North Athens Baptist Church

The prevailing view of fathers in our society is heavily influenced by Hollywood and the television “fathers” we watch.  For the most part they are a sad, pitiful group of ignorant buffoons that can barely get through the day without help from their wives.  Dr Albert Mohler suggests in an article here that this is due to the radical feminism that pervades the entertainment culture and the academic world.  His assessment to me is right on target.  We need men to step up and fill the role of a father in the way that the New Testament demands.  The older that I get the more I am grateful for my father.  My Dad was a member of the “Greatest Generation” he fought his way across Europe, serving in the United States Army in World War II and then came home to build a better world for his children.  He had very little formal education and worked in a factory his whole life but I cannot imagine having a better role model.  He loved God, my Mom, his children and his church.  For a long time it was difficult for him to tell us that he loved us, he just went out and proved it every day by the way he lived.  The concept of a loving heavenly Father was never difficult for me to grasp because of his love.  I remember seeing an interview of a well known movie star some years ago and in it he said: “Down south they say you are not a man until your Daddy says you are.”  Implicit in that statement is the idea that deep down all men want their fathers to be proud of them.  It has been my great privilege in life not only to have a Godly father but also to have been blessed with two sons who are also good fathers.  They are striving to bring up their children in the “fear and admonition of the Lord.”  In our culture today that is not an easy task and I admire their efforts.  If your father is still living take time today to tell him you appreciate him and love him.  If, like me, your father has already gone to heaven, be thankful for his influence in your life.  And if you have sons pray for them and tell them you are proud of their efforts to be men of God and good fathers.  So to David Robert and John Felix: Happy Father’s Day boys, you are good men and your Daddy is proud of you.