GENDADS

Post number two on praying for the children of your heart, of your legacy.  Poke back to the last post. I just did, and I like it.  Again.  It’s short.  Sets the tone. Pray for the sons and daughters of your life passionately, often, specifically. AND pray for yourself as the model they see.  They do what they see, you know.

In my hotshot Navy flying days, the “gouge” (yes, it’s spelled right–”gowj”–a Navy insider term) would be whatever the acronym or the phrase or the ditty that was a mental hook used to shortcut to some pretty complex procedures. We even called the crib sheet for our endless book tests, “the gouge”. Ready for the prayer gouge my wife and I use daily for our children and grandchildren?

“P. E. B.” Nail that to the wall of your busy brain. The gouge becomes the routine you don’t even have to think about. Just do it. F.G.T: “flaps, gear, throttle.” Here’s the gouge for praying dads and granddads. Life gets a little busy, distracting. Still, you just gotta do it. FGT. Once, too much going on in the pattern, and didn’t do the gouge. Forgot the “G.” Big woops. Fortunately it was a private plane. No taxpayer dollars were harmed in the making of this life lesson. USE THE GOUGE.

Protection. “Oh, Father, these are dangerous days. Protect (name each one) from physical harm, from the damage the world, their friends, and themselves can bring to their spirits. Protect them from the enemy of their souls who would devour them as a roaring lion.”

Enablement. “Matt and Cari–me, too, Lord–need special grace, patience, insight to ‘raise them up in the way they should go.’ Enable us all to be worthy of being your first choice in shaping their lives to follow you.”

Blessing. “Like your friend, Jabez, dear Father, I ask you bathe (name each) with your blessing. Enlarge the territory of their influence that they will bless others in Your Name, and cause them neither to be harmed nor to harm that the world will be pleased with You through them.”

There it is:  P.E.B. The whole of Psalms 37 is a perfect devotional to reinforce the protection, enablement, and blessing assured to those who follow after God.

AMEN. SELAH. SO BE IT. HALLELUJAH.

(I originally posted this for my friends on www.LegacyDad.com)

I was teaching a group of elderlies (yes, like me) last night. The topic was prayer. It’s a favorite of mine…the topic and the action. The discussion took an interesting direction. We talked about “Grandmother’s prayers”. How many of us have referred back to our mothers and grandmothers as the transforming force at a critical stage in our life.

Prayers are not a magic wand. Our Father, God, doesn’t respond to the words but to the relationship; He loves it when we talk with Him. Wonder where I’m going with this? What about fathers’ and grandfathers’ prayers. Perhaps it’s not so poetic, but we DO pray…right, dads.

Let’s explore this. I’m going to press on you. How often or, more appropriately, how passionately do you pray for each of your sons and daughters? Are you specific as related to their personality and its strenghts and deficits? Do pray for their grasp of universal character issues, like integrity, like courage, like kindness?

SEASONED PRAYERS ACROSS THE GENERATIONS …and a little nap

Wait a second…do you pray for YOU? Yeah, that YOU would walk before them in honor, face the irregularities of life with flexibility and patience, treat others, especially their mother, with respect and kindness? Does it seem to you as it seems to me that prayers for your own godliness must be tied to your loving prayers for each of them? And do you tell them you are praying for them and why…and praying for yourself and why? Modelling prayerful godliness and humility will rank right up there with “Grandmother’s Prayers.”

Oh, one last piece to encourage each of you who is now or will be a grand–or is that GRAND!?–father: how about your prayers? You’ve lived and prayed through many seasons. Seasoned prayers for the children of your legacy can be considered a most pleasing investment to the Ultimate Father in Heaven.

Ponder how James 5:16 might read in your household: “The prayer of a person–father, mother, grandfather, grandmother–living right with God is powerful and effective.

Gary

My post, below originally appeared on www.legacydad.com

THREE GENERATIONS. WHAT SORT OF LEGACY IS FORMING HERE?

Pictures from your past frame the stories of your legacy. Heritage sets the course for the future; yours and the children of your legacy.

I just made that up. I like it. I may quote myself in my book (yeah, that one still being written). Came to me while still waking this morning. I was smiling over the last week’s dramatic events with visiting son-in-law and grandson engineered for his upcoming Rite of Passage.

I tell you that because it has been for me a life-truth only recently realized. Among other applications of this reality, is my own deep gratitude to my Lord God and Savior for a life full of positive stories out of The Father’s guidance. Few men—read that to include you who are fathers—have a lifelong story of walking steadfastly in faith. I am fully aware of how unique and privileged this is.

There’s a point to this. Uncommon grace must not be taken for granted. That also means such grace from On High must, really must, be passed along. LET US TELL YOU MORE

More

Off they go.  Tears forming suggest I now know a little about post-partum depression.  These four days were so fulfilling, so uplifting, that watching the van with Matt and Gson Taylor head back home (Utah), is a mix of joy and sadness.  One month to go and the official ceremony with events and men gathered will usher Taylor in to his manhood year 13.

Here’s a short review of a week designed to give this young man exposure to levels of adventure and daring as well as a chance to look down the trails to his future.

• Sunday six men gathered to share their careeer and the difference following Christ made in it.  The golf with dad and grandad.
• Monday all day following family doc around on office visits. Saw caring, healing, and hearing things people tell only their doc. A homeschooled kid strong on math and science looked down this possible trail to his future.
• Tuesday 0530 show time for a long day of deep sea fishing.  Never mind the green gills and breakfast burrito projectile over the rail, this was a huge adventure alongside the burly and savvy fisherman.  Catching five to my one crowned the acheivement.  A dinner on the open street fair in a SoCal beach city was an eye bulger for this Utah country boy.  Lots of explanation needed by thereapist dad.
• Wednesday was Wow-Day.  BIOLA University prof gave us personal 3-hr tour of Mammoth site and anthro dept during missionary conference. Rest of day visit student summer project tables and mission recruitment displays. “God of Wonders” DVD back here produced rich evening of discussions on the role of the Lord God Creator in life’s origins and Taylor’s own future.
• Thursday was a glider flight, first time in the air. Pilot shared the glory of silent winged flight and a bit too much of the acrobatic features. More green gils.  The bag came in handy.  Fighter pilot grand dad grins.

YOU CURIOUS ABOUT THE YEAR OF PASSAGE AND THE RITE THAT IS ITS CAPSTONE? Stay tuned.

THE TRANSITION FROM CHILDHOOD TO MANHOOD IS LARGELY IGNORED BY OUR COSMOPOLITAN AND FEMINIZED SOCIETY. A “RITE OF PASSAGE” TURNS THAT AROUND.

[Taylor's here. So is his dad. Sunday through Thursday. We're at the last leg of Taylor's Year of Passage. He'll be 13 in a month. Very full days, just enough time to make daily and short comments to bring the reader along. Know what's really interesting? Right after Event One, people throughout our church and full-time RV community were remarking with words to the effect, "That's so wonderful. If only my parents had done that for me."]

• Arrival midnight from Utah, RV resort chapel followed by famous potluck. Message on David’s calling to follow God, 2 Samuel 2. Seven men seated in a circle with Taylor, most retired, each with a half-page statement to pass the “lessons learned” baton: “What I like about my profession, how Christ made a difference through me there, a story to highlight ‘Christ in me on the job.’” Can you see me inner glow? I can still feel it.
• These good and godly men who were touched themselves by the opportunity to “pass it on,” gave their story around the circle. Taylor focusing on each treasure of lives long-lived, most for Christ. I could see him most gripped by the life-long recovering alcoholic’s story of a wasted rakish life recovered half way through by Christ’s intervention. Each handed in a note page for Taylor’s journal.
• Then the “Irish” pot luck. “Taylor” is a derivative of Celtic Cameron clan. He fit right in.
• Then golf. Hey, this kid (who is also a wrestler), has got moves. Dad and Grand Dad, battled each other for top spot, but Taylor was only 12 points behind at the end. Best part was, of course, the fairway recapitulations of the morning men’s meeting.
• Then patio-sunset dinner. Thanks, Nani.
• Then closing the night with an obscure video that should not be (obscure, that is). Did you know that Campus Crusade’s Dr. Bill Bright produced “Red Dawn in the Morning?” A dozen historians and commenter’s in a series of six segments recounts the history of America with an emphasis I’ve not heard, “America is on a mission designed by God.” The closing segments lament the nation’s departure from its founding biblical principles. Amazing discussion with a 13 yold who “gets it” about America’s decline and his role in its future.

IF YOU COULD ARRANGE A PASSAGE EVENT FOR A SON OR GRANDSON, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE?

It caught me by surprise.  Shouldn’t have.  I’ve seen Paul grow personally, professional, and spiritually over the years.  He’s now considered one of the world’s premier sitar (Indian “Guitar”) performers. Talk about witness in challenging context!  Travels all over.  Picked it up as a missionary kid in India. Father is a major figure in world missions and best friend (next to soninlaw, Matt).  “Uncle” in this case is an earned title. it’s what best friends become when “uncles” have a better voice that dad’s too familiar one.

So, of all the responses from the grandson’s and the readers about INTEGRITY, Paul’s wins the year’s subscription to all three of my blogs.  Besides, if I did charge, he’d pay me in Rupees.

Am sending the following to Matt for dialog with the boys and the home church meeting this morning.  Please poke “MORE” here then (again, PULEEZ) poke “Comments,” above.  This is life changing material. More

[This letter to my two oldest grandsons, 13 and 11 is not fictional. We'll chat about them during my visits and Dad (Matt, co writer) will engage them in the meantime. This series is also for YOU, "Old Folks." It's a reminder how essential a quality INTEGRITY is to our lives. Thoughts I offer the boys can prod you into fresh thinking. A few moments of reading and a quick inventory just might refresh your soul, might adjust your behavior...today. ]

IF WE CONSTRUCT OUR LIFE WITHOUT INTENTIONALLY ADDING INTEGRITY, IT IS LIKE A RANDOM CONSTRUCTION PAPER CASTLE

Morn’, Guys. In the next couple of letters, let’s get down to the NITTY GRITTY. That’s “old speak” for the core of stuff.

Did you catch it:”nitty GRITY?” I teased you that the Latin root for INTEGRITY was “true GRIT.” See how our English language finds ways to reinforce what’s important (“inteGRITY”)? The question, now that we’ve worked out a definition: SO WHAT?!

Well, we established that personal INTEGRITY is the core of good character. Get it? “Core,” “Nitty GRITY,” “INTEGRITY”? Good character is what people will know you by. Wait, there is one more…it is what YOU come to know yourself by.

For now as I try to keep this short for your school schedule and your attention span, let’s name the personal character traits that come out of INTEGRITY. I just now closed my eyes and thought of six. There are more. Visitors to the comments section–including your dad–have identified several. Check it out.

So, before you turn the page, I’d like you to think of at least six character traits built on INTEGRITY. Keep in mind what INTEGRITY is (you did read the last letter, right?). If you guys are reading this together, see what you can come up with. When we finish, the list should be pretty long. We’ll print it and we can discuss it when we have lunch at the Cowboy Cafe in my next visit. Ready? Think of at least six, then poke “MORE” . . . More

[These letters to my two oldest grandsons, 13 and 11 are not fictional. They read them, feeling special to be "blogged" about, and we will chat about them during my visits and Dad (Matt, co writer) will engage them in the meantime. This series is also for YOU (Old Folks). It's a reminder how essential a quality INTEGRITY is to our lives. Thoughts I offer the boys can prod you into fresh thinking. A few moments of reading and a quick inventory just might refresh your soul, might adjust your behavior...today.]

YOU WILL STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD IF YOU HAVE INTEGRITY (so, answer the question, below)

So, a man or woman of INTEGRITY, bases their worldview and their behavior on principles, NOT on whim, good intentions, or even on “whatever”. Key word, kids; a big one but really important: INTENTIONAL. Good character and its solid core in INTEGRITY is not by accident or good chance. It is something you set your mind and heart on to achieve deliberately. Get this started early. Like now. Many adults don’t deliberately build INTEGRITY in to their lives until too late.

Since you guys and I follow Christ as our Lord and Leader, those prinicples are found in Scripture. There’s a lot of them. Here’s one for starters: I Chronicals 29:17 “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. We’ll explore others when we get together. We’ll see how INTEGRITY will prove to be that anchor or foundation for your life I mentioned earlier.  The new testament has a bunch, too.  Look it up.  Titus is way in the back of  the New Testament, but boy does it hit the spot.  Young men, it says, be serious about INTEGRITY so no one can say bad things about you and the Church of Christ.

So, answer the questions, OK? 1) What is INTEGRITY as you see it right now? 2) What is it based on? 3) What should it look like as seen in you by friends and family, and 4) what will it look like, how will friends and family see you, if you lack full personal INTEGRITY? 5) STOP for just a second. Try to name one person in both of these categories. Some lives stand out as models. Good and bad ones. My life-long prayer for each of you and your younger siblings is that you will be a model of godly INTEGRITY. As you see, God likes it, too. A LOT. And as you pass this on to your own grandchildren I will be smiling from my great seat in Heaven’s bleechers.

POPI

THE MAYFLOWER PASSENGERS REPRESENTED FREEDOM, ADVENTURE, COURAGE, RISK…BUT THEY ALWAYS HAD AN ANCHOR TO STEADY THEM ON THE SHORES OF THEIR GOAL

Taylor and Colton, I left you hanging. I was about to doze off when I was getting to my definition. That was partly a grandfather trick to get you to come up with your own, discuss it and then compare it to mine. Mine comes after a long life of sorting out the important things of life from the other stuff. Most of life is the “other stuff.”

INTEGRITY is the anchor (think of a storm and a rocky shore), the foundation (think of what holds the rest of the building and the life steady) of my character. It is who I REALLY AM when no one, not even Nani, is looking. It is also who I am to God because I know He is “looking,” and I care about that. It is what makes me content with myself even when I make mistakes and bad choices, because I know I will learn and move on. It is who I am to others because if I don’t have the character that comes out of INTEGRITY, I can not be to my fellow man (especially, friends, wife, children) what they need me to be.

So, trying keep this short, I’ll leave it there with, of course, a question we can take up at the Cowboy Cafe in six weeks: If INTEGRITY is a core value for your life, can you (and you, dear reader) give me examples of lives or verses in the Bible that make this point?

POPI

These letters to my two oldest grandsons, 13 and 11, are not fictional. They read them, feeling special to be “blogged” about, and we will chat about them during my visits. Dad (Matt, co writer) will engage them in the meantime. This series is also for YOU (Old Folks). It’s a reminder how essential INTEGRITY is to our lives. Thoughts I offer the boys can prod you into fresh thinking. A few moments of reading and a quick inventory just might refresh your soul, might adjust your behavior…today.

THERE IS WAY MORE TO INTEGRITY THAN MEETS THE EYE