Happy Father's Day, Dad

"Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then, fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again."Jimmy Piersal, on how to diaper a baby using an old cloth diaper

"To be a successful father . . . there's one absolute rule: when you have a kid, don't look at it for the first two years." -- Ernest Hemingway

I've been working on this blog for quite awhile. It's going to be long, so you may want to stop now or get something to eat/drink before settling into this entry. I'm reposting the "Thank you men" blog from last Fall but before I do that, here's some kudos to my dad on Father's Day.

I've always admired my dad's strong work ethic. Slacker is not the first word that comes to mind when I think of my pop. I appreciate his bright mind, always reading books or listening to music and there's his sense of humor. I've also got great memories of him getting excited about some ball game on TV. In these most recent years, I appreciate my dad for his strong desire to build good relationships with all of his kids. I love this about my dad. He's not perfect but he is a good man and I love him for that.

My dad has been faithful to my mom since their wedding day 38 years ago. One of the best things about their relationship is that faithfulness has never been called into question. My mom once said to me that in all their years of marriage, my dad has never given her a reason to feel insecure around other women. That's the way it should be! Women want to be the only beauty in the story, fellas. And somehow my Dad is aware of that. I LOVE IT for how it secures my mom.

As I started writing this months ago, my Dad called to see how I was doing and to cajole me to move home this summer for good! :D We talked for awhile and I mentioned how thankful I am that he's a faithful man -- that he doesn't give into the culture but chooses to be different. The past 2 years in Budapest have made me overly sensitive to this issue. I've seen things and I've had more conversations on this topic of faithfulness than almost anything other than smoking and most people's views strongly hold to the belief that it's OK to be unfaithful. What a load of crock.

Anyways, my dad said that he thinks it's much harder today to live purposefully than it was when he was growing up. He said for most guys who just give in, there's no struggle. He said something really cool though. "But when you choose someone, and I chose your mom 38 years ago, then you continue to choose that person every day until you die." Wow! Go dad! You rock. :D
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I wrote the following post last year but I want to re-post it for several reasons. First, I'm thankful that my dad is striving to be the man below.
Second, I truly believe in men and I will not surrender to a lesser view of men.
Third, these men (fathers and brothers) deserve to be admired, cherished, honored and encouraged in their manhood in this lifetime.

These men exist. They also exude genuine manhood for me. Who knows but someday I may have sons. I pray that they too would grow up to be these kinds of men.

So fellas - Prove these Hungarian friends of mine wrong. And to those who are living this and aspiring to live this.... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU....for not being like the norm.
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THANK YOU MEN

I'm writing this to thank all the men in my life whom I admire and cherish for truly walking in your manhood. A four-pillared man. No, not a monster; a modern day superhero.
a man of character and vision – a king.
a man of strength and power – a warrior poet.
a man of faith and wisdom – a mentor.
a man of heart and love – a friend.

Thank you for being an example of a real man. Thank you for being today's William Wallace, fighting for the honor of women and children through your thoughts, words and actions. It seems to me that shouldering the burden of manliness in this generation is a tough mandate. Choosing to be different and walk in the way of a William Wallace is not a path that gets much applaud these days. So I want to applaud you.

Thank you for broadening your shoulders—and walking in the discipline of heart something unseen but known in your thought life, and allowing your actions to reflect genuine manliness – everything from thinking rightly about women, opening doors, offering to carry things, listening with joy to our stories and being a protector of feminine mystique and dignity.

Barlow Girl's "Guy Song"recently reminded me that this world has tried to discourage and distract you. Yet it's so powerfully attractive and admirable when you live with a bigger purpose than just what your eyes can see in the natural. There's something so admirable about a man who does not conform his lifestyle to this world which devalues things of faith and real life. Every time you embrace a way of life that's counter-cultural, by what you choose to do and not to do, you are speaking volumes to so many watching eyes. You are to be admired, valued, and highly esteemed because you choose to look straight ahead and meditate on healthy things. Your life cannot be equaled to the man who just indulges his flesh. You far surpass this man on every level!


I want to applaud you. You mean so much to me! This kind of man walks with confidence to protect and provide a place for women to flourish in feminine beauty. Because you're willing to be a warrior and fight for a woman's honor and beauty, you are a king, a warrior poet. You don't indulge in porn or empty relationships to make yourself feel like a man. You choose to say no to these things and yes to real relationships, building with women as individuals and seeing them as image bearers – God's creation reflecting something of God's purpose and character - God's daughters. You guard and cultivate this in the women around you because you are God's son.

Thank you men. To those of you who are fathers and husbands, thank you for loving your wives and children with a supernatural love and choosing to be a king, a warrior poet, a mentor and a friend to your wife and children as well as the men and women around you. To those of you who are my single brothers, thank you for honoring women by not taking advantage of their emotions or their physical bodies for your pleasure. Instead you have chosen the harder way, seeing women as hand-crafted for a unique purpose, who need to be prized and treasured, our honor kept intact. You are a man of character, vision, strength, power, faith, wisdom, heart and love. To all the men in my life!

Like the "Guy Song" lyrics sing….."This world distracts you, lies to you and hopes to keep you from your call….don't be fooled….you can stand up to it all…..this is your day! Don't let them take it away…."Thank you for fighting the good fight, taking the narrow way and clinging to God's promises which keep you from falling. I admire you, I respect you and I want to honor you today. Thanks for being His four-pillared man.