Part-Time or Full-Time Christianity?

At 5 p.m. today, I checked out several news stations to catch up on the news for the day. As I came across Fox News, I noticed that one of its well-known journalists (Brit Hume) no longer has his early evening show. Curiously, I googled "Brit Hume" and discovered that he was leaving his job to spend more time with his family and pursue his faith more fervently.

In one article I found, the Hollywood Reporter asked him what he would like to do after leaving the TV journalism business. Here's his thought-provoking response:

I certainly want to pursue my faith more ardently than I have done. I'm not claiming it's impossible to do when you work in this business. I was kind of a nominal Christian for the longest time. When my son died (by suicide in 1998), I came to Christ in a way that was very meaningful to me. If a person is a Christian and tries to face up to the implications of what you say you believe, it's a pretty big thing. If you do it part time, you're not really living it.

Brit, you've given me something to think about. What if Brit is right on the money? After reading Brit's words, I can't help but be reminded of Jesus' call for radical, absolute commitment: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23, NIV).

Am I a part-time or full-time follower of Christ? What about you? It's definitely something all of us should ponder. After all, eternity is at stake.

Great Parenting Resource

This month, PCC will launch a new season of Community Groups--small groups that meet weekly for Bible study, encouragement, prayer, and service. I'm so excited about the book that my group is going to study, so I thought I'd share a little about it. The book, Shepherding a Child's Heart, focuses on what the Bible says about parenting. So many parenting books mention helpful techniques and strategies, but most parenting books fail to give you a parenting model from the pages of Scripture.

Here's a basic summary of the book:

"Shepherding a Child's Heart is about how to speak to the heart of your child. The things your child does and says flows from the heart. Luke 6:45 puts it this way: ' Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. ' Written for parents with children of any age, this insightful book provides perspectives and procedures for shepherding your child's heart into the paths of life."

You can see why my wife and I are excited about reading through this book with our small group. If you're a parent, I encourage you to check this book out!

Make the Most of 2009

The New Year is often the only time of the year that people get serious about making a change in their lives. Some commit to exercising more. Some make bold career goals. Some want to be a better husband, wife, father, or mother.

Personally, I've been challenged by one man lately. His name is Jonathan Edwards, a pastor and theologian in the 1700s. He's actually considered to be one of the greatest thinkers in American history. Recently, as I was reading a biography of Edwards, I stumbled across some resolutions he made as a young man. Here are a merely a few:

> Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most
profitable way I possibly can.

> Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

> Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it
were the last hour of my life.

> Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to
God' s glory.

I don't know about you, but I look at these resolutions and am challenged to make the most of 2009. What have you resolved to do in 2009? This year, you can bet that there will be plenty of things that will attempt to distract you and me from living the life God intends. The important question for us is...

How will we stay focused on God and make the most of 2009?