Imagine Having the Perfect Father
Posted on June 21st, 2006 by catalyst into the Uncategorized categoryLong time reader and occasional blogger, Jack, listened to Frank Damazio's latest Father's Day sermon: Here's what Jack thought:
I've been listening to Frank's 6/18/06 father's day sermon … it spends the first 16-18 minutes going over a host of broad-brush stereo types about all the different kinds of *bad* father's – how it affects the family and kids, etc.
Assuming men attend CBC with their wives and kids, why on earth would FD speak so negatively of fathers, and not positively for the sake of the fathers who are there?
Why preach that crap to fathers who obviously are setting a good example by their church attendance, etc.?
And then at about 26 minutes or so, Frank starts talking about himself as the exemplary father - how many basketball games he watched of his kids … does he have any examples of great
fathers besides himself?It reminds me of a certain parable about the pharisse who prayed "thank you God that I am not like that sinner over there …"
…I'm just finding it hard to believe that people go there Sunday after Sunday to listen to that kind of broad-brush psycho-babble blather and self-promotion that Frank is peddling. Where was Jesus in that sermon?
Where were the scripture references? Was that supposed to be a teaching type of message?
Yuck!
This is actually a common criticism of Pastor Frank. His Father's Day Sermons always rip on the fathers in the audience. It makes me wonder about his relationship with his own father.
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June 21st, 2006 at 6:00 am
Not shocking that Frank promotes himself rather than our Heavenly Father and/or exemplary fathers he knows in the church, but complmetely inappropriate on all fronts. Just to take on one of those fronts: tooting one’s own horn is very tacky, and I find often indicative of serious insecurity. i.e., “if I say it over and over and convincingly, maybe I’ll convince myself that I’m actually XX–in this case, a good father.” Who knows what kind of father he is; the only ones who could truly say are his kids.
I agree, it’s amazing that so many people continue to subject themselves to the nonsense shoveled from the CBC pulpit. This unfortunate reality just enforces the importance of consistent personal Bible study and prayer, along with loving the Lord with all of our minds by USING THEM to think/analyze.
June 21st, 2006 at 6:28 am
Justin - perhaps you should have said:
“Aging
Long timereader and occasionally senile blogger, Jack”How’s your finger healing up?
June 21st, 2006 at 10:20 am
ahhhh the fathers day message, I’d had hoped that with time and
age Pastor Frank would have gotten better. We stopped going to the
father’s day services after about three years of them.We always left feeling beaten down, we stopped long before we stopped going to
CBC altogether. But even with that, the memory goes deep because as
we were getting ready to go to our new church on fathers day, my husband
said ,”oh, I just remebered it’s Fathers Day lets not go.” I know he was
remebering the horror of CBC’s fathers’ day messages.
It’s to bad, because Fathers Day is a great day to spend remebering how much God the father loves us, and to honor Him for us fathfulness to us.
June 21st, 2006 at 11:51 am
To be fair, I didn’t hear the Father’s Day sermon. I would never punish my husband by making him sit through one of Frank’s sermons, especially on Father’s Day! I’m responding simply to what I have read on the blog…
Of course there are some horrible fathers out there, but there are many wonderful fathers in the mix as well. Wouldn’t his pulpit time be better spent encouraging those fathers who may not be doing a good job giving them practical ways they can improve their parenting skills instead of cutting them down and making them look like asses in front of their families and friends? I have a good idea, why doesn’t he preach about the kind of father GOD would want the men to be instead of the kind of father HE is?
Dear Hank,
This may come as a big shocker. Although your need to be recognized as a model Father/Business Owner (oops, I meant pastor!) is blatantly evident to many people throughout the world; the church body doesn’t really want to spend the last day of the weekend hearing about how special you think your personal life is. You’ve preached sermons on how blessed you’ve been in the area of real estate, you’ve preached sermons on how great a father you are and you’ve preached sermons on what a big giver you are. Granted, these may not have been your sermon “topics”, but that’s what was communicated. We get it! You NEED to feel important and looked up to by many. God’s people would rather hear about what God has to say like in the Bible for instance. If you could put your own personal needs on hold for just one day a week and preach about the Bible it would be greatly appreciated!
ChurchGirl
June 21st, 2006 at 12:10 pm
That’s exactly what I said about the sermon.
What father would want to go to church and hear about all the shortcoming of fathers? EVERY FATHER HAS SHORTCOMINGS. It’s obviously going to make every father feel guilty bad.
Then he went on to talk about what an awesome dad he is… I hated the sermon. and I’m not even a father. I felt sorry for all the fathers in the place.
June 21st, 2006 at 12:20 pm
This describes the perfect father for me. No other story touches my heart so.
June 21st, 2006 at 5:40 pm
I have yet to listen to the sermon. Maybe tomorrow. During our service, I got drug up in front of the congregation with every other father to stand for 30 minutes while he blathered on about something, intermittently asking us to high five, hug, and shake one another’s hands. I’ve asked multiple people what the sermon was about. All they could tell me was that he preached, “It’s a guy thing.” I’m not sure what the “thing” is. My wife pulled up her notes and we still can’t figure out what he was sayin exg except that it is OK to be a guy. Crap, I was so worried.
The biggest irritant is the going to the front of the church. I can’t stand for that long, and I just don’t see why I should have to. Why make an example of me by drragging me up there? Unless it’s just a power trip.
I don’t think the CBC experience is unique. We dads don’t need to be put down or even cheered on. I just like the quiet affirmation I get from my kid when I see what she bought for me on my special day. It’s just cool to see her face. I don’t need anybody else telling me how I have succeeded or failed. All my affirmation is in that smile.
June 21st, 2006 at 6:01 pm
I’m throwing a new topic out there for some help. Seriously.
I know a lady who has been attending our church over the last 3-4 months. She is very poor. She lives in a mobile home and works 2 jobs. She has managed to make all of her bills (car, trailer, utility, etc.) with one exception. She is 3 months late on her lot rent (about $900). She has half of the money, but the park won’t take anything less than full payment at this point. She has attended our home group twice. 2 months ago I hooked her up with our pastor in charge of benevolence and nothing has been done to date but talk. I am hopeful that they will come up with a couple hundred dollars.
She recently received notice from her complex that they are evicting her at the end of the month. She has 3 payments left on her trailer. If she gets evicted from the lot, she will likely lose the trailer as well. She is desperate and is seeking help from every individual she knows and every church she has ever had a relationship with. Some have commented that she is gold-digging.
Our home group is this Sunday. I fully expect her to come. I believe that our group should take up some sort of an offering for her. But, I see this as a make or break moment for the group. Either this will bind us tightly together and show our love for Jesus to this woman, or it will fracture the group.
Yeah, I am very disappointed in our church.
Yeah, I am afraid that this move will ruin my little clique.
Yeah, I am worried I may be taken advantage of.
Thoughts?
June 21st, 2006 at 6:05 pm
Since Jesus doesn’t worry about being taken advantage of, neither should you. Where can we send money to help?
June 21st, 2006 at 6:11 pm
Thanks 7777. You’re right. Your comment is enough. It’s our job to take of the situation.
June 21st, 2006 at 6:45 pm
Seriously, Arcane, where can we send some money? In line with what 777 said, I don’t think Jesus ran background checks on the people he helped. I guess we always run the risk of being taken advantage of or “scammed.” I believe you and your church would be doing the right thing to help this woman. And I am quite serious about my offer to contribute.
June 21st, 2006 at 8:04 pm
Whatever you give Don, God will pay you back - whether that happens in this life or the next I don’t know - but He’s good for it.
Email me an address, would ya? We can help a little.
June 22nd, 2006 at 7:22 am
Great plan in the works here. Let’s unite as CBC’ers and show Hank’s CBC’ers what the body of Christ is all about.
Where can we donate to help this lady out with her space rent?
June 25th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
AW - what’s the update on the lady who lives in the mobile home? Please don’t leave us hanging.
Jack
June 25th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
Funny you should ask, Jack. We just saw the last person to the door. The lady needed $442 to pay back rent and another $377 for rent on the 1st. The church gave $150 which we presented to her tonight. We had 23 attend our group tonight (much larger than the norm). We presented the need. $789 was collected from the group.
Grand total $939.
The money was deposited with the church and the check for $789 will be made out to her trailer park. She will be covered until August when the trailer gets paid off and frees up some cash flow. It was a risk for the group, but most were appreciative of the opportunity to give. I am glad we took the risk and listened to the Lord.
Thank God for the body of Christ.
Praise the Lord.
June 25th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
My wife would like to say thank you all for the encouragement!
June 25th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
Sorry for the verbosity and multiple posts. But, with all the excitement going on here, I kind of forgot.
For those of you who pray, I would appreciate your prayers. I will be hospitalized for the next 3-5 days. About the time I found this blog, I was diagnosed with MS. I have been afflicted with vision difficulties, paralysis of the right hand, and difficulty walking among other assorted ailments. The doctor is putting me in to try and roll back some of the symptoms.
Thank you to all of the bloggers who sparred, agreed, yelled, and mocked me. It was a great diversion as I struggled to come to terms with this disease and my God. I have learned much from many of you. Thanks!
My life is in His hands, and His glory will be seen.
Blessings,
Don in Detroit
June 26th, 2006 at 3:08 am
That’s just great, Arcane. You tell us this right after I get done saying that you remind me of one of my patients. Well, for what it’s worth, I’m a psychiatric nurse.:)
Seriously though, I’m very sorry that you are having to deal with this new diagnosis. I will pray for strength and comfort for you and your family and wisdom for the medical staff involved in your care.
Also, mad City Business Church props to you and the members of your church for helping the woman with her rent.
Take care this week. And I have a feeling that all the City Business bloggers that do pray will be doing so for you this week. And I’m glad the abuse was helpful. Take care.
Lydia
June 26th, 2006 at 6:55 am
You’re welcome.
I have one last bit of advice for you. Never do the cannon-ball into a hot tub, ‘K?
And I’ll pray the hydrotherapy flushes all your symptoms.
July 5th, 2006 at 9:37 am
Wow. The furious change in subjects almost gave me whiplash, but excusing the flippancy, I am really sorry about your diagnosis, AW. How’s the wife taking it?
July 6th, 2006 at 11:26 am
Lydia and LFTC -
My wife is doing well. Believe it or not, our faith and focus are stronger than ever. Our marriage is rock solid. My daughter (16) has allowed the difficulty to drive her deep into the Lord.
I have learned many things through this experience, but mostly that I don’t have time anymore for low living, faithless actions, or fearful responses. I have to get about my father’s business. The sad thing is that I have realized I never did have the time. I just thought I did.
Physically, I am learning to take injections, walk with cane, and deal with a number of other symptoms of the MS. Spiritually, I am learning who i could have been a decade ago had I not been so self centered, faithless, and afraid.
If I put a ledger sheet to this whole experience, I am ahead. Way ahead. The grace I have received has overshadowed any physical loss. It doesn’t make sense, but I’ll cling to it. His grace is suffucient for me. His power is perfected in my weakness.
Thanks for the prayers.
July 6th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
You seem almost too spiritual to be on this blog.
But what you’re saying holds incredible value. Why is it we always seem to learn what could have been long after the time it’s applicable?
July 7th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
Nope, just one beggar sharing bread with another.
June 15th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Come on guys, i believe you do not understand what Frank is really trying to say, i would like to encourage you all who have a critzime about Frank, listen to his sermon again and ask the Lord to help you understand it.
June 16th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Why don’t you explain it to us?
June 16th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
PF doesn’t know how to preach. Period.