Have you ever been in a place where over 300 male voices were all lifted in song to the Lord at once? It happened to me for the first time last Saturday, and it had to be one of the most powerful and awe-inspiring moments of my life. I could go as far as to say that it put the tour I took of the Grand Canyon to shame, but I would rather not try to contrast the beauty of God's creation with the works of men. That could lead me down the wrong road.
This past weekend was the Master's Men Conference at Faith Baptist Church in Davison. Pastor and I traveled up there for a day of worship and learning from God's Word. Oh, and did I mention the FOOD? My mouth still waters as I remember how wonderful all that food was! It's a very good thing that we were scheduled to eat during the last dinner shift of the evening, or I might have fallen asleep during one of the sessions I attended.
Anyway, since I have been having more and more problems with parenting as of late, I decided to attend the two sessions on fatherhood. It didn't take long for the Holy Spirit to convince me of this one simple truth about my performance as a father thus far - I've only been doing about HALF of what I'm supposed to be doing...OUCH! Once again, I'm reminded of how much I don't know. I'm sensing a pattern here. Maybe that's a life theme of mine, always learning about how much I haven't learned yet.
One of the things I have been praying about in recent months is finding a way to send my sons to a good Christian school. The more I see them being shuffled through the system like cattle in public school, the more concerned (and even alarmed) I become. As I sat in those classrooms at Faith on Saturday, I looked around and saw helpful, character-building statements posted on each wall. You HARDLY EVER see anything like that in public schools these days.
Public schools have become solely about filling kids' heads with as much "knowledge" as possible, while letting them develop their own character. (Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, - Romans 1:22) Without a proper model to go by, most kids turn to whatever is most appealing to them, which would be what the greedy advertisers of our society have to offer. Now, if THAT doesn't set off some alarm bells in your head, as it did mine, I'd say you have bigger problems on the horizon!
The simple truth is that I have been such a poor steward of God's gifts to me for most of my life, that I simply do not have the means to enroll my boys in a Christian school. What's that mean in English, you ask? I've wasted so much time and money over the years that it's my own stupid fault, and I have no one to blame for this predicament but myself. There, I said it.
I don't often say this, and perhaps it's a pride thing, or perhaps I just don't want to give the impression that I think my concerns are more important than yours (which they aren't), but... Would you please pray for me? Pray that God will make me the father I need to be for these boys. Would you pray for them? Pray that they will heed God's Word and recognize what society offers for what it is - a lie.
Thank You, Father, for your Word. Thank You for your Holy Spirit which dwells within me, to guide me into all truth. Thank You for the men who show me from Your Word the type of father You would have me to be. Please continue to mold and shape me into Your image, that I might raise up Godly men for Your service. Glorify Yourself through our lives, I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. - Ephesians 6:1
This past weekend was the Master's Men Conference at Faith Baptist Church in Davison. Pastor and I traveled up there for a day of worship and learning from God's Word. Oh, and did I mention the FOOD? My mouth still waters as I remember how wonderful all that food was! It's a very good thing that we were scheduled to eat during the last dinner shift of the evening, or I might have fallen asleep during one of the sessions I attended.
Anyway, since I have been having more and more problems with parenting as of late, I decided to attend the two sessions on fatherhood. It didn't take long for the Holy Spirit to convince me of this one simple truth about my performance as a father thus far - I've only been doing about HALF of what I'm supposed to be doing...OUCH! Once again, I'm reminded of how much I don't know. I'm sensing a pattern here. Maybe that's a life theme of mine, always learning about how much I haven't learned yet.
One of the things I have been praying about in recent months is finding a way to send my sons to a good Christian school. The more I see them being shuffled through the system like cattle in public school, the more concerned (and even alarmed) I become. As I sat in those classrooms at Faith on Saturday, I looked around and saw helpful, character-building statements posted on each wall. You HARDLY EVER see anything like that in public schools these days.
Public schools have become solely about filling kids' heads with as much "knowledge" as possible, while letting them develop their own character. (Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, - Romans 1:22) Without a proper model to go by, most kids turn to whatever is most appealing to them, which would be what the greedy advertisers of our society have to offer. Now, if THAT doesn't set off some alarm bells in your head, as it did mine, I'd say you have bigger problems on the horizon!
The simple truth is that I have been such a poor steward of God's gifts to me for most of my life, that I simply do not have the means to enroll my boys in a Christian school. What's that mean in English, you ask? I've wasted so much time and money over the years that it's my own stupid fault, and I have no one to blame for this predicament but myself. There, I said it.
I don't often say this, and perhaps it's a pride thing, or perhaps I just don't want to give the impression that I think my concerns are more important than yours (which they aren't), but... Would you please pray for me? Pray that God will make me the father I need to be for these boys. Would you pray for them? Pray that they will heed God's Word and recognize what society offers for what it is - a lie.
Thank You, Father, for your Word. Thank You for your Holy Spirit which dwells within me, to guide me into all truth. Thank You for the men who show me from Your Word the type of father You would have me to be. Please continue to mold and shape me into Your image, that I might raise up Godly men for Your service. Glorify Yourself through our lives, I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. - Ephesians 6:1
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