Let’s start with a little trivia this morning. What day of the year are the most phone calls made???…… Mother’s day! It seems that on mother’s day everyone wants to call home and check in.
What do you think happens on father’s day? Any one want to make a Guess?
Fathers day is known for the most ….. Collect Calls.
A small boy said, “Father’s Day is just like Mother’s Day, only you don’t spend as much on the gift.”
For the most part, Mom’s are blessed with the special ability of nurture and healing. They can often heal the body and soul of life’s hurts.
Father’s day seems like a day set aside as someone’s attempt of giving dads equal time. I know it was done with the right heart. But, it has never had the draw and impact that mother’s day has enjoyed.
Now let me tell you a story, first you’ll think it’s all about Mom, but dad comes in to play a little later. 
One summer day, a couple of students wanted to bring home the classroom pet. It was a little gerbil named Davey.
Mom kept saying no and had plenty of good reason why the children could not bring Davie home.
It finally came down to an explanation that a pet is a lot of responsibility and work. As children do, they both promised to do everything to take care of Davie. And after hours of begging and promises Mom said, yes.
But she made it very clear that if the children stopped taking proper care that she would quickly make arrangements to find Davie a new home.
It had only been a couple of weeks when Mom had to constantly remind the children about feeding and watering and cleaning up. About two more weeks passed and mom started making calls and found a home for Davie.
She went into the living room to tell the children about her decision. She told them that Davie had become a lot of work for just one person. That they had not been much of help and that she found him a new home.
She was surprised when the children did not seem bothered by her announcement.
Then her daughter said, is it because he eats too much? Maybe they could find a way to help him eat less.
The kids saw her carrying the cage and started shouting, hey, what are you doing with Davie?
Mom said, that it was not the eating so much as the mess and the smell. And then there was all the extra work that she had to do cleaning up. The children seemed to understand and nodded in a sort of agreement and turned back toward their TV program. Mom went and picked up Davies’s cage and assorted supplies and headed back through the living room.
Mom responded, We just talked about this. Because of all the extra work and having to do it all by herself she had found Davie a new home.
The children said, “No not Davie, we thought you said daddy.”
The current culture likes to laugh at dads and poke fun in all kinds of ways at the dads that are involved with their children. A bit different from the TV shows form the 50s and 60s where dad was a guide and had wisdom and reason.
I wonder how that has directly affected many young men’s view of fatherhood?
We have gone from a time of TV character dads like Ward Cleaver, Ozzie Nelson, Howard Cunningham, and Mike Brady to Archie bunker, Al Bundy, and Homer Simpson.
We are not really talking about the ills of TV and culture today. We are here to consider our dads.
TV can lead to weaker beliefs about the importance of fathers to child development.
TV can influence young men’s expectations of themselves as fathers and even impact their behavior, potentially leading to less involvement in their children’s lives.
Characters like Phil Dunphy (“Modern Family”) and Homer Simpson (“The Simpsons”) exemplify the trend of portraying fathers as somewhat incompetent, which can reinforce negative stereotypes.
Today Dads are normally very different than moms and tend to be the one to fix broken stuff, solve certain logical problems, act as the provider and defender of the family.
I believe that most of us use our own fathers as a guide on what we believe God is like. If your father was distant or not there you probably feel that God is the same way.
Some of us have a real fear of our fathers. We fear punishment and rejection.
For example, “Wait until your daddy Gets Home!) Dad was often used as the ultimate punishment machine. Some believe God is just waiting us for all of our mistakes.
OR for some, we may have found that we could not be good enough.
For example, Perhaps it was grades, or friends and or any choices in your life that were judged harshly. And you just can’t see how you can satisfy your dad. We feel like God is disappointed in us.
Perhaps it was or is some combination of good and bad traits that you think of when you think about your dad.
Let me just say that it is unfair to God to use an earthly standard to judge what he is like and that the bible is our best source of insight into what our heavenly father is like.
In our scripture today, we have the story of a dad and two sons. It is a parable told by Jesus to illustrate what God was like when his children stray. It is about what God wants.
It describes family relationships and how different members act.
If we think about it, you can probably find your place in the story.
– Some of us may look at our life right now and realize that we thought we were grownup, and we moved out to make our own mistakes.
– Others may feel that we have stayed with the family and have done the best we can with all kinds of limits on our lives.
– Some of us loosely see ourselves in the dad position and we are doing the best we know how.
In our scripture, the father gives his younger son, what he asked. He hands over his share of what would one day be his inheritance.
I am not sure that it is the giving of the inheritance that is the only point in this scripture. It is also the gift of freedom and the ability to go that is the action.
Dads want to give their kids the things they want. They want their children to be happy. They want their children to become independent.
— Dads will let you make a mistake and hope you will learn from it.
Dads will love you through your pain and suffering, many times never saying a word, perhaps not knowing what to say.
I believe that the story indicates that our heavenly father gives us free will. He allows us the freedom to choose. He could control us, and make the path easy to choose Him but, he keeps just enough distance that we have a choice…..
So if we are to be like our heavenly father we should do the same thing.
Dads should allow us to make choices for ourselves. Humm that is not at all easy….
In Jesus’ story the son comes running back home, but only after messing up royally.
In the story, the father is looking down the road, almost as if he expected or longing for the son to come home.
And when it happens, he meets him down the road. And is happy to see him and accepts him back as a son.
Let me remind you that Jesus is talking about his/our heavenly father and not an earthly one. He is talking about a perfect father and not an earthly one.
I know more than one father that has accepted their children back home in this way. Sometimes they come home with Grandchildren in tow. …… and a lot of emotional baggage that everyone involved would prefer to ignore.
This morning let’s consider the father in the story of the Prodigal Son.
You will find this account in Luke 15:11-32.
I am going to read from the English Standard Version some for the story just to jog your memory.
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to[a] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[b] 22 But the father said to his servants,[c] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
My thought this morning is that ….as an earthly dad our goal should be like our heavenly father.
—-Man what big shoes to try to slip on our feet.
The parable of the Prodigal Son highlights several attributes of God: his unwavering love, his joy in repentance, and his eagerness to forgive, and welcome back those who have strayed. It also emphasizes God’s mercy and grace, even when we are far from Him.
For example, An earthly father when the children grow up and make some big mistakes in their lives they are tempted to say I TOLD you SO! Instead of forgive and let go.
For example, Earthly fathers are also likely to choose a favorite. Some might say something like why can’t you be like your brother. Stay here near home, work hard, make a life for yourself.
For example, As the earthly dad, it is really easy to try to make a comparison between the kids.
Earthly dad’s also may use one child against the other to try to influence and control.
Perhaps we kept them from becoming independent. We sheltered them and did not prepare them for the real world, maybe we were over protective.
Maybe we should have encouraged some independence and just a little risk taking.
Maybe this is just something I hope is true…but, I don’t think that there are any perfect earthly dads.
However, I still think God wants us to be like the father in the story.
In my heart I want to be like the dad in this story, to be a perfect mother.
But I know we are humans, but I know that the Holy Spirit will work through us if we allow him to do so. 
The difference between God and our earthly fathers is that God has a divine love. A love without end.
For us being a father or parent is a learning process. We get help from scripture and other men we know. In the process we may feel like some of the dads we see on today TV shows, but we need to keep our focus and eyes on the attributes of the father in heaven. 
Then Father’s Day arrives, and our families want to show their appreciation with some kind of simple gift or gesture.
They wonder what to give Dad for Father’s Day.
Maybe it is a special tie chosen from their children—something that reflects their love or a part of who they are.
Maybe it is a new universal remote that can control every appliance in the house.
Maybe it is breakfast in bed or lunch out together.
Maybe it is a sports magazine or a new power tool.
However, all fathers and all Christians should be seeking to be more like the father in heaven. We should be seeking Wisdom, vision, perfect love, patience, and temperance. 
What does the story suggest that a dad wants?
They want to know their children are doing well and are not suffering.
They want their children to know that they can come home.
The want their children to we wise and equipped to face the world.
— God has the wisdom to let us learn the hard way, and the love to welcome us back anytime we goof up, no matter how bad.
God never said I told you so.
God is God, and God is the perfect father.
When we go off to a far country, never expecting to return, he waits, Not patiently but anxiously for our return.
What an earthly father wants is the same as the heavenly father.
Our God would love to hear from all of you on this father’s Day!
Call… call collect and often; because, you know he worries.
There is nothing He likes more than to hear from you!
All Glory be to God!
If your father deserves a heartfelt thank you, this short poem may contain just the right words of gratitude he needs to hear from you.
Thank you for the laughter,
For the good times that we share,
Thanks for always listening,
For trying to be fair.
Thank you for your comfort,
When things are going bad,
Thank you for the shoulder,
To cry on when I’m sad.
This poem’s a reminder that
All my life through,
I’ll be thanking heaven
For a special dad like you.
For a specially designed Dad
God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle’s flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew his masterpiece was complete,
And so, he called it Dad.
Father’s Day Trivia….
2. What day is Father’s Day celebrated on every year?
The third Sunday of June.
3. When was the word “dad” first recorded?
In the 1500s
4. What is the most popular day of the year to call your dad?
On Father’s Day of course!
5. What is the official flower of Father’s Day?
The rose
6. What flower do you wear in your lapel if your father is deceased?
A white rose.
7. What flower do you wear in your lapel if your father is living?
A red rose.
8. Approximately how many fathers are there in America?
72-75 million (This broad group includes any man who has fathered a biological, adopted, or stepchild of any age.)
9. What is the average age of first-time fathers in America? (source)
31 years
11. Who is a “Founding Father” of the United States and often called the “Father of His Country”?
George Washington
13. Father’s day is the fourth largest holiday for sending cards according to Hallmark. What three holidays are ahead of it? (source)
Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Christmas
Related: Mother’s Day Trivia Quiz
14. A recent survey revealed that dads actually want this one thing the most on Father’s Day. (source)
A phone call from their kids.
15. What is often one of the first “words” babies say?
Dada
16. 64% of dads do not want anything that says this on it for Father’s Day.
World’s Best Dad
17. What is a popular way dads spend their time on Father’s Day in the U.S.?
Having a BBQ or grilling.
20. Which animal dad helps build the nest, incubates the eggs, and shares in caring for the hatchlings alongside its partner?
Male flamingos
This U.S. President issued the first proclamation recognizing Father’s day in 1966.
Lyndon B. Johnson
28. What U.S. President made Father’s Day a permanent federal holiday in 1972?
Richard Nixon
48. Mother’s Day was a national holiday before father’s Day.
True – Mother’s Day became a national holiday in 1914.
49. 75% of Father’s Day cards are given to fathers by their children.
False – 50%
50. 1 in 3 homes in America do not have a father.
Father’s Day prayer you can use or adapt:
A Father’s Day Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Today we give thanks for the gift of fathers — for their love, their guidance, and the quiet strength they bring into our lives.
Bless them with health, joy, and peace in every season.
Grant them wisdom to lead with kindness, patience to nurture with understanding,
and courage to stand firm in what is good and true.
For fathers who are near, may they feel our gratitude deeply.
For fathers who are far, may they feel our love across the distance.
For fathers who have passed, may their memory be a blessing and their legacy live on in us.
Lord, fill their hearts with Your grace,
and let them know how deeply they are cherished — today and always.
In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Poem 1: So God Made a Father
And on the sixth day, when the work was almost done,
God looked at the world He’d made and saw it needed someone.
Someone who would rise before the joy of a morning had cleared the hill,
And work until the comforting arm of night came out and all was still.
So God made a father.
God said: “I need a man whose hands are strong but also gentle,
Who’ll hold a newborn child and know that moment is transcendental.
I need a man who’ll stay awake through fevers in the night,
Who’ll check beneath the bed for monsters, tell his kids it’s alright.”
So God made a father.
“I need a man with broad shoulders who’ll teach his son to throw a ball and pray,
Who’ll walk his little girl down the aisle and somehow find a way
To hold his tears until the last ‘I do’ has filled the air,
Then cry in the parking lot — because he doesn’t want to scare her.”
So God made a father.
“I need a man who’ll show his children what it means to kneel,
Whose Sunday mornings say more than his Monday words reveal.
Who’ll open up his Bible when he doesn’t know the answer,
And say: ‘Let me ask the Lord’ — not pretend he’s got it mastered.”
So God made a father.
“I need a man who’ll build a life that long outlasts his years,
Whose legacy won’t live in things, but in his children’s prayers.
Who’ll fail sometimes, and get back up, and say: ‘I got that wrong,’
And teach his kids that men of God are still just men all along.”
So God made a father.
God smiled at what He’d made and placed him in a family’s midst.
And every Father’s Day we pause to think of what we’d miss
Without the men who stayed, who led, who worked, who loved, who prayed —
the Christian dad, the best friend his children ever had —
The ordinary miracle that only God could have made.
So God made a father. And it was good.
