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The Restoration of Fatherhood in Australia Warwick Marsh
THE WHY & WHAT of the Australian Family Law System Speech at Parliament House August 9th, 2007 Warwick Marsh
Fresh Vision Warwick Marsh
Bringing Change Through Relationship Warwick Marsh
Mens' Milestones Warwick Marsh
Life is a Decision Warwick Marsh
Laugh & Lighten Up Warwick Marsh
Overcoming Blind Spots Warwick Marsh
Divorce Warwick Marsh
Rites of Passage Warwick Marsh
Learn How to Catch Our Childrens' Hearts Warwick Marsh
10 Secrets for Success Warwick Marsh
Happy Fathers Day 2006
Death Can Show Us The Way Tony Miller
History of Fathers Day
Facts on Fatherlessness

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LAUGHTER :

A little boy opened the big family bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. "Mama, look what I found," the boy called out. "What have you got there, dear?" With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear."

While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: "Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes."

UNDERSTANDING WOMEN

(A MAN'S PERSPECTIVE)

I know I'm not going to understand women. I'll never understand how you can take boiling hot wax, pour it onto your upper thigh, rip the hair out by the root, and still be afraid of a spider.

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment.

Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, He would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5:00 AM " He left it where he knew she would find it.

The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight.

Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, "It is 5:00 AM. Wake up."

Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.

By the time a man realises that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong.

Charles Wadworth

You knew my father as governor, as president, but I knew him as Dad. I want to tell you a little bit about my dad - a little bit about Cameron and Ashley's grandfather, because not a whole lot is ever spoken about that side of Ronald Reagan.

Michael Reagan
Twice Adopted © 2004
Broadman & Holman

The History of Fathers Day

Well, well, well, it's that time of year again.

Father's Day is next Sunday, 3rd September here in Australia.

We all know that Father's Day is close because of all the adverts for tools coming on our television and filling our mailbox.

How did it all start?

It actually started with a woman. Sonora Louise Smart Dodd, first conceived the idea of a Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon.

Mother's Day was first celebrated by the ancient Greeks and then again in 17th Century England as Mothering Sunday.

In the USA Anne Jarvis revitalised the concept during the American Civil War and it was eventually officially made a holiday in the early 1900s.

Sonora Smart Dodd wanted to honour her father, William Smart, who was a veteran of the Civil War, and a very devoted father. When his wife died in childbirth with their sixth child, Mr Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in Spokane, Washington.

It was only when Mrs Dodd became an adult that she realised the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single dad.

The first Father's Day was celebrated on 19 June, 1910 in Spokane, Washington.

In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day.

In 1936 a National Father's Day Committee was formed.

In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June, Father's Day.

President Nixon followed that up by making Father's Day a permanent national holiday.

People in the USA & UK celebrate Father's Day! on the third Sunday of June, while in Australia it is held on the first Sunday in September.

The concept of Father's Day has spread right across the world to the point where most countries celebrate this time to honour and appreciate fathers.

In many cases market forces have taken over Father's Day as just another excuse to sell more socks and undies.

I might point out that many men appreciate these presents (how else do they stock up on such essentials?)

The challenge before us is to not let the market demean the true spirit of the day itself.

Men as fathers make a wonderful contribution to families. I once asked a young girl why she thought fathers were important. Her simple but profound answer was one I'll never forget. "If we didn't have fathers, mothers couldn't have babies'.

This brings me to my next point.

Fathers and mothers, and the relationship they are able to enjoy and sustain are the key to happy families.

Last Wednesday, I had the privilege of attending a round table in Sydney on marriage, hosted by Byron and Francine Pirola from www.celebratelove.com

There was representation from Federal Parliament, the media, Relationships Australia and the who's who of the marriage/family movement.

Professor Bill Doherty and his wife were major contributors to this exciting time of discussion.

Almost everyone agreed that there is a desperate need to encourage marriage as a means to encourage family;

In my contribution I mentioned the need for more people like USA's Diane Sollee from www.smartmarriages.com to stand up and be counted in the fight to restore honour to marriage, fatherhood and motherhood for the families of Australia..

Perhaps there is a lesson here for us as men: how important and valuable is the contribution made by the women of the world in supporting us as fathers?

Lovework

Practice saying, "What a beautiful pair of socks", or "Just what I needed, another pair of undies."

Enjoy Father's Day. It's your celebration.

Have fun with your family, make it a special day, (leave this newsletter on the desktop for all to read). Don't forget there wouldn't be any fathers without mothers.

Yours for more socks

Warwick Marsh

PS

Enquiries are coming in thick and fast from all over Australia regarding the 'Good to Great' Fatherhood Mentoring Course.

Keep them coming!!!

Our goal is to make this course available on DVD as we train 'Good to Great' facilitators all over Australia who have a heart for the restoration of fatherhood.

We encourage any of our readers who would like to financially help other fathers complete the course. Help us to help other dads through sponsorship.

We would also greatly appreciate your financial help to make the course available on DVD.

We don't have the money to complete this project, but we are moving ahead in faith, believing that the money will come in as we move forward, trusting in our heavenly Father's goodness.