Which of the following are similar to the ways you've served Christ in your family? [check all that apply]
• Taught your kids to see God's glory in nature
• Washed the dishes without being asked
• Played a board game with your kids
• Encouraged your wife to finish her master's degree
• Attended a child's open house at school
• Worked fewer hours to be with your family
• Set an example of a godly prayer life for your children
• Held a crying child
• Swung on the tire swing with your daughter
• Told your wife why you're still in love with her
• Told your son he's got what it takes
• Coached soccer
• Let you child correct you now and then
• Fixed the vacuum cleaner
• Taught your sons to ride a bike
• Listened patiently to a complaint of your wife
• Taped your child's artwork to your office wall
• Admitted to your kids that you were wrong
• Told your children how Christ entered your life
• Cleaned up vomit
• Taught your children to love books
• Been romantic without expecting sex
• Told your daughter she's smart/beautiful
• Set standards for your kids and stuck to them
• Dealt graciously with a busybody neighbor
• Peeled carrots
• Watched movies together
'This Is Stupid' Theme of the Week: Priorities in Alignment Monday, December 30, 2002
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November/December 200256'This Is Stupid'Theme of the Week: Priorities in Alignment 'This Is Stupid' Theme of the Week: Priorities in Alignment Monday, December 30
Key Bible Verse: Don't copy … this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing how you think (Romans 12:2). Bonus Reading:Rom. 11:36–12:1
Dave and Jan Davies were a typical couple. He ran a couple of Baskin Robbins stores, and they'd just built a brick ranch-style house in the suburbs. They attended a Bible preaching church. When he first heard his pastor's plea for volunteers to go to Brazil, Dave thought, This is stupid. Why don't we just mail these people some money, build them a church, buy them a piano, or something? But, even though he'd never taught or even witnessed—something urged him onward. And so, without Jan, Dave went to Brazil.
Dave was unprepared for the poverty he saw—and for something else. Entering a small village, he found the people anticipating a great evangelistic meeting. When he asked who was preaching, Dave discovered that he was! For two weeks he preached and witnessed.
The man who returned to Kansas wasn't the same. Just the sight of his new home stunned him compared to what he'd seen in Brazil. Dave promptly told Jan that they'd sell it and move into something smaller if they couldn't find a way to use it for the kingdom of God. Jan remembers quickly finding a way to use it. [continued 12/31]
—David Swartz in The Magnificent Obsession
My Response: I'll consider disengaging from pursuit of the American dream.
Thought to Apply: Most Americans tend to worship their work, to work at their play, and to play at their worship. —Gordon Dahl (author)
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