Confession time!

Do you text while driving?

It seems whenever new technology comes out, it creates new problems when it is joined with driving.  Maybe you don’t text and drive, but do you email and drive?

Before “texting” there was talking on the phone while driving.  That combination alone may have caused many accidents on the road.  Before cell phones it was messing with your radio while driving that created problems for motorists.

Either way you look at it, anything that distracts us from the task at hand while driving can create a dangerous situation.  Life is full of distractions.  In a similar way I think anything that distracts us from loving God and loving others can create dangerous situations in life.

Jesus gave us a summary of the two must important focus in life.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:36-39, NIV)

If we love God and love others, we may reconsider daily distractions.  Any maybe “texting” and emails should be saved for red lights!

In His Grip,

Bobby

Date: March 7, 2010
Week 1: Jesus Teaches About Good Fruit (Luke 6:43-44)
Bible Study: Our Christ-like actions show we’re Christians.

Link:

http://www.pbase.com/ozlem4ever/rotten_fruit

Look at the photos of the rotting fruits and vegetables in order. Which would you rather see on your dining table, fruit from Day 1 or fruit from Day 40?

Link:

http://www.savoiafoods.com/fruit%20tray%202.jpg

At this site, look at the picture of the fresh fruit on the tray. What does the glow on the fruit tell you about it? How is the fresh fruit different from the rotting fruit that you saw at the first Web site?

In Luke 6:43-44, Jesus uses fruit to teach about the actions of people. Use what you have learned from the pictures you viewed to answer the following questions:
What did you see on the fruit’s skin that showed you that it was rotting? What did the outside signs tell you about the heart of the fruit? Was it useful once it rotted? Why or why not?

What things do you see on fresh fruit that make you want to eat it? What do those things tell you about the heart of the fruit?

What do an individual’s actions tell others about what is in the heart of that person? How do unbecoming actions affect a Christian’s testimony? What actions can you do to show others a healthy walk with Christ?

Group Publishing, http://www.group.com/tips/Default.aspx?tipID=8191

Link:

http://www.nncc.org/Guidance/dc14_develop.social.skill.html

Link:

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview?LPid=590

Link:

http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/demo_respect.htm

Use these Web sites to explore approaches for treating people in socially acceptable ways. Then read Luke 6:27-38. Based on this Scripture, how do you think God would like for Christians to treat others? Does God expect more or less than what is “socially” acceptable?

Take a piece of paper and write “Treatment of Others” at the top. Draw a vertical line down the center of the page. Label the first column “Socially Acceptable” and the second column “Acceptable to God.” As a family, think of behaviors that belong in each column. Compare the two sides of the paper. How are they alike? How are they different?

Prayer: God, help us remember to see others through your eyes and to treat them as you would.

Group Publishing, http://www.group.com/tips/Default.aspx?tipID=8095

Link:

http://www.nahee.org/awards/

Browse this site and read about the awards that are offered. In general, what qualities are rewarded? Do you know someone with any of these characteristics?

Link:

http://www.tor.com/homeofthebrave/meettheheroes.html

Look carefully at this site. It tells about heroes who earned awards for their courage. Suppose Christians received bravery awards. What sorts of Christian actions would you reward? Why?

Discuss the following questions as a family:

What are some of God’s rewards?

When will Christians receive God’s rewards? How do you know this?

What sorts of things does God reward? What does this tell us about God’s priorities? What is important to God?

Group Publishing, http://www.group.com/tips/Default.aspx?tipID=8094

Link:

http://www.stellure.com/

At this Web site, you can upload pictures of yourself and then let the computer show you how you would look with your hair cut in various styles. Sound like fun? Give it a try! Now think about this question: How would you know that someone has just been with a hair stylist?

Link:

http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/studentwork/cns/2003-04-11/230.asp

Look at the picture of the barber shaving his customer’s face. Consider this: How would you know that a man has just had his face shaved?

Link:

http://www.news.wisc.edu/6961.html

Check out this photograph and article about “purposeful” exercising. Then answer this question: How would you know that someone has just spent time exercising?

Read Luke 9:28-36 as a family and discuss the following:
What telltale signs let you know that someone has been with a hair stylist, barber, or personal trainer?

How can you tell that someone has been with God? What sorts of “signs” does God leave on those who spend time with him?

How could people in biblical times know that Jesus had been with God? Can you name events in Jesus’ life that show he was in constant contact with his Father? How did this let the world know that Jesus is God’s Son?

Close in prayer, recognizing Jesus as God’s Son and asking that you, too, will bear signs of spending time with God.

Group Publishing, http://www.group.com/tips/Default.aspx?tipID=8192

It’s amazing to see snow fall!

I love the picture painted in Scripture of how our Savior’s love can wash away our sin, whiter than snow.  That is a comforting truth!

As your family is snow bound, how are you redeeming the time?

After storm #1 of 2 to 3 inches of snow falling per hour and a record breaking snow fall of 32 inches is over.  What memories will be left?  Besides the snow wall lining your driveway that stretches to 5 feet, or pictures you took on your digital camera.  What impressions will you leave?  Now a few day’s later storm #2 is predicted to fall adding 16 to 20 more inches on top of the already 32 inches of snow.  Here is an opportunity to make a memory.  Have fun and enjoy your family!

Please share stories and ideas of what you and your family have done during the snow storm of 2010.  I am looking forward to hear from you!

In His Grip,

Bobby

Link:

http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/homeless.html

Link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/homeless/

Link:

http://hazel.forest.net/skjold/photo_pages/homeless.htm

Browse these sites, imagining yourself as the poor child, the forsaken elderly person, the prisoner, or the oppressed victim of poverty. Are there days when you feel spiritually poor or impoverished by circumstances that leave you tired and drained? Share these times with each other.

In Luke 4:14-21, Jesus is preaching in the synagogue. He promises that he has the power to free those who believe in him from poverty, imprisonment, and oppression. Discuss the following questions as a family:

Do you think Jesus meant that he would physically free people? Why or why not?

How might someone be free in Jesus without a change of circumstances? Explain.

As a family, take a few moments to brainstorm all the ways that Jesus frees you. How does knowing that you are free in Christ make you feel?

Group Publishing, http://www.group.com/tips/Default.aspx?tipID=8091