Thank You

Faith, Family, Friends, God is good 2 Responses »
Jul 272010

If you don’t already know, earlier this year God granted me the opportunity to adopt my lovely daughter Adriana. We weren’t sure how we would pay for it, but we knew God never starts anything he doesn’t plan to finish.  So about a week ago I tweeted “Does anyone know of a way we could raise money for an adoption?” I got several great responses that my wife and I had planned to look into. The next day I got a call from a friend asking how much we needed. I told him and he responded, “Give me a couple of weeks and don’t worry about it”. So we didn’t.  Within less than a week, God used my friends to make it happen. They came up with the money!

Words cannot describe the thanks we want to give to our friends who just gave us the money to proceed with the adoption. We just want to say thank you!!!  It means more than you could ever imagine. I want to praise God for what he has done in your lives to make you want to share with us like that.

When I think of my friends it reminds me of this:

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved”. Acts 2:42-47

I know God will continue to use this amazing group of people for His Glory.

Posted by Vince at 7:57 AM

Pennies Heart

Faith, Family, video No Responses »
Jul 212010

This is one of those videos you watch and you know you just have to share it others.

Posted by Vince at 8:33 AM

A List of Things You Should NOT do this Week

Faith, Family, Leadership, List No Responses »
Jul 192010

Like most of us in this world we couldn’t wait till we were grown and on our own. Why?  So people couldn’t tell us what NOT to do. Well today I going to change things up and give you a list of things you should NOT do this week. I know sometimes we get so caught up in what to do we forget what NOT to do.

  • Do not take the easy way out – You’ll never learn anything new, nor will you get better this way.
  • Do not give up – Even the best of us at times wants to quit but those are the times we need to keep pushing on.
  • Do not do what you’ve always done – Even if this has worked for years change it up or you’ll keep  getting the same results and in this ever changing world you’ll soon be left behind.
  • Do not stress out – I know with bills, dead lines and everything else going on it’s hard to not do this, but if we give our best in everything we do it makes this easier.
  • Do not ignore your family – I know life is hectic. You’ve got work to do around  the house and your family loves you for that but they also just want to spend time with you.
  • Do not be cocky – Yeah I know……… your the Lebron James of what you do. Let your work speak for its self – not your words.
  • Do not eat out everyday this week – Sure its the easy thing but take a nice healthy lunch with you – your body with thank you.
  • Do not be in a pain in the butt – Always treat people with kindness, respect and honor.
  • Do not watch 30 hours of TV – read a book, go for a walk, and do something beside being a couch potato.
  • Do not ignore what God has called you do to – yes it risky, your not sure what  might happen but that’s why it’s called faith.

What do think are  there somethings that you should NOT be doing, share you thoughts or your own list………….

Posted by Vince at 9:00 AM

Practice Makes Perfect

Family, Leadership, Relationships No Responses »
Jul 122010

They say practice makes perfect. Well, that may not always be true, but, it does make you better at whatever it is you are practicing. I tell my kids all the time “get better” and then I say”how do we get better? ” and I say “practice”. So in my home we practice lots of things- reading, swimming, running, writing (I probably need to practice a lot on writing). Whatever we have the ability to do, we want to do the best we can.

I see other people practice stuff all the time – from athletes to lawyers and to doctors. Yet, the one thing I hardly ever see people practicing is on their relationships.  Look around you, listen to conversation, look at the statistics on divorce rates or just look at how many people no longer talk because of something silly. I guess you could say we practice relationships; we practice how to walk away from them.

We can all remember as a kid having someone do something annoying or distracting or hurtful to us. We would go and tell a parent or teacher and they would be say “just ignore them, they’ll stop”.  As a child hearing   “ignore them” over and over again has taught us to do just that. If someone does something we don’t like we just ignore them or just walk away.

The other day my kids got in to a “he pushed me, she pushed me” thing. So I got to the bottom of it and decided they needed to work on their relationship. They need to practice not ignoring each other but communicating with each other and resolving their conflict.   Not just apologizing but spending time together and practicing their relationship so they could get better.

So what started out as my daughter wanting to force her help on my son and then him not wanting it and pushing her out the way, ended up as them doing the following

Adriana   “Xavier do you need some help with that?”

Xavier   “ No thank you, but thanks for asking.”

Adriana “Ok, if you do, just let me know I’ll be glad to help.”

Xavier   “Thanks, I will.”

Let’s us get better at relationship let us practice relationships it’s never to late to start.

Share your thoughts do you practice relationships……………………….

Posted by Vince at 10:57 AM

Family Fitness pt 2

Family, Fitness No Responses »
Jun 092010

Family Fitness how important is it. As we grow older creating new habits seems harder as each year goes by. We either don’t have time or what ever are excuses might be. One of the things we often neglect is our health. Most of the time this starts when we are kids and we don’t even realize it.

See as kids most of us or active till we out grow the jungle gym or no longer make it to the next level or sports or even find out were not cut our for sports. Yet all this is no reason to neglect ones health. More importantly this is no reason to neglect your families health

As a parent you are responsible for you children health and that more than taking them to the doctor when they’re sick. Starting a plan that helps get your family on the right path to better health. So that as your children grow older they see fitness as a part of life and the importance of it.

I have 2 children they re a year apart and 3 days a week we wake up in the morning and go running by the river. Follow along as we prepare for our firsts 5k as a family. This is a fun way to get your exercise in and it gives your family goals to reach for.

Posted by Vince at 10:56 PM

What is Normal?

Family No Responses »
Jun 092010

The life that your children grow up with is what they will know as “normal”.  It’s what they will think is normal when they grow up. Have you have ever met someone that does something a little different than you? Maybe they put peanut butter on pancakes or they don’t eat dinner together as a family. Maybe every minute of their life is jam packed with activities. Now whether or not this is good or bad is just your opinion.  Now think about how you live; is that the normal you want for you kids?

Is it normal for you to tell your spouse I love you? Do you guys spend time together or is everyone in his or her own room, communicating through text? Is it normal to be active, read or watch TV all night. What’s normal for you, what’s normal for your family? Are you ok with that being carried out from generation to generation?

Posted by Vince at 2:05 PM

Family Fitness

Family, Fitness No Responses »
Jun 062010

This week the Parker family starts training for its first 5k as a family. Now as a personal trainer (my wife says a fitness nut) I know the importance of staying healthy and just talking about it doesn’t make things happen.  So my wife and I picked a date for a 5k and said lets do this.  We will be running 3 times a week in the morning for training. The health and fitness patterns you set now are what you children will think are normal as they grow up.  Running is a great is way to spend time with your family and improve you family health.

What do you and your family to live a healthy life style?

Posted by Vince at 10:28 PM

Marriage and Men

Family, Leadership, video 2 Responses »
Aug 182009

This week’s video is from Mark Driscoll preaching pastor at Mars Hill Church in Seattle. This is an incredible message Pastor Mark hit a grand slam with this one.

Posted by Vince at 8:01 PM

My Son is back home!

Family, God is good 2 Responses »
Apr 032009

My son moved back to Oklahoma yesterday. I am so excited it has been 4 months since he moved to Virginia with his mom and stepdad (who is in the navy). He called me yesterday and said “dad guess what” I said “what” he said “I’m back in Oklahoma”. Words can not describe how I feel to have him where I can see him, hold him and do all those father son things I’ve missed doing with him so much. As a youth pastor I talk to students almost everyday and one thing I can always tell is those whose parents spend time with them and those who don’t. If you’re a parent I encourage you to spend time with you children. They miss you as much as you miss them. I know, I was not always the dad, God would have to be but I am growing and learning. See God has shown me thru my relationship with my son so much about my relationship with him. I pray God bless you and your family and that you continue to seek him and Grow.xfootball

Posted by Vince Parker at 9:54 AM

Family

Family 2 Responses »
Mar 262009

fam-picFamily, did you know God established the family before the church. That says a lot so how many of us neglect our family. I don’t mean in turns of runoff and abandon but my family has to eat, they have to have the best of the best. So you work your tell off late hours still working when you get home. Perhaps you just don’t take time out for your family you figure you’re in the house there in the house that’s quality time or hey when you drop them off at practice and pick them up the ride their and back is quality time. (Even though you were on the phone the whole time) See family time can’t wait till the once yearly vacation or big events. I know this because that’s how I use to but God show me that not how it is supposed to be. See people may think you’re crazy when you quit your job, but in my being obedient to God he showed me how important family is. I had more time to spend with my family God showed me what I missing out and the difference it made in there lives.

Posted by Vince Parker at 9:33 AM
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