It is Fathers Day Weekend. I actually was reviewing some pics of my dad, shots with my children over the years and some letters I have received and such. I guess nostalgic would describe some of it. (This past week I actually put together a series of 5 articles on dads.) But now I have 3 of my children married (Two who are the dads.) and I think what was it like to be a young dad.

The very first thought I had on awaking was “this feels like the summer of 1983.” I am not sure how I go there but I saw it clearly. At the time I was in the middle of a lot. It had been a truly up and down year in terms of family, business(The Jimmy Carter years-I was in real estate and rates had gone to 14% and 4-8 points.), and personal thought process. I was a dad and all I wanted to to do was spend time with my daughter. For years before her birth I had coached Little League, lead Cub Scouts and now I had my own child.

At the time I was involved in home building, real estate, solar energy, retail, lodging and restaurant and few other things. Now I had a a child!

I look around at the young parents, the new parents and the “going to be parents” and I think “I am thankful for those who pull alongside these young men and women. I did not have that. I regret it. It would have been nice to have people of value in my life. The closest I came to a church was couple who sold me my vacation property in the middle of no where. 5 acres with views and yard in the middle of the wilderness. (I saw the spirit of excellence modeled in the care of this property but I could not have told you why.) Looking back I think Ken and his wife were trying to tell me something, but I did not hear it.
Why 1983? There is a lot going on!

Dads, I hope you will hear me. Your children need you! And a lot of it has to do with what we simply say.

Too often we think too lightly of the words we say. Many years ago I was invited to preach in a Baptist church for Father’s Day. My topic was the “crushing power” of words. As I described the situation of bad words being used, I pulverized a Styrofoam cup. I asked the listeners if the cup could ever be restored to it’s original shape. Of course the answer was no. No superglue in the world could bring restoration.

A very old visiting Baptist minister came up to me afterward, shook my hand and said, “Son. I am glad I was here. You see it, you can share it, but can you walk it?” I probably said something dumb like “I already am!” (I was a faith guy!)

Too frequently an analogy does not carry the redemptive power of God and how complete something can be. On the other hand, we too frequently give the “hand up, whatever” mode when spoken to about it.

Our words carry life or death.

Walking as I do in the realms of the prophetic, I am very “word conscious.” I get concerned over the words I see flying about the atmosphere.

Why? Because I see the results. Good and bad.

It is not too frequently I get behind something in a way that just needs to change. It is usually someone in sickness, or something that is destructive. Over the years I have had a few!

A few years ago, on Sunday, I had had it “up to here” about a circumstance. On Monday, I dedicated time to declaring the change. On Wednesday it was done. Now in the attitude of “full disclosure” it freaks me out! It happened! Not as I would have done or I would have thought. But it happened. I looked at my notes and my “crafted” declarations….hmmmm….

Do you understand? We can change the world with our words! We can send light into cities (Including Washington DC), we can empty hospitals, open blind eyes and see the dead raised.

We do not need another generation of “smashed Styrofoam cups” that can not hold water. And we can do this!

Why 1983 I asked. Maybe it was the end of MASH or something. I am not sure. For me over the next few months I went from thinking I could pull it all together to losing everything. I ended up in the hospital for 3 months. I came out changed. Different.

I am not suggesting a “doom and gloom” scenario, but as I sat here I saw a well drilling outfit. They were digging for water. And nothing was happening. They were getting nervous. No water meant no pay in this scenario. But more so, people were reliant on the water for their families, for their homes. It had been a season of drought. As I watched I knew at any time they could hit water. (In the natural I had been here. I had a 762’ well!) Where was the water? Had an error been made? And then a few days later the water came. The foamy water came bubbling out of the well head and began to flow around the ground. At first little rivulets, then stream and then streams and then it just gushed. People began to cheer and dance. Spectators who had been sitting in lawn chairs, were now on their feet hugging one another.

Folks, I am certain, I heard the words, “drill deeper”.

Unlike other years, this weekend I do not expect to see my children. Different lives, different times and seasons. You may or may not be with your kids. But they are there!

Drill a little deeper. No matter what the circumstance, go deeper. Spend a little more time, perhaps pray a little more, but seek the waters of His goodness. They are there. Maybe moments, days or weeks, but we can not have a relive of the summer of 1983.
This is your time, this is your season. Many have gone before us that we might have today. A friend from another country said this to me this week, “Lee, your people are shallow. They do not see the value. They have so much. What are they doing?” I thought about that. What am I missing was my initial thought. What have I not picked up?

You were created for greatness! You were created to change things and not let them change you. You were given dominion and authority! It is important that you and dig a little deeper.
I am in the “hardest” season I have been in. My gifts have no real value in what I am doing. I am in unfamiliar territory, uncharted waters. A simple sarcastic remark yesterday by someone was met with my smile, but inside I crumbled under the weight of it. My hope is on the inside. I had to dig in  to overcome.

“Drill a little deeper.” That is all I know. Many are those in the same boat. Otis Redding said “try a little tenderness.” Janis said this, “I ain’t gonna lose my chance, no I don’t wanna lose it.” And the Goonies…”it’s our time!