Historically speaking, the nation’s first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910 but not until 1972, when Richard Nixon signed a proclamation, did Father’s Day become a nationwide federal holiday.  Today there are more than 70 million fathers in the United States and economists estimate that Americans spend more than $1 billion each year on Father’s Day gifts!

I hope you are able to honor and cherish the fathers in your life.  They might be biological fathers or adoptive fathers, grandfathers, sons, brothers, uncles, cousins or friends. Today, I’m especially remembering my father, William B. Walker, now residing in Heaven.

My dad, Bill Walker, holds a special place in my heart.  I know that I am truly blessed to have been raised by this godly man.  He was only 19 when I was born, himself a student at the former Cincinnati Bible Seminary, studying for the ministry.  He came from a family of ministers – a great-grandfather, a grandfather, two uncles, and a brother.  He was a man, gifted with words and a charismatic preaching style.  At the age of 30, my dad took his wife and family of four children to Japan to serve as missionaries.  My mother’s brother, Claude Likins, also took his family to serve in Japan at the same time.  The four adults soon enrolled in language school in Tokyo and it wasn’t long before my dad was able to stop using an interpreter and begin to preach in Japanese by himself.  I thought it was amazing that he became fluent enough to preach the Gospel in Japanese, though he joked that the “first 20 years of language study were the hardest”!

I can remember that the first little Japanese church where my Dad preached was within walking distance from our house.  We asked our supporting churches in the states to save and send outdated Sunday school papers to us, so that we could use them as teaching aids.  I was excited to have an English-speaking Bible class myself, at age 12.  My Dad did have a preaching interpreter at this church and one of the first things I learned was to take notes on my Dad’s sermons.  He taught me to listen for the main points of his sermon and write them in a little notepad that I had with my Bible.  I still take notes now when I listen to class material and sermons.

Interestingly, I remember that my Dad taught some important life-lessons.  For example, I learned proper habits of etiquette like “elbows off the table”, “chew with your mouth closed”, “don’t scrape your teeth on the fork”, “wait until everyone is finished before asking to leave the table”.  But most of all, my Dad taught by example how to love and care for others.  I learned about God’s love for me and to have the assurance of salvation.  He taught the meaning of difficult passages of Scripture.  I learned the importance of daily devotional time with the Lord.  My Dad willingly helped with homework and was involved with my school activities, participating in school events where he could chaperon and meet my friends.  When I attended night school at Sophia University years later, my dad would always meet me at the bus stop and walk me back home.  My parents felt that we were personally safe in Tokyo, but it was reassuring to have his company on those late nights in poorly lighted areas.

Back in the states, after my Mother had died of cancer, I became engaged.  My Dad got a laugh from people’s response when he told them that “a young, blonde woman had asked him to marry her”!  It was a thrill to have my Dad, as an ordained minister in the state of Ohio, conduct the ceremony and marry us!  My Dad always supported and encouraged me in the areas of marriage, motherhood, as a teacher and into retirement.  He preached and witnessed to others through the years of his walk with the Lord and until his death, which I was privileged to witness.  I am so thankful for my Dad and the life he lived.  I look forward to the day I’ll see him again!

The lyrics of “Forever Home” say it perfectly:

He always spoke of Heaven like he’d been there before.
          He said it was the one thing that he was living for.
          How bittersweet the moment, the sunset of a life
As we all cried and said our last goodbyes, and watched him take his flight.

          Forever home. Living in the arms of Jesus now
Standing in the shadow of the throne he bows. I can almost see him there.
No more tears, pain has lost its hold on him. He’s more alive than he’s ever been.          He’s arrived, oh, I know.  He’s forever home.

I love watching the old Turner Classic movies.  They appeal to me for the mostly wholesome content that used to be.  A couple of nights ago, I was scrolling through the channels and landed on the movie “Chariots of Fire”, the true story of the Scottish Olympic gold medal runner, Eric Liddell.  I have seen it before; it’s a good one!  The movie actually won four Academy awards, including Best Picture in 1981. 

Liddell was born in 1902 to missionary parents living in China.  He became known as the “Flying Scott” because he won the 400 meter race and the gold medal in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris.  His Christian faith and testimony were recognized in the movie as he refused to run his best race, the 100 meters race, because it was scheduled for a Sunday, in which he believed to run then was against God’s commandment to keep the Sabbath holy.  He refused to compromise.

I love the quotation by Eric Liddell in the movie, “God made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”  After researching this, however, I discovered that Eric was fast and he did run for God’s glory, but he actually did not say those words.  Apparently, what Eric did say more than once was that “God made me for China”.  China was always on Eric’s heart and he often shared Biblical and evangelistic messages, both as a friend and a preacher.  After the Olympic Games, he made preparation to return to China, where he lived with his wife and three daughters until China became occupied by the Japanese during WW II.  His family safely escaped to Canada but Liddell was forced into a concentration camp where he died shortly before the end of the war.

I have read that Liddell became a moral and spiritual leader even within the camp of unspeakable horrors.  Sadly, he died suddenly and unexpectedly of a brain tumor in the Weixian Internment Camp on February 21, 1945.  Liddell desperately wanted the Chinese to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and to believe in Him.  Eric Liddell’s life’s desire was to know God more deeply and to share that belief with others.  The movie, “Chariots of Fire” ended with the words “Eric Liddell, missionary, died in occupied China at the end of WW II.  All of Scotland mourned”.

“I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end?  From within. Jesus said, ‘Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me.’ If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race.” ~ Eric Liddell

“Many of us are missing something in life because we are after the second best, I put before you what I have found to be the best – one who is worthy of all our devotion – Jesus Christ. He is the Saviour for the young and the old. Lord, here I am.” ~ Eric Liddell

“Victory over all the circumstances of life comes not by might, nor by power, but by a practical confidence in God and by allowing His Spirit to dwell in our hearts and control our actions and emotions. Learn in the days of ease and comfort, to think in terms of prayer that follows, so that when the days of hardship come you will be fully prepared and equipped to meet them.” ~ Eric Liddell

What message is here for us in this story of Eric Liddell?  First of all, though Eric Liddell is remembered as an Olympian runner, I believe that he knew the “race of life” is the one of most importance.  He held his Christian belief firmly and was willing to sacrifice the glory of the games, if necessary.  He finished life’s race well – through great physical trial; I can’t imagine what he must have endured!

What parts of our lives give God “pleasure”?   Are we known for living for the Lord with uncompromising conviction?   Are we faithful even under great hardship?  I want to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing”.  (II Timothy 4:7)  That will be my “gold medal”!

        DNA testing, or deoxyribonucleic acid, has become quite popular in our modern society.  Ancestry.com encourages people to submit a saliva swab in order to discover their familial heritage and/or background.  If you watch the TV show Forensic Files, you quickly learn that current crimes and even “cold-cases” or unsolved crimes can now be accurately solved, sometimes years later, with DNA samples that leave no room for error.  Amazing!  You can argue but you cannot refute DNA evidence!

          Years ago, I remember being in a youth group where a case was presented stating that “If you were accused in a court room of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you”?  It was a poignant question; would there be enough DNA, if you will, to find sufficient evidence that I was a child of God?

          As a child of God, God’s DNA should readily be found in me.   What does that look like?  What godly characteristics should be easily seen in my life?  In Galatians 5:22-23, we read that the fruit of the Spirit (of God) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.  Let’s look more closely at this “fruit”.

          LOVE – is a choice and it is not without effort, but we are called to love each other, unconditionally.  In I Corinthians 13:4-7, we read that “Love is patient; love is kind.  Love does not envy, is not boastful; is not conceited; does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things; believes all things; hopes all things; endures all things”.  Love involves compassion, empathy, courtesy, wisdom, and forgiveness.  These qualities will enrich my life and the lives of my loved ones.

          JOY – is the countenance of life.  “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.  Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing” (Psalm 100:1, 2).   John 15:11 says, “These things have I spoken unto you that My joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full”.  Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again, I say rejoice”.  I have so many reasons to be joyful; a priceless and precious gift from the Lord!  Smile, speak kindness, praise generously, encourage often.

          PEACE – “Be still, and know that I am God”.  Psalm 46:10.  I love this verse!  Sometimes it is difficult to find a little peace and quiet.  Life can be distracting, complicated, frustrating.  God desires for me to sense His will and His love each day but I must stop and listen in order to feel His presence.  Quiet time with God is the most important activity of my day, especially if it can be the first activity of my day.  Give God your first fruits, whenever possible!

          LONGSUFFERING – is the “patient enduring of something unpleasant for a long period of time; enduring a sickness or hardship, for example, with cheerfulness”.  “God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).  Can you think of someone who endures physical or difficult situations but always possesses a cheerful attitude?  The demeanor I show speaks volumes of my reliance on God to sustain and help me.  Bill Bright said “The sermon of your life in tough times’ ministers to people more powerfully than the most eloquent speaker”.  Amen!

          GENTLENESS – is “the quality of being kind, tender, mild-mannered”.  When we teach a toddler how to treat the new puppy, we say “be gentle!”  Paul said, “I beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).  “Let your gentleness be known to all men.  The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:5).  Am I known for speaking “softly and tenderly”, as Jesus would have me speak?

          GOODNESS – is “the choosing and following of a moral good; a resistance of moral evil; a righteousness of action”.  It is the thinking of others and what I can do to enhance their life; the looking for what is pure and holy.  My husband was a “good” man!  He thought of ways to love and please me and others.   Romans 2:4 says that the “goodness of God leads to repentance”.

          FAITH – is “the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).  It is the assurance that the things revealed and promised in God’s Word are true, though unseen, and that gives the believer a conviction of hope.  I have faith that one day I will again see my grandparents, my parents, my sister, my husband and many others who have passed away.  I have faith that God will continue to care for me, just as He has in the past. I have faith that God’s Word is truth.  I have faith that God will answer my prayers and give me peace.  Hebrews 11:6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please God…”

MEEKNESS – I love the definition of meekness.  It can mean being “righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering, (long suffering), willing to follow gospel teachings, and the attribute of a true disciple”.   It certainly is not a sign of weakness.  I want to be known as a meek woman!  Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).  Christ, Himself, was meek and gentle according to II Corinthians 10:1.  Psalm 37:11 says, “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace”.

          The last “fruit” is TEMPERANCE, which means restraint and moderation in action, thought or feeling; self-control.  Several examples are found in the Bible.  In I Timothy 3:2, one definition of a deacon is “he must be temperate, self-controlled and respectable”.  Wives, in I Timothy 3:11, are exhorted to “not be malicious talkers, but temperate and trustworthy”.  Paul, in Titus 2:2, says “Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance”.

          Just as the DNA of my physical body is evident to a scientist, the DNA of my Christian life, evidence of fruit from God’s Holy Spirit living within me, should be abundantly obvious and evident to those around me.  What does your DNA reveal?

          Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is an official American holiday held on the last Monday of May each year, in remembrance of US military personnel who have lost their lives in battles of war on home soil or abroad.  It is appropriate that we have a day specifically set aside to remember and honor brave men and women who fought and died for the sake of our country.  We are proud of what they gave, though we grieve for lives lost too soon.  It is easy for us to remember our loved ones and we will never forget them.  Sadly, because of covid-19 this year, the customary festivities and parades to honor these soldiers are not being held for the first time in decades.  We can still remember!  We cannot forget.

          On a greater level, we also must not forget the death made, not for our country’s freedom, but for our personal salvation.  The only Son of God, Jesus Christ, died for each of us and in our place, so that we have the opportunity for life eternal.  Jesus willingly came to earth in order to serve and to teach and then to die for you and me.  He died bearing the weight of our combined sins on the cross at Calvary.  He endured ridicule, mockery and flogging in order to pay the penalty, not for Himself, but for each of our sins.  His suffering was so great and the sin was so heinous that God, the Father, could not even look upon His own Son at the moment of death.  Why?  “For God so loved the word, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).  God gave a way to eternal life through the sacrifice of His Son for us.  Our part is to believe and obey!

          Just as Memorial Day helps us remember soldiers who have died for our country, Jesus left a memorial, too.  Many churches display the emblems of communion, the bread and the wine, on a table carved with the words “Do This in Remembrance of Me”.  This is called the Lord’s Supper or time of Communion.  Paul gives us very specific directions from Jesus on how we are to partake in
I Corinthians 12:23-29.

          Paul says, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you.  The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Next, a qualification is given.  “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.  A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.  For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.”  In other words, we are exhorted to focus and remember during communion only on what Jesus did for us when he died on Calvary.  This is not the time to think about lunch or Sunday afternoon plans or even to whisper to the person sitting next to you, but rather think about the great gift Jesus gave in substitution for our sin!

Let’s remember fallen soldiers with honor and respect.
Let’s remember Jesus’ death with praise and thanksgiving.