Category Archives: General

The Best

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I am amazed—well saddened actually—when I observe husbands and dads seeking to give their wife and children a good gift, whether it be for Christmas or a birthday, and yet they pass up giving the best gift they could possibly give. The best gift is free, yet costly. Why give good when you can give the best? It’s not just a great idea but a command of the Spirit.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” (Ephesians 5:25)

Jesus Christ gave His life—everything—for His Bride and “children.” We, too, are commanded to give all. Will we? Our families need us.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)

Merry Christmas!

Steve

Keeping Score

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Some keep score of hurts.
Some keep score of dollars.
Some keep score of favors granted.
God keeps score of every idle word.

Am I gracious and kind with others, especially my wife and children? It takes so little to cause a deep hurt. May I build them up, not tear them down.

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)

Steve

Ouch

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Disease comes in varying severities. Leprosy, for instance, is an awful disease that hideously disfigures a person. I understand that one major problem with leprosy is that sufferers might have no feeling in their extremities, such as their fingers or toes. Thus the person can’t tell when he is doing something that is damaging to his hands or feet.

A leper can pick up a scalding hot pan and severely burn himself and not even know it. Though most of us do all we can to avoid pain, lepers understand that pain is a good thing in protecting the body.

Pain is a warning signal, and as much as we dislike it, it is a very good thing. Pain is much like an alarm on your home security system, which alerts you that something is wrong and of possible danger.

I wonder if many dads are “spiritual lepers.” The “body” of his family is experiencing pain, but instead of taking measures to stop it, he ignores it or perhaps is so out of touch that he doesn’t even sense it. The result is not pretty. The good news for the family is that there is hope, but fixing the “disease” of many bad decisions is painful and takes both time and commitment.

“But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.” (Luke 11:17)

Steve

It’s in the Trash!

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steve-seriouslyTwo years ago the Maxwell men wanted to grow beards for a planned trip to Colorado, and I decided to participate. I found two things I liked about the beard—my “new” face and not shaving. Frankly, I soon came to prefer my appearance with the beard. It took some adjusting for Teri, but over time she came to like it better, too. The “no shaving” needs no further explanation. Don’t be fooled, however. I soon discovered that trimming a beard once a week is much more involved than simply shaving every day.

Lately, I’d been feeling the nudging of the Holy Spirit to shave it. Why? Who knows, but I became certain the Lord was leading me to. So the beard is gone.

The benefits:

  • Teri loves kissing my smooth face (much preferred over the prickly beard).
  • Anna and Mary love that they can now see my facial expressions whereas they couldn’t with the beard.
  • Teri loves kissing my smooth face (much preferred over the prickly beard).
  • Shaving is definitely easier than trimming (even though it probably takes a bit longer when totaled over the week’s time).
  • Teri loves kissing my smooth face (much preferred over the prickly beard).
  • I realized that men who are trusted are typically beardless—military personnel, most corporate leaders, and police officers. (This one may be difficult to swallow for some, but it is what it is.)
  • Teri loves kissing my smooth face (much preferred over the prickly beard).

“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”
(Galatians 5:18)

Steve

Do You Need a Jump Start?

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I am excited to announce to Seriously Dads that I am leading an ITonRamp.com Business Jump Start course beginning September 30. We have not mentioned it yet on the Titus2 blog or Corners list because I wanted to let you men know first since we are anticipating the need to limit enrollment so that every registrant gets the attention he needs. So if you are a dad on the Seriously list who wants to improve your business, I want to be able to work with you!steve2014blog - Version 3

Whenever we receive an email from a mom who mentions that her husband has a business that is struggling, my heart goes out to her. I know that what struggling business owners often need most is someone with business experience to come alongside. That is what Jump Start is. It is for the Christian who wants to “rev up” his business, whether it is a start-up or established venture.

There will be a weekly webinar (at least 30 minutes in length) in each of the five weeks of the course. If you are not available to watch at the scheduled time, no problem, you can view it after work. The part I’m most excited about is the individual, weekly, 30-minute Skype session during which we will work together on specific issues that relate to your business. Click the Business Jump Start for more information, and if you have any questions, email me. I am looking forward to working with you.

“With the advice and instruction I received from Steve, I have been able to better understand the business world. My business has become more organized and efficient, and I make almost twice as much as I did before as a result of his business experience.” —
Brandon

Steve

How Do I Rate?

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Use the PDF:  HOW DO I RATE

“Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband” (Ephesians 5:33).

“That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children” (Titus 2:4).

Steve

WARNING – Lest You Be Tempted

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Do you blame your dad for some of the sins you struggle with? Do you think that God “goes easy” on the children who have adopted the sins of their father?

Each of us has a choice. Will we blame our sins on our father or humbly learn from his errors? We would be well advised to learn from our father’s failings, repent of them, and make right choices.

God in His mercy and grace gave Nebuchadnezzar 12 months to repent after warning him in his dream. His son Belshazzar, however, followed in his dad’s proud footsteps and reaped the consequences of his life on the very night God warned him. God did not give the son even 24 hours to repent. He did not get a “pass” because of the sins of his father.

I believe Scripture teaches that we are wise to learn from, repent of, and flee from our father’s sins. A son had better learn from his father’s mistakes and not make excuses for embracing them. God did not excuse Belshazzar because of his father’s sin of pride. He chastened him because he should have repented.

“And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this” (Daniel 5:22).

Steve

 

 

Not Your Mother

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Remember those days growing up when our moms helped us with everything? What they didn’t do for us, they reminded of and then oversaw the execution of what needed to be done.

But now that we are men we have the discipline to do what needs to be done. Isn’t that one indicator of a real man? We make difficult decisions and execute them. A decision means nothing if we don’t follow through and do it. Sadly, for those who don’t, their poor wives often try to be both their wife and mother. 🙁

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

Steve

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Did You Know You Have a Garden?

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“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1

The Garden of Eden was perfect for some amount of time after God put Adam and Eve there. Then how could this mess of a world have resulted from something so perfect? Adam had a wonderful wife, he had the perfect job, he had a fantastic place to live (debt-free), and they were in fellowship with their God.  Why didn’t the “story” have a happy ending?

Even if a family is doing great, how on guard is Dad against the subtle works of the “enemy” to wear down or divide his family? A dad will do almost anything once a crisis has occurred, but why not expend that level of effort to prevent it? Should a dad be just defensive or should he be proactive to avoid heartache? Do you have your children's hearts and how careful are you to keep them? This is serious business!

Steve

Still time to sign up for the Seriously Fast Monday, March 23rd.

It Takes Maintenance

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“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics is at work around us. We see it in the fact that nothing improves naturally, but everything decays, falls apart, or wears out over time. Have you noticed that items of value—such as your car, your house (and everything in it), and your yard—take maintenance to continue performing reasonably well? Things of little or no value we dispose of: No maintenance required.

Even non-physical things decay and require upkeep as well. Consider your vocational skills, relationships with your wife, children, neighbors, brothers and sisters in Christ, and, most of all, your Lord.

Doing the required maintenance at best only prevents further degradation. What about improvements? Growth? Advancement? If we want our children to learn and grow, how are we setting the example?

How are you growing in vocational skills? What are you doing to become more valuable to your customers or employer? How much time and effort are you investing to deepen your relationships with your wife and children and especially with the Lord Jesus Christ?

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Steve