This is a day that is set aside to honor fathers.  How do you see the role of the father in the family?  His role is significant.  Ephesians challenges fathers to be leaders that encourage and strengthen their families.  They are to love their wives as they love themselves (5:28-29).  They are to love their wives as Christ loved the church (5:29).  They are to teach their children about the Lord (6:4).  Fathers are to parent their children in a way that is healthy and not exasperating to the child (6:4).  These are just a few of the challenges of being a good father.  The interest that God has is for fathers to provide for their families spiritually, emotionally and physically.

While we all have different earthly fathers, we have one heavenly Father.  We should seek to honor him for all he has done for us.  Jesus told us that God exceeds human beings in how he loves his children.  He gives us gifts every day.  He provides for our needs.  He gave us his son so we could have eternal life.  He is an amazing Father!  One of the ways that we can truly honor God, our Father, is to pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples.  He said, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" (Matthew 6:9).  To hallow the name of God is to place him in a place of honor.  Each day we should seek to honor his name and we do that by the way we live.  We seek to be a church that lives to glorify God.  This is done as we place Him at the highest place of honor and live for his purposes.

Honor your father today and honor our Father.

Sonny Guild

We’re all about family!  Please support our Coins for Kidz by filling 1 or 2 cans with your change.  Already this year, over 24 babies have been blessed with a Christian adoptive family!

The Bible Bowl ministry is welcoming donations of any items that can benefit the cost of trips for a community sale event during the first weekend in July at the Mabry’s.  Contact Dixie, Tyler, or Jana.

The Youth Ministry is seeking scholarships for the teenagers to attend Camp Pine Springs.  If you would like to help sponsor these young people, contact Brad, Mike, or Cherrelle.

Garland Cranfill has brought an article on how Senior Citizens can save money on prescriptions.  Please, pick up a copy of this from the foyer on your way out!

The Harper’s really needs visitations.  If you would like to show love to this family, please see Gary, Dixie, or Eunice.

Kathy and Karen will still be taking ice cream lids for mission VBS that will take place in Rock Springs on July 24-29, so please don’t stop eating your favorite ice cream and giving your generous donation of half-gallon lids.

Education Committee meets today at 3:30.

CONGRATULATIONS!!
Friday, June 24, 2005 is JT & Mary Middleton’s 50th Wedding Anniversary!

IMPORTANT!!
If you have keys to the building, please be up here tonight after services for a meeting on the new security system.  This is very important information you don’t want to miss!  We will start setting the alarm next week and if you don’t know how to use and deactivate the system, you will set it off!

Many children have fathers that don’t really love them, not care.  They grow up neglected and often abused.  Perhaps they have a father who drinks, curses, and doesn’t provide for the necessities of his family.  And others have "absentee" fathers, which have abandoned them altogether or just seldom ever show up.  All on can say to any of the scenarios is, “how tragic and regretful!”

But on the other hand, how valuable is a genuine Christian father? One who loves his wife and children, and works hard to provide for them a living. One who pays the bills and shoulders the responsibilities of leadership for the family. One who stands as a steadying influence when contrary winds blow. One who sees to it that his children not only are taken care of physically, with food, shelter, clothing medical attention, etc., but who is also careful to lead in attending worship and Bible study opportunities. One who is there for the kids when they need him, who takes an interest in their activities and who expresses his affection for them in many ways. Just how valuable is such a Dad?

Most children who have loving, caring, Christian parents, don’t really realize how truly fortunate they are until they reach adulthood themselves and see the world in stark reality, and become aware of then of thousands of youngsters who do not know such a blessing.

Don’t take a "good Dad" for granted. Such are a rather rare breed in today’s world. It’s only fitting that "good Dads" are honored on Father’s Day.

- Maxey Boren, Bedford, TX

STATISTICS FOR JUNE 12, 2005