Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!
Each Sunday, I share seven things I stumbled upon or experienced from the previous week - It could be a quote, an idea, a podcast, an album, a sermon, an article, a personal story, or anything else that impacted me, and will hopefully impact you too.
1. Types of Friends
In Aristotle’s work Nichomachean Ethics, he outlines three types of friends: utility based, pleasure based, and character based.
Utility based friends benefit you in some way. Think co-workers, professional contacts, etc.
Pleasure based friends are people you enjoy hanging out with. Most people we consider to be our friends fall into this category.
Character based friends make you a better person.
It’s okay and perfectly normal to have friends that fall into each of these categories, but it is so important for all of us to have at least a couple of character-based friends. You weren’t meant to live the Christian life on your own. You need people to hold you accountable and push you toward righteousness.
2. “Lord, I’m done. I’m done.”
Talk about using the spotlight to give the world a real sense of what it’s like to follow Jesus. Here is some of Kentucky baseball Head Coach Nick Mingione’s amazing press conference after winning the Super Regional and advancing to the College World Series for the first time in school history.
“2022 was a really hard time for me. It was a really difficult time. I want to share some things of why, and maybe you’ll see a side of me that you haven’t seen. . . I did the best I could holding it together. But I was really crushed as a coach. I was hurting like I’ve never hurt before. God taught me a valuable lesson. I did something that I’ve only done two other times in my life, and I surrendered. I just finally said, Lord, I’m done. I’m done. . . I cannot do this on my own anymore. The Lord put it on my heart that I was not using my spiritual gifts that he’s given me, and he basically — we have to make changes. I had to make changes. . . That’s what I did. I said, Lord, I’m done this battle belongs to you. From that day, on May 15th, you can check the stats. In the regular season only, we have more wins than any team in the SEC since that day. You can’t make this up. Only God can make this up. And people told me it would be impossible for Kentucky to make it to Omaha. I literally had people tell me that. And that day I surrendered, and this is what the Lord has done.”
Go Cats.
3. You Have One Thing To Do Today
The Chosen is finally back, and I couldn’t be more excited. It seems like every episode has at least one moment or two that hits me really hard.
One of those moments for me happened toward the end of this season’s second episode when Matthew bumps into his old Roman boss Gaius and tells him about his new life and what it’s like to follow Jesus.
But my teacher, he makes life very simple. Every morning, I wake up, my ideas and fears are jumbled. I feel overwhelmed with doubt and regret. But if I just pause for a moment and remember. I have only one thing to do today. Follow him. The rest takes care of itself.
Don’t make things too complicated. Just follow Jesus.
4. A Little Life
“Each day is a little life: every waking and rising a little birth, every fresh morning and little youth, every going to rest and sleep a little death.”
- Arthur Schopenhauer
Wouldn’t you be much more intentional with your time if you kept this idea near the front of your mind?
5. Giving or Trading
Dadville is the perfect podcast for middle-aged Christian dads, so I’m smack dab in the middle of its target audience.
The most recent episode featured guest Gary Thomas and he said something toward the end of his interview that really made me think about my attitude in parenting.
He said, “are you giving to your kids or trading with them?”
It got me thinking about the times I expect something in return from my kids for just doing what a dad should do. It’s so easy to be selfish. To think I’m owed something. But that’s not the way of Jesus. And it’s not the way we should be with our children.
6. Tony Evans
I thought it’d be good to share this article again after Tony Evans announced he was stepping away from the pulpit due to an unnamed sin.
This is an all too familiar occurrence, and it can be discouraging when Christian leaders we admire behave in a way that is unworthy of their calling. However, who among us is worthy of such a platform? None of us are immune to sin and none of us will be until the Lord returns.
It’s also a good reminder to be careful about putting flawed human beings on pedestals as if they are the ones to be worshipped. Let’s be praying for Dr. Evans, his family, and his congregation.
7. Reading Time > Screen Time
As always, thank you for your support of me and this newsletter. If you’d be willing to take two seconds and share this with someone today, I’d really appreciate it. It’s a HUGE help to growing the community.
If you’re new here and would like to receive future newsletters from me, just hit subscribe.
Until next time.
God bless,
Dave
“Don’t make things too complicated. Just follow Jesus.” I needed to hear that.