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What My Father Taught Me [T]:
My dad wasn't perfect, but he was a good dad. He passed away after a battle with leukemia, 2013-2017. He was an Eagle Scout, worked for a Christian youth organization before marriage, worked in a jail all my life, a layman of theology and politics.
My dad wasn't perfect, but he was a good dad. He passed away after a battle with leukemia, 2013-2017. He was an Eagle Scout, worked for a Christian youth organization before marriage, worked in a jail all my life, a layman of theology and politics.
He loved guns & the outdoors. Raised by a Sheriff's deputy. A true kid of the 80s, he loved pop culture. Star Wars is in my blood, right alongside the LA Dodgers Blue. He read Lord of the Rings 12 times, and asked for an encyclopedia set for Xmas when he was a kid.
He was a photographer, and a good one at that. Started a little program that actually has participants across the world ( https://photochallenge.tempusaura.com/ ). Weekly new photo challenges, his partners kept it going.
He once demonstrated the power of Christ's sacrifice. I did something that deserved the ole'wooden spoon. But instead of whoopin me, he handed it to me, & said he'd take it for me. I wept, & he wouldn't let me walk away till I hit him for my disobedience. I remember the faint tap
He taught me that words matter. Words have real meaning & definitions. Language is a toolbox for communication, & words are the tools. Different situations call for different tools. Just because this thing doesn't need the hammer, doesn't mean you should throw the hammer out
He taught me that theology matters. It matters because if you get it royally wrong, you're headed for heresy territory, and heretics don't know who the real God is. We must understand who Jesus is and what He did, and that's called theology.
He told me there are 3 people in the world. Most are sheep. Some are wolves. It is our duty, as men, husbands, fathers, sons of God, to be the dogs who protect the sheep from the wolves. You must be ready and capable, and at all times aware.
This could be physical protection of a stranger on the street from some dirtbag, or spiritual protection from the wolves who lie their way into the church. Either case, it is right for you to put your own life on the line and step between the danger and the endangered.
I can recall a few times when we were walkin thru the college town nearby, we'd pass by people in conflict, that could possibly escalate. He'd keep us going farther to a safer place, then go back and de escalate the situation, if need be call the police.
There was a homeless chick. Her sister was screaming at her, basically upset with what she's doing with her life. My dad stayed put for the homeless chick till the sister was gone. She was so grateful.
We could be at dinner, and he'd randomly ask what I can tell about that random guy over there. How he walks, dresses, carries himself. Or he'd ask, what if somebody suddenly came thru, right now, looking to hurt people? What is your job, what do you? Get mom and sister to safety.
He always loved, encouraged, & cherished me and my siblings. He was so proud when sis began playing piano for church. When brother was top of his class, he's wicked smart. When the other brother could rightfully tick someone off who needed it lol. When I wanted to be a writer.
He was manly and pushed for guns, beards, and manliness. But he was also a broken sinner, and he shared with me his brokenness. He took me on a camping trip, just us. I was deep in porn at that time. He shared with me his own past slavery to that sin, and the other current sins.
Some say he could be annoyingly arrogant. I guess maybe in the past that could be true, maybe now & then. But that's not the relationship I had with my dad, not the humble, strong, repentant, and bold man I knew. So be gone with your butthurt, you didn't actually know him.
He taught me the weight and responsibility of being a man. He taught me that what I believe matters, and what I say matters. He taught me to repent, to trust in God. His cancer only brought him to lean more heavily on Christ.
