“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!
Amen. Ephesians 3:14, 20-21
Our newest brother, Jacob Yond (second from the right) was baptized into the Lord on June 12th!
As Christians, we can be so thankful for our heavenly Father. It is so amazing to be able to trust in a Father who is perfect. He is incapable of making a mistake in your life. As we put our trust in him, he will make all our paths straight.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-7
As I think about my human father, who himself became a Christian a few years ago, I am very grateful for him. Although, he was not perfect, I am grateful for every good thing that he brought into my life. His work ethic and the way he always provided for our family. He introduced me to all kinds of sports. I learned how to snow ski and play tennis because of him. He taught me how to have fun. I learned to be confidence and courage from him. Now that he is a Christian, we can have talks that we never could before we were Christians. God is a Father to both of us and that just makes it more awesome. We get to study the Bible with other men together and help them become Christians. We can be about our eternal purpose together. What a blessing. I am very grateful for my Dad. I hope all of us are grateful for our Dads. Though they weren’t perfect, we can focus on the good things that they did for us and with us.
The ASU Campus Minsitry spends the day at the Grand Canyon!
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
When we become a son or daughter of God, we know they we have a Father that is perfect. We can rest easy as we trust our lives in His hands.
Mark 10:28-30; Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields- and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. When we decide to trust God and follow his son Jesus, we can trust that everything that happens to us, good and bad, is totally for our own good.
Hebrews 12:10-11; Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Do we really trust that when God disciplines it is for our own good? Do we even realize when God is disciplines us. Sometimes,when we are not obeying his commands and things stop holding together in our lives, we need to realize that God is disciplining us so that we will repent.
Colossians 1:17; He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. When we don’t stay in him, things in our lives will start to fall apart.
He is hoping that when we get enough pain from the consequences of our choices to not obey his word and sin instead, we will realize that we need to repent, (change our sinful/disobedience to His word). Acts 3:19; Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. When learn from God’s perfect discipline, we are refreshed and grow up in Him from that experience.
SPIRITUAL FATHERS IN THE FAITH
1 Thessalonians 2:10-12; You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
We need spiritual fathers in the faith! I can remember in my past 16 years as a Christian how many spiritual men helped me in my life. I am so grateful for men like Dave Graham who studied the bible with me and helped me to overcome my worldliness and sin by telling me the truth in love, being my friend and setting an example for what a man of God looks like. He taught me how to be loving a relatable way. He went on to put me in the ministry full time. I think of Bruce Williams who taught me to be steadfast in my faith and be a spiritual leader. He also wasn’t afraid to disciple me when I was in sin. Dave Eastman helped me be a better husband to my wife and inspired Sonja and I to have a family of our own someday because of how we viewed their family. Jay Minor was there for me when I was in a very weakened state spiritually. I am grateful for Kip Mckean for inspiring me to have greater faith and deeper convictions. He encourages me to live my Christian life for God with all my heart. Matt Sullivan inspired me to be willing to go anywhere, do anything give up everything for God’s Kingdom. He has become one of my best friends.
Today, in our churches there is a need more than ever for the men to become spiritual fathers in the faith. Who are you helping in there walk with God? Are you setting the example for other men to follow in speech, in life, in love, in faith and purity? (1 Timothy 4:12) The world is lacking so much the Godly leadership of men! Dead beat dads are a dime a dozen. So many men are totally self seeking, unreliable, unfaithful to their wives and children. As men of God to take a stand and lead with Godly courage, lead with compassion, gentleness and love. Lead with deep convictions and a steadfast faith that draws attention.
I am so grateful for men like Chad Wilson, Rob Hamblin, Mark Guirrido, Jason Bond, Mike Patterson, and Luke Speckman, (who is going on staff to lead the campus men this month). These men have demonstrated the ability to be leaders in our church. I am proud of the men like Rob Bolton who leads our Chemical Recovery ministry. David Joesphs is a great servant who handles our sound and video to enhance our worship services. Paul Grover has been a great servant to our Childrens ministry.
Angelo Myers who became a Christian about 6 months ago, is already rising up to be a bible talk leader. There are so many more examples here in our church as well. God is looking for men to become spiritual fathers in the faith. As men we should always be looking for spiritual fathers in the faith that we can imitate. Since no one will be perfect, we should look to imitate the good we see in them and not focus on being critical of their weaknesses.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN AND OUR HUMAN FATHERS!
MAY WE MAKE THE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES HAPPY BY OUR EXAMPLES AS FATHERS.
Life is short, then we get to go to Heaven,
Love, your brother in Christ,
Chris Chloupek
