Father Daughter Reflections

Thanks again to Vision Forum for once again hosting their wonderful Father/Daughter Retreat at Callaway Gardens. The messages were particularly insightful, enlightening and convicting. Each speaker was at the top of their “game” and nearly caused me to run out of paper taking notes!

Scott Brown reviewed a biblical definition of the family, illustrated the implications of that definition using Ephesians, and presented the Jonathan Edwards family as an earthly example of a biblical family.

On Friday, Voddie Baucham reminded us that as fathers, we WILL leave a legacy.  We need to be aware and deliberate in order to leave one that is Christ-honoring.  Dr. Baucham followed that up on Saturday with a discussion of the criteria for marriage — biblical and man-made alike.

Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin reviewed what their father taught them about boys.

Saturday evenings address by Geoff Botkin was concise and convicting as he reviewed popular (especially within the professing church) manifestations anti-Christian culture.  Amazing and insightful!

Of course, Doug Phillip’s messages were incredible and encouraging as always!

Please visit the websites of each of these Christian leaders:

Scott Brown:  NCFIC

Voddie Baucham:  www.voddiebaucham.org

Botkin Family:  Western Conservatory

Doug Phillips:  Doug’s Blog

Each of these links are also listed among my favorite links at the side of this page.

Flashback #1

 

I think it is time I rewind a little to give the reader a brief summary (very brief, but I plan a lot of expansion of the following information as time unfolds) of the make-up and spiritual history of our family.

 

I am 48 years old and was reared in a Christian home.  I had always considered my self to be believer, but it was not until shortly before my second marriage that I realized I needed to make Christ Lord of my life.  I had lived a sort of antinomian lifestyle in which my profession of faith had not been translated into behavior that reflected that claim.

 

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”   John 14:15 (ESV)

  

The most obvious indicator of my spiritual condition at that time was the fact that I had failed to view my first marriage as a sacred bond and model of Christ’s relationship to the Church.  True to my human nature, I was focused on my own personal satisfaction (that selfishness trend is quite persistent).  I had one son, Sean, by that marriage.

 

My second wife, Lori, was also divorced and I am confident she would admit to similar spiritual failings in her life as I related above.  When I met Lori, she had daughter named Heidi.

 

The table below summarizes our family members:

 

Name	Age	Relationship	Current Status
David	48	Me	Neophyte blogger
Lori	40ish!	Wife	Registered pharmacist, now stay-at-home mom
Heidi	26	Lori’s daughter by her first marriage, adopted by me.	Married and the mother of my first grand-daughter!
Sean	20	My son by my first marriage.	Starts Junior year in college in Sept 2008
Morgan	13	Daughter	Homeschooled entrepreneur
Peyton	9	Son	Daddy’s homeschooled “deputy”
Abigail?	<0	Daughter?	Due date — November 2008

 

 

As I mentioned, I understand that this introduction to our family is very brief.  I will add this table to the “About Us” page for future reference.  I also plan to elaborate on several of the issues brought to light.