I had a splendid night with Nat. Korean cold noodles[yum] and blueberry cheesecake. I also found out she had been praying for me all week. Well, emotionally, I had a rough start to the week, but I haven't had an issue bouncing up from it. It's been fairly smooth. The power of prayer and of hearing from God and intercession.
The issue of absent fathers and lack of male role models came up in the conversation. I'm trying very hard to think of a friend[in Australia] who has a godly father who is a role model, involved in the nuturing and leading the family in God's ways, that I know of and met, and only 2-3 names names are coming to mind.Rach? Jos?Uncle Richard?Cait?WOW.There is a serious lack.Some fathers I know have abandoned their families, some are present but absent at heart, some are passive...
Where are the men?Our generation should have strong godly men leading the family, validating and blessing their children, being prophet priest and king in the house. The men should not just be providing for the family[though that is essential], but also leading the way in discipling the children, partnering with and leading their wives to advance God's kingdom.
I'm blessed. My dad is such a man. The more I travel around the world, the more I see that men like my Dad are so so rare. My dad is a leader in the household. He is compassionate. He is wise. He is imperfect, but he is humble and teachable. He is a leader in the community. He is a leader in the church. He is a leader in his own family of brothers and sisters. He has walked with God faithfully and served God in his workplace and the church and at home. He wants to release his children to the next level of breakthrough and anointing.
Even among many of the great godly friends [male or female] I have here in Brisbane, many of their lives are actually held back or immature in some point or other because of the lack of godly fathers in their lives. Some of them might not even realise it till later. Or not at all.
Where are the fathers that are passionate about the kingdom? Passionate about Jesus and reaching the lost?Passionate about loving their wives not just in some human way, but like Christ loved the church? Where are the fathers who not only love and provide for their kids, but also disciple them, impart to them, serve together with them?
Makes me think about my recent Taiwan trip. How many kids have the privilege of ministering toegether with their Dad?Seeing their Dads walk the walk and also bring you along to walk the walk too?
Paul said that there were many who could teach in the church, but there were not many fathers[in the faith or otherwise]. Age-old problem.
Many of my students don't live with their dads. Some of them have step dads or stepstep dads. They don't know what a long-lasting, committed marriage looks like. They don't know what a genuinely strong and loving man looks like. It's heart breaking.
There is a strong need for men of this generation rise up and be what their fathers have not been. If not, even among Christians, there will be grave issues throughout the community. We can talk about advancing God's kingdom, spirituality, etc....all the great things. But if element is lacking, how will the next generation go to the next level? They will have start all over again. We're all back to square one with each generation. Sometimes even down to the negatives!!
It is no coincidence that many people who build great spiritual dreams are standing on the shuolders of their godly fathers and even grandfathers before them: John Maxwell, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Bill Johnson, Joshua Harris, Loren Cunningham, Reinhard Bonnke etc.
Where are all the godly fathers?
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