June 19, 2016 “Get the Name Right!” (Father’s Day)  - Psalm 42, *Luke 8.26-39 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

As Father’s Day approached, a father listened to a small boy’s explanation: "Father’s Day is just like Mother’s Day, only you don’t spend as much on the gift."
And the father answered, "What gift?" [slide # 1 shrugging shoulders]

Most fathers agree that hearing their children call them daddy” is a very, very heartwarming experience. To be recognized as a source of love and protection is the same as being a king. [slide # dad blue ribbon]

Names are important because they tell the world who are. Our name reflects our reputation and our intentions. What we see and what we get, is all put in our name. Calling “Daddy” is calling on someone we look up to in awe like a Hollywood star or a Saviour.

Daddies are made in the image of God. They are created with the instincts to build families and make them strong enough for a lifetime.  [slide # 3 family]

Daddy’s are created to provide, to guide, and step aside so children can become all God has created them to become.

A man came to Jesus. He evidently had a few problems. [slide # 4 troubled man with Jesus]  Luke called his problems demons. When Jesus heard him moaning and groaning, Jesus knew that he was agonizing over several problems or demons that were troubling his mind, his body, or his spirit. Jesus knew!

It is important to name our troubles, to identify our fears, to call those demons out on the carpet so we can be delivered in the name of Jesus! The name of all names. The name we trust. [slide

# 5 power in the name of Jesus]

Often, I think, we humans are as susceptible to demons as we are in catching a cold. At times we do not know whether our symptoms are caused by virus, an unknown bug, an allergy, or the flu. Specialists name the cause of the symptoms in order to prescribe effective medicinal or lifestyle solutions.

Jesus asked the demon, “What is your name?” Jesus knows how important it is to get the name right for the problems, issues, and struggles we have so that we will know what steps to take.

It is important to name demons. At the same time, on this Father’s Day, it is even more important that we name the blessings involved when we say the name “Daddy.” [slide # 6 Dad]  [slide #7 Father hero, etc.]

Psychologists have said that the most important thing a father can do for his child is to love and respect his or her mother. “Dad” is a synonym for loving protector and provider, and love never fails to be a blessing. When a child sees a parent withholding love and respect, a child will begin to fear that they too will someday be denied love and respect.

A father who loves, is a father who gives birth to a child becoming all he or she can be. [slide # 8 father and child fishing]

Fathers are about sharing God’s love and healing and hope and help, all around, for everyone. As John Wesley, [slide # 9 Wesley] the father of Methodism reminds us:

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”  May this Father’s Day be a great blessing. [slide # 10 blessed is the man…] Amen. [slide # 11 Happy Father’s Day].