How Not To Parent

Good morning. It is Saturday, August 8, 2015.

Today’s word of the day, from the Oxford English Dictionary, is panjandrum. It is a noun, meaning, “(A mock title for) a mysterious (freq. imaginary) personage of great power or authority; a pompous or pretentious official; a self-important person in authority. Also Grand Panjandrum, Great Panjandrum.” It can also mean ” Ceremonial fuss or formality; rigmarole.”

Today is Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day. I swear I am not making this up! And seriously . . . how fun would that be?? I would suggest raw zucchini, personally.

As expected, I had to work late again, last night. We didn’t get off until just after 6:00 PM. Christi picked up our Sonic drinks (we should own stock in that company), and I stopped by O.C. Burger and picked up some “naked” breakfast burritos for dinner. That just means you get all the innards of the burrito in a bowl instead of a tortilla. They’re delicious!

Not much else happened, as we watched a few TV shows and relaxed for the rest of the evening. Today, Christi and I both have eye doctor appointments. She needs her prescription increased, and I’m trying to get some glasses that will help me read music. My distance vision is still pretty good (I had lasik almost 11 years ago), and standard OTC reading glasses are fine for reading books, but I’m struggling to read the band music on a stand, approximately three feet from my face. I can see it okay, but things like key signatures and accidentals are difficult. I just need a little bit more clarity. Last Monday night, the guy who sat next to me had some prescription reading glasses he had obtained for just that purpose. So we’re going to look into that today.

After that, we will have our usual prayer gathering and worship gathering, this evening, starting at 4:45. I have PAT meeting after church tonight, so it will be a late one.

On this date in 1863, General Robert E. Lee, after being defeated at Gettysburg, sent a resignation letter to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The resignation was refused. In 1908, Wilbur Wright made his first public flight at a racecourse near Le Mans, France. In 1911, the one millionth patent was filed at the Patent Office. Filed by Francis Holton, it was for a tubeless vehicle tire. In 1929, the Graf Zeppelin began a round-the-world flight. On this date in 1945, the U.S. became the third nation to join the U.N. In 1963, 15 train robbers stole 2.6 million pound notes in England. In 1974, Richard Nixon announced his resignation as U.S. President, in the wake of the Watergate scandal. And, in 1988, the lights were turned on at Wrigley Field. Wrigley was the last MLB ballpark to host night games. The game was rained out after three and a half innings. I was able to find a clip of the ceremony.

Today’s birthdays include Bob Smith (founder of Alcoholics Anonymous), Dino De Laurentiis (Italian film producer), Esther Williams (American swimmer/actress), Mel Tillis (American country singer), Joe Tex (American singer), Frank Howard (American baseball player), Dustin Hoffman (American actor), Connie Stevens (American singer/actress), Keith Carradine (American actor), Ken Kutaragi (founder of Playstation), Don Most (American actor, Ralph Malph), The Edge (Irish guitarist, U2), Scott Stapp (American singer, Creed), Senta Moses (American actress, Beakman’s World), Tawney Cypress (American actress), and Roger Federer (Swiss tennis player).

Born on this date in 1935, Joe Tex was an American Southern soul singer. He passed away in 1982, after a heart attack. He had converted to Muslim and changed his name to Yusuf Hazziez. Here is one of his hits, “I Gotcha,” from 1971.

Shirley Jackson, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, Fay Wray, Gene Mauch, and Patricia Neal are among the notable deaths on this date.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

Today’s Bible reading is Genesis 37-38 and Matthew 15. In Genesis 37, Israel made his favoritism of Joseph a little too obvious by giving him what must have been a remarkable “robe of many colors.” This caused great jealousy in his brothers. We should not look to Israel for parenting examples. Joseph’s brothers hated him. They literally hated him. Of course, Joseph didn’t help his own cause any. He kept having dreams that were symbolic of his brothers bowing down to him. They had no way of knowing that these dreams would come to pass. But Joseph really didn’t have to go running to his brothers and gleefully tell them his dreams, every time. So they sold him into slavery and lied to their father and told him a wild animal killed Joseph. Problem solved. Not.

In Genesis 38, we find more bad parenting, as Judah’s mistreatment of his daughter-in-law, Tamar, resulted in her pretending to be a cult prostitute, and getting impregnated by Judah, himself!

In Matthew 15, Jesus calls the Pharisees hypocrites, because they break God’s commands for the sake of their traditions. Jesus made it clear that what a person consumes cannot make them unclean. Rather, it is what comes out of their mouths, because what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone. (19-20)

Today’s Psalm reading from Heart Aflame is Psalm 90:11.

Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?

“The minds of the godly alone are wounded with the wrath of God; nor do they wait for his thunderbolts, to which the reprobate hold out their hand and iron necks, but they tremble the very moment when God moves only his little finger.” (p 221)

(From Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God)

Today, I’m beginning chapter six, “Letters on Prayer.” In this chapter, Tim Keller will examine the writings of St. Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Calvin, as they relate to prayer. So far, “we have learned that prayer is the continuation of a conversation that God has started.” How has God started this conversation? First he implanted knowledge of himself in every person, then he spoke through his prophets and through the written Word, and then he speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, who resides in our hearts. We have also examined the nature of the Trinity, as it relates to prayer. “We can pray because God is our loving Father, because Christ is our mediator giving us access to the throne of the universe, and because the Spirit himself indwells us.”

The remaining sections of the book will be more practical. “How do we actually build on this foundation? In God and the gospel we have the spiritual resources to pray, but how do we actually do it?” In this chapter, Keller looks at personal letters on prayer written by Augustine and Luther. Later, he will look at Calvin’s treatment of prayer in his Institutes.

Father, I rejoice that we can learn about prayer from such great teachers as Timothy Keller, St. Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others. I believe that many people today miss out by not learning from some of these theologians and teachers from ages passed. There is so much to learn from so many people. I thank you that Keller has brought them together for us in this book. As I continue to read it, I pray that you will continue to teach me about prayer, as well as about knowing you.

I pray for this day, as we get out and about. I pray that we are safe, wherever we go. As we go to lunch, and then as we go to our eye doctor appointments, may your grace precede us and follow us. I pray for our gatherings tonight, that they will honor you and lift you high, in everything we do. I also pray for our PAT meeting tonight, that it will be honoring to you and that it will be productive for us.

Your grace is sufficient.

I hope everyone has a great Saturday today! Love God, follow Christ, and share the kingdom!

Grace and peace, friends.