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Featuring a sermon from Nathan Caldwell that presents a full description of what true fatherhood means. With all the confusing unrest in our world and rebellion against authority, the answer to a host of civics trouble can find resolution in the basic unit of government, the family.

What holds families together? The father, and when he is missing, weak, or otherwise misguided, problems begin and grow.

in an article, 'The Causal Effects of Father Absence' found at US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health the problem's causes are discussed.

Regardless of the cause, the problem is described in the opening assessment and introduction as follows.

* Our assessment is that studies using more rigorous designs continue to find negative effects of father absence on offspring well-being,

* this work has documented a negative association between living apart from a biological father and multiple domains of offspring well-being, including education, mental health, family relationships, and labor market outcomes.

* These findings are of interest to family sociologists and family demographers

It is clear then, this report only seeks to identify there is a problem, not offer a solution.

Man Holding Up an Infant.

Nathan begins his sermon, with Keith breaking in to add to the importance of fathers in the home.

Sermon: Fathers Day 2017

Title: The Work of a Godly Father

Text: to

Intro:

A little girl followed her father as he carefully stepped through a new garden. She stepped exactly where he stepped and said, “Daddy, if you don’t get mud on your feet, I won’t get any mud on me!”蜉

A little boy, frightened by a thunderous lightning storm, called out one dark night, “Daddy, come. I’m scared.”

“Son,” the father said, “God loves you and he’ll take care of you.”

“I know God loves me,” the boy replied. “But right now I want somebody who has skin on.”

It is the role of the father to be and demonstrate God, with skin on.

What happens if the ball is dropped, however? How important is it to get it right?

The story is told of a young man who stood before a judge to be sentenced for forgery. The judge had been a friend of the boy’s father, who was famous for his books on the law of trusts. “Young man,” said the judge sternly, “do you remember your father, that father whom you have disgraced?”

“I remember him perfectly,” the young man answered quietly. “When I went to him for advice or companionship, he would say, ‘Run away boy, I’m busy.’ Well, my father finished his book, and here I am.”蜉

So we can see that Fatherhood is an URGENT matter!

But What does it take to be a Godly father according to the Bible? What does a Godly father do?

Let’s take a look.

Keith remarks on the common term "head of household" by sharing some references and definitions.

crossword dictionary: WEARSTHEPANTS

,IRS: (in short, defining the one who keeps up the home. a qualified person.)

Someone who is caregiver of child or dependent for more than 6 months of year.

Even if an adult, single or married and you are main financial supporter.

Searching for a Model for fatherhood finds that most results point to scriptural references.

Back to Nathan.

I. (). Heads His Household

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

Or, Victory Over Sin

* Do you ever wonder if victory over the issues the world faces is possible?

* Do you think victory would be more likely if people were confident they could win?

* Is victory over sin more likely for those who are Christian?

Let's develop confidence regarding victory over sin, by reviewing Romans chapter 7.

Sin Defined

Victory in a battle is far more likely if we know our enemy. Is the law our enemy? Of course not. Then what is our enemy? Sin is, because it provokes temptation in our sinful nature.

Think about it. What do children often do when adults tell them not to do something? They do it anyway. They may not even know about the bad thing, until being told to avoid it. The warning awakened a temptation in them.

The law does not cause anyone to disobey, it only defines sin, and describes God's high standards. Because people tend to believe they are generally good, they need the law. People need God’s objective source to warn us of dangerous things in our world.

The Struggle with Sin

What wrong conclusions might people draw about the law from Paul's logic? That we might not be responsible for the sin we do. People may have the attitude of "the devil made me do it." But if that’s true, take a look at your worst devil the next time you look in the mirror

It’s bad enough that sin destroys people through what is evil. Paul declared what makes sin even worse is that it takes what is good, God’s law, and brings about death through it.

Being made out of flesh makes us incapable of keeping God’s law.

Nathan takes over to share the gospel message. In short, heaven is a free gift that we can’t hope to pay for on our own. The good news is that God already provides the way through Jesus. The only thing we are required to do is to believe. To accept his promise on trust. Our own works won't measure up, it’s only by faith.

Back to our look at Romans to wrap up.

Victory Over Sin

Romans 7:21-27

Although we can rely on eternal security, we will still face struggles with sin on a daily basis. It doesn’t mean we failed. It only means we’re human.

Our deepest desire is to have justice. To live up to the standard of God. The ongoing battle in our weak, sin-filled mortal bodies is proof that we need a savior. Wretched men that we are.

We have that eternal savior, thanks to God,

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Interview with Randy Lopez

Truth Exposed 17. John 6:16-21

Trying to address a touchy topic and still apply kindness, Keith and Nathan review articles of belief directly from the Black Lives Matter web site. Before digging into our topic, Keith addresses the matter of dignity and the value of human life. Definitions are drawn from the Statement on Social Justice, and dictionary sources.

Article 2—The Imago Dei: (Image of God).

WE AFFIRM that God created every person equally in his own image. As divine image-bearers, all people have inestimable value and dignity before God and deserve honor, respect, and protection. Everyone has been created by God and for God.

WE DENY that God-given roles, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, religion, sex or physical condition, or any other property of a person either negates or contributes to that individual’s worth as an image-bearer of God.

Definitions:

Dignity comes from who you are, not what you do.

* “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” 

* Rights and dignity are usually tied together, but human rights can be different in different societies.

* Dignity is universally understood,

* Dignity has inner moral worth.

Views on dignity

* Democratic: is inherent, entitled, cannot be merited or lost.

* Aristocratic: can be gained or lost on what is done. More in line with respect.

* Judeo-Christian: dignity, worth, value is from God.

* Social Justice: Individual rights are most important (autonomy, flourishing). Not collective rights.

"Used with permission from Microsoft."

Black Lives Matter

They really do matter because of the inherent dignity and worth of being created in the image of God. Not due to any self-proclaimed definition, or any other man-made concept like those found in movements like social justice, feminism, or confused definitions of human sexuality. Many of which seem to form the foundation for the Black Lives Matter movement, and have little to do with the problems that specifically face Black lives.

We discuss the mission and main points of each statement, some of which we find plenty to agree on, especially where it deals directly to supporting the value of human life, and Black lies in particular. The commitment to finding unity among black communities and networks together is a noble undertaking. As is the desire to intervene in violence, whether it's state-sanctioned or a vigilante force.

It's good to acknowledge similarities, differences, and to work for justice for all, starting with blacks and to everyone.

Then the trend in the statements becomes convoluted, difficult to follow and at times seem to contradict themselves. It isn't difficult to see the influence of radical feminism, intersectionality, and other influences, none of which lend any help to the cause of the core mission of this movement.

Is there really a big segment in the black population who are oppressed for their gender or sexual identity? Will dismantling nature's age-old way of identifying the two sexes actually be the key to bring justice for all manner of violence done to a global black community?

The claim of not being sexist includes language that is clearly anti-male. Is it really family-friendly to dismantle a patriarchal system, making single moms work double shifts, care for kids, and still find time to be active in social work? wouldn't it be better to rebuild a system that placed fathers back in the home?

No. The official Black Lives Matter movement would rather disrupt the nuclear family. It claims the concept that "it takes a village" to raise a child is better.

In this solo episode, Keith reviews some definitions of social justice. After the concepts are on the table, he shares how they represent an attack on scripture.

Social Justice Definitions

From Urban Dictionary:

* A Utopian fantasy

* based on the Leninist concept of " equality of outcome."

* since you have more, it must be taken away from you to give to those who have less,

* The concept of social justice always collapses in upon itself.

From Heritage Foundation:

* Social Justice implies, equality of the burdens, the advantages, and the opportunities of citizenship.

* It requires resource equity, fairness, and respect for diversity,

* It strives for the eradication of existing forms of social oppression.

* Namely, "redistribution" of resources from those who have "unjustly" gained them to those who justly deserve them,

* creating and "ensuring" the processes of truly democratic participation in decision-making...

Other concepts

* Common Good. Who decides what is the common good?

* Reproductive Rights. Meaning abortion, and little to do with women's health.

* Compassion. Related to the war on poverty, but with a shrinking young population, where 7 people supporting one elderly, is now 2 people supporting 1, it can't last for much longer.

From the Social work degree guide:

Defines egalitarianism as everything is equal.

It also recognizes there is a difference between justice and social justice.

* The term justice means that people are treated in accordance with their actions. That it is right and wrong.

* Social justice, however, claims that all people deserve and should have access to the same rights and resources.

Most people accept that premise but differ in how to achieve that equality.

* The liberal view would like legislated programs like the college quota system that mandates schools to admit a certain number of people of diverse races, genders, and those with mental or physical challenges.

* The conservative, right-wing idea says the wealthy should not be penalized but encouraged to be philanthropic.

The problem with the liberal idea is that it creates another inequity. Students without the challenges are penalized by having less access to schools that are filling their quotas. The leftists would also want more taxes on the wealthy to pay for programs for the poor. Taken to the extreme, that view becomes socialism.

the conservative side presents the problem this way. If the wealthy pay 35 percent taxes while the middle class pays 25 percent. Then, if there is a general refund, should everyone receive the same rebate, or should the most go to those who have paid the highest taxes? Plus, do the poor, who have paid nothing in taxes, receive an equal share of the refund?

One injustice often leads to another.

"Used with permission from Microsoft."

Moving on to the first article in the social justice statement.

Article 1—Scripture:

WE AFFIRM that the Bible is God’s Word, breathed out by him. It is inerrant, infallible, and the final authority for determining what is true (what we must believe) and what is right (how we must live). All truth claims and ethical standards must be tested by God’s final Word, which is Scripture alone.

WE DENY that Christian belief, character, or conduct can be dictated by any other authority, and we deny that the postmodern ideologies derived from intersectionality, radical feminism, and critical race theory are consistent with biblical teaching.

We further deny that competency to teach on any biblical issue comes from any qualifi...

A scene from the upcoming third episode of Dangerous Christian that's rather fitting for our time.

In this relatively short episode, Keith is alone in Church House studio for an interview. Our guest is Randy Lopez.

"Used with permission from Microsoft."

Bio

Former proud atheist now glad Christian.

did you want to learn more about Randy and what he does? drop us a line to and we can have him back to discuss one of these topics:

Ministry and mental illness in the body of Christ. Bipolar and PTSD. Evangelism. Society. Christian comedy. Bible study. Vocational training.

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