DAD'S DEMONSTRATION

My dad is a quiet man. He has always shunned positions that demanded being in front of people or leading people. He turned down supervisor jobs at work. He turned down nominations to church leadership--although for many years he did serve as deacon. Some have insinuated in the beginning of my ministry that it would have been to my advantage if my dad were a minister. Perhaps so. Perhaps, there would have been some advantage to name recognition and the experience that would have been afforded my being raised in a preacher's home. Of course, Jesus Himself didn't have that advantage. He was a carpenter's stepson. The fact is, my dad has been a tremendous help to me in the ministry: First and foremost is his example. Dad, got up really early, 4:30 a.m., I think, for work. Sometimes, at that time, having to go to the bathroom and noticing a light on, I would see in the other room Dad either reading his Bible or bent over at a chair praying before work. That example has been a constant motivator to me for keeping up my private times with the Lord. Also, in those days of late night revival services, often leaving church at 11:00 p.m. or later, Dad still attended every service our church had. Second, there was his common sense instruction about life and ministry. For example, over and over he'd remind me, "In the church never take sides (doctrine and morality excepted)." Lastly, he has always spurred me on to prepare myself for greater usefulness. When I was first called to preach, he came to my bedroom holding a sheet of paper and said something like, "Called to preach, huh? If you are, you will memorize these." He gave me a long list of Scriptures to memorize. To this day those Scriptures come back to me as I minister. He goaded me on to work through the lessons to get first my Christian Workers while I was yet a teenager, then my license, and finally my ordination papers. But the greatest thing of all I've mentioned was the image branded in my mind of his kneeling and praying before work. Thanks, Dad, for the demonstration of true faith.