Fatherhood and the theology it teaches...

As many of you are aware, I have had quite a momentous week also. Katarina (my wife) gave birth to a healthy baby boy, at 11:36pm Sunday night. We have had a great week settling in as a family and sincerely appreciate all your heartfelt congratulations and encouragements.

I remember saying to a friend of mine, that I couldn't wait to become a father because of all the new sermon illustrations it would provide me with.

Well what I should have said was, I cant wait to become a father knowing all the GOOD THEOLOGY I will TEACH me.

On the 1st Day of our baby boy’s earthly life there was a powerful lesson to experience.

Our baby was born with some amniotic fluid on the lungs and the Doctors wanted him to spend some time in the special care nursery for observation.

They began to put in an IV line (drip) and the nurses were having a horrible time getting a needle into one of his soft little veins. There I was standing over his crib talking to him and telling him its going to be ok and all the while he was screaming and writhing in fear of this unknown experience called pain. I left the room and left Katarina (my wife) there to attend to the little guy as my eyes welled up in tears. I felt helpless and a failure. Here was this special little guy who was my son, being put through unimaginable pain (in his context) and it was beyond what I could bare. Katarina later found me, in the hallway of the hospital and asked me if I was doing ok. I reassured her I’d be ok, and then asked her what she thought it must have felt like to be the Father God, looking down at His One and only Son, suffering the wrath and vengeance sin deserved upon the cross?

I now have a fresh and sharper insight [thought still horribly inadequate] into the suffering of the Father in those, world changing moments.

God Bless you all,

Craig Ireland

Knox Matias Ireland - born; 09/05/10 at 11:20pm (My 1st Born Child)

“Knox is kind of a weird name?” Some say, here’s my response,

My 1st born son, who is now 1 day 4 hrs old, was named in honour of John Knox 1510 – 1572, who was a student of the condemned reformers against the oppressive & murderously diabolical Catholic Church. He spent time as a galley slave and in exile because, in spite of massive pressure imposed upon him by foolish and evil dictators, Knox would not bow... See more or relent in his goal of reforming his nation. He (almost single handily) led Scotland to spiritual reformation and revival.

One astute observer, eulogised whilst gazing at the grave of this powerful weapon of God,” Here lies one who neither flattered nor feared any flesh.”

It was said of him, "Scotland has erected no monument on the grave of John Knox, for Scotland is his monument. He was courageous and true.”