As we go full throttle into the Father’s Day of 2008, I think it only fitting to remember the importance of a father in our current day and age.
A year and a half ago I heard Josh McDowell point out some alarming statistics about the nature of American youth as researched by Columbia University. He said that in a home without a good relationship with a father, youth are 68% more likely to turn to a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol and violence. The same study suggested that youth living with a single mother without an active involvement of their father were only 30% more likely to turn to drugs, alcohol and violence. Finally, the same study indicated that youth with a good home and strong father figure relationship were 94% less likely to involve themselves in those same vices.
Perhaps most alarming was a study by John Hopkins that suggested that without a proper relationship with ones father, youth are 300%-400% more likely to commit suicide as an adolescent.
In Malachi 4:5-6 we read:
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse (NKJV)
Has our land fallen under a curse because the hearts of the fathers have been self seeking instead of turning toward the next generation?
Can the hearts of the children turn toward the fathers without it being a reciprocal reaction?
The statistics indicate the father wound in America is deeper than we ever thought it would be, and the National Center for Fathering claims that over 72% of Americans believe the fatherlessness situation is the single largest social problem facing our country.
I believe it is time for Elijahs to stand up and be heard. They need to revive the dead widows’ sons. They need to call out the young farmers who are destined to be prophets. They need to train the next generation. They need to offer them the son’s inheritance. Finally they need to allow the next generation to succeed them.
It is time…past time…to begin turning the hearts. Only then can we overcome this curse in the land.
Darrell B Jr.
Thank you for inviting all believers to receive the call of Elijah – to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children back to their fathers. We must not view this as too great a task, as the Father Himself is relentless and had He not been so we ourselves would never hear the call.
The Elijah call is the sounding call for the return of the Savior. As we turn hearts, the Bride is prepared and the Bridegroom returns.
Thank you for caring the torch.
Prayers and respect,
Lucy Bloom
Manager, Father-Daughter Summit
By: Lucy Bloom on June 17, 2008
at 4:47 pm
Thanks for stopping by Lucy.
I pray God blesses you in all your efforts to impart God’s best into the lives of the next generation.
Sincerely,
Darrell B. Jr.
By: darrellbjr on June 25, 2008
at 11:04 am