I'm sorry I haven't been writing lately, as, frustratingly, the internet's been down at home for ages now (and the company is taking their sweet time to fix it, too). I'm making this quickie blog post at a nearby internet cafe.
Any idiot can create offspring, but it takes a REAL man to father. Furthermore, it takes a GREAT man to father in a way that develops excellent, God-loving, and responsible children. I often fail in this area, but by God's grace, I will father in this way.
I do find it cool that the world has decided to give us one day a year to celebrate our fatherhood. As I often do on this site, I’d like to enjoin all dads out there to use this day to reflect on how we are doing as fathers. We cannot fall asleep at the wheel here, men, as faulty fathering is devastating.
However, I’m not above posting the occasional “wish list” for us dads. One of the great mentors of my life once said, “We’re entitled to our own vanity.” Of course, he didn’t mean that it’s ok that we take duck-lipped self-portraits. He meant that we are entitled to treat ourselves every now and then…and Father’s Day is one heck of an excuse to be treated like a king.
So, Father’s Day is around the corner. Here’s some ridiculously great discount gifts for us, dads; thanks to Amazon.com’s Father’s Day promotions.
I’m a bit embarrassed to post wish lists up, but what the heck. Also, I think I am a man of good taste, and so I hope this post gives a good reference point for those of you who read this looking for a gift for the special dad in your life.
Okay, without further ado – LESSONS OF A DAD’s Wish List for 2013
(IMPORTANT NOTE:Click on the pictureif you want more information on the product, as text links are not working for some reason)
Ok, my message in yesterday’s pre-Father’s Day article (click here to see it) was a bit strong, but surely it had to be said. There’s a huge epidemic of fatherlessness and deadbeat dads nowadays, and it is my hope that somehow, the tide can be turned.
My favorite scene from the movie Courageous is the last scene, where the main character gives a testimony of his journey of fatherhood and challenges the other men in the building to not just settle for being a “good enough” dad, but only settle for the best father they could be. May we all father like this guy did (btw, there’s a spoiler in there):
If you haven’t seen the movie or bought the DVD yet, I strongly suggest you do so. EVERY dad should see Courageous. It’s one of the most convicting movies I’ve seen since, well, Fireproof.
Now then, since my pre Father’s Day blog was a bit on the strong side, for Father’s Day itself I’ll post something inspirational. Below is a radio broadcast of Focus On The Family, where the hosts recall their favorite listener-submitted stories of their appreciation for dads. Enjoy…and be inspired to be the best dads you can be!
You may want to check out the books below, as they were listed as the resources for that broadcast.
Father’s Day is coming up soon, and I’d like to quote a small part of a fantastic, albeit a bit strong, blog entry from Act Like A Man:
“Fathers especially have dropped the ball; America leads the industrialized world in fatherlessness. Forty percent of all children in America are born to single mothers; that rate is 50% for mothers under 30, and 70% for African-Americans. While moms are great at giving unconditional love regardless of their child’s performance, dads motivate sons to try harder, not to give up, to work for success. But even for those with dads, the average school-age boy in America spends half an hour a week in one-to-one conversation with his father. Compare that with an average of 44 hours a week spent in front of a television or computer screen.
“Without better male role models in real life, guys become confused about what constitutes acceptable male behavior. They don’t recognize the images presented in video games, movies, television, and porn as caricatures.”
You can read the rest of the blog entry here. You can also check out the excellent book Fatherless Generation: Redeeming the Story by John Bowers to find out how we can heal from this epidemic.
I agree with another Filipino Christian Blogger who quoted the above blog entry, The Living Rice, that this is also a wake-up call for Filipino fathers.
I’m not usually a materialistic guy. I can be content on very little. However, Father’s Day is coming up, and so humor me for a second while I throw my non-avaricious hat out the window and come up with some of my favorite “I wants” for this special day when gifts for fathers are expected.
It’s also a huge temptation that Amazon.com has some drool worthy Father’s Day goodies on discount. I feel like a kid in a candy store. I wouldn’t consider these gifts if it were not for the discounts Amazon gives us dads (or to the people buying gifts for dads) this very special day.
So, do you want to know my wish list for Father’s Day gifts? Here are some things that get me excited:
Movies and Music
I sooo can't wait
1. The Avengers. Okay, okay, The Avengers is not out for home viewing just yet, but the movie absolutely blew me away when I saw it, and so even if someone hooked me to be on the wait-list, I'd be happy.
2. Lecrae albums like Rehab and Rebel. My favorite Christian rapper of all time. I'd like to collect his work. Too bad Cagayan de Oro, Philippines is a bit wanting on the Christian
Hip Hop scene, so I’ll have to depend on outside (the country) sources.
3. Rhema Soul's new album Red. This awesome group is what got me into Christian hiphop in the first place. I’ve heard parts of their newest work and I must say, I’m once again impressed.
Well, it seems like this blog is on its last legs. I have just recently started my new parenting site called Lessons of A Dad. What that would mean is that I won’t be posting a whole lot on this site anymore…unless it is purely spiritual in nature and doesn’t have to do with parenting at all (like an online spiritual journal).
So please do visit Lessons of A Dad and, if you’re a parent yourself, follow/subscribe to the site by clicking on the follow or subscribe buttons on the right margin of the blog site.
Well, since it’s Father’s Day, one of my first entries (my 3rd, actually) is about Songs that touch a father’s heart. Here is the beginning of that entry:
Songs that touch a father’s heart
Happy Father’s Day, everyone! As fathers from all over the word are given this one day to feel really special, I hope you use this day to ponder on being the kind of man you need to be to lead your family. To help you with that, I have included some songs for a father’s heart.
Music can be quite powerful. I’ve had several instances where a mere song changed my whole outlook on what I was going through or my opinion in a particular subject. When it comes to being a dad, a good dad, these songs are just what the doctor ordered. May they bless you and challenge you, as they did me.
The first song is American Dream by Casting Crowns, the band of the popular “Who Am I?” song. We fathers can get so caught up with work and providing for our families the finer things in life that we lose track of what the finer things in life truly are.
Happy Father’s Day, everyone! As fathers from all over the word are given this one day to feel really special, I hope you use this day to ponder on being the kind of man you need to be to lead your family. To help you with that, I have included some songs for a father’s heart.
Music can be quite powerful. I’ve had several instances where a mere song changed my whole outlook on what I was going through or my opinion in a particular subject. When it comes to being a dad, a good dad, these songs are just what the doctor ordered. May they bless you and challenge you, as they did me.
The first song is American Dream by Casting Crowns, the band of the popular “Who Am I?” song. We fathers can get so caught up with work and providing for our families the finer things in life that we lose track of what the finer things in life truly are.
The next song that really speaks to my heart is Lead Me by Sanctus Real. The song speaks to me so strongly because it shows how badly our kids and wives need us in the leadership of the family.
The third song is Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman, a powerful song of how we need to cherish our kids in the here and now, because our time with them is very, very limited.
All three of these songs say one thing: our families, our kids, value our time and our presence much more than anything we work for. I’m not saying that work is not important. The reason why we struggle so much with time with our families is because we were wired to be providers for them, and all fathers, me included, want the best for their families.
Yet, I don’t want the clock to strike midnight on my time with my kids to realize how important our time together should be. They’re growing up…fast. Soon they’ll be gone, having their own lives; and when that time comes, I don’t want to feel like I squandered my fatherhood away.
Well, again, Happy Father’s Day, everyone. I’m sure there are many other songs out there that touch a father’s heart. Feel free to comment on your favorite songs for dads.
Oh, by the way, if you’d like to buy that special dad in your life a nice gift, then check out my article about good books for dads.
Oh dear me, I wish the rapture had actually happened as falsely predicted.
One of the leaders of our children’s ministry talked to me last Sunday and told me that I am among the many fathers in the congregation chosen to go up on stage, with kids in tow, on Father’s Day for a song number.
NOOOOOO!!! Ok, I’m overreacting. It’s a pleasure to do things for God and his people, but singing? Don’t get me wrong, I gladly serve in my church’s ministries whenever possible, be it breakout leaders in marriage/parenting seminars, behind the desk in registration booths for events, teaching the children, speaking in front, teaching the youth…it’s truly my pleasure, and I’m confident that I can do an excellent job in any of these.
But singing??? That would be counterproductive to what the leaders would want. You’d want MORE people to come to church not LESS. You’d want people to be BLESSED on Sundays, not CURSED. But we do have a space and a parking problem, so maybe they really did thought it through when they asked me to take part.
But alas, I said I’ll do it. It’s for the glory of God, right? Since I’d like to preserve my pride and I’m committed to giving you quality blog posts, I will not feature it on this site, like I did my daughter’s presentation for Mother’s Day. Sorry (or maybe you should thank me).
However, this could give me the opportunity to tell you about the recent goings on in CCF, my church; in case you belong to the same faith as I do and are looking for a church, or you’re just curious to see what we do (or to even try us out).
For the next several weeks, our Sunday messages will be on Parenting. All CCF churches from all over the country have Parenting as the topic for six weeks (this Sunday, Father’s Day, will be the 3rd, so we’re halfway through).
This is an AMAZING preaching series, very powerful and practical. Last Sunday, we had a video by Peter Tan Chi (who was so fantastic in last year’s PARENTING WINNERS) which I also feature below. Other Sundays will feature our local leaders, who are great speakers and excellent parents in their own right (they model and mentor very, very well…and I’m a recipient of that).
We have a new 3-service schedule for Sundays: 8-10 AM; 10 AM-12 NN; and 12 NN-2 PM. Note that there is no children’s ministry in the first worship service, in the middle service all hands are on deck to serve your kids and teach them well, the last service only has the older kids’ classes (6-8 year old class and 9-12 year old class…no toddler or 3-5 classes, sorry)
Ok, now for the adults who are not married, the singles. On June 25, the amazing guys CCF-CDO Singles Ministry will host DEEP IMPACT: Making Your Life Count. It’s a 2 day retreat at Mapawa Nature Park. If you want to make your life count as a person, this is the event to go (click here for more info). I don’t know the topics or speakers yet, but just save the date and attend. These guys have the Midas touch lately and what they do is usually gold.
If you, dear reader, would like come and worship God with us and try out to be part of this great family of believers, then please, do drop by. At least come for the parenting series, then take if from there to see if this is for you or not.
CCF is located in Papa Juanito’s square, Limketkai Drive. It’s right across the street from the Robinson’s Car Park entrance and right beside Discovery Hotel. See you on Sunday (yes, that’s Father’s Day…bring earplugs).
I own the parenting blog www.lessonsofadad.com. It's mostly about parenting, marriage, and everyday stuff that I go through.
You can read the rest of the blog entry here. You can also check out the excellent book Fatherless Generation: Redeeming the Story by John Bowers to find out how we can heal from this epidemic.
1. The Avengers. Okay, okay, The Avengers is not out for home viewing just yet, but the movie absolutely blew me away when I saw it, and so even if someone hooked me to be on the wait-list, I'd be happy.
with that, I have included some songs for a father’s heart.
Happy Father’s Day, everyone! As fathers from all over the word are given this one day to feel really special, I hope you use this day to ponder on being the kind of man you need to be to lead your family. To help you with that, I have included some songs for a father’s heart. 
All three of these songs say one thing: our families, our kids, value our time and our presence much more than anything we work for. I’m not saying that work is not important. The reason why we struggle so much with time with our families is because we were wired to be providers for them, and all fathers, me included, want the best for their families.
amazing guys CCF-CDO Singles Ministry will host DEEP IMPACT: Making Your Life Count. It’s a 2 day retreat at Mapawa Nature Park. If you want to make your life count as a person, this is the event to go (click here for more info). I don’t know the topics or speakers yet, but just save the date and attend. These guys have the Midas touch lately and what they do is usually gold.
