Babies, Bathwater, and Bands

One of the ironies of the Christian experience is our tendency to create new rules, while ignoring God's basic instructions.

One example of this is the misdirected litmus tests of style, and taste. We tend to discount churches and believers on the basis of difference in music style, type of clothing or version of the Bible. These are not small things, but they are not the core.
The trick as my Dad has said many times is to keep the main thing the main thing. While, your stance on abortion is important, and the authority issues that surround speaking in tongues are not little things. The reality of sin, the deity of Christ, penal substitutionary atonement and the combination of repentance and faith are key issues.
We need to have mature conversations about dress codes, decibels from the band and social issues. But don't let's throw out the essentials of the faith with the proverbial Bathwater, even while we engage in mature conversations about the band.

Snuggle please

I am right now trying to type this out on my phone while my son awkwardly holds down my arm. Why? because it is Saturday nap time and he loves nothing more than snuggling with his Daddy.

Parenting is always a good teacher. Working closely with children in general is a good teacher, so long as we are paying attention.

And right now I am reminded of the simple truth that we are Children of God by adoption in Christ, that we can beg and plead with God on the simple terms of a child.
And I consider that a reminder that my heart still needs to be refreshed and cleansed. Too much time in the world, and little cares, little burdens, and big problems and crushing loads will crowd a childlike dependence out of my heart.
Not that I become a pagan over night. But that child like faith can afford few distractions.

I would rather be with my daddy than anything this world affords today. That is the cry of the two year old heart, the three year old mind and the simple child of God.