 We normally concentrate on women in this publication . . . after all, we are Women of Faith. But this month, let’s take a moment to reflect on the men in our lives.
Depending on your history and situation, this could either be a pleasant or somewhat painful experience. But even if you’ve had a bad experience, there’s bound to be some man out there you can appreciate---even if it’s the bug guy who keeps your home insect-free. We may laugh about the ways men are different from women---and mercy, are they different! --- but we’re glad to share the planet with them.
This month includes Father’s Day--a worthy celebration, to be sure. But we’d like to applaud a few other categories of men as well. So while we know many of these things can be (and often are) done by women, here’s to the guys who stop and change our tires by the side of the road, the jar openers, light bulb changers, trash-taker-outers, heavy lifters, lawn mowers, dance partners, brothers, boyfriends, uncles, husbands, friends . . . our lives are better because of them. The next time you get an opportunity, why not tell them so?
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 I came to fully appreciate my father very late in life. Until I was twenty, I just tried to stay out of his way.
Like many women, my relationship with my dad was complicated. He was gruff and irascible. As far as I know, he never actually harmed anyone in our family physically, but I don’t remember a day when the possibility didn’t exist. His loud, brash ways scared me and were exceedingly intimidating. Read the rest of the story (it has a happy ending).
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 Let’s get something out of the way that is always in the way when men are the topic. Reality is that a lot of sons and daghters are unfortunate enough to be raised by or live in proximity of a man who is guilty of some very uncelebratory behavior. Perhaps you have been abused or abandoned by a man and are still experiencing the painful results of being in his life. You would rather “evacuate” him than celebrate him. If that is the case for you, here are some things that I hope are true in your life: (Click here to read more.)
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Sonora Louise Smart Dodd sat in a Spokane, WA church one Mother’s Day and thought about how her dad had raised Sonora and her five brothers alone. (Her mother died in childbirth when the children were small.) So Sonora proposed a special day to honor fathers on June 6, her own father’s birthday. Local ministers didn’t think that gave them time enough to prepare a sermon about fatherhood, so they moved the date to the third Sunday of June. The first Father’s Day was celebrated on  June 19, 1910. Or, depending on whom you believe, the first Father’s Day was celebrated in West Virginia in 1908 or Chicago in 1915.
However it began, Father’s Day was slow to catch on. The all-male Congress apparently felt making the day official might be viewed as a pat on the back. Although widely celebrated and promoted by several presidents, the holiday was not officially recognized until 1972.
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 It’s one thing to read or hear Paul’s speech to the people of Athens in the comfort of your air-conditioned church . . . it’s quite another to read, hear, and stand on the very site of that passage while fighting the blistering heat and mugginess of Athens. When you physically experience places of faith through travel, biblical and historical Christian events become real places with real people and real meaning. The same experience applies to mission trips and other forms of Christian travel and vacations.
Each year more than 200 million Christians embark on trips around the world. To learn more about Christian Travel, pick up a copy of The Christian Travel Planner --- a handbook for anyone interested in Christian tourism, including individual travelers, group planners, pastors or other leaders. Click here to order yours.
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In the spirit of celebrating men, we offer our own Anita Renfroe with her tribute to fathers: Total Dadsense. Watch it here.
And don’t miss Anita’s next appearance on Good Morning America--June 19 on ABC. |
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We traditionally include recipes in Faith to Faith, and since this issue celebrates the men in our lives, we thought we’d poll the men of Women of Faith to see what they liked to eat. The result was pretty much what we expected: one vote for pasta (he’s Italian), some random votes for potatoes, pizza, or anything fried, and one vegetarian. But the overwhelming favorite? Meat. As one guy wrote, “Just cook a big pile of meat, slap it on plate, and enjoy.” Another commented, “Mmm….meat…..good!” So there you have it. Click here for meat recipes.
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 Infinite Grace CD
Our Dove-Award-nominated Worship Team is back with songs from our 2008 conference season. Makes great traveling music for that road trip to the conference! Includes “Wonderful, Merciful Savior,” “He Reigns (with Awesome God),” “Everlasting God,” and “Beautiful One.”
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 Classic Sheila
Perhaps there is little immediate satisfaction in what you have been called to do, but if you will faithfully push on through the night the Lord is the one who carries a reward in His hands. Sheila Walsh |
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Copyright © 2008 Women of Faith. All Rights Reserved.
Faith to Faith is a free monthly publication of womenoffaith.com |
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