A Father's Legacy

A popular bumper sticker reads, "We're spending our children's inheritance." Although meant as a joke, it's hard to ignore how poignantly this sentiment hits the heart of one of the greatest blights upon society today. We have become a nation whose highest aspiration has shifted from building a strong future for our children's children, to that of satisfying our own personal desires for present pleasures. The decisions we are making, both collectively and individually, reflect this shortsighted philosophy and are endangering the legacy that we are leaving to the next generation. Increasing divorce rates, a growing lack of diligence on the part of men to adequately care for and provide for their family's needs, and a steady turning away from the principles and values of the God who created us, are all evidence of the ominous effect our decisions are having on future generations.

Philosopher, Roger Scruton, recently wrote, "societies endure only when they are devoted to future generations, and they collapse like the Roman Empire when the pleasures and fancies of the living usurp the inheritance of those unborn."

A renewed understanding of how the decisions we are making in our homes today affect the world our children will inherit tomorrow is what is needed most. That is why, as we celebrate Father's Day this Sunday, I want to share with you some simple words that were written by a daughter in honor of her father's life. He was an ordinary man who loved his family, worked hard to provide for their needs, and never abandoned his post. And although at the end of his life he didn't leave behind a large earthly fortune, he left something of far greater value. By simply honoring his responsibilities as a husband and father, he passed on a rich legacy, which lives today in the heart of his child.

I pray you will take the time to read this tribute to the man she called "dad" and let it remind you of the tremendous impact that your life is having on your family today. In the end, what our society needs most are godly fathers – men who will lay their lives down for their children; who will love them and provide for them, play with them, pray for them, and by their example point them to their Father in heaven.

Happy Father's Day!

In Him,



Lloyd Pulley
Senior Pastor

Lori's Dad...

My dad was a loving father. When I was growing up we didn't have a lot of money but we never wanted for anything. He was always available for us. He was home every night for dinner, and on Saturday morning, he would make us eggs for breakfast decorated with ketchup "smiley" faces . In the summer, we spent weekends at our summer house in Pennsylvania. I still remember my dad rowing me across the lake and teaching me how to swim. As I would swim toward him, he would slowly move backwards so that I would become a stronger swimmer. But when I couldn't swim any farther, he would reach out and catch me. That was my dad – he was always there to protect me when I couldn't make it on my own.

My dad helped me with everything. When I was young, he helped me by ironing and mending my clothes. And later, in my rebellious teenage years he helped me with his words of wisdom. I would always listen to my dad. His words were always the voice of reason.

My dad's love was special to me too, because I was adopted. In my family, nobody had red hair (except me) so, whenever anyone would ask, "where did you get your beautiful red hair?" my dad would smile and say, "I left her out in the rain and it rusted." That always made me laugh. He would tell me, "Lori, we picked you... we ordered a little red-headed girl and we got you!"

One of the greatest ways his life has influenced mine is by instilling in me a desire to help other children find fathers, just like him. And I pray that the ministry that has been born as a result, enables his legacy of love to live on in the lives of many other deserving children. But, most important of all, my dad's example has helped me to have a greater understanding of the love that my heavenly Father has for me, because He has also adopted me into His family (Romans 8:15).

I am so thankful for the many "extra years" God allowed us to spend with my dad. He suffered with heart problems since I was a little girl, yet God gave us a long life with him. And in the last year, I even got to dance the father-daughter dance at my wedding with him. I will never forget how he sang the lyrics of "Daddy's Little Girl" into my ear as we danced that day. And the day before he died, God gave us a final blessed time together, as my husband and I spent hours at his bedside talking to him about God's love and mercy.

My dad was a great guy, and I was blessed to be his daughter. I realize that at a time when divorce is so common, and fathers are often absent from their children's lives that I was given a special treasure in my dad. If you are a father, I pray that you recognize the awesome audience and unique opportunity that you have been given to be the single greatest influence in the lives of your children. Make them a priority, invest in them, talk to them, and always teach them the ways of the Lord.