Tag Archive - God

Shane and Shane on the Father-Daughter Relationship and God (and win their new album here)

August 17, 2011 in Marriage-Family, Pastoral Counseling, Therapy-Psychology with 51 Comments

Your daughter needs God. And she wants you to be the one to show her who He is, what He is like, and what He thinks about her. She wants to believe that there is more to life than what she sees with her eyes and hears with her ears. She wants to know that there exists someone who is smarter, more capable, and more loving than (even) you. If you are a normal, healthy father, you should be glad that she wants to believe in someone larger, because you know all too well that many times you will fail her. You forget her recital, miss games because of business trips, or lose your temper and say painful things to her. You are just a normal, good-enough dad doing the best you can. You need to have someone behind you, someone your daughter can turn to when you’re not there. You both need a bigger, better father on your side. (Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, by Meg Meeker, pp. 176)



When I came across Shane and Shane’s amazing new record and title song The One You Need and watched their video…it left me in a tearful and emotional place.

I’m the father of a four year old girl that I absolutely love and adore with everything that I have and all that I am.

And yet…everything I have to offer her, and everything that I am to her…at the end of the day is just not enough.

There has to be something more for her in this life…and so when I read the lyrics of the song I found myself resonating with it and saying, “Yes, yes, yes.”

Meg Meeker in her amazing book, Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know — and in her chapter Teach Her Who God Is talks about the importance of fathers teaching daughters about who God is. (By the way, this is the best book on fathers/daughters and one I can’t recommend enough)

Shane and Shane’s lyrics reminded me as well that as a father my most important role is to teach my daughter who God is….end of story.

Hey, hey, sweet daughter
I am so proud to be your father
Each day’s like a gift from God.

Hey hey sweet daughter
There’s no music like your laughter
And your smile is like a rising sun.

You know I love you from the start
So come in close take my hand
While daddy shares his heart.

I wish that I could be your everything
Be the one who give you all the things you need
Sometimes I am gonna let you down
But there is a way if you just believe
He’ll be your hero like He’s always been for me
Daughter Jesus is the one you need.

No matter what you walk through
He will always love you
Just the way you are.

for there’s nothing in this world
There all for my baby girl
Until be happy ever after.

The history at your life still untold
I pray the King of all the universe, will make your heart His home.

(Chorus)

Who will never leave spending it all alone
All in your where you came fight to Lord.

Shane and Shane have been so kind to offer up their new album to 5 commenters on this blog post. Here’s how it will work:

Leave a comment below answering the question:

What do you think is the most important piece of advice that a father needs to know about raising a daughter?

You have till this Friday (August 19, 2011) at 12pm Central time to post your comment and then I will randomly draw five commenter’s names and contact you with the code for a free purchase of their new album. So don’t forget to put your email in the comment section below.

And in the meantime….if you can’t wait to see if you win, check out their new album or connect with the guys online.

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

Dawn Carter: What Are You Passionate About?

March 27, 2009 in Ministry-Theology, Technology-Social Media with 4 Comments

dec_headshot_dh01Who is Dawn Carter?
I met Dawn online about a year and a half ago, and we soon found out that some students that I had in in the college ministry I pastored in Los Angeles, she had had in her youth group. That was our connecting point, and from there we have had the opportunity to connect in person on a couple of occasions. She has always been a huge encouragement to me, especially the last time we chatted at the Innovation3 Gathering in Dallas this last January. Dawn, not only has encouraging words to share with others, but they always seem to be so timely and prophetic as well.

Dawn is the Director of Marketing for 360Hubs, which is a web tool thats “goal is to connect people, content and ideas around an affinity need.” She is also an active member of Sandals Church in Riverside, CA. You can find Dawn blogging at Chronicles of Dawnia as well as twittering away.

Dawn, I appreciate your ministry, both online and in-person. (Not that we are distinguishing between the two).

In Her Own Words

What are you really passionate about?

I am passionate about God’s love, truth and light breaking cycles of brokenness in His Bride, the Church. Although a church-attender all my life, I’ve lived so much of my life feeling distant from God’s love, but knowing it with my head. I’ve also wasted tons of years living with lies—holding onto distorted images of who He was, who I was to Him. Now, my life is a walking example that God can take anyone, no matter how messed up they are (e.g. externally religious, morally bankrupt) and use them as a “planting for the display of His splendor”. Because these two themes — head knowledge without heart and living with lies– were prevalent while I was very churched, I am really passionate about God’s people stepping out of darkness and experiencing freedom from religiosity, addictions, shame, lies and un-grieved places in their hearts. I absolutely love seeing God free captives, especially those trapped in church culture.

Continue Reading…

What Keeps You Centered?

February 18, 2009 in Therapy-Psychology with 9 Comments

What keeps you centered?

pavmark2This is a question that I have been thinking about a lot.  And it’s a question that I ask a lot of my clients, and my friends.

If centered is not the right word for you, how about: grounded, balanced, focused.

Anxiety is one of the biggest issues that I usually work with clients on, and it is probably one of the most prevalent issues that friends and acquaintances ask my advice on.

Having something that daily centers us can help reduce the anxiety in our lives. I have tried to use this practice in my own life in various spheres.

So for example:

  • As a Christian, God, my life in Christ is what centers me, or helps keep me grounded. My dependence  upon, and relationship with God has helped reduce a lot of anxiety in my own life. That is sometimes hard for us to wrap our minds around. We think it, believe, know it (theologically), but to practice it is difficult. This can be practiced through a life of prayer and reading and meditation upon the Scriptures, worship, community, etc.


  • I also exercise as often as I can. Not as much as I would like to, but I’m working on it. When I ran back to back marathons in October 2007 and March 2008, I felt the most grounded, non-anxious and confident that I have ever felt. Exercise has a way of keeping us centered. I often recommend pilates, yoga, walking, running or some form of exercise to people as a way to center them and help reduce anxiety.


  • There are certain rituals that I like in the morning to help ground me. A cup of coffee in my hand at the beginning of my work day has a certain centering effect upon me. Rituals like long drives with great music playing also helps.



What works for you to keep you centered, grounded, balanced, well focused?

Share some tips….

Taking Risks…..

September 11, 2008 in Ministry-Theology with 6 Comments

Saw this gem in The Dallas Morning News this morning.

It’s a quote by Alexander Muse who I have been following on Twitter.

“In Silicon Valley, it’s normal to quit your job and work at a start-up,” he said. But in Dallas, he sees many entrepreneurs “keeping their passion on the side.”

Locked into payments on 5,000-square-foot homes in the suburbs and tuition for private schools, these would-be entrepreneurs “go to work and trudge through their jobs and save their cool stuff for at night or on the side,” Mr. Muse said.

Great comment on so many levels.

I have been talking to more and more people who work crazy hours and pull late nights because that’s the only time for them to pursue their passion. I am guilty of that as well.

Whether it’s writing, blogging, dreaming (that’s me), or other things such as photography, web design, networking, etc. (other friends), there is often one BIG hitch. SECURITY.

All of us want security. So our day jobs often provide the security for us to live, but we would really love our passions to pay out.

But many take risks. Quit jobs. Move states. Plant churches. Launch start up companies. Cut expenses so one parent can stay home with children.

As I was talking to a friend the other day he encouraged me and reminded me about living a more risk-filled, adventerous life.

As a Christian, the Biblical story is definitely not safe. From the get go it’s about people throwing their faith and trust in God and going forth into new places, traveling through deserts, crossing seas, facing persecution.

But somehow, 2000 years later, we play it pretty safe.

One of the reasons my wife and I and daughter moved to Dallas was to be closer to family, but to also take some risks, not be tied to an expensive mortgage like we were in CA, etc. And it’s scary, but God is faithful, and it’s amazing the opportunities that have come our way since we have moved.

If it’s not security, why do you play it safe?

If you don’t play it safe, what are you doing differently?

Daily Reflecting on God

April 21, 2008 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

As a college director I get to be a part of many amazing student’s lives. And one of the things I enjoy the most is sitting down with them over a cup of coffee and talking about life, God, theology, their passions, etc., etc. Those of you working with college students know exactly what I mean.

One of my former students, who I always enjoyed sitting down over coffee with, is writing a blog called out loud, and it’s awesome.

Jennifer Hall is blogging about what I wish I had the discipline to do. Many attempt it, but lack the follow through (i.e. me).

Jennifer is blogging through Bible…or rather, blogging about her daily reading of the Bible. Here is what she says:

As I read a few chapters in the Bible each day I ask two questions:

What do these verses tell me about God’s character?

What do these verses mean to me right now?

She is a great writer. Check out her “Mission Statement” and “What is this?” page.

It’s been very insightful for me. She has always asked good questions about God, her faith, etc., which is what made coffee time so challenging and great for me.

A Christmas Reflection

December 25, 2007 in Uncategorized with 2 Comments

Flesh and Glory….great stuff from Ben Witherington. (HT: Tod Bolsinger)

Excerpt:

The baby lying in the manger reminds us, not of the inherently righteous character of those God came to favor. It reminds us not of the inherently good character of all humanity. It reminds us that in spite of everything we have become, God still loves us, and has provided a means by which we may be saved, if we will but respond to the Good News, if we will but welcome this one child into our homes and lives.