Father's Day 2008

Well, I was wanting to do this on or before father's day... but I didn't. Now, I haven't missed a single time with God since my last post, but the quality of my time has been pathetic. Not life changing, to say the least. I am not sure why it started when it did or much beyond the information than that above. What I do know is this:

• God wants me to honor my father.
• My earthly father is due respect.

And to understand anything, if I am to honor and respect my earthly father, I have to understand my heavenly Father.

Scriptures of note:

• Matthew 5:14-16 says "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

I have to let my light shine... what I believe that means is this: don't necessarily hide good deeds. I have to be a follower of God when I interact with people. How can anyone see God if everyone is acting like a heathen? And if I have nothing to shine about, what does that say about me? With a light, it brings light to not just me, but to everyone around me... is my light shining?

• Matthew 5:43-48 says "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Be perfect as God is perfect. WHAT A TEACHING?! Who can live up to that? Hey, Johnny, go live a perfect life. Oops. I'm going to screw that one up on a daily basis, for sure. Now, the Greek also translates that to COMPLETE. Be complete as God is complete. And complete means to have a mental completeness, a complete moral character. In other words, I may not be able to live a life without mistakes and errors, but I can live a life with convictions and a mental toughness to honor and love my Father God.

• Matthew 6:1 says "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."

In Matthew 5:14 it says to do good deeds before men. And then here it says don't do it before them. WHAT GIVES? Well, don't go making a show out of it. Don't be self-righteous about it while you give $1,000 to an orphanage, show boating to others what you did. I remember back in the old days of my church, we would have people "encourage" others by how they are meeting special missions contribution. I think it was a way of showboating about how everyone was so "sacrificial". We don't do that now. I think it was a change for the better, because it caused attitudes. And it puffed up the person doing the "encouraging". Jesus, I think, was warning about checking your heart. In fact, in chapters 5 through 7, there is a heavy usage of the work "reward", which I encourage anyone reading this to study out. I might someday.

• Matthew 6:14-15 says "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

How far am I willing to forgive? I have to forgive from top to bottom. What I mean when I say that is I have to forgive the things that affect me directly AND indirectly. The attitudes can be built simply from watching the EVIL news. And let's be honest, news is a blessing and a curse. It really is. It tells you of the weather, politics, court-room affairs, sports... and whatever dirt they can gather that might boost ratings and build a better bottom line when it comes to commercial breaks. That's the name of the game, and they are good at it. So, forgiving the teacher in Florida for putting that poor child through ridicule by a stupid vote and action out of haste. And guess what? I have never met that teacher, but I have to forgive her simply because the news presented me with information, and created an attitude in my heart. I hope you all can find ways to forgive people who have affected you in any and all ways. Don't wish hell on anyone and pray that they prosper righteously.

• Matthew 7:9-12 says "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Do to others as you WOULD have them to do you. It doesn't say as they DID do to you, or as they ARE DOING, it says it in such a way as they haven't done anything, and they may never, for that matter, but do to them as you would want them to do to you.

• Matthew 7:21 says "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

The only people getting in the gates are those who are doing the Father's will. Are you doing the Father's will?

Portrait of a Father

I say these shirts at a Rangers game not too long ago. I would love to be able to get them, but I do not know where they are sold. If you now, please let me. Johnny Out.

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