<![CDATA[ALTARPRENEUR - ALTARTIPS]]>

<![CDATA[ALTARPRENEUR - ALTARTIPS]]>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:56:28 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[3 Ways I'm Shifting From 'Devotional Time' To Discipleship As Our Children Grow]]>Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.altarpreneur.com/altartips/3-ways-im-shifting-from-devotional-time-to-discipleship-as-our-children-grow

Our boys aren't little kids anymore.

The way they think, talk, act...it's changing. Sometimes, I feel like I'm speaking with adults.

I can't just talk with them about the 7 days of creation (although that is foundational), or the fact that God created them and loves them (also critical), or simply have a short devotional and prayer time together. As they age, I need to provide them with adequate, meaningful teaching so they can grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (see 2 Peter 3:18).

Here's how I'm changing my approach and going from doing devotionals to discipleship...

1) Having a roadmap
I'm not winging it. I have defined several main topics I will focus on for (each of) the stages ahead. For example, from 5-10 years of age, I'm helping them to see the importance of daily routines and discipline such as in brushing their teeth, cleaning up after themselves, journaling (a work in progress), and being comfortable with quiet time.

For the adolescence stage, I put together The Altarpreneur Initiatives, which you can save as a reference, to help me stay focused on 4 pillar topics as they grow into men and begin engaging with the world around them (This is catered to boys but can be used for girls as well).

As they grow in age and wisdom (I pray), it's important that I adjust my teaching style and content without compromising on Biblical doctrine. Having a defined, age-appropriate roadmap will help.

2) Influencing what's on their mind and how they think
A bit of context: When children are smaller (say, 1-3 years old), they are in the formative years, from a physical, cognitive, and emotional standpoint. Therefore, as a parent you have to influence and in a sense, control, what's on their mind. This happens by what you teach them, what you repeat often, the way you say things, what you allow them to see and hear, how they see you spending your time and energy, and so on.

As they move into a different age and stage, they will start to form their own convictions and preferences, based on what they have deemed as important. What they think about and where they focus their attention will have a lot to do with what you have told them and shown them, on a consistent basis.

Reading the Word of God will have the greatest influence on the way our children think and what they fill their mind with.

What's most important, and my responsibility, is that I provide a framework for helping them make decisions and develop Critical Christian Thinking (I'm coining this if it doesn't already exist). I will not be in their lives forever and won't be able to provide advice for every event in life (sad to think). They need to know how to use the Guide (the Bible) God has provided us in order to navigate through the various situations they will encounter in life.

3) Utilizing supplemental resources
Supplemental resources are people (family, friends, mentors, etc.) or things (books, videos, activities, etc.) that can positively impact their overall growth - spiritual, emotional, educational, vocational, etc. It can be an older family member like a cousin who they look up to, a mentor at school, a youth leader at church, or Bible-based books, and extra-curricular group activities. The list goes on.

The idea is to create a healthy network of people who are free to speak into their lives. People that I know and are trustworthy. People that love God and have a generous heart to pass along what they know; those willing to serve as eyes and ears to red flags or dangers that I may not always be aware of. This may be carried out on a consistent basis during weekly meetings at church or someone's house, or intermittently throughout the week, month, year, as they gather in different places and for various events.

At the risk of sounding idealistic and being shunned by those parents with older children who think I'm out of touch with reality, I pray they will continue to want to spend quality time together with Daniela and I. In the end, there is no replacement for one-on-one relationship building, especially in the example that Jesus left us for discipleship.

Keep the Fire Burning,
Danny

]]><![CDATA[Why Consistency Matters (Most)]]>Wed, 28 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.altarpreneur.com/altartips/why-consistency-matters-most

Jesus consistently met with God the Father (see Luke 5:16). This led to intimacy, which led to power, which led to effective ministry.

Some might say, "Yeah, but He was Jesus. How does that help me?"

In a world of constant distractions and ever-increasing demands on our time, it is easy to neglect the most essential aspect of our lives: our relationship with God. As a husband and father, I understand the importance of consistency when it comes to spending daily time with God. I can't get by without it. Correction: I may be able to 'get by' but I can't thrive and live an abundant life (John 10:10) without the presence of God in my life.

Let's briefly explore why consistency matters and how it can transform our spiritual journey...

Building Intimacy:
Consistency in spending time with God (i.e., building a daily altar) is the foundation for building intimacy with Him. Just as any human relationship requires regular communication and quality time, our relationship with God thrives on consistency. It is in these regular moments that we can pour out our hearts, listen to His voice, and experience His presence in a profound way.

Cultivating Discipline:
I'm a bit biased, but discipline is one of the most important factors for growth, in faith, family, and career. Consistency in our daily time with God cultivates discipline within us. It takes commitment and determination to set aside specific moments each day to seek God, regardless of our circumstances. Each age and stage has it's unique challenges...and opportunities. As we discipline ourselves to prioritize God above all else, we develop a spiritual discipline that extends beyond our time alone with Him and permeates every area of our life.

Seeking Wisdom and Guidance:
In a noisy world, consistency in seeking God's wisdom and guidance through His Word and prayer is crucial. When we make it a habit to spend time with God daily, we position ourselves to hear His still, small voice amid the chaos. Consistency opens the door for divine revelation, direction, and clarity that shape our decisions, relationships, and overall journey. We all need this!

Growing in Faith:
Consistency strengthens our faith as we witness the faithfulness of God in our daily lives. Daniela and I were talking about this the other day. God is so faithful! Even at times when we were not, He remained the same. But we need to take time for reflection in order to grasp this. Through regular communion with Him, we come to better understand His character, His promises, and His unwavering love for us. As we experience His faithfulness time and time again, our faith deepens, and we become more rooted in Him, no matter the storms we may face. Have you experienced this recently?

Setting an Example:
Consistency in our daily time with God not only impacts our own lives but also serves as a powerful example to those around us, foremost, our family. Our boys will not remember every passage we read or the topics we talked about during our altar time, but they will remember we did it consistently. When others observe our commitment and dedication to seeking God, they are inspired and encouraged to cultivate their own relationship with Him (or so we pray). Our consistency can be a testimony of God's transformative work in our lives and an invitation for others to join us on this journey in keeping the fire burning.

Heart check - Consistency in our daily time with God is not about checking off a religious to-do list; it is about nurturing a vibrant, life-giving relationship with our Creator. As we commit to a daily altar, we will witness the profound transformation that takes place within us and experience the depth of His love like never before. Join us, and let's prioritize consistency, knowing that it is through these moments that we encounter God and experience (ultimate) fulfillment!

Danny

]]><![CDATA[3 Lessons From Eli (And Why Fathers Need To Have A Pulse On Spiritual Matters)]]>Mon, 06 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.altarpreneur.com/altartips/3-lessons-from-eli-and-why-fathers-need-to-have-a-pulse-on-spiritual-matters

How are you and God doing?

How are you, AND your family, and God doing?

Simply put, having a pulse on spiritual matters means knowing where you and your family stand with God.

Have you heard from Him lately? Are you building a daily altar? Do your children know Him and walk with Him? (Or, if they are young, do they at least know the fundamentals of our faith?)

Questions to consider:

Are you spending more time on fleshly endeavors or kingdom work?
Do you pray and worship together?
Do you go to church as a family?
Do you serve together as a family?
When's the last time you repented?
Is your altar time structured (set time/place)?
Is your altar time spontaneous (all times/places)?
Do you think often about eternity and the fact that you won't be here forever?

Here's why I, as a husband and father, need to stand before God in prayer for my family, and have a continual pulse on spiritual matters:

1) Because the enemy wants to kill us
2) Because God wants to give us life!

*The story of Eli and his sons has a few lessons that can help improve the way you view God, understand his promises, and live your life. If you are unfamiliar with the story, it’s found in 1 Samuel 2:12-36.

In summary, Eli and his sons were priests, but the sons were mistreating God’s people and sacrifices. Eli didn’t do enough to stop them, resulting in them and their family line being punished.

So, what are the lessons from the story?

Fear God More Than Man
God’s Promises Are Conditional
God’s Punishments Can Impact Generations

1. Fear God More Than Man
The first lesson from the story of Eli and his sons is to fear God more than man. As you may know, “to fear” can mean different things, but in this context, I’m using it to mean respect or honor. Eli’s response to the behavior of his sons showed that he feared them more than God. In turn, God’s response to Eli is a reminder that we should fear him most.

Eli Valued His Sons More Than God
The Bible states that Eli “was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel” (1 Samuel 2:22 NLT). That awareness appeared to be more than just a knowing but rather an acceptance. Why? God told Eli that he gave his sons more honor than Him even after he rebuked them.

Although his sons were the ones the story show were doing wrong, God told Eli: “Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?” (1 Samuel 2:29 NIV)

Show That You Fear God More Than Man
Learning from God’s response to Eli, we should show a greater fear of God over men by going beyond passively rebuking sin. We should make every effort to make things right especially if those who are sinning are under our authority.

Often times we are afraid to stand up for what is right because we may be labeled as weird or left out of the group, but when we don’t we honor people more than God. Jesus said: “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels”. (Luke 9:26 NIV)

2. God’s Promises Are Conditional
The second lesson to note from the story of Eli and his sons is that God’s promises are conditional. One may think that because God promises something it will happen no matter what, but that’s not the case. His promises are usually attached to conditions and as we see with Eli and his sons, they can be revoked if the conditions aren’t met.

God Revokes His Promises To Eli’s Family
In 1 Samuel 2:30, God acknowledged what he promised Eli then indicates that He’s making a change. He said, “I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me” (1 Samuel 2:30 NLT). God went on to revoke that promise saying: “The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. All the members of your family will die before their time. None will reach old age.” (1 Samuel 2:31)

God made it clear that it was something he promised Eli’s family line but He’s now changing His mind since they were taking Him lightly. God’s condition for honoring people was also made clear. He’ll only honor those that honor him. He also said that those that met the condition of thinking of Him lightly, will be despised by Him.

Other Examples of God’s Conditional Promises
The story of Eli and his sons isn’t the only story in The Bible that shows the conditional nature of God’s promises. Here are a few examples that reveal the same:

To Abraham God said, “If you obey me and always do right, I will keep my solemn promise to you and give you more descendants than can be counted” (Genesis 17:1-2).
To the Israelites God said, “Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me” (Exodus 19:5).
To Joshua God said, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).
James says “Draw near to God, and God will draw near to you…” (James 4:8).

In many of God’s promises, though it may be phrased differently, you can find a condition. In the story of Eli and his sons, it was phrased as “I will do X for those that do Y”. In the examples of Abraham and the Israelites above, it was phrased as “If you obey me, I will do X.

3. God’s Punishments Can Impact Generations
The last lesson we’ll look at from the story of Eli and his sons is that God’s punishments can impact generations (his blessings also!). The actions of Eli and his sons did not only affect them but their family also.

God Punishes Eli’s Family
When God declared the punishment for the actions of Eli and his sons he said: “The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. All the members of your family will die before their time. None will reach old age. You will watch with envy as I pour out prosperity on the people of Israel. But no members of your family will ever live out their days. The few not cut off from serving at my altar will survive, but only so their eyes can go blind and their hearts break, and their children will die a violent death.” (1 Samuel 2:31-33)

Eli and his sons’ actions were so severe to God that the consequences went beyond them. Members of his family were going to be subject to punishments for things they did not do themselves.

Some might argue that it’s not fair that Eli and his sons’ family members were also punished. That’s an understandable argument. But if we don’t question when God blesses family members because of one person then we shouldn’t question that he punishes because of one.

It’s like how the entire human race was punished because of Adam’s sin in the beginning. Even though Adam did, according to Romans 5:19, Jesus’ actions made things right again. It says: “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)

Unexplained Blessings or Curses
Knowing this truth, unexplained blessings or curses in our lives may be caused by the actions of those that came before us. Based on the story of Eli and his sons, just like we can inherit a physical illness through genetics, it’s possible to inherit spiritual blessings or curses. While we may not know for sure if we are experiencing a generational blessing or curse, we can definitely live a righteous life in an effort to be a blessing to those that come after us.

It takes one generation to change the course of your family. Obedience brings blessing, disobedience brings punishment. Fathers, let's join together in prayer for one another!

Dear Father, give us wisdom. Fill us with your Spirit and give us the fortitude to remain faithful to you and our family, no matter what. Amen.

*Source: thewisebeliever.com

]]><![CDATA[How & Why To Identify What Matters Most]]>Mon, 07 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.altarpreneur.com/altartips/how-why-to-identify-what-matters-mostOur children pick up on the things that we value most. I see it firsthand with our two sons. They're both into music, they like tapping rhythms with their hands, and they got a set of lungs. Generally speaking, they'll probably adapt the passions and disciplines that they see Daniela and I pursuing.

Before it's too late, be sure to identify the things in life that matter most to you. I'm not talking about things, per se. I'm referring to the values, lessons, principles, convictions, doctrines, and disciplines that you want to pass onto your children. The things that you would hope they picked up on by the time they are out of your day-to-day life.

To help, I came up with 4 categories that can help you sift out the good from the bad:

Something worth living for
Something worth dying for
Something worth investing in (not just with money)
Something worth giving away (sharing)

If the things you are spending time on fall in one or more of these categories, it's probably worthwhile to purse. Otherwise, you should quickly determine why you are doing them. If not, we can end up wasting the one life God gave us.

Currently, I'm 4 months past 40 years old and realize that age is just a number. Old age doesn't guarantee wisdom. Youth doesn't always equate to energy and ambition. No matter what stage in life, we should seek the things that matter and have an eternal impact.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matt. 6:33]]><![CDATA[3 Difficult But Vital Lessons To Pass On To Your Children Before They're Adults]]>Sat, 27 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.altarpreneur.com/altartips/3-difficult-but-vital-lessons-to-pass-on-to-your-children-before-theyre-adults

Parents, we need to know how to make a case for the truths and teachings of Christianity and how to apply them to every day life. Call it apologetics, call it theology, call it what you will - we need to do it.

This doesn't always entail a sit-down session but it should. Often, it will be in passing, when we wake, when we travel, before we go to bed, etc. It will/should also take place when tragic world events happen, when a loved one passes away, when a friend betrays us, when you lose a job, and so on. Before they're adults, use those circumstances to draw near to God and the counsel of His Word, together with your child(ren).

Here's a short list of three important topics to discuss...

1) Being a Christian doesn't eliminate suffering

Make it clear to your children that following Jesus and surrendering our lives to God doesn't mean we will no longer have problems. That may sound elementary as you read this, being an adult, but there are children who might grow up thinking that Christianity is a protection from the outside elements. False. We don't live in a bubble. We are in the world (the physical place; planet earth) but not of the world (the evil system and ideology; the 'way' of the world).

Discussion starters:

Talk about Job and all he suffered; Highlight the fact that God knew everything he was going through and that He was Sovereign over it all, including over the devil.
Talk about the disciples. Every one of them (besides Judas) suffered in one way or another, during and after Jesus was with them. They remained faithful.

2) God will not give you a reason for everything He does in life. And He doesn't have to.

This ties into the first discussion topic. You will come to a point in life, if you haven't already, when you will not understand why something happened or is happening to you (or people around you). The same goes for your children. Talk with them and teach them that even if we don't understand all God is doing, He can still be trusted!

Discussion starter:

Talk about Joseph and everything he experienced (read through Genesis chapters 37 to 50). Even in the midst of suffering, he remained faithful.
Talk about the three young men in the book of Daniel (see chapter 3) who refused to worship false gods. They were prepared for the fire before they were thrown in the fire...and we must be too!

3) This is not our home
We have moved at least four times in the last several years (and are probably not finished yet). Our boys have done so well as we packed, moved things into a new place and got familiar with new surroundings. They are more or less conditioned for what's next. You know what? We're okay with this. We are at a point now where we are fairly settled but we never truly want to be "settled." Why? Because we won't be here forever. Our children need to know this. They need to see that we are longing for our eternal home and that we can't wait to be with Jesus!

Discussion starter:

Read through and discuss some of THESE VERSES from the Bible that deal with the fact that this is not our home

Keep the Fire Burning,
Danny

]]><![CDATA[Duty, Discipline, Delight]]>Wed, 14 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.altarpreneur.com/altartips/duty-discipline-delight

]]><![CDATA[(Coming Soon) A-Truth-A-Day from Altarpreneur Kids]]>Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:03:03 GMThttps://www.altarpreneur.com/altartips/coming-soon-a-truth-a-day-from-altarpreneur-kids

A Truth a Day is a new resource that will be available on Altarpreneur Kids.

It is a simple tool to help bring structure to your devotionals; It includes a weekly topic and 3 short teaching/discussion ideas. It was created especially for fathers, to take the guesswork out of what they will teach their children from the Bible during the week. It came about from my own dilemma of wanting to share at least one truth a day from God's Word (hence the name). With God's help, I finally put the 'pen' down and created a weekly guide that I can continue to use and adapt as our boys get older and more (spiritually) mature. Now, you can too!

A image like the (green) one above will be provided with each weekly topic along with 3 ideas for discussion/teaching. Here is a sample of the 3 ideas:

A) Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. We know the song and it's important to know God's Word. Here is a sermon by John Piper, which covers this passage. Listen, reflect, discuss!

B) Talk about the danger of disobedience. Here is a short clip from Ligonier Ministries that might help.

C) Talk about what sacrifice looks like today. Here is a video called The Priority of the Altar. In the first part, I describe elements of the altar, then and now.

Stay posted for updates on this resource.

Keep the Fire Burning,
Danny

]]><![CDATA[4 Biblical Principles On Courage]]>Thu, 21 Jan 2021 12:02:23 GMThttps://www.altarpreneur.com/altartips/4-biblical-principles-on-courage1. We can gain courage by doing what is right
1 Chronicles 22:13 - Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the LORD charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed

When we do what is right, we do not have a guilty or condemning conscience that tells us we deserve punishment. We cannot be courageous when we are doing what is wrong. The important question is, what is right? Whatever the Lord commands! Follow His Word. We will prosper if we are careful to do what the Lord says.

2. Courage comes from waiting on God
Psalm 27:14 - Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

To wait on the Lord does not mean to sit and do nothing, but instead to put your faith in God who is able to bring about victory. To wait on God is to rest in God. To wait on God is to pray. To seek His face. To think upon His goodness and to recognize that He is Sovereign.

3. Courage comes from hoping in the Lord
Psalm 31:24 - Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.

This is very similar to waiting on the Lord. Where are you looking for the answer to your problem? Hoping in the Lord means looking to the Lord. You will not gain courage by dwelling on the problem. It is certainly important to confront problems and we shouldn't pretend as if they don't exist. But we will only gain courage by looking to the One that can help us!

4. Courage comes from having people around us that encourage us
Isaiah 41:6 - Everyone helped his neighbor, And said to his brother, “ Be of good courage!”

The word encourage means to fill someone with courage. What type of people do you have around you? Are they speaking life into you or death? Negative and people will drain you of your courage, but those who are seeking the Lord and faith-filled will encourage you, because they are able to make good deposits into your life. Check your circle. I'm not saying to completely avoid 'negative' people, after all, we need to help them, but it's important that we too surround ourselves with helpful people, as the text says.

Acts 28:15 - And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.”]]><![CDATA[How Do You Want Your Children To Remember You?]]>Mon, 18 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.altarpreneur.com/altartips/how-do-you-want-your-children-to-remember-youDear parent, to live with more purpose, carefully answer this question:

How do you want your children to remember you?

What comes to mind? Do you want to be remembered as a loving father or mother? Fun? Strict? As someone who loved the Lord? The list goes on and it's unique for each person.

Once you've answered it and gave it some serious thought, write it down.

Next, put together a short list of daily, weekly and monthly activities that will help you live out this description. For example, if you want your children to remember you as someone who spent time with them and taught them the Word of God, one of your activities might include a weekly project/game and a daily Bible devotional.

These are some of the basic steps I took to create The Covenant Planner. This is a simple, one-page document that helps you plan for a Godly year by giving you a visual reminder of things that matter. Even as your children get older, this can serve as a simple tool to keep you focused.

Start today!

Genesis 18:18 - For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.]]><![CDATA[Parents, You're Always 'On Stage']]>Tue, 15 Dec 2020 23:59:41 GMThttps://www.altarpreneur.com/altartips/parents-youre-always-on-stageThere is one thing in common with all the professional plays and theater performances I've seen - I never saw what was happening backstage, behind the scenes. In parenting, this is not the case.

Training your children in the path they should go (see Proverbs 22:6) is not seasonal or short-lived.

Parents, to put it simply, we are always on stage.

Our actions, our reactions, our words, our silence, our habits, it's all being observed.

Today, give some thought to how you are living your life and the example you are setting for your children. Ask:

What are they seeing and hearing from me?
How are they seeing me spend my time?
What tone of voice am I using? (This is a work in progress for me)
Am I displaying a Godly example in the way I am loving my spouse?
What are they seeing when it comes to my relationship with people outside the home?
Are you living the Word of God; are they learning it?
Am I passing on practical life skills?
Do I spend time with them?

This is certainly a shortlist to keep in mind. There will be days when you feel like hiding backstage. Turn them into teachable moments.

Keep the fire burning,
Danny

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