Others of us have had children who, old enough to be involved with other teens, came home from activities of which we as parents may have had some questions.  Yet when we asked such questions as:

“Was there alcohol at that party?”
“Was there anything going on of which you wouldn’t want us to know?”
“Were there boys (or girls) there that shouldn’t have been?”

….they responded not with an answer, but with a question.  Cheryl and I learned a long time ago that when that happened, the answer was YES!  And something was being covered up.

I’m sure the same could be said regarding a number of marriages, which have broken apart.  Or partnerships.  Or church splits.  Or….you fill in the blank.

I recently came across a T-Shirt that perhaps, in our culture, would be handy for many to have handy….sadly.  Take a look!

"I'm Lying"

But, for you, my closing encouragement would be go read Proverbs 4:23.  It’s a guide we should all keep handy!

A covenant is a lasting agreement…yet in the eyes of many in America marriage has been reduced to a “contract” rather than a covenant.  So, it would help us to clearly understand the difference between the two…

A contract is based on distrust–
A covenant is based on trust.

A contract is based on limited liability—
A covenant is based on unlimited responsibility.

A contract can be voided by a court or mutual consent—
A covenant is meant to not be voided.

A contract says, “What’s mine is mine.”—
A covenant says, “What’s mine is yours.”

As I look around our nation and the breakdown of our marriages I think it’s time we got back to the concept of COVENANT in marriage and started teaching it in our churches.

He then promised if Congress did a massive stimulus bill of approximately $1 trillion, unemployment would go below 8%…and today it is still at 9.1% and threatening to increase.

He promised the stimulus would flood to “shovel ready jobs” only to be faced now with admitting the jobs “weren’t as shovel ready as we thought!”

He promised in the State of the Union message 2 years ago that the Stock Market would come roaring back…and now we have seen a free fall of 9 out of the last 10 days that is shaking the markets, and people like me to the core.

He promised that Obama Care would be the answer to everyone’s medical needs and not adversely impact businesses…only to see businesses dreading the continually bad news unfold as Obama Care becomes more clearly understood.

He promised last summer would be the “Summer of Recovery” that would see 500,000 new jobs a month…and one year later when we should be steaming forward with momentum, non-farm payroll increased by an insipid 18,000 in June.

And he said the debt ceiling legislation was crucial within an Aug. 2 deadline (a deadline that many questioned by the way) to save the markets and our bond ratings…and this past week the markets fell over 500 points.

So, I have some change that I know I can believe in…NEW LEADERSHIP!

What a question! “Do you approve or disapprove of ITS performance?!” For centuries God has been referred to as a person who wants a personal relationship with us, who are His greatest creation. And the Scriptures which have stood the test of time indicate that not only does He want us to experience a personal relationship with Him, He then invites us to a mission alongside Him to impact our world.

I have seen some polls before that were out of step with reality but this one took the cake. But at least in the poll God came out with a 52% approval rating! Boy, I bet He is relieved!!

Tommy Teague

As a young man in ministry, I was challenged to write what I’d want my tombstone to read and then live my life in a way to make those words a reality.  It was a sobering yet energizing exercise! The phrase that I chose was: “He made a difference in others because of the difference that Christ made in him.”

In 1988, Tommy Teague stepped into my life.  He came on board as the Executive Pastor at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, where I was senior pastor. We quickly became more than co-workers. We became close close friends. We went on to serve together as a team at First Baptist Church of Norfolk, VA.   I saw in Tommy a passion to make a difference in others that flowed out of the passion He had for His Lord.  He also had a way of driving toward excellence in all he did while simultaneously making those around him feel cared about and loved, yet energized and encouraged to be all Christ meant for them to be.

Our families grew up together. Our kids played with theirs and we saw “up close and personal” that Tommy lived at home what he espoused at church. He adored Rita, and she truly was the love of his life; Jonathan, Julie, and Joy were the light of his eyes, and he often told Cheryl and me just how proud he was of the adults they had become.   In the midst of all he was accomplishing as a pastor, highly esteemed as a community leader, and in the lives of those around him, Tommy kept his priorities of his relationship with the Lord first, and family a close second.

Tommy’s passion for his church family, North Richland Hills Baptist Church, was always evident.  Tommy believed that seeing people come to know Jesus personally was a direct out-pour of his love relationship with Jesus.  He was also renowned in his love for taking groups to Israel to experience stepping where Jesus had stepped to know and understand Him better. While I wish with all my being that we could have more years together, and that I can’t imagine my dear friend not being a phone call away, it seems almost fitting that Tommy would step from time to eternity in Israel, a place he’d grown to love–next to the Dead Sea that is a picture and analogy of our lives as Believers:  If we only take in but don’t let life flow out through us, we don’t fulfill our purpose.  Tommy lived a life of full on giving–allowing the flow of Christ through him to impact all who knew him.

One of Tommy’s last twitters said, “When we see Christ we will show Him what we have done with what He has trusted to our care.” Great cause for pause and reflection. (6/10/11)

Tommy, my friend, I will miss you!  As I stand in your pulpit on Sunday, I will do my best to point the sheep you have shepherded to remember you were but the under shepherd. Their shepherd, Jesus, is still with them.  Tommy, I salute you as man who finished the work Christ gave you to do, and who lived a life well-lived.  You made a difference in the lives of all who have known you because of the difference Christ made in you.  Well done, brother. Well done.

And by the way, I’m starting up the blog again after an extended sabbatical from it.  I plan on addressing three topics each week….

• OUR NATION AND ITS FOUNDING PRINCIPLES—GETTING BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED
• MARRIAGE and PARENTING: MOVING FROM SURVIVING TO SOARING
• CALLING ALL MEN TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!

Regular submissions will start the first week of July.  Hope you will join me.

Another interesting note, according to Waite and Gallagher, 86% of the married people who rated their marriages as unhappy who stayed together rated the marriage as having improved five years later.

If you’re in a happy, stable marriage, you may ask yourself, “how does this impact me?”  According to the same research cited above, even though these people are staying together, they still are in marriages that bring challenge after challenge just to hold on. Men and women in our communities need to know that the church and their Christian neighbor supports them.

Helpful things to do:
•    If your church has a counseling department available to the public, let people in your community know.
•    If you’re having a men or womens conference that would help people dealing with stress, invite someone from your neighborhood or work – don’t leave the task to someone else.
•    Random acts of kindness go a long way in showing people that someone cares…give yourself away
•    Take time to listen…our society moves at lighting speed. Slow down and listen to your neighbor and then do what needs to be done.
•    Don’t be part of gossip. Always think the best of someone until proven wrong.
•    Anonymously give a few dollars – or more – to a family in need.
•    Above all else, pray.

As I travel around the country, I see signs of stress in individuals and marriages. I’m grateful that the recession has encouraged at least 38% of those considering divorce to change their plans, but I also can’t smile and walk away. There are still hurting people. Is there someone you can help today?

Reference:
W. Bradford Wilcox. 2011. The Great Recession and Marriage. National Marriage Project Report Web Release. Charlottesville, VA: National Marriage Project.

Waite, Linda J., and Gallagher, M.. The case for marriage: why married people are happier, healthier, and better off financially. New York, NY: Broadway Books, 2001. Print.

Bob and Cheryl with Grandsons

As our grandsons begin taking baby steps toward toddlerhood, I am reminded how important those baby steps really are. Until that initial step is taken, no movement toward grabbing a favorite toy is made.  While the goal may be multiple steps away, each step along the path is important.

As I write, abortions are permitted in Ohio right up to the moment of birth. But like many states throughout the nation, the pro-life voice is being heard and lawmakers are responding. Baby steps are being made in securing protection for all life.
This past week, State Representatives Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) and Joe Uecker (R-Loveland) announced that House Bill 78 passed from the House Health and Aging Committee. The bill will prohibit a woman from obtaining an abortion after the viability of the child is confirmed.

According to the “Ohio Viable Infants Protection Act,” if a woman wants an abortion and her child is 20 weeks or older, a doctor must examine the child to determine if he or she is viable. Viability is confirmed if a child would be able to live outside the womb, which is possible by approximately 22 to 24 weeks. It’s a step in the right direction.

While the end result of protecting all life is still down the road, these steps are critical to the achievement of the end objective.   It’s also a good reminder for me.  Is there any goal or dream in my life that seems insurmountable? If so, maybe I need to look at it in terms of baby steps and then put one foot out there along the path to the goal.

What baby steps do you need to take today?

(http://ohiohousegop.blogspot.com/. Retrieved March 22, 2011)

“America you are beautiful . . . and blessed . . . . The ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenseless. If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life.” – Pope John Paul II

On Friday, January 18, 2011, the United States House of Representatives voted 240 to 185 to pass the Pence Amendment to the Continuing Resolution (CR). Rep. Mike Pence’s (R-IN) amendment strikes all federal funding of Planned Parenthood within the CR.  The CR would fund the federal government through the end of September.  The CR now heads to the Senate.

According to the Susan B. Anthony List, “Planned Parenthood’s most recent annual report disclosed receiving more than $363 million in government grants and contracts between 2008 and 2009.  Over the same period, Planned Parenthood reported performing 324,008 abortions, the most it has ever performed.”

On July 24, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 247-183 against the Pence Amendment, almost the exact opposite of last Friday’s vote. During last November’s elections, Americans sent a clear message to Washington that “business as usual” and liberal principles are not what we want.

The vote in the House is a significant confirmation that your vote matters.  It’s also an encouragement for us to stand for Godly principles and never back down.  As Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) continues to stand for life over the long haul, we hope his Senate counterparts will also see the value of supporting the Pence Amendment when it comes to the Senate floor.

“By banning federal funding to Planned Parenthood, Congress has taken a stand for millions of Americans who believe their tax dollars should not be used to subsidize the largest abortion provider in America,” Pence said. “This afternoon’s vote is a victory for taxpayers and a victory for life.”1

Pro-life Americans need to encourage their Congressmen and we also need to pray for them.  If we are to continue being a light in this world, we must stay lit. Let’s keep praying and supporting our Congressmen that stand for life.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20110219/NEWS01/102190319/U-S-Rep-Mike-Pence-amendment-to-deny-funding-to-Planned-Parenthood-passes

Tim LaHaye, founder of Council for National Policyn(CNP), Beverly LaHaye, founder of Concerned Women of America, Bob Reccord, Ex. Dir CNP, and Cheryl Reccord, Dana Point, CA

What a wonderful, uplifting time as we honored Tim LaHaye Saturday evening for a life of enormous influence and amazing example. Tim and Beverly, who have impacted countless millions through their time in the pastorate, founding of significant and high impact organizations, author of some 132 books, and married 63 years, have had a profound impact in Cheryl’s and my lives.

That influence began back in our college years when their book on marriage helped to guide us in first our engagement, then marriage, and Tim’s books on personalities which helped us to understand not only ourselves and each other, but to love others according to God’s unique design of them. Tim’s effusive support and encouragement to me as the Executive Director of the Council for National Policy, which he founded, has meant the world to me.

The entire faith community of America owes both Tim and Beverly a debt of gratitude for all of the arenas they have impacted. Thanks Tim and Bev for a life well lived!!