This is strange. Today is Father’s Day and I am the one to deliver the message.  You may remember that I delivered the message last year on Father’s Day.  I spoke of the hairs on my head.  What makes this even stranger is the fact that I am not a father and my father was a very poor role model.  You might say he was a louse, a good for nothing.  He had a hard time holding down a job; therefore, he was unemployed a lot, and always unavailable. I have no memories of spending any quality time with my father.   When I was 15 years old, my father left the house on a Sunday morning to walk into town and buy the paper.   That was the last day we saw him. He never returned and we never heard from him again.   He left my mother with six children.   The family received news about 8 years later that he had died.

Father’s Day has never been my favorite day of the year.  In addition this morning you will be listening to a man who has never been to church with his parents.  I cannot remember ever sitting in the church pews with my mother or father.   My brothers, sister and I went to Sunday School every Sunday, but not with our parents; we went with our friends.   You see I am a Methodist not because of my parents, but because of my friends.

Now that I have made you feel miserable and maybe a little uncomfortable, let me cheer you up.  On Father’s Day I think of my maternal grandfather.  Grandpa, as we called him, was a great guy, always available, always helpful and never reprimanding.  When I was a child, he was my support and my anchor.

My grandpa was a very dear man to me. He was the only man I knew who never got mad at anyone, and never said one rude thing about anyone.  His name was, Adolph, the only person I knew as a child with that name.  His full name was Adolph Radke.   I am Scottish and Irish. The right side is Irish and the left side is Scottish, but grandpa was Polish.  It wasn’t until I was about 10 years old that I learned that grandpa wasn’t my biological grandfather.   My real grandfather, Alexander Ferguson, was killed in World War I.   Of course that was many years before I was born.

Grandpa “Adolph” was the only grandfather I knew and he was real to me.  My paternal grandparents ignored my family because my father was the only one in his family that married a non-Catholic. You might say we were the “black sheep” of the Price family.  The irony of the whole situation is that I am named after my paternal grandfather, William Michael Price, and that is all I know about him.

Grandpa, and the grandkids spent a lot of time together and we all have very special memories.   I come from a large family and had to share grandpa with my 4 brothers and a sister.   Yet, Grandpa had time for all of us.   He took us fishing, hiking, and swimming in the “old swimming hole” at the park.   I especially liked to go for a ride in grandpa’s car, a Buick with the fastback.  We would end up at the swimming hole at the park, a picnic by the river or on those special times, we would stop at an ice cream parlor for a nice cool treat.  We all took turns sitting in the front seat with grandpa.

My favorite time with grandpa was the time he was working in the garage.  The garage was a special place; I was on a treasure hunt in that garage searching for something exciting.  There were plenty of tools, rakes and hoes neatly hung on racks along one side of the garage, and all those cigar boxes neatly stacked and labeled on the hand-made shelving.  Of course my curiosity got the better part of me as I rummaged through those boxes and Grandpa didn’t seem to mind.  Grandpa was also a craftsman.  He could fix anything, and he could make anything.  He lovingly took joy in making us all kinds of toys out of the simplest materials: wood, cardboard and paper.  I only wish I had saved some of those toys.

Yes, Grandpa was a kind, gentle-loving man. I know if each of us can carry even a little of these qualities with us, we will be better people for having had Grandpa in our lives.

Grandpa may be gone now, but the love remains. Today, Father’s Day, I will remember grandpa, the only male role model I had as a child.   He may not have had any children of his own but he had six grandchildren who loved him.   I encourage you to think of the important person in your life and give thanks for all their guidance, love and memories.  Take a moment now to think of that special person: a parent, aunt or uncle, grandparents or a friend.   Pray and give thanks.

Gracious Lord, you have heard our prayers of thanks and gratitude for those wonderful people you have put into our lives.  We love them. We remember them and we wish to be just like them in our relationships with others.  We are blessed and we are thankful.  Amen

Which one of my father figures personifies the character of the new man described in today’s scripture: my father or my grandpa?  Merciful, kind, modest, humble, patient, loving, and forgiving.  More importantly, do these words describe you, and I am not just referring to the men in the congregation.  I am referring to all of you.  Do these words: merciful, kind, modest, humble, patient, loving, and forgiving describe you in your actions with your loved ones, friends, colleagues and strangers?

As we continue to read the Colossian scripture lessons, we come upon this verse: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through Him”.   What a wonderful standard to follow.   There are two important words in that verse: first the word whatever: whatever you do in word or deed. That covers everything.  It reminds us of the Golden Rule; it reminds us to follow the example of Christ in all our dealings with others.  The second important word in that verse is: all.  ...do all in the name of the Lord…  Once again, follow the Lord’s example; do what He would have us do; all the time, for all and with all.  Whatever and all two mere indefinite pronouns, but here they take on strength and power of meaning.

My grandfather met the goal; my father did not.  BUT, listen as we continue to read today’s scripture: “…bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts…”.  Does this mean I have to forgive my father?

Before moving to Prescott, I searched out my father’s burial site.  He is buried in what one-day was a beautiful, peaceful, park-like cemetery.  Today, however, the area has changed and the cemetery is located in a drug-ridden neighborhood.  You cannot enter, ride or walk through this cemetery alone; a guard must accompany you.  I was taken to the burial site.  It was unmarked, no tombstone, nothing that identified it as the burial site of Edwin Jerome Price.  The burial sites around it were marked with tombstones, names, birth dates, and some were decorated with flowers.  My father’s site was barren.  There was nothing and the ground was marked with this pronounced hallow.  I stood there, not knowing what to do or say.  I thought for some time, all kinds of thoughts went through my mind.  I wondered whether my father repented at the time of his death. Then the answer that came to me was YES, HE DID!   I was convinced that he did repent, and therefore, forgiven by God.  If God can forgive him, then I must forgive him also.   I prayed to God for guidance and to put the words in my mouth.  I forgave my father. I prayed for his salvation and delivery into the Kingdom of Heaven.   I did the same at the burial sites of my paternal grandparents.

The result: was unexpected and shocking:  I was the forgiven one, I was free of all those horrible memories, and I was free to live in peace with my forgiven father.  As Ephesians 4 verse 31 says: I let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put aside”.   It was a powerful moment.

My advice: don’t get on the roller coaster of resentment and anger.  When brokenness happens in any relationship it often starts with some small thing, but no one says “I’m sorry”, and a grudge is born   Over time, people get all tangled up in who’s right and who’s wrong.   God tells us over and over again how to heal such brokenness: by forgiving and not giving grudges a chance.  JUST SAY YOU’RE SORRY.  FORGIVE AND FORGET.  It sounds so simple, yet forgiving feels much more complicated when emotions run deep.  Do not say to yourself: I have a right to be angry.  I have a right to expect an apology.  I have a right to remember the score of past hurts.  Instead ask yourself:  Is it better to be right, or is this relationship right for me?   You will know the answer: The answer is YES, it is better to be in this relationship!  That’s why forgiving matters.

Free from grudges, you can find something good about the ones who wronged you, now that they are forgiven and so are you.

Look at it another way.  The first step toward forgiveness is to see the other person as a human being, not as a source of hurt.   That’s how Jesus treated us with mercy –he became one of us.  He felt as we feel, he understood our frustrations.  As a result, when he hung on the cross, he could look at those crucifying him and ask God to forgive them.

When you forgive someone, you are as close to God as you will ever be, because in that forgiveness you are demonstrating the very heart of God, the merciful Lord.  If you want to understand God, if you want to draw closer to Him, then forgive someone today.

Today is Father’s Day, if you have relationship problems with family or with your friends, be the courageous one, be the brave one, forgive them, call them, speak to them and make amends.  You will be the forgiven one, you will be set free, and you will be fully united with Christ.  Remember there is no sin too deep for the hand of God to reach.

We are to copy God’s character.  All that we think and do and say must be taken to stand his example.  That means no harbored grudges, no spite, and bitterness –instead kindness and a new readiness to FORGIVE and FORGET.

Sermon delived by Bill Price on June 18, 2006.