CHAPLAIN'S CORNER


 Celebrating Father's Day

By Chaplain (Lt.) Buster Williams


When I think of Father's Day,
 I can't help but think about
 all of those children with
military dads who are not able to be
at home with their families for these
special occasions. The strength of
our Navy (and indeed our nation)
is fundamentally related to the
strength of our families.
 Our culture has had a major trans-
formation over the past 50 years in
how we define the family. Sadly, and
far too often, the dad is not in the
picture and this has proven to be det-
rimental to the children who grow
up in single-parent homes with very
little, if any, real relationship with
their dad.
 While I give great credit to the
mothers who have struggled to raise
their children in the absence of a
father, the challenge we have as Navy
dads is how to be the best fathers to
our children and buck the trend of
leaving too many mothers and chil-
dren to fend for themselves.
 I have a couple of suggestions for
all those men out there about being
a father. First, if you don't have any
children I would encourage you to
think long and hard about what those
responsibilities entail before you actu-
ally become a dad. The time to think
about what it means to be a dad is not
after the fact, but before. One of the
great privileges of being a man is to
become a father. But, like anything
else in life, the best fathers are going
to be those who work hard to prepare


Chaplain (Lt.) Buster Williams


themselves for the challenges ahead.
 For younger shipmates out there,
now is the time to begin preparing
yourself for the future. Do some self-
reflection and make those changes
you need to become the man you
would want to have as a father. It
might mean cutting back or giving up
alcohol, video games, dangerous hob-
bies, running up credit cards, or any
number of things. But the key is for
you to start thinking about the future
and working to prepare now.
 For those shipmates who are dads, I
have some counsel as well. If you are
married, the best thing you can do for
your kids is be the best husband you
can be. Show your wife that you love
her and respect her and your kids will
begin to feel the satisfaction and joy


of living in a loving home with both
parents.
 A child-centered home can be a
dangerous thing. Your children want
to have the comfort and security of
knowing that their parents love each
other and are committed to one anoth-
er no matter what. This security will
help them overcome any number of
struggles in life. So, think about how
you can strengthen your marriage.
 Consider signing up for a PREP
class at the chapel, or take advantage
of the Marriage Enrichment Retreats
that CREDO has to offer. These can
really help strengthen those bonds
that are so critical for our children. If
you are divorced with kids, or are a
single dad, you need to work overtime
to provide your children with that
loving support they need from their
dad. Get involved or stay involved
with their lives. This will pay huge
dividends in the future. Your chil-
dren need to know that you are there
for them, even if you don't live in
the same house. Go to those special
events at school, take a special vaca-
tion together, get involved in their
extra-curricular activities. In short,
make a determined effort to remind
them of your love for them.
 Finally, I encourage you to reflect on
the Fatherhood of God. After all, who
better to imitate in this area of father-
hood than the one who created fathers
in the first place? Happy Father's Day
shipmates and may God especially be
with those children whose fathers are
deployed this Father's Day.


CHAPEL CENTER CALENDAR


 Regular Sunday
 Services
 8:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist
 Episcopal
 9:30 a.m. Catholic Mass
 9:45 Protestant Sunday
 School
 10:45 a.m. Catholic CCD
11 a.m. Protestant Worship
 Women of Faith
 First Saturday of the
 month at 10:30 a.m. for
 fellowship, study and
 support. Bring a pot-luck


 dish to share.
 Officer Christian
 Fellowship
 and Bible study
 Every Monday at 6 p.m.
Contact Chaplain Williams
 at 542-0024 for info.
 Tae Kwon Do with
 Chaplain Felder
 Every Monday &
 Wednesday at 4 p.m.
 Help wanted
 Volunteer as a lay
 communion assistant,


acolyte, prayer petitioner
and multimedia operator.

Thought for the Week
"The quality of a person's
 life
 is in direct proportion to
 their commitment to
 excellence,
regardless of their chosen
 endeavor."
 Vince Lombardi


 NAS
 Jacksonville
Chapel Center

 542-3051
Corner of Birmingham
 Avenue
 & Mustin Road


JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, June 18, 2009 13

 Preventing fires in


 government housing

 From the Naval Safety Center


Personnel who live in government quarters must
 realize that fire safety and fire protection are
 important responsibilities. In the first eight
months of fiscal year 2009, there were 135 fires in gov-
ernment quarters aboard naval installations, of which
79 resulted from unattended cooking or unsafe cooking
practices. Two of these fires highlight the dangers and
emphasize the importance of fire safety.

dent resulted
in fatal inju-



destruction of
government
quarters.
 The Sailor
placed a pot
on the stove,
turned it on,
then went
upstairs and
fell asleep. The
unattended
pot and con-
tents ignited.
 Another ser-
vice member
in a barracks
room poured
cooking oil in
a frying pan,
turned on JDiPStock
the stove and
stepped away momentarily.
 The pan ignited. The Sailor discovered smoke and the
grease fire the pan ignited and tried to extinguish it by
throwing the frying pan into a sink filled with water.
Steam activated the fire sprinkler system and water dam-
aged six barracks rooms.
 These fires were avoidable had the occupants remem-
bered basic fire safety tips when cooking. The leading
cause of kitchen fires is unattended cooking. Don't let
yourself be distracted in the kitchen. Small grease fires
should only be extinguished when it is safe to approach
the fire and by placing the lid over the pan and turning off
the burner.
 The pan should never be removed from the stove because
of the potential to splatter or spill burning oil. Occupants
should never place a burning pan in water because of
the serious potential to spread the fire when the burning
grease hits the water.
 For more information on fire safety, call the NAS Jax
Fire Prevention Division at 542-5597.


$10 OFF

Jiffy Lube Signature Service" Oil Change
 With Military ID & this coupon


At participating locations. Most
vehicles. Up to 5 qts. Not valid
with other oil change offers.
Cash value 1/100th of one cent.
Coupon must be presented attime
of service. Restrictions may apply.
Expires: 6/17/09 Code: JAN10


"I FEEL LIKE

A FISH
WITH NO WATER."


-JACO B. AGME 5
 DESCRIMIOG STHIV


 You know how to react to their asthma attacks.
 Here's how to prevent them.
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