Category Archives: Marriage & Family
“Her children rise up and call her blessed” Proverbs 31:28
On March 26th, I took part in the memorial service for one of the most remarkable women that I will ever meet. She was my grandmother, Lorene “Jack” Francis. Hers is an incredible story: 11 children, 30 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren, 50+ years of marriage, a successful business built, and countless lives touched through service and friendship. The statement I’ve heard all of my life about my Grandmother is, “I don’t know how she did it all.” There’s another woman in the Bible that we can say that about. The Proverbs 31 Woman. Characterized by her great value (v. 10), trustworthiness (v. 11-12), her diligence and hardwork (v. 13-19, 24), her generosity (v. 20), her wisdom (v. 26), and the good that she brings to her husband (v. 11, 23). Friends and family of Jack Francis were a witness to this kind of life. Here are a few specific characteristics of our Proverbs 31 woman that I will never forget:
1) Her love and devotion to her family. She remembered every birthday, celebrated every good report card, and served as a rock of confidence to all her family. To know Grandma Jack was to know that you were valued and loved without condition.
2) She was a devoted student of God’s Word. I would be Dr. Corley by now if I had her appetite for reading and learning. As a young pastor one of my favorite things to do was to bring up a passage I was studying and listen to her talk of sermons different pastors preached and books she’d read about that or apply the truth to some situation in the world today. And she was a person that was always humbly grappling with faith issues. She never stopped learning and submitting her life to God’s word.
3) She was generous. She was a consistent and faithful contributer to her church, to numerous ministries and missionaries, and to anyone who had a need. All my life I’ve heard from people who were going through difficult financial times and would have some cash slipped into their hand by Mrs. Jack. Her pastor told me that he was sent countless times on missions of mercy to deliver money or food to people in the community from an anonymous donor that was Grandma Jack.
Because of these realities, her life, her name, her example will not be soon forgotten. The Francis family has been given an incredible gift: a Godly legacy to follow.
“the offspring of the righteous will be delivered” Proverbs 11:21
“in the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge” Proverbs 14:26
“The righteous who walks in his integrity – blessed are his children after him” Proverbs 20:7
The question is, will we pick up her mantle and carry it forward?
And as for the question, “How did she do it all?” Without a doubt, her “secret” was her deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. Her love, devotion, generosity were a product of that relationship.
Today I am fulfilling Proverbs 31:28 – “her children rise up and call her blessed.”
And I believe the backstory of my life begins with her. Like another young Pastor at the outset of a great movement of God, I believe it can be said of me: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois (coincidentally Grandma Jack’s middle name) and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you” 2 Timothy 1:5.
Through the Eyes of a Three Year Old
Hudson, our three year old has discovered our camera and the camera feature on my IPhone (which he can work better than I). He’s compiled quite a portfolio that’s a lot of fun to scan. These pictures have hit me pretty hard. I’m reminded that his little eyes are on me and he is learning by what he see in me everyday. Seeing myself in his pictures has given me a different perspective and has me asking some questions as a Dad:
- Does he see my eyes enough?
- Am I too often looking at the phone, computer, TV?
- What do my habits communicate to him?
- Does he see me loving his Mom enough?
- How can I shape my little man be my actions?
It Makes A Difference When Things Are Real
Our three year old son, Hudson, is a swordsman. His favorite target for destruction is, of course, ME. The plastic and nerf versions of the sword have yet to inflict much bodily harm, but a few weeks ago that almost changed. We were browsing in one of my favorite Hardware/Army Surplus stores in our area, when Hudson spotted a row of REAL swords. The kind that cut. And for some reasons they were hanging low enough for a three year old to draw. He picked the one he wanted, unsheathed it, and turned around looking for “the bad guy.” That’s me. Fortunately, he listens well and didn’t take a swing and we still remain below our insurance deductible for 2009. There are serious implications when something moves from plastic to REAL.
Our faith is no different. What if Jesus is real? What if God really did send His Son to earth? What if sin is such a big deal that Jesus had to die an unimaginably brutal death? What if Jesus really did beat death and is alive today? If all this is really true, it has serious implications for all of our lives.
This weekend, our church began a series of sermons on the book of 1 John. The book delves into the implications of a Real Jesus. John seeks to confront the false teachings of his day and to give assurance to believers about their faith and future. Interestingly enough, some of the same thinking and uncertainty has snuck into our lives today.
You can download these and other messages from our church here.
The Church Planter’s Kid
Born 8 days after the very first service of our church plant which started in an un-air conditioned fire station. Because his dad’s a church planter, until he was four we would drive past a fire station and he would yell “church” and when we drove by a steepled church building he would yell “space ship.” Because his dad’s a church planter, the first time we attended a church besides ours on Sunday, he asked where their fire truck was and why their chairs were so long. Because his dad’s a church planter, he likes to hang out in coffee shops and has great bedside manner in hospitals. Because his dad’s a church planter, he doesn’t have as much as many kids in our area, but never complains. Because his dad’s a church planter, he doesn’t know that you shouldn’t wear shorts to church or that you shouldn’t be close friends with people of another race or class.
HE TURNED SIX TODAY and I’m looking forward to seeing what God does in the future with this church planter’s kids. Happy Birthday Jack!!!!!
It’s Official: I Know Everything!
This morning, my five year old son, Jackson, asks my wife a question that she couldn’t answer. She asked, “Do you think I know everything?” His very honest response, “No, Daddy knows everything!” He’s a very smart boy (Grin). Of course he’ll be learning in short order that I do not know everything and chances are there will be moments when he’ll think I know nothing at all before he heads off into the world as a man. However, as Father of a five year old, I have a tremendous responsibility. Not only does he think I know everything, but he’s learning what is important, what is valuable, how to talk, how to think about God and others, and much more from me. If you’re a parent you have that same responsibility. The good news is you don’t have to know everything. Be consistent, live with integrity and passion, and stay connected to the one who does know everything (Proverbs 2:6-8) and you’ll do OK.
Father, help me be a good steward of my little boys impression of me. Help me lead him in the right direction. May he learn from my example that nothing is more important or valuable than you, that others are more important than himself, and when I fail (because I don’t know everything) may he see me humble before you.
Resources for Family Devotion
As a Father of two young boys, I desire to impart to them a vision for God’s glory, an understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and a heart for the spiritual and physical needs of the world. One practice our family has adopted to this end is a weekly time that we call FAMILY WORSHIP. We read the Bible, sing praise songs, and pray for the needs around us. How tragic it will be if we teach our kids to pitch and catch, to dance and tumble, to hunt and fish, to bike and board, to watch TV and dress fashionably, but don’t instill in them eternal truth.
Here are two resources that we are currently using in our FAMILY WORSHIP that can help you impart truth and vision to your young children:
The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm and Gail Schoonmaker
This book tells 26 Bible Stories in creative fashion with unique and colorful illustrations. It tells the complete story unlike many Children’s books that skip over the Fall and the Crucifixion. It’s been a great tool thus far for our family.
Window on the World by Patrick Johnstone and Daphne Spragget
A great resource for anyone with a passion for worldwide missions and a desire to pray for God to open doors around the world. Also a good tool for basic geography. The book gives a 1-2 page summary of a needy and/or unevangelized nation of the world appropriate for early elementary kids and adults. Our oldest son Jack gets to pick a region each week and we read about the needs and pray for the missionaries and churches working in that region. Of course, Jackson’s favorite nation to read about and pray for is Madagascar because of this…
So, if you’re a missionary serving in Madagascar, you should know that there is a five year old boy and his family in Louisiana that are praying regularly for you.
Let me know if you have other good resources that may help parents impart the glory of God to the next generation.
Should We Live Together? part 3
Hebrews 13:4 (ESV) Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
One of my roles as a Pastor/Shepherd is to lead people to green pastures. That is to counsel people to accept God’s very best for their lives and live in a manner that will produce spiritual fruit and give them the best path for spiritual growth and Kingdom living. In regards to marriage, without a doubt, God’s best equals a high and sacred view of marriage which seeks to save the acts of marriage – sexual intimacy, living as one, rearing children – until a covenant commitment has been made. These acts of marriage thrive and flourish (and research shows are most enjoyed) where godliness and committment exists. To live outside of God’s standard is to accept second best and risk damaging the relationship (see part 2), your testimony as a Christian, and your growth in godliness. The reasons that I hear for this decision are pathetic when you think of the risk and the better alternative that God desires. Here’s the three I hear most often:
Should We Live Together? part 2
Before You Live Together: Will Living Together Bring You Closer or Drive You Apart? by David Gudgel
Also check out the author’s website, www.beforeyoulivetogether.com, to read book excerpts and more.
Revealing and helpful book on this topic. Very well researched and practical, complete with real life scenarios and testimonies of those who have paid consequences after deciding to live together. The author, a Pastor and Counselor, piles high the research and real life evidence for deciding that cohabitation is not God’s best for any relationship. KEEP READING BELOW TO FIND OUT WHY.
Should We Live Together? part 1
As a Pastor, one of my duties is the preparation for and performing of marriage and its ceremonies. It is something I have learned to do with fear and trembling, because so much is at stake when two people become one in God’s eyes. I take it very seriously and I know that I will one day give account before God for upholding his view of marriage (Hebrews 13:4) and shepherding people according to His will (Hebrews 13:17). Increasingly, I am put in the position of dealing with two people who are not married but live under the same roof. They are asking me to bless their future marriage while knowing I probably do not approve of this arrangement. They know this usually because of their conscience slaying them with guilt, but also because they know the Bible teaches that marriage is the only right way for man and woman to relate to one another sexually. As I have sought to uphold God’s standard of righteousness and counsel couples to do what I believe to be in the best interest of their relationsip, I always encourage them to separate. I have lost friends, been verbally berated, and had people leave my church for this reason. However, the evidence continues to pile up that this position is in their best interest. Below is a list of verses that guide me concerning this topic and links to a number of articles from Christian and secular authors stating the evidence stacked against living together prior to a marriage commitment. Hopefully this list will be helpful to couples considering moving in together, already living together, or to other ministers struggling with this issue.
Lane Corley 