much junk. Dad, when was the last time you opened up your family and evaluated its condition, its order, its structure? We men as the head of the home, should always keep our ears on the spiritual tracks of our family before it's too late!
3. It took much time and pain to clean up the junk. I couldn't stand to see my Man Drawer in this condition, so I began to tediously clean out the drawer. As I previously wrote, there were thumbtacks dumped all throughout the drawer. Every time I would try to remove an item a tack would prick my finger. The same needs to be a warning to the way you lead your family. Cleaning out the junk in your family's life will be painful and very time consuming if you wait until it gets too full of trash.

Men, I pray we will open and look inside the lives of our families and start throwing out the junk before it piles too high!

Funny of the Week - Did you know kids come with handles?