Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day!

Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice. Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father. Let us praise those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children.

Let us praise those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children's lives. Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing. Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children's love and respect. Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart.

Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own. Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides. Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children. And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us.


- Kirk Loadman

24 comments:

M. Hall said...

I love synchronicity and flow! I just posted this on my Facebook page an hour ago. Then, I headed over to bloginthenow and you had just posted it here. Great minds think alike!

: )
Happy Father's Day Bish!

Melissa Hall

Donald said...

Amen to all that!

karl cobos said...

...and Happy Father's Day to you, too, Bishop.

I honor my dad, who through divorce and seemingly disinterest for so many years of my life has now become over the last few years closer to me than ever before. I know God's hand was there.

I'm looking forward to the afternoon with Zachary and the cake I'm not supposed to know about.

word ver: torker

karl cobos said...

I just remembered when I was a kid visiting my dad in the summers. He had this red Mercedes Benz covertible...I remember us driving into the Virginia mountains...we were COOL!

Izumi/JOY said...

Happy Father's Day, beloved Universe! God bless your co-creators!

Hope your day is full of wonder, Bish!

Unknown said...

What Donald said!

"Let us praise those men who have 'fathered' us"...

Sometimes I wonder if the plan of the Father of All was always that we would need more than one earthly father...

Happy Father's Day, guys...and thanks!

Debee DiMenichi said...

I went to your blog this morning and read your tribute to fathers, listened as a random song from the playlist played.
There’s a lady dressed in black
In a motorcade of Cadilacs
Daddy’s not coming back
Memories of the week I buried my step-mom and dad came flooding in. I was dressing for his burial when I heard those lyrics the first time. A song that reminded me where there is faith, there is a voice calling. Keep walking. You’re not alone in this world and this morning a few days shy of 17 years since they died I heard it again. I sat back and waited for the other random songs--the love of God, how rich, how pure, how measureless and strong, somewhere over the rainbow...Religion said there was nothing over the rainbow, that Daddy wouldn’t be there. Thank you, Bishop for giving him back to me the day you preached the good news that it is finished, that He is enough and what He did was for ALL. Happy Father’s Day

Anonymous said...

A sweet tribute here Bish. I also love how the MkITN entry for yesterday plays into this mix. What true Father type wouldn't give everything to assure the salvation of those He cares for even if that required the rebuke of a son who wanted to prevent the giving of that gift through their own lack of understanding.

I saw a movie called Gran Torino recently that has one of the best examples of a father/Father type that I can remember on screen. The gift of safety and peace given by the father character required the ultimate sacrifice and the screen play was excellent in drawing parallels to Christ.

Happy Father's day to all.

JB

Anonymous said...

Happy Father's Day Bishop! may you be blessed and full of hope and glory for all to see...

Lots of love to you and your family.
Have a spectacular day.

Debra M.

Anonymous said...

It's all good --- Everything is beautiful in its own way---
These statements come from tree of 'life' minds.
This morning I had an experience which validates your point in the sermon>
Called help line to get on internet, mine would not come up and I wanted to get the sermon before 10AM. I got very angry, considered taking the computer back to the store, just staying angry and giving up (I am not very computer savy anyway- what was I thinking? I don’t know how to fix this!!)
I called the help #-got transferred to wrong place several times, took forever to get tech help-then could not hear the connection- then got disconnected, had to start over- meanwhile, my mind finally said to myself-‘if you don’t do this with love, you are going to have a miserable morning and make a whole lot on people on the other end of the help line miserable too.’
So I make a shift-
Then got connected to tech staff at last!!!!!!!
We, the tech and, I got back on the internet, about 10:05AM and I got CITN picture and audio...yea!!! The tech person said what time is there, I said 10 AM. She said 'have you had breakfast’ –in a very pleasant voice--I said ‘yes, and now I can watch my church on line.’ I asked her what time it was there. She said 7PM. We were feeling the similes across the miles!!! I thought to myself-- she made my morning!!

As I was seeing all this stuff as good or evil-such as you are evil because you will not connect me correctly and this is taking way too much time, and I was probably stupid to get a computer in the first place, all was going downhill in my mind.
When I said to myself 'I need to do this with love’ all looked good.
It’s all good
Everything is beautiful in its own way

Besides, the girl on the other side of the world is now blessed my me and all of her nation, because I have sent a blessing too her and her nation.

PS lead us not into temptation for me is simple
“Keep my path away from people, places and things which will tap into my own crazy, hateful, angry, stuff and when I do get there. ..Show me how to get out of my own downward spiral to hell ASAP!!!
Anonymous in North GA

DoubleBack Alley said...

Sahib,

I wouldn't try to "thus sayeth the Lord" you, because that is usually followed by a snort and a clinch to the nether regions. But, you really made me consider something this morning because that verse has always bothered me as well. No sense in encapsulating this angst over scripture and swallowing it myself – there’s plenty for you as well.

Let me try to tell you what you are helping me to see...Jesus had just admonished the Pharisees, who were by all accounts, the only "Fathers" that the disciples knew. He had really just chosen His disciples if Matthew is chronologically correct, so they knew of no other way to pray except what they heard from the religious leaders. So Jesus is performing miracles in their midst and ripping their belief system from their midsections.

That had to really mess with their minds. Jesus, knowing this (He had just told them that the Father knows what they need before they ask) wants to explain to them what prayer is all about. Before I go any further; had they heard Him pray? Did they know what that sounded like? Did they even know that “Father” was a term they could use? Also, was this monotheistic-logue the result of a groan because He was already getting frustrated by the Pharisees and, quite possibly, the disciples?

I see it like this, with the help of Mr. Subliminal.

Our Father (you have as much right to Him as the Head Bobbers and Phylactery fashionistas)
Who art in Heaven (and on earth, more specifically, Judea)
Hallowed be thy name (you can say it guys, anyone can – He is OUR Father)
Thy Kingdom come (not Lenny and Bernie’s – the Sadducical Sadists)
Thy will be done (I know you’re tired of making bricks out of mud and straw, same job different task masters)
On earth as it is in Heaven (Have you ever considered that it was the same place guys?)
Give us this day (Don’t worry about tomorrow)
Our daily bread (No more crow guys)
And forgive us our debts (Lenny and Bernie exact a pretty heavy toll, don’t they?)
As we forgive our debtors (Lenny and Bernie)
And lead us not into temptation (like Lenny and Bernie always do)
But deliver us from evil (Lenny and Bernie)
For thine is the Kingdom (the earth is the Lords)
And the Power (You will mount up with wings as eagles)
And the Glory (I see it on your faces guys!!)
Forever (always has been)
And ever (always will be)
Amen (don’t make me to do this again)

I defer to men of renown, of whom you are chief to me. Please mark for reference and editorial comments.

Ain’t God Good?

Iris said...

Father’s Day… a day for some of hallmark card’s, neckties, and long distant phone calls…

Today is my second Father’s Day without my father… For forty six years I had one… Even though he is not physically with me today… I have told him Happy Father’s Day in my spirit, and I felt his presence very near…

My father and I had a very rocky relationship while I was growing up… Although a missionary in South America, and believed in God, the demons of his childhood haunted him his entire life… which transferred to some of the ways he raised his kids and treated my mom… But there is one thing dad left me… a foundation in God that will never falter…

Although my dad is gone and the revelation of what is permeates through him now… I know all of his whys have been answered, and he looks at me now and is cheering me on.

Today I want to remember… remember all of the good times we did have… and bring him here so I can hug him in my thoughts…His words were nothing novel… His achievements, though admirable, were nothing extraordinary… but his presence was… Like a big branched oak tree he could always be found… sturdy… sure… and ready to be leaned upon… always predictable… When I smell Old Spice cologne I think of him… When I hear a Red Skeleton joke I think of him, and hear his infectious laugh and smile… it always came with an arched bushy eyebrow and a wide grin…

Dad didn’t teach me much about the ways of life… but I knew he was there if I ever wanted to know… and even though estranged at sometimes… his love for me consumed him… It was always felt even through all of the stuff…

So… I need to say…

Dad… I love you… and I will always smile when I remember you… Although you are not here with me today, I know you are all around me… and because of some of the things you taught me as I grew up, today I am not fatherless… I have a Father who is my life… who is the air I breath… He is always here… always present… always real… Thank you for giving me the legacy of truth… Happy Father’s Day, Dad… and Happy Father’s Day, God…

Iris

Iris said...

Happy Father's Day to all fathers ... You deserve it

Happy Father's Day to all the men who have impacted my life in such amazing ways... Thank you...

Happy Father's Day to my Heavenly Father... I love you beyond the depths of my soul...

Iris

Anonymous said...

What is a father if not a parent?

it doth not matter what the gender?

only that the one is willing

to give it all over and again

to raise up the one

that will become the one

to give it all over again...

Glory to the ONE Who Is Great

tracy said...

Wow a lot to say on this one- first and foremost a big thank you to the Holy Spirit for being with us as a father every minute and thank you Bishop for teaching us that His power and authority lives IN us and is always operating. Thank you Lord for that still small voice that says pray for your family as they are on the road and thanks for the grace that I listened......Bryan was in a car accident at 2 am and totaled his car on a dirt road. He landed in a ten foot ravine with only a small- approximately 12 inch pipe keeping his car from rolling into a creek. He got out without a scratch or bruise. When the wrecker came with a slight nudge his car rolled and the top was peeled back and a huge log rested on the inside of the car. We are thankful that next Father's Day is not the first anniversary of our son's crossing over. It is truly a thankful day -thank you to the Ultimate Daddy.

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Tracy...OMG! I just tried to call you guys but I can't find numbers for you...I think I still have David's old number in my phone...anyway, I'm glad Bryan's OK and I speak peace to him and all of you...let me know if I can do anything...

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

And while I'm here...that's cool, Melissa...I really like that piece...

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

And thanks for all the Father's Day shout-outs, everyone...


Debee, your comment gave me chills...

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Great insight, DBA...with regards to Mr. Subliminal...

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Thanks for all the blog comments today and all the texts and all the tweets...

You all rock!

Linda Luke said...

HAPPY FATHERS Day Bish, Our Heavenly Father and all daddy's!!!

There is really no way to measure the value of the role of fathers in our society and world!

Love & Blessings to you all!!!

karl said...

just stoppin in to say "hi", I'm being called to dinner now...gotta go!...she's comin' down the hall. Hasta luego!

Erik said...

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers.

In the service and worship today, it was a further refining of The Saviour to me. The Word Made Flesh saves us from our application the knowledge of good and evil. That is what we have been saved from, from the authority we have in establishing that paradigm.

Saving us from God sharing that paradigm, while allowing us to still have authority, and fashion this world, but an ‘escape’ clause that makes temporary the paradigm from tkge (tree of knowledge of good and evil).

We can still apply it, but it is not permanent. It also leaves what we create from the fruit of The Tree of Life as authoritative and permanent. Jesus was the confirmation.

Temptation is the fruit of tkge, temptation to doubt, (God and Ourselves, and our standing with God). The acts or details of manifesting that doubt take infinite forms. What we call evil, which we are delivered from.

That is wiped away from our ‘permanent record’, even as we grow through the temporary manifestation of it. We then have freedom to apply fruit from The Tree of Life (Mercy, Grace, Love, Trust) .

We manifest that fruit in our purpose, edifying, forgiveness, and manifesting Life affirming abundance in all of these intentions. They remain, while manifestations of tkge, wash away with The Word.(The Word is present in every manifestation of faith, equally). All are saved from our manifestation of tkge.

These run off our backs as The Word washes us daily. With that, all things are made new daily, and we apply that and give hope among us. We give encouragement, examples, care, enlightenment to each other. We all believe in each other, it is what is in Each One of Us. God is within Us All.

God places the tkge in the Garden, and creates the tempter for Eve. God also delivers us from the doubt of God that follows. God maintains the secured and glowing access to The Tree of Life (Grace, Mercy, Trust, Love, Peace, Righteousness) with which we use to unveil Heaven within , among, and between us.

karl cobos said...

Good morning Bishop and all.
Had a great Father's Day, and in the evening my son reminded me with Happy Father's NIGHT!...and when midnight comes it won't be Father's Day anymore but you will always be the best daddy ever!

The Holy Spirit has filled my son's heart with so much love for his mommy and I, I thank God all the time and publicly do so now.

Erik: I liked this you wrote;
God maintains the secured and glowing access to The Tree of Life (Grace, Mercy, Trust, Love, Peace, Righteousness) with which we use to unveil Heaven within , among, and between us.
---It makes me think of us in the body as cells and the water flows and permeates everything within, among and between the cells in the body. The WATER makes the Tree of Life's fruit GROW to be eaten and shared through us...
Eve shared the wrong fruit...we reach out, pluck, taste and share the right and righteous fruit with each other and SURELY LIVE!

Blessings, peace, joy and safety to everyone today!-Karl