PDave

The Perfect Model Of Fatherhood, Part I

First of a 3-Part-Series on fatherhood:  With this introduction, I talk a bit about growing up without a consistent and positive role model as a father.  We consider the message of Galatians 4:4-7 which describes God as a loving and intimate father who adopts us as his sons and daughters.  This message is about 13 minutes in length.  It may inspire you.  It may cure your insomnia.

Fatherhood - God Is Our Perfect Model

Pastor David Lyle

Going To Church & Riding The Hooch - Father's Day 2009

Tubing The Chattahoochee

Today is Father's Day.  We had a special focus for worship at church this morning.  Of course we recognized all of the fathers who were present, giving each a buttoneer and Hershey's Bar- just a treat, and most folk like candy!  We recognized the oldest father present, the father with the most children, and the father with the youngest child.  The oldest was 93 years young, and still going strong.  The youngest child, 3-months-old, let me know quite clearly that the sermon was too long for his approval.  A most meaningful time of the service occurred when I asked members of the congregation to share with us things they had learned from their fathers.  Many quite touching tributes were shared with spontaneity and passion.  It was a deeply personal experience for all.  For the sermon, I preached about how God chooses to relate to us as Father.  We considered from the scriptures, applied to daily life, how He is the perfect father. 

I spent the afternoon with my two daughters- as many are aware, my son in serving with the Marines in Hawaii.  He called later tonight, and we had a nice conversation.  But I'm not too thrilled with his little comment about my photo on his Facebook Page.  Anyhow, this afternoon my daughters and I took a leisurely trip down the Chattahoochee.  The tubes were large and comfy, the water cold and slow.  The laughs were easy!  I've mostly transitioned from raising children to connecting with adults.  But, they are still my little girls! 

So, it was a great Father's Day.  I'm home sunburned, tired, and happy.

A Stroll Through Pinckneyville Park

The closest park to my house would be Pinckneyville , a large soccer and softball mega-park totaling over 90 acres.  It is divided by S. Old Peachtree Road, with fields for soccer to the north and softball to the south.  Important to me are the paved walking trails around the peripheries of both sides.  When I include the additional walk to the adjoining Community Center, and the trails around the two lakes, it is a three-mile-trek located less than a mile from my home.  Big Dog and I can jump in the car and be on-the-go in about five minutes.  The trails are mostly separated from the activity centers by acres of trees and green grass.  Because of proximity and the fact that it is a great place, I use this park more than any for my daily walks.

The parks of Gwinnett County are acclaimed as among the best in the nation.  They are a worthy investment for a penny sales tax.  I've actually found a tax I like!

The thick, dark forest beckons.  Actually, it is not very isolated, as you can hear the cars and other sounds of busy lives in the background.  Sometimes I listen to my mp3 as we stroll.

Poison oak.  Not good stuff

Pink flowers in the trees.  

Blackberries.  I like to find a handful of ripe ones to munch along the way.  I know a fellow who comes here to pick buckets full.  His wife makes blackberry pie.  It's good!

Bunny rabbit.  He freezes, doesn't even twitch a whisker for the longest of time.  I guess he thinks he is invisible?

Fishing.  Actually, it is against park rules to fish around here, except for a few designated days.  I believe these are "illegals" doing something illegal.

Long, wooden walkway along the shore of the other lake.

My buddy.  Always there, always faithful, always ready to eat some nasty stuff.

A Walk In The Park- McDaniel Farm, My Favorite

My favorite place for a walk has to be McDaniel Farm Park .  It is a great place to connect with nature, close to a busy mall and a fast developing part of the metro area.  Walking amidst the old-growth timber, glistening streams, and even being able to spot a deer, it is wonderfully easy to forget the fast paced life just outside the carefully tended woods and trails.  I understand this land was owned by the same family for over a century and was still a working farm less than ten years ago.  It could have easily surrendered to the fate of most of the rest of the area, developed into subdivisions and rows of mini-mansions.  Thankfully someone had the foresight to preserve these several hundred acres for the benefit of folk like me.

It is not a multi-use park.  There are no ball fields or playgrounds; just ribbons of paved trails winding through nature.  I choose to make the widest loop possible, which measures out to almost three miles.  There are hills galore, great for cardio development.  Bridges cross streams, and there is a wonderful wood-chip nature trail, which adds about a half-mile to the trek.

Come along with me.  I’ll share some pictures and commentary.

Big Dog is in the car, ready to go.  He jumps the fence and squeezes through the door as soon as it is opened, then fills the vehicle with lots of slobber and doggie-breath, quite impatient as we travel about two miles to the park.  He absolutely loves these walks.

Soon after passing through a glade of hardwoods, a wooden bridge awaits.  The old farm has been restored, including the barn in the background of this photo.  A self-guided tour is available.  But I come here to walk.

The bark on this tree looks almost like armor plates, or scales.  Big Dog suggested we call it the Dinosaur Tree.

After about a quarter mile of open field, the trail leads into a dense and dark area of hardwoods.  I’ve spotted deer hiding in the midst of these trees.  Within the thick patch of forest, the air seems to me to have an earthy smell and a refreshing coolness.  I find it natural to quietly pray while passing through.  This stretch of the trail I call The Chapel.

   

In a couple of weeks the flowers will be even more glorious in display.

Honey bee, quite busy.  She was not appreciative of my interference, and shooed me away.  I’ve never been stung by one of these things.  Let’s continue that streak.

A lone tree, with a big wad of gum.  There is a story to be told…  
“Honey, will I kiss you?  Just let me get rid of this gum!”
“Ouch.  That ant bit me.  I’ll take care of that little son-of-a-gun.”
“There’s still some flavor!  I’ll leave it here for next time I walk this way.”

I hope you have enjoyed our little walk.  We’ll get together again next week.

A Very, Very Bad Dream

The shirt would not come off.  At first I thought it was somehow glued upon my body.  But, with careful inspection, it proved to be even worse- as if the vile t-shirt somehow was melted into my body.  As if flesh and material had become one.  Help me.  Someone...anyone, PLEASE....

Link To My Nightmare

A Walk In The Park... & an encounter with a "snake"

An almost daily routine is to set aside an hour for a walk.  The occasion might be early in the morning, and most often in the evening as the sun is setting.  It is an important time of heart pumping and soul cleansing.  Communion with God comes easy for me as I am surrounded with nature and fresh air.  So the walk tends to be brisk and the prayer casual.  An hour: that’s warm-up and cool-down times, and fifty minutes for a brisk stroll.

It is the amount of time it takes for me to walk three miles, at a fast pace that gets my heart to pumping and mind to working.  I understand, for a walk to have its best health benefit, the heart rate needs to be elevated and kept up for at least thirty minutes.  Also I understand, for maximum benefit, a mile should be traveled in at least fifteen minutes.  I’m still working to obtain that benchmark.

For several years my happy travel companion was my faithful little dog, Bailey.  As my regular readers are aware, we lost Bailey about two years ago.  He was so much a part of the experience that I quit my daily walks for several months.  Now that I’m back to regular walks along our familiar paths, I still sometimes find myself scanning the woods and distant hills dreaming that just maybe my little dog will come running.  That would be nice!  My walking pal now is Big Dog, a German Shepherd mix who showed up half-starved in my back yard and just refused to leave.  I made a futile effort to find his owner and determined he was most like abandoned.  He has one eye and a huge heart.  He loves to jump into my little Chevy and happily ride to the park, all along whimpering in delight and slobbering on the windows.  I utilize a heavy-duty leash.  It holds firm, although occasionally he will give chase to a rabbit or squirrel and try his best to pull my shoulder out of socket when the leash comes to its limit.  All in all, he’s a shedding, slobbering, happy-go-lucky, wonderful walking pal.

This area in which I live has an amazing assortment of walking trails.  I doubt there to be many places better suited for daily walks.  Except, perhaps, Hawaii?  Most of the dozens of walking/biking trails are maintained by the County or local cities, the result of wise management of tax revenues.  Interestingly, many of the parks have resident law enforcement officers, who live on the park premises and therefore help to keep the public safe.    

My intention for the next several months is to take you along for a weekly walk.  I will try to include some photos, links, and hopefully some unique perspective.  So put on some comfy clothes and walking shoes- no boots needed, and let’s have some fun, enjoy this beautiful world, and try to stay in shape.  These installments will be on Thursdays.

For warm-up, here is a photo from a recent walk.  As Big Dog and I strolled along a wooded trail, a couple of young men met me and with great caution one said, “Be careful.  There’s a big snake up ahead.  He’s right in the middle of the walk!”  I thought, Great- I would like to see a snake.  Snakes are good.  They eat rodents.  They help maintain an important equilibrium of nature.  And they simply need for us to enjoy them from a distance, and leave them alone.  I like to have snakes in my garden- like I said, they keep the critters away.

So, here’s the snake.  It looks very much like a stick.  Because….it is a stick.  City slickers!

Bring Your Gun To Church Day - Not A Good Idea

I understand a Louisville church will be celebrating the Second Amendment by encouraging congregation and visitors to bring guns to church .  Not a good idea.  I think I will pass on this particular effort to promote church attendance.

My little congregation includes some people with problems.  We tend to be a kind, loving, and earnest gathering of sinners/saints.  But some of us are not the best candidates for gun possession.  On any given Sunday the congregants may include any or all of the following:
-Jilted spouse whose marriage is on the brink, with suspicions of infidelity,
-Volatile teenager experiencing angst over whatever may be the struggle of the day,
-Lady with a history of depression and a man struggling with mental illness,
-Young man from an abusive home with a fascination for things gang related- like guns,
-Smattering of second amendment supporters who might do something inadvertent, stupid, and highly dangerous with a gun.

So we will stick with Bible study classes, preaching the gospel, and when we want to do something different- maybe have a potluck dinner.

My church is not a nuthouse.  It is a gathering place for people who are imperfect, who struggle with life and seek God for help.  In that respect, I would hope it is not that much different from this man's church.  If only "good' people with healthy lives and selves compose the congregation, then in my estimation it has missed out on its charter purpose.  But it is surely not a place to play with guns.

Thoughts About The Killing Of Abortionist George Tiller

George Tiller and his wife were in church today.  He served as an usher and his wife in the choir.  In the midst of worship, someone walked up to Tiller and shot him dead.

Tiller was an abortionist.  He specialized in late-term abortions, of viable fetuses.  It has been documented that, in his twenty plus years of practice, he conducted over 8000 procedures.  Murders?  I guess it is a matter of perspective.  Now Tiller is dead, to be viewed as a cause celebre by many on both sides of the volatile issue.  I would like to give some personal perspective, before the media with voices much more gifted than mine come along to nudge my opinion.

First I consider why a man would walk into a church and kill a person.  Likely he employs the justification of civil disobedience, the Christian version being, “I must obey God rather than man.”  But here’s the problem with justifying such radical action- George Tiller also believed in God, apparently quite deeply.  And it seems his God was o.k. with his chosen vocation.  Thus, this line of reasoning leads to a war between adherents of gods who are quite different.  It becomes a religious war.  And I’m quite convinced it is never right to kill someone in the name of God, even as I realize it has been done and continues to be done by the millions.  Such is why we in America adhere to the genius of the separation of church and state.  In respect of God, we do not claim to be a Christian nation!  Or Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, or Atheist.  In a secular Democracy, God is not sacred.  Perhaps in the church, or the heart of the individual, but not in the government.  So what is sacred, to be obeyed and followed without fail?  Law.  In a Democracy, law is sacred!  We do not worship it, but we must obey it.

I am of the persuasion that late-term-abortion is grisly, hideous, and I have almost no doubt it is murderous.  It needs to be outlawed.  But as righteous as we may feel the cause, we never have the right to further this aim with a bullet.  Our weapons are to be the ballot box, courts, and most importantly our daily interaction with public opinion.  We change minds and hearts, and then we can change laws.  I know nothing about the man who killed Dr. Tiller.  But I can profile.  Likely, he is someone obsessed with a Higher Calling.  He considers a viable fetus to be a human being, worthy of protection of the law- so do I.  He sees late-term abortion to be murderous- so do I.  And he saw George Tiller as a killer needing to be stopped- I agree.  At first glance it seems but a small and logical step to his next action.  Since the law will not stop this man, it is my duty.  No.  We must fight the good fight, but not with guns.  If we cannot convince the majority of the American public to be amenable to our point of view, then we simply must try harder, and persevere.  And many of us feel so strongly about the issue that likely we would consider living under a different political entity, one that values life, even if it would mean another country or a secession from the current Union.

In horror, on the internet I have watched the video of the Taliban as they sawed off the head of Daniel Pearl, gleefully in the name of God.  Those people make me sick.  But it is really not much different than to walk into a church and shoot an abortion doctor.  I’m pretty sure the real God is sickened by the actions of both. 

May God bring comfort to the family of Dr. Tiller. 
May God bring to swift justice the cowardly perpetrator of this despicable deed. 
May God protect the rest of our houses of worship from such horror. 
May we all, with the guidance of God, take a deep breath and discern wisely...

The Toughest Kid I Know

He's not a weight lifter
Or boxer
Or business tycoon.
Heck, he probably doesn't have $10 in his pocket.
He's just an 18-year-old-kid to most folk,
Shy and soft-spoken.
But I will assure you-
This kid has more guts than just about anybody you will meet.
Let me tell you about him....

Mom and dad are illegals, and do not speak English.
He grew up a little boy isolated by language and social barriers.
Because of rent evictions, shuffled around to various schools and residences,
Exposed to gang culture from early age,
Numerous fights and altercations.
Dad left his family in abject poverty, hides so as not to pay child support.
Forced to be de-facto parent to three siblings.

Father tells him You're a loser.  You'll not amount to anything!
Dad’s friends laugh at him-
Often no food in the house,
No internet,
No phone.
Neighborhood crime ridden-
School with highest dropout rate in the County

The odds were stacked against him, and...
Not too long ago he almost gave in.
He needed for somebody to care.  
To care. 
Just a little…

Now he is on his way to beating the odds.
And along this journey he has earned my respect 
By showing more fortitude than anybody I have known.

Two days ago my wife and I stood, with eyes riveted upon a stage
And watched this extraordinary young man…
Receive his High School diploma!

Way to go, Alfredo!

(Alfredo & his proud mom)

Passing Judgment On Others Can Make A Person Hungry

This morning I went to an orthopedic hospital to visit with a lady who will be having surgery for a broken hip.  On the way out, I walked through a large, open waiting area filled with at least thirty patients.  Everyone was overweight.  While leaving I did a double-take and then wondered why?  These people are seeking treatment for bone and health problems and being overweight exacerbates such issues.  It is probable that the added stress upon their bodies can cause the health problems.  But, it can also be true that having bone and joint pain will keep a person from exercising properly, which can further lead to weight issues.

I perused: “Which is easier, to discipline oneself to diet and exercise properly, or to be burdened with the cost and pain of treating the symptoms?”

Getting into my car, I drove to McDonald’s, and enjoyed a #4: sausage biscuit, two hash browns, and a Diet Coke.  830 calories, 44 grams of fat.  I was fortunate not to break a hip as I exited the door.