How does God feel about social networking?  I’ve been thinking a lot about this recently and I want to know what you think and get a conversation started.

Here’s what I think:  I think God loves social networking.   It allows people to connect and it allows people to spread a message very easily.   How can God be against that?  If it allows us to connect more easily and if it allows us to communicate with people around the world and share some hope with them, I think God must be pleased with that.  After all, the second of the great commandments is to love your neighbor as yourself.  If we can use social networking to reach others and connect, inspire, give hope or encourage then I think God’s all for that.

Here’s what I think God does not like about it:   The first of the ten commandments – “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Plain and simple – put God first.

Here is where I struggle and have to repent.  I used to be pretty good about spending some quiet time with God before I started my day.  Recently, I’ve found myself checking Twitter or Facebook first thing, checking to see what the pulse is of my network, who’s saying what, etc.  What little nuggets of information can I learn.

You might say I’m being too legalistic and perhaps you’re right.  However, when God says “put Me first”, He means it.  And I don’t want to mess that up.   When I start to care more about what my social networking friends are saying over what God is trying to say to me, then we’ve got a serious problem.

What’s your take on this?   Can you relate with me?  Have you ever thought about this?  Do you care?   Does this provoke you to examine your recent habits?  Let me know your thoughts.

What do you think the difference is between making an intentional decision and just making a decision?   I think making an intentional decision is about taking the time to thoroughly evaluate the decision and put it through some filters.

In my Truth At Work group, we often talk about 4 steps to Biblical decision making:

1. God's Word - What does God's word have to say about your situation or your decision?   If the decision clearly goes against what is in the Bible, it's easy:  don't do it.

2. Prayer - Have you taken the time to actually pray about the decision?   Don't be surprised at the insights you'll get.

3. Godly Counsel - Have you asked other people's advice on the matter?   By other people I mean, people you trust and people who have a Biblical worldview.

4. Personal Experience - How has your past personal experience been around this type of decision?   If you've been burned before, that should help point you in the right direction.

I think these four steps really help make it clear how to make an intentional decision.   Anyone can make a decision, but oftentimes we later regret the decision.  These four steps might help reduce that possibility.

What do you think?  Do you have any good stories around good or bad decision making?

This morning my wife Holli and I took our boys out for breakfast.   Caleb our 2 year old was sitting on my lap because he said he wasn't feeling well.    Our food came and we all started eating.   About 10 minutes into the meal Caleb throws up all over the front of his shirt.   He was back on my lap at this point, so luckily I was able to grab his shirt and catch most of it.    We took his shirt off and wrapped a coat around him and Holli took him out to the car.   She had mostly finished her breakfast and I was going to pay the bill.

Here's the thing though:  I'm a slow eater.  I still had a lot of food left.  Plus with Caleb on my lap, it was hard to eat.    So after getting barfed on, what did I do?   I'm a parent, what do you think I did?  Of course, I kept eating.   I cleaned my plate while I waited for that bill and it was quite tasty!

I think one true mark of a parent is the ability to handle barf and just move on.   How about you?  What are some other true marks of a parent?

I wanted to pass along some links to two blogs that I follow that will help you further your quest into being a more intentional husband. 

The Marry Blogger -- How To Handle Rough Weather In Your Marriage

http://www.themarryblogger.com/2009/04/12/handling-rough-weather-marriage/

I liked this:

Keep the Skies Clear Crystal Blue in Your Marriage By:

*Paying attention to your relationship.

*Continuing to grow in your communication. If something isn’t working, change it!

*Preparing together for the week ahead, and adjusting expectations.

Todd Wilson, The Family Man -- You Can Learn A Lot From A Dummy

http://www.familymanweb.com/newsletter/you-can-learn-a-lot-from-a-dummy

Todd tells us to listen and not "fix" our wives.  Make her feel like she's number one (she is right?).

I was feeling creative and out poured this poem.   I normally don't write poems, so I feel a little awkward posting this.  Sort of like I'm exposing a part of my soul.  However, I wanted you to read it.

I'm sad and I cry.  I'm not worthy of this.

There are many different ideas of things that a man could do to be a more intentional husband.  Here are 10 ideas that I thought of that would make me a more intentional husband.

1.  Stop in the middle of your day, call your wife just to see how she is doing

2.  Send your wife a random text to let her know you're thinking of her

3.  Call a babysitter and proactively schedule a date with your wife

4.  Take off early one day from work and come home and surprise your wife

5.  Buy your wife flowers for no reason

6.  Write a poem for your wife

7.  On your next date let your wife choose everything you do 

8.  Rent your wife's favorite movie and watch it together

9.  If your wife does most of the cooking, surprise her by taking the family out for dinner instead one night

10.  Pray for and with your wife

What about you?  What other ideas do you have?

Since Easter is this coming weekend I thought I would read this week about the death and resurrection of Jesus.   I’m going to be reading in John this week.   I started last night at John 12 where Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey.   Since yesterday was Palm Sunday, I figured that was a good place to start.

I’m probably going to be jumping around between Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but I thought I would just start with John.

Key point I got so far:

Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.   Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.  My Father will honor the one who serves me.

My takeaway:

Jesus had to die to pay the penalty of our sin.  But He is also going to show His power over death.  We must be willing to lay down our own self-centeredness and do all we can to serve God and others.

Anybody want to join me this week in reading?    

Chapter 1 of Proverbs starts out with a Prologue called "Purpose and Theme".    I was reading this today and it really struck me.    The purpose and theme of the proverbs is exactly what I want.

It says the proverbs are:

for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;

for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;

for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young-

let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance-

for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.

Come on, be honest, who doesn't want this?  I think all other things in life flow from these qualities.

Here's the last part, what verse 7 says:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

What is "fear of the Lord"?    Here's what Wikipedia says:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_the_Lord  I like the last sentence:  

As Robert B. Strimple says, "It is the convergence of awe, reverence, adoration, honor, worship, confidence, thankfulness, love, and fear."