Faithful Fathers

Pastor Blake Cromwell

Three executives were sitting around trying to put a definition on the word "fame". One said: "Fame is being invited to the White House for a talk with The President." The second executive said: "No. Fame is being invited to the White House for a talk with The President --and when the Hot Line interrupts the conversation, He doesn’t answer it." The third executive said: "You’re both wrong. Fame is being invited to the White House for a talk with The President and when the Hot Line rings, He does answer it, listens a moment, and then says: "Here it’s for you!"

Here in this humorous story Fame is equated with being called upon to help in a time of crisis. Fame is a by-product of making yourself available to help resolve a problem. The soldier who risk his life to save his comrade hurt in battle or the man who endangers his life while rescuing a baby from a burning house obtain fame. Five years ago a large heavy piece of furniture, violently fell on top of my four-year niece, pinning her to the cement floor. Andrew hearing her screams came running and lifted the cabinet off her pinned body. At that moment Andrew became famous to his four-year old cousin. To this day she still regards Andrew as her hero who saved her from death and torture. Andrew achieved fame that day, to at least one little four year old.

Fame isn’t something that we as Disciples of Jesus strive for but we should strive to answer the crisis’ that constantly arise around our families and community. We need to be heroic in aggressively seeking to be apart of the solution and not the problem. In the eyes of our children, wives, community and world we should seek to find a need and meet it. To be available when the Hot Line of Life rings and involve ourselves in resolving the crisis of our family, community and world. True fame is achieved through being a faithful father, husband and being there when a small or large crisis appears.

There is no doubt that our society has confused who achieves fame. The John Wayne Bobbetts, Amy Fishers, Joey Butafuccos, and Charlie Mansons have also received this title. The infamous have become celebrities for rape, murder and sleeping with minors. Current role models are an expression of the confusion in our society that reveals the crisis for correct role models, and so now more then ever, who better to be role models than Faithful Fathers?