Friday, Jun. 13, 2008

Pastor's corner

Deuteronomy 5:16 "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you." NIV

As we approach another Father's Day, I want to challenge everyone to do more this year for your father. Fathers are very important to God. In fact, the word "father" is mentioned 1,082 times in God's Word. The Fifth Commandment tells us to honor our father and mother. Father's Day has quickly become a day where we get a card or make a phone call or maybe even take our dads out to eat. Let's do something more this year, let's honor our dad.

Now to the dads. I believe that many men in this day and age have lost their identity in the home because of so many social and politically correct changes that we almost don't know who we are or what we are supposed to do anymore. I want to encourage you that our families need us more than ever. They need us to rise up and lead them down the path that is right. Recent surveys have revealed that when a child gets involved in the local church that 17 percent of the time their family will also get involved; and when a mother or wife gets involved in the local church that 34 percent of the time their families will also get involved; but when a husband or father gets involved in the local church that percentage jumps to more than 90 percent.

Our leadership is important and relevant today more than ever. Our wives need good men to love, lead, support and encourage them to be everything that God has made them to be. Our children need our love, leadership, wisdom and guidance to have any kind of chance to grow into the men and women that God has called them to be. So rise up. Get more involved. Be more than a provider. Lead.

If your father is still with you, honor him this Sunday and every day. If your father has already passed on, then honor the memory of your father by passing on the wisdom that he passed on to you.

May God bless you and your family on this Father's Day.

Rev. Stephen Hammond is the Senior Pastor of Bethel Community Church.

Deuteronomy 5:16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” NIV As we approach another Father&