Father and Son

Hi Everyone,

So about a week and a half ago Matthew and I went on a Father and Son camp which was organized by Grant Hopkins from the Durbanville Methodist church.

The only reason we got to go is because God really wanted us to. We went with three very good friends of mine, Peter, Clint and Grant W and their sons. If it wasn’t for God’s love working in my friends hearts we would never have been able to get there.

You see one of my friends told us about the camp, another paid for us and then another one drove us there. So all I had to do was get my pride sorted out to accept God’s blessings that He was holding out to me, waiting for me to accept His love. Of course I have this pride thing so wrapped and sorted by now that it really ain’t any problem I’m so goooooood at dying to self I just do it and feel no pain what so ever. Yeah right, who am I trying to convince here, me or you! Of course you know the first person we deceive is always ourselves. So I wrestled and grappled with my pride even after I’d said yes to all the graceful and loving offers of my friends and finally came to a place of peace and acceptance as Jesus and the Holy Spirit just prepared my heart and spirit to enjoy this day and a half camp.

Aren’t we all so like that. God is constantly holding out His hand through the death of His son, Jesus Christ offering us untold blessings, salvation, adoption, fellowship, glorification, never to cry again, to live in heaven in perfection without sin for eternity, peace, mercy, hope, love, grace……..I could go on but I hope you get the picture. And then what gets in the way, yup you guessed it our pride. I mean we can sort out our own lives and we know exactly what is going on and we have everything planned and every contingency covered. We know exactly what is going to happen during the course of any day, we know what is going to happen to us in the future……..yeah right…. how foolish we are.

So Clint came to pick us up with his boys Luke and Cane on Wednesday at about 3.30pm and we headed off to Rocklands just outside of Simonstown. For an action packed time of fellowship and for us dads to enjoy our sons and for our sons to enjoy their fathers. It was such a blessed time. We played indoor soccer (till 10pm at night, until the dads legs almost dropped off), indoor cricket, swimming (brrrrrrr!!), climbed on the climbing wall, went for a hike, a treasure hunt, saw penguins and baboons, worshipped, braaied, super tubed, visited the Navy Museum.

The most amazing thing was just the time we spent with each other. Matthew only really asked me one thing, to play indoor soccer with him. As tired and aching as my body was I always tried my best to say yes. Although sometimes I initially said no, then there were always a few ‘good’ friends around to convince me to play.

The other awesome thing is that while we were on the camp my step-daughter gave birth to her son Aronne Adam Bell. So I got a call just after 6am from Allie on Thursday morning telling me that I’m a grandpa. Needless to say the guys really pulled my (sore) leg on that fact. Didn’t get me out of playing any indoor soccer though.

I realized God so much wants to just spend time with us. If we accept Christ as our saviour we are adopted as sons and daughters and God is our Father. Right now God just wants to spend time with you. We most of the time don’t really see all the opportunities He gives us.

If you want a quick look into God the Father’s heart go read Luke chapter 14 verses 11 to 31, where Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son. Charles Dickens refers to it as the greatest short story ever told.

Here is a version of that story done in song by John Waller.

Still Calls Me Son

I drug his name through godless places
And I've known shame that no child of his should know
I've seen pain on broken faces
Beyond all thought of hope
I was just too far from home
Still I always wondered when I closed my eyes


After all I've done
Could he run to me?
Would he kiss my face?
Could he even look at me?
After where I've been should he take me back?
I would understand I've disgraced him
But it would be amazing
If he still calls me son


With nothing left for me to bring him
I left my pride and turned my heart toward home
I saw my home on the horizon
And from a distance I saw my Father
Watching for his own with forgiving eyes


After all I'd done
He just ran to me
Then he kissed my face
He would not let go of me
After where I'd been
He just welcomed me
I didn't understand
But he put his robe on me
It was so amazing
That he still called me son


One day as I breathe my last
And I know my days on earth have ended
When every hour is spent
I will close my eyes in amazement
And I'll hear angels
They'll be singing Amazing Grace

Cause he will run to me
And he will kiss my face
He will not let go of me
After where I've been
He will welcome me
I won't understand
How he'll put his robe on me
It will be amazing
That he'll still call me son
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
When he calls me son
I once was lost but now I'm found
Cause he calls me Son

Go listen to the song at www.myspace.com/johnwaller

Trying music video of a song for the first time.Probably work a lot better for users with really faster/broader connections. Might not work too well for South African users. Also might link to other so called related videos which might not be so good. Checked this once or twice but don't know to tweak the html code 100% yet. Just don't play the other "related" videos if they come up. Just please give me feedback.



LoCTY!!!

PS. A huge thank you to Grant H for organizing this camp and for the fellowship of all the other dads and their sons.