Author Archives: paolo

“IT’S ALL GONNA BURN!”

I had a classmate years ago who had an interesting perspective.

Rich had a nice vintage Datsun roadster that I really liked. I met him in San Diego and I got to ride his car.

I would often compliment how nice his wheels were and how shiny the car was.

While he appreciated every blessing that came from God and acknowledged that every good and perfect gift comes from Him, he often replied with this statement:

“It’s all gonna burn anyway.”

I often wondered why he said that. I asked him one time and he told me that that statement helps him to keep things in proper view.

While thankful for the gifts God gives, everything he has and owns are temporary.

It helps him keep his eyes not on the things that are temporary but on the things that are of eternal value.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. (Proverbs 23:5)

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

WOUNDING A WEAK CONSCIENCE

Because many are careful not to be called a legalist, some have swung to the other side of the pendulum and have gone into extreme tolerance to the point of compromising convictions (impurity, obscenity, alcoholism, materialism, greed, pride, lashing with the tongue, etc).

“Because we’re now under grace and not the law,” we have used it to become a license to do whatever we want as long as it’s not technically or flat out sinful.

But the grace of God does not give us the license to do whatever we want. In fact, it urges us to live a life that pleases God because we have been saved undeservingly by His grace.

We obey not to be accepted. We obey because we have been accepted.
We please God not to earn His love. We please Him because we have received His love.

With this said, we live life in honor of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Notwithstanding this truth, we also consider those who are around us.

Because of this type of tolerance, it has caused others’ conscience to be wounded and some to fall from their faith.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:12, “When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.”

If we say because of God’s grace, we can do whatever we want, then we haven’t understood God’s grace at all.

Anyone who continues to live in Him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know Him or understand who He is. (1 John 3:6)

BUILDING HISTORY WITH YOUR KIDS

Every summer, one of the things I look forward to is our annual Me and My Dad Camp.

While it’s only an overnight trip, it can be one of the best moments a father can have with his son/daughter and vice versa.

While it takes a lot of effort to set up the tent, cook your own food, travel to the camping place, what that does is that you build history together as father and son.

Looks more like a science experiment than dinner…

There are things that you cannot accomplish if you are at home, especially with the distractions of iPads and TV.

Building history together includes stories at night before going to bed, cooking your meal even if they’re burnt, sweating and jumping in the pool to cool off, getting a splinter and helping your son take it out… These and many more that will add to having history together.

I remember Steve Murrell (founding pastor of Victory) telling us a story of a very successful pastor who has a congregation of thousands. This particular pastor’s son approached his dad during one of the church activities designed for families and disclosed that he couldn’t remember a time that he had fun with his dad.

Now that’s a bomb no father would ever want to hear from his son.

Dads, build history with your children. Find the opportunity to build memories. Remember, it’s something that can never be taken from them. Cars will rust. Medals can get lost. Money can get stolen. But memories? That stays for a very very very long time.

No amount of success in the workplace can compensate for failure at home.

Reminder from my wife on day 2.

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