The Difference A Father Makes

Ampelon sent me a good one.

Here's my review.

Fathers: Be Wary of "Replacement Glory"

From Buzzard, quoting Tripp.

A man will forget that, as a father, he has been welcomed to the transcendent glory of being part of God's work of forming human souls. Instead he will buy into the replacement glory of career success. More and more, his life will be eaten up and defined by his work. Less and less will his sense of purpose have to do with the formative community that only he can offer his children. Sadly, his children cease to be one of the joyful focuses of his living and become an obligation in an already-too-busy schedule. Less and less do his children know him, respect him, trust him, or feel his love.

What Would You Say If Your Daughter Was Murdered?

Here's the sermon Pastor Terry Stauffer gave at the funeral for his 14-year-old daughter who was murdered when she went for a walk.  Wow.

When Emily’s death was confirmed on Saturday night, I was shocked and bewildered. All I could pray was, “O Lord, Help! Help! Help!” As I was on my knees, a thought came to me: “If all my talk about the Gospel and God’s goodness is not true now, then it was never true.”

HT: Tim Challies

How To Train Your Kids To Love God's Word

From Justin Buzzard: 

As parents, especially as dads, it's important that we train our children to love God's Word. Here's the single greatest way I know how to do this: Show your children every single week of their lives that YOU love God's Word.  

Here for more...

A Tribute To My Dad On His Birthday

Ephesians 6.4:

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

My dad did that.  In a world full of men who abdicate their responsibilities or think masculinity means dominating others, my dad stands out.  In a world full of churches whose men are pansy and apathetic, my dad is an example.  I have no idea how blessed I am.  Here's the top 10 things I love about my dad:

10. My dad is a man.  He takes a benevolent responsibility for everything in his domain.  He cultivates, protects, and teaches.  

9. My dad works hard and never quits.  As a Naval Academy grad, when he lost his job due to an airline going out of business, he did whatever it took to provide for his family - selling phone books, painting houses.  I'll never forget that.

8. My dad is my friend and my dad.  He knows how to play, and takes time to spend good, fun time with his family.  But he is also serious about obedience, and you'd feel it if you were out of line.  How thankful I am that my dad disciplined me!

7. My dad is full of integrity, and he made darn well sure I was too.  He is committed to his church.  As kids, we were going.  Period.

6. My dad is open.  You can talk to him about anything and he will listen to you.  And he'll change his mind if he thinks you're right.

5. My dad is very generous.  He is always giving of himself, his time, and his money in order to bless others and build the Kingdom.

4. My dad loves me.  I've never, ever doubted it.  He is always there as a wise support.

3. My dad loves my wife and kids with all his heart.

2. My dad loves my mom and is uncompromisingly committed to her.

1. My dad loves Jesus and is submitted to His Word.  That's what makes him who he is.

And here's from my sis:

Home-Building

Colin Adams has a list of links for sermons on the homefront. 

Including:

CJ Mahaney - A Husband’s Responsibilities and How to Change
John Piper - Fathers Who Give Hope
Voddie Baucham - What He Must be (Marriage by Design)
CJ Mahaney - The Power of Example
Tedd Tripp: Loving Leadership
Danny Jones - The Leader’s Home
‘Sarah Edwards: Jonathan Edwards Home and Haven’
John Piper - Raising Children who are Confident in God
Voddie Baucham - Getting Your House in Order

A High Theology of Fatherhood

Daddy (during hike on father-son camping trip):

Look at that huge tree that fell over.

Jackson (my 3-year-old son): 

He needs a daddy.

Art Monk is My Hero, Part 1

Art Monk was recently inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.  His son, James Monk Jr., gave the intro speech.  He said in part,

You know, growing up as a son of Art Monk is something that I would never ever change for the world. And as his son, there's always been this question I could never escape, that I could never avoid, that I could never get away from and that was: Do you want to be like Art when you grow up? Now, you think such an easy question would have such an easy answer. Let me tell you a few things that go into answering this question …

So to answer the question, do you want to be like Art Monk when you grow up, my answer is I'd rather be like Dad. Dad, thank you for being the man of God that God has called you to be, and for raising me in the same way. As your best friend, as your admirer, as your biggest fan and as your son, I want to tell the whole world that I love you and I'm truly honored and blessed to induct you into the 2008 Pro Football Hall of Fame.

May my son have a similar testimony! (apart from the HOF, of course...)

From: Mahaney's View From the Cheap Seats

My Son

My son!

I love this kid.

Experimenting With The Family

A 2002 study from CIVITAS shows the devastation of fatherless families.

Sobering.  Pray for our fathers and sons.  And submit to God's Word therein!  This culture is bankrupt.

We Need Our Daddies

Mohler tells us what we should have already known...