Category Archives: Dad’s Corner

How Is it Going

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It has been awhile since I encouraged you to develop your skills in expressing your love of others. The best way to love others is to love their souls and desire to see them come to a saving faith in Christ. Everyone who is saved is to be an ambassador for Christ. I hope you are making progress toward engaging men you don’t know for the ultimate purpose of introducing them to Jesus. Of course, for those you do know, the goal is developing those relationships deeper. As a way of meeting new men, I hope you are looking every man in the eye that approaches you, automatically smiling and nodding. 

As I encouraged earlier, as they approach, look for anything that is noteworthy. Maybe they have an incredibly well-groomed beard, a cute or well-behaved child with him, a cool hat, a t-shirt with the name of a place you have been or want to visit, or a school you went to or know someone who went there. Maybe they remind you of someone you know. It takes just a moment to notice something you can positively comment/compliment on. They must be sincere compliments. Often, I even comment on their smile. There are endless hints about a person that give a slight view into their life that might lead to a conversation. First is to notice. 

Next begin making positive comments. Examples of comments I make are: “Fantastic smile.” “I love Pikes Peak too. When did you go there?” “That’s the biggest cowboy hat I’ve ever seen.” “I’ll arm wrestle you for that truck.” (It is given as a sincere compliment of their truck and always received that way. BTW, nobody has ever taken me up on it.) Often a brief cordial conversation ensues. However, if there is nothing further in way of a conversation that is fine. 

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Sadly Common

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It is common for Teri and me to be going somewhere and notice someone with erratic driving behavior, seemingly unable to keep the vehicle between the lines. It especially does make us uncomfortable if they happen to be in the lane beside us. Almost always, when Teri gets to look, the driver of the other car is focused on their phone. How insane is that? The driver is legally responsible for any harm or damage to others that they might cause with the 2,000 pounds (plus) of plastic and metal they are driving. Yet they are giving their attention to an inanimate object that weighs less than a pound. 

Don’t we often see a parallel absurdity in professing Christian families? Dad has responsibilities before the Lord with eternal consequences in how he leads the family and disciples the children in Christ. “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:7). Yet he spends his time on things of no eternal value.

Dad can’t save his children, but is he truly attentive to the priceless value of his children’s souls? Is his example and leadership consistent with their value? Dad’s time spent in pursuit of sports and worldly media might be similar to a driver being distracted by a dumb phone. 

“That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:” (Psalms 78:6-7).

Apology

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I apologize for leaving you “hanging” last week. I totally missed that I had not given a clear resolution concerning my ER trip. Bless so many of you who were so kind in expressing concern. You don’t realize how much I love you dads. You are in the trenches, and the deep desire of my heart is to encourage you in God’s calling for you in any way that I can. 

So last week, after twelve hours of AFIB that I have about once a month for only 15 or 20 minutes, it settled into a pulse of 150 for two hours. We finally went to the hospital ER where my cardiologist is. I’m sure if I had been in pain during that two hours, there would have been a greater motivation to go to the ER. In the ER waiting room, there were what appeared to be about 100+ deathly-looking people (flu season) waiting. Just then, a man slowly walked up to the counter, and I heard him ask, “Ma’am, how much longer? I’ve been waiting for 3 hours.” God used him to make it clear that it was not a place I wanted to stay. We left and went to Advent Health ER. I walked in and was immediately moved to their Triage. 

After an EKG, plus vitals, and blood work, they started an IV with “stuff” which began to slowly bring the heart rate down. So after four plus hours, my pulse was finally down from 150 and back to normal. 

We still don’t really know what caused it, so it will be difficult to prevent it. However, we did learn where to go when in need of an ER. Overall, I love, love, love my relationship with Jesus Christ and have no fear of dying. I want to be responsible (a good steward) of this body as long as He has me here. 

My brothers, I pray that each of you know Him and are in fellowship with Him. Trust Him and live for Him. Take care of your health. Eat right and be fit.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Pain

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Is it good or bad? Yes. It can be either. Doesn’t it depend on how it is viewed? If it is your pain, it generally is viewed as bad, and we want it to stop. However pain often is a signal that something is wrong and needs immediate attention. Yet, a condition may be serious with great potential consequences needing attention, without pain.Last week was my first trip to the ER in all of my seventy-four years. I had no pain and was slow to do something about a bad situation. My heart rate had risen to 150 bpm with no exertion, just sitting in my chair. It had been that way for two hours. My mind and sweet wife knew it wasn’t a good thing, yet I was reluctant to go to the ER. “It should stop soon” I reasoned. Finally, I called my cardiologist’s nurse who said, “Go to ER right now!” Okay, I got it. 

Sadly, a similar scenario is played out in families. Maybe, a child’s attitude shows hints of rebellion, or there is disrespect or mocking of things of the Lord, or they are drawn to unhealthy friends or media that is against your counsel. 

I plead with you, don’t wait until horrible pain sets in, act upon the warning signs. May we be like the wise man who built his family upon the rock of God’s Word and lived it. May we not be like the foolish man who lost his home. 

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew 7:24-29).

Good Idea

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The reasons to purchase the trees sounded good: fast growth, good shade, and relatively inexpensive, and they all proved to be true. However, what wasn’t discussed was the fruit they produced. Over the years those fast-growing trees yielded VAST amounts of sweet gum balls, walnut-sized seeds covered with prickly spikes. Once fallen and dried on the ground, pity the poor barefoot person, or child who slipped and fell on them. 

Most people don’t make bad decisions on purpose. They have good reasons for their choices. However, considering the resulting fruit of a decision is so wise. Many parents wanting happy, quiet children (“good reasons”) then reap horrible fruit in the coming years. Then, the children are addicted to being entertained with movies, video games, bad friends or evil books (such as Henry P). Dads and moms tired after a full day, might want to watch a movie, or just relax instead of time with the children and family Bible time.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:15-20).

Poor decisions are not going to produce good fruit in lives (unless maybe to learn never to do that again). Oh, my Brothers, always consider the longterm fruit of each decision, will it edify and draw one closer to the Lord or the world?

Double Blessing

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Remember that when we stand before the Lord He will judge our actions AND our motives. We can do everything good from good or bad motives. May the driving desire of our heart be to please Him, the Own Who purchased us with His blood.  “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:4). (That verse is a reminder to me, mounted above the framed painting of a historic, helmeted, medieval soldier hanging at the end of our hallway. I see it many times a day.)

We read His Word to know Him and how to live for Him. That is a double blessing. We please Him and have assurance of our salvation. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). We don’t read Scripture for points, unless our motivation is wrong. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

One brother, not only encouraged his family but his church family to read through the Bible, and it was a blessing. “A year ago I encouraged our congregation to participate with me reading through the Bible for the year 2025. We had a good participation, even youth as young as 13 participated. This has been a real blessing. We are now doing 2026 also. We planned (what I called) Grand Ole Bible reading Finale Lunch and games next month, focusing largely on the young people and a way to encourage them to continue reading through the Bible in 2026. Everyone of the youth that signed up for 2025 completed reading through the Bible. This is very exciting! I find the more I read it the more I desire more of it.”

God desires to use each of us. First, in our family, but then in every contact and relationship. Be salt my brothers. Be salt. (Matthew 5:13)

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Shrink or Grow

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This is the age of an obesity pandemic. I understand. I love to eat tasty things. It is a war that I’m determined to fight. Have you noticed how skilled we are at excuses that allow for partaking of things usually harmful for us. As we have touched on, God’s Word is nourishing for our souls and is needful daily for growth. Yet how the excuses poor forth for why it can’t/won’t happen. However, once the habit is set, it takes little effort to sustain it. It is not too late to begin your read through the Bible this year. 

One dad wrote after the last Seriously. Joseph said, “My wife and I are currently on a 4 month reading schedule. Reading larger portions helps the whole to stick together better. We are nourished by full bites rather than by crumbs.” That might take 40-60 minutes a day depending on your reading speed. However, I’m confident that for the average family to set aside 20 to 30 minutes a day for a one year reading plan is very doable. The rewards in the parents lives are high and even higher for the children. 

Printable plans are available on the internet. Many churches will offer them to their members and lastly you could target 4 chapters a day, 3 if long ones and that should work for you. 

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).

If you would like to but are struggling in some way, and I can encourage you personally, write me back. 

One of Those

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Most of you, I expect, have observed enough marriages that you have spotted some that you feel aren’t going to make it. We can’t see a person’s heart, but if we observe their decisions and actions, a pretty good view is obtained. Jesus, when referring to how one can know false prophets says, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). That truth has wide application. 

Teri’s mom in her later days, just wasn’t able to eat much. She was wasting away, and it was obvious, her time of departure was drawing near. Our bodies must have ongoing nutrition. 

For those who are truly saved, our spirits are analogous. We must feed on the Word of God to be healthy. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:2-3).

When I meet someone who professes to be a believer, in the conversation I will eventually ask them if they read their Bible every day. Not because they earn something by it, but it is a sign of actual life and view of their spiritual health. There is a reason Jesus refers to Himself as the bread of life (John 6:35, 6:48). I plead with you don’t be like the woman who told me “I’ve read the Bible for years. I don’t need to read it anymore.” 

I’m pleading with you to read the Bible, Genesis to Revelation each year at a minimum. At the end of the day, a man will have done what was important to him. Please, make it important to you. If I can encourage you in anyway, email me. (More to follow.)  

It Adds Up

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Life, and the constant stream of decisions we dads face, fascinates me. Even what we consider to be small decisions add up to be big ones over time. We just didn’t realize we were making them incrementally. 

Consider a few examples. Someone brings donuts to work. You’ve had breakfast, but a couple of your favorite donuts won’t hurt. Lunch out (only a few $ right?) is much more appealing than packing a boring lunch. After dinner, your sons were playing their new video game you bought them for Christmas and begged you to keep playing and not have to stop for family Bible time. So you let them play. Besides you could catch up on few things you wanted to do. Later, watching the news was too tempting to pass up with all that is going on in the world, even though you knew you likely wouldn’t get up for your Bible time. 

Decision by decision, the course is being set for yourselves and your children, your health and spiritual growth. Self discipline is foundational. If you don’t rule yourself well, someone/something else will. Food addictions, strangling debt, health crisis like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease are killing us. We are investing and withdrawing daily, how and what? Will our Lord be pleased? 

“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul” (Mark 8:34-37)?

One More

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Yes, it is the close of another year celebrating God’s most precious gift to all mankind. Jesus – wonder upon wonder of God’s love and grace. How blessed are all who have repented, received, and followed Jesus as Lord and Savior. Frankly, it overwhelms me when I try to comprehend it. 

When we give good gifts, we love to see them appreciated. We hope those receiving them are grateful for the love and cost represented. God is no different. 

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:12-13). 

Jesus Christ, as Savior, is a gift unimaginable. Do we value Him as the best gift ever? Do we praise and worship Him every day? Is He our joy and purpose in life? May it be! 

GLORY!