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Men in the Church Part II: “Fathers, do not exasperate your
children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4 (NIV) Last month I addressed you men who
are husbands of wives. This month I
address all men who are fathers of children.
I’ve snatched this short and concise verse from Paul’s letter to the
Ephesians to highlight one of the great and grave responsibilities fathers have
toward their children. I picked the
NIV translation because I love the word “exasperate”.
You fathers certainly
must know something about exasperation if you have in any way been involved in
the upbringing of your children. Kids
can exasperate both fathers and mothers. I
speak from my ongoing experience as a father.
But in this instruction of
the Lord through the Apostle Paul fathers are told not to exasperate their
children, that is to provoke them to anger.
Here are some examples of how a father may provoke his child/children to
anger: He is so involved in bringing home the bacon that he has little time to
spend with his children. He is
uneven in his discipline of his children or passes off this
responsibility to his wife, his children’s mother.
He disciplines his children in harsh anger. He rarely shares words and
acts (hugs and kisses) of forgiveness with his repentant children.
He fails to discipline his children at all, figuring that they will turn
out ok in the end. He finds and
makes a big deal about all the faults of his children but rarely if ever praises
them when they do well in anything. He
takes little if any
responsibility in the faith upbringing of his children, maybe leaving
that again to his wife, passing it off to the church or some other agency or
neglecting it completely. These are
just a few of the ways that fathers provoke their children to anger, that is
exasperate them. Find anything in
this list that fits you? The grand and simple way that you, as a father, can
keep from exasperating your kid(s) is to “bring them up in the training and
instruction of the Lord.” Do you
see specifically who the Lord targets to do this most important task?
It is not the mother (though she too can and is involved in this training
and instruction in the Christian faith). It
is not the church (ditto to the mother’s parenthesis). It is you as father.
Now I’m ready to hear the grand list of excuses as to why you are not
or cannot do this: “I need to
provide for my family and that takes lots of effort and time.
There is no time for me to give them the instruction of the Lord.”
“I let my wife discipline the kids.
She’s with them most of the day anyway.” Have some of you forgot that
threat, “You just wait until your father gets home.”
“I can’t help my harsh anger. My
kids get what they deserve.” “I
just don’t know how to do it or where to start.”
“That church stuff is women’s work not mine.”
Poppycock (as the British would
respond). What is the most
important gift you can give to your child, father?
A fancy house, the latest fashion clothes, the toys and games for which
they clamor, a college education, an earthly inheritance?
None of these will give them what they need for eternity.
All of these will pass away, but a living faith in Jesus as Savior, a
knowledge of sin and its consequences, a life that is taught to glorify God in word and deed, will never pass away.
This is what your children need. And
those brought up in this holy training and admonition will be blessed for
eternity. Christian training for
eternity starts in the home. It
starts with fathers taking the responsibility to bring up their children in the
admonition of the Lord seriously. There
is no excuse that the Lord will accept from you when you fail to do this.
I have observed through my few years of
being a pastor that many fathers of families are too
detached from the church, even from regular weekly worship.
They have handed over this responsibility
to their wives and in effect have washed their hands of it.
Because this is so, many fathers have very little faith to share with
their children. They are very
unprepared to tackle this grand and joyous responsibility given to them by their
Lord. Both moms and dads need to be
instructed again in the basics of the faith, that they can faithfully
share them with their children. But
who will take the time for this? Is
it really that important? If I raise
my kids to know right from wrong, isn’t that enough?
It is enough if you want them to pretend to be a good citizen here on
earth (and there are no guarantees that they will turn out alright).
But it will do nothing for them and their
eternal welfare if their relationship to the Lord God their heavenly
Father, through His Son and our Savior Jesus by the means and power of the Holy
Spirit is neglected. What will get
them to heaven? No earthly
possession you can give them will pay for a ticket to heaven.
Only a living faith in the One Savior who died and lives is their
guarantee. Is that living faith
being fostered, fed, and nourished at
home? Are you as a dad seeing that
this important work is being done? Are
you showing by word and deed that the Christian faith is important by attending
church regularly, coming to the place Christ shares Himself in Word and
Sacrament for your’s and your family’s spiritual
nourishment and well-being? Are
you continuing beyond your confirmation instruction in a deeper study of God’s
Word that you may hear the voice of God as He leads you to be the best father
and husband for your children and wife?
There are
some telling statistics from a survey done in Switzerland in conjunction with
one of their regular censuses. They
asked some questions about church attendance to find how a mother and/or
father’s attendance at church affected the future church attendance of their
children. Here’s what they
discovered:
Father
Mother
Children 1.
regular
regular
regular
33%
irregular
41%
non-attending
26% 2.
irregular
regular
regular
3%
irregular
59%
non-attending
38% 3.
non-attending
regular
regular
2%
irregular
37%
non-attending
61% 4.
regular
irregular
regular
38%
5.
regular
non-attending
regular
44% 6.
irregular
non-attending
regular
23%
irregular
25%
non-attending
52% 7.
non-attending
non-attending
regular
4%
irregular
15%
non-attending
81% Look at these statistics closely dads.
If you regularly bring your children to worship your influence in their
future worship life is enormous. If
you stay away, they also will end up staying away.
The Lord calls you to great things, especially in how you model your
faith in word and deed before your
children. Men’s Bible study
is every Saturday morning from 8-9 a.m. Come
early for coffee and donuts, dads. Bring
your family to church. Stay for
Bible study afterwards. Don’t
exasperate your children. Don’t
exasperate the Lord. Your wife got
to whack you upside the head last month. Now
your pastor takes a shot at it. It
is not a perfect home where Christ is shared regularly in
devotions, worship, and the learning of God’s Word, but it is certainly
a blessed home, blessed by the Lord who gives good gifts, who gives salvation
and the gift of heaven. Toward that
cause I write to you this month. A dad and your pastor, Rev. Paul Sajban · Your
church is seeking a couple of adults to guide, assist, and teach the LYF high
school youth of our church as Youth Counselors. On the job training is
available. Love of teens and all their loveable idiosyncrasies is a must. Call
the Church Office 831-3522 for more information. · Remember
all boards, committees, individuals with budgets, your budgets are due by Sept.
19th. See that Don Miller of the Stewardship Committee has a copy of your 2009
budget by this date. · The
Nominating Committee will be seeking individuals to assume responsibilities of
leadership here at The Lutheran Church of Our Savior. Please prayerfully (that
means ask for the counsel of the Lord) consider their request if you are called. · For Our
“Yutes” Young people, would you like to explore the deeper meanings of your
Lutheran faith? Go to www.issuesetc.org. and
click on the “On demand” menu bar. You can listen to past shows on subjects
and topics to help feed your faith. Also check out the website of Higher Things
at www.higherthings.org and check
out their articles and resources put together just for you. See you in church! ______________________________________________________________________________ Alaskan Mission Update... Greetings, Last Saturday evening we arrived back in Anchorage from
the Bush, which officially ended our summer
ministry program. What a summer we have had, thanks to all of you who
kept us in your prayers. What seemed to be a very challenging summer at first
turned into a summer of HUGE ministry opportunities. This is the first year that
we have had so much feedback from the adults in the village. This was not just
from one village but all of them. Our teams experienced everything from having over 200
people crowding the church building in Hooper Bay for the closing program to one
of our teams being able to step up and minister through a suicide in the
village. This is quite a story and we will write more later on as we fill in all
the details. Our group was able to provide ministry for the entire village and,
as they got ready to leave, the village asked when they could return and
insisted that they should stay longer. As tough as things turned out to be in Pilot Station we
saw great ministry opportunities. On the last Thursday evening they had a
special “Eskimo Dance” just for us. The dome was full as we celebrated the
birthday of one of the village women with what is called a “pass out.”
Everyone was given some dry fish, fry bread and birthday cake. They then thanked
us for being willing to spend the money to come and minister in their
village. The down side is that there is now video of Corbie and Nancy
doing “Eskimo dance” (I think they like to have something put away to laugh
at during the cold winter months.) Following is an excerpt from an e mail from the village
of Eek: Paul & Corbie, Hello! I hope this
email finds you both well and happy! I just wanted to thank you both again for
arranging the Vacation Bible School team's visit to Eek. I was proud to be part
of it and will be again in the next few years. The
village's response to the missionaries was more than I thought it would
be. Today Lydia told me she wants to sing again with Jerry. I am proud of those
who came forward to invite the people to their homes although I have to say I am
not surprised. The baby blankets I
handed out were well received. It was very thoughtful. I thought about what I
might tell you both to help make next year an even more successful but I am
blank. From a Quinhagak church elder: The church elders and
I want to thank you for coming up here each year – we love what you do in our
village. You love our children and teach them the Word of God. After you leave,
our attendance at Sunday school is much higher and our kids want to know more
about the Bible.” For those of you who have followed us
through this year you know that my father passed away in March,
during his final days my sister introduced me to some great music that
has not only been challenging but also sustaining. Try to put 65 – 70 children in this
dome and imagine the volume and chaos. Our volunteers did a great job. Corbie
learning how to dance. My knees are sore! The songs “In Christ Alone” and
“Hear the Call of the Kingdom” have become near and dear to us. I would
encourage you to go to the following link and take a listen for yourself. http://gettymusic.com/
Quyana Corbie & Nancy
____________________________________________________________________ Hey all, Hello from the States! Yes, that's
correct, I'm on this side of the world for once. But not for much longer
as I leave tomorrow.
Ha! Meanwhile,
a couple new things I'm going to try. I've decided to include my
newsletter "Highlights" and "Items for Thought" in the
e-mail text. Hopefully this will enable everyone to quickly take in the
essentials of what I wish to share and then entice you to read the details in
the attachment. I must warn those of you who are tempted
to skip opening the attachment that you will miss pictures and my witty
observations about life in China. But such is the peril of offering
a short cut I suppose. Anyway, here they are: Highlights: I came back to the U.S. on the 11th of July.
Provided He is willing, I leave for China on the 26th of
August.
Highlights of and thoughts on my last month and a half in my favorite
little SE Chinese city.
Thoughts on raising funds (USD $20,000 – woo hoo!) and highlights of
being home.
Thoughts on my new job (still through LCMS WM) in Yunnan Items for thought: Thanks for a good time in the States. J
For safe
travel back to China, visas, registering for classes, etc…
That I
can do my new job well and be a blessing to the people of South West China.
To meet
my fund raising goal. $20,000 USD. Woo hoo!!!.
Thanks
for all the support I have already received! Encouraging words,
"thoughts," financial support, hugs, showing interest in China and
what I do there—these are all gifts for which I am abundantly thankful! For my
family and friends who find it a little more difficult to let go every year I go
back to China. Despite what you might think, it does not get
easier over time. Or so they often tell me…
For
Concordia English Center (CEC) as it struggles with visa issues and the other
restrictions a jumpy government tends to put on it. For example, even the
free class on Saturday and the Living Water Fellowship on Sunday night had to be
stopped when an official called and asked about foreigners at the center…only
time will tell if and when things will go back to normal (after the Olympics?).
For the
new workers that will come to work at the CEC this fall.
For our
worker, Julie, that was "washed" in June, and for one of our other
workers, Hillary, who was "washed" last weekend. Keep both these
women in your thoughts as they begin their journeys
following Him.. For the
Chinese workers at the CEC that aren't Following yet.
Thanks
for the blessing of working at the CEC for two years! Also,
part of the reason I came home this summer was to do a little fundraising.
You can read more about my thoughts on that in the newsletter. For those
who feel His leading to respond financially, here's how:There are a few
different ways to give. Here's the link to give on-line: <http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=12531>
. This is probably the simplest way to give, but here are a few
alternatives: Write
a check to LCMS World Mission and write "Anna Horkey" in the subject
line. You can send it to one of two
addresses: For those who are curious, the bottom address is the ultimate destination for everything. I like to give the first address because MC's office is really great about notifying me when I get more support. It helps me add names to newsletter lists, for example. :) I hope this summer finds everyone well and enjoying the blessings that the He gives us new every morning. In Him, Anna Horkey
____________________________________________________________________________________ Trustee’s August Report...
Work done at the
Parsonage: The dead trees in the front yard were
removed. The Maple and Birch trees in the back yard were trimmed. Removed the eave troughs from the
parsonage. The rotten siding around the windows
etc. was replaced. Lynn Soleta will be removing the storage
shed by the back of the house. Windom Painting will do the painting of
the parsonage. Rick Dixion will install the eave
troughs. Work done at the
Church: Fairmont Glass Co. caulked the windows.
The owner was asked to come inspect the job that was done. The trustee weren't
satisfied. Heineman Restoration Inc. checked the
church for tuckpointing needed. They are preparing a bid. Talked with Matt Peterson of Schwickets.
They are finishing a couple of school flat roofs and we are to be next on the list to repair the
bell tower and roof. The plaster was repaired and the
woodwork around the north door was varnished by Dave Borsgard. Holt cleaned the carpets in the
Educational wing, the Sonshine Classroom and hallway. Lynn Soleta cleaned and buffed the
fellowship and Sonshine Classroom hard surface floors. Respectfully submitted, Willard Schroeder, Sec. Of Trustees Sonshine School... Supplies needed:
________________________________________________________________________
Budget Planning for 2009...
Don Miller Hospital Fall Festival... The
Windom Area Hospital Auxiliary will be holding it’s Annual Fall Festival on
Saturday, Sept. 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., here at The Lutheran Church of
Our Savior, Fellowship Hall. We will
have coffee, rolls & pie begin at 9:00 am, and our famous Hot Turkey
Sandwiches & fixings will start between 10:00-10:30 am. There
will be a bakery booth, white elephant booth, garden patch, crafts and the
wonderful selection of baskets
made up by Marsha Libra, from items donated from all the hospital staff. Our
raffle this year is a very nice sofa table or
sideboard table. Donations are $1.00 and can be
purchased from any auxiliary member or on the day of the Festival. We are
raising money to buy a Cardiac Chair. LWML Honorary Luncheon...
All ladies of the church are invited to
the Annual LWML luncheon for Honorary and Golden Age
members, Thursday, Sept. 4 at 11:30 a.m. After lunch there will be
devotions, program and a brief business meeting. Bible Studies...
Men's Saturday Morning Bible Study will continue on September 6th at 8 am. Please come early for coffee at 7:30. Tuesday morning “Faith” study — will
begin again on Tuesday, October 7th as we study the
Lutheran Confessions and especially “The Epitone”.
(Tappert Book of concord 1959 ed. pages 463-501). We begin with a history
of the formula of Concord (1576) pages 471– 490 “A Reader’s Edition. Bible Study opportunities for our Ladies: · (1st
Thursday) LWML business meeting · 1:30 pm
Anna– Martha (afternoon) (studies
primarily from The Lutheran Women’s Quarterly) · 7:00pm
Joanna Circle ((studies primarily from
The Lutheran Women’s Quarterly) · 1:30 pm
Golden Age 2nd Tuesday (short studies/
topics, 1 session)
Congratulations Cindy Gehl...Minnesota South District Selection Committee has selected Cindy as the
“2008 Volunteer Teacher of The Year.” You have done a wonderful job teaching our Sunday School Students. You are a great asset to our church congregation. Thank you for se |