Blog

21: R & R & R

     According to a recent poll, the number one New Year’s resolution is to spend more time with family. While that may be so for many people, I believe this resolution would have to be amended for readers of this newsletter, to spending more time with family “in the Word.”

     In looking back over our 31 years as a family, one of our most satisfying accomplishments was our times of family worship. These times gathered in the living room, reading God’s word, praying, discussing, and worshipping together as a family, were priceless. In 2010 I had the privilege of spending four different weeks at family camps. These times were the highlight of my year. I would like many of you to share this experience.

     So as an incentive to establishing regular family worship times, I am hereby announcing the R & R & R contest, with winners receiving a free week at a Christian family camp. R & R & R represents Rest & Relaxation & Reward. The contest, in the spirit of Hebrews 10:24, begins January 9 and continues 20 weeks through May 28th. That is 100 weekdays and 40 weekend days. The families that spend the most days meeting together and reading scripture during this time frame will receive significant prizes.

     All participating families will receive a reward, but there will be special rewards for those who have the highest percentage of time assembling together. While meeting in Jesus’ name every day is an admirable goal, I think four times a week is an impressive statistic and five days a week is a wonderful accomplishment. But if this is not a habit in your home, begin with one day a week and go from there.

     The grand prizes (notice the plural in prizes) are the cost of attending a family camp. This is room, board, and the registration fees for a week. I am still working out the details of which camps will qualify, but most of these camps are during the summer, so I wanted to give you a chance to begin now so we could finish in May and attend this summer.

     I am exploring ways to encourage one another in this good work, and I will be sending more information during the next 20 weeks.This contest is also open to married couples who do not have a quiver full of children. We will have prizes for this special category.

     If you visit http://thefamilythatstaystogether.org/contest I have made available two pdfs. One is a portion of the book, “The Christian Home and Family Worship,” and the other is a calendar to track your progress.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

 

Steve