Independence Day Musings: Choice of two freedoms: Self-determination versus Self Surrender

Celebrate In Dependence

Today is July 4^th. It is the day those of us who are citizens of the United States celebrate the creation of the country. It is the day which the Declaration of Independence was signed. The founding fathers sough to establish a government that represented the will of the people and valued the freedom of self-determination. The country known as the United States grew and thrived as each individual was free to set their course and pursue goals. The freedoms provided in this country have allowed the country to flourish. Yet the freedoms provided in this country are freedoms built on a false foundation.

The freedoms in the United States really are centered on the freedom of self. We can do what we choose to do without excessive restriction. Government is viewed as a contract and the laws we submit to we agree to abide by and if don’t like the laws, we vote in new representatives to negotiate changes to the laws. It is ultimately about each of us doing as we wish so that it does not interfere with others. In this country everyone is free to be independent to the point where don’t interfere with others. In other words we are free do what we want. Now many will argue that the course of freedom in the country was established on Biblical concepts. Yet, if you examine the concept further the freedom of independence is not really the Biblical concept of freedom.

Rather, the Biblical concept of freedom is that of in dependence. We are only free when we surrender self to Jesus. The Bible states in Matthew 10:39 (ESV)
“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” This involves a surrender of self, a giving up of our independence for dependence on Jesus. Only in such surrender is their true freedom. According to Jesus as recorded in John 8:32 (ESV) “and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” and again in John 8:36 (ESV) “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” True freedom is not the independence of self and the right of self-determination. Rather, true freedom is surrender of self. It is turning from self to the King of Kings and living in daily dependence upon him.

It is not an easy choice. We readily accept and value our independence. We seek to grow the kingdom of self. We fall into the trap easily. We go about our lives, filling it with our wants, needs, and desires. Building our families, careers, and lives to that of our liking. We seek to avoid and diminish the suffering. Find ways to entertain self. We build quite a kingdom around us in our independence.

Living in surrender and dependence is quite difficult. We prefer to live our lives accordance to self. We don’t want to be told what to do and how to live our lives, for generally we feel we can manage on our own, until something happens. We turn to God often to meet our own agendas rather than listen and follow what God leads. A life of total surrender is difficult. Our own wants, desires, and agenda easily come to the forefront. Yet, every step of self leads to less true freedom, for all that is of self leads to destruction. We are blinded by our own agendas, desires, knowledge, and plans. We easily substitute what we want for what God wants. We often think that God does not have our best interests at heart. Even if God has promised to grant our desire, we easily lose focus and lose faith. The Bible is filled with people putting their own way of trying to bring about God’s will. Each such step resulted in consequences that still impact us today.

So today, on this day of celebrating Independence take time to examine yourself. Are you walking steps self-directed or God-directed? How is self getting in the way? Have you surrendered your life to Jesus so that you are truly free? Are you willing to pursue a life of being In Dependence rather than independent? Would you rather be free to what you want, do what is right in your own eyes or are you willing to give up self and depend on God and live in accordance with His will? The bible is clear. If you seek to hold onto that which is self, you will be lost. If you surrender self, you gain. The choice is there for each of us, every day, every moment; walk the path of self-determination or self-surrender.

Dependence on Jesus breaks the chain of slavery to self.

Dance of the Blind Bride

Dance of the blind bride

Received this post from my mother who learned of this at the fellowship she attends.  She posted it to the forum. Felt it was worth posting on the blog as well.

Recently, the pastor of a thriving Evangelical-Lutheran congregation received a vision from the Holy Spirit. He saw a bridegroom and bride dancing together. It was a beautiful vision and he understood it to be an image of the Church and her Bridegroom. Then the lord told him to look more closely. Suddenly he realised that the bride was actually leading the bridgroom in the be dance, instead of the other way around. That immediately detracted from the beauty of the vision. The Lord of the Church ought to be leading the Church. She ought not to be going her own way, assuming that the Lord will surely follow her, even though He, in His patience, often does so. Then the Lord told the pastor to look closer still, and he saw, to his consternation, that the bride was blind. He realized that this was exactly the situation of the Church.

 

Henk van Wijk, Netherlands

Here is a prayer in response to this:

Heavenly Father, Forgive us for going our own way and taking the lead instead of following you.  Teach us to follow your lead, not go our own way.  Gives us the faith to trust what we cannot see until the time that you open our eyes to the wonder of your love.  Teach us that your way is good and following in your steps bring us in the dance of your perfection.  Forgive us for going our own way. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

News Commentary: The light of the Gospel in the Life and death of Coach Ed Thomas

There have been a lot of death of famous people mentioned recently.  Not only do we have the recent deaths of Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett.  Other recent deaths include Ed McMahon, Billy Mays, Fred Travalena, and Karl Malden.   There was another death that has been made public as well.  This death was the tragic murder of high school football coach Ed Thomas.  On June 24th at around 7:45 Am Ed Thomas was shot by former student Mark Becker. 

Normally the deathof a small town football coach would not be anything people really attend to, but attention is drawn to Ed Thomas related to his having coached several NFL players with the most recent being Green Bay Packers linebacker Aaron Kampman, Jacksonville Jaguars center Brad Meester, Detroit Lions defensive end Jared DeVries and Denver Broncos center Casey Wiegmann.  So without contributing to the success of these men’s life within the apex of cultural entertainment, Ed Thomas would be widely known and this article would not be written.

The death of Ed Thomas and the man who killed him shows a contrast in lives.   Ed Thomas was a man who loved God and served others.  He was a man that taught values related to hard work, perseverance, and leadership. He bore witness to the Gospel in both word and action.  According to news reports his life reflected that of a person serving the Kingdom of God versus his own kingdom. He had success and failures in reaching many with the love of God.  His life and impact is exemplified by this quote from Aaron a “Coach Thomas was very special to me and many other young men from the Aplington-Parkersburgcommunities. His legacy for many will be associated with his tremendous success as a football coach. However, I believe his greatest legacy comes not in how many football games he won or lost but in the fact that he was a committed follower of Jesus Christ. He lived his life trying to exemplify this faith and convey those values to those under his influence. His faith in Christ pervaded everything he did and that is why in the midst of the heartache we all feel there is comfort in knowing he is with his Savior.”

In contrast, is the life of his murderer Mark Bennett.  He was a former student and player who has coached by Ed Thomas, yet some how the words and life of Coach Thomas didn’t reach Mark who chose to go a different path then the one taught and demonstrated by Ed.  Rather Mark lived a life caught in the mire of drug addiction.   He reach a point where is mind had been damaged and destroyed, likely do to the drug use.  The end result is the man with the destroyed mind and life took the life of the man who showed him another way.

These two men show the contrast between those who walk in the light of the Gospel and serve the kingdom of God and those lost in darkness.  Darkness seeks to destroy all light.  It seeks to have people lost and without hope.  The man Mark Bennett followed the path of darkness, with momentary pleasure, to the point of destruction.  Coach Ed Thomas walked in the light of the Gospel, even in tought times. He had strong faith, not just in the people in the town he loved, but in Jesus, who he served. 

Now it may seem here that darkness won the battle. The light that was shown in the life of Coach Ed Thomas has been extinguished. Yet, the light of his life still shines.  The impact he had on the town of Parkersburg will not be forgotten.  The words he spoke to the boys he coached will be remembered.  Each person that Coach Ed Thomas touched will think over what Ed Thomas meant and the Gospel he preached and demonstrated.  The end of Coach Thomas life does not end his influence. 

Sure his death brings questions such as how could God allow one who followed Matthew 5:16 (”Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”) so clearly? I read in one article stated that Coach Thomas was the rock on which the town of Parkersburg   Somehow such a statement seems contary to what Coach Thomas lived and demonstrated.  Jesus the Messiah is the rock each of needs to turn.  Perhaps Coach Thomas was called to be with the God, so that others may look to Jesus and not Coach Thomas.  There are plenty of what ifs.  The simple fact is God’s purposes will be served here. That what prince of darkness and all that hates light meant for ill, will serve to reach others with the light of the Gospel. 

 Now word is Parkersburg is a moral town with many churches.  Such a fact is only a surface fact.  The town certainly has many people like Mark Bennett, lost and confused and on the pathway to destruction.  The town probably has fewer who live and follow Jesus in the manner of Coach Ed Thomas. Each person and where they are with God is unique.  Only God  truly knows the heart but the fruit of  the lives lived can be evident.  One who has a light who shined the truth of the Gospel.  One who walked a dark path of destruction.  Each person has a choice which path to follow.  The light of the path is not through self-effort. Ed Thomas lived the way he lived through the power of the Gospel to move beyond serving self to loving and serving others because of Jesus and what he did for each of us at the cross.

My prayer is for each person Coach Thomas impacted that they take a step closer to Jesus.  If they know him not, that they open their eyes and ears and heart to the Gospel and turn to the Kingdom of God.  If they know Jesus that they look for ways they can love others and walk out the Gospel in the world in which they live.   Each person was touched.  Also pray that folks do not turn to the despair of darkness that is exemplified in Mark Bennett’s life and choices but rather the light as shown in Coach Ed Thomas life.  And ultimately pray that God cuts through the damaged mind of Mark Bennett and that he may yet turn to Jesus in repentance.   May those that  were hurt by Mark’s choices be able to turn to light by embracing forgiveness rather then the darkness of hate and bitterness.

In closing, ultimately Coach Thomas has been taken away from the confines of this world into the presence of God almighty.  The tragic loss is felt by those left behind, while Coach Thomas is in the presence of the Light of the World.  No darkness, pain, or suffering.  His service on earth is at an end until the time of Jesus return and the resurrection of the saints.  Mark Bennett on the other hand will be imprisoned one way or another.  His physical status will match the prison he is already in.

Musings on the life and death of Farrah Fawcett

The "10" comes to her end.

 

Yesterday also brought the death of Farrah Fawcett. She again was a well known celebrity whose career came to prominence in the late 1970’s.  She is best known for her role in the television series Charlies Angels and for the movie 10.  At that time she was known as the standard for beauty.  She was the woman other woman wanted to be like and the men wanted to be with. 

After her time in the spotlight faded she later became known for some serious roles proving their was more to her then a woman with a beautiful body. She starred in movies such as The Burning Bed and the Apostle that received critical acclaim.  She is a woman whose name is mentioned most in this country have a memory. 

A cursory examination of her life shows she struggled in relationships. She had two failed marriages, one with Lee Majors, and the other to Ryan O’Neal.  Ryan clearly never stopped loving her, even if they could not be together.

The end of her life really was about the battle with cancer.  She left no stone un-turned in trying to defeat the disease. And cancer is an insidious disease that destroys living tissue and spreads.  Farrah was no different than any of us in her desire to prolong life.  She had hopes, dreams, and plans for her life.  Yet, she ultimately lost the battle with cancer.  Recently my step-mother won her battle with cancer with God’s help. I have seen my brother’s mother-in-law wind up on the losing end of the battle. It is a sad disease that took the life of Farrah Fawcett and one that causes much suffering.

Now in terms of thinking what to post regarding Farrah Fawcett the internet was searched to gain some sense of what she believed.  It seems she was raised a Catholic and had been observed engaging in Catholic type prayers when getting treatment in Germany.  Now granted, this is specualation but in her battle she did appear to turn to God, but she may have only turned to a religion.   When facing a battle and struggle with any type of suffering it is not uncommon for people to become religious, many in fact truely turn to God.  Only Farrah and God know what her relationship was and if she turned to Jesus in surrender and entered the true peace that is found in letting Jesus pay for our selfish ways. 

The question to examine is when searching for answers and truth and hope in the midst of suffering, is the search simply one that is something to alleviate suffering or is it finding truth and real peace in the  midst of the suffering.   Farrah had a tough battle, and I hope and pray she found true peace and sad over the prospects that she did not.  It would be grievous that she simply turned to religious practice in order to have some hope and yet missed what it is to be right with the Creator. 

Now, sure the reader may sit and think that a loving God would not allow suffering in the first place.  At some point on this blog the issue of suffering will be examined in further detail, but the simple answer is all suffering came as a result of turning away from the creator. All of creation suffers because of the sin of humanity.  A time is coming when all will be restored but there will be much more suffering both as a result of sin and the consequences for rejection of God. 

So take time to reflect on the woman of beauty who suffered so greatly.  How would you face suffering?  Would you look to find the peace of God, or simply fight to survive using whatever means you can, including assorted religious practices?   The only true healing is found at the cross of Golgotha where the lamb of God, Jesus the Messiah, dies so that all can be restored.  The restortation comes one person at a time.  Each person who agrees to let Jesus cover the consequences of their selfishness and surrender to him is one more that is set right.  Suffering comes and goes. Life is but a vapor and tomorrow we can be gone.  Today is the day to examine and settle where you stand before the Creator.  If you turn to Jesus it should not be about anything other then surrender of self to be right before a God who accepts you and loves you beyond imagination.  Loves so much that suffered far worse then any suffering produced by cancer and chemotherapy.   Times grows ever shorter, think today who you will serve.  Because as Bob Dylan once croo0ned “You gotta serve somebody.”

Musings on the Life and Death of Michael Jackson

A picture from Thriller: One man and his demons.

Yesterday was a sad day for most Americans.  It was the day that pop icon Michael Jackson’s life came to an abrupt end.  As he was preparing for a comeback tour that hope to revive his fallen career and bring in money to attend to heavy debt load, his heart gave out.  Rumors abound about the potential of abuse of medication.  The end of this man’s life is tragic. 

In actuality the end of Michael Jackson’s life is actually no less tragic then the entire some of his life.  Yes, the man reached the acme of entertainment success. No one was more known around the global the Michael Jackson.  His music and dance touched billions.  Yet, the man was lost and haunted by inner demons.    There are lyrics in the song “Thriller” they really appear to be prophetic:

Night creatures calling, the dead start to walk in their masquerade
There’s no escaping the jaws of the alien this time
(They’re open wide)
This is the end of your life

They’re out to get you, there’s demons closing in on every side
They will possess you unless you change that number on your dial

This man impacted generations of baby boomers, generation x’ers and those younger who grew up  with Michael Jackson.  His lyrics often spoke of the cries for love and intimacy.  There are themes of having to defend self from attacks of others.  There are themes of betrayal.  His words and music fit the ethos of the culture and was latched on world over.   He was a man on stage all his life. He was always in the limelight. 

Rumors suggest that he was manipulated and abused as a child.  He was shaped to be an entertainer, and he performed that role majestically. His fall from grace was tragic.  He seems to have been a boy who never grew up. He was alleged to engage in multiple improprieties with assorted children, but the sense really seemed that Michael just never really understood fully how to relate to others.  He really probably never go the chance. Rather he was locked in his mind with his pain and self-distortions.  Clearly he was never happy with himself as  his continual altering of his body demonstrated.  He was clearly a man lost, broken, and desperate.   If his life ended through the abuse or poorly managed use of medication it is tragic and yet appropriate. For in this culture, we turn to whatever medication we can find to get through the pains of life.  Michael Jackson follows a long line of tragic deaths of celebrity who potentially have their lives cut short by turning to pain pills.  Elvis Presley, Heath Ledger, and Anna Nicole Smith are just some of the many.   The thing is that fame and fortune do nothing to sooth the inner wounds.  They all did well in reaching the pinnacle of fame yet found it fleeting and empty, with their wounds ever festering. 

Michael Jackson was ever aware of his inner torment. He even wrote of his need for forgiveness and redemtion.  The lyrics to 2Bad really gives a taste of the inner struggle.

Last night, an angel came to me
I was cryin’ alone
My heart was bleeding
Last night, an angel came to me
I was cryin’ alone
My mind was dying
God have mercy
Stop them destroying me
An angel came to me
To save my life
Listen to his voice
Please hear his soul
This angel came to me
To save me
Last night, an angel came to me
I was doing wrong (x2)
Last night, an angel came to me
I was sleepin’ wrong (x2)
God have mercy
Stop them destroying me
An angel came to me
To forgive me
Listen to his prayers
Please feel his love
This angel came to me
God saved me
An angel came to me
To fulfill his prophecy
He listened to my prayers
Please feel my love
This angel came to me
I recognized him

Yet, those lyrics show that he really missed what would bring true healing and repentance.  An angel is not the answer.  It is easy for folks to think of angels as a redemptive source that can help us lead our lives better, to better build our kingdoms. Yet, no angel can save.  Redemption by an angel or a relationship is shallow and do not heal inner wounds.

The truth is their is only one true source of redemption and healing.  The healing is not one that helps us build and thrive in our kingdoms, rather it is surrendering to another.  It is turning the wounds, the pain, the burdens over to Jesus with no expectation of relief.  It is recognition that we cannot run our own life, that we are selfish and need redemption.  Michael Jackson’s lyrics suggest a recognition of the need for redemption and forgiveness but he sadly never found it.  Never has there been any report that the man turned to Jesus. Not through all the pain, the disgrace, the struggles did Jesus get mentioned once.  Rather he turned to whatever else he could find, and as is always the case, he did not get redemption.  He died a tragic death and the greater tradgedy is that he died without knowing the true source of healing and redemption. 

We can try and gain the world, like Michael Jackson did, but it comes at a great fall. The world is fickle. It builds folks up only to tear them down.  Michael Jackson was going to try and recapture the world, restore him self to his former glory.  Perhaps his performances would have thrilled the world once again, but ultimately Michael could not recapture what was lost and it killed him. 

I ask the reader to consider your life, your pains, your hopes, and your inner demons. There is only one answer for redemption. There is only one hope.  It is not angels. It is not relationships. It is not fame.  It is not money. It is not sex.  It is not anything in this world.  It is Jesus.  There is no other answer. The answer is not about relief of pain, but about turning from self and submitting to Jesus.  It is about Jesus having paid the price for all that is evil and dark and selfish.  Make a choice today, while it is not too late.  You do not have to let the demons and aliens destroy you, as they did Michael.  Rather, true life and peace is found in surrender to Jesus!

 

God's love and peace is only found at the cross. Surrender to Jesus dispels all darkness and demons!

Prayer requests and Answers: Our God reigns: Janie Blake Cancer free!

God is good all the time!

Well just got report back from Janie and my Dad that Janie is cancer free.  This is evidence that God is indeed in control and His purposes and will, will stand.  I believe God used the physical tools such as chemotherapy and the supernatural to heal Janie from Cancer.  This also shows that God is not yet finished with how He intends to use Janie in the lives of others.  God made Janie promises and He delivered. 

Now there may be some out there who will readily dismiss any supernatural working in this matter, but I know this not to be the case. Is there “evidence” of supernatural healing versus the tools of modern medicine, not directly. It is all a matter of perspective.  I do not believe Janie would be Cancer free without divine intervention.  The simple fact is that Janie is now cancer free and pray for God to set the path for what remains ahead for my dad and step-mom.   

In terms of ongoing prayers for members of my family here are the following concerns:

My mother, Kris Blake:  She is facing visual decay with rod dysphasia vision problem that restricts her ability to see in the dark.  Pray for God to guide her on the path.  I pray that she may see in ways that she has not seen before. That whether or not the visual decay is reversed, that she may see with clarity and be able to speak forth and share all that she sees. 

My wife: Liz Blake:  She is on the course of going through some emotional healing.  Pray for her deep heart wounds to be healed.  Pray that she makes it through her journey with a greater focus on God and greater intimacy with God as Father so that she may truely know him.  May this process draw God’s song from within, out toward others.  As the internal is healed and revealed may the changes be evident physically.

For my brother and his family: Rob, Mary, and Anant Blake:  Pray that they are given strength to endure the trials. Pray that God’s love pours out from their midst and serves as a healing balm.  May the tears of suffering sooth the recesses of pain and may the sorrow lead to joy.  May they be able to show God’s love to young Anant and may he be a vessel spreading God’s love and cheer so that all may love to God and declare that He is good. May Anant’s very presence draw people to the love and joy of the Lord.

For Nancy Kimmey:  Mary Blake’s mother who is struggling with matastesized breast cancer logged in her bones.  Pray that the love of God enfold her broken heart.  May she be given moments of clarity admist the pain and fog that she may see and taste that God is good.  May she see that God has always been faithful. Holding her heart in His hands.  He has seen her great sorrow and brokenness and His love for her is unfaded. May even the light of a child give her strength and comfort and may she find that her true rest is in Jesus.

Pray for my uncle Fred Friswold:  He recently had a relapse of testicular cancer.  He has a heart that is failing.  I pray that he receives a touch of God’s love.  In the journey ahead may he see God’s love and truth. May he see the permance of God’s salvation in contrast to  the temporary satifactions of this life.  May he draw close to God truely, and may any barriers to the Gospel of peace in his lift quickly fade and may God’s peace rule his heart.

For my mother-in-law:  Sonia Bezerra Almedia that God may see her through the minor health issues that seek to drag her down. May she always have strength to serve God and serve him with love. May His love, grace, and truth continue to flow from her. May she be an ongoing vessel sharing the bread of life and living water with those around her, wherever she goes. May her heart wounds be filled with God’s love and truth.

For my brother-in-law Lon Davisson Almeida: May God use him to draw others to the Gospel. May the church he has been called to lead Fellowship Macieo be a place of truth, grace, and peace.  May God’s love sign forth. May any barriers of the Gospel be torn down and may God’s work be accomplished. May he and his family be protected from the wiles of the enemy. Keep him and his family on the true path and may they not stray to the left or right. 

For the rest of extended family who have employment, family, and various other concerns.  May they be drawn to seek after the one true God in the midst of any storm.  If their eyes are blind to the Gospel of God’s true peace may their eyes be opened.  May God move in their lives through the storms that come and may they see God in the midst. 

Finally pray for me:  Pray for this blog, that I can communicate in a clear manner that shines the light of truth and ultimately draws others in to a sound, deep relationship with Jesus the Messiah.  May God’s will be done on the path set before me and may God’s directions be ever clear.

Father’s Day Musing: On Honoring Fathers

Yesterday was Father’s day in the United States.  It is a day set aside for honoring our fathers.  Other places in the world also set aside a day just to honor their fathers, for example in Brazil it is on the second Sunday in August.  Honoring our fathers is something that should be an ongoing basis but there is one day set aside for special honor. 

Our father’s play an important role in our development.  A father influences his children with both good and bad.  The love of a father helps orient a child and his approach to the world.  The wounds a father creates through his own selfishness are significant for both boys and girls.  Generally fathers actions can fall into loving, helpful choices, neglectful absence choices, and sinful hurtful choices. There are some father’s who actively seek to harm and damage their children for  their own selfish and evil purposes and desires.  Yet, it is clear that fathers are to be honored regardless. Of course what honoring a father looks like differs dependent on the father and the choices taken yet generally compose of three elements: homage, devotion and reverence. 

Homage:  This involves both recognizing and praising a father for the contributions in your life.  This is a focusing on how a father has contributed to your development as a person socially, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. 

Devotion:  This involves showing respect mingled with love or awe. It is displaying that you not only care for your father but that you also show that he is important to you by your words, actions, and deeds.  This includes things such as spending time with your father, helping your father as requested, and any other way that is an appropriate display of respect and love. 

Reverence: This involves  yielding or submitting to their judgment or preference out of respect. This is being willing to ask your father’s advice and listen to your father. This involves setting aside your own thoughts and ideas in deference.  This means that your father is always your father. 

Now granted as been stated our fathers are not perfect. They often have a mix of loving behavior, neglectful behavior, or hurtful behavior.  And some fathers even have done evil things to their children. Yet, we are still to honor our father’s.  So the question becomes how do we honor our fathers not just for the good that they do?  It is worthwhile to examine what the differences may be in honoring fathers who are loving, who are neglectful, who make hurtful choices, and who choose evil purposes.

Loving actions:It is east to honor a father who has engaged in primarily loving responses and builds up his children, teaches them the love of God, and generally attends to the child’s needs.  Yet, it can be tempting to focus on self and the errors that even the most loving father makes rather then the good he has done by faithfully doing what all father’s should.  So it is real easy to give such a father homage, devotion, and reverence and the only barriers to such come from our self. Giving a father honor who has been essentially honoring will certainly bring you benefit, for following his example your relationships benefit.

Neglectful Actions:Even the best father’s have moments where they neglect their children.  A father can easily get caught up in his own world of providing for family or other things that can get in the way.  It is important to note the some felt neglect is actual and some of it is simply a matter of perception. Regardless, neglect does wound, but let the wounds heal, don’t hold on them but forgive and release. It can actually be an honorable action to discuss with your father the felt and perceived wounds. However, this should not be done in an accusatory manner but rather with the intent to honor in mind.  Forgiving our father’s four their faults is key.  Showing homage, devotion, and reverence in spite of the wounds is true honor and loving behavior.  Now, it is real tempting to both focus on how a father has lacked and communicate that lack to others.  The incidents of real or only perceived neglect can become a focus point and even denigrate to the level of evil speech and such conduct is dishonorable.  Rather a person should find ways to honor their father inspite of the wounds.  True honor comes when it is not deserved.  

Hurtful Actions:  It is also true that most fathers at some point do things that are focused on self and are purposeful actions to hurt their children.  Such actions are usually temporary and not ongoing.  They are the times that your father simply made other choices rather then looking out for their child’s best interest.  Some common forms of ways father hurt their children are by criticism, inappropriate anger, attempts to control, attempts to manipulate, attempts to draw worth from child, failing to keep promises, and other self-directed choices that cause pain to their child.  Again, honoring a father hear involves a process of healing, forgiving, and letting go.  Sometimes directly discussing these wounds are appropriate and can bring honor. But sometimes working through the hurts is best done without direct engagement over the past wounds.  It can be a very honoring thing not to remind your father of his failures.  Ultimately the question should always be, what brings more honor to my father in terms of dealing with any past wounds be they from neglect or from selfish, hurtful actions.

Evil Actions:Now fathers who commit great evil against their children are the hardest to understand how to honor.  The men that abuse their children in the most selfish means for their own personal evil desires clearly do not deserve honor.  Yet, there are steps that can be done even to honor such men.  The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.”  This principle is key.  A person who honors an evil father can do so by at least praying for him.  Seeing that any physical needs are addressed can be a way of doing good.  Direct confrontation maybe appropriate if done so in an honorably confrontive manner.  Ensuring that the same actions are not followed can bring honor to an evil father.  Helping others who have been hurt by evil fathers also can be a way of bringing honor to your father.  Ultimately, forgiving any great evil done is a difficult but high form of honor toward such a man.  A person need not have a physical relationship with someone to honor them.  Rather, not putting an evil father in position to make further evil choices is a form of honor.

For any action of hurt or pain that we felt in relation to our father the key is to find a way to do good and bring them honor.  Honor can include to how we interact with others as well as our fathers.  Honor involves whether we hold on to the wounds or forgive and release the pain.  It is not always easy and often we may need the help of God the father. But if you find ways to honor your father, you will be blessed.  This is something God has promised and his promises are sure.  So I challenge the reader to examine their life and choices.  How have you honored your father?  Are you holding on to wounds of the past? Are you speaking ill of your father?  Do you appreciate the love your father has shown you?   Our relationships with our father impact us every day.  They also impact our relationship with God. The more we are able to walk in actions and attitudes of honor, the more we grow in knowledge of God’s love. And honoring the dishonorable that has occurred is a very act of worship that ultimately gives honor to God the Father, who is always honorable and worthy of praise.

Father’s Love Letter

This video has been dispersed on the internet at large. It is worth watching, particularly on Father’s day as a reminder of God’s love toward us. It shows how important we are to God and only catchs a small inkling of God’s love toward us.

Father’s Day Videos

Did some searching on you tube and found some interesting Father’s day videos.  Please enjoy them.

Father’s Day quotes:

What makes a dad?

How duct tape saved Father’s day

Father’s day tribute: Hands

Skit Guys: Catch with Dad

Where are the Father’s?

This is my Father’s world

News Commentary: Jeff Dubay Update

Previously, I commented on the downfall for former Twin Cities sports radio personality Jeff Dubay. Since then he had entered a diversionary program with the hopes of avoiding legal consequences.  Well, I just recently learned of an update posted on June 16th in the Minneapolis Star Tribune where he is now due to face a year in jail because he failed the diversionary program.  He has continued to a slave to his addiction.  His story is a sad one. It is one where people who have not fallen to such an addiction can easily cast asperions and look down on Jeff Dubay, but he is really no different then the rest of us. 

KFAN sports personality Dan Barerrio today made a comment essentially suggesting that Jeff is just an adolscent who has not grown up.  Such a comment fails to grasp the elements of addiction that are common to us all.  We all have areas we turn to for satisfaction or to cope.  Our desires often lead to our being slaves to any number of things that become the focal point of life.  Some common things people reach the point of serving are food, entertainment, sex, and work.  For the likes of Dan Barerrio and others, Jeff’s behavior is one to castigate based on the fact that it led him to destruction.  The destructiveness of drug and alcohol addiction is readily apparent, the desctruction of other areas of self-focus on not quite as clear but the ultimate destructiveness is true.  

Again, the prayer for Jeff Dubay is that he finds the truth of the Gospel where there is true freedom and grace.  Jail time may well help him be at a point of re-evaluating and perhaps have a chance to turn to Jesus.  Jeff and Dan and others need to realize that ultimately we all fall short.  It is not about being “strong enough” nor “growing up.” It is a matter that when we seek to serve our self, depend on our own morality we will falter.  We all need a savior for there is no one righteous.  We all choose what we serve, the sins birthed through our own selfish desires, or surrender to Jesus and his gift of covering the consequences of our continual failing to do what is right and moral.

So, I ask the reader, where are you in life? What is there in your life that dominates and you live your life essentially serving?  A re you depending on your own will and ability to choose the moral path?  What is stopping you from turning to Jesus the Messiah?   Are you on the path to destruction?  It is real easy to be proud of self or not making choices that Jeff has made, but he is no different then any of us.  He is a man who was sure of self, built his kingdom and eventually faltered and made choices that led to his own destruction.  The paths of destruction are wide and many and most people do not want to hear that the are on such a path.  We can easily see the failures of others and ignore our own selfish evils.