Baby #2, Are We Getting an Eli or Emilee?

We just announced on our family blog whether we are having a boy or girl. I encourage you to go there and find out the exciting news. Also, you will see a couple ultrasound pictures and a video.

CLICK HERE!

What Makes a Happy Family?

Jim Burns, president of YouthBuilders, has given some great material to ponder in his book The 10 Building Blocks for a Happy Family (Ventura: Regal, 2003). I encourage you to take some time to reflect on your own family. I share the principles from page 11:

1. The Power of Being There. Your children regard your very presence as a sign of caring and connectedness.

2. Express Affirmation, Warmth and Encouragement.

3. Build Healthy Morals and Values.

4. Discipline with Consistency. Clearly expressed expectations and consistent follow-through produce responsible kids.

5. Ruthlessly Eliminate Stress. The unbalanced life will not be kind to the areas we neglect.

6. Communication is the Key.

7. Play is Necessary for a Close-Knit Family. There is nothing like play to bring about family togetherness and communication.

8. Love Your Spouse.

9. The Best Things in Life Are Not Things.

10. Energize Your Family’s Spiritual Growth. Your greatest calling in life is to leave a spiritual legacy for your children.

A Poem for the New Year

Begin Again


We have our chance
To make new plans.

To do what’s right
To make a change
And not waste our time
On so many things.

We’ll spend our time
On things that gain
And not on life’s game
Of chasing fame.

So lets begin the year
With our minds set right.
This is the day
We begin again.

2005 Mark Edward Leslie January 01, 2005

As we learned at church today, life changes and renewels aren't to be yearly goals. We are to die daily to ourself. Everyday is a fresh start to live right and honor our Father in Heaven. May your new year be great. May God bless you as you bless Him.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A Test About Me!

I have created a little quiz all about me.

Just ten simple questions.

How do you think you'll do?

Click Here

Good Luck! I look forward to seeing your results.

Happy Holy Day

Click on the comic to see it all.

Four Kings of Christmas


One king came by horse.
Dressed in royal blue.
He brought the gift of gold.

One king came by caravan.
Followed by many men.
He brought the gift of frankincense.

One king came by camel.
Covered with colors and gems.
He brought the gift of myrrh.

One King came by way of a manger.
Wrapped in used rags.
He brought the gift of life.


2004 Mark Edward Leslie December 19, 2004

The Modern Meaning of Christmas

John MacArthur ...Raps?

I found this link on the web today. It is John MacArthur rapping. I thought some of you might enjoy.

It Doesn't Make Sense!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

So True, It's Not Really Funny!

"John Piper is Bad"

John Piper is known as being one bad dude. Seems like after speaking at a Passion event his words were joined with some Michael Jackson music. Here is a a sneak peak of the new Piper Song and what Piper has to say about it.

I think you can hear the entire podcast here through Itunes.

I just thought it was funny. I had the chance to hear Piper speak at the Passion Conference in 1999 in Dallas. He was the only speaker in a wool suit.

The Nativity Story

Coming to the theaters on December 1, 2006,

The Nativity Story

It is produced by New Line Cinema who is not known for too many family movies. The tag lines for this movie are:

"One Family. One Journey.

One Child, who would change the world.

Forever."

"Experience the true meaning of Christmas."

I haven't seen a Christian review of the movie yet. If you have, please forward it to me. I know that American Family Association and their subsidies (onemilliondads.com, AFR, & etc) are supporting and advertising the movie.

Here is the link for the trailer --> The Nativity Story

The Watch Maker

A friend emailed me this link about the story of The Watch Maker. It's a neat little story by kids4truth.com about creation. We all know that a watch can't form itself. It had to have a creator--a watch maker. How much more we as humans must have a creator.

I think your children would enjoy the story so check it out if you have a chance.

Trump in Trouble over the American Flag

I found this article on CNN about Donald Trump being fined for an eye sore. I can agree his hair does need work, but this time it's not his big hair causing the problem. Seems like he's getting in trouble because his American Flag and pole are too large for his nice neighborhood.

Why can't he just tell the commission, "You're Fired" and get it over with? But I have to say that I support Trump on this one.

Christians and Halloween

Since today is Halloween I thought I would link you to an article about Halloween. John MacArthur takes on the issue in an article titled "Christians and Halloween."

He discusses the origin of the day. He looks at the Christian Response to Halloween as well.

I would enjoy hearing your thought about the article. How do you celebrate the day, if you do. What are other alternatives?

A Remarkable Quote

God chooses what we go through; we choose how we go thought it.
~ John Maxwell ~

Parenting 101

I wanted to link a couple of sermons about Parenting. The speaker, Aaron Wilson, is a friend of mine and my youth pastor back in the day. He has 4 children and the oldest just turned six. He's definiteley getting the experiece, but he'll be the first to tell you that he doesn't know it all.

Aaron shared the following sermons at a Parent's Conference in Southern Arkansas.

Raising Children to Hope in God MP3 Audio

Evangelizing Your Children Faithfully MP3 Audio

The audio links will take a couple of minutes to download.

Daddy & Anna

Hey it's my blog so why can't I?

The Importance of One Vote

The state of Florida has an interresting article on the importance of one vote. They have searched through the history pages and found important elections that were determined by one vote.

I thought it was pretty neat. I hope you like it.

Fifteen Pro-Life Truths to Speak

By: John Piper

"You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." - Jesus Christ

1. Existing fetal homicide laws make a man guilty of manslaughter if he kills the baby in a mother's womb (except in the case of abortion).

2. Fetal surgery is performed on babies in the womb to save them while another child the same age is being legally destroyed.

3. Babies can sometimes survive on their own at 23 or 24 weeks, but abortion is legal beyond this limit.

4. Living on its own is not the criterion of human personhood, as we know from the use of respirators and dialysis.

5. Size is irrelevant to human personhood, as we know from the difference between a one-week-old and a six-year-old.

6. Developed reasoning powers are not the criterion of personhood, as we know from the capacities of three-month-old babies.

7. Infants in the womb are human beings scientifically by virtue of their genetic make up.

8. Ultrasound has given a stunning window on the womb that shows the unborn at eight weeks sucking his thumb, recoiling from pricking, responding to sound. All the organs are present, the brain is functioning, the heart is pumping, the liver is making blood cells, the kidneys are cleaning fluids, and there is a fingerprint. Virtually all abortions happen later than this date.

9. Justice dictates that when two legitimate rights conflict, the limitation of rights that does the least harm is the most just. Bearing a child for adoption does less harm than killing him.

10. Justice dictates that when either of two people must be inconvenienced or hurt to alleviate their united predicament, the one who bore the greater responsibility for the predicament should bear more of the inconvenience or hurt to alleviate it.

11. Justice dictates that a person may not coerce harm on another person by threatening voluntary harm on themselves.

12. The outcast and the disadvantaged and exploited are to be cared for in a special way, especially those with no voice of their own.

13. What is happening in the womb is the unique person-nurturing work of God, who alone has the right to give and take life.

14. There are countless clinics that offer life and hope to both mother and child (and father and parents), with care of every kind lovingly provided by people who will meet every need they can.

15.Jesus Christ can forgive all sins, and will give all who trusts him the help they need to do everything that life requires.