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Hiya Brother.  Well I think I have given to understand that I am a comedian in my family. It is definitely true. Coming back to the more serious topic which is your blog here, even if your son doesnt pay attention that he ought to dont bother, you go ahead and tell him what you ought to.  When he becomes an adult, it definitely comes to his mind. It will be even better if you give the task of teaching spirituality with Laura. Boys listen to mothers and girls listen to fathers.

Joey Yes Cross talking allowed. Now back to the subject, I think this is my observation....in life. My moms words are still ringing in my ears..... My son does exactly what his mom tells and does not do what I advice him to do.  I think children's brains are programmed easily by moms.... my wife always talks about her father and what he said etc.

The son would have thought of you as the hero when he was 5-6 years old. Now he want to be on his own and learn by himself ( Mike I am sure you must have done the same ).  Now between 13-18 he will think he knows every thing and his father is a fool. Now you have to really wait till he is around 40 for him to acknowledge that his father was a great hero and his father knew everything and he was a great man. ( I think that is why you have posted your Dad's picture in face book I am sure Mike)

My advice to you Mike whether your son likes it or not, just go ahead and talk to him what you wanted to tell him.  I did that with my son. I still do it.  BTW he is 18 years old now. I still do a one-on-one with him. I also involve him with other youngsters and teach them all. I communicate to my son indirectly when I am talking to others. 

This is one of my longest comments and hope I have bored you not.

Joey. This understand of mine is a law of nature I suppose.  Opposites attract.

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There is some good advice here Mike based on sound experience and practice. 

I would like to encourage you to 

keep on teaching your son Mike whatever you can, directly and indirectly, without force if you can  =]

The Bible says to

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Prov. 22:6

Even when children act like they aren't learning or you think they aren't, they sure do seem to remember a lot when they get older. 

And ask for more of those God led moments like today. That was an awesome and sweet orchestration by our Father for you and your son on Father's Day. That makes it that much more special. ..that our Heavenly Father would give you a glimpse into the desires of your heart on Father's Day.

God bless you Mike (n Laura).

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I had several of those encounters with my sons and hold them special in my heart. Starting to enjoy some with my grands. I just told my son this weekend that his daughter aged six didn't want to hear another Jesus story from me. I felt a bit emotional about that but she was all ears when I shared about Baalam's donkey and showed it to her in Numbers 22. It was a moment that was special because she responded with interest. Since I had only boys, can only speak to the fact they were always close to me coming up. I read the comments all the way down and then saw Terry's Father's Day, Good Move and the seriousness of this dissolved into a good feeling grin. I agree. I also think you are out of Joey's backyard doghouse now and can safely say she won't pull your ears. :)

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I rejoice with you.  Communion is all about fellowship...hence the word "communion" and being right with God enables us to be right with each other. Blessings on you, and praise the Lord for His goodness.  Keep loving and praying for your son and model Christ the best you can he will come around.

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Well since we're all giving Mike advice... :-)  LOL!

I only have one piece if advice (well...one multi-faceted piece.  LOL).  Remember that you didn't save yourself and you are not going to save yourself.  Then remember the same applies to your son.  Having set the foundation: remember who did save you, who is saving you, and why.  Then remember the same applies to your son.

If you want to pray for a gift, pray that you just might have the gift of getting out of God's way so that He can accomplish His purpose in your son's life.  Oh, yeah...he might even do some things through you too...just like He did with the communion.

Count on it Mike; I know I am for my own son's  :-)  [We had a special alone time in the car on the way home from church; I know it wasn't just Dad and I believe he does too...that's all that counts!]

Blessings!
Craig

Many delightful comments! ...As usual ;-)  All input here is joyfully rec'd and appreciated!

Gene, yes he saw....I believe he sees enough to know how BIG a motivator God is in my own life. Also hoping this makes an impression on him, which he will store in the memory banks for later reference.

Craig, God saved me, 100%. And God will have to save my son (and daughters). I do indeed pray that I will be used by God to build faith in them, not become an obstacle to it.  :) 

Todd, I am rejoicing, glad to have company,  =]   Sunday morning was the kind of milestone I crave with all my kids, a deeply spiritual moment that can be explained in an understandable way.  e.g. "Daddy, why were you crying?"  "My son, it is b/c we are remembering the broken body and shed blood of the Man who loved you and me so much he allowed them to nail him to a wooden cross."  Communion.....I happen to love that word. :-)

Preston, it was a big time reward...so glad you've been there too. Love you as well. :-)

Thank you Penny (Joyful Servant)...we cling to Prov. 22:6. It's a lovely promise, and since we can't control HIM, we seek to DO what we can while he is living under our roof, i.e. persevere, training and disciplining in love, never neglecting or allowing him to set his own course (at least not while he's so young). 

Gary, ah Boy Scouts. I don't remember my own Boy Scout experience as a positive one. But given the right leadership and troop makeup, it certainly could be. We've actually considered it, just haven't chosen to at this time.

Rag, I agree 1000%. We must ignore the outward signs of unbelief and continue to say/do what is right....train a child in the way he should go....there is no "if" clause in that admonition (i.e. "if a child appears interested, then train him in the way he should go...").  We're doin our best, too!

ps... I love cross-talk!

Mike, I was really just trying to encourage you to trust in the fact that God wants to save them and live through them more than we want Him too!

When my son Eric was 10 I had a dream of him asking his teacher--in the Christian School--about receiving the baptism of Jesus in the Holy Spirit. She told him "We can't talk about that here."  That upset me when I woke up and I began to pray about it...and began looking for someplace I could take my son's where they would see actually manifestations of the Spirit, and healing.  I was at a Malcolm Smith retreat and heard about Andrew Wommack.  I looked him up and then was inspired to take my family to a vacation in Colorado.  He was having a family bible conference and we'd be free during the day to do vacation stuff.

My wife liked the idea and we went.  For the first time in their lives my sons actually say people instantly healed--and the guy wasn't in an emotional frenzy--and my younger son, Eric, went forward--on his own--to receive the baptism of Jesus in the Holy Spirit.  He received and also spoke in tongues.  We had them immerse him in water the next day in the pool too!

When we came back he was walking with me--about 3 miles--and we were singing in the spirit.  When we got to our street he (10 years old) grabbed my hand and said "Dad!"  I said, "Yes, Eric?"  He said, "Thank you so much for taking me to Colorado, my life will never be the same."  Well, those words are burned into me forever.  I didn't give myself the dream.  I didn't inspire myself to take that vacation.  I didn't get him to go forward.

What I did do, was to lift the dream to God in prayer, expect that He was the source, and then not get in God's way: just do what I saw Him doing and go where I saw Him going.  :-)  That's what you did with the Communion.

Blessings!
Craig

Thanks Denise :)

Liz, the joy of this place is we get to encourage each other!  Glad to hear yours made their professions while young.  We've pushed past the professions themselves, pressing for a life change in response to the professions.  We hope the professions are the start (and foundation) of new lives. :)

Phil, sorry, I s'pose I did take liberties. "Cracker" is shorthand for unleavened bread, "cracker-like" flatbread, or matza, which is what our church uses. And "juice" is literal for....juice, which we use in place of wine. 

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Really enjoyed this blog & reading everyone's insights. :)  So much good stuff!  Those "teachable moments" are so sweet, aren't they? 

As a child, I remember feeling a big difference between my personal relationship with my friend Jesus  and what I saw happening in church.  In my personal relationship with Him, I could be sitting in a tree or riding my bicycle or  doing some other typical kid thing -- and I'd feel His Presence and talk to Him like I'd talk to anyone else.  I completely enjoyed Him!

In church, I had to sit still and behave.  UGH.  It took me a while to understand why people thought they needed to dress in uncomfortable clothes and sit on hard pews and sing slow songs just to be in God's Presence. :) :) :)  LOL!  Adults sure didn't make any sense, it seemed like they wanted to take all the joy out of the relationship.

Funny thing is, I haven't changed much. That must be why I "teach" children's church. Still trying to figure out grown-ups!!!

LQE- my better half!!! What a joy and honor to host a comment from you! =)

Megan, thanks :-)

OMGosh...GrammyB, I think you just summed up my life! LOL.. It was only when I hit 40 and was told by other people that I had become OLD that I actually started ACTING like it!!!! lol..