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ave you ever thought or imagined our heavenly Father kissing you? I do. And He really does!
This is the reason why I know.
Just like any other child we all have done something wrong. We all have messed up at some
point. I have done something wrong so many, many times. I have messed up so many times. And each
time, I would be hesitant and almost fearful to approach my father, afraid of being punished or
scolded. As an adult I still continue to mess up. I still continue to have many, many mistakes, do wrong
things so many, many times no matter how hard I try not to. Unnecessary, hurtful, offending words
still come out of my mouth sometimes, unfortunately. Some dishonest actions or decisions still
happen no matter how hard I try to be honest at all times. And each time I know I erred, I feel guilty.
The Holy Spirit convicts me. Each time, I feel hesitant and discouraged--almost ashamed to approach
and face my heavenly Father as I kneel beside my bed at night to pray, thinking the errors I have done
during the day. But as I pray, confessing my sins, the guilt and the burden of sin always vanishes as I
press into His presence. As He embraces me and kisses me tenderly, His embrace of acceptance and
kiss of forgiveness assures me that I am really forgiven. I know that my human nature will always
cause me to fail, to err, and to make mistakes that could hurt my fellow human beings, and above all
my Lord, but I am assured that each time I approach my heavenly Father's throne of grace and confess
my shortcomings, I will always get His kiss of forgiveness through Jesus. Jesus said it Himself in the
parable of the prodigal son. Each time I feel that kiss, it always makes my heart glad and my whole
body warm and a smile would always appear on my face.
Isn't it amazing, to receive the kiss of forgiveness from our heavenly Father? Each time I kneel to pray,
I anticipate my heavenly Father's kiss. It is like a good night or good morning kiss from our earthly
father. Our heavenly Father is just as real as our earthly father. He is within our reach. He longs and
yearns to embrace us and to kiss us. It is so awesome to know that this is real. He waits for us to come
before Him. "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you...." James 4:8.
So, have you ever thought of your heavenly Father kissing you? Have you ever desired for His kiss, the
kiss of forgiveness? He is only a prayer away. He yearns and longs to embrace you and to kiss you. He
yearns to have that intimate relationship with you. Yes, you, personally. Experience that Father-child
relationship with your heavenly Father. Receive His kiss of forgiveness, your life will never be the
same.
"I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my
transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah." Psalms 32:5
Father's Day
Melodie
P.S. For those whose fathers are still around, dont forget to
tell them you love them. Dont forget their hug and kiss
before bedtime.
lease say present when your name is called," instructed the teacher. It was the
first day of school and as a first grader, I was excited and looked forward to the
activities in class. As the teacher began reading the names from the attendance
record sheet, I eagerly anticipated my named to be read.
Romulo Halasan, Junior. The teacher called. But no one answered to that name.
Romulo Halasan, Junior, she called again, this time with more intensity. Still there was
no response. My classmates started to look around for the mystery first grader who was
not paying attention to the teachers instruction. I too was curious and joined the class in
looking for the owner of the name, thinking I had a cousin with the same family name as
mine.
Romulo Halasan, Junior. The teacher called out again as she walked towards me. I was
puzzled and looked around wondering perhaps Romulo Halasan, Junior was sitting next
to me. But then the teacher stopped in front of me and looked me straight in the eye.
Hitting my hands with the stick she held, she said: You stand and say present. You are
Romulo Halansan, Junior.
With a puzzled look on my face, I stood up and slowly told her, Maam, di man ko si
Romulo. Ako si A-L (Ah-el) Halasan. (Maam, I am not Romulo. I am A-L Halasan.) I
started to cry and left the classroom running straight home. When my mother saw me,
she asked why I was crying and why I was not in school.
Still in shock, I replied, Gipasanginlan ko sa akong teacher na ako daw si Romulo. (My
teacher said that I am Romulo.). My mother burst into laughter as she told me the reason
for the change of name. When I was born, my mother named me Avantlyle B. Halasan.
However, my father changed the name to Romulo Halasan, Jr.
Even if my father named me after him, I was called by my nickname, A-L until I finished
college. Romulo Jr. was used only in important documents, often drawing comments such
as: Your name is quite old, or people would just laugh when I use that name on
government papers. I simply did not like Romulo as my name.
Sometime after graduation, I started working for a company in Thailand. One day the big
boss stopped by my desk and asked me, Your name is Romulo, right?
Yes! was my immediate reply.
My boss continued, Your name reminds me of a very brilliant man. I guess you are also
a brilliant man. He added that he was referring to Carlos P. Romulo, a prominent Filipino
who served as the president of the General Assembly of the United Nations, aside from
the many political achievements he had.
I realize that my father did not only lovingly entrusted his name to me, but also the hopes
and aspirations for me to carry out his name in the future. I take that as a challenge
seriously and I will proudly carry my name as Romulo Jr.
I am one of my fathers biggest fans. He loves telling stories, a hobbyist, a historian and a
people-person. He enjoys fishing, gardening and loves listening to Oldies music. He
has a simple taste for food and fashion. He loves to play tennis and enjoys travelling.
To my family, he is Dad. It always makes me smile when he starts bragging about his
children as he introduces them to his friends. He often talks about me as my son who
will someday be like meor even better. He goes on to enumerate my talents with pride.
Because if he wont brag, then who else would? That is a Dad. He will always be proud
of his children. He supports them and entrusts his hopes and aspirations on his children.
My dad has made a huge impact in my life and I am proud to be named after him. Truly,
fathers know best.
Happy Fathers Day, Dad. (FYI, I am also naming my son, Romulo Halasan, III.)
Romulo Binoya Halasan, Jr.
You Raise Me Up
"When I am down, and oh, my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be,
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up to more than I can be.
Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed nothing was satisfactory.
He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger
out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue.
Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly
counseling appointments for us. At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe
Dad's troubled mind.
But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it was up to me to
do it.
The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health
clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that
answered in vain.
Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, "I just read something that
might help you! Let me go get the article."
I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home. All of
the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved
dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.
I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon. After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer
led me to the kennels. The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of
pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted
dogs all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied each one but rejected one after the other for
various reasons--too big, too small, too much hair. As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows
of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a pointer,
one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the breed.
Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hip bones jutted out in lopsided
triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me
unwaveringly.
I pointed to the dog. "Can you tell me about him?" The officer looked, then shook his head in
puzzlement. "He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We brought
him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've
heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow." He gestured helplessly.
As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror. "You mean you're going to kill him?"
"Ma'am," he said gently, "that's our policy. We don't have room for every unclaimed dog."
I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision. "I'll take him," I said. I
drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me. When I reached the house I honked the
horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch. "Ta-da!
Look what I got for you, Dad!" I said excitedly.
Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one. And
I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it" Dad
waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house.
Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples.
"You'd better get used to him, Dad. He's staying!"
Dad ignored me. "Did you hear me, Dad?" I screamed. At those words Dad whirled angrily, his
hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed, blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other
like duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad
and sat down in front of him. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw.
Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion replaced the anger in his
eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal.
It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the pointer Cheyenne.
Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dusty
lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even
started to attend weekly Church services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly
at his feet.
Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years. Dad's bitterness faded, and
he and Cheyenne made many friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne's cold
nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I
woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. He
had passed away quietly sometime during the night.
Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's
bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite
fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of
mind.
The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks like the way I feel, I
thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the
many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was
a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life.
And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. "Do not neglect to hospitality to strangers, for by
this some have entertained angels without knowing it."
Rainy June
Daddy:
(whispering) "Macie, wake up! Put your jacket and shoes on."
Blessed is she...
Ate Virgie: "Daddy, I washed your clothes and found 20 pesos that you left in your pants
pocket."
Daddy: "Really! Well ... Blessed is she who washes my trousers for she shall be rewarded
of her efforts. That 20 pesos is now yours, Virgie!"
You can imagine after that, we sisters, racing to wash his clothes ... hardly even waiting till
he took them off! That didnt last long, though!
I followed his lead to the front of the administration building and got into the vehicle
driven by Mr. Don Christensen. We drove down the mountainside to the airstrip and got
into the MVC Cessna aircraft and buckled our seat belts.
Within minutes, the powerful little metal bird took us up into the sky ... and we flew for
quite a while, hovering over the campus boundaries and beyond.
My fears turned to trust and my body completely comfortable as it swayed along with the
aircraft's changing directions. The only tremor I felt was from the engine's rumble and
the occasional drops and jerks from air pockets and currents of the wind.
My heart was pounding with gratitude and pride that my father cared about including me
in this extravagance! I must have been the closest child he could get hold of in a hurry!
Lucky me!
I'm flying! Yes, Daddy, I DO want to fly!
Me: "When can we do this again, Dad?"
Daddy: "Haa, I was just lucky to get the invitation!"
Remembering Daddy
Melodie Mae Karaan Inapan
wedding day. I recalled the happiness in his eyes when he saw his first baby grandson
for the first time. I could still see his tears when he learned that his second baby grandson
would become totally blind. Dad was present in each milestone of my life. I got up and
walked past the living room to Dads room. I stood at the door looking at an empty
hospital bed. Even in Daddys absence, I could feel his influence in our home.
To comfort my grieving soul, I would listen to his recorded songs on CD (Dad had
a good singing voice which I continue to miss even now.). I opened his locker where his
clothes were kept and picked a shirt. I could smell Dads faint scent as I ran my fingers
on the soft fabric, pressing my tear-stained cheeks on it. How I painfully missed my
father.
Eight years have passed since then. Although I have learned to deal with the pain
of loss, I still miss my Dad so much and there are times when my tears would just fall
freely when I remember him. As I wrote this article I would at times stop as memories
came flooding back and all I could do was sit as the tears streamed down my cheeks. Even
as I struggle through, I know that I have gained at least one thing from grieving for my
dad, a determination to live a life that will find me worthy to be called my fathers
daughter.
So as the world honors all the dads on Fathers Day, I give my tribute to my Dad who
made me believe in myself even as I struggled with identity crisis, who convinced me that
I can be who I want to be, who pushed me to pursue my biggest dreams in faith, who
walked me down the aisle to give me away to the man I would spend my lifetime with,
who rejoiced with me in my triumphs, who cried with me in my losses and defeats. Dads
memory is like a song that lingers on in my mind. I know I will see him again in that
grand Morning when the blast of the trumpet will wake him up. Until then, I just have
to be contented with fond memories of him.
My Memories Of My Father
Ellen M. Zamora
grew up in a little barrio in the town of Tanjay, Negros Oriental. I lived with my parents,
an older brother and two older cousins who were adopted by my parents because their
father died during the war with the Japanese. Our house was beside a big river, and there
were fruit trees and coconuts around our house.
My father was the nucleus of our family. He went to work in town which was some distance from
our house. He rode a bicycle to get to work, but he had to carry the bike each time he crossed
the river and he had to cross that river twice. It must have taken him much effort to go to work,
but he did it every day, except on Sabbaths, so he could provide for his family.
With his meager income he was able to provide food for us and send us all to school. As a little
girl, I always looked forward to his coming home each evening hoping he brought something for
me. I knew when he was coming because even from a far distance I could hear his little cough.
When I heard that sound, I would go running to meet him.
The times when he did not have to go to work were special times for me. He taught me how to
swim in the river. He would tie two mature coconuts together and I would use those coconuts as
a floating device. With the aid of those coconuts I learned to swim dog-paddle style. After I
learned to stay afloat and swim, my father would pick me up and throw me into deeper water and
watch me swim to shore. He also tried to teach me to ride the bicycle but I never learned to
because once as someone pushed me I hit the trunk of a coconut. That ended my bicycle riding
lessons.
When I started school the morning ritual changed. I had to wake up real early so I could bathe in
the river and get ready for school. We had to make an early start because school was 7 kilometers
away and my brother and I had to walk to school in the morning and come home in the afternoon.
When I was in the third grade our adopted sister got married. She and her husband decided to
live in a house closer to town, so my brothers and I moved in with them, and going to school
became a little easier. Now we could ride a tartanilla, a horse-drawn passenger vehicle, and that
was better than hiking. A short time later my parents moved in with us. Now my father did not
have to carry his bicycle as he crossed the river. Maybe he did, when he visited our old house on
weekends.
As I started high school my family moved to town. Now we did not need to ride the chariot to
school, because it was just a short walk from our house. A more difficult decision my father had
to make was when I finished high school. A good family friend, Miriam Sibala, tried to convince
him to send me to Mountain View College where she was attending school.
Going to school at MVC would be more expensive than going to a local school, but my parents
were believers in Christian education so he conceded. He had to work doubly hard to pay the
bills, but with the work program at MVC, the bills were lessened just a bit. My father still had to
work more to keep me in school. Eventually I graduated with a BSN degree but got married soon
after the board exams.
After I got married and had our first son, my parents moved in with us. They were a big help with
the house work and with apostolic service too. Now I realize how nice and convenient it is to
have parents with you. Not having to hire a babysitter, doing background checks and agreeing on
payments, is simpler, more economical and safer for the growing growing child.
My father went home to our town to help my brother build a house on his share of the land
inherited from our grandmother. He left my mother with us to help us with house work as well
as care for our growing family. We now had two boys and a girl. While back home in Tanjay he
met an accident. His health deteriorated after that. It wasnt long before we got word that he
had passed away. Our family went home for the funeral. His passing left a huge emptiness in my
life because he used to be with us almost all the time. I considered him the center of our earthly
life, and now he was gone. I trust that we would meet him again when Jesus comes the second
time. Now all I have are many pleasant memories of my time spent with him. I miss him a lot as
I remember those wonderful times.
hroughout Earths history, fathers have always been the figure of leadership. Through all
ages, they have charmed the world with masculine strength, supreme power, and manly
gentleness. The world defines the word father in countless ways. Nonetheless, no matter
how the world creates a picture of what a father should be, each one will have his own
concept of an ideal father.
My dad will always be an epitome of quiet strength and gentleness. I have ten reasons why I love him
so and always will. Ten reasons why my dad will always be the best to me.
10. My dad is my friend. A playmate, a companion, I can count on. I will forever be grateful to the
Almighty Father for a dad like him.
10. My dad is my hero. I dont have to worry about torn pants, missing exam permits, poop-stained
shoes, or broken closet doors. My heros got all the solutions. He knows what to do and he never
complains.
8. My dad is my cook. You should see how my Kuya (big brother) feasts on dads kinilaw na isda
(fish kilawin). Sitting at the dining table, Kuya can almost forget my mom and I exist! That should
tell you how well my dad cooks. Add to that the fact that my bro is a picky eater.
7. My dad is my number 1 fan. Whether I win or lose, my dad is always there to cheer for me. With
Dad, I am never a loser.
6. My dad is my Metrobank. He is a really good bank. I dont have to make deposits, only
withdrawals! Because with Dad, Im in good hands.
5. My dad is my guide. I hate going hiking with my mom because she spoils everything. With her
unwillingness to climb steep slopes and crawl inside dark caves, she turns exciting adventures to
terrible frustrations. But with Dad, life is so much fun and I can get through every obstacle-eyes
closed-- because my guide is fearless and smart.
4. My dad is my teacher. Dad used to help me with my Math lessons. He also taught me Biblical
truths. But beyond all these, he teaches me life principles that shape my being.
3. My dad is my adviser. Whenever Im confused, I turn to him for guidance. He gives me sound
advice that I need.
2. My dad loves my mom. You might wonder why this is number 2 in my list. Had my dad not love
my mom, everything else in this list is senseless. Parents loving each other is what makes a happy
home.
1. My dad is an example. He demonstrates what my brother and I should be when we become
fathers someday so we may also be deemed best by our future children.
I will forever be proud of my dad. In my heart, he will always be the best. Thank you,
heavenly Father for my dad. To all fathers out there, a happy Fathers Day to you. You are
the best in your childrens eyes. Happy Fathers Day, Dad. I love you!!!
BEAVER
BEST TOUGH-LOVE DAD
Red Fox dads are attentive and indulgent, but they also get the
Best-In-Touch-Love award. For the first month after the birth
of his kits (offspring), his vixen (mom of offspring) must stay in
her den keeping the newborns warm and fed. It is up to dad to
provide her with food every 4-6 hours until she can leave the
den and hunt for herself.
Researchers have seen fox dads get excited about their kits,
playing with them endlessly. One father was even observed
waiting for a watchful aunt to fall asleep and then quietly call
his kits to come play with him. After 3 months, it is time for
lifes first harsh lesson: no more free meals. First dad reduces
the food he brings home and leads the kits out of the den. He
teaches them survival skills, allowing them to discover food
close to the den which he covered with leaves and twigs. The
kits learn how to sniff and forage. While foraging, dad also
plays ambushing the kits, teaching them how to escape from
predators.
RED FOX
BARKING FROG
PHALAROPE
JACANA
SEAHORSE
SEA CATFISH
For the month it takes the eggs to hatch, he keeps them in his
mouth. Then for another 2-3 weeks his hatchlings live in his
mouth until they grow into independence. This entire time, dad
eats nothing living off stored body fat. He resumes eating after all
the hatchlings have left home (his mouth).
GIANT WATERBUG
t was Wednesday morning of April 13, 2016 when my husband went to the boys dormitory
to check on the 3 carabaos (water buffalos) owned by SCHSL for farming. At the same time
he would move them to where there was grass. It was a happy day for us even though we
were the only family left in the school campus. Afternoon came and it was time again to move the
carabaos to the nearby wateringhole and shady area. They needed to be moved three times each
daymorning, afternoon, and evening.
But the happy day turned into a sad one when my husband rushed home to tell me the bad
news. Ma, two carabaos are missing!
What? The carabao? I said astonished. What are you going to do now? I added.
Of course, Ill look for them, my husband replied.
Pa, be careful, its getting dark. We will pray, as I recalled the story of the SULAD who was
assigned in Bulalang Mission School lost his mind because of the missing carabao. I prayed to God
that my husband would stay strong whatever may happen.
It was around 4:00 in the afternoon when he started searching. He went down, down, down to the
nearby village. The carabaos were not there. He continued down, down, down again to the next
village, but did not find them. So he came home to the campus tired and hungry. He was very
worried.
Morning came, my husband woke up around 4:00 am. As I was cooking breakfast for myself, he
started to look for the missing carabaos. I monitored his progress every hour by calling him on his
cell phone because I didnt want anything bad to happen to him. Around 11:30 am, I called again
to check because it was almost lunch time. I was surprised to hear that he found one carabao but
not the other. So he looked some more. Because he was very tired and hungry, he came home
with the only carabao he found.
He decided to look for the other carabao the following Sunday. Late in the afternoon of Thursday,
he went to the carabaos with some rope to tie them with, as well as to move them again to another
area. What a big surprise he had when he heard the sound o somethingf running, jumping, and
hopping towards him! It was the missing carabao. It came home by itself! God is really good. My
husband called me on the phone with a happy heart. Praise be to God!
SULADS International, Inc.
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Message to Someone this
My Father
hen I was 7, I thoughtMy father is the smartest person in the world. He knows
everything.
Father Forgets
isten, son: I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumpled under your cheek
and blond curls stickily wet on your damp forehead. I have stolen into your room alone.
Just a few minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave of
remorse swept over me. Guiltily I came to your bedside.
These are the things I was thinking, son: I had been cross to you. I scolded you as you were
dressing for school because you gave your face merely a dab with a towel. I took you to task for
not cleaning your shoes. I called out angrily when you threw some of your things on the floor.
At breakfast I found fault, too. You spilled things. You gulped down your food. You put your
elbows on the table. You spread butter too thick on your bread. And as you started off to play
and I made for my train, you turned and waved a hand and called, "Good-bye, Daddy!" and I
frowned, and said in reply, "Hold your shoulders back!"
Then it began all over again in the late afternoon. As I came up the road I spied you, down on
your knees, playing marbles. There were holes in your socks. I humiliated you before your
friends by marching you ahead of me to the house. Socks were expensive, and if you had to
buy them you would be more careful! Imagine that, son, from a father!
Do you remember, later, when I was reading in the library, how you came in, timidly, with a sort
of hurt look in your eyes? When I glanced up over my paper, impatient at the interruption, you
hesitated at the door. "What is it you want?" I snapped.
You said nothing, but ran across in one tempestuous plunge, and threw your arms around my
neck and kissed me, and your small arms tightened with an affection that God had set blooming
in your heart and which even neglect could not wither...and then you were gone, pattering up
the stairs.
Well, son, it was shortly afterwards that my paper slipped from my hands and a terrible
sickening fear came over me. What has habit been doing to me? The habit of finding fault,
reprimanding--this was my reward to you for being a boy. It was not that I did not love you; it
was that I expected too much of youth. It was measuring you by the yardstick of my own years.
And there was so much that was good and fine and true in your character. The little heart of
yours was as big as the dawn itself over the wide hills. This was shown by your spontaneous
impulse to rush in and kiss me goodnight. Nothing else matters tonight, son. I have come to
your bedside in the darkness, and I have knelt here, ashamed!
It is a feeble atonement; I know you would not understand these things if I told them to you
during your waking hours. But tomorrow I will be a real daddy. I will chum with you, suffer when
you suffer, and laugh when you laugh. I will bite my tongue when impatient words come. I will
keep saying as if it were a ritual, "He is nothing but a boy, a little boy!"
I am afraid I have visualized you as a man. Yet as I see you now, son, crumpled and weary in
your bed, I see that you are still a little boy. Yesterday you were in your mother's arms, your
head on her shoulder. I have asked too much, too much.
Thought: The best thing to spend on your children is time.
(From Mikey's Funnies)
wo elderly gentlemen were visiting. "I guess you're never too old," the first one boasted.
"Why just yesterday a pretty college girl said she'd be interested in dating me. But to be
perfectly honest, I don't quite understand it."
"Well," said his friend, "you have to remember that nowadays women are more aggressive.
They don't mind being the one to ask."
"No, I don't think it's that."
"Well, maybe you remind her of her father."
"No, it's not that either. It's just that she also mentioned something about carbon-14."
(From Cybersalt Digest)
Nightly Ritual
aylie, 2, sometimes does not like going to bed when she's supposed to. So, she has
learned that there are many ways of getting Daddy to let her back out of bed. With
requests like, "Daddy, I'm hungry!" or "Daddy, I'm thirsty," Kaylie found that certain
requests worked quite well.
Finally one night, her father realized that his precious first-born daughter had just eaten recently,
had just had a drink of water, and that these pleas were becoming a nightly ritual. Daddy
decided that he wasn't going to respond to her calls and maybe she would go to sleep.
Suddenly Kaylie proclaimed, "Daddy, why aren't you listening to Kaylie? I don't appreciate it!"
(From Da Mouse Tracks)
n the town of Puno, Peru, writes Lester F. Sumerall, on the border of famous Lake
Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world (which has an altitude of 12,500 feet and
an area of 3,200 square miles), I was in the home of Mr. Reid, a Baptist missionary.
While there, he related an incident to me regarding his small son, Oliver, who had startled the
family by coming into the house from play and inquiring, Daddy, can Jesus see from heaven all
the way down here to Puno?
Yes, son, he had replied, Jesus can see us here in Puno.
Daddy, Oliver then said, can Jesus see inside my heart?
Surely, Oliver, his father answered. Jesus can see everywhere -- even into your heart.
The youngsters problem had not yet been divulged. He looked eagerly into his fathers face as
he continued.
Daddy, can Jesus see me when I am under the house?
The missionary patted his son on the head and said, Yes, Jesus can see you under the house.
Then with an unexpected burst of excitement, Oliver cried, Well, I wish Jesus were blind!
Sumeralls Short Stories
(Our Times, September 1949 via Signs of the Times Newsletter)
I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
My question is
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13
Almighty God
Father's Love Letter used by permission
Father Heart Communications 1999 FathersLoveLetter.com
From: http://www.fathersloveletter.com/text.html
here's a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set
off to find him. He searched for months to no avail.
Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: "Dear Paco,
meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father.
On Saturday, 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers."
"If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and
go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep
than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of
these little ones should be lost." Matthew 18:12-13
(From the The Christian Challenge and Blessing Email Service)
ne startling bit of research conducted by the Christian Business Mens Committee found
the following: When the father is an active believer, there is about a seventy-five
percent likelihood that the children will also become active believers. But if only the
mother is a believer, this likelihood is dramatically reduced to fifteen percent.
--Keith Meyering, in Discipleship Journal, issue #49, p. 41.
The Proposal
(This is what happens when we don't listen carefully to our father.)
Jeff had gone to propose to his girlfriend and returned home crying bitterly. "What happened, son?"
his father asked, eagerly awaiting her response. "Did she accept?"
"No, she sure didn't," sobbed Jeff. "When I told her what you advised me to say, she slapped my face
and told me to get out."
"Did you begin by telling her what I told you to say, what I told your mother when she accepted my
proposal? 'Sweetheart, time stands still when I look in your eyes.' Did you tell her that?" asked his
father.
"Oh boy, Dad, did I get it all wrong," Jeff groaned. "I said, 'My dear, you have a face that would stop a
clock!'"
(From Andychap)
Description Of A Father
hen the good Lord was creating Fathers he started with a tall frame. And a female
angel nearby said, What kind of Father is that? If youre going to make children so
close to the ground, why have you put Fathers up so high? He wont be able to shoot
marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without a lot
of stooping. And God smiled and said, Yes, but if I make him child-size, who would children
have to look up to?
And when God made a Fathers hands, they were large and sinewy. And the angel shook her
head sadly and said, Do you know what youre doing? Large hands are clumsy. They cant
manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails or even remove splinters caused
by baseball bats. And God smiled and said, I know, but theyre large enough to hold everything
a small boy empties from his pockets at the end of a day...yet small enough to cup a childs face
in his hands.
And then God molded long, slim legs and broad shoulders. And the angel nearly had a heart
attack. Boy, this is the end of the week, all right, she clucked. Do you realize you just made a
Father without a lap? How is he going to pull a child close to him without the kid falling between
his legs? And God smiled and said, A mother needs a lap. A father needs strong shoulders to
pull a sled, balance a boy on a bicycle, and hold a sleepy head on the way home from the
circus.
God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen when the angel
could contain herself no longer. Thats not fair. Do you honestly think those large boats are
going to dig out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries? Or walk through a small
birthday party without crushing at least three of the guests?
And God smiled and said, Theyll work. Youll see. Theyll support a small child who wants to
ride a horse to Banbury Cross, or scare off mice at the summer cabin, or display shoes that will
be a challenge to fill.
God worked throughout the night, giving the Father few words, but a firm authoritative voice;
eyes that saw everything, but remained calm and tolerant. Finally, almost as an afterthought, he
added tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, Now, are you satisfied that he can love as
much as a Mother?
The angel shuteth up.
-- Erma Bombeck
(From The Christian Challenge and Blessing Email Service)
crab and a lobster are secretly dating. Pretty soon, the lobster tires of the lying and tells
her father, who then forbids her to see the crab anymore.
"It'll never work, honey." he says to her. "Crabs walk side-ways and we walk straight."
"Please," she begs her father. "Just meet him once. I know you'll like him."
Her father finally relents and agrees to a one-time meeting, and she runs off to share the good
news with her crab sweetie.
The crab is so excited he decides to surprise his beloved's family. He practices and practices
until he can finally walk straight!
On the BIG day, he walks the entire way to the lobster's house as straight as he can.
Standing on the porch, and seeing the crab walking towards him, the lobster dad yells to his
daughter.....
"I knew it! Here comes that crab and he's drunk!"
(From MountainWings)
The Father
fter a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor slowly stood up,
walked over to the pulpit, and before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly
introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening.
In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his
dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church
and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service.
With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak.
"A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific coast," he began, "when a
fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high,
that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and
the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized."
The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the
first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story.
The aged minister continued with his story, "grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the
most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy he would throw the other end of the life
line. He only had seconds to make the decision.
The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son's friend was
not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father
yelled out, 'I love you, son!' he threw out the life line to his son's friend.
By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared
beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."
By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next
words to come out of the old minister's mouth. "The father," he continued, "knew his son would
step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into
an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son's friend. How great
is the love of God that he should do the same for us.
Our heavenly father sacrificed his only begotten son that we could be saved. I urge you to
accept his offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line he is throwing out to you in this
service."
With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. The
pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the
end. However, no one responded to the appeal. Within minutes after the service ended, the
two teenagers were at the old man's side.
"That was a nice story," politely stated one of the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a
father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."
"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn bible. A big
smile broadened his narrow face, he once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't
very realistic, is it?
But I'm standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been
like for God to give up his son for me.
You see --I was that father and your pastor is my son's friend."
~Author Unknown
(From MountainWings)
Fatherhood
Yesterday, I took my three sons to a local nursing home and let them pass out gifts to the fathers
there and show them some love, many of them had no visitors. It taught my children how to help
others.
Afterwards, I took the boys to eat and to the movies to see The Karate Kid. On the way to the
movie, I talked to them about always working on improving themselves and how it is a lifelong
process that should never stop.
I explained that even mommy and daddy still have stuff to work on every day to make ourselves
better. I gave each son one thing they could do to work on improving within himself. It was different
for each son but each realized how their one thing would help them to be a better person and
agreed with me. They also knew and felt daddy's advice was in love and had no spirit of criticism
in it.
On Father's Day, I decided to take my own advice and write out goals for myself that I can look at
every Father's Day to make sure I am being the type of father that I desire to be. I advise every
father to write their own personal list based on what you consider a good father is.
Here is my list that I posted above my desk to constantly remind me:
Fatherhood Goals
1. To lead all of my children to salvation and a relationship with God.
2. To be an example of the type of man that I desire my sons to become and my girls to date
and marry.
3. To always provide for the basic needs of my family (food, clothes, shelter).
4. To make sure all my kids have a good education from schooling and develop wisdom that
school doesn't teach.
5. To always provide my kids love and spend the time with them where our relationship always
stays close and they feel they can talk to me about anything.
6. To help them discover their calling in life and develop a proficiency in that area.
7. To leave a positive inheritance to my children consisting of a good name, financial resources,
written wisdom from my life experiences, and spiritual blessings.
~A MountainWings Original by James Bronner~(From MountainWings)
11. Never use the phrase: "In my time". Your time is now. As long as you're alive, you are part of
this time. You may have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun and enjoying life.
12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short
to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it'll rub off on
you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make
you older and harder to be around.
13. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a
financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our
privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you've lost your spouse (our deepest
condolences), then find a person to move in with you and help out. Even then, do so only if you
feel you really need the help or do not want to live alone.
14. Don't abandon your hobbies. If you don't have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook,
read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess,
dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer at somewhere or just collect certain items. Find
something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.
15. Even if you don't feel like it, try to accept invitations. Baptisms, graduations, birthdays,
weddings, conferences. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven't seen in a
while, experience something new (or something old). But don't get upset when you're not
invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted. The important
thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a field. Get out
there.
16. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past,
not caring if their listeners are really interested. That's a great way of reducing their desire to
speak with you. Listen first and answer questions, but don't go off into long stories unless asked
to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really
need to. Try to accept situations as they are. Everyone is going through the same things, and
people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as
well.
17. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept
them as a part of the cycle of life we're all going through. Try to minimize them in your mind.
They are not who you are, they are something that life added to you. If they become your entire
focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.
18 If you've been offended by someone - forgive them. If you've offended someone - apologize.
Don't drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn't
matter who was right. Someone once said: "Holding a grudge is like taking poison and
expecting the other person to die." Don't take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with
your life.
19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don't waste your time trying to convince others. They
will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration.
Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them.
20. Laugh. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You
managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full
life. But you did. So what's not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.
21. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be
thinking. They'll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you've achieved.
Let them talk and don't worry. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the
life you've lived so far. There's still much to be written, so get busy writing and don't waste time
thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as
you can be!
(From Still Waters Ministry)
his week, let me tell you about the Central Province of a country called Eden of the
East. Sri Lanka is well known for its natural beauty. Many call it Eden of the East, a
paradise isle, a country situated off the southern tip of India. It was through literature
evangelism that Adventists began their work in Sri Lanka at the dawn of the twentieth century.
Abram La Rue (1822-1903) became the first Adventist to visit Sri Lanka.
The Central Province of Sri Lanka is one of the most picturesque provinces of Sri Lanka with its
world famous tea plantations. I visited Nuwara Eliya, one of the worlds largest tea-producing
district. At an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft), Nuwara Eliya is known for its temperate, cool climate
the coolest area in Sri Lanka. Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka, seem to look
over the city.
A tea plantation
Nuwara Eliya, called Little England, is a hill country retreat where the British colonists could
indulge in their pastimes, such as fox-hunting, deer-hunting, elephant-hunting, polo, golf and
cricket.
Its main attractions include the golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park, and boating or fishing on
Lake Gregory. Victoria Park is an attractive and well-used oasis. It is popular with birdwatchers.
The city is a base for visits to Horton Plains National Park. This is a key wildlife area with open,
grassy woodlands. Species found here include the leopard, sambar, and the endemic purple-faced
langur. Endemic highland birds include the dull-blue flycatcher, Sri Lanka white-eye, and yellow-
eared bulbul. The plains have a well-visited tourist attraction at World's End a sheer precipice
with a 1050 m drop.
In 1973, A.V. Hyland entered Nuwara Eliya and unintentionally declared the Seventh-day
Adventist Churchs stand against the use of tea. The mayor welcomed him to the city and stated,
Adventists are the first Christians to present health lectures. Indeed, the health message proved
to be an entering wedge and even though the law did not permit the erection of a Christian church
in the city, a multi-purpose complex was built to provide educational facilities, living quarters, and
a meeting hall. A large cross embossed on the church faade indicates that it is a Christian center.
The church was organized in six months, and the pastor trained a number of workers to enter the
work. The mission school continues to attract students from the elite in the city.
The European estate manager of one of the tea plantations said that no one would visit the estate
again to trouble the staff for money but the nurse Daisy Bastiampillai replied, I want my pastors
to visit me often for they need my tithe and offerings to do the missionary work I love so much.
Vegetable gardens in the city, some proof that people believe in healthful living.
From these lofty tea estates have come some mighty workers for the Lord in Sri Lanka. I have
visited Nuwara Eliya several times and each time I was requested to speak at the SDA church in
the city. Some of our SDA members walk to church for some 20 kilometers just to attend the
service.
It has taken the SDA church in Sri Lanka 80 years to reach a membership of 1,700. This was due
to the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism. Our major problem in the highlands of Sri Lanka is
that some of our SDA members still work in the tea plantations even during the Sabbath just to
earn a living.
Please pray for our SDA church in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.
Romy Halasan
Vanuatu
Announcements
Sent by Laurence T. Gayao. Texas: Fellow Alumni Dr. VicLouis Arreola III is inviting all Filipino in the
Tri-state region to the 2016 Tri-State Filipino Convocation, July 22-24, 2016, at Hilton Garden Inn, 375
Mount Hope Ave., Rockway, NJ 07866 for Registration visit: www.nadapmin.org.
Acknowledgement
We wish to thank the following individuals who contributed to this issue:
Lillian Javellana for the Devotional; Melodie Inapan for the Opening & Closing Remarks
To those who contributed a Fathers Day item to this issue: Romulo Binoya Halasan, Jr., the
Rosendo brothers, Macie Porteza-Flaherty, Melodie Mae Karaan Inapan, Ellen M. Zamora,
Rene Derek Joseph DJ Inapan, Joy Caballero-Gadia, Evelyn Porteza-Tabingo, Eddie Zamora.
To our weekly contributors Romy Halasan (Life) and Jessie Colegado (Weeds)
To Seth Popoy III, Laurence Gayao, those whose photos we used this week, etc
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raylene.baumgart at gmail dot com
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Next week: We are looking for work-education-at-MVC stories, the often forgotten stories of those
students who were not working students and yet had the opportunity to work at MVC as part of the well-rounded
education the college provides. Share your stories at next weeks issue! Email to Joy at watermankids at yahoo dot
com or message her at Facebook!
Closing Remarks
Melodie Mae Karaan Inapan
And finally, we seek blessings for our earthly fathers with this prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven,
bless the fathers who are on earth;
Those who work hard every day
to light a path and show the way;
Those who forget and don't perceive
the devastation when they leave.
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come;
thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.