The Value of Values

I take this to heart...

The Value of Values
He could have had the world handed to him by his father Warren. But as Peter Buffett tells it now, that would have been the worst thing for him.

Peter, in his new book Life Is What You Make It: Finding Your Own Path to Fulfillment, says that the values instilled in him by his parents and the opportunity to find his calling in life were worth more than any financial gift he could receive. As his father put it, people who are born with a silver spoon in their mouths end up with a silver dagger in their backs (meaning a sense of entitlement and a lack of personal achievement). Peter wound up, by his own words, normal and happy instead of spoiled.

"Entitlement is the worst thing ever, and I see entitlement coming in many guises. Anybody who acts like they deserve something ‘just because' is a disaster," he said.

When you have a sense of entitlement, nothing is ever good enough. You'll buy a car, then want a nicer car. Your house is never big enough—you'll constantly want to move up. Think of how bitter you'll become from a lifetime of wanting better stuff. Even after you get it, it's not good enough, thus you want even nicer stuff.

Fathers can be more susceptible to this because guys tend to place a higher value on stuff. Money is a scorecard and if we're not doing well financially, we feel we haven't accomplished anything. As Father's Day approaches, remember how important it is to set the right example for your child.

It doesn't take money; just a parent who cares. You don't need to be a millionaire to teach your kid how to put in a hard day's work, or how to live with integrity, or how to care for the people around him or her.

The best things in life can't be bought. When you teach your kids a valuable lesson and see them start to live by that principle, that's priceless. You can give your son or daughter true security in life by letting them find what their calling is (and allowing them to bump their knees while finding it) and instilling in them the values and discipline to become a self-sufficient adult.

When you say no, your kids will grow.

Source: Reuters 
 

39 and My Two-Minute Warning

As I stand on the doorsteps of 40, I'm "enjoying" turning 39 as best I can today.

Krissy greeted me with breakfast in bed - a gluten-free meal of waffles, apples, scrambled eggs with spinach & herbs and a glass of juice.  That was a surprise!  Then, after Anthem and Alex woke up, we, together, woke up Kaden who was greeted with "Kadie!!" by Anthem as she climbed all over him to wake him up.  (The boys were up late last night watching 'Toy Story').

A Memorable Memorial Day Weekend

My family and I spent the weekend at a camp ground with 25 or so other adults and kids at The Nest Family Camp (TNFC). The Nest is the name of our church. This was our second year going to family camp. The theme of the camp was SHINE - taken from Matthew 5:16.

I'm thankful for Jill Perry for organizing the theme and the teaching. I grew in my Christian walk this weekend. Particularly, I had never known or realized that when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments, his face was shining, glowing with radiant light. We studied The Sun, The Moon and The Stars and used creation to apply the fundamental truth that as believers, we are salt and light. Thank you, Miss Jill!

1 Corinthians 2:16

"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Jesus saw food when 5000 were hungry. He saw healing when multitudes were sick. He saw life when a child was dead. What He saw—took precedence over all other facts. You have that mind (1 Corinthians 2:16). Start seeing what He saw. SEE the solution in every problem.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity. - The Message

Sunday Morning Satire

Here's a video, my friend and neighbor posted on his blog.  I couldn't post for some reason because it wouldn't play.  So, I found the YouTube link.  See if your church looks anything like this...

The Lord's Prayer - New Quietime Podcast Series on MyQuietime.com

We start a new series in the Quietime Daily Devotion and Prayer Podcast today.  We focus on praying the way Jesus taught in Matthew 6:5-15.  This scripture is core to the Quietime mission and vision.  Each day we will be breaking down The Lord’s Prayer and bringing focus to it as God leads.  I trust it will enrich your personal prayer time and strengthen your relationship with God as a result.

In case you don't know, Quietime music is a series of instrumental piano music that's intended for use during personal prayer and worship time.   Check out the daily devotion and prayer podcast at myquietime.com.