Daily Reflections on Jn. 5:19-20 (My Dad)

My dad died a week ago, on a Sunday evening of a massive stroke. He had been a pioneer and an innovator in ministry throughout his eighty years of life. In the early 60's he envisioned a new approach to teaching teens God's truths and was snatched up by a Christian publishing company to write a new curriculum which unbelievably is still being used in some circles today. In the mid to late 60's he saw a generation of baby boomer students hitting the college campuses and losing their hope in Christ. He helped formulate a new kind of ministry, Campus Ministry, to reach, challenge, encourage, shape college age young people for Christ.

In the late 70's and early 80's my dad envisioned a new ministry to Senior adults who were leaving the workplace. This "Greatest Generation," as termed by Tom Brokaw, was the most successful, had the most available resources, the most experience, the greatest work ethic of any generation heading into retirement. My dad saw the potential to the Kingdom of God. He sought to mobilize this vast army of talent, heart, wealth, experience to action and thus launched Christian Seniors Fellowship.

I learned a lot from my dad. It's weird the memories that suddenly pop into your mind at such a time of loss. I can picture my dad teaching me to ride a bike as he ran along side. He taught me to play baseball in the back yard and enrolled me in Little League. He gave me my first taste of sports. He taught me how to pick cherries from our trees, to plant roses and how to care for them. He taught me to drive in all sorts of traffic and weather conditions. He gave me the confidence to try to fix things around the house or on the car when they broke down. I learned to be "me" no matter the environment or company in which I found myself. Growing up in Cincinnati, he taught me to hustle, to give my all and run out every play like Pete Rose. I learn how not to camp from my dad. I learned to be a giver from him.

For all my dad taught me, my love for God is first and foremost. It was his life. Just as Deuteronomy instructs fathers to teach their kids formally and informally, my dad did that for me. Whether it was working in the rose garden, family devotions, riding in the car or around the campfire, he found ways to point me to God and His truths.

My dad loved people. The coffee was always on at our house. There's nothing he enjoyed more than sitting around the kitchen table with friends and family eating, laughing and sharing well into the evening. It was no reclining to the living room at our house, the dining room table was relaxing enough as the laughter and stories went on for hours. It was party wherever he went. He realized the value of relationships and how much people mattered.

I wore my dad's shoes to his funeral. Filling his shoes is probably not possible. He accomplished more in his lifetime for the Kingdom of God than I ever will. I'm not him. I've developed some of his mannerism and am working on his profile, but I'll never be him. However, I am a part of his legacy and so are you if you're reading this. I developed my passion for people and ministry through the example he set for me. And although I can't fill my dad's shoes, I can follow in his foot steps, allowing God to use my gifts and talents for Him.

God, thanks for the example of faith and service my dad was not only to me but to many. I'm a follower of Christ because of he and my mom. I feel so blessed. I pray that I can be as an effective servant for you as he was. I'm so thankful for heaven. I look forward to being in your presence and being united with my dad for eternity. Thanks for the hope beyond the grave, God, that you made possible through Jesus Christ.

Daily Reflections on Mt. 7:7-12 (Fathering)

What a beautiful picture Jesus paints of God as Father. It's not a picture of some feeble old man. It's not a picture of busy father with no time for his kids. It's not a picture of a neglectful, lazy or abusive father. It's not a picture of an authoritarian or dictator. It's not a picture of a distant father with little to no concern for his children.

The picture Jesus paints of the Father is one of compassion, concern, involvement, care, and action. He's approachable. He's loving. He's giving. He's capable. He's listening. He's there. He provides.

Fathering can be tough sometimes. At times yo have to be gentle and understanding. At times yo have to discipline. At times you have to play with your kids, push them on the swing, let them put curlers in your hair or just wrestle on the floor. At times you have to be the dragon slayer, the protector, the defender, the rescuer. At time you have to be a teacher or challenger or coach or reaffirmer. At times you're the provider, while at other times you're the receiver of special gifts.

I've captured the values of my father. My kids are capturing my values. My behavior, my character, my ethics, my heart, my pattern for parenting will be passed onto my children. How they look at life and how they treat their spouses and children and other people will be drawn from me. No pressure, dads. As "head of the household," dads have the responsibility of setting the pace, the standard.

There is no question that God is a God of grace and mercy. The image of Him as Father makes Him embraceable to us. God is interested in our lives and wants us to invite Him in. As we embrace Him, pursue Him, engage Him, we experience His full nature. As His children, we then adopt His values of love, grace, giving, caring, extending ourselves to others.

God, when I grow up, I want to be just like you. The more I pursue you, interact with you, the more I know you, the more I want to be like you. Help me to have your heart, your passion, your attitude toward others.