In Jesus Holy Name June 17, 2007
Text: Deuteronomy 11:1, 4:9 Father’s Day
“Guardians at the Gate ”
Story: “Father of the Year Essay” Merced County by Halley
I think my step-dad is “father of the Year” because of our unique story. Let me explain. Long before I was born, my mother married Pete. They had two kids; my half-brother and sister, Peter and Melissa. Later my mom and Pete both married other people. My mom’s second husband, Ron, is my (genetic) dad and together they had me. While I was growing up Pete and Vicky, his wife, would pick me up to go with them when they would visit my siblings in various places.
Then, in the middle of the night, January 23rd, 2001, just after my ninth birthday, my mom and dad were arrested. Because of their bad choices. (meth drug use) I was separated from them, and told I would have to move in with a “new” family. Everything in my life changed. The next morning, word of my problem spread fast. I was with my Social worker looking at possibilities for my new family when she told me, “your family called and they were going to take you in.” I didn’t know then what family she was talking about, but when I got to their house, I saw and rushed to Pete’s side. Luckily, God was watching over me and that family happened to be Pete and Vicky. I was relieved to know that my sibling’s dad, my new “step-dad” was going to take me in.
My step dad, Pete, has done so much for me. Since Iwas little at the time, I didn’t think to thank him much for taking me into his home. However, I have realized I have the opportunity to see my brother and sister more than ever, and have met many wonderful people. I have great friends and educational opportunities; I am truly thankful now for everything.
Pete is a great dad. From day one he has watched out for me. He made sure I got into the right school and had all the materials I needed. Every school morning he gets up early to be with me so I won’t have to be by myself. He’s a super good cook and even though I’m quite capable of making my own breakfast, he still cooks for me! The meals that he makes are not just cereal, but pancakes, waffles and omelets with unimaginable amounts of cheese!
Since both Pete and Vicky work out of their home, they have the chance to go to all my games, and do. Recently my brother, Peter moved back to Merced from San Diego and opened his own store. My step dad will often take his place at the store and allow my brother to come watch me swim. This is a big sacrifice for my step dad, and I appreciate that he’s willing to make such sacrifices.
Another one of my step-dad’s great qualities is patience. While he doesn’t always have a lot, I can tell he tries with me. For example, my middle school used to have an annual ski day at Dodge Ridge. A couple of years ago was my first time really skiing without a lesson. My step-dad went with me because he knows all about skiing (Pete worked as a ski patrol for Dodge Ridge). It was snowing and I was having a hard time skiing. I could tell he was getting impatient with me, but he stayed calm, and encouraged me until we reached the bottom of the mountain together.
Pete is a positive in my life. Every time I accomplish something big or small, he always congratulates me. For example, my grades in school are average, but he still is proud of me. As mentioned, I play water polo and swim for my high school. Sometimes out of the blue Pete will tell me, “Man, I know swimming and water polo are hard, but I’m proud of you babe, I really am.” It makes me feel good to know that he can tell I am doing my best.
I pick my step-dad as Father of the Year because he is there for me when ever I need him. Pete saved me life and made it so much better, with twice the opportunities. He is a huge inspiration. Peter is an important portion of my life I’m important in his. With my step-father’s help, my life is and will be more accomplished and well lived. (Note: Pete and Vicky and Halley are all committed to attending their local church and committed to God’s word.)
Roland Warren, president of the National Fatherhood Initiative wrote the following: “I am president of a secular organization that works to increase the number of children who grow up with involved, responsible and committed fathers.”
A few years ago my wife was having lunch with a non-Christian friend. She asked her friend if she minded prayer before the meal. Her friend said, “that’s fine.” So my wife started with the phrase ”Dear heavenly Father.” When she finished, her friend said that she could never pray those words since her father was such an (expletive).
It is true that the relationship people have with their fathers may directly affect their ability to relate to God the Father. A “loving heavenly Father” has no meaning to those who don’t know what a loving father is.
Second, the epidemic of one out of every three kids in America growing up without a father is not a coincidence. There is a concerned attack on the institution of fatherhood by Satan himself. The Devil’s work is to influence dads to be disconnected, distant, or even abusive, so that children start life believing that this is how all fathers are , even a heavenly father.
And why the attack? Because the greatest, most powerful truth that any person who does not know Jesus needs to hear is that God is a good Father who desires all people to be saved. Satan knows that good fathers can pave the way for the good news of God’s love, and conversely, Satan knows bad or absent fathers pave the way to separation from God.
If you forget Mother’s Day, it’s a big deal. I fyou forget Mother’s Day, you’re in the doghouse until you can redeem your guilty conscience with an especially nice gift, or card, or flowers or candy on a birthday or Christmas. But when you forget Father’s Day, well that’s sort of like forgetting to rotate your tires or not flossing after every meal. You know you ought to do it, but you foget.
John Leo in his article on Society “All in the Family” , which reflected on the aftermath of the victims of Katrina in New Orleans, noting that most of the victims were women and children. George Will, noted columnist was quoted in his article.
“It’s a delicate subject but 76 percent of the births to Louisiana’s African Americans are to unmarried women. That translates into a large and constantly renewed cohort of lightly parented adolescent males, and that translates into chaos, in neighborhoods and schools come rain or shine.”
Maureen Dowd wrote a book entitled: “Are Men Necessary?”
It’s a question feminist have long joked about. And just this past week Time Magazine has continued the trend by chastizing american fathers for not being more like the Brazilian monkey that holds its young as they move through the trees. The point...many in
western culture continue to seek to demote fathers to being little more than a human appendix; that is a person who doesn’t do much and who can be removed from the family without any noticeable loss. The Katrina aftermath and our prisons prove otherwise.
On this Father’s Day I want to go on record and say that what western culture thinks about fathers is not what God thinks. New mothers and fathers are not always given a “quick start” guide when they first become parents. God has given priorities when he instructed his people to “fix these words of my in your hearts and minds; …teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
In contrast to what the world thinks, God thinks that Christian fathers ought to be the prime protectors, the first line of defense for their children that have been placed into their care. By God’s plan and direction, fathers are given the charge to provide a safe haven, a spiritual home where the love of God in Jesus Christ is shared. God wants fathers to be “guardians at the gates of their homes.”
The Lord knows that much rests on the Christian father’s faithfulness to God’s word. This Satan knows and so he frequently targets fathers. The forces of darkness bring to bear their best and most effective weapons on Christian fathers to disrupt their positive influence in homes. Seduction and sin, corruption, complacency and selfishness all lead to disharmony, and destruction.
`Satan knows that if he can divert a father’s eyes from Jesus to unimportant projects; if he can force a father to forget the one thing a person needs for salvation: Jesus; if he can stop a father from giving his children an example of integrity then he is on his way to destroying the home and the life of the children who live there.
Satan knows that if a father is no longer a buffer between the world and sin, when his words are absent or when he has been stripped of authority then the devil can kidnap children and steal their souls into the eternal pains of hell. That’s why we pray “deliver us from the evil one.” (studies abound -www.marriagedebate.com/pdf/imapp.crimefamstructure.pdf)
Jesus, is the only one who loves your children more than you do. He came into the world so that your children: no matter what evil or tragedy strikes them, no matter the sadness that might be in store for them, might have the gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus kept God’s law perfectly so that the heavenly Father might be able to declare them forgiven and free from all spiritual debt.
You are to be the guardian at the gate. Be men of integrity. You may not be able to prevent your children from hearing foul language on television, but they do not have to hear it from your lips. You many not be able to shield your children from immorality at the movies, but you can make sure you take your marriage vows seriously. You may not be able to keep your children from being bruised by cruel comments of classmates, but you can hold them and assure them of you love and acceptance.
Be a guardian at the gate. Teach your children about Jesus as you sit at home and walk along the road, when you lie down and when you rise up.
"Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad." "the Ultimate Father in heaven knows that you were worth dying for. That’s why Jesus gave his hands and feet to be pierced by nails so that all who beleive in him might receive forgiveness and eternal life.
