Special Fathers Day blog: acrostic on the word “FATHER”

In honor of fathers day the world over for those cultures who so acknowledge, I have decided to blog on the topic today.  As a father as well, I will like to put the challenge to us all in the context of raising awareness about our responsibilities.  I do wish you draw a truth or two, if not all, to add to your arsenal.

F -        First and foremost, I think it is incredible that the first mention of the word father in the Bible comes on the subject of marriage, “leave and cleave” (Gen 2:24).  But I don’t think anyone has a problem with that since a man does not become a father (biologically) without a helper, preferably a wife.  Here is an excerpt on the marriage relationship from my book The Firstborn Son: a Curse, a Gift, or a Calling…

So at year six of our relationship and her observation that I wasn‘t seeking to cleave to her, she became emotionally disconnected from me and subsequently thought it was time to find a new life. When a woman emotionally disconnects from her husband, only God can reestablish that connection. Not many men allow themselves to achieve true emotional and soulful connections with their wives. We frequently sabotage our attempts at achieving success without even noticing or knowing it. Many of us have bought the lies of the culture, Hollywood, and the media that misrepresents what our marital commitments should be.

A -       Attributes of God amazingly bear the fathering nature of God in the inherent components (Omniscient, Holy, Wisdom, Truthful, etc.)  CH Spurgeon on the attributes of God has a great summary http://www.preceptaustin.org/attributes_of_god.htm. These are definitely attributes we should incorporate in the execution of our fatherly duties.  The creation by God of man in His likeness is directly identified with Adam’s son being born in his image and likeness in Genesis 5:1-3.  How powerful is it that the fathering nature of God transcends the moment of His creation to earthly fathers, you and me.

T -        The truthfulness of a father is evident in his legacy through multiple generations as King Solomon states in his prayer.  1 King 3:6 states… Then Solomon said, “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.  The ultimate Father (God) seeks children of truth (John 4:23).  As such, father in truth.

H -       Humor is just as important to our fatherly love as is our desire to provide, protect, discipline, etc.  Fathers, lovingly step into the lighter side of life without hesitation.  Here’s some father humor for you…

Wisdom of a little princess

One evening a little girl and her parents were sitting around the table eating supper. The little girl said, "Daddy, you're the boss, aren't you?" Her Daddy smiled, pleased, and said yes. The little girl continued "That's because Mummy put you in charge, right?"

E -       Encouragement of the right kind is extremely critical to our existence and success in this era during which we parent.  Be extremely careful of your circle of influence, and subsequently who is encouraging you about what.  However, you can’t do it on your own, you need connection.  Here is another excerpt from my book…

Men is this not incredible how spot on this Scripture is in attestation to the lives society applauds us for living. We pursue our careers, toys, hobbies, wealth, relationships, and even our trophy wives in all design to provide self-satisfaction and proof of ―lovers of themselves.‖ We are being encouraged and enticed to love ourselves by intoxicating commercials, billboards, Internet, movies, magazines, music, bad theology and doctrine (form of godliness but denying its power), the lure of prosperity and so on.

In case you misunderstood, the above depiction of manhood is unhealthy.

R -       God’s specific results we pursue as fathers on this earth are ultimately what matters most.  If we do not know what the results we seek are, how can we succeed at or accomplish our calling as fathers in the image of God.  Here is my opinion and what I subscribe to personally.  We bear the likeness of our heavenly father in order to replicate His attributes upon those He has placed in our care (wives and/or children, and more).  But make no mistake, just as Christ was about His father’s business (legacy), so are we.  It is all about purposeful living. We are commissioned to prepare our dependents, especially our children, to propagate a Godly family legacy for generations until He comes.  J Quit looking for the easy answer.

The Firstborn Son, "men at the city gates"!

Do you remember the old African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child"?  Even in my parents' era of raising children as recent as the 1960s to 1980s, there was good trust in the motives of their neighbors' value systems and intentions.  How is that working for you today?  Think about it further.  Are parents even comfortable uttering the old African proverb?  We are generally the same people and have chosen the same neighborhoods to raise our kids with similar value systems or else we would be living worlds apart, right?  I am afraid not.

Firstborn son and gentleman in general, our society and culture is content with us being passive in responding to our responsibilities. It plays right into the hands of the culture and worldly, as opposed to godly, desires if we are reactive rather than proactive. God has put you in this blessed role, firstborn son, to rise to the occasion and do something great. He has designed you to overachieve on the responsibility He has given you. Take the challenge and go on the offensive rather than defensive response when it comes to saving or redeeming our family, home, culture, and society.  We are ―the men at the city gate.  We ward off and defend against anything that threatens and seeks to destroy our society. The men at the city gate signify stability for our communities and society. The men at the city gate observe and know everyone that belongs within and those that don‘t. The men at the city gate are prepared to confront those elements that threaten to destroy us and do not belong within our walls. Because the men at the city gate rise to the occasion righteously, our society finds godly peace and rest (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Here is a link to an article that raises awareness of a need to protect our daughters, sisters, wives, and mothers.  How will you respond? http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43081000/ns/today-today_health/