Happy Father's Day

June 18th, 2026
by Mark McAdow

By Pastor Mark McAdow
This Sunday is, of course, Father’s Day! Give thanks to a Methodist for helping to create a day to honor dads following Anna Jarvis’s initiative to honor moms. I appreciate Max Lucado’s comments about his dad from his book “God Came Near.”

Father’s Day. A day of cologne. A day of hugs, new neckties, long-distance telephone calls and Hallmark cards. Today is my first Father’s Day without a father. For 31 years I had one. I had one of the best. But now he’s gone. He’s buried under an oak tree in a West Texas cemetery. Even though he’s gone, his presence is very near – especially today. It seems strange that he isn’t here. I guess that’s because he was never gone. He was always close by. Always available. Always present. His words were nothing novel. His achievements, though admirable, were nothing extraordinary. But his presence was!

I had a great dad as well – Bobby Joe McAdow – for 29 years. Not near long enough. I still miss him. He loved God, my mom, my sister and me. He taught me how to look a person in the eye and shake their hand with a firm grip, how to work hard, to treat women and others with great respect, to serve the Lord through our local United Methodist Church and to play golf (well, he tried to teach me!). I had the privilege of praying with him to recommit his life to Christ while I was in seminary in Kentucky. He grew up in a home without a dad, but somehow learned how to be a great dad.

Coach Tony Dungy has some great advice along those lines for all of us who are privileged to be fathers:

1. Spend time with your children – Value their interests and their schedules.
2. Earn the right to be heard – Listen first. Listen for how they feel. Listen for what makes them smile.
3. Discipline with a gentle spirit – Be aware (know what happened). Be alarmed (admit it bothers you). Be accepting (solve the problem, save the person).
4. Be a role model – Display humility, integrity and patience.
5. Teach the lessons of life – You are their teacher, their mentor and their guide.
6. Eat together as a family – Eat a weekly family meal, have a monthly family celebration and take a yearly family outing.
7. Respect your children’s mother – Respect her with words. Respect her with time. Respect her with agreement.
8. Read to your children – Read a book. Read from a magazine. Read from the Internet.
9. Show affection and appreciation – Show them their strengths. Show them unconditional love.
10. Realize a father’s job is never done – Let them hear you voice, for life. Let them have access to you, for any need. Let them feel unconditional love, forever.

Tony’s ministry is called All Pro Dad. I’d encourage you to check out their website at www.allprodad.com for other great advice and encouragement.

Be sure to join us this Sunday as we honor our men and dads with special recognition, prayer and a gift, tool. We are so very thankful for our Willow View men and dads.

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Mark

PS: Tonight is the last night of Vacation Bible School – “Illumination Station.” Thanks to Mandie and her team of volunteers for loving the kids and showing them Jesus is the light of the world! (John 8:12)