The Art of Parenting - Discipleship

A father stands on the shore of a small pond teaching his son to cast lures. In his hand a white Shakespeare rod with a Phantom Pflueger spinning reel. On the end of the leader a red and white Daredevil "spoon".

The father carefully shows the "finger grab" to hold the line after the bail is opened - one of the tricks of the trade. His son lifts the pole over his shoulder; quickly thrusting the pole - releasing the finger holding the line and remembering to follow-through - pointing the tip of the pole out at the horizon. The quite buzz of line plummeting past the guides. It's as exciting as watching a grand-slam arc over the fence. Suddenly, there is a faint splash. The perfect cast! Father and son congratulate each other as the younger one reels in the line.

This week your Kingdom Bloggers are writing about discipleship. Evangelicals often focus on getting saved, and little else. The Bible, however; says to make disciples.

It was a sunny day at a pond not to far from our home. Dad and I stood casting lures. Later we took a break sitting on the field-stone dam; listening to the water falling to the pool some distance below. The smell of pine trees was in the air. There we were eating sandwiches with one eye on the line, talking about which lures were best, and what we would do when we hooked the big one! I don’t think that we caught anything at all day. Actually I guess the fishing wasn't all that important if I don't remember whether or not we caught fish. I do remember we were together, dad and I— yes, I remember that. Over 40 years has passed since that day and dad is gone now; he has been since 1998. But I remember that day. How I wished it would have never ended.

Discipleship is like that. It is one person parenting another - teaching, breaking bread, sharing, talking, doing, enjoying - growing in intimacy with Jesus.

For many years I have been in the church, and honestly, few people have invested in my life. I often think how different things could have been, had there truly been someone that I could trust, hang out with, and learn from. How different life might have been if my fishing teacher had not been an alcoholic. At this point it is all water over the dam.

Recently I have been attending a new church and for the first time in my church life, it seems to matter to someone besides me that I walk in my God given destiny. Previously, it has been about joining a church, and filling a slot. Here it is about fulfilling a destiny - one that I am passionate about.

Yesterday's service was amazing. More amazing was that the my pastor; a spiritual dad, had me minister in the elders meeting. At the end he told me that he loved me and was proud of me. That's the beginning of real discipling.

How about you, have you had a father or mother in the faith? Tell us about it.