Our world is one that is enamored with superheroes. From Superman to Batman to Luke Skywalker, we look to people who have something that we don’t...but desperately need.

The normal way of life should be that a boy’s first hero is his dad. In the troubled times of our 21st century life, many boys are not afforded this sacred treasure because of the breakdown of the home. I am not a sociologist, but it is certain the reason our culture has shattered into millions of pieces is because this foundational block of a civil society lies in ruin. May God send a revival of godly Christian homes in our land. 

This weekend is Father’s Day and I wanted to write a few words about my dad, the greatest man I’ve ever known. From the time I was a boy, I have thought my dad was the greatest man alive. My eyes fill with tears as I write this line! When I was a kid, we used to go to the little convenience store that was on the hill above our house and the Korean storeowner used to say "Daddy boy" in broken English when she saw us walk in the door. Yeah, I think that about summed it up. 

Even when I was 15 years old, as trying to be tough and make it public school rebel, I was tasked to give a speech on the person I admire most. I chose my dad. Even though I was trying to be hard and tough, I cried when I spoke about him. Talk about ruining your public image in 9th grade, huh?!

One may walk away with the sense that I struggle with hero worship. If you do, that is fine, but what I have just explained to you is the best way for a boy to become a man. Yeah, it’s great to go watch a professional athlete put cow hide filled with air through a metal cylinder but the greatest hero a son needs is the one who will go out and play basketball with him in the backyard or take him to those sporting events and impart life lessons on the way to and from the arena. 

Here are some life lessons I have gleaned from my dad. First is sacrifice. My dad did not grow up in a Christian home per se, but he did grow up in a traditional 1960’s home. Sacrifice and serving the greater good was something his parents’ generation modeled well. I can remember many nights when my dad would come home tired from work and after asking him, he always drug his tired bones out onto the basketball court with me. He would play video games with me when he obviously did not have the foggiest clue what he was doing. But it was all to spend time with me.

Greater than his sacrifice for me and my mom though is his sacrifice for Christ. His life has been one of laying it all on the line for Christ. After his conversion to Christ at the age of 16, there has been no turning back. Only a redeemed life can tell such a story.  

A second thing I have learned from my dad is to never stop growing. I just hit 40 and I can already see the tendency to allow yourself to harden your habits and beliefs. Yet, even though my dad has been a pastor for most of my life now, he still seeks to calibrate his beliefs and practices to Holy Scripture. Never stop growing.  

A third thing my dad has taught me is to show you love your kids, not by what you say but by what you do. I already mentioned how much time he spent with me when I was a kid, but one memory sticks out to me that is forever etched in my mind. When I was a teenager, I went through a rebellious streak. I remember once when I was filled with a moment of rebellion that my dad broke down and cried and plead with me to not make foolish decisions. That moment was one of many that demonstrated his love for me and helped change the trajectory of my life.

A fourth thing my dad has taught me is to not quit. When I was 11, my dad became a pastor from a very successful career in sales. He has been in pastoral ministry most of my life and has stayed faithful. Someone once said to me that I “followed in my dad’s footsteps” to become a pastor. Honestly, the sentiment is appreciated but somewhat offensive. No one should go into ministry because their daddy was a preacher! The only reason you should go into ministry is because God has called you to it and your church has confirmed you in into it. Why do I say that? Because the burdens of pastoral ministry are unique. Unless you know a pastor very well, you will not know and understand the difficulties and most likely they won’t tell you.  

Since he's my dad, obviously I know some of the struggles he has faced. Through it all, he has stayed faithful, and I have personally watched God provide for the needs of his church in a supernatural way. He has kept his hand to the plow and by God’s Grace will finish the course set before him.

If you have a dad like mine, you are blessed. If you don’t - then aspire to be one. Seek to live a life so that when you kids hear the word Superman, they expect to see the S on your chest! Not because you are perfect but because you are there, and you are real with all your faults and foibles. I have always felt that way about my own dad. I love you Pop and hope you have a good Father’s Day. 

Soli Deo Gloria!