A word from dad

It's late, and I just finished watching "The Great Debaters" with my dad. I would recommend the movie to anyone who wants to experience the pain and hope of the 1930's. I was most struck by the role Forest Whitaker played in the movie. He played a father figure which I must say I greatly admired. He was firm and tough on his son at times, yet was not to proud to humble himself for the sake of his family. He defended the right for his son to walk a walk of integrity and did so by modeling that life throughout the movie.
I hope to be that kind of father. I hope my son sees me as a father who is firm and tough, yet loves him with all that is in me. I pray that I can teach him what it is to walk humbly before the Lord. To love justice and defend the weak and downtrodden. I hope to teach him that "an unjust law is no law at all." - St. Augustine.

I am not a perfect man, and those of you that know me at all have probably seen my imperfections in one way or another, but I often wonder is the mark of a Godly man perfection or the willingness to never give up seeking to follow the One who was perfect? I feel unprepared to be a father, and yet I feel I was made to be one. I can't wait to see my son for the first time within the next few weeks (I have him penciled in for next Monday...we'll see HAHA). I wish I could maintain an ongoing to see Jesus with the same intensity I long to see my son. Alas, the world is so enticing and deceitful it is hard to keep the main thing the main thing.

Well, I suppose I have rambled enough. I would like to close this posting with a prayer for Josiah. I would encourage any of you to pray this with me over the next few days until he joins us out here where the air is, but if you have your own words by all means pray away.

God of Abraham, Isacc, and Jacob
will you on this day please be with Baby Josiah.

Will you please nurture him, protect him, and
strengthen him for the trials that await him in this world.

Will you so surround him with your presence
that even in his sinfulness he might know true peace.

Will you place in his spirit a sense of longing
to know you in your fullness and glory.

Will you guide him towards all that
brings you glory as he lives in this world.

Will you lead him away from all glory
that distracts him from seeking you.

Will you give him the wisdom to
look past his parent's faults and see your face.

Will you grant him a ministry that will usher in the
coming of your Son and the declaring of your Name.

I ask that you do all of this for one sole reason:
The magnification of your name throughout the earth.

In the name which is above all other names
The name of the Hope of the world, Jesus Christ

Amen.