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It’s Monday afternoon and all kinds of things are running through my head. I’ve been thinking about church yesterday: It was a great day. I’ve been thinking about the visitors that joined us; causing me to wonder what made them chose this church. Been thinking about folks that have been in the church a lot longer than I have; wonder how they feel when they look back at where the church has come from. Been thinking about the guys working outside our building this past week; curious if they know how much they are appreciated. Then there is this one…I’ve been thinking about writing something just for men in this first entry and I wonder if the ladies will really stop reading at this point. I doubt it, even if I tell them that what follows is for men only. These are the things that occupy a preacher’s mind on Mondays. It’s often a day of wondering.

Ladies, the next entry will be just for you, so have a great day and we’ll talk later. Fellas, take a walk with me. I have something I’d like to share with you.

I wanted to get you alone so we could talk just man to man. More for my sake than yours. You see I have something I need to get off my chest. I need to confess, maybe you do to…I am ashamed. Ashamed that I have missed some of the most powerful words in the Bible. Ashamed that I have dismissed the deep words of God as not worth the time it takes to read them. Ashamed that I would even put a portion of the Bible in the realm of the boring. Ashamed that I would glance over words that can help me understand God, not to mention, myself. Let me share with you what I’m talking about.

Tucked away in Luke 3 is one of the genealogies of Jesus. His family tree. His roots. Where He came from. Those that went before Him. Well, you know what a genealogy looks like. Until last week I can honestly say that I read the words with nothing more than a desire to get through the names without butchering them too badly. But last week, because of a conversation with our Youth Minister, I uncovered a priceless gem of the Bible. Luke recorded this list of names on purpose and the purpose is amazing. Listen to some of the words.

He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph……

This has to be one of the longest sentences in history. Starting with a capital letter and ending with a period, it breaks all the rules of good grammar. There are 310 words that form it. 310 words. Of those, 76 different times he uses this phrase: “the son of”. With that kind of emphasis it seems that I should have been paying a lot closer attention to this passage. Think about the questions it raises. Joseph the son of Heli. What did Heli pass on to Joseph? How did Heli influence his son? How did his father so significantly shape him that Joseph bears the title “son of Heli”? Was it a good upbringing or did Joseph have to break generational patterns of sin? Did Joseph have a strong relationship with his father and therefore a strong one with his son? Or did Joseph have to vow to make sure he didn’t do it the same way his dad did? There is a year’s worth of interesting Bible study in this passage. I have to ask, what have I missed by skipping over it? After all this is how it ends: Adam, the son of God. The passing down of God’s character is in this passage.

You don’t have to read very long before you move out of the Theological and into the personal. It causes me to wonder about the shaping of my own character not to mention, yours. “Phil, the son of Dalton”, gives you pause doesn’t it? That’s a statement that should give you insight into who I really am. Want to know me beneath the surface then know me as the son of Dalton. Powerful words “the son of” they mean that I am the son of a man of strength and courage. I am the son of a man that loves his God and wants others to do the same. I am the son of a man that loves his wife and expects others to as well. I am the son of man that gives an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay and expects the same in return. I am the son of a man that has chosen a path for himself and walked it everyday of his life. I am the son of a man that expects great things from his sons and grandsons. I am Phil, the son of Dalton, a child of God. I wear the title proudly. I wonder about these other men that Luke speaks of. And I wonder about you.

I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts on how the title “the son of” has shaped your life.

Until then, may the Lord make His face shine upon you,

Phil, the son of Dalton.

Przemek & Jen said...........................September 26, 2007
Hello Phil, son of Dalton. This is an interesting thought. I think at this time of my life I can start claiming slowly the son of Ryszard (the Polish for Richard). My dad has had his reputation, but it was not too godly, although not as bad either. Recently he's come to faith in Christ, and now actively makes changes in his life: family, work and ministry. He really prioritizes it well. Still I feel like I am the son of... "missionaries" whom I met over a decade ago, who helped me grow in the knowledge and grace of Christ until now. Maybe we my dad and I are gone, then perhaps someone will look back and see what legacy I inherited from my father. For now I am happy that we both live in Christ.
By the way, glad to see you "online"

Kevin Ingram said...............................September 27, 2007
Phil ~ What a great challenge! I am Kevin son of Paul. My Dad is a great man and continues to pour into me everyday of my life. He is the fruit of the man of God in His life and is Paul, son of George Frank. My grandfather, whom we called Pappaw, was a man of God. Shaped by his own time in World War I, shaped by raising a family in the depression, shaped by two sons who fought in World War II and worrying deeply about them because he knew very personally what they were going through, and most importantly shaped by God throughout his life as a believer. I am part of a great heritage of believers and pray daily that I am passing that on to my son, and to the other sons in this generation for I am not only Kevin, son of Paul, since my Mother and Dad took me to church every weekend, I am also the son of many men in my home church growing up who poured into me. I am in ministry today because of my parents, and also many others in my home church who challenged me to consider ministry, and then backed me and do still today for making that decision. I thank God for being a son of Paul, and more importantly a Son of God!

Thanks for the reminder Phil!
Kevin Ingram ~ Manhattan, KS

Kenny Tooley said...............................October 2, 2007
Dear Pastor Phil.
I enjoyed your honest words of confession.It is refreshing to find humleness within the leadership of the Body of Christ.I to must confess that genenolgy has bored me to sleep.But the word of GOD is all of value.Let us Stay on our knees and look up.
Your Bro in Christ
Kenny Tooley.