Construction Zone Series

CONSTRUCTION ZONE

(Father’s Day)

Eph 6: 1-4 (p 829) June 17, 2012

INTRODUCTION:

I want my sons to love their wives like I love their Mother…I want my son’s-in-laws to love my daughters like I love their Mom.

As a husband, and father I want to “give them a target to shoot at (not literally). I want to give them a goal to work toward. Give them a pattern that they can see clearly, Billy Graham said, “Do that and you give your children something that gold and silver cannot buy.”

I love being a Dad…I love being a Granddad, (Pawpaw) even more…but. Father’s day has that bittersweet taste to it…because my target, my pattern, my goal to work toward left this earth in 2004.

But one of the reasons I want to be that kind of example for my children, and grandchildren is because of the example he was for me…

It breaks my heart to see the effects of absentee fathers…or maybe ever worse…”abusive and unhealthy” fathers…I can’t even imagine what that’s like because of what my earthly father did for me…loving, generous, self-scarifying..Faithful to my mom and God and His country…that’s what Dad constructed in me…

He was the primary teacher of what it means to be a Man…Here’s what one guy said were the top 10 reasons to be a man…

10 You know stuff about tanks.

9 You can go to the bathroom without a support group.

8 If someone forgets to invite you to something he can still be your friend.

7 You can drop by to see a friend without bringing a little gift.

6 If another guy shows up at the same party in the same outfit, you might become lifelong buddies.

5 One wallet, one pair of shoes, one color, all seasons.

4 There is always a game on somewhere.

3 Your pals can be trusted never to trap you with, “So…notice anything different?”

2 If something mechanical doesn’t work, you can bash it with a hammer and throw it across the room.

1 You can do your nails with a pocketknife.

That’s why it’s good to be a “Man”!!!

Hey, some of us had great examples of what it means to be “a man”…others had horrible examples…or no example at all…Some of us had “step dads” that stepped into the breach…or “mentors” that socially adopted us “along with the real sons” I almost feel guilty because of the Dad I had…how good he was, how secure he made us all feel.

I cannot explain why I received that blessing…and maybe you didn’t or why God would allow you to go through all you’ve been through to get here ….But…

You are here WOW…our past effects us…and sometimes prepares us…but it does not have to define our future.

So, fathers, mentors, brothers, men…and those of you who love us (women and children).

Here’s the question...what are you building…what does your construction zone look like? How is god building you and how are you constructing the pattern for others?

You see we as men are either headed for spiritual revived or extinction…Daddy’s will become dinosaurs

Joe Maxwell, writing on the web site called ibelieve.com, summarizes the state of fatherhood in an article entitled, “Dads: The New Endangered Species.” Here’s what he says: “In other words, guys really want to be good dads more than ever, but they aren’t changing much. When the good news is combined with the bad, it seems that fatherhood in the United States is poised for either a great awakening or a gory collapse.”

Here’s the first brink in constructing godly homes…

I TEACH WHAT’S RIGHT…AND OBEY IT

“Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.”

Children are taught by example much more than words…words are important, but actions speak louder.

Advertisers on T.V. know it…whether it’s the little boy playing with the Chevy Silverado truck until his dad gets home in the real one…or the Father and Son setting on the couch…eating and drinking the same stuff…until the Mom replaces the sugaree soda with water.

Parents can be schematic…children follow their lead.

The average child will ask 5000,000 questions from the time they start talking to the age of 15. Answering those questions is important, but much of the answers are caught rather taught. Kids learn from what they observe. Our life style is the lesson.

Paul tells us dad’s “bring up” your children in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Here’s a heavy duty question for us as Dad’s “Is my spiritual life worth imitating?” Do my children see one in prayer…bible Study…Church…Caring for others?”

Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, camp, they’re all important…but our Godly father is worth more than a dozen Sunday school teachers.

The book of Proverbs tells us “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it” (22:6)