Return-Path: X-Original-To: info@ausheart.com.au Delivered-To: info@ausheart.com.au Received: from localhost (marlin.fishinternet.com.au [127.0.0.1]) by marlin.fishinternet.com.au (Postfix) with ESMTP id 633B2DEB4F for ; Sun, 4 Dec 2005 08:14:43 +1100 (EST) Received: from marlin.fishinternet.com.au ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (marlin.fishinternet.com.au [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id 27783-09 for ; Sun, 4 Dec 2005 08:14:35 +1100 (EST) Received-SPF: none (marlin.fishinternet.com.au: 202.168.104.11 is neither permitted nor denied by domain of fathersonline.org) client-ip=202.168.104.11; envelope-from=info@fathersonline.org; helo=polyglot.com.au; Received: from polyglot.com.au (udsl-5-011.NSW.dft.com.au [202.168.104.11]) by marlin.fishinternet.com.au (Postfix) with ESMTP id EC75F3FA0A for ; Sun, 4 Dec 2005 08:14:31 +1100 (EST) Received: from server ([192.168.100.14]) by polyglot.com.au with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.211); Sun, 4 Dec 2005 08:18:29 +1100 Thread-Topic: Fathers-Expressing Love Reply-To: Message-ID: thread-index: AcX4Txs9NEqQO5lYTX6NsTgwO+/Y+Q== From: To: Subject: Fathers-Expressing Love Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2005 08:18:29 +1100 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_B12C_01C5F8AB.4EAE77C0" X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Exchange 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.3790.326 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 03 Dec 2005 21:18:29.0324 (UTC) FILETIME=[1B4070C0:01C5F84F] X-Virus-Scanned: amavisd-new at fishinternet.com.au This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_B12C_01C5F8AB.4EAE77C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Unable to read this email? Please click here Issue 171 - 5th November 2005 Go to our website Here * Welcome * Grandads * Laughter * Single Dads * Special Feature * Thought of the Week * Marriage Survey * News & Info * Dad's Prayer * About Us Welcome We waited in anticipation for the white stretch limo to come and take us to the airport. We were still putting some of the finishing touches to fathersonline as we quickly switched off the computer and were ushered into our waiting car. It felt like the limo could turn into a pumpkin at any moment, but there was little danger of that as it was in the middle of the day. Midnight was still over 12 hours away. The whole fairy tale idea evaporated when we boarded the aircraft at Sydney airport to take us to our mystery week-long getaway. We have been married for thirty years and have five children (mostly grown up) so we figured it was time to celebrate the event. I tend to be more visible than my wife and often people give me more credit than is due. When I received a Centenary Medal from the Governor General, I tried to explain to people that it was my wife that should receive the medal for putting up with me for 28 years. They thought I was joking. If they lived with me for a while they would realise it is not a joke. Time has marched on to 30 years, and I wanted to make her feel extra special as we celebrated our anniversary. We hadn't had a full weeks holiday together alone, for over 25 years, since before the children came along, and don't children keep you busy - sometimes too busy, but that's all part of the deal isn't it? On our Wedding Day, I said, "I take you to be my wedded wife and I do promise and covenant, before God and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful husband, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we both shall live." At our Wedding Ceremony some good friends of ours sang a song called, 'Climb the Hill' by Paul Clark. We have since recorded it on our 'Straight from the Heart' CD and have sung it at many weddings since. We reprint it for you. Climb the Hill I have waited such a long long time for this day to come And all I have to give is the love from God's only son He gave to me to give unto you. I pray that God will be with us night and day, guide us all the way. In our life , there will be no strife with Jesus Christ and his kingdom which has come And made it possible for you and I to be one. I will make you queen of my home under the glory of the King. We'll raise our family in a castle full of love And trust the Lord in everything - Let us sing Hallelujah. In times of trial when things are hard to see Will you stand by me? With love it can heal the pain so let it rain on the roof of my soul. There is no hole that love can't fill So let us climb, let us climb, Let us climb the hill together, Let's climb the hill together, Let's climb the hill together. Life is all about climbing hills. Marriage is about climbing hills but having a hand to hold while doing so. It can be a very difficult experience. Almost everything in life will try to prevent you from holding hands but you must hold on tight. You must use your faith in the hard times, because love spells COMMITMENT. Jesus said it this way, "Out of death comes life". He also said, "The two shall become one". If two become one, first the two must die, because only one shall truly live, and this is the mystery of marriage which is also the mystery of love. Few are willing to pay the price in order to find the mystery, but the rewards are wonderfully mysterious. Lovework Maybe you have written a poem or a letter in the past expressing your love for your wife. Get it out and read it to her. If you haven't got one, write one. If you can't write one, read the above marriage vow or the song instead. The love of your life will be very happy to hear your words of love. Yours for expressing love Warwick Marsh ________________________________________________________ Warwick Marsh has been married to Alison for 29 years. He is the father of five children, four boys and one girl, ranging in age from 24 years to 12 years. Warwick is a musician, songwriter, producer and public speaker who likes to think he can still laugh at himself. back to top Grandads The Kitchen Table by Richard Magoffin There are a lot of things wrong with Australia today And I'd like to have something to say if I may You'll know that forsooth that our problem with youth Untidy, ill-mannered and uncouth Is in fact that their life is often unstable And it's all for the lack of a kitchen table. Remember how once we would sit down as one. And Dad would say Grace when the carving was done! Our own serviettes from our own special ring And we all knew our manners and etiquette things. Then our elders would tell us of custom and fable When we all sat around the kitchen table. Now they're building new mansions with four car garages Our working lives mortgaged to interests and charges There's less time at home for tea to be made And it's seldom today that a table is laid. There's room after room under gable and gable But there's not enough room for the kitchen table. Karl Marx called religion the drug of the people But there's scant regard now for the Church or the steeple. Just give 'em more sport and don't let 'em think And keep 'em away from the kitchen sink. We'll give them more sport and the culture of Babel The throw-away culture that threw out the table. With the culture of rap and their baseball caps There'll soon be no fellas, no blokes and no chaps When they all dress the same then it's little surprise That the birds swear as much and as foul as the guys. So we grandparents must, just as long as we're able, Keep our culture alive' round the kitchen table back to top Laughter nurse.gif (15444 bytes) A woman called a local hospital. "Hello. Could you connect me to the person who gives information about patients. I'd like to find out if a patient is getting better, doing as expected, or getting worse" The voice on the other end said, "What is the patient's name and room number?" "Sarah Finkel, room 302." "I'll connect you with the nursing station." "3-A Nursing Station. How can I help You?" "I'd like to know the condition of Sarah Finkel in room 302." "Just a moment. Let me look at her records. Mrs. Finkel is doing very well. In fact, she's had two full meals, her blood pressure is fine, to be taken off the heart monitor in a couple of hours and, if she continues this improvement, Dr. Cohen is going to send her home Tuesday at noon." The woman said, "What a relief! Oh, that's fantastic... that's wonderful news!" The nurse said, "From your enthusiasm, I take it you are a close family member or a very close friend!" "Neither! I'm Sarah Finkel in 302! Nobody here tells me a damn thing. Cartoon: Patient in hospital bed with sign saying 'Stress Free Zone' back to top Single Dads Thoughts on Marriage By Tony Miller Dads in Distress Inc believe that if the following rights were understood by all in marriage then maybe just maybe there would be a few more marriages intact. * The right to emotional support, encouragement and goodwill from the other * The right to be heard by the other and to be responded to with courtesy and respect * The right to have my own view even if the other has a different view. * The right to have my feelings and experiences acknowledged as equal. * The right to a life free from excessive accusations, blame, criticism, and judgements. * The right to live free from emotional and physical abuse. From the book 'Stop Walking On Eggshells' by Paul T Mason,MS & Randi Kreger back to top Special Feature When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high And you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns, As everyone of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about, When he might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow, You may succeed with another blow. Success is failure turned inside out, The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit It's when things seem worse that you must not quit. back to top Thought of the Week The greatest thing you can do for your children is love your wife back to top Marriage Survey Wed in mid 20s 'for best marriage' From correspondents in Washington 18nov05 COUPLES who wed in their mid 20s have the best chance of living happily together until death do them part, a new survey on American marriage found today. The results contradict conventional wisdom that partners have the best chance for a healthy marriage if they wait until their 30s, researchers said. Couples who tied the knot between the ages of 23 and 27 stood the best chance of success, according to a statistical index on the quality of marriage constructed on data collected by the University of Texas for the National Fatherhood Initiative. "Beyond a certain age, later marriage does not improve the success of the marriage," said Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, of the National Marriage Project, commenting on the survey results. Marriage before the age of 20 has long been regarded at high risk of divorce, but the survey represents the first statistical evidence that the optimal age for marriage may lie in the 20s. The average of age of first marriages in the United States has slowly been rising, to 27 for men and 26 for women, compared to 23 and 21 in 1970, she said. University of Texas sociology professor Norval Glenn who conducted the research said that 98 per cent of those questioned were married, had been married or wanted to marry, suggesting that predictions of the institution's demise were exaggerated. "We are a very marrying country," he said. The survey also found that the top three reasons for divorce in the United States were lack of commitment, too much arguing and infidelity. Conducted among 1503 Americans aged 18 and older between late 2003 and early 2004, the survey asked questions about attitude and aspirations towards marriage. The National Fatherhood Initiative is a non-profit advocacy group, and was founded in 1994 to address the problem of absent fathers in society. _________________________________________________________ Article from the Herald Sun. Download the entire survey from http://www.fatherhood.org/research.asp back to top News & Info 23 November 2005 Bangor Daily News (USA) LD 1229 would strengthen divorce decrees Do you know someone who's been denied access to their own child? We do, it happens every day in Maine, and across the nation. In our personal and professional lives, we have known many people who have been denied access to their children, even though their court order directs and legally defines the guidelines of their visitation. Read more http://www.dadsindistress.asn.au/news303.html 22 November 2005 Information in relation to Suicides and family court (Updated information Re Andrew's suicide) Andrew Andrew took his own life on 18th November 2005 after attending the Brisbane registry of the family court to file application for contact with his children. Read more http://www.dadsindistress.asn.au/news302.html Dads in Distress Forum Visit our new Forum http://dadsindistress.forumup.org With this Ring.... American Marriage Survey released by the National Fatherhood Initiative Download pdf at http://www.fatherhood.org/research.asp back to top Dad's Prayer Dear God Help me climb the hill of love knowing that the very act of facing the hill holding hands is an act of faith. Holding hands in itself is an act of faith for who am I holding hands with? Only you know for I am still finding out. As we climb the hill and the children come and the children grow, Help us still to use our faith, to hold hands knowing that to embrace love, is to embrace death. For out of death comes life and finding love is the reason we climb the hill. For if we find love, our children will too. back to top About Us Mission Statement & Help Us! Mission Statement The Fatherhood Foundation is a charitable, non profit incorporated association with a goal to inspire men to a greater level of excellence as fathers, by encouraging and educating them, thereby renewing and empowering families. Click here for more information about us Help Us! The Fatherhood Foundation believes that the key to life is giving. That's why this newsletter is given freely without expectation. Life is also about relationships. That's what being a good father is all about, developing relationships with your loved ones. If you would like to give financially to the Fatherhood Foundation, please mail your cheque or money order to: Fatherhood Foundation PO Box 440 WOLLONGONG NSW 2520 AUSTRALIA You have received the fathersonline.org newsletter because you have subscribed, or you have been subscribed by a friend. If you do not wish to receive future emails, please click the UNSUBSCRIBE button below or send an email to info@fathersonline.org with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject heading. back to top Click Here to Unsubscribe ------=_NextPart_000_B12C_01C5F8AB.4EAE77C0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Fatherhood Foundation
Unable to read this email? Please click here
Issue 171 - 5th November 2005 Go to our website Here


Welcome

 

We waited in anticipation for the white stretch limo to come and take us to the airport.  We were still putting some of the finishing touches to fathersonline as we quickly switched off the computer and were ushered into our waiting car.  It felt like the limo could turn into a pumpkin at any moment, but there was little danger of that as it was in the middle of the day.  Midnight was still over 12 hours away.  The whole fairy tale idea evaporated when we boarded the aircraft at Sydney airport to take us to our mystery week-long getaway.

 

We have been married for thirty years and have five children (mostly grown up) so we figured it was time to celebrate the event.

 

I tend to be more visible than my wife and often people give me more credit than is due.  When I received a Centenary Medal from the Governor General, I tried to explain to people that it was my wife that should receive the medal for putting up with me for 28 years.  They thought I was joking.  If they lived with me for a while they would realise it is not a joke.  Time has marched on to 30 years, and I wanted to make her feel extra special as we celebrated our anniversary.  We hadn't had a full weeks holiday together alone, for over 25 years, since before the children came alo ng, and don't children keep you busy - sometimes too busy, but that's all part of the deal isn't it?

 

On our Wedding Day, I said, "I take you to be my wedded wife and I do promise and covenant, before God and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful husband, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we both shall live." At our Wedding Ceremony some good friends of ours sang a song called, 'Climb the Hill' by Paul Clark.  We have since recorded it on our 'Straight from the Heart' CD and have sung it at many weddings since. We reprint it for you.

 

Climb the Hill

 

I have waited such a long long time

for this day to come

And all I have to give is the love

from God's only son

He gave to me to give unto you.

 

I pray that God will be with us

night and day, guide us all the way.

In our life , there will be no strife

with Jesus Christ and his kingdom
which has come And made it possible
for you and I to be one.

 

I will make you queen of my home

under the glory of the King.

We'll raise our family in a castle full
of love And trust the Lord in everything - Let us sing Hallelujah.

 

In times of trial when things are
hard to see Will you stand by me?

With love it can heal the pain so
let it rain on the roof of my soul.

There is no hole that love can't fill

 

So let us climb, let us climb,

Let us climb the hill together,

Let's climb the hill together,

Let's climb the hill together.

 

Life is all about climbing hills.
Marriage is about climbing hills but having a hand to hold while doing so.  It can be a very difficult experience. Almost everything in life will try to prevent you from holding hands but you must hold on tight. You must use your faith in the hard times, because love spells COMMITMENT.  Jesus said it this way, "Out of death comes life".  He also said, "The two shall become one".  If two become one, first the two must die, because only one shall truly live, and this is the mystery of marriage which is also the mystery of love.  Few are willin g to pay the price in order to find the mystery, but the rewards are wonderfully mysterious.

 

Lovework

 

Maybe you have written a poem or a letter in the past expressing your love for your wife.  Get it out and read it to her.  If you haven't got one, write one.  If you can't write one, read the above marriage vow or the song instead.  The love of your life will be very happy to hear your words of love.

 

Yours for expressing love                            

Warwick Marsh 

________________________________________________________

Warwick Marsh  has been married to Alison for 29 years. He is
the father of five children, four boys and one girl, ranging in
age from 24 years to 12 years.  Warwick is a musician,
songwriter, producer and public speaker who likes to think he
can still laugh at himself.

back to top

Grandads

The Kitchen Table

by Richard Magoffin

 

There are a lot of things wrong with Australia today

And I'd like to have something to say if I may

You'll know that forsooth that our problem with youth

Untidy, ill-mannered and uncouth

Is in fact that their life is often unstable

And it's all for the lack of a kitchen table.

 

Remember how once we would sit down as one.

And Dad would say Grace when the carving was done!

Our own serviettes from our own special ring

And we all knew our manners and etiquette things.

Then our elders would tell us of custom and fable

When we all sat around the kitchen table.

 

Now they're building new mansions with four car garages

Our working lives mortgaged to interests and charges

There's less time at home for tea to be made

And it's seldom today that a table is laid.

There's room after room under gable and gable

But there's not enough room for the kitchen table.

 

Karl Marx called religion the drug of the people

But there's scant regard now for the Church or the steeple.

Just give 'em more sport and don't let 'em think

And keep 'em away from the kitchen sink.

We'll give them more sport and the culture of Babel

The throw-away culture that threw out the table.

 

With the culture of rap and their baseball caps

There'll soon be no fellas, no blokes and no chaps

When they all dress the same then it's little surprise

That the birds swear as much and as foul as the guys.

So we grandparents must, just as long as we're able,
Keep our culture alive' round the kitchen table

back to top

Laughter

nurse.gif (15444 bytes)

A woman called a local hospital. "Hello. Could you
connect me to the person who gives information about
patients. I'd like to find out if a patient is getting
better, doing as expected, or getting worse" The voice
on the other end said, "What is the patient's name and
room number?"

"Sarah Finkel, room 302."

"I'll connect you with the nursing station."

"3-A Nursing Station. How can I help You?"

"I'd like to know the condition of Sarah Finkel in
room 302."

"Just a moment. Let me look at her records.

Mrs. Finkel is doing very well. In fact, she's had two
full meals, her blood pressure is fine, to be taken
off the heart monitor in a couple of hours and, if she
continues this improvement, Dr. Cohen is going to send
her home Tuesday at noon."

The woman said, "What a relief! Oh, that's
fantastic... that's wonderful news!"

The nurse said, "From your enthusiasm, I take it you
are a close family member or a very close friend!"

"Neither! I'm Sarah Finkel in 302! Nobody here tells
me a damn thing.

Cartoon: Patient in hospital bed with sign saying 'Stress Free Zone'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

back to top

Single Dads

Thoughts on Marriage

By Tony Miller

 

Dads in Distress Inc believe that if the following rights were understood by all in marriage then maybe just maybe there would be a few more marriages intact.

* The right to emotional support, encouragement and goodwill from the other

* The right to be heard by the other and to be responded to with courtesy and respect

* The right to have my own view even if the other has a different view.

* The right to have my feelings and experiences acknowledged as equal.

* The right to a life free from excessive accusations, blame, criticism, and judgements.

* The right to live free from emotional and physical abuse.

 

From the book 'Stop Walking On Eggshells'
by Paul T Mason,MS & Randi Kreger

back to top

Special Feature

 

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high

And you want to smile but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

 

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As everyone of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow,

You may succeed with another blow.

 

Success is failure turned inside out,

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are

It may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit

It's when things seem worse that you must not quit.

back to top

Thought of the Week


The greatest thing you can do

for your children is love your wife

back to top

Marriage Survey

Wed in mid 20s 'for best marriage'
From correspondents in Washington
18nov05

COUPLES who wed in their mid 20s have the best chance of living happily together until death do them part, a new survey on American marriage found today.

The results contradict conventional wisdom that partners have the best chance for a healthy marriage if they wait until their 30s, researchers said.

Couples who tied the knot between the ages of 23 and 27 stood the best chance of success, according to a statistical index on the quality of marriage constructed on data collected by the University of Texas for the National Fatherhood Initiative.

"Beyond a certain age, later marriage does not improve the success of the marriage," said Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, of the National Marriage Project, commenting on the survey results.

Marriage before the age of 20 has long been regarded at high risk of divorce, but the survey represents the first statistical evidence that the optimal age for marriage may lie in the 20s.

The average of age of first marriages in the United States has slowly been rising, to 27 for men and 26 for women, compared to 23 and 21 in 1970, she said.

University of Texas sociology professor Norval Glenn who conducted the research said that 98 per cent of those questioned were married, had been married or wanted to marry, suggesting that predictions of the institution's demise were exaggerated.

"We are a very marrying country," he said.

The survey also found that the top three reasons for divorce in the United States were lack of commitment, too much arguing and infidelity.

Conducted among 1503 Americans aged 18 and older between late 2003 and early 2004, the survey asked questions about attitude and aspirations towards marriage.

The National Fatherhood Initiative is a non-profit advocacy group, and was founded in 1994 to address the problem of absent fathers in society.
_________________________________________________________

Article  from the Herald Sun.  Download the entire survey from

http://www.fatherhood.org/research.asp

back to top

News & Info

 

 

23 November 2005
Bangor Daily News (USA)
LD 1229 would strengthen divorce decrees
Do you know someone who's been denied access to their own child? We do, it happens every day in Maine, and across the nation. In our personal and professional lives, we have known many people who have been denied access to their children, even though their court order directs and legally defines the guidelines of their visitation.
Read more
http://www.dadsindistress.asn.au/news303.html  



22 November 2005
Information in relation to Suicides and family court
(Updated information Re Andrew's suicide)
Andrew
Andrew took his own life on 18th November 2005 after attending the Brisbane registry of the family court to file application for contact with his children.
Read more
http://www.dadsindistress.asn.au/news302.html  

 

Dads in Distress Forum

Visit our new Forum
http://dadsindistress.forumup.org


With this Ring....

 

American Marriage Survey released by the National Fatherhood Initiative

Download pdf at http://www.fatherhood.org/research.asp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

back to top

Dad's Prayer

Dear God

 

Help me climb the hill of love

knowing that the very act of facing the hill

holding hands is an act of faith.

Holding hands in itself is an act of faith

for who am I holding hands with?

Only you know for I am still finding out.

As we climb the hill and the children come

and the children grow,

Help us still to use our faith,

to hold hands knowing that

to embrace love, is to embrace death.

For out of death comes life

and finding love is the reason

we climb the hill.

For if we find love,

our children will too.

back to top

About Us

Mission Statement & Help Us!

Mission Statement

The Fatherhood Foundation is a charitable, non profit incorporated association with a goal to inspire men to a greater level of excellence as fathers, by encouraging and educating them, thereby renewing and empowering families.

Click here for more information about us

Help Us!

The Fatherhood Foundation believes that the key to life is giving.  That's why this newsletter is given freely without expectation.  Life is also about relationships.  That's what being a good father is all about, developing relationships with your loved ones.
 
If you would like to give financially to the Fatherhood Foundation,
please mail your cheque or money order to:
Fatherhood Foundation
PO Box 440
WOLLONGONG  NSW  2520
AUSTRALIA

You have received the fathersonline.org newsletter because you have subscribed, or you have been subscribed by a friend.  If you do not wish to receive future emails, please click the UNSUBSCRIBE button below or send an email to info@fathersonline.org with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject heading.

back to top


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