Father's DAY 17

Father's Day 2017
As we gather to think of fathers today we remember them before God in our own way. Of course our Heavenly Father is the greatest Father we could have in this life and in the life to come. As we heard the lessons today we hear echoes of fathers and our own witnessess as His children by faith in His Son our Lord Jesus Christ.

First, Jeremiah 20 talks about how the prophet is overwhelmed. Who has not felt like that? " Everyone mocks me" he says. " The word of the Lord has become a reproach and a derision" His witness to this Word seems difficult in the midst of a people who wish he would just shut up." I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,”
there is in my heart as it were a burning fie shut up in my bones, and I am
weary with holding it in, and I cannot. 10 For I hear many whispering. Terror is
on every side! “Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” say all my close friends,
watching for my fall. “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we can overcome him
and take our revenge on him.” 11

Who has not felt that others are all against us and we are the only one left to say what God has told us in His Word? Yet Jeremiah also said, " there is in my heart as it were a burning fie shut up in my bones, and I am
weary with holding it in, and I cannot"


Secondly on this fathers' day which was thought of in 1909 by a woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd while listening to a mother's day sermon. She had been raised by her father after her mother died, and as her father William Jackson Smart had been born in June, she chose to hold the first father's day celebration if Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June 1910. Secondly, we recall the reading in the Gospel lesson which mentions our Father who protects us at all times and in our sufferings and witness on His behalf.

A father, " Pater" is " one who imparts life and is committed to it" - Bible Hub, greek translation of father. Men are certainly different from women and can be different.

" Why Men Love Being Men"

1. We know stuff about tanks.
2. Only one suitcase required for a 5 day trip.
3.We can open our own jars.
4.We can go to the bathroom without a support group.
5.The same hair-style lasts for years---maybe decades.
6. We can leave a motel bed unmade.
7. We can kill our own food.
8.We get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
9. Wedding plans take care of themselves.
10. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
11. We don't have to clean the house if the meter-reader is coming.
12. Car mechanics tell us the truth.
13. We can sit quietly and watch a game with a friend for hours without thinking " He must be mad at me."
14. GRay hair and wrinkles add character.
15. We can drop by and see a friend without bringing a gift.
16. If another guy shows up at a party in the same outfit you might just become lifelong friends.
17. Your pals will never trap you with: ' So, notice anything different?'
18.We are totally unable to see wrinkles in our clothes.
19. One wallet, one pair of shoes, one color, all seasons.
20.Christmas shopping can be accomplished for 25 people on the day before Christmas and in 45 minutes.
21. We know nothing about 'dust' and we don't care.

Our Heavenly Father says " Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even
the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more
value than many sparrows"


Lastly, and thirdly, the Epistle gives us good direction about how we receive eternal life from the Father. It is not automatic as birth. The new birth is a separate event through the action of the Holy Spirit upon the heart of the unbelieving soul. John's gospel in ch. 1 is the best comment on that, " 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

The Epistle from Romans 5 tells us that by one we all fell into sin and death, and one man again gave us the righteousness we need to enter heaven, Christ Jesus. It is a gift. "so one act of
righteousness leads to justifiation and life for all men. 19 For as by the one
man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous."

We celebrate fathers today. We celebrate the gift of the Heavenly Father who as He watches over the sparrow watches over His people and gives them the gift of eternal life.

Blessed Father's Day to all!



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