2025

The Perfect Papa

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , , , ,


And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”   Galatians 4:6

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For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”   Romans 8:15

If you were blessed with the ideal father in your life, consider yourself especially blessed. Most of the rest of us had to deal with the dysfunctional results from the relationship.

Yes, our dads may have been a good provider, but a lousy listener. They may have protected us from outside harm, but abused us within the four walls of our home. They gave us opportunities to play sports, but never attended a game. They gave us room to grow and experiment, but never provided us with boundaries to keep us safe.

As kids growing up we saw our dad from our little viewpoint. But now as mature adults, we recognize they did their best. They also may have grown up in a messed-up environment. And like most of us, they didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes their dads did with them. So, they swung the pendulum to the other extreme.  

The fact is there is no perfect earthly dad. We are all a work in process. We all carry spiritual holes and have psychological strongholds buried deep within us. So, we do the best we can with who we are at the time.

In my youth, I was ashamed of my old-fashion, immigrant dad. He didn’t speak the native language. As kids, he rarely played with us. He was always working. He never was interested in my world. The result was built up anger that carried into a greater need of receiving outside approval in life.

Enter Jesus.

HE introduced me to HIS Father. Papa God. (Abba is the Aramaic word for our English word papa or daddy). The perfect father that every child needs. As our relationship grew, Papa God introduced me to various other men in my life. Men who reflected Papa God’s character. Men who took personal time to mentor me in business, relationships, and masculinity.

Over time, Papa God opened my eyes to see my earthly dad as the real man he is. A man who reflected the character of God in more ways than I recognized at the time. A man who trusted Papa God before I did. Yes a man with weaknesses. But a child of God with strengths. A man who trusted HIS God. A man who took the opportunities presented before HIM and built a successful life for his family. All without the worldly fanfare and noise. But now known by the personal lives he touched.

Papa God is more involved in our personal lives than we may ever know. As we lean on him in prayer, we develop a more meaningful relationship with the one who has adopted us. As we support HIM with our actions and resources, HE finds time to encourage us. Equip us. Engage us. He is always available to take our calls. Listen to our concerns. He will even give us advice when we ask. HE is the perfect father.

I hope you take time to know HIM. HE is the perfect Papa every man and woman needs.      

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Trained in God’s Family Business

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , , ,

And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”   Matthew 13:52

During my career, I had the opportunity to meet key leaders of various businesses. Some of them inherited their companies from parents and grandparents. But each had a similar story to tell. They all would state nothing was given to them without a heavy cost of lessons learned along the way. Their stories showcased the work ethic and discipline they faced each day. They learned the business from the bottom-up.

I changed their names, but the situations are accurate.

Adam started working in his dad’s company the summer he turned sixteen. He was shy, reserved, and quiet. His dad gave me the honors to find something for him to do in the accounting department. We tried him in various roles until we discovered he was a natural working with spreadsheets. Today he is the president and owner of this major national real estate company.

Robert graduated from U of M with a degree in business. His father owned a large national investment company. Instead of bringing him into the company, dad worked out a deal with his son. The son would have a small, closet size office within his organization but not work for him. Instead, his son started his own company. A one-person operation. Dad would only support him with advice and counseling when asked. He drew no salary and lived on what he made. Over the next several years, he learned the trade from the bottom-up. He was the receptionist, janitor, accountant, sales manager, and CEO. The long days and hard work paid off over time. Today he is the CEO of his company which is the largest private-owner in the industry.

There are dozens more examples I could share with you. They all have one common theme. They all took the opportunity in front of them and paid their dues. They learned and grew in preparation of leadership. They all knew when starting out they were not ready to seize the mantle of running the company. But they also knew as they mastered the material in front of them, they would one day be ready for the CEO role. They all started at the bottom of the ladder and worked their way up.

Is not that the same for us Christ-followers? God’s Kingdom is Father-Son-Spirit’s family business. Today, HIS disciples are being prepared to lead and serve under the umbrella of God’s Kingdom on earth today. We learn to govern ourselves. To serve others. And produce good work for the glory of God. We do so knowingly we are being trained for greater responsibilities into eternity (Rev 5:10). The work may seem small in our eyes at the moment. But those little tasks and small choices build upon each other into larger tasks and choices (Matt 25:21).

I always enjoyed Dallas Willard’s line, “Christ-followers are being trained to reign.” Genesis one and the last chapter of Revelation reveals this mandate for humanity. God wants life to flourish and humanity to govern the earth. As we operate under the Kingdom of God, God’s family business, the more we experience the treasures of HIS domain.

Yes, life is a learning process preparing one for eternity with Jesus. We all start somewhere at the bottom. But we all have a chair waiting for us at the table with Jesus in HIS family business. So, let’s roll up our sleeves, put forth the effort, and allow God’s grace cover us as we learn the family business.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Aspirations and Writings Neatly Bound in Book Formats: (* indicates audio version now available
at Apple Books)

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Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Are We Puppets on a String?

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , ,

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”   Philippians 2:13

God created man and woman after HIS image. He made them to have free agency. Like himself, HE has given us the ability to imagine, create, and choose. At the same time, HE has given us a heart of self-preservation. We are naturally self-centered. Whatever we desire, we can immediately pursue, or we can delay gratification. It is our choice. It also takes willpower to refrain. This is the battle with the self between the mind, heart, and will.

Yet Paul writes here that God is also at work in us. This raises the question: How can we be considered free if God can manipulate us according to HIS will?

A friend and I recently had this discussion. He was scratching his head and asked this question. How can we be free people if God could manipulate us like a Marionette string puppet?

Yes, God is sovereign. He has the last word. He can intervene and do what HE wants to do anytime and anyplace. Yet, HE made humanity to function after HIS image, though limited in the physical realm. The book of Genesis states that humanity has authority over everything on earth. God has given us the responsibility and accountability to perform. To make this a flourishing world. Yet what happens when we fail to fulfill our responsibility? Who are we accountable too?

HE wouldn’t be God if HE would close HIS eyes so we could destroy everything HE has made. What parent would allow their children to destroy everything around them including themselves?

This Scripture is addressing the believer. One who has already chosen to surrender their kingdom under the authority of King Jesus. As a believer, Jesus lives in you via the Holy Spirit. He is your Lord and Friend. He is there to walk with you and share HIS life with you. As HE shares HIS life with us, we learn to share our life with HIM. Life then becomes like a ballroom dance. The two are working together around the dance floor of life. They are acting in unison to the rhythm of the music expressing themselves with the sounds and beat. The two operate as one.

God’s work and pleasure is for your training and development of becoming more like HIM. HE will take the time to discipline us. HE will take the time to support us in doing good work for HIS glory. His desire is for you to find rest in HIM. To learn and appreciate the grace HE provides to help you live a meaningful life – now and into eternity. If you don’t want HIS involvement in your life, HE will keep hands off. HE respects you and HIMSELF to follow the relationship boundaries HE has placed at the start.

No, humans are not puppets on a string. But free agents able to choose which partner we will dance with through life. So, choose wisely.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Aspirations and Writings Neatly Bound in Book Formats: (* indicates audio version now available
at Apple Books)

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved