go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Many are the examples of people raised in a Christian manner who, when they grew into adulthood, recognized the error of their ways, repented, and pursued a godly path. Where Christian discipline is concerned, bear this in mind: Martin Luther said, "Keep an apple beside the rod to give the child when he does well." Food for thought.

We must never forget that the moral and spiritual element of a child’s nature is just as essential as their intellectual, athletic or social skills. Spirituality, therefore is as necessary to the development of the individual as anything. Even moreso. Proverbs, again, reminds us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom." FATHERS CRITICAL INFLUENCE

The Christian father is really the instrument in God's hand. The only possible means of profitab

According to Jesus, quoting from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, the greatest commandment is this: " And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might." (Deut.6:5) Dropping back to verse 2, we read, "…That you may [reverently] fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, and keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.” Verses 6-7 say: "And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then] You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up."

In the Hebrew culture, a father was to be diligent in instructing his children in the ways of the Lord. In our own culture, how are we doing in comparison? It is of primary importance for the sake of our society, that our kids be raised in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord," (Eph 6:4). Based upon Scripture, this responsibility rests upon dear ol’ dad.

Proverbs, 22:6-11 reads, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old (as he grows older), he will not depart from it." To train, indicates the first instruction that a father and mother gives to a child; i.e., his early education. The training is designed to open before the child the manner of life for which he is intended. To initiate a child's early learning in this way is of great importance, like a tree that can be “trained” to grow the direction that it is bent from its earliest years. Ephesians 6:4 provides a word of instruction to fathers, stated in a negative and positive way. "And you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Here is what the Bible says about a father's responsibility in child- rearing: The negative aspect of the verse reveals that a father is not to foster the bad passions of their children by severity, injustice, partiality, or unreasonable exercise of authority. Negative conduct towards a child will only serve to nurture evil within their hearts.

The positive aspect comes from a father’s dedication to educate them, train them, develop their conduct in all of life by the instruction and admonition of the Lord. This is the training (being a definite role model as a father) or education of a child—the whole process of educating and discipline. The word "admonition" carries with it the idea of "putting the child in mind of," which is the act of reminding the child of faults (constructively) or duties (responsibilities according to their level of age and understanding.)

Children are not to be allowed to grow up without care or control. Proverbs 29:15 warns us, “The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.” They are to be instructed, disciplined, and admonished, so that they are brought to knowledge, self-control, and obedience. This whole process of education is to be from a Christ-centered perspective. Any other means of educating may result in disastrous failure. Even the if a child resists his Christian upbringing, we are encouraged (Proverbs 22:6) that if we “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Many are the examples of people raised in a Christian manner who, when they grew into adulthood, recognized the error of their ways, repented, and pursued a godly path. Where Christian discipline is concerned, bear this in mind: Martin Luther said, "Keep an apple beside the rod to give the child when he does well." Food for thought.

We must never forget that the moral and spiritual element of a child’s nature is just as essential as their intellectual, athletic or social skills. Spirituality, therefore is as necessary to the development of the individual as anything. Even moreso. Proverbs, again, reminds us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom." FATHERS CRITICAL INFLUENCE

The Christian father is really the instrument in God's hand. The only possible means of profitabl

down and when you rise up."

In the Hebrew culture, a father was to be diligent in instructing his children in the ways of the Lord. In our own culture, how are we doing in comparison? It is of primary importance for the sake of our society, that our kids be raised in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord," (Eph 6:4). Based upon Scripture, this responsibility rests upon dear ol’ dad.

Proverbs, 22:6-11 reads, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old (as he grows older), he will not depart from it." To train, indicates the first instruction that a father and mother gives to a child; i.e., his early education. The training is designed to open before the child the manner of life for which he is intended. To initiate a child's early learning in this way is of great importance, like a tree that can be “trained” to grow the direction that it is bent from its earliest years. Ephesians 6:4 provides a word of instruction to fathers, stated in a negative and positive way. "And you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Here is what the Bible says about a father's responsibility in child- rearing: The negative aspect of the verse reveals that a father is not to foster the bad passions of their children by severity, injustice, partiality, or unreasonable exercise of authority. Negative conduct towards a child will only serve to nurture evil within their hearts.

The positive aspect comes from a father’s dedication to educate them, train them, develop their conduct in all of life by the instruction and admonition of the Lord. This is the training (being a definite role model as a father) or education of a child—the whole process of educating and discipline. The word "admonition" carries with it the idea of "putting the child in mind of," which is the act of reminding the child of faults (constructively) or duties (responsibilities according to their level of age and understanding.)

Children are not to be allowed to grow up without care or control. Proverbs 29:15 warns us, “The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.” They are to be instructed, disciplined, and admonished, so that they are brought to knowledge, self-control, and obedience. This whole process of education is to be from a Christ-centered perspective. Any other means of educating may result in disastrous failure. Even the if a child resists his Christian upbringing, we are encouraged (Proverbs 22:6) that if we “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Many are the examples of people raised in a Christian manner who, when they grew into adulthood, recognized the error of their ways, repented, and pursued a godly path. Where Christian discipline is concerned, bear this in mind: Martin Luther said, "Keep an apple beside the rod to give the child when he does well." Food for thought.

We must never forget that the moral and spiritual element of a child’s nature is just as essential as their intellectual, athletic or social skills. Spirituality, therefore is as necessary to the development of the individual as anything. Even moreso. Proverbs, again, reminds us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom." FATHERS CRITICAL INFLUENCE

The Christian father is really the instrument in God's hand. The only possible means of profitab

direction that it is bent from its earliest years. Ephesians 6:4 provides a word of instruction to fathers, stated in a negative and positive way. "And you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Here is what the Bible says about a father's responsibility in child- rearing: The negative aspect of the verse reveals that a father is not to foster the bad passions of their children by severity, injustice, partiality, or unreasonable exercise of authority. Negative conduct towards a child will only serve to nurture evil within their hearts.

The positive aspect comes from a father’s dedication to educate them, train them, develop their conduct in all of life by the instruction and admonition of the Lord. This is the training (being a definite role model as a father) or education of a child—the whole process of educating and discipline. The word "admonition" carries with it the idea of "putting the child in mind of," which is the act of reminding the child of faults (constructively) or duties (responsibilities according to their level of age and understanding.)

Children are not to be allowed to grow up without care or control. Proverbs 29:15 warns us, “The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.” They are to be instructed, disciplined, and admonished, so that they are brought to knowledge, self-control, and obedience. This whole process of education is to be from a Christ-centered perspective. Any other means of educating may result in disastrous failure. Even the if a child resists his Christian upbringing, we are encouraged (Proverbs 22:6) that if we “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Many are the examples of people raised in a Christian manner who, when they grew into adulthood, recognized the error of their ways, repented, and pursued a godly path. Where Christian discipline is concerned, bear this in mind: Martin Luther said, "Keep an apple beside the rod to give the child when he does well." Food for thought.

We must never forget that the moral and spiritual element of a child’s nature is just as essential as their intellectual, athletic or social skills. Spirituality, therefore is as necessary to the development of the individual as anything. Even moreso. Proverbs, again, reminds us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom." FATHERS CRITICAL INFLUENCE

The Christian father is really the instrument in God's hand. The only possible means of profitab

—the whole process of educating and discipline. The word "admonition" carries with it the idea of "putting the child in mind of," which is the act of reminding the child of faults (constructively) or duties (responsibilities according to their level of age and understanding.)

Children are not to be allowed to grow up without care or control. Proverbs 29:15 warns us, “The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.” They are to be instructed, disciplined, and admonished, so that they are brought to knowledge, self-control, and obedience. This whole process of education is to be from a Christ-centered perspective. Any other means of educating may result in disastrous failure. Even the if a child resists his Christian upbringing, we are encouraged (Proverbs 22:6) that if we “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Many are the examples of people raised in a Christian manner who, when they grew into adulthood, recognized the error of their ways, repented, and pursued a godly path. Where Christian discipline is concerned, bear this in mind: Martin Luther said, "Keep an apple beside the rod to give the child when he does well." Food for thought.

We must never forget that the moral and spiritual element of a child’s nature is just as essential as their intellectual, athletic or social skills. Spirituality, therefore is as necessary to the development of the individual as anything. Even moreso. Proverbs, again, reminds us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom." FATHERS CRITICAL INFLUENCE

The Christian father is really the instrument in God's hand. The only possible means of profitab

go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Many are the examples of people raised in a Christian manner who, when they grew into adulthood, recognized the error of their ways, repented, and pursued a godly path. Where Christian discipline is concerned, bear this in mind: Martin Luther said, "Keep an apple beside the rod to give the child when he does well." Food for thought.

We must never forget that the moral and spiritual element of a child’s nature is just as essential as their intellectual, athletic or social skills. Spirituality, therefore is as necessary to the development of the individual as anything. Even moreso. Proverbs, again, reminds us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom." FATHERS CRITICAL INFLUENCE

The Christian father is really the instrument in God's hand. The only possible means of profitable education is the nurture and admonition of the Lord and the role of a father has been God-ordained as the means to this end. The whole process of instruction and discipline must be that which comes from God so that His authority should be brought into constant and immediate contact with the mind, heart, and conscience of our children. That’s not happening. But it must begin! The human father should set himself as the ultimate authority to determine truth and duty in the home; as the Servant-Leader of his home, he must point the way to his OWN King, Jesus. Too often, a man “throws his weight around” and rules in a dictatorial manner, instilling fear into his children rather than respect. This simply develops the human aspect of "self." It is only by making Jesus the ruler, on whose authority everything is to be believed and in obedience to whose will every thing is to be done, that positive results can possibly be attained.

The Scriptures instruction to fathers is always God's ideal. We tend to bring those ideals down to our human level and experience. Upon reflection, I recognize how often I have failed in my pursuit of the biblical ideal. That does not falsify the Scripture and God's truth and His wisdom. I cannot say "the Scripture just doesn't work." I WILL say, if we shoot for the moon, the worst we will do is to land among the stars.

So, aim high, dad.
"All Scripture is given of God, and is profitable for teaching, reproving, correcting, and instruction in righteousness; that the man (or woman) of God may be completely equipped for all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). Therefore, if you were not blessed with a godly fatherly example, learn about your fathering role from the One who authored the concept, God Himself.

Learn what the Bible says about being a father. The means and methods we use to teach God's truth will vary, but those truths should always be applicable to any lifetime child’s vocation, choices and lifestyle. As you are faithful in role modeling, what your children learns about God will place them in good stead for all of their lives. They must learn from your example how to love the Lord their God with all their mind and heart and strength and desire to serve Him in everything they do.

FACTS ABOUT FATHERLESSNESS

Despite all of her proud accomplishments, America leads the world in fatherlessness. Its impact on our culture impacts each one of us. According to a recent study by Josh McDowell, there are over 25 million fatherless kids in America. Most were abandoned while they were infants.

Other statistics are just as frightening:
· 36.3% of all children in America live absent their biological father according to the National Center for Fathering.
· The Center for Successful Fathering found that only 27% of all kids in America live with both their biological mother and father.
· 71% of high school drop-outs come from a home without a father according to the National Principles Association.
· 85% of kids locked up in youth prisons come from fatherless homes according to the Texas Department of Corrections.
· One major study sponsored by the National Fathering Initiative found that 60% of America's rapists, 72% of adolescent murderers, and 70% of long- term prison inmates are all people who grew up without the guidance and direction of a loving father.

The good news is that provi