Blow The Trumpet!

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain!

Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble;

For the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand!”  Joel 2:1

        Joel was a prophet of God who prophesied in a time when Judah was in a great period of devastation.   Locusts had destroyed all the crops causing a horrible famine in the land.  They even stripped the bark from the fig trees.  People and animals were dying by the thousands. It was the greatest plague anyone had ever seen and Joel could only believe it was the judgement of God.

       This is backed up in Deuteronomy 28:38-46 when Moses warned Israel what would happen to the nation that was disobedient. “These are the curses that shall come on you.  Locusts will consume all your trees and produce.”  Joel said that this time had come and he began warning the people to beware.  Look at these next two verses:

1.         “Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all

             the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is  

             at   hand”     Joel 2:1

2.            “The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?”  Joel 2:11

Joel calls for Repentance:  Verses 15 – 17 is not only a warning to the people, but to the leaders of the congregation to admonish the people who were living sinful lives.  The same thing is true today; don’t wink at sin!  What does it mean to ‘wink’?  It means to close our eyes against the sin and slaughter going on around us.  We say, “Oh, it’s so terrible to have all these abortions”.  Oh, it’s so terrible everyone thinks it okay to commit adultery, to have sex with anybody and everyone.”  “It’s so terrible that this happens and that happens and immediately after we say it, we forget it!  We close our eyes to sin.  We don’t want to speak up and tell people when they’re doing something wrong – even in our churches.  Let’s not be blind to it and believe it isn’t happening.

        Joel crosses over from his time to a time to come. [Joel 28-29]    In those days a few were given dreams and vision as a way of prophecy, but God was saying that in the days to come, His Spirit would be poured out on all flesh, young and old.  They would be given visions and dreams of prophecy.  There would be no select group, but on lowliest to the highest.
        This time has come – the captives have come and continue to return to Israel.  It began in 1948 when Israel became a nation as was told would happen.   Peter saw it coming in Acts 2:14 when he quotes Joel.  Now go to Rev. 6:12 and look what happens here.  The Moon turns to blood!  Matt. 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
         In Joel 3:13 it speaks of the harvest being ripe in the world so we know he is speaking of the last days.  How do we know what last days are?  Look at 2 Tim. 3:1-5

 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,   traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.

         Today, multitudes are walking on the edge.  They want both Jesus and the world.  I tell you it is impossible to live like that, but they have been deceived into believing they can.  This Valley of Decision is the place of God’s final verdict.  He is saying to the undecided, “Now is the time.  Either you are for me or against me.”  (Matt. 12:30)  

         There are 6 steps the church must take to help people make a decisions for Christ:

·       Understand the seriousness of sin.

         ·       Understand the consequences of sin

·       Teach repentance

·       Call a solemn assembly

·       A time for fasting and prayer

         ·       Teach that the blood of Jesus covers every sin when people confess and repent.

        Those who are society calls ‘worthless’, or ‘bums’.  [Menservants and maidservants], in Joel’s day, servants were considered beneath their owners.  They couldn’t be used by God.  They were the

‘low life’.  But God says in those days, he is going to make them prophets!  Their station in life is not the issue; the issue is the matter of the heart.  So be careful and don’t ‘esteem yourself above others’. (Phil. 2:3)
        “Blow the Trumpet in Zion, sound an alarm in the Holy Mountain! Let the people of the earth tremble; for the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand”.  It’s time to get our act together; to become a strong ‘people of God’.  It’s time to wake up and take a stand in our family, our church and our community.  Let the voice of God’s people be heard!
        How can we expect our young people to serve God, when we do deceitful things?  Quit acting in church like we are so righteous and then outside of church take on the character of the devil.  Quite being deceitful, trying to see what we can get away with.  It’s time to turn to God in repentance.  Call a solemn assembly, get on your knees, fast and pray.  It can turn a nation back to God.  Don’t worry about whom the president is or how he got there – God puts people in authority and takes them out. 

REPENT!   REPENT!  REPENT!  Turn from how you’re living – change!  You can make a difference in this world by preparing for the world to come.

The Joy of Rentance

The Joy of Repentance

Psalm 51:10-13 NLT

 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

  Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you.

     The first year I became a Christian I was so zealous to lead others to salvation that I came on so strong I really offended some family members.  My reasoning was that God had set me free from so much stuff and I felt such joy and I wanted the same for those I loved.  One of my siblings was living a very worldly life and I explained to them that if they continued to live this way, they would spend eternity in Hell.

     That didn’t turn out too well and our relationship went down hill.  I was so troubled about it and just felt miserable.  I grieved because I was sure they were on there way to Hell; I grieved because I felt I was wounded because they rejected Jesus and me as well. 
     I prayed and read the Bible almost constantly and felt I had ‘arrived’.  I was a squeaky-clean Christian; a saint who could do or say nothing wrong.  I carried an oversized Bible with me wherever I went and shared it with whoever would listen.  I lost all my friends, which was okay in my mind because I couldn’t keep company with sinners like them.  What did bother me was my family turning away because I preached so much to them. 
     Eventually I came to understand that God loves the sinner as much he loved me.  What lesson that was for me.  I learned that I needed to love them and let them see Jesus in me.  I also learned that I wasn’t this great Christian I thought I was; I needed to recognize the sin stirring around in my own heart. 
     One day while studying Psalm 51, I came on verse 17; “The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise.”  God immediately opened my understanding and I gave up another part of me when I realized, I too, was just a sinner saved by grace. 
     I had heard the saying, “You catch them and God will clean them”, referring to the fact that God will accept you just the way you are and it is He who will clean you up and make you whole.  That was me; God had me, but there were things in my character that needed cleaning up.  That was a day of tearful repentance.
     I wiped away my tears and went to my sibling’s house and asked her to forgive me for the things I said to her.  She asked why I had asked forgiveness from her because she had said some hard things to me.  We both cried and hugged each other in forgiveness.  In God’s time, she also came to know the Lord in a very real way and accept Jesus as her Savior.
     Now I was ready for verses 10-13, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”  The Lord was doing that and still is.  Vs10, “And renew a right spirit with me”; I knew that was a flaw that only God could take care of.  Vs. 11 says, “Do not banish me from you presence and don’t take you Holy Spirit from me.” That was a thought that chilled me to the bone.  I don’t know how I lived through the past years without knowing Jesus as my Savior or having the comfort of the Holy Spirit in times of trouble.  God sent the Holy Spirit as a comforter (John 14:26) and a teacher for which I am so grateful.
     “Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you” (vs. 12) I went from Repentance to Joy.  After I repented, I experienced joy like I had never known.  When someone tells you that once you are saved, you never have to repent again, that is a lie of Satan.  Satan wants you to believe that no matter what you do you are still saved.  You can read throughout the entire Bible about those who turned away from God and were turned over to Satan.  Repentance will not only give you immediate joy, but will open your heart to be willing to do the things He asks of you.
     Verse 13 has given me such more understanding of God’s grace.  “Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you.”    I hope you got this truth, because it’s so important.  Go over these verses again and you will see the requirements for bringing sinners to Christ.

•             Ask God for a clean heart.
•             Try to be steadfast in your walk.
•             Pray to God to keep you in His grace.
•             Let the Holy Spirit be your guide.
•             Experience the Joy of the Lord.
•             Share your testimony with out condemning others.
•             People will be saved.

All About Sheep

                                                            All About Sheep

“Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we

                      ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”   Psalm 100:3

 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11 

Did you ever wonder why Jesus calls believers his sheep?  Did you know that sheep are among the stupidest animals in the world? They don’t follow commands at all.  Did you ever see sheep in a circus or an animal trainer showing off his trained sheep?  Of course not, because they won’t do what you tell them.
            Sheep can’t protect themselves from anyone or anything so that’s why they need a shepherd to watch over them.  They can’t even run very fast.  When the enemy sneaks in to attack them, they are an easy target, unless there is a shepherd there to ward off the enemy.  Typically, predators like wolves, fox and wild dogs go after sheep. The Lord warns us of this same danger. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15
          Did you know that sheep have very poor eyesight?  They can’t even recognize the enemy right in front of them. If sheep get knocked down and fall on their back, they can’t get up by themselves.  They need help to get back up on their feet. They flail their legs in the air, bleat and cry and after a few hours on their backs, gas begins to collect in their stomachs.  The stomach then hardens and the air passage is cut off.  The sheep will eventually suffocate if there is no shepherd to help them.  This is called a “cast down” position.  It reminds me a scripture, “Why art thou cast down, O, my soul, and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”  [Psalm 42:5]    We like sheep can get in a spiritual life threatening situation and our only help and hope is in God.  We aren’t always able to see the danger around us.
            Sheep have excellent hearing and can easily recognize the voice of their shepherd from other sounds and voices.  What was it Jesus said?  John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” If we have a close relationship with Jesus, we listen for him and want to follow after him.  If you have the opportunity, read the book, “Hinds Feet in High Places”.  It’s about listening to Jesus and following Him.
            Sheep exhibit both Flocking and Following behaviour.  As people,  we tend to have the same behavior as Hebrews 10:25 explains “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Those of us who love the Lord like to gather together and with prayer and praise encourage and lift each other up.
            Sheep prefer to move from a darkened area to a lighted one. Christians also prefer to be in the “Light”.  I Peter 2:9 explains why that is;  “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
            With sheep there is safety in numbers and if you notice they try to remain close to each other. It is harder for a predator to pick a sheep out of a group than to go after a few strays.  It seems to be the same with people.  When we walk out of the will of God and into the world, the enemy is waiting to devour us.  The Bible explains it this way, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8 
            From birth, lambs are taught to follow the older members of the flock.  That’s how they learn to do the things they do and to be protected from harm.  We know about bringing up children; to take care of them by teaching them how to grow up.  They don’t always listen to us, but they always watch us and learn from us.  Sadly, not all parents follow the scriptures of “…bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Eph. 6:4   
           Sheep have no idea how to balance the amount of food they take in.    It seems that people have the same problem and I don’t mean of ‘overeating’.  People don’t realize they are in danger of taking in too much of the world.  Many keep taking in more and more and end up in danger of falling away from God.  We also need to beware of the dangers of over indulging in worldly pleasures.  In the parable of the ‘Sower and the Seeds’, we read about the seeds that “fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”  Luke 8:14
           Can you see that it’s no wonder Jesus refers to us as sheep and himself as the Shepherd.  He knows each of us from the inside out and those who have accepted him as their shepherd know Him; really know Him. "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.  As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. John 10:14-15  

            Thank you, Jesus, for being my Shepherd!

                                                                Wanda Hammond Ritter
                                                                                                                     July 13,2012

Catch a Little Fox

Catch A Little Fox

 by

Wanda Ritter

“Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.”
 (Song of Songs 2:15 NKJV)

What do you know about the fox, a clever, cunning animal, who eats birds and small animals.  They also eat insects, fish and berries. There are several species that live North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.  We are most familiar with the red fox.  However, there are also black, or silver, as they are called, blue, artic, cross and the gray fox.  For centuries, they have been trapped for their beautiful fur. In spite of that, they have survived.  The foxes hide by day and hunt by night. 

My father was a trapper and fur dealer and I was well acquainted with wild animals like the fox.  I went with Dad one day to check his fox traps and he had caught one.  I discovered at that time, the fox is a persistent and very dangerous animal.  He is so crafty and cunning, he can sneak into a farmyard and cause destruction before the farmer even knows he’s there.

There are foxes of a different kind who sneak into churches all over the world.  They are also very crafty and cunning and most don’t recognize them for who they are, until it’s too late and the damage is done.  How do we recognize a churchfox?  It would help if they had a bushy tail and pointed ears, but that isn’t the case.  Most look exactly like your average churchgoer.   However, there are four things that stand out like antenna:

• They come from another church or denomination and share how they were treated badly and did not deserve it.
• They make themselves available to be helpful to others, especially if these other seem to have money.
• They tell anyone who will listen about all the amazing things they have done in the past and that we should follow their example.
• If they get a microphone in hand, they try to teach others about the Bible; enough so they appear legitimate and then, sneaky as a fox, they put forth their beliefs.  Very craftily they twist the Word of God into what sounds like truth.

           Generally, these little foxes have sneaked into several churches and wreaked havoc, before they were recognized. The problem being, that once they become trusted by the leadership, they cunningly began take-over tactics. 

           A church fox has the uncanny ability to plant a word here and there that brings questions to the minds of the faithful.  They might encourage the pastor of the church by bragging him up and telling him what a privilege it is to sit under the pastor’s ministry.  This is how the fox tries to appear humble.

If given the opportunity, they can undermine strong, solid programs within a church and in some cases, cause a great division in the body of Christ.  The best thing to do is what the wise Solomon said, “catch the little foxes before they spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes”. 

           These ‘tender grapes’ are those who are newly saved, or those Christians who are not strong and grounded.  The fox loves to gobble up those tender grapes and the poor little things don’t even recognize who they are dealing with.
           It reminds me of the story of “The Gingerbread Man”?  The gingerbread man was running away and no one could catch him.  Then along came the crafty, cunning fox and by appearing to help the gingerbread man, tricked him into a position where the fox gobbled him up.  That was the end of the gingerbread man.
          God has given many gifts to man and one much needed gift is the gift of discernment (I Cor. 12:10).  Not everyone has the Gift of Discernment, but it is placed within the body for our protection from the little foxes that spoil the vines.  We must not confuse this gift with criticism.  Many times, one who has the gift of discernment is told they are being critical, especially when they have discerned there is a fox in the church.
          All of this doesn’t mean that we should go on a fox hunt.  What it does mean, is we should be aware there are those who do these things.  If we recognize their tactics, we need to catch them by putting a stop to what they are doing before they cause too much damage. 

Jesus said to those he sent out, “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves”.  (Matt. 10:16)  Christians should behave in this manner when they see someone causing division in the church.  First, they should just watch and be silent until they are sure of what they believe.  They should pray much about it. Finally, if they are positive a person is causing a serious problem in the church, they need to bring it before the church board.  If that would be too uncomfortable, it is proper to write a letter addressed to the board, with their signature.

The church board, along with the pastors, is the governing body of the church.  Once the problem is brought to their attention, the situation is then in their hands and it is up to them to handle it.  You can do nothing more about it, but continue to pray.

God knows the situation and sees what is happening.  If you have the gift of discernment you also have the responsibility to act when a fox comes into the body of believers.  Whatever you do, pray - pray - pray!  God will show you what to do.

A Firm Foundation

A Firm Foundation

Wanda Ritter

 “He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.  But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”  (Luke 6:48-49 NIV)

People who stand on shaky foundations often find themselves falling and getting injured.  They are generally amazed that they fell off what they considered to be ‘safe’.  One time my husband found himself in this very situation.  We were visiting at our son’s home and discovered a bird had built a nest in the opening of a vent that was over the ceiling of the guestroom.  The bird made such a racket; it kept us awake all night. The next morning, the men planned out a strategy to remove the nest.  As my son didn’t have a ladder, he stood the children’s small picnic table on end and held it, while my husband climbed up on it to clean out the vent.  The bird flew out, the nest was pulled out and things were going well.  As my husband began to climb down, his foot slipped.  My son grabbed him around the waist to stop his fall, but it caused him to pitch forward and land on his head.

Fortunately, although bruised and scraped, there was no serious injury.  My husband later laughingly said his head was the only place he could have landed on and not been hurt. The problem with this situation is, although what he was trying to accomplish was worthwhile, he was not standing on a firm foundation.  Therefore, it all came tumbling down and he along with it.

Many of us never knew what a ‘firm foundation’ was, unless you were in the construction business.  As a child, I remember my mother wearing, what she called a “foundation garment”.  That was a nice way to say, ‘corset’.  Women wore them to keep their bodies tucked in and firm.  These are not popular today and I am thankful for that.

However, building on a firm foundation will always be the right way to go, whether it’s building a structure, or a life.  In Luke, chapter six, Jesus told this parable of the difference between a man building his house on a firm foundation and the one who builds without it.  It was his way of telling us that we should build our lives on the foundation of Christ, the Rock (I Cor. 10:4).

If you have ever walked along an ocean shore, where there are huge rocks that project out of the water, you will find a lighthouse somewhere in the vicinity.  The beams from lighthouses around the world are there to warn ships of the danger of rocks.  In times past, many a ship has gone down on the rocks. These rocks are immovable, even when a large seafaring vessel collides with them.  The vessel will break apart, but the rock will remain standing.

On this same ocean shore, you will find sand; sand that is constantly shifting.  It may not look it, but the movement of sand is tremendous.  A good example of this movement was played out before me some years ago.  My husband and I were walking the Pacific Ocean shore in the state of Washington.  The sand was so hard that vehicles were driving up and down the shoreline.  We walked some distance when we came on a nice car sunk in the sand all the way up to the windows.  We were amazed to see this and someone nearby told us it had been left on the beach overnight about two days earlier.  It was obviously impossible to pull it out.  About two days later, we returned to the site to find only the top of the car showing.  It was lost to the shifting sand when the tide came in.  That made a great impression on me.  How easily in unguarded moments, we can get caught in sinking sand that could lead to destruction.

In our journey through life, we find floods and storms come in and can cause serious damage.  Are we prepared to meet a flood or storm that comes without warning?  City streets are filled with homeless, destitute in body, soul and mind, because they could not weather the storm.  Their lives were built on sinking sand and when the storm or flood came, they collapsed.  Today, you see that complete destruction in the lives of the street people.

Some may say that “fate dealt them a cruel blow”.  It wasn’t fate at all.  It was the foundation their life was built on and when the rains came their life crumbled.  Storms of life come to every one of us, just as the sun shines on all.   “…..He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  (Matt. 5:45 NIV)  Many of us have had terrible storms, such as losing a loved one, have a severe physical problem, going through the pain of divorce, or failing financially.  Those who don’t know Christ as the Rock, often turn to drugs, drinking, gambling, or just giving up on life when the rains come.  They do not know how to trust Jesus with their lives.

I was in that place for many years and when the floods and storms came, I turned to other things and found myself in sinking sand.  It was there I met the Savior and this is my testimony found in Psalm 40: 2-3, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.”   Today, I find when the rains come, I would prefer to grow a garden. 

 ‘Bloom where you’re planted’ is one of my favorite sayings.  This is the garden that will grow when it rains.  A good example of this is found in the Old Testament.  Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers, but he stood on a firm foundation and continued to trust God.  The Lord eventually raised him up to be the most powerful man in Egypt, next to the Pharaoh.  When years later he encountered his brothers again, he said this:  “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” (Gen. 50:20 NKJV) When the storms come in your life; God will make something good from it if we trust him and stay strong with Jesus as our rock.

With Christ as my Savior, my foundation is firm.  I believe as Isaiah did when he wrote, “……When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”  (Isa. 59:19 KJV)  He shall be at my side fighting the battle against the enemy and also at your side if you put your faith in him.

Put your trust in Christ today and begin to build your life on him by reading His Word and putting it into action.  Don’t let the floods and storms of life destroy you.  Don’t get caught in sinking sand.  There is an old hymn titled, “The Solid Rock”, that says it all.

                        My hope is built on nothing less,

                        Than Jesus blood and righteousness.

                        I dare not trust the sweetest frame,    

                But wholly lean on Jesus name.

                        On Christ, the solid rock I stand,

                        All other ground is sinking sand.

                        All other ground is sinking sand.

The Chameleon

The Chameleon

by Wanda Ritter

Almost everyone has seen a chameleon and marveled at its ability to change color and blend in with its surroundings.  If you put one on the grass, it will turn green, or if you place it on a branch, it will turn the color of bark.  What an amazing little creature God created.  The chameleon has another incredible attribute - each of its eyes move independently of the other.  It can look down with one eye and up with the other, without moving its head.  This is great protection for the chameleon, as it can watch in different directions at the same time and scurry away quickly if an enemy approaches.

I often wondered why man was not created like the chameleon, able to change color to fit in with his environment and have independent eyesight.  Then I realized that although not physically, spiritually we do have the same characteristics.  When Christians are born again, they change from dark to light.  

I Peter 2:9  “….that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”   I remember as a new Christian, old friends and coworkers would say, “What happened to you - you look different?”  How wonderful the change was visible. 

Sadly enough, many tend to become like the chameleon, changing to fit in with their surroundings.  How could this happen?  “… Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”  (John 3:19 NIV )  They came from darkness into light, but in their weakness, slipped back into the dark again.  When they stepped into the worldly environment, they changed back to fit in with the others.

Man also has the ability to see in different directions at the same time.  They may try to keep one eye on Jesus and the other on the world and its fleshly desires.  When they do, they generally change back to darkness.  The Word of God doesn’t tell us to look both ways, but says,  “Let us fix our eyes [both eyes] on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2 NIV)  There are many ways we tend to be like the chameleon, always changing our mind, our direction, what we believe, our church and yes, even our doctrine. 

Our Mind:   James 1:8 tells us,  “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”  A double minded person is one who is drawn in two opposite directions.  He goes from belief to unbelief, from hope to hopelessness.  He is recognized by his inconsistency in prayer, faith, church attendance, and in all his ways.  Those who keep both eyes on Jesus, will not find themselves double minded.

Our Direction:   When we don’t pray for God’s direction, we often find ourselves in trouble.  In Psalms 32:8, we find one of God’s precious promises, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.  Our heavenly Father desires us to go in the direction he has planned for us and it is impossible to do that, if we are going the way of the world.  Keep both of your eyes on Him.

What We Believe:  How many church goers on a given Sunday repeat the Nicene Creed?  “I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible.  And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten, not made, Being of one substance with the Father, By whom all things were made:  Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.  He suffered and was buried; And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father.  And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end.  And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets.  And I believe one Holy Christian and Apostolic Church.  I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.  And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the Life of the world to come.  Amen.” 

There is nothing wrong in repeating the Nicene Creed, yet many of these same people also read their horoscopes, or have their palms read.  Some may consult a medium for advice and instruction.  What then do we believe?  “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”  (Matt. 6:24 NIV)

Our Doctrine:   The Bible clearly warns us about other doctrines: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”.  (Eph. 4:14)  There is only one way to salvation and that is the way of the cross - by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior.  What follows can be summed up in this verse from Matthew 22:37-39.  “Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Once you believed this, but now you may be doubting because you heard being baptized in water gives you salvation.  Perhaps you’ve attended the “Circus of the Stars”, the Christian stars, that is, and all their various antics.  Maybe you think you should be perfect in all ways to earn salvation.  

Your Church:  There are those who change churches like the chameleon changes colors.  They are constantly looking for the “Right Church” and they will never find it.  While it is true, some fit in certain groups better than others, they will find wherever there are people, there are problems.  The early church had its problems and Paul wrote to the Thessalonians cautioning them, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”  (2 Thess. 2:15)  When we hear some of our missing congregation say, “Oh, we’ve just been visiting other churches” - watch out, the chameleon is showing his colors.

God did not create us to be like chameleons, always changing and looking for other ways and other things.  We have been called out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Stay in it and let your light shine for Jesus.  “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Gal. 5: 5:1)

Remembering Father

“O, My  Papa, to me he was so wonderful,

O, my Papa, to me he was so good.

Gone are the days, when he would take me on his knee

And with a smile, would turn my tears to laughter.

“O, my Papa, to me he was so wonderful,

O, my Papa, to me he was so good.”

This very popular song in the 50’s, sung by Eddie Fisher, portrays a wonderful father-child relationship.  This is the kind of father everyone would love to have had while they were growing up. If your father didn’t measure up to this ideal, don’t despair.  You are among the majority.  However, if you don’t measure up to this, it’s not too late; you can change.

Father’s Day, although not quite the celebration of Mother’s Day, is a great time for reflection.  It can bring out the best in a man, or the worst.  It can fill him with regrets, or with satisfaction.  At its worse, he may retreat and draw into his shell, but at its best, a father will see he can become better.

In my estimation, there is nothing worse than a father who sexually abuses his child and second place, is the one who physically abuses his children.  Both of these behaviors leave deep scars in a child’s life and most of them grow up believing they are worthless and often display the same type of behavior when they become adults.  This is fatherhood at the depth of the downside.  Only those who experience this will know that God alone can set them free from bitterness, unforgiveness and a sense of worthlessness. 

You may say, “My father never did those things.”  Then why do you have such mixed feelings on Father’s Day?  When old wounds open up, even after years, they are very sore and need to have First Aid.  Where do we go for First Aid?  To the Red Cross, of course - the cross where Jesus died; the cross stained red with the blood he shed to wash away our sins.

Christians know God is in the restoration business.  Some of you have been restored and have discovered in the eyes of God you are of great worth.  It is then you began to change and you find your rightful place in life.  Reflect on the kind of father you are. Where are you lacking in fatherhood? What kind of memories will your children have of you when Father’s Day rolls around? 

            I have mixed memories of my father.  I remember Sunday afternoon drives and picnics at roadside parks, fishing from a wooden rowboat and listening to the oars dip steadily into the water.  How secure, knowing my father was taking me safely back to shore.  I was never afraid when I was with him.  I remember excursions to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the time he took me down the Indian River in his little trapper’s boat. 

If I close my eyes, I can still see him sitting in the green metal lawn chair under the little maple tree he planted.  When I returned home for visits with my family in the summer, you could be sure that’s where he would be.  The children would jump out of the car and run towards him calling, “Grandpa, Grandpa, we’re here.”  He would hold both arms out and they would cover him with hugs and kisses, but only for a few minutes, then he would say, “All right, that’s enough now.”  They would run and find Grandma to hug. 

In the winter, Dad always wore plaid, flannel shirts with the musky scent of the muskrat and mink pelts he sorted in his garage.  His trade was a trapper and fur dealer of animal pelts.  When I was young he often let me help stretch the pelts on drying boards, or pack them in gunny sacks.

He used ‘Old Spice’ aftershave lotion and liked to wear a heavy flannel bathrobe and alpaca lined slippers in the winter.  He smoked a pipe, drank strong coffee, and had an egg, toast and cornflakes for breakfast every day.  He liked real honeycomb on his toast.  He wore a red cap and liked to hunt, fish and play yukor at the billiard hall.

            I also remember the time he packed his suitcase and left, but he came home later that night and I was so happy.  I remember he didn’t go to church, or pray. He only once or twice ever came to watch me perform in school functions and when I showed him my report card, he would only glance at it and say, “Yep, that’s all right."  He never asked me anything about what I liked, or what I did for fun.  He and my older brother didn’t see eye to eye.  He never had a best friend.  He complained a lot about money and hated to part with a penny.  I wish, just once, he would have said, “I love you," but he never did.  Neither did he ever say, “You’re pretty”, or smart, or, “you did a good job.”

When Dad passed away at age seventy-two, I was in my late thirties.  It was one of the hardest times in my life.  All I could think about was never again would I see him sitting under the maple tree in their back yard.  After the funeral, I put on his old flannel bathrobe and his fleece lined gloves and sat in my rocking chair crying for a whole day.

            It took a long time for me to get past the grief of his death. It wasn’t just missing his physical presence, which I did; it was as though I felt cheated, because he left me and I had never won his approval.  There was an empty place in my life that had never been filled, even though I always knew he loved me. When Father’s Day came the next year, I wrote the following poem for him.

                                    Father

            I thought of you today -

            a special thought.

            Not that I don’t think of you often,

            but missing you a little more,

because of the day.

I picked a rosebud

            and would have placed it

            on your grassy coverlet,

            if I could have,

because of the day.

            I would have liked to talk to you

            as I used to do,

            and given you a ‘little something’,

            even if you didn’t need it,

            - because of the day.

            The best I could do was to pick a rosebud

            from the bush in my yard

            that marks your passing,

            and tell you I love you,

            - because of the day.

         Dads, what will your children remember about you when you’re gone? It doesn’t matter if they are four or forty, they need your approval. They need to know you are interested in them and care what is going on in their life.  Tell them you love them.  Don’t assume they know.

For those of you who have not known the love of an earthly father, the love of your heavenly Father far exceeds any love you desire. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”  (I John 3:1)  How wonderful to know we have a father who constantly watches over us and cares about every part of our lives. 

We are his children and in Romans 8:15, we are told to call him, ‘Abba’, meaning, Daddy.  His arms are always waiting to receive us and he welcomes our love; even desires it.  In Hebrews 13:5, “God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  What comfort this is for all of us - the children of God.

If you have failed as a father, it’s not too late. Where do you go for guidance?  The Word of God is full of wisdom regarding relationships of father’s to their children.  The book of Proverbs speaks much of the father-son relationship.  The New Testament is full of advice on being a loving, God-fearing father.  Can you improve?  God’s Word says you can change.  Why not try?

 Wanda Ritter