Lincoln Logs

He decreed statutes for Jacob

and established the law in Israel,

which he commanded our forefathers

to teach their children, so the next generation would know them,

even the children yet to be born,

and they in turn would tell their children.

Psalm 75:5-6

Lincoln Logs were created by John Lloyd Wright son of famous architect Frank Lloyd Write. John claimed that his inspiration came from the foundation to Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel, which he saw while under construction. It was his father’s design. It got me thinking about laying foundations that will influence our children.
Recently I have been inspired by the burden that the Lord has laid on my wife’s heart to really and truly make the most of this time God has given us to influence our children for Christ. What an amazing challenge, responsibility and privilege we who are parents have been given to influence our children during the most formative years of their development. We need to be modeling, mentoring and laying the foundations of faith that our children might grow up in the knowledge of our Lord. I am also keenly aware (as we try to nurture the 5 kids in my home) that we can not do it alone. Let us not make the mistake of so emphasizing the need for strong nuclear family that we neglect the essential love support and influence of our greater family. I know that we could not successfully raise our kids without the help of extended family, especially the grandparents who invest so much in our children. We also need the input of our church family. When we recognize that we as a church are, in fact, family then we all have a role and responsibility to be investing and nurturing the younger generations in our midst.

The Top

It seems the top has been making its way into cultures around the globe (on every continent but Antarctica!) for years now, proving it deserves a place in any list of pop-culture icons. The most classic design is based on two features, the first being a singular point of focus. The second is continuous motion (spinning) around that singular point of focus. Without either of these two things, the top simply falls over and stagnates. It is here that I found myself thinking about an analogy for the spiritual life.
In many ways our spiritual life is like a top in that it too must have a singular point of focus, that being Christ. We must at all times, like the hymn reminds us, turn our eyes upon Jesus. Hebrews reminds us similarly to “fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrew 12:2). Christ must be at the centre of our lives if we are to live a healthy productive spiritual life.
Secondly, our spiritual life must also demonstrate consistent motion around that singular point of focus. I am not referring to business and an endless, unfocused expending of energy, but an intentional inclusion of spiritual exercise and development. Some examples might include scripture (daily time, opportunities for deeper study and scripture memorization), prayer, fellowship, serving and witnessing. By actively practicing what some would call “spiritual disciplines” we can ensure the continued development and maturing in our spiritual life that scripture calls for (eg. Hebrews 5:11-14).
Let us aim for the singular point of focus and consistent motion around that point that will ensure a healthy, vibrant and useful life!

Lite-Brite

…Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:16

The design of the lite-brite is really quite ingeneous. Using coloured translucent pegs to perforate a black sheet that blocks an internal light, the light pours out giving the effect of painting with light! The interesting thing is that no matter how simple or sophisticated the design, no matter how elementary or elegant the artwork, they all depend on the same light to have any effect. Without the light the designs can hardly be seen and have little to no impact.
It is much the same with the Christian life. We are called to make an impact in this dark world. We too are called to let our light shine. Our impact, however, has more to do with the light within us then what we offer. It is what Jesus, the light of the world, longs to do in us and through us that is important. Often the best thing we can do is try to get out of the way and stop hindering the light from flowing out. It is challenging, humbling and yet empowering at the same time.
So go ahead…be bold…be creative…but be intentional and
Let Your Light Shine!

Frisbee

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Luke 15:2

Apparently, the origin of the Frisbee traces back to college students tossing empty pie tins from the Frisbee Baking Company. This only goes to prove my theory that all good things involve food. I am only partly kidding. Look at Jesus’ miracles – wine at a wedding banquet, feeding 5000, a miraculous catch of fish. And then there is the Lord’s Supper (communion) instituted to commemorate His sacrificial death. These examples are just the beginning of the many times that Jesus and food mix in the gospels. So what’s with all the food? Did Jesus just like to eat? Perhaps, but I think it goes beyond just eating. Where there is food there are people eating food, and people matter to Jesus.
I had a professor who once reminded me that there are only two things that last (eternally) – God and people. It is a reminder to consider where it is that we are investing our time and energy. If we, the church, are to make an eternal difference we must be about people. We don’t find people for programs, but programs for people. We should not be about rituals but relationships. We should not be about pyrotechnics or PowerPoint but people. Let us never lose our focus.