I read a statistic this morning that said only 20 percent of teens say they have parents who pray and study the Bible as a family.  This is alarming but not unexpected.  If we look at today’s society we can see the fruit of our “Christian” families.  Our teenagers are impressionable and will gain their values from somewhere.  MTV, sitcoms, music, media or YOU!

What are we investing in our children?  I believe that fifteen minutes a day can shape the life of a teen for eternity.  If we as parents will dedicate ourselves to pray and read the Bible with our families I would dare say our families would grow closer.  If our children know that we are praying with them and for them, they will feel free to come to us when they are facing peer pressure or some other struggle.

It does not have to be a three point sermon at night but rather just share something that God has ministered to you through His Word.  Or maybe that is where our problems lie.  When we do not study the Word ourselves, it is hard to do that as a family.  If you will make prayer and the Word of God a central part of your family, we can change the world one family at a time.

At the Cheney house we have started having family devotion time at night once again.  We used to and stopped for a while because there wasn’t “enough time”.  Then we realized we just need to make the time.  That means setting something aside for fifteen minutes and giving attention to the spiritual direction of our family.  You can do the same! 

What is more important television or your kids spiritual vision?  Sports and athletics or spiritual fitness?  Fifteen more minutes of rest or eternal rest?  You decide!

Time seems to disappear.  It seems like one week is over and it is time to get ready for another Sunday.  Between ministry responsibilities, everyday responsibilities and trying to work in family time in there, life is tough.

We took a drive to Pleasure Island last night and we noticed all of the people fishing on “our” pier.  This was the place Josh and I went often.  In the last year and a half we haven’t done much fishing because it seems like we just don’t have the time.  Josh spoke up and said, “I’m thinking about giving up fishing because we just don’t have the time for it.”  Talk about a dagger in the heart.  I am trying to make a conscious effort to make more time for Sonya, Josh and Hannah but it seems time just disappears.

I have made myself a goal to spend more time with my family and especially my 13 year old.  Before long he will be out of the house.  I don’t want to regret not spending time with him.

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday.  We are celebrating the day by looking at the marks of a Spirit-filled church and Sunday night we will talk about why we need the baptism in the Spirit.  Be in prayer for our Sunday Services that God would move, lives would be changed and people filled with the Spirit.  Don’t forget about Sunday School.  This is a vital part of our church ministry that helps us teach the Word of God

Last night, we finished our Heaven series.  We talked about Living In The Light Of Eternity.  All of us need to have our minds focused more on eternal things.  There is more to this life than just this life.  We must be focused on doing things that will last for eternity.

Invite Someone To Church, it might change their life!

Having an 8 month old around the house has been an adventure.  Things are definitley not the same as before.  It is great but it has its challenges, especially when it comes to me taking care of Hannah without Sonya there. 

On Wednesday nights after church it is the Cheney ritual for me to take home Hannah while Sonya stays for music practice.  This only lasts for about an hour and a half but for me it seems like five hours.  The funny thing about babies is that you have to take care of them all the time.  You have to feed them, change their diapers, change their clothes, feed them, change their diapers, change their clothes and then you have to feed them, change their diapers and change their clothes.  Whew! I am tired just thinking about it.

A couple of weeks ago Sonya spoke at Victory Temple and in her preparation I volunteered to take care of Hannahwhile Sonya studied and got ready.  Over the course of a couple of days Hannah and I had “bonding” time.  I fed her, changed her diaper and changed her clothes, and we also spent some time playing on the floor.  That was a rough weekend.

I stepped away from that experience and realized that men are sissies.  A woman can outwork a man a thousand times.  God created mothers differently than He created fathers.  A man is not equipped to handle the pressures and loads of a mother.  It amazes me how Sonya has time to be a pastor’s wife, mother, one of our worship leaders and still attend all services, including prayer meeting and Sunday School.  She keeps the house clean, fixes dinner and still finds time to feed Hannah, change her diaper and change her clothes.

I tell you what, I will be the first to admit that men are sissies, but I am glad that I was not created to be a mother.  If that was the case, I would have decided not to have any kids…it is easier that way:)  God bless you, moms!

In the Cheney house there is a part of the house that I rarely venture into.  It is in the formal dining room, in the corner.  I spent a lot of time in corners during childhood and I still do not like it, this corner especially.  Almost everyday, I hear something in that corner call my name.  It beckons me to come and share quality time there.  I usually just push the notion aside, go to the freezer and make me a large bowl of Dreyer’s Drumstick Ice Cream.  Is there any thing better in life?

Last night the call was irresistible.  I answered the call to this corner and for thirty minutes spent rare quality in the corner.  Yes, I got on the treadmill.  As I exercised and sweat I was somewhat invigorated by the blood flowing through my heart that rarely sees that much consistent exercise.  After all I always felt that the only reason to run was when someone was chasing you with a gun.  But the exercise wasn’t all that bad.

Then came the revelation.  After thirty minutes of exercise, I looked at the calorie counter, where it tells how many calories I burned and it read 180.  180?  That’s it, that’s all I burned.  That equals a little more than one can of Dr. Pepper.  There is the revelation.  Quit drinking Dr. Pepper I won’t have to exercise anymore:) 

On another note, today is the last day of school.  I always remember the last day of school as one of excitement.  No school for 3 months.  Josh is excited!  He is a good student but doesn’t like school.  I never did either.  I still don’t like it that is why I am not going anymore (or maybe I don’t go to school anymore because I am 35.)

I have been reading Ablaze For God by Wesley Duewel.  It is a great read!  In it he chronicles great men of God who walked in God’s power.  John Wesley and Charles Finney.  I wonder often what men like that would think of the American church today.  They saw great results.  Masses were saved.  People’s lives were transformed by the power of the Spirit, but why did God use them?  What made them so much different than the rest of us today?  Prayer, fasting and the Spirit-filled life. 

Today’s church has great methods and we are utilizing all that is available to build the church but one thing we lack that cannot be manufactured is the power of God.  Do we long for genuine conversions anymore?  I am challenged to dig in and pray more.  To seek God and fast that we might be able to see the results that were from “yesteryear”.  I do not believe we ought to go back to the traditions of man because traditions did not generate converts.  We must go back to the basics…prayer, fasting and a continual filling of the Holy Spirit.

Join with me and let’s pray that God’s power might be manifest in our church and communities.

We got the tables for the YAGS cafe yesterday.  They are already set up and ready to use.  There is still some other things to do in the Cafe but it is usable and ready for fellowship already.  I am excited about the future of this coffee shop.  It will help us fulfill  the vision we have to create an atmosphere to build relationships. 

Come by the church and check it out.  It looks great!