Happy Daughter's Day

A group of expectant fathers was in a waiting room, while their wives were in the process of delivering babies. A nurse came in and announced to one man that his wife had just given birth to twins. "That's quite a coincidence" he responded, "I play for the Minnesota Twins!" A few minutes later, another nurse came in and announced to another man that he was the father of triplets. "That's amazing," he exclaimed, "I work for the 3M Company." At that point, a third man slipped off his chair and lay down on the floor. Somebody asked him if he was feeling ill. "No," he responded, "I happen to work for the 7-Up company."

Today is Father’s Day.  This is a day when fathers all over the United States receive beautiful ties and power tools as gifts.  They receive the tie so they can look nice at least once during the year and the power tools because there are things that need to be fixed around the house.  I often wonder what would happen to the father if he decided to get the mother a power tool, like a vacuum cleaner, for Mother’s Day.  I believe if the father did that he might be getting out of the hospital by Father’s Day.

Fathers have a great responsibility. First, they are to “train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it,” (Proverbs 22:6 NASB).  This training is more than telling a child what to do or how to act; it is modeling it for them.  Children learn more from watching your actions than what you say.  Want them to pray more; you pray more.  Want them to read the Bible more; you read it more.  Want them to attend church; you attend church with them. Want them to avoid bad habits; do not participate in the bad habits either.

Second, be an encourager to your children.  I have found out, sometimes the hard way, that my tastes do not extend onto my children.  They are unique individuals and will like different things than you.  If they have an interest in something, even if you do not enjoy the activity or even understand the activity, encourage them to partake in the activity.  Fathers are admonished in the Holy Scripture not to embitter the children unless they become discouraged, “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged,” (Colossians 3:21 NIV).  Encourage them when it comes to various endeavors.

Third be an imitator of God, “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children.  Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ,” (Ephesians 5:1,2a NLT).  Children will imitate those that have an influence on their lives.  Be the model that you want your children to become.  Live a life that follows the example of Christ and your children will follow your example.

Today is Father’s Day, but for me I call it Daughter’s Day.  If it were not for my two daughters I would not be a father.  While it is officially called Father’s Day, I will be celebrating Daughter’s Day.

 

No More Bathing

Whom Do You Imitate

Every year at this time, there is one special event on TV that is the most watched event for the year. Advertisers spend millions to get a commercial shown during this broadcast. The recent price for a 30-second commercial is $2.5 million dollars. Even at that high of a price, many advertisers are turned away because the commercial slots are filled. What event is this, you ask? That is right, the Quiche Cook Off on the Food Network. Ok, that is not it; it is the Super Bowl.

             In this year’s Super Bowl, I have a rooting interest. My favorite team is the San Francisco 49ers. Since the early ‘80’s, I have followed the 49ers rather faithfully. It all began with a catch by Dwight Clark in the NFC championship game. Dwight leapt about three feet in the air and had his arms almost fully extended above his head. The catch was one that was deemed impossible to make, yet Dwight made the catch. When I would play with my Nerf football, I would often imitate that catch.
             There is a saying, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Christians should be imitators, as Paul wrote, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NASB) Who is a person that we can imitate?
             One Super Bowl stands out in my memory. Not because of the team that won it (the 49ers did not play in it), but because of what happened after the game had ended. Mike Tirico approached the MVP of the game and said, “Kurt, first things first — tell me about the final touchdown pass to Isaac Bruce.”
             Kurt Warner answered, “Well, first things first, I've got to thank my Lord and Savior up above - thank you, Jesus!"
             Kurt Warner did not hide being a Christian. Many people do not realize they hide being a Christian. Whether it is out of fear of being considered judgmental or even hateful or those around them are not Christian and they want to fit in. It might be they are unsure of their own beliefs and do not want to discuss it for fear of misleading someone or being ridiculed. Perhaps they feel their beliefs should just be kept private, as many politicians have stated, “My religious views are a private matter between me and my God.”
             Christians are encouraged to be a light, something that is not kept hidden, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 NASB) Christians should be proud they are a Christian, not hide it.
             As a youngster, I would imitate Dwight Clark. As an adult, do I imitate Kurt Warner? Whom do you imitate?

Self-Evident Unalienable Right

           

        

           In American history, one of the most important documents is the Declaration of Independence.  One line from it states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  According to this phrase, these rights are self-evident (that everyone should recognize these rights) and that these rights granted to us, are not by a government, but by their Creator.  Since a Creator gives these rights to us, the government cannot take these rights away, because the government is not the one granting these rights. 

            These three primary rights are linked together for a purpose, as is the order they are written.  Listed first is the self-evident right to life.  If there is no life, then there is no need for liberty, nor is there an ability to pursue happiness.  If there is life, but no liberty, then there is no ability to pursue happiness.  If there is life and liberty, but denial to pursue happiness, then there is no purpose in the other two rights. 

            It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that these rights are maintained, “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”  The statement “to secure these rights,” shows that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that these self-evident rights, granted by the Creator, are not infringed.

            Sadly, since January 22, 1973, at least fifty-five million Americans have been denied their self-evident right, given by the Creator, to life.  This is not based upon any crime they have committed.  This is not based upon any decision that they made for themselves.  This is not a choice that the person made for themself to end their life.  This is a denial of the most fundamental and first right listed in the Declaration of Independence: the right to life.  All have been given the right to life, to be born.

            The Holy Bible states that life begins with God, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.  I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them,” (Psalm 119:13-16 NASB).  The Creator of life has a purpose of everyone’s life.  He formed everyone for a purpose, beginning with the right to life.

            As a nation, our foundation is based upon three unalienable rights.  Rights that are self-evident and endowed by our Creator.  The first of which is the right to life.  Therefore, do we have the right to take away someone else’s self-evident right to life based upon what we feel is a choice.  When given that choice to take away someone else’s life, will we heed the words of the Bible, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,” (Deuteronomy 30:19 NASB).