"One of the number one excuses for not attending church is, “I just don’t have time for church. I can’t afford it. I have to work so much just to keep up.” If you’ve ever been tempted to think that way consider the findings of a study done by the Heritage Foundation on worship and family income.
The study, conducted in 1996, found at that time the average family income of those who regularly attended worship services was $37,021. For those who did not attend it was $24,361. That’s a difference of $1,100 per month which is a pretty good return on the time invested. The research also found that regular worshippers had less depression, better and longer marriages, and were by far healthier and happier than those who chose to stay home.
It proves that finding a church where the Bible is preached and making it a regular part of your weekly schedule is a great way to redeem the time.
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"In the 1980 Boston Marathon a young lady crossed the finish line three minutes ahead of the next female runner. She was greeted with cheers, applause, and congratulations. But her fame and admiration quickly turned to shame and humiliation when it was discovered she had jumped into the race about 800 yards from the finish line instead of running the required 26 miles.
That gives us a picture of the way many people spend their time. They are focusing on things that will bring the short term applause from people, the 15 minutes of fame, without thinking about what happens when their moment of glory is passed.
The Bible emphasizes to us the importance of focusing on things that will endure for all eternity. As Christians, we all agree eternal things should be our priority. The problem comes in translating that idea into our daily schedule. That requires focus and effort. But focusing on activities with eternal results is the best way to redeem the time.
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"A robber in Pennsylvania approached a convenience store clerk with wallet in hand as though he were buying something. When the register was opened, he grabbed the cash and ran, leaving his wallet, with photo ID, on the counter. Police arrested him within 20 minutes.
Some people are easier to capture than others. The same is true of our ideas. If we aren’t organized enough to capture them when they pop up, we may loose them and miss valuable opportunities God brings to mind.
But how do we capture ideas when driving down the freeway? Aside from pulling over and writing them down, the best way may be to call your own voice mail or answering machine and leave yourself a message. Many newer cell phones also have a dictation function built right into the phone that many of their owners aren’t even aware of.
However you do it, make sure you have a system for capturing ideas, so you’ll redeem the time.
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"In his book, A Full Quiver, Rick Hess encourages fathers to trade excess recreational time for family time. He says:
""Time is not our own. But we have an excellent example in the Lord Jesus, who spent His available time with His twelve spiritual children. We must abandon our tendency to leave parenting to our wives and follow the example of the Lord Jesus. We are the trainers of our children.
Worried if you will be able to stand the sacrifice of giving up your time? Strange as it sounds, going for a walk with a little person and communicating with him on his own level what God has been teaching you can be more satisfying than Monday night football.
Every man has a chance to be a king with his kids. Or he can opt for being a face in the crowd and a stranger at home. Guess which is more satisfying.""
That’s a good perspective for fathers who want to redeem the time.
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