Because many dads are self-employed or have part-time businesses “on the side,” the need exists for many of them to develop email subscriber lists. Without question, it is one of the most important and effective ways to communicate with website visitors on an ongoing basis and provide information via email to those who request it, or “opt-in.”

So I wanted to let you know that from day one,  the service used by FamilyDads to send out weekly email newsletters has been Aweber Communications. If you also need to send out a series of emails automatically, weekly or monthly email Newsletters, or you have a list of subscribers that you regularly contact via email, FamilyDads recommends the Aweber email list service.

Aweber rates are very affordable, their service is extremely reliable (emails almost always go out right away — even to large lists), and we have found their delivery rate (getting past spam filters and into your subscribers’ inboxes) is exceptionally high. The Aweber system is also scalable, which means that as your list grows over time, you will not need to look for a more robust platform. Aweber can handle even very large lists as they are among the industry leaders in high volume bulk emailing with 11+ years of experience and a knowledgeable and competent, tech-savvy staff.

Aweber features include website signup forms (such as the one used on the FamilyDads homepage), professional email templates, follow up autoresponders, email web analytics, and many more features that are explained in more detail on their website. You can signup for a free test drive of Aweber to see exactly how their system works. If you’re looking for a bulk emailing solution or a way to capture the contact info of people who visit your website or blog, give Aweber a try today, you won’t be disappointed.

This video probably ranks in the top 3 of the funniest all-time videos on YouTube. I don’t think any person with a pulse would not at least crack a smile while watching this. In only 2 years, it reached 80 million views. I’m not sure which is funnier, the baby or the dad making the funny sounds. Enjoy!

Two videos are posted below. The message of the first video reminds us just how excruciatingly painful the torture of the cross was for Jesus to physically bear. My eyes literally welled with tears as I once again reflected on what took place on that momentous day some 2,000 years ago. The second video is the trailer from Mel Gibson’s epic movie, The Passion of the Christ.  I can still recall the intense emotion I experienced as I left the theater with my wife after having watched that movie for the first time. Watching this clip again was a powerful reminder to me of the final events just before Jesus Christ was crucified on a wooden cross.

The Passion of the Christ 2-DVD Definitive Edition

The Passion of the Christ 2-DVD Blue-Ray Edition

The Passion of the Christ

 In our family Bible reading time which I regularly lead, we just completed reading Exodus 11-12, which is the fascinating story of God’s ”passover” where every first-born was killed in the land of Egypt during the time which the Hebrew people were in captivity thousands of years ago.

The only families that were spared of this tragedy were those whose dads took a young lamb without blemish, killed it on the specified day, and applied it’s blood to their doorposts and lintel (the long horizontal beam above the door.) They were to then roast the lamb over a fire and eat it that night, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

Interestingly, they were told to keep this meal as a “feast to the LORD, a festival throughout your generations; you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.” (Exodus 12:14)

And so this meal became known as the “feast of unleavened bread” or ”passover feast” and it involved celebration, holy gatherings, and days without working (Exodus 12:14-19.)

And the very next day, they were given freedom to leave the Egyptian land of slavery and bondage which they had endured for centuries!

Now, I found it very interesting that Moses told the dads to observe this feast “for yourselves and your sons forever.” And he gave the men instructions on exactly what to say to their children when asked why their families observed this (Exodus 12:21-28.)

In spite of these instructions, I suspect most families today do not keep the passover feast.

Yet it was this very passover feast which Jesus Christ was observing with His disciples the evening of his betrayal, His illegal arrest and trial, and ultimately His crucifixion.

He was killed on the same day of the year which Hebrew families had for centuries  sacrificed an unblemished male lamb, applied it’s blood to the entrances of their homes, and consumed the lamb’s flesh internally as a memorial of God’s mercy, sparing them from judgment and death.

What a remarkable picture of the Christian/Messianic message of salvation!

Jesus Christ was the unblemished human “passover lamb,” dying a cruel, torturous death so that His blood might spare from eternal death and judgment those who apply His blood to their own lives, and exit a life of bondage and slavery to begin a new life of freedom.

Passover is a fantastic, historical story which we can use to communicate rich spiritual truths to our children!

I encourage you to read the passover story in Exodus 11-12 with your family this week, as the “feast of unleavened bread” begins at sunset on Wednesday, April 8th.

Then, relate this story to the New Testament Gospel accounts where Jesus observed passover with His disciples in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22, and Himself became the Passover Lamb.

At this time of year, as if there’s not enough going on already, many of us dads have one more thing added to our list of deadlines… TAXES!

As someone who has experience in bookkeeping, I thought I would highlight a few areas of “other income” the IRS reminds us to report on our tax returns: 

Bribes.  If you receive a bribe, include it in your income.

Illegal activities.  Income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Form 1040, line 21, or on Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity.

Kickbacks.  You must include kickbacks, side commissions, push money, or similar payments you receive in your income on Form 1040, line 21, or on Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (Form 1040), if from your self-employment activity.

Stolen property.  If you steal property, you must report its fair market value in your income in the year you steal it unless in the same year, you return it to its rightful owner.

LOL. Now I know you’re thinking this was an April Fools joke, but here is a link to the actual IRS Publication 17 webpage. You just never know what helpful insights you might get by reading the FamilyDads emails, eh?!  :-)

Seriously, let me encourage you to not wait till the last minute to get your taxes done. And of course, have complete integrity on your tax return. After all, it’s only money.

“…Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Matt 22:21, Mark 12:17, Luke 20:25)