Honor Your Fathers!

Father's Day in the United States is on the third Sunday of June and celebrates the contribution that fathers and father figures make for their children. Its origins may lie in a memorial service held for a large group of men, many of whom were fathers, who were killed in a mining accident in West Virginia back in 1907.

On this day, many send cards or gifts to their fathers. Often these include things like sports items, clothing, electronic gadgets, and tools for household or automotive chores. Many also make phone calls and gather together to celebrate when possible.

Father's Day is not a federal holiday. Organizations, businesses and stores are open or closed as usual.  Just as with Mothers day, restaurants are typically busier than usual as many take their fathers out for some special meal.

A woman named Sonora Smart Dodd was an influential figure in the establishment of Father's Day. Her father raised six children by himself after the death of their mother. This was uncommon in that day. Sonora was also inspired by the work of Anna Jarvis, who had pushed to establish Mother's Day celebrations. Father's Day was officially recognized as a holiday in 1972 by President Richard Nixon.

Just as with mothers, fathers were designed by God to have special and unique roles within the family unit and in the culture. God made it clear in Genesis that the two were created to help and compliment each other, When one or the other is absent for any reason, and especially when young children are involved, the task of raising a family becomes far more difficult.

Those who have been privileged to have a Godly father have been greatly blessed. That is particularly true when what is taught in Ephesians 6:4 has been the case. “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” And there is a promise associated with that seen in Proverbs 22:6. “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” But then too, there is a command given to children as far as their side of the relationship. Paul writes in Ephesians 6:2-3, "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise:  "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."  

On this Father’s Day, take time to praise your Heavenly Father without whom life is ultimately meaningless and eternity even worse. And be sure to somehow honor your earthly father just as Scripture demands. He may not be perfect. None ever are. That statues is reserved for the Creator alone. But the above verse in Ephesians dose not require our earthly fathers to be to be flawless. It simply reveals for us all what is good, right, and expected by our perfect and loving Father in heaven!

“Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?”  Hebrews 12:8-9

Bill Breckenridge

Victorious Commanders: D-Day's and the Christian's

June 6, 1944, is a day that will live in victory. American air and sea forces landed in German-occupied Normandy, and it was a turning point in World War II.

Lost in most annual D-Day recollections is the stunning stress felt by Allied Supreme Commander General Dwight Eisenhower. As he planned the fateful day, Eisenhower bore the weight of three million troops preparing for a massive assault on the bristling German Fortress just across the English Channel. A war correspondent described him as “bowed with worry, as though each of his four stars weighed a ton”.

One of the three most favorable days for invasion was already lost to the weather. Meteorologists predicted a slight break in the storm on June 6 with conditions deteriorating after that. The next best alternative would be the following month, but the delay would be risking troop morale and secrecy.

As the deadline drew closer, the generals and admirals had their say. The final decision was Eisenhower’s. At 4:15 A.M. on Monday, June 5, after a tense period of quiet consideration, with hands clasped and face ashen, the General said, “I am quite positive we must give the order. I don’t like it, but there it is. I don’t see how we can do otherwise. Okay, we’ll go!” The “Longest Day”—the invasion of Normandy—had dawned.

With the initial commitment made, the grim consequences for the thousands of troops and the entire free world became a frightening prospect. While Eisenhower hoped for the best, he braced for the worst.

In the early uncertain hours of D-Day, he wrote an announcement on a slip of paper—an announcement he hoped he would never have to make. “Our landings in the Cherborg-Havre area have failed to make a foothold, and I have withdrawn the troops... My decision to attack was based on the best available information. The troops, the Air, and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone.”

Eisenhower shoved the paper into his pocket where it was discovered after a busy six weeks of successful invasion. By then, it was history that never happened.

In a sense, Eisenhower stood guard over his troops and the free nations they represented. They had received a commitment from him that he would not consent to them living as cripples at the hands of tyrannical oppression. But should the effort fail, he had already declared himself solely responsible if he were brought to trial before the court of history.

The Lord Jesus Christ, briefing His troops for a world-wide, age-long assault upon the Devil’s territory, pledged Himself to accompany them into battle. "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15) and "…lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:20) have been at once the Great Commission and the Great Comfort. The disciples had been sent to a task for whose victory the Commander had promised to take full responsibility.

When the great missionary David Livingstone, who explored much of Africa sharing the Gospel, reviewed his success, he affirmed the integrity of His Lord time after time. In his diary, when death lurked near, he quoted the Matthew passage and wrote of the calm and comfort Jesus’ promise provided.

When Livingstone returned to his homeland later the same year, the physical marks of illness and injury obvious, he again spoke of the precious promise of Christ. "Would you like me to tell you what supported me through all the years…? It was this: ‘Lo, I am with you even to end of the world!’ On those words I staked everything, and they never failed. ... It is the word of a gentleman of the most sacred honour, so there’s an end of it."

Upon the truthfulness of God’s Word, the success of the Christian mission has always hung.

Dave Virkler (from "Presidential Profiles" and a previous blog post)

Memorial Day Part Two!

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. Regardless of the exact date or location of its origins, Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our dead. It was officially proclaimed on May 5^th 1868 by General John Logan. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873 and is now observed in almost every state on the last Monday in May

On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.

The dictionary says this about the term memorial. It is something designed to preserve the memory of a person. It is Intended to commemorate someone or something such as a memorial service in the dead man's honor. And one of the synonyms for the concept is remembrance.

Those who have sacrificed themselves for the freedoms we now enjoy in America are indeed heroes. They gave their best and forfeited all of the things we sometimes take for granted. And one day certainly does not seem near enough to honor them properly.

But there is another solitary sacrifice that brought about far greater results and occurred on just one day in history. This one impacted both the physical and spiritual realms. That, of course is the voluntary death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Through the giving up of His own life, He procured the  forgiveness of sin for mankind and made redemption possible for all who would trust and believe.

And although this eternity altering act  would seem unforgettable to say the least, sometimes even those who have been saved do tend to forget. And that is why we find that all true believers are to observe a periodic and symbolic memorial celebration of thanksgiving and remembrance.

It is found in 1Corinthians 11:23-26 and is typically called communion or The Lord’s Super. There we read the words of the Apostle Paul as he related the Lord's own directive to His people.

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said,  Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.  In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.”

Millions of us today able to pursue our goals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is because of what so many others have done, for so long, to keep us free from tyranny and bondage. But only those who fully understand these two special elements can, and should, participate  in Christ’s special table. In doing so, we are reminded of our priceless eternal liberty and made thankful for the  transforming truth written in John 8:36. “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

Bill Breckenridge

Mothers: A Special Kind of Love

Every second Sunday in May brings a very special holiday. It is none other than Mother’s Day. The official  holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis. Following her mother’s death in 1905, Jarvis conceived of an official day for honoring the immense sacrifices mothers typically make for their children.

She began by receiving financial backing from a Philadelphia department store owner named John Wanamaker. She then organized the first Mother’s Day celebration in May of 1908. It was held at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia, and by 1912 many states, towns and other organizations had adopted the annual holiday. Jarvis continued promoting her work and in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

This year, an estimated $4.2 billion will be spent on Mother’s Day jewelry gifts: $4.1 billion for special outings, and $2.4 billion on flowers. The total sum for all related activities will come in at about $21 billion in America alone. There will also be some 122.5 million phone calls made, more than any other Sunday throughout the entire year.

Many interesting facts surround this special holiday. But one in particular really seemed to sum up why moms are more than worthy to be honored in this way. According to Insure.com, the annual salary you would have had to pay someone in 2015 to perform the tasks many mothers do at home would be approximately $62, 985 per year. And in my estimation and experience, that figure may well be a bargain!

But mothers were uniquely gifted by God for their roles in the family. Their impact on impressionable young children cannot be overstated. It is typically the moms that display an unconditional form of love no matter what problems and failures their precious children happen to be involved in. And this kind of love is a solid reminder of God’s perfect unconditional love for those he created but who all rebelled against Him. In Romans 3:23, we read that all have willfully sinned and turned their backs on their Creator. Verse 12 declares that not even one has ever really sought after God. And yet God’s response is spelled out in Romans 5:8. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Scripture confirms that it is crucial  for children to respect their parents. Ephesians 6:2-3 says, "Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." And in the wisdom book of Proverbs, we find these words. “Honor your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice." (Proverbs 23:25)

To have a mother who is there when you are growing up is a wonderful thing. To have a mom that loves, guides and protects is a something of immeasurable value. But to have a mother who is all of that plus a committed believer in Jesus Christ and a role model of faith and sacrifice is a blessing beyond words.

If humanly possible, make sure to honor your mother on this holiday. Make sure you thank her for the sacrifices she made and the unconditional love she no doubt gave you on many occasions. And if there are some who may not have or have had the best relationship with their moms, for whatever reason, why not pray about that? Ask God for wisdom. His Spirit can guide, comfort and fully heal any wound. And perhaps some small initial effort of communication will lead to a big miracle of reconciliation. God is fully able to repair or restore any gaps or regrets, and He can bring His peace to any relationship no matter what the situation is or has been. Why not ask God to do right now what only He can do right now? There is everything to gain!

"She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed." (Proverbs 31:27-28)

 Bill Breckenridge

Miraculous Island Rescue

A TV crew for Animal Planet's show River Monster was out on the sea filming last November. Suddenly,  they came across a man on a largely deserted Australian island. The team was trying to solve the mystery of a plane that had crashed killing all six aboard near the Gulf of Carpenaria. It is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia.

The director of the Inside Edition program stated that, while doing their research, a semi-naked man came running from a cave waving his arms in the air. Apparently he had been out fishing when he decided to leave his boat to go find better oysters. But when he tried to walk back on the hot beach he was overwhelmed by the sun, suffered from sunstroke and was unable to go any further.

No one knew Tremine, a roofer from Borroloola, Australia was even missing. He had been stranded without supplies for almost 3 days. After his unlikely rescue, he revealed that he had said his last prayer and was “prepared to die”.  And had the TV crew not showed up when they did, he would have likely perished there all alone.

It is hard to imagine how it would feel to be in this particular man’s boat. No pun intended. Of course there was the physical discomfort and his emotional pain of second guessing why he put himself in the position to die helpless and alone. This man was literally facing the real life circumstances portrayed in a so-called reality show on the Discovery Channel called ‘Naked and Afraid’. This program finds two strangers dropped off in a hostile wilderness environment with literally nothing. They must then use their wits to survive for 21 days. The difference here is that the show does have emergency medical and rescue crews in the area if anything goes really wrong. And for the record, I don’t recommend the program because of the inappropriate and graphic content as the title reveals.

But it was encouraging to hear Tremine state that he had prayed and was therefore ready to face death. To some that may sound simplistic and just wishful thinking. And that may, or may, not be the case depending on what that prayer is and to whom it is addressed!

In Luke 18:10-14, Jesus shared a story of two men. Both prayed and the details of their words are recorded as is the result. Verse 10 begins, "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'  And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

In this account, the Pharisee prayed to emphasize his own supposed righteousness before God and thus why he deserved to be justified based on his own good works or lack of sin. But the man who was seen as a sinner most in that day admitted his own sinfulness and that it was God’s grace alone that could forgive him and make him spiritually right. Both prayed. Both prayed to the same God even. But only one prayer resulted in true Biblical justification. These few verses epitomize what so much of the world does not grasp as far as what legitimate salvation is all about.

If there is one verse that sums this all up better than any other, it is Ephesians 2:8-9. It is the passage that led my own mother to Jesus Christ many years ago. The Apostle Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Redemption is about faith and grace - period!

I sincerely hope that this rescued roofer from Australia, not only prayed to God in those desperate hours, but that he prayed the right prayer to the right God as did that desperate tax collector back in Jesus’ day. And those who do the same today, no matter what terrible circumstances may befall them, need never be afraid of facing anything alone including standing before their Creator some day. They are never truly alone now and then!

"For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you ."  So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"  (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Bill Breckenridge