IF

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you

But make allowance for their doubting too,

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,

If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much,

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling


This is a great poem with a poor conclusion. The last two lines need some godly modification. The only way you can do what Kipling says is by living a Holy Spirit empowered life. If you try and be all that poem indicates in your own strength and might you will fail miserably. The precedent of ages past proves that truth time and again. But, if you surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ on a daily basis – “then you’ll be a man, my son!”


Rudyard Kipling is best known at our house for writing “The Jungle Book”. Our kids, including myself, love that Disney movie and we have spent lots of time pretending to live in Kipling’s jungle.

Fathers Figure

The Statistical Effect of Children Without A Father


63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes
(source: US DHHS Bureau of Census)

90% of all homeless and runaway children
(source: Center for Disease Control)

85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders
(source: CDC)

80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger
(source: Criminal Justice and Behavior vol. 14)

71% of all high school dropouts
(source: National Principals Association “Report on the State of High Schools)

70% of juveniles in state operated institutions
(source: US Dept. of Justice)

85% of all youths in prison grew up in a fatherless home
(source: Texas Dept. of Corrections, 1992)

Nearly 2 of every 5 children do not live with their fathers.
(source: US News and World Report)


From www.fathersforlife.org


I have often heard statistics like this, but never seen them so well documented. They are a startling reminder of the importance of the complete family unit.

For years now the traditional family unit, a male dad, and a female mom, has been under attack. The feminist movement now has technology to make fatherhood obsolete. With the advent and use of no-fault divorce and other factors, a fatherless family is no longer atypical.

We need a revival and it needs to start in the church. A revival of committed, sold-out men. Men who are surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Men who are committed to their wives and love them the way Christ loved the church. Men who are spiritual leaders in their homes. Men who are courageous enough to do all these things regardless of the criticism received by the culture. Too much is at stake for us to ignore this issue.

This is a calling for all fathers to be all that God intends them to be. May God grant us grace, wisdom and strength to be true men in Christ.

Fishing At The SBC

No I didn’t bring my rod and reel, but I did go to a great seminar by Dr. Roy Fish. He was my evangelism professor while I was at seminary and I love to listen to him. His seminar was on the need to be more intentionally evangelistic. It was a great seminar.

He told a story about a neighbor he had named Eddy. Dr. Fish has always been an evangelist but when he moved next door to Eddy he thought he would take it slow. Eddy had a great fear of preachers anyway. He would become physically nervous every time Dr. Fish would come around to visit with him.

Over time Dr. Fish began to make some progress in getting to know Eddy. He helped him in his yard on occasion and felt like he was going to win him to Christ eventually.
On weekend Dr. Fish was out of town and his wife called him. “Eddy died of a heart attack.” That news broke Dr. Fish’s heart. He resolved not to let his neighborhood die and go to hell if he could do anything about it.

So, he moved. (At this point in the seminar uproarious laughter occurred.) Dr. Fish prayed and asked God to give him a new start in his new neighborhood. He prayed that he could develop friendships with his neighbors for the clear purpose of sharing Christ with them.

Here are some other thoughts that captured my attention from this seminar:

1. Sowing is just as important as reaping.
I may never win souls like Dr. Fish has, but Jesus says in John 4 that some sow and others reap, but that both rejoice. (See John 4:34-38)
Sowing is incredibly important. Putting the word of the gospel of Jesus Christ into the hearts and minds of others is extremely valuable. The question is, am I even doing that much?


2. We’ve got to focus on young people.
At the current rate, statistics indicate that there is a generation of young people that will be lost. That means that when the current generation of Christian older people are no longer here, there will be few to replace them.
We have to make it a priority to share the gospel with children and teens. We need to intentionally sow the seed of Christ into their lives on a consistent and regular basis.


3. The greatest motivation for being evangelistic and sharing the gospel…
The reality of HELL!

There is a movement in society, and even Christian society, that denies the reality of hell. Jesus could not be more clear about the truth that there is a hell and people do go there. No soundly saved saint should want any to perish in their sin and spend an eternity in that awful place. Hell is real, and we have a part in taking the life saving message of Christ so that some will be spared from that horrible place.

At The Southern Baptist Convention

This week I am in San Antonio Texas for the annual Southern Baptist Convention. Sunday and Monday they have what is called the “Pastor’s Conference”. At this they have several noted speakers that come and give messages and sermons. I heard two great speakers last night.

Dr. Paige Patterson gave a testimony on pressing on through suffering and opposition that was very good. The hope of the Christian life is that our temporary struggles, pain, and suffering will be far outweighed by the future glory of being with Christ in heaven.

I also heard a great sermon by Dr. Jerry Vines. He is a fantastic expository preacher. I really enjoy not only the content of his sermons but listening to the way he crafts and molds his messages. He preached out of Acts 8 about Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. The main point, we need to be looking for God ordained opportunities to share Jesus Christ.

Additional Observations about the SBC:

1. It is huge!!!! It is being held at the convention center in downtown San Antonio and the place is enormous. I am not sure how many people were there last night, but it was thousands.

2. I like San Antonio. I went by the Alamo and the Riverwalk. Great places to see, although it would have been better if Michelle were with me.

3. It’s pretty hot.