Father's Day Pastor's Voice

Exodus 20:12

"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."

Question: "What does the Bible say about honor?"

The word of God instructs and encourages us to honor our father and mother. But what is the Biblical meaning of honor?

Answer: As a noun, honor in the Bible means "esteem, value, or great respect." To honor someone is to value him highly or bestow value upon him. The Bible exhorts us to express honor and esteem toward certain people: our parents, the aged and those in authority (Ephesians 6:2; Leviticus 19:32; Romans 13:1). But we must understand that all authority and honor belong to God alone (1 Chronicles 29:11; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 5:13). Though He can delegate His authority to others, it still belongs to Him (Ephesians 4:11-12). Of all the commands to honor one another, the most repeated one pertains to that of honoring one's father and mother (Exodus 20:12; Matthew 15:4).

This command was so important to God that if anyone cursed or struck his parent, he was to be put to death (Exodus 21:7).

While I acknowledge there are many in scripture we are exhorted to honor, today is

FATHER'S DAY and I want to honor all fathers by honoring my father.

I don't have many memories of father kneeling down to pray with me, nor do I remember him reading scripture with or to me. But I do remember a father that was there to show me how to ride my bike; he was the one who insisted on my getting good grades in school. He was a man given to detail. Ask him a question and he would answer it 5 different ways. Ask him for directions after he gave them to you he would occasionally draw you a map.

I remember him for his protective ways. The one who taught me to defend my self and when I could not rise to the challenge, somehow he would appear and all things where made right. He was the one who showed me how to put a straight crease in my pants and to tie my tie. Maybe that is why I am so fond of the full Windsor tie knot.

My dad was a truck driver; he drove Mac trailers. I can remember as a little boy on more than one occasion going with him on some of his runs. It was amazing watching him stick his hand through part of the steering wheel to shift the gears of the truck. Oh those Mac Trucks! Some had

loud fog horn sounds. You had to pull a string that came from the roof of the cab. Guess who got to pull the string?

So today is FATHER'S DAY and I wanted to honor you for the time you invested in me. I might not have gotten everything I wanted but together with my mother they saw that it is certain I got everything I needed.

Thanks Dad,

Larry

DEAR DAD

I LOVE YOU!

I know people would say, I am remembering you on Father's Day! One day in a year.... But Dad I want you to know that I always loved you and always wanted to say... but could not say....

It was just last month I visited you, stayed with you for whole three weeks. We chatted less, discussed more. I always made my point against you. I always thought your ways were different, if not wrong. I sometimes even fought.... I told you millions of stories about my work, my friends, world, Internet, technology... but never spared a few moments to listen to your stories; stories about your job, your friends, your world.

Now that I am miles away from you, I am missing you. I am missing talking to you, sitting in front of you.

There is not a single moment of my life which doesn't remind me of you! My job, my skill, my knowledge is all because of you. When people praise me for my work, I may not say out loud, but I know in my heart that praise is because of you. When I get a promotion, raise in salary... I know somewhere in my heart that its again because of you.

I know I don't call you as frequently as I call mom, but I know there not a single day when you haven't thought of me or asked mom about me. I know I don't talk with you for long on phones, still whenever we finish our call, all your calls end with "All The Best". It's your best wishes that have made me what I am.

I know I have embarrassed you many times, I have made you sad many times, I have not met your expectations many times.... But you were still there with me. In my hardest time, whenever I felt weak, I knew you were there holding my hand, telling me to be strong.

Thanks for being there whenever I needed you. I know you were still there for me whenever I felt, I am a grown up boy now and I don't need you. It was your trust and faith in me that has made me reach the heights of my career. Thanks for making me what I am today. It wouldn't have been possible without you. You've given me everything I ever demanded and also which I even thought of.

Dad, now that I am miles away from you I crave to have those days back where I know I will see you every morning reading the newspaper, rushing for the office, calling Mom from the office saying that you reached safely, having family dinner every night and family lunches every Sunday.

Dad, I want to be with you again. Now it's my turn to be with you. Now it's my turn to help you with whatever you need, which I know you would never say. But, I assure you dad we will be soon together. I will be back to be with you.

Love You Dad!

- Anonymous

WHAT MAKES A DAD

"God took the strength of a mountain,

The ma jesty of a tree,

The warmth of a summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagle's flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need,

Then God combined these qualities,

When there was nothing more to add,

He knew His masterpiece was complete,

And so, He called it..... Dad."

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