A Late Post!

On Father's Day I shared some questions to ask your children as a Dad. I was asked by someone to print these so I apologize in the delay in doing so. I read them on Tony Merida's blog. Tony is the pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Hattiesburg Mississippi. Here is what he wrote:

Today I mentioned several resources of parents. I have been blessed by Tripp's Shepherding a Child's Heart, The Jesus Storybook Bible bySally Lloyd-Jones, and My 1st Book of Question and Answers by Mackenzie, to name a few. I also mentioned some questions that a Sovereign Grace Pastor shared with Piper, and he in turn footnoted the book Stand: A Call for Endurance of the Saints (p., 132, footnote 2). Piper honestly admitted that if he could anything over, after a long ministry, that it would be with respect to asking "heart questions" (my phrase) to his kids. He met with them regularly but wished that he would have probed deeper. I went through the questions quickly today in the sermon, but wanted to make the available here. Here are the questions

• How are your devotions?
• What is God teaching you?
• In your own words, what is the Gospel?
• Is there a specific sin that you're aware of that you need my help defeating?
• Are you more aware of my encouragement than my criticism?
• What's Daddy most passionate about?
• Do I act the same at church as I do when I'm at home?
• Are you aware of my love for you?
• Is there any way I've sinned against you that I've not repented of?
• Do you have any observations for me?
• How am I doing as a dad?
• How have Sunday's sermons impacted you?
• Does my relationship with Mom make you excited to be married?

MONDAY!

A lot has happened since I last posted. Celebrities Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Karl Malden, and former Tennessee Titan Steve McNair have all died. The news has been mostly filled with stories of their lives and the events surrounding their deaths. Much has been said about each of these people and much will continue to be written and spoken about them. Their deaths have reminded me what the writer of Hebrews says to us in the ninth chapter verse twenty seven. He writes "it is appointed once for man to die, after this comes the judgement."

Regardless of what you have been taught or believe the Bible says we have an appointment and it is one we will not miss. The good news is that you can be ready for that day but you must make preparations for it. Jesus Christ made the preparation for us as He willingly died on a cross for our sins that we might have eternal life. If we will but place our faith in Christ alone, then our preparations will be complete.

Death has a distinctive way of shaking us into reality and reminding us of our mortality. Life does not end at death and we will spend eternity somewhere. Either in Heaven with God or in Hell, a place of torment and without Christ! We have a choice to make! Will you today trust in Him (Jesus) who has the power of life and death! Will you choose life? Let me suggest some scripture for you to explore known as the Roman road.

Romans 3:23

Romans 5:8

Romans 6:23

Romans 10:9-10, and 13