First off, before I forget, I have a post scheduled to appear on Wednesday on Josiah Concept Ministries analyzing the atheist argument that religion is inherited from parents and culture so it can't be true. The final word count was 666. Omen? I hope not.

Recently, I had been reflecting on how I'm doing as a father. I think that I spend enough time with the kids; after all, I'm now taking care of them on Mondays and Wednesdays since we can no longer afford full-time child care. I'm looking at the book Geek Dad perhaps later on as we determine the permanence of the Monday/Wednesday situation. That will hopefully help me with some more activities for the kids, as I really don't want us to sit around and watch TV everyday. That gets old quick.

Ashleigh always wants to play with me. She's genuinely excited when I come home from work. She's always waiting for me when I come in the door. She's as proud of who I am as I am of who she is; she is quick to introduce me to everyone as her daddy.

Gabriel, in his own way, shows me love. He gets a big smile on his face when he sees me, and starts kicking his little feet. He likes when I hold him up high, and when I tickle him. I can make him smile real big even when he is in the middle of crying hard.

I take all of that as signs that the kids love me, and that I'm meeting their emotional and physical needs to whatever expectations they may have.

But I don't think that I do enough spiritually for the children. I don't read the Bible to them or pray with them. The only time I mention God at all is when we're getting ready for church. I'm essentially sending the message to them the God is someone we only think about on Sundays. This isn't so, and I know that isn't true. I now need to teach the kids what is true.

Justin Hyde posted a great article on The Resurgence about pastoring the family. He said:

Husbands/dads, don't clock-out on your way home; be ready to be present and engaged; don't let your kids or wife expect to hear your formulaic: "I'm tired;" turn your phone off (I recently read something like this: "If you touched your wife as much as you touch your iPhone your marriage would be in a much better spot."); cancel your cable TV; repent of your addiction to new projects, hobbies, and distractions.

This is good advice. There are many days when I come home and I just want to crash. But I should be ready instead to spend time with my kids. The advice on building a routine doesn't apply to me, since I don't have a 9 to 5 job. I will have to make as much time for praying together and Bible study with the kids as I can. This means some prep time on my part.

Through that article, I was able to download a copy of Mark Driscoll's e-book, Pastor Dad. Good starts, both of them. But, I want to dig a little deeper. So I found some additional books on introducing the Bible to children:

• The Big Book of Questions and Answers by Sinclair Ferguson helps guide parents and kids through devotionals and presents ways to answer questions that kids ask.
• My First Book of Questions and Answers by Carine Mackenzie looks to be somewhat similar to the first book.
• Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware is a much more comprehensive look at how to teach the glory of God to children.

To apply all of this, I will need to set aside some time each night to read and study the Bible with Ashleigh, Gabe, and Jody. Of course, Gabe's not going to be able to participate just yet, but that will change later on. The reading will have to be short, because I know Ash is not going to sit for a long time and listen to me read. Then, we'll have question and answer time. The key is to be interactive and engaging.

Then, we should have a family prayer where I ask each their intentions, and then offer praise and thanks for God and his blessings, along with the others' intentions.

I want to make something like that as close to a nightly thing as possible. With my schedule, that's not always going to happen, as I work late nights and closes occasionally (read: more often than not). But I will still be able to set aside some time to do all of this.

Getting Jody on board shouldn't be a problem at all. Part of me thinks that she has been waiting for me to take the initiative in doing this, since it is the responsibility of the husband to teach his family in the ways of the Lord. I know she'll be supportive, as a Proverbs 31 woman should: "An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life" (vv 10-12). I know Jody fears the Lord: "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised" (v 30).

She will help me, and help I will need always. I need to take more responsibility in the spiritual development of my own children, else I could lose them to the rising tide of skepticism. I know this tide all too well, fighting on the front lines as a Christian apologist. Up till now, I've been concerned about the spiritual welfare of complete strangers on the Internet. It is time to turn that concern to my own house, and channel at least some of the energy I've been using online into helping my children know the truth of Jesus, and help them place their faith in him who saves "to the uttermost all those who draw near to God through him" (Heb 7:25).

My plan was to update both e-books and get a hub up and running on Hubpages.com. That, however, didn't happen. I've been sick. Sore throat, sore back, upset stomach, and very, very tired. I slept most of the day, and I still feel like I could sleep now.

Nothing irritates me more than getting behind on writing projects. When you're trying to build and sell your writing as a business, the one thing you can't do is get behind on it!

It's been seven months since I last updated Xanga. Bet you all thought I was completely done with it, huh?  Well, so did I. But I thought I'd share a quote to anyone who still reads this:

To be so occupied in the investigation of the secrets of nature, as never to turn the eyes to its Author, is a most perverted study; and to enjoy everything in nature without acknowledging the Author of the benefit, is the basest ingratitude.

--John Calvin

Dear Jody,

I've tried to say, each day, in different ways, how much I love you.  I realize that this isn't a task for mere words, but a task that requires action.  So I've decided to use my long-dead Xanga account to write a letter for you and all of your family to see.  I believe that this action will demonstrate the fact that I love you very much.

When I first met you, I knew in my head that "we" would be something special.  I didn't know what that meant or what it would entail, but I knew that creating an "us" was important.  At first, I thought that we'd end up like my boss Dan and his girlfriend, just dating for a long, long, time.  A great and many years.  But soon it became clear to me that God had something else planned for us, something very wonderful and amazing.

And now we stand, a mere five years later, and it feels as if we have been together a lifetime.  You are more than just my wife, you are my best friend.  I pray to God we remain together forever, because I don't know what I would do without you.  That is how important that you have become in my life.  You have, in some sense, become my life.

Though I love Ashleigh a great deal in her own right, having her extends my love for you and inspires more love for you.  Ashleigh is as much a part of you as she is of me, and that makes me love you all the more.

So here's to a happy life in the future for us.  Sorry for the goofy video, but it was the only one I could find.  So I forever dedicate that song to you, my wonderful Brown-Eyed Girl.

Love,

Cory

I have no idea why I thought of this tune.  I've always liked it a lot.  Back in the days before music videos, there was a TV show called Solid Gold.  This is a tape of the segment where Sergio Mendes performs "Alibis."

I sincerely hope that it is not based on a real relationship that the songwriter had; since part of the lyrics include "That's exactly the way we met."  I can only think that if you're dating someone who is cheating on his or her significant other with you, that will be a big clue as to how your relationship with this person will eventually end.  Once a person commits the first sin, the rest just come easier.

On a lighter note, fashion aficionados will have a lot of fun with the styles in this video.  File most of these under "W" for "What Were You Thinking???"  But, what's an 80s video without bad fashion?

It's nothin' I can put my finger on
But it's there, I swear.
It's not somethin' I'm imaginin'.
Each time you call,
I know I'll get your "working late" routine again.
Is there someone I should know about?
Tell me why do I have this doubt?

I'm sure your alibis are watertight
And you're where you have to be tonight.
Whoa, oh, but I know you're slippin' away from me.

I'm know your alibis are watertight
And you're where you say you are tonight
But honey, I can tell. I know the pattern much too well.
I don't fool so easily.
Slippin' away from me.

Your telephone service says you're out again.
Somewhere, out there, you've got another rendezvous.
I know the way you work.
You'll be someplace where no one can check up on you.
You think you're in the clear but don't forget
That's exactly the way we met.

I'm sure your alibis are watertight
And you're where you have to be tonight.
Whoa, oh, but I know you're slippin' away from me.

I know your alibis are watertight
And you're where you say you are tonight
But honey, I can tell. I know the pattern much too well.
I don't fool so easily.
Slippin' away from me.

Is there someone I should know about?
Tell me why do I have this doubt.

I'm sure your alibis are watertight
And you're where you have to be tonight.
Whoa, oh, but I know you're slippin' away from me.

I know your alibis are watertight
And you're where you say you are tonight
But honey, I can tell. I know the pattern much too well.
I don't fool so easily.
Slippin' away from me.

I'm sure your alibis are watertight
And you're where you have to be tonight.
Whoa, oh, but I know you're slippin' away from me.