Happy Birthday to My Hero

Today is my hero's birthday. On August 27th my Dad was born. I'm so thankful for my father who has labored to provide for me and my siblings a safe and secure home. He has been a model of integrity and conviction. He loves God enough to obey Him and He loves us enough to lead us. In watching my Dad, I’ve learned the incredible impact that fathers have on children. I have been able to accept the discipline, love and grace of the Heavenly Father because my Dad displayed those same characteristics here on earth.

I’ve also learned that just because I'm getting older, doesn’t mean that I need my Dad less.  As a matter of fact, once I've enter into the more challenging seasons of life, I seek his advice even more more.  Over time my relationship with my father may have altered, but in the end I still need his Godly counsel. My Dad has had more impact on my than any other person in this world. I know more about ministry from him than I will from any book (other than a book of course). Chad believed the same thing. He wrote this on his own personal blog back in 2012.

As the child of a pastor, I suppose that I've taken my father's pulpit ministry for granted for the better part of my life. I was keenly aware of the countless hours that he would spend in his office pouring over the text with a heart of love for his congregation, but seldom was I aware of the responsibility that was mine as a partaker of those messages.

As I've entered into my seminary training, my appreciation for Dad's handling of the Word has increased exponentially. Often times I'll find myself shooting him an e-mail with a question regarding a particular text, and I can always expect a carefully worded response that takes into account the original languages, authorial intent, and context of the passage. Usually the response that I receive lines up fairly nicely with some of the better commentaries that I have been consulting, and serves to further confirm my conviction about the passage in question. My appreciation for Dad’s exegetical work, however, goes much further than just the help that I can get from him on particular passages. I regularly listen to the messages that he brings on a weekly basis, and I’m always left with an incredible blessing, and a new appreciation for the passage that he meticulously worked through that week. I always enjoy the fruits of Dad’s labor.

 - Chad Phelps

Dad has always been someone that all us kids looked up to. Calling Dad our hero really is not an overstatement. Chad wrote this in 1999. 

"My favorite hero is my dad. I like him because he is Godly and is always there to help me. Another one of my heros is my Grandpa phelps. He is just like my dad in personality and Godliness. When I grow up I would be happy to be like them."

As I grow older, my already deep respect for my Dad grows deeper and deeper!  His life and Godly example has been such a blessing to me! He is no less of a hero to me today than he was when I was just a toddler. 

Left: Dad pushing Chase on the swing (2014) Right: Chad pushing Chase on the swing (2013)

Posted by Caleb