Rev Bill

I have posted my sermon from yesterday on my sermon blog. It’s my Father’s Day entry for the year, based on Psalms 128 and entitled “Being A Chrsitian Man Is Not For Sissies”.

Here’s a portion of it:

When I was growing up in the mid to late 1950’s and early 1960’s some of the most visible fathers in our country were Ozzie Nelson — the easy-going dad on the TV show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet – Ward Cleaver on Leave It To Beaver – Danny Williams on Make Room For Daddy – Steve Douglas on My 3 Sons – Andy Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show — and Rob Petry on The Dick Van Dyke Show. These men – these fathers — were able to take care of their families and solve all the problems in 30 minutes – and Ozzy would even have time for “a little song from Ricky” before the show as over. They were the perfect fathers with the perfect families. Of course, there was also Ben Cartwright on Bonanza who might have to raise a fist or a gun at times – but it was usually Ben and the boys against the bad guys.
The image portrayed of what it took to be a father – to be a man — made fatherhood – and even manhood – seem so easy! Just get up in the morning – put on your coat and tie – go to work – come home at 5 – maybe play ball with the kids – eat supper – listen to what the kids had been up to that day – solve a problem or 2 – read the paper – and go to bed.
Nothing to it!
Well – things have certainly changed, haven’t they?
“Ozzy” is no longer a Nelson – but Ozzy Osbourne! To say that Ozzy Osbourne is different from Ozzy Nelson is like saying the Sahara Desert is different from the Atlantic Ocean – the 2 Ozzy’s are so different they barely fit in the same category! There’s an enormous difference between the two Ozzy’s. True – both have something to do with the music industry – but the similarities end there!
Ozzy Nelson was always in control and never had to raise his voice. Most of the time Ozzy Osbourne seems oblivious to what is going on around him — usually just stumbling through the house with a dazed and confused look on his face.
Tasks for Ozzy Nelson were never hard – but even simplest tasks — such as taking out the trash – seem to leave Ozzy Osbourne bewildered.
Ozzy Nelson always knew the right thing to say – but Ozzy Osbourne often loses his train of though mid-sentence – and when he is able to complete a sentence usually about half of it is bleeped out!
Ozzy Nelson never drank too much – but even though I understand that Ozzy Osboourne — the former “Prince of Darkness” and rock legend from the band “Black Sabbath” — is clean and sober these days and hasn’t used drugs or alcohol in years, they have clearly taken their toll on his short-term memory.
I guess the best thing that can be said about Ozzy Osbourne is that he stays through all the craziness. Through all the craziness of his out-of-control, rock-and-roll lifestyle, he remained committed to his family.

You can read the sermon here.

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