Men of Integrity

June 2019

Message from Pastor Tom:

Blessings and Peace. Last month we honored our mothers and our military personnel on Memorial Day. This month we turn our attention to honor our fathers in all they do for us. I find in recognizing our dads during such occasion as this, it is also a great way to allow the Lord to work on us and soften our hearts along the way.

So with Father’s Day fast approaching, I have a few questions for you to ponder. How is your honesty, integrity, actions, and purposes in your life gentlemen? Where is your accurate account, as your life becomes center-stage this month? The Bible provides an accurate account of our Heavenly Father’s character, actions, and purposes. Together, the Old and New Testaments teach us man’s problem is sin and the only remedy is faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Through the Bible, we learn what happens at the moment of our salvation. Our sin’s penalty is reconciled as paid, its power over us is broken, and the Holy Spirit becomes our daily constant companion. So does your unwavering devotion to Christ lead others to trust your Savior?

Too many Christians have a commitment of convenience. They’ll stay faithful as long as it’s safe and doesn’t involve risk, rejection, or criticism. Instead of standing alone in the face of challenge or temptation, they first check to see which way their friends or family are going. What kind of witness is that? Who will want to follow our God if we ourselves won’t follow Him? Our response can draw others to Jesus, or push them away. We need to practice our commitment to Christ both privately and publicly. I truly preach this to myself, as the Holy Spirit has laid this on my heart to share with you. I know the time you spend alone with God will transform your character and increase your devotion. Then your integrity and Godly behavior in an unbelieving world will make others long to know the Lord. I find through His Word, God has entrusted us with the knowledge of who He is, what He is doing, and how the future will unfold for mankind.

The Scriptures were intended to lead us into a growing personal relationship with our Heavenly Father and to empower us for fruitful service as Christ’s Ambassadors. As men of integrity and leaders of our families and church, we are called to follow Jesus’ example in glorifying our God in heaven, focused not on Himself, but on the Heavenly Father whose plan is to reach the entire world with His saving grace.

No matter what, your prayer life can become effective and dynamic if you’ll approach the Lord with a clean heart, align your requests with His will, and believe He will do what He says. Then you’ll be able to pray with absolute confidence, knowing He will hear and answer your petitions. The Father’s will includes different tasks for His children to accomplish, according to the way He’s planned for each one to function. Meditating on scriptural principles and examples will help us discern what He has in mind for us. Just as Jesus’ work was to do the will of His Father, this is our calling as well.

Fathers, in determining the course of your life, please take time today and every day to listen to the Lord, to partake of His wisdom, and to determine what He is saying to you personally. In so doing, you will orient your mind to His priorities, will, and thinking. As Christ increases in our mind and heart, we’ll discover our self-focus decreases and He becomes the delight of our lives. Oh what a father you will be!

Heidi and I understand all fathers are under much pressure and go through a lot working to provide for their families, leading their wives, being a father, and just being a man. It is our prayer God will bless you graciously as we honor all fathers on this special day. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and as always I hope it spiritually enriches you. Have a most joyous Father’s Day, as it is now your time to be a little pampered.

Blessings from a pastor and his wife

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15