A blessing for my sons

This past weekend our boys were baptized. (If you’re puzzled about that, read my brief case for infant baptism.) You can see pictures & video at the family blog.

Our church has a cool tradition where the fathers give a blessing before the baptism of a child. I read a verse for Sam and Foard, and then gave one blessing for both of them. Here it is.

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Samuel Nash Hunt: Every breath you take is a reminder of what your name means: “God has heard.” 1 Samuel 1:26-28: “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” Your mother and I pray for you today, that you will belong to God for your entire life, because he has blessed us with you.

Malachi Foard Hunt: We are so glad that you’ve joined us in this crazy season of our life. We pray that like your biblical namesake, you will be a messenger of the Lord of Hosts. Mal 4:2: “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.”

Our blessing for both of you boys comes from Foard’s verse, and it is simply this: Fear the Lord your God, and nothing else.

Don’t fear man, because he can’t ultimately harm you.
Don’t fear danger, because the Sovereign Lord is your shield.
Don’t fear failure, because your worth is not determined by your accomplishments but Christ’s.
Don’t fear death because he is the Resurrection and the Life.

Don’t fear anything, boys, except that you must fear the Lord your God. We want you to stand in awe of the Holy One of Israel.

Honor him as holy.
Tremble at his Word.
Prize him above all else.

We want you boys to be strong and very courageous. Be bold and daring and adventurous and brave in seeking the glory of our King and his kingdom.

Boys, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. If you fear the Lord your God, you will have nothing else to fear. And you will be wise sons who make your father and mother glad.

New recommended blog for dads

As you’ll note in the list to the side, I read very few serious blogs. But I’ve recently added another: The Responsible Father. Jamsco is a father of 7 kids 11 and under, and writes for dads who want to execute well their God-given role as the head of their household. (I love the tag-line: “When Jesus visits your home, he’ll ask for you, dads.”)

There are lots of mom-blogs and not many dad-blogs. This one is great, and has made me want to write on that topic more often.

“Who in the Hell Do You Think You Are?”

Mark Driscoll brings the noise in last week’s sermon, “Marriage and Men.”

Some of you guys have been coming here for years– you’ve still got your hands all over your girlfriend. Some of you guys have been coming here for years– you’re still not praying with your wife. Some of you guys have been coming here for years– you’re still single and having sex.

Even as I’m preaching the sermon, some of you guys will be sitting next to your girlfriend, your fiancee, or your wife– some of you guys have already given her that look: “Don’t cry, don’t let them know they’re talking about me, just hold it together.” You’ve already intimidated her right here. (…)

HOW DARE YOU? WHO IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? Abusing a woman, neglecting a woman, being a coward, being a fool! Being like your father Adam! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

When You Know You’re An Adult

Me last night:

No, son, you can’t have a cookie because you didn’t eat your broccoli.

At least it wasn’t “this is gonna hurt me more than it hurts you.” Although it turns out that’s true too.

Why Parenting is Scary

As the child relates to the figurehead of parental authority, in like manner he will later be prone to relate to God. If parents allow their commands to be treated lightly, the child will take the commandments of God lightly also. Children raised by fathers who are cautious and uncertain, slow to assume command, will grow up with no fear of God and no respect for his commandments.

Pearl, To Train Up a Child, 35

This used to happen at our house. It’s a lot better now.

A stopped clock’s right twice a day.

Over My Dead Body, Son

This kind of thing is why I love John Piper.

What Does Jesus Do to the Family?

At times Jesus seems very pro-family.

• He advocates a stricter standard for divorce than any of the prevailing views of the day (Matt 19:3-9).
• He elevates the status of children, women, and widows (Matt 19:13-15, Luke 8:1-3, many others).
• He emphasizes the fatherhood of God, comparing him to good human fathers (Matt 7:7-11).
• He shows compassion on parents by healing their children, raising them from the dead (e.g. Luke 7:11-15, where he raises a widow’s only son from the dead).
• He makes arrangements for his mother’s care after his death (John 19:26-27).

But at times he says and does things that mess with our family-friendly assumptions.

• He tells a man to follow him instead of burying his father (Luke 9:59-60).
• He encourages his disciples to leave their families to follow him (Matt 4:18-22, Mark 10:28-31).
• He leaves his own family, and “disowns” them when they don’t believe in him (Mark 3:31-35).
• He specifically says he’ll tear families apart, and that you must love him more than your family (Matt 10:34-37).

What does Jesus do to the family? He gives it a place of great importance: more important than almost anything on earth, but not more important than doing the will of God. Gospel trumps family for Jesus; obedience trumps family. So yes, honor your father and mother. But if Jesus calls you to follow him, don’t use the family business-or your father’s death-as an excuse to disobey him. Love, enjoy, cherish your family members. But don’t count pleasant family relationships as more important than the Gospel.

God grant that I will love my family more than anything else on earth-but never more than you. And grant that, by your mercy, my family will be one that’s united, not divided, by the Gospel of your Son.

Santa

Our plan: he’s not evil, but he’s pretend. (And pretending is fun!)

What’s yours?