“FATHER’S DAY-2006”
George Crumbly Humphrey UMC
Father’s Day June 18, 2006 AM
Ephesians 6
I guess this is first time that I can remember doing an actual Father’s Day message including my own Dad. I’ve used a message for Mother’s Day including my Mom over the years.
I want to wish each & every Dad a very HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!! I heard some guys talking one day about the difference between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day:
Father’s Day doesn’t seem to be as big as Mother’s Day. On Mother’s Day the attendance is higher at church, mothers often wear corsages, emotions usually run higher, & everybody usually gathers at Mom’s house – all to pay honor to the hands that rock the cradle.
But on Father’s Day the church doesn’t seem to be as full, emotions are not as high, & businesses do not profit as much - all except for the telephone companies, of course. You see, they report that Mother’s Day is the busiest telephone day of the year. But Father’s Day is a big money-maker for them, because there are more collect calls on Father’s Day than on any other day of the year.
Maybe as Father’s we’re not as sentimental about Father’s Day because, after all, most fathers are not as sensitive to children’s needs or alert to sentiment as mothers are.
I heard of a mother who left her room in the maternity ward to go down to the nursery & found her husband staring at his newborn baby. The mother could tell he was captivated by the baby by how intently he stood there looking down at it.
She was so touched that finally she tiptoed up behind him & slipped her arm through his, & said, “Honey, what are you thinking?” He said, “I just can’t understand how they’re able to make a crib like that for only $89.95.”
EPHESIANS 6: verses 1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord,* for this is right. 2‘Honour your father and mother’—this is the first commandment with a promise: 3‘so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’ 4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
James Dobson, in his book, “Dare To Discipline,” says, “Good fathers are made, not born.” God has a plan for every Family. As long as we follow that plan things will run smoother. We have to be a part of that plan.
Today I have no complaints of my childhood. I will be 50 years old this September & I can say today that my Mom & Dad both are still married, loving each other & doing things together. I have the same Mom & Dad today that I had September 23, 1956!!
We were not raised in a Christian home (I don’t say that in a bad way). We just weren’t Christian’s .Over the years, even before I was saved I never professed anything that I did not possess. We were not mistreated. We were taught to ALWAYS do right!! We were taught not to mistreat others, to not lie, cheat or steal.
I was in Little Rock Tuesday and I had been praying for the message for today June 18, 2006 here in Humphrey Arkansas. I thought about my Dad. If there was a “one-word” message for today it would be the word “EXAMPLE”.
In his book Dr. Dobson say’s:
Children oftentimes follow in the footsteps of their father. During the earliest years of a child’s life he or she usually spends a great deal of time with the mother. But the passing years bring a change, & father often becomes the example in attitude & action that a child follows. Like it or not, the example that a father sets about God, & the church, & spiritual things will make an indelible impression upon a child’s life. Someone said, “Fathers are followed,” & this is not something that we can just turn over to mother to handle. The father should be a spiritual leader in the home.
I saw a t-shirt one time a man was wearing & it had on the front “I am not a role model”. How so very untrue. Just because you say you are not an example or a role model does not excuse you from being one. We are ALL examples & role models…..the question is what kind are you? You are either a GOOD one or a BAD one, but yes you are an example.
I thought this week about growing up with my Dad. A few things the Lord laid on my heart that pertain to the Example my Dad set for us:
I.HE SET AN EXAMPLE OF PERSISTANCE (continue, last, endure)
He didn’t quit or give up. He worked for the same citrus company in Florida for 40 years. He & my Mom celebrated 50 years of marriage last October. Married to the same woman. No divorces. I am very blessed to say that every day of my life on this earth I have & still have the same Mom & Dad.
There are 4 of us children & between the 4 of us we have been with the same employers for a total combined 77 years. We have a total years married at 95 years. (I’d say he had an affect on our lives)
Matthew 10:22 “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
The easiest thing we can do during tough times is to quit. (I went 22 years straight in the ministry & never quit until a year ago. I was backed into a corner with a church that Satan had got ahold of & my health began to affect me). I have always stressed to “keep on keepin’ on” The Lord meant for us accept Christ as our savior & stay that way regardless of what happens along the way. Some of the most difficult people to pastor are the ones that are not persistent.
Once we accept Christ as our Savior, we endure all the way to the END.
II. HE SET AN EXAMPLE OF LOVE
He loved his family. He got up every day of the week & went to work. He worked to raise a family. To put clothes on our backs, to put food on the table, a roof over our heads. He set a GREAT example of work ethics for us. Thru the years in the church I have seen some good work ethics & I have seen some terrible ones. I’ve pastored people that walked thru those doors TO SERVE & I have seen those who walked in TO BE SERVED.
Luke 12 4"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies[a]? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
God loves you & me. I am so glad that He never gave up on me. I’m glad that even though I was hardheaded & ornery, God loved me. He loves me today. He provides for us today. I can look back over the years & see how God had His hand over me. God loves us enough to give us what we need & not everything we want. (I know what it is like to depend on man and depend on God. I’ll take God any & every day of the week). MAN WILL LET YOU DOWN – GOD WILL NOT!
My Dad provided for my family. Although there were a lot of times he gave us what we wanted more though he gave us what we needed.
It is so neat today to KNOW that God knows the very number of hairs on our heads!! Some of us though He doesn’t have to spend as much time on as others.
III. HE SET AN EXAMPLE OF SUPPORT
I told a fella here a while back that even though there have been tough times, we could handle ANYTHING as long as the church supported our ministry. Up until just a few years ago we got support & we found that we could handle ANYTHING. But our last pastorate we didn’t have any support & everything went south. (Even when Satan got into the church we could have handled that problem had we had support). The preacher that has followed me there is getting support & things are turning around. You need to SUPPORT your pastor.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
My Dad supported us kids. When we were in Little League baseball, football, high school rodeo, showing animals he followed us all over the state of Florida. I guess I was the first one to start in baseball40 years ago & even today my Mom & Dad are supporting the Grandkids.
(My first speeding ticket when the trooper pulled me over. We had been to my uncle’s funeral in Brooksville I was driving my cousins Ford LTD that had a 429CI engine, my brother was driving my Grandparents my Dad was following. We had been driving 55mph all the way so when we stopped to eat me & my brother decided to pass him as he had been leading the way. I got pulled over for driving nearly 80mph and when my Dad came to the scene he stopped & got out and walked over to the car. He went with me to court in Bartow Florida.)
Even thru the years we have been in the ministry he & my mom both have been a tremendous support & encouragement not only to me, my family but the ministry that God called us into!!!
Using my Thompson Chain Bible turn to chains:
# 1175 Christ Example
# 1176 Evil Example
# 1177 Good Example
As I grow older I understand more & more the importance of being an Example. Remember Christ set an example for you & I to follow.
JOHN 13
15 For I have given you an EXAMPLE, that ye should do as I have done to you.
1 PETER 2
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an EXAMPLE, that ye should follow his steps:
(A couple of stories of this sermon were used from Melvin Newland’s excellent sermon, “I’m Glad There is a Father’s Day” found on SC)
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