Parenting as a Christian Single Dad

My life is much like a “Soap Opera”, as my mother would say. Personally I would prefer a life with less drama but I guess I go through what I do because of choices I have made in the past. I have learned that in the face of adversity and chaos that there is more to look forward to later in life, the day of peace will come. Without going into too much detail… I had another one of those weekends with my ex-wife. She shows up at 11pm with Madalyn and her new husband (without warning). It made the hair on the back of my neck stand up and I felt a complete rush of adrenalin. Thoughts included: 1. What the hell are you doing here? 2. You have a husband? 3. Why me? Of course it is always a pleasure to see the kid so I hugged the stuffing out of her. I figured she probably was a bit confused so I spent some time loving on her before addressing the ex. My late night visitors sit and I (and the new husband) begin to be lectured about how poorly we treat her, mind you I have not had a conv...

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Every so often it is important to take an inventory of how and who we are living our lives for. It is very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of this world and get side tracked from our true calling. Here are 5 points (questions) that help me to refocus and sometimes point out the ugly reality of my life, that I have a foot on both sides of the fence. 1. How should I be living? I should be living a life responding to God. Is that what I am doing? 2. What is my goal in life? To know Jesus and have a loving and intimate relationship with Him. 3. What am I doing to achieve questions 1 & 2? Knowing the answers is not enough. I need to have a plan to achieve my goal of living a life for God. 4. What am I running towards? Often times I find myself running towards the things of this world rather than Jesus. 5. What desires of my flesh are holding me back? For me this often comes to sex and money. Yep I am putting that out there for everyone to see. The last time I chec...

In a nutshell I am curious how others deal with the homeless begging on the corner of every shopping center in town. I understand times are tough and many are trying to make it for their families but how do you tell the difference between the professional street beggar and the one that is there out of circumstance. I hate giving money to someone and having to worry they are just going to run out and buy smokes or booze. Boise, Idaho is such that there are many shelters and organizations that feed and provide shelter for the homeless so I struggle with handing money out my window to a stranger. I would much rather donate it to the local food bank or shelter to make the most of it. Plus handing money out the window seems so impulsive and to me that isn’t how we are supposed to be with our finances. I don’t know… Any thoughts because I feel a bit callous about this whole thing.

With life comes anxiety, even more so if you have children. It is easy to be consumed with worry and anxiousness. For me I don’t realize just how much anxiety I have until I lay down to go to sleep. It doesn’t take long for the thoughts and emotions to come rushing out preventing me from getting my beauty sleep which in turn causes more anxiety. It has taken me a long time to learn how to deal with anxiety and there is a simple formula. 1. Admit to being anxious 2. Know the Lord is near 3. Don’t be anxious about anything 4. Prayer and petition 5. Thanksgiving 6. Peace of God will guard you heart and mind So now you are probably wondering “Jason what the heck are you talking about?” The point is this… We need to come to a place in our lives where we can see the anxiety and worry, not just living our lives on auto pilot. We need to be “confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6) When we admit that we ...

For me it is a rare thing to read books published in the early 1900's but I think I have stumbled across an author that I like... Orison Swett Marden. He is straight forward and I could see how to some he may be too honestly brutal. Wanted, a man who will not lose his individuality in a crowd,k a man who has the courage of his convictions, who is not afraid to say "No," though all the world say "Yes." Wanted, a man who, though he is dominated by a mighty purpose, will not permit one great faculty to dwarf, cripple, warp, or mutilate his manhood; who will not allow the over-development of one faculty to stunt or paralyze his other faculties. Wanted, a man who is larger than his calling, who considers it a low estimate of his occupation to value it merely as a means of getting a living. Wanted, a man who sees self-development, education and culture, discipline and drill, character and manhood, in his occupation. Kind of poetic isn't it and from a godly perspec...

There are many ways to success and many degrees. Much of it depends on the person and what God has called them to do. Beecher said, "Do the best you can where you are; and, when that is accomplished, God will open a door for you, and a voice will call, "Come up hither into a higher sphere." Do not think just because you don't have money or capital to begin with you wont' be successful. Most of the rich men of the years began poor. The chances are you would be ruined if you had money. You can only use to advantage what has become a part of yourself by you earning it. It is estimated that not one rich man's son in 10,000 dies rich. God has given every man a capital to start with; we are born rich. He is rich who has good health, a sound boyd, good muscles; he is rich who has a good head, a good disposition, a good heart; he is rich who has two good hands, with five chances on each. Equipped? Every man is equipped as only God could equip him. What a for...