The Second 50: Reflections on Life and News from the Other Side

Jonah Stewart....A Dad's Letter for His Oldest Leaving for Graduate School

Dear Jonah,

Our journey together as ‘father and son’ has come to a fork in the road.

You will truly take a step down one road in life and the future steps I will take will lead down a separate road.

Few will be the times that the roads intersect.

It makes our times together so very, very special.

It makes the memories of you and your brothers cherished in every way.

We will rarely have the chance again to enjoy each other's company, hear each other’s thoughts, have friendly disagreements or be comforted by the unspoken bond of our love.

We are family.

I hope you will always remember how deeply I love you,your brothers and your mother.

A Man of Faith

I pray you will continue to grow in your walk with the Lord.

A few months ago, I noticed when I got the Volvo back from you that the radio station was on the Christian station, WDJC.

Yesterday when I got in the car, it was on the same station.

I pray you will always look to God for strength and wisdom in your life -- and that you will always take time to be encouraged spiritually by songs which encouraged a trust in God and an appreciation for His love for us.

Proverbs 3:5-6 has been a beacon in my life when I have drifted:

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and in all thy ways acknowledge Him.....and He will make thy paths straight”

A Man Who Meditates and Reflects

I hope you find verses in God’s word that speak to your own heart -- and that you commit them to memory.   

During difficult times, I have enjoyed reading from one of the first four (4) books of the New Testament (i.e., the gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) as each writer focused on the life of Christ.

I encourage the habit of reading a few verses each day, and then thinking and chewing about what it tells you about Christ the man... the character of God... and what it means to you personally.

My mother used to share Psalm 23 “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want....” so often during the difficult times I have faced.

God is our Shepherd.  He is truly in control -- even in the difficult times you will one day face.

In my own life, there is rarely a day that goes by that I do not think about the promise that God gave Joshua:

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth but you shall meditate on it day and night.  And then you will have good success....”

I like to write key verses on 4 x 6 cards and commit them to memory.

The same is true for thoughts in books and articles I read.

I encourage a similar habit in a way that makes sense to you.


I Will Always Love You

The challenge is living out God’s word in the midst of life.

I hope you will always put God first in your life, and make decisions that you believe please Him and honor Him as respect for the love He has shown toward us.

I am deeply, deeply, deeply proud of you and the man you have become.

Thank you for always sharing...whether it was the car, money, or just your time and opinion.

I pray for God’s grace as you move through life.

Our paths will cross fewer and fewer times as you pursue the ambitions on your heart in the arena of Sports Business Management.

It makes us cherish each time together...and each memory.

You have been blessed to have a mother who loves the Lord, and who prays for you.

I hope you find a woman to share your love who has similar values.

I love you Jonah and will miss you from the bottom of my heart.

I am grateful for our journey together...and so proud and privileged to be your
dad.

Stay in touch with your brothers.

Call mom, Joel and Josh weekly.  

They need to hear your voice so we keep our family bond intact.

I love you, son.

Take care,

Dad 

The Goals of Spiritual Encouragement

    Paul provides a thought on spiritual encouragement that speaks to the heart of all of our relationships. He talks about the 'goal of our instruction' (I Timothy 1:5).

    Paul uses declarative, direct statements to bring points that other leaders or philosphers might eventually articulate through a series of questions.

    Our first and primary goal in any conversation is to encourage love from a pure heart.  It is a goal that should be shared by all leaders.  

    The mark of a leader is to encourage men to check their motives, actions, goals with the standard of purity from the heart.

 

 

The Message Must Encourage Faith

    The mentoring relationship between Paul and Timothy contained lessons on sharing with others.

    The initial message was a simple one...words matter.

    Paul encouraged Timothy to stay at Ephesus because some focused on teachings that did not result in living by faith.

    Sound teaching has as its foundation to encourage men to live their lives by faith.

    That is the lesson of the opening verses of 1 Timothy 1-3

The Leader's Role As a Gatekeeper

    The initial glimpse into the relationship between Paul and Timothy is one of trust.  Timothy was contemplating leaving Ephesus for some reason.

    Paul reminded him of the conversation of their last visit.  It was important that Timothy challenge those who were teaching a message that led God's people to lose the focus of living by faith.

    The message to fellow believers must further the administration of God by faith.  A message focused on a way of thought but does not encourage seeing men put their faith and trust in God is off center. 

    Paul revisists their last conversation as a reminder to always review messages shared with believers to ensure they encourage reaching out to others to place their faith in God.

A Short Novel on Mentoring...The Books of Timothy

    There is a common acceptance of a mentor's value in the business world.

   Quite often the relationship involves out of the natural lines of reporting in one's corporate hierarachy.

    There are other times when a leader identifies an individual in his organization that has a special aptitude or talent that could result in a greater contribution if developed.

    Then there are times when the mentoree seeks out one he respects and believes he can learn from to be his mentor.

    The book of Timothy is about a mentoring relationship. Paul refers to Timothy as 'my true child in the faith'. (I Timothy 1:2).

    So launches this novel on discipleship where an older, mature man of faith shares with a younger man of faith lessons on leadership, spiritual values, and having a personal relationship with God.

The Habit of Encouragement

    There are times when we are afforded insight into the habits and private life of the historical figure called Jesus.  It is a different way to appreciate the character of the man whose historical influence has been great.

    The opening verse of Mark 10 actually touches on two (2) habits.  The first is the habit or custom of people to seek encouragement and guidance.  That habit still exists today.  People want to be encouraged in a spiritual sense.  Perhaps it is a need to be spiritually encouraged.

The Habit of Reflection

    The habit of reflection is one universally shared. In some form or fashion it is a habit that often focuses on the values we embrace, the actions we take, and our lifestyle decisions.

    The habits concerning our spiritual life are often impacted by an internal vacuum of our need for spiritual direction.  The initial verse in Mark 10 focuses on the habit of the residents to seek out this man called Jesus when he was in the area to hear him teach.

    There is a need within every heart to be encouraged to be a better man or a better woman in a spiritual sense.

 

The Unique Issues of Position and Influence

    The historical story of Jesus teaching in the synagogue of his hometown has lessons for all of us.  Mark 6 relays an account where those who grew up with Jesus were blown away by the wisdom and insight of his teaching.  The account in Mark 6 says they were astonished.

    The understandable question arose as to how was is that Jesus gained such wisdom and insight.  Those who knew him as a boy focused on his family roots.  They noted that his brothers and sisters still lived in the community, and of course these siblings did not possess the wisdom and insight that Jesus shared.  

    Unspoken is the fact that those listening also did not possess the wisdom and insight that accompanied the teaching of Christ.  Instead of enjoying the teachings, it became clear that a jealousy arose as to why Jesus was privileged to have the influence that wisdom and insight can bring. It is easy to question why others have position, influence and power that we do not enjoy...and be offended on the inside, or perhaps wonder why him, and not me.

The Incentive of HSA plans for Business Health Insurance

    Those shopping for group health quotes for business health insurance are undoubtedly coming across HSA insurance plans.  Those plans contain a tremendous financial incentive to use the savings offered over PPO plans (i.e., co-pay plans) to cover the cost of routine of out pocket expenses and prescriptions.

    Any reader of this blog knows our Agency encourages businesses to consider business health insurance with Trustmark and its arm for group health insurance for small business through Starmark. We also encourage consideration of a carrier endorsed by State Farm Insurance...Assurant Health.

     Assurant Health actually was one of the first carriers in the marketplace to embrace HSA insurance plans.  Starmark's HSA plans are equally competitive and provide an equal financial incentive.

    The recent quote for a Monumental Contracting Services shows a rate of $534 a month for Single Coverage with Blue Cross and a rate of $325 a month under Starmark's HSA plan.  The monthly savings of course is essentially $200 a month, or $2400 over the course of the year.

    This annual savings of $2400 is at the heart of an HSA plan.  In a nutshell, an HSA plan says we are going to give you, instead of the insurance company,  $2400 to pay the cost of your office visits throughout the year.  You understand that your routine office visit costs $100 to $150 at negotiated rates, and you typically visit the doctor 3 or 4 times a year.

    In other words, the HSA plan is going to put $2400 in your pocket and you are going to pay $500 to $600 to cover the office visit for a cold, sore throat, sprained ankle etc.  The money saved is for the employee to keep forever.  In this illustration, a net savings of $1800 a year.

    So the question is very simple...do you want to give that $2400 to the insurance company to cover your routine office visits & prescriptions; or, would you rather keep the $2400 in your own pocket and pay for the costs of those office visits and prescriptions yourself -- and keep the savings?  That is the question than an HSA insurance plan is asking you as you shop for business health insurance.

A Productive Life in Today's World

    The story told by the historical figure named Jesus about the sower focuses on another group of people. This is a group who hears and receive God's word in their heart but never become productive in a spiritual sense although they remain receptive to spiritual matters.  (Mark 4: 18-19)

    This group does not have the word taken from their heart by the enemy as Jesus discussed earlier in the story.  Nor does this group drift away because of persecution or hard times in life which Jesus talked about as well.  

    Instead, this group hears and receives the word sown in their heart but never become fruitful and productive from a spiritual perspective.  The reason is simple.  

    Their spiritual perspective in life never becomes quite clear. They are unfruitful because their life focus is on the cares of life, or the deceitfulness of riches or their eye of the tiger is on fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.