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Challenge to Fathers

June 21, 2009 in Ministry, Personal with 5 Comments

Today I read about President Obama’s challenge to fathers in the New York Times. He was encouraging us to be better fathers than his father was to him. I don’t care what you think of his politics, I think we should all applaud the President for taking time to make a very important appeal to the fathers in our country. I was more specifically moved by the description he had of his own father.

“a myth to me, both more and less than a man.”

This reminded me of a special prayer request I had from a child this week. I’ve been leading a 4th grade Sunday Morning small group, while trying desperately to recruit some new ones, and in my group I pass out prayer cards. I tell the kids that if they’d like me to pray for them about something, then to fill out the little card and give it to me before they leave. About 1/2 of the kids do it and most of those cards are for sick dogs and cats (which I do pray for!) One particular prayer this week, was on a card without a name and it simply read:

“Please pray that my Dad will call me this week.”

As we celebrate our fathers, and as we let our families celebrate us as their fathers; take the time to find a kid that is waiting for their Dad to call. Remind them that there is a Father that loves them more than any earthly father could. Or you could take the time to tell them you’re proud of them. Not sure what to tell them you’re proud of? Just tell them you’re proud of them. Makes no difference if you have the details. Just make the choice to make a big difference in their life.

Happy Father’s Day!

June 13 = 11 Years

June 14, 2009 in Personal with 0 Comments

Yesterday was a big day for me. I returned from an overnight pastoral retreat, played Mario Cart with the boys, showered, took the kids to MacKenzie Park where we ate PB&J’s for lunch, then let the kids ride their bikes, fed some ducks with the leftover bread, stopped by the Hub City Cruzers Annual Car show, visited the Buddy Holly glasses statue, got home in time to read some of my John Adams book, fell asleep on the chair in the living room, woke up and hurried to Saturday Night services, hung out with 20 or so Elementary kids for an hour, took my family to Rosa’s Cafe for dinner, returned home to put the kids in bed, watched Pushing Daisies with my wife while she slowly fell asleep on the couch, then read some more of my John Adams book before I fell asleep at 11:00 pm. And all this on my 11th Wedding Anniversary.

My daughter summed it up best while talking at dinner about Daddy and Mommy’s wedding, when she asked,

“Who watched us when you were there?”

While I often remember the days before my children (eating out late, long vacations, road trips, sleeping in on Saturdays, etc…); I cannot remember much of what happened before I met Starr. I do know I was 17 years old, and that life sure was more fun with her around. So much fun that I asked her to marry me, and she did on June 13, 1998.

And don’t worry you romantics out there, later this week we’ll be taking a short 11 year Anniversary trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico. No kids!

Being Yourself Before God

June 4, 2009 in Bible, Ministry, Personal with 1 Comment

One of my responsibilities as a Children’s Pastor, and more importantly as a parent, is to make sure my kids don’t learn unintentionally incorrect things about God, spirituality, and faith. While working to teach my kids to pray, make life-giving choices, submit to their parents, and read and love God’s Word; I can also unintentionally teach the wrong things.

“I Can’t Be Myself When Talking to God”

This is a big one. We all do it. Out of a desire to teach our kids to “respect” God and be reverent, we all to often run the risk of demonstrating to our children that when we talk to God we can’t be ourselves. You know you do it, right? You suddenly change your posture, tone of voice, and countenance. You transform yourself from a charismatic individual into someone reading an eulogy. I’ve seen the most exciting small group leaders at my church suddenly take on the grave prayer voice more than once. For goodness sakes, when talking to God you should be yourself! Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s important to be respectful, but shouldn’t you be respectful even when being yourself?

This takes on a dangerous tone when you do this around children, because without even trying to you’ve just demonstrated to your kids that you become something you’re NOT when talking to God. You’ve just communicated to your kids that who you really are, isn’t who God really wants to talk to. You’ve just demonstrated the greatest of christian-ese skills, garnered over the past two centuries…being two-faced. I think Jesus may have even addressed this…

So what should you do? It’s simple really. Just be yourself when talking to God. When you’re praying in front of the kids at church or your own kids when you tuck them into bed at night, talk excitedly of what Jesus has done for you, talk expectantly of what God is allowing you to be a part of, talk hopefully of what God is helping you to conquer at the moment, and talk appreciately of who God has placed into your lives. Don’t miss the valuable opportunity to teach your kids that getting the attention of the Creator of the Universe is one of the great privileges of living on earth!

So are you guilty? Do you even pray around your kids? Have you brought out the funeral prayer voice, instead of just talking to God?

Happy 7th Birthday Ryan

May 26, 2009 in Personal with 1 Comment

This kid of mine is 7 years old today. You’ll have to forgive the predictable banter about how I can’t believe my baby has grown up this fast. Seriously, he’s 7? This kid that made me a father for the very first time is FREAKING 7 years old? Unbelievable.

Now that we got that out of the way… Let me tell you about this unbelievable 7 year old. Ryan is the kid that makes people that hate other kids start liking kids. Did you catch that? He’s a kid that will convince childless couples that they should hurry home and start making kids. Of course I should warn them, that Ryan is a rare breed. Not the typical 7 year old boy.

What makes him different?

I’m so glad you asked, for starters he’s sensitive to others. There are the occasional exceptions in regards to his little brother, but mostly he’s a great listener and really has a passion for connecting with other kids and adults. Secondly, he’s smart in ways that aren’t normal for 7 year olds. He’s that kid that just started reading one day and is now a fluent reader of all things, and is taken with the great gift of actually WANTING to learn. Then you can throw in the fact this this kid is just so darn handsome (not taking credit, not taking credit, not taking credit.) He is also the most creative person in our house. Whether it be with trash, paper, colored pencils, crayons, markers, or dirt; he makes a work of art every time. That’s why I love the picture from above. For his birthday he got some 3-D sidewalk chalk, and has proceeded to turn our driveway into his own personal masterpiece. It even rained the first night, and no worries. He was out there first thing in the morning to replace it all with a few little changes here and there. Finally he’s a good friend to those that know him. His naive little spirit cannot wrap his brain around why someone would ever be mean to another person. He has such a sweet, sweet spirit towards his friends.

Ryan has been an exceptional 1st grader this year, and is one of the last in his class to turn 7. It’s a big day for this 7 year old. It’s a big day for us, too.

Happy Birthday Ryan!

The Cliff Family All Day Project

May 23, 2009 in Personal with 1 Comment

This Friday I repeated part of a trend I started last Friday with the Car Drive video. This week it was a special all-day project. Me and the kids took pictures about every 5 minutes all day long. There were some obvious gaps, where episodes of Spongebob Squarepants (yes, I’m that parent) and yard work got in the way. May 22nd was a full day for the Cliff family. From eating a grumpy breakfast, to taking Raider to the Dog groomer, to making a quick library run, to filling up the water bottles, to a special pre-Kindergarten Dr. visit (with shots and all!), then a reward for being such a good shot taker at McDonalds (Dylan is such a rockstar!), and back to the house, then yard work, then visiting Ryan as his special end-of-the-year school activity day, then back to the house, then picking up Ryan from school, then playing some Wii, eating dinner, and then cleaning the house for the parents-only date night (which included sushi and after dinner iced latte’s), and then back to make sure the kids were in bed!

Whew…

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