TIM RUSSERT, 1950 - 2008

One of the highlights of Sunday morning to me was to watch "Meet the Press" before going to church. I enjoyed listening to Tim Russert, Managing Editor and Moderator, interview people of note, especially politicians.

I join millions who watched Mr. Russert over the years in expressing shock at his sudden death today at the age of 58.
I am pleased to say that for all the years I watched him I never knew that he was a liberal Democrat. It never ocurred to me to inquire. He made me not care what his politics were.

He was a true unbiased objective journalist.

He was so professional and brought the truth to the forefront from everybody even if they did not want it to come out. He was a journalist's journalist and a perfect gentleman.
The most attractive feature of Mr. Russert was that he was a true family man. It hurts to know that his son, his wife, and his father, will not be able to celebrate Father's Day with him. But they have great memories that will comfort them after the sting
of losing him wanes.
Much is being said about his life and it was a great life. He was a man that others entering the media as a profession would do well to set him up as a model and to try to emulate him. We all will learn more about Mr. Russert as the days go by; things that we never knew about him because he was a modest and humble man. He did not talk about himself. He would rather talk about his father, "Big Russ," his wife and son and family and about others.
He was a man who made a sweet difference in an ugly world. Surely we shall all be praying for his wife, son, his father, Big Russ, and family.

Photo image FOX News.com

WHAT MORE COULD A FATHER ASK FOR?

Proverbs 17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

It's great to honor mother on Mother's Day, although it has gotten way out-of-hand commercially. So why do we need to subject dear old Dad to the same materialistic observance?

All we dads want is to raise our kids to be successful god-fearing contributors to the local and world scene (after getting the facts and wise counseling from their mothers). When our young eagles are successfully out of the nest and on their own, what better blessings than to see their success?

The blessings of our two boys is that they have been here for us regardless of their busy schecules: Jeff, Senior Pastor of a mega church with an international outreach ministry; David, a Senior Analyst for a subsidiary of a large electronics firm in Burbank, like his brother, could be anywhere from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Long Island, New York. Either son would do everything he can to be here for us regardless of where they are.

What wonderful memories we have in raising our two boys and seeing their love for us implemented by their care for us in our advanced years.

How do kids get that way, anyhow? Easy, children are gifts from the Lord, to see to their godly development. Therefor we have access to His grace and His Spirit to guide us through the instruction manual, the Bible. All we have to do is to be good role models.

Our children begin life by wanting to emulate their fathers. But sometimes we fathers are too zealous in our rearing of young colts and fillies. That's where we need to go by the instruction book that came with the children the Lord gave us.

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Colossians 3:21

So, a good role model father is one who implements the right mixture of forebearance, discpline and love. So here is counsel from our Father God, who knows when to chasten us and when not to.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Hebrews 12:9-11

Fathers! Wouldn't it be the blessing of blessings to have the Lord say about you as he did about Abraham, this remarkable statement?

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. Gen 18:19

Abraham learned what it took to please God and to recieve prosperity and "bushels" of blessings. All you have to do is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, his atoning death on the cross in your place, and claim His promises. The Father of fathers will say of you, "I knew him and gave him children to be models to their children to be models of holiness to the world of sin and sinners." Then the Lord will receive you and declare, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

HAVE A GOOD AND BLESSED "FATHER'S DAY."