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It feels surreal that today my husband and I are staring our 35th anniversary in the face.  Of course all the math plays out perfectly – the ages of our girls, the number of years we h…

Source: Blessings and Lessons From 35 Years of Marriage

With Father’s Day on the horizon and my dad in Heaven since February 2003, I am grateful for the opportunity to write about a man who has had the greatest impact on my life.  Last week while reading through the book of Nehemiah, I was reintroduced to a man that brought back memories of my father.

Then it was, when the wall was built and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. And I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut and bar the doors; and appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his watch station and another in front of his own house.” (7:1-3)

Nehemiah 1-6 describes the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and chapters 8-13 give details of the restoration of the people. In Nehemiah 7:1-3, we see the safeguards Nehemiah put in place to protect the city from attack. In so doing, he selects a godly man, Hananiah, as his military leader.  It is this man that reminds me of my dad.

My dad was not well-known.

Certainly Hananiah is not a “household” Bible name, but he was known by his God.  Many people knew my dad, but his name was not in the “marquee lights” of spiritual leaders.  No matter, there is One Who knew his name for He redeemed him and brought him into the family of God by the crosswork of Jesus Christ.  Truth is, it doesn’t matter if our name is known among men, but it eternally matters that the Father knows you as His child through genuine, Christ-only salvation (John 10:3, 7-11, 27-29; Romans 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

My dad was a military man.

Hananiah was the leader of the citadel.  My dad was always proud of his military service for his country in the Army which included duty in Japan and Korea during the Korean War.  How special to visit the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 2009, placed there in honor of my dad and thousands of other fellow soldiers.

Dad was a soldier for Christ and righteousness as well. He stood his watch on guard for our home, his marriage, the Faith, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He never dipped the flag!

My dad was a faithful man.

Faithfulness was one of the godly characteristics that led Nehemiah to choose Hananiah to lead his military.  Without reservation I can say my dad was a faithful man. The Hebrew word for “faithful” here refers to one who is truthful, reliable, firm, and upright.  Dad was a man who preached/spoke the truth, faithful to my mom and me, reliable on the job and in ministry, firm in his discipline, and lived with integrity.

My dad was a man who feared God.

Oh, for more men like Hananiah and my dad who lived their lives in reverence and awe of the majesty, power, holiness, love, and grace of God!!

So, on this Father’s Day, I am glad to honor my dad and to be known as the son of Robert Moris Cunningham, a man known of God, a soldier for Christ and America, a faithful man who feared God more than many to the end.  See you in Glory, Dad!

Have you ever got a “rude” before?  One of my favorite episodes of the Andy Griffith Show is “The Education of Ernest T. Bass”.   In an attempt to help Ernest T. receive his school diploma, he becomes a handful for Andy and Helen.  In one scene, he continues to interrupt class, and Miss Crump hands out a “rude” to him.  Watch this short clip:  I Got a Rude

As humorous as this clip may be, it’s not too funny when others are rude.  Here’s some examples:

• Pushing your way onto an elevator before others exit.
• Grunting when spoken to; no smile.
• Standing in the middle of the aisle with your shopping cart while others need to get around you.
• Walking through the left side of an entrance door and others are trying to correctly use that exit.
• Unsupervised children being able to run through another’s house, a store or at church.
• Talking with food in your mouth.
• Treating store employees or servers at a restaurant unkindly
• Checkout clerks who carry on conversations with fellow employees while you are going through the line.
• Misuse of the cellphone (i.e., while in the public restroom; in the checkout line)
• Children and adults with bad manners at the table, etc.
• Unkind words of shame, put downs, etc.
• Not holding the door for others.

To be rude is simply to have bad behavior or bad manners.  To be rude sometimes involves being loud, obnoxious, pushy, crass, crude, and uncaring. Being rude is simply a result of our selfish heart.

Have you ever wanted to give someone a rude or . . . have you been a candidate for a rude recently?

So, what is the opposite of being rude?  Let’s let the Word of God answer that one.

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (James 4:17)

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. (1 Corinthians 13:4-5)

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (Luke 6:35)

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)

Let’s leave the “rudes” with Ernest T. Bass, and let’s walk in the Spirit so we can be servant of all.

How long have you been sitting in a church pew? How long have you been an attender of Sunday School? How long has your life been exposed to the Word of God? How long have you been a believer, a follower of Christ?

Now that you have answered those questions, let me ask, does your knowledge and application of Scripture reflect your answer? If you have been a believer ten years, have you been a student of the Word for those ten years? As you look back over the years of your growth in Christ, are you a forty year old man of wisdom? In other words, no matter how long you have been born again, do you hunger for the Word, know the Word, think the Word, walk the Word, apply the Word, make life connections through the Word, and share the Word?  Is the Word king in your life?

For a little test, what passages of Scripture come to mind when:

• You are afraid?
• You are determining God’s will for the day?
• You have been asked to serve in VBS?
• You are plagued with worry?
• Your children live many, many miles away from you?
• Your husband comes home and declares he has lost his job?
• Your spouse is undergoing major surgery?
• Your child walks away from God?

It is good to sit in a pew and/or attend a small group where the Word is taught. The main issue is always, the Word getting in you, changing you, and flowing out of you!

Blessed art thou, O Lord : teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psalms 119:12‭-‬16

It happened again!!  What happen again?  Well, let me explain it this way.  Read through the following truths and exhortations first.

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Matthew 11:1    When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Hebrews 10:24-25  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 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.

2 Timothy 2:1-2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

There are many, many great reasons why we should read God’s Word every day.  (Read through Psalm 119 for starters.)  But the one I want to mention obviously comes out of the passages listed above.  You read the Bible so you can have something to say!  Many are the times I have read a passage in the morning and while reading the Lord “taps me on the shoulder” and calls my attention to a certain truth in Scripture.  Then, in the succeeding moments or later on in the day, a situation arises in conversation with someone who is seeking counsel, encouragement, comfort, or direction, and the Lord brings that “light bulb” passage back to mind.  It is then and there that I have something to say; something that is powerful, true, life-changing, and Christ-exalting; something of eternal value to share!

It happened yesterday afternoon while discipling a young husband/father that the Nehemiah 4 passage I had read earlier in the morning was exactly what this man needed to hear. It helped him “connect the dots” and be encouraged! I, too, needed the truths from Nehemiah 4, but so did this young man, and how exciting for the Lord to led me to read that chapter in the morning for my friend’s instruction in righteousness later on in the day. You see, you cannot take someone where you have not been before.  If you are not in the Word, you cannot share the Word.  You are left to your human, temporal, short-sighted viewpoint.

Why should you read and study the Word of God?  So you can disciple, exhort, and teach like Christ . . . so you can have something to say!

Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

Recently we have seen three precious children and one teenager, of their own volition, come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Having trusted Christ as my Savior and Lord at the age of five, I get especially excited when I see children choose to follow Christ.  Praise the Lord!

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. (Mark 10:13-16)

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

Now, my question is, why do born again adults get more excited over a teen or another adult coming to Christ for salvation than a child?  What would it say to a young child if adults were excited, rejoicing, clapping, encouraging, and caring when a child is saved? I remember my Dad’s response to me when I rose from my knees at the living room couch, walked into his study and told him, “Dad, I just got saved!”  He hugged me, rejoiced and said, “That’s great, Son! Tell me about it!”  My Dad did what every believer should do!  Why?  Just read Luke 15.

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. (15:7)

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents (15:10).

How marvelous to think that a child has all their life to live for Christ, lay up treasures in Heaven, and make a difference for Christ in preparation for the Bema!  Their minds are like a sponge when it comes to Scripture memory.  Their hearts are tender toward the knowledge and ways of God.  They don’t have all the clutter and baggage of an adult.  They just have simple faith to believe in God’s Word!  May their tribe increase!!

One final thought, being very transparent with you.  When a crowd of believers are silent and seemingly uncaring when a child turns to Christ, I must say, “I’m glad you were not around when I got saved.”  I love, to this day, being around believers who love the Lord, are connected with Him through the Word, prayer, witnessing, and serving, and are joyful in the Lord!!

My wife came to Christ for salvation at the age of seven, thanks to her born again parents as well as her devoted, soul-winning Sunday School teacher.  I love to watch Denise respond to a child’s salvation as well as watch her lead a child to Christ!  She has not lost the wonder of it all!!  As a matter of fact, she celebrates her 50^th spiritual birthday in September and is planning a backyard party for all our neighbors!

So, how will you respond when a child in your church or your own child or grandchild, or a child in your neighborhood is born again?  If you need a hint just look toward heaven!

As I said in yesterday’s blog post, In the School of Running, my wife power walks in the mornings, and I run.  We have a basic route that we follow so that I’m not too far away from her, and that keeps it a “let’s do this together fun event.”

Another spiritual analogy came to me from her trek yesterday. For each mile that she walked, her times got faster.  Each mile, she gained strength to push on ahead.  Each mile, become better than the previous one.  Folks, that should be us in our Christian walk with Christ.  Now, I realize as we creep into the older ages of life, we don’t get faster, but we should . . .

Gain strength to push forward because of our daily intake of the Word of God, learning to live each day in the presence of God, and living with the end in mind.

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. (Psalm 119:9-16)

For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. (Psalm 21:6)

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!” (Psalm 70:4)

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:12-14)

 

See each mile of our life getting better because the power of God’s Word has changed our thinking and therefore our actions.  So much so, we grow old a joy-filled, full of faith believer who knows that indeed each day is getting better because we are one day closer to seeing Jesus, to being Home!

The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. So teach us to number our days,that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days! Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil. Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.  (Psalm 90:10, 12-17)

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.  (Hebrews 11:13-16)

So, as we grow older and richer in our relationship with Christ, “let’s do this together fun event!”