If today was tomorrow yesterday and today will be yesterday tomorrow, the todays can get by quickly! Maybe that is why the Beatles longed for yesterday - “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they’re here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday. Suddenly, I’m not half the man I used to be. There’s a shadow hanging over me. ..” Living in yesterdays indeed can cast a shadow over experiences intended for today.
“God speaks in the language you know best ...read on
Who did you want to be like when you were growing up? Who was your role model - your dad, an uncle or another father-figure? Was there a national hero or maybe a sports figure that you wanted to emulate? As a tennis player in the ‘60’s, the sports figure I most wanted to be like was Rod Laver. Arguably the greatest player of all time, he would hustle, dive for balls and compete with class.
As an adult, the mantra in the business world was to ...read on
Father of a son or daughter. Step-father of a blended family. Adoptive father of a child. Biological father of child given up for adoption. Father of foster children. Grandfather in the role of father of grandchildren. Spiritual father of kids in the church or neighborhood. What are you a father of? If you are a man, you are a father of the next generation, in some capacity.
As fathers of the next generation, there is ...read on
Son of a great dad that seemed to always be there at the right time. Son of a good dad that did his best to provide but work kept him too busy to have a catch with you. Son of a dad you never did know because your biological mom gave you up for adoption, and it was a ‘closed’ adoption. Do you fit one of these scenarios or are you somewhere between them?
Whatever the situation, being a son is being under the influence of ...read on
A dad that had both of his kids get engaged this past year is now enjoying dialogue with them as they move forward with premarital counseling. The goals of the counseling programs are to affirm what God has brought together and encourage engagement in some tough conversations that may not surface during what Gary Chapman, author of the Five Love Languages labels the “tingly love” phase of the relationship.
There is a lesson here for a tense populace facing ...read on
Time for civility requires discernment through the hyperbole. When 150,000 folks decide to protest something, they are practicing their right to “peaceably assemble” but only represent about .05percent of the nation’s population. If or when one percent of those protestors turn to violence, the radicals represent less than .0005percent of the nation’s population. So, 99.9995percent of Americans are not complicit in nor condoning of any violent demonstrations across our nation. The hyperbole does not honor or reflect reality.
Being under the influence is allowing something outside of self to direct the next steps of life. What are you under the influence of? Over the past year, we have dealt with mandates to lockdown our lives, wear masks and to fear a virus over all else. We have essentially been a people under the influence of fear in the face of a crisis.
“But before we choose to follow God’s will, a crisis must ...read on
Have you experienced some heart-turning in marriage and family or heart-hardening while navigating through the Covid curveballs this year? Many folks have been impacted by job loss, the loss of a loved one, isolation and illness. In the midst of all the challenges, many have also experienced a new level of contentment in faith and family.
Peace? Are you kidding me? With Covid spikes, threats of more lockdowns, liberties being compromised and election results in America being questioned, peace is not the first word that comes to mind. Per Webster’s dictionary, ‘peace’ is defined as “freedom from disturbance; tranquility.” I think of the kid walking through the crowd with his noise-cancelling headphones, oblivious to the world. He is undisturbed and tranquil.
In this final week of Advent, the candle lit reflects ...read on
Joy is probably not the first word that comes to mind with 2020. How is a dad supposed to lead the way in joy to Christmas this year? One example is King David’s leadership when the ark of God was brought to the City of David. “Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might.” (2Samuel 6:14) King David was elated, and led the way in joy to get the ark of God in its rightful place. Nothing going on in the kingdom was going to impede the joy associated with the arrival of the ark.
In this third week of Advent, the candle lit rekindles the ...read on
If today was tomorrow yesterday and today will be yesterday tomorrow, the todays can get by quickly! Maybe that is why the Beatles longed for yesterday - “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they’re here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday. Suddenly, I’m not half the man I used to be. There’s a shadow hanging over me. ..” Living in yesterdays indeed can cast a shadow over experiences intended for today.
Who did you want to be like when you were growing up? Who was your role model - your dad, an uncle or another father-figure? Was there a national hero or maybe a sports figure that you wanted to emulate? As a tennis player in the ‘60’s, the sports figure I most wanted to be like was Rod Laver. Arguably the greatest player of all time, he would hustle, dive for balls and compete with class.
Father of a son or daughter. Step-father of a blended family. Adoptive father of a child. Biological father of child given up for adoption. Father of foster children. Grandfather in the role of father of grandchildren. Spiritual father of kids in the church or neighborhood. What are you a father of? If you are a man, you are a father of the next generation, in some capacity.
Son of a great dad that seemed to always be there at the right time. Son of a good dad that did his best to provide but work kept him too busy to have a catch with you. Son of a dad you never did know because your biological mom gave you up for adoption, and it was a ‘closed’ adoption. Do you fit one of these scenarios or are you somewhere between them?
A dad that had both of his kids get engaged this past year is now enjoying dialogue with them as they move forward with premarital counseling. The goals of the counseling programs are to affirm what God has brought together and encourage engagement in some tough conversations that may not surface during what Gary Chapman, author of the 
Time for civility requires discernment through the hyperbole. When 150,000 folks decide to protest something, they are practicing their right to “peaceably assemble” but only represent about .05percent of the nation’s population. If or when one percent of those protestors turn to violence, the radicals represent less than .0005percent of the nation’s population. So, 99.9995percent of Americans are not complicit in nor condoning of any violent demonstrations across our nation. The hyperbole does not honor or reflect reality.
Being under the influence is allowing something outside of self to direct the next steps of life. What are you under the influence of? Over the past year, we have dealt with mandates to lockdown our lives, wear masks and to fear a virus over all else. We have essentially been a people under the influence of fear in the face of a crisis.
Have you experienced some heart-turning in marriage and family or heart-hardening while navigating through the Covid curveballs this year? Many folks have been impacted by job loss, the loss of a loved one, isolation and illness. In the midst of all the challenges, many have also experienced a new level of contentment in faith and family.
Joy is probably not the first word that comes to mind with 2020. How is a dad supposed to lead the way in joy to Christmas this year? One example is King David’s leadership when the ark of God was brought to the City of David. “Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might.” (2Samuel 6:14) King David was elated, and led the way in joy to get the ark of God in its rightful place. Nothing going on in the kingdom was going to impede the joy associated with the arrival of the ark.
