What a Blessed Day!

I had a wonderful Father’s Day! It began with my meeting Jim Hohnberger. Jim is the founder of Empowered Living Ministries (www.EmpoweredLivingMinistries.org) and the author of many Christian books including Escape to God. I read Escape to God a few months ago and felt an instant bond with Jim. This book is about Jim’s journey from non-believer, to being a “religious” man, to truly walking with God in all areas of his life.

When I read his book I could not believe the similarities in our lives. In fact, when I finished reading the book I said to Chris, “You have got to read this. This guy is living our life, but he is doing it right!” I felt such a bond with Jim that I longed to meet him some day and compare life experiences.

Well, about a month after reading the book, Ron Gabbett, the friend who loaned me the book and told me I had to read it, informed me that Jim was going to be in our area speaking at a nearby camp. Ron asked if it would be alright if he invited Jim to speak at church. Alright? I told him it was more than alright. I asked him to please do whatever he could to get Jim here.

Jim agreed to come speak to our little church. His message was such a blessing. After service we had Jim and Michael, the camp instructor, and Ron and his friend Ann over for lunch. We had the opportunity to share our hearts and experiences with one another for a few hours. What a blessing. Jim offered me words of encouragement as we continue the ministry of Norwood Christian Ranch (www.NorwoodChristianRanch.com) and how we might take it to the next level of ministering to pastors and missionaries and Christian families.

Jim is such a wonderful man of God. I felt like I had known him my whole life because God has had us on such similar journeys.

After Jim left we went out to Miramonte Reservoir with our dear friends, the Parkers, to do some fishing. The weather and the fishing were good and we had a nice, relaxing time on the water in the Parker’s boat. We came back with five fish and some funny fishing stories about “the ones that got away.”

All in all it was an excellent way to spend Father’s Day.

Serving Christ and His family,

Pastor Ken Lawrence

Being a Father Worthy of Honor

God has commanded children to “honor your father and mother.” This commandment is put on children regardless of the type of parents they have. The commandment does not say, “Honor your father as long as he is worthy of honor” or “Honor your good, God-fearing father.” Children are to honor their father no matter what, whether the father is worthy of honor or not.

According to Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary of the English Language, honor mean:

“To revere; to respect; to treat with deference and submission, and perform relative duties to.”

As fathers we can make it easy for our children or difficult for our children to obey God by honoring us. We make it difficult for them when we provoke them to wrath by constantly getting on their case for what they do wrong, by being disengaged from their life, by being too busy with our own selfish pursuits to invest time in their life to guide and direct them into a God-honoring life of their own.

We make it easier for them when we encourage them when we catch them doing something right. We make it easier for them when we “bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4), when we turn our hearts to them as a major priority in our life (Malachi 4:6), and when we walk as the spiritual leader of the home that God has called us to be (Deuteronomy 6:6-8).

A father’s life is not an easy one. We have so many responsibilities, so many distractions that pull our time in all different directions. It is difficult to keep life in balance. It takes effort to set priorities and jealously guard family time from all the other things that are constantly trying to turn our hearts away from our children.

Fathers, we are called by God to be provider, protector, and priest. In contrast, we are called by the world be spenders what we do not have, leave our children in the hands of the government, and let our children decide for themselves what religion is right for them, if any.

Notice that God’s calling is focused on our relationship with others. A provider provides for the welfare of others, in this case, for our family. A protector provides protection for others. A priest builds up other’s relationship with God. A father’s calling is to be focused on others not ourselves. God wants the father’s heart turned toward his children (Malachi 4:6).

The world’s calling is focused on self. “It’s your money, spend it on yourself because you’re worth it” is what the world tells us. “Protect yourself because nobody else will.” The only priest the world wants you to be is a priest of tolerance of godless beliefs and self indulgence.

How are we to live a life worthy of honor? By being a man of God in all areas of our life. By turning the focus off of ourself and onto the family God has entrusted to our care. Let me encourage you to make it a priority to be provider, protector, and priest in your home. Allow God to turn your heart to your children and you will be amazed at how quickly they turn their hearts to you. It is easy for a child to honor a father with whom their heart is engaged.

Live the life God has called you to. Walk as the example of Christ in your home for your children and you will truly be a father worthy of honor from your children.

Serving Christ and His family,

Pastor Ken Lawrence