(See that February 11th – blog entry – Births to Teenagers.)

At that time, we promised to bring you more information. Now, the Guttmacher Institute has issued two new reports, (1) U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births and Abortions: National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity on Teen Pregnancy and (2) Facts on American Teens’ Sexual and Reproductive Health. Some of the conclusions in the reports are:

• Between 1990 and 2005:
  • 41 percent decline in pregnancies among teenaged girls
  • births among teen girls decreased 35 percent
  • teen abortions declined 56 percent between 1988 and 2005

• In 2005
  • the U.S. teenage pregnancy rate reached its lowest point in more than 30 years

• In 2006:
  • the U.S. teenage pregnancy rate increased for the first time in more than a decade, rising 3%
  • 750,000 women younger than 20 became pregnant
  • about 7% of women (age 15-19) became pregnant
  • among all racial and ethnic groups, the teen birthrate reversed its downward trend
  • there were 200,420 abortions among 15–19-year-olds
  • 27% of pregnancies among 15–19-year-olds
    ended in abortion

• In 2007:
  • the teen birth rate rose for the second year in a row – about 1 percent (according to a recent U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention study released late last year and published in the Dec. 21, 2009, online edition of Pediatrics)

The Guttmacher Institute Reports

1. Kost K, Henshaw S. and Carlin L., U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births and Abortions: National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity, 2010, Guttmacher Institute Report.
2. Facts on American Teens’ Sexual and Reproductive Health, Fact on Teens

Why do you think the downward trend reversed and now teen pregnancy is on the rise? What are the causes? What are the solutions? Please comment below.

Help for Combatting Teen Pregnancy

• Christianity Today – “What Works: Why Teens Choose Purity” – Why Teens Choose Purity
• Crosswalk.com- “Real Solutions to Teen Pregnancy” – Real Solutuions
• Christian Mommies – “Mothers’ Influence on Adolescent Sex – How Being Connected to Your Child Can Promote Abstinence” – Mothers’ Influence
• – “” –

I must admit that I was surprised to find very few resources on-line for this topic. If you know of any please give us the information in a comment below. Thank you!

The 36-page report, Mama Says: A National Survey of Mothers’ Attitudes on Fathering (as well as other smaller summaries), is available on their website (National Fatherhood Initiative).

Below are the Top 14 Findings of the report, copied from this website: Top 14 Findings.

Top 14 Findings – What do moms really think?

1. 93% of moms believe there is a father absence crisis.
2. Most moms think dad is replaceable.
3. Married and cohabiting moms were happier with dads’ performance than moms not living with dad.
4. Married moms believe more in the power of marriage to help dad be the best he can be than moms who are cohabitating or separated from dad.
5. Dads of young children got better marks than dads of teens.
6. Closeness to children and work-family balance were the biggest predictors of mom’s satisfaction with dad (after living arrangement).
7. Most moms said they could do a better job of work-family balance if dad provided more help.
8. Moms said that “work responsibilities” were the biggest obstacle to dad’s success in fathering.
9. Strong religious values are beneficial to helping dads be better fathers.
10. Moms think communities of faith are the top place for dads to get fathering help.
11. Nonresident dads think they’re doing a better job than the moms who co-parent with them think they are.
12. African-American moms weren’t as happy as white or other minority moms, but most of the difference can be explained by living situation or family structure.
13. New romantic relationship for dads equals less happy moms.
14. Moms who aren’t living with the father of their children identified more and stronger obstacles to his ability to parent.

I am truly grateful to the National Fatherhood Initiative for putting this report together. I invite all of my readers to take a look at this report and the many others on fatherhood that are available on the National Fatherhood Initiative website.

We will definitely discuss this list in our next Joseph the Carpenter Focus Group Meeting (JCFG).

Please let us know what you think about the list of the Top 14 Findings by commenting below.

Thank you.
Akili

Today we can see clear examples of what that curse could look like:

• Low standards of manhood, thus low standards for husbands and fathers
• Extreme father-absence
• High divorce rates
• Large percentage of children born outside of wedlock
• High rates of teen pregnancy
• High incidence of female headed households
• Ever increasing disrespect for elders and the rule of law
• Extreme sexual pervasiveness and promiscuity in society
• Weakening of the family and the authority of fathers in the family

These are just a few of the signs of such a curse – not only in the United States but also globally. One might argue which of these signs are effects of a curse and which are causes. The bottom line is that it is cyclical, that is, the more each problem persist – the more it helps to create and reinforce the other problems.

Nevertheless, Malachi’s warning (and the subsequent curse) shows the need for a new generation of fighting men equipped and prepared to face a different kind of enemy that impacts our manhood, our homes, our communities, our churches and more.

In the next post we will discuss the characteristics of the new generation of fighting men.

This statement raises several obvious questions such as:

1. What is a generation of fighting men?
2. Why is God calling for a new generation of fighting men for today?
3. What are the characteristics of this new generation of fighting men?

What is a generation of fighting men?

Fourteen months after Israel’s Exodus from the confines of slavery in Egypt, a census showed that there were 603,550 men who were 20 years old or more and could serve in Israel’s army (Number 1:44-46). Twelve of these men were chosen (one of the leading men from each of the 12 tribes) to explore the land of milk and honey that God had promised to Israel. Upon their return after 40 days of spying the land, 10 of the men gave an evil report that characterized the inhabitants as unconquerable giants. Although the land was plentiful and inviting, the 10 spies spread fear that caused most of Israel to long for a return to Egypt.

Only Joshua and Caleb believed in God’s power to deliver the land into Israel’s hands. The whole assembly of Israel wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb. God intervened and threatened to immediately destroy all of the men of Israel. This was the generation of fighting men that God said could not enter the Promised Land and had to die in the dessert (Number 14:29-30). It was not until the last of these men was gone that God told Moses to prepare the people to enter the land of milk and honey.

Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them. The LORD’s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp.

Now when the last of these fighting men among the people had died, the LORD said to me, “Today you are to pass by the region of Moab at Ar.
Deuteronomy 2:14-18 NIV

In the next post we will discuss why God is calling for a new generation of fighting men for today.

Please comment on today’s post below. Do you agree with this call?

Joseph the Carpenter was a great man of faith and is a perfect role-model for 21^st century fathers, one that is sorely needed at this time when fatherhood has been under attack and divorce amongst Christians is as prevalent as non-Christians.

What Role Did Joseph Have in Jesus’ Life?

As the earthly father to Jesus Christ, Joseph was a Godly man, a man of character, a loving husband, a family man, a teacher, a provider and a protector. In short, Joseph was a purpose-driven servant of God.

What Is the Book All About?

Fatherhood Principles of Joseph the Carpenter is a challenging and exciting new motivational book for Fathers with ground-breaking analysis of the scant scriptures on this Great Man of Faith. It helps men gain a heightened understanding of Joseph’s history and education. It brings to life how he taught and coached the boy Jesus (like Eli did for Samuel). It presents eye-opening accounts of the Jewish background for many Biblical scenes. It provides seven uplifting principles that fathers and husbands can implement right now.

Who Wrote the Book?

The author, Akili Kumasi, attends church in Queens, New York. He is a devoted father of two young men and two daughters, a former college instructor and the author/editor of twelve books including four fatherhood books. Akili is the founder of the Reconciled Fathers Network, a ministry that helps separated-fathers become good and Godly parents (www.rFathers.Net).

Print a free copy of Chapter One

How Can You Get More Information?

Fatherhood Principles of Joseph the Carpenter is available now at www.JosephTheCarpenterBook.com. Wholesale distribution is available at: Get Wholesale Prices.

Today we want to share two 30-second commericals from the U.S. Government’s National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse’s “Take Time to Be a Dad” campaign.

These commericals speak for themselves.

	Cheer Leader A grandmother watches as a father is rehearsing cheerleading routines with his daughter.
	Super Soaker We observe a father and his young son engaged in a serious “super soaker” battle.

For more information on the U.S. Government’s National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse’s, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Office of Family Assistance.

NRFC – Home page

NRFC – Tips for Absence Fathers

NRFC – Tips for Parents

NRFC – Fatherhood Statistics

In my book On the Outside Looking In we noted that BIRTHS TO UN-WED MOTHERS MEANS BIRTHS TO UN-WED FATHERS. The main problem here is that the mothers generally (in overwhelming numbers) get stuck with taking care of the babies while the fathers are not held accountable – as much. This creates a disadvantage for everyone, including the father because if he does not take responsibility then he does not learn to be responsible and will probably repeat the performance.

In the report cited below, it was concluded that BIRTHS TO TEENAGE MOTHERS DOES NOT MEAN BIRTHS TO TEENAGE FATHERS. More births are occurring to teenage mothers from boys and men who are older than the mothers than to teenage mothers who are impregnated by teenage boys! What does that tell you?

The Report: “Births: Final Data for 2006″

On January 7, 2009 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) released it latest report on birth in the U.S. for the year 2006. This report held some interesting statistics on teen birth rates (ages 15 to 19). Below are some highlights from the report:

Statistics

• 4,265,555 births in the United States in 2006.
• 435,436 births to teenagers, 15-19 years old (10.2% of total births).
• That is a 3% increase in the birthrate for teenagers.
• This increase in 2006 ended a 14-year period of continuous decline in the teen birth rate.
• Teenage birth rates increased in 26 states.
• Mississippi leads the nation with the highest teen birth rate, 6.8% (68 out of 1,000), New Mexico is second with 6.4% and Texas is third with 6.3%.
• New Hampshire had the lowest rate of 1.9% (19 per 1,000).
• Guttmacher Institute Researcher David Landry noted that “Its more costly for youth in the Northeast to have a teen baby than for youth in the South, in terms of opportunities they’ll miss.” Kids in mostly white New Engalnd likely would delay child birth (news.yahoo.com, 1/7/09).

Other Issues

• Health: Teen births have a elevated risk of poor birth outcomes including: low birth weight, pre-term births, infant mortality.
• Social: limited educational and financial resources available to teenage mothers.
• Social: Public cost (to the government) of teenage child bearing is about $9.1 billion yearly.
• One of the Causes: Growing media portrayals of celebrity pregnancy do not help (news.yahoo.com, 1/7/09).
• Problematic Stats on Fathers: Age of the father is not reported on birth certificates for 14% of all births, 25% of births to women younger than 25 and 36% of all unmarried births.

For More Information

• The 102 page report is entitled: “Births: Final Data for 2006″ and is published by the National Center for Health Statistics which is part of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the Department of Health and Human Services. The report is available in printable pdf format: Get Report.
• Wikipedia has an interesting (although dated) article on international teenage pregnancy Wikipedia – Teen Pregnancy

We will provide more information from this report in future posts. Please let us know what you think about the information in the report in a comment below.

Post your comments below, including additional sources of information on teenage pregnancy, methods for prevention, personal experience, resources etc.

Obama Speech on Fatherhood and Family at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, IL on June 15, 2008.

It will be exciting to see how his positions on family and fatherhood will translate into programs and policies that to help strengthen families and fathers in the coming years.

We will be watching and reporting to our readers. We wish him well in the presidency.

Two Tragic News Stories

First, tragically a well-known celebrity (John Travolta) just lost his sixteen year old son (apparently connected to an illness). I am sure that the grief, is unimaginable, except to those that have also lost a child.

Second, a father in New Jersey who did not want to pay child support confessed to murdering his son and burying him in a playground. For that family, the grief must also be enormous and unbearable. Their anger should also be kindled.

Whereas this blog is to be uplifting and help fathers overcome obstacles to being good fathers, I cannot just pass by these stunning news stories about fathers and lost sons without some comment and feelings for the parents and loved ones.

Take Advantge of God-Given Opportunities

Generally speaking, when a father misses out on the opportunity of fatherhood it is because of their own shortcomings, busy schedules or poor priorities – not because of a death of a child – although it does happen. As we look at those two news stories above, I ask and emplore fathers to renew their committment to being good fathers.

Do it now while the opportunity still presents itself. If the opportunity is snatched from you because of the untimely death of your child(ren), you will not have a second chance.

Also, fathers, do not let the passage of time catch you. Do you want to look up one day to see that your children are grown and gone already? Do you want to be full of regret that you did not take the opportunity when it was available?

Here is one of the RFN theme statements that capsulizes what I think about fatherhood:

?Being a father is one of the greatest rewards and one of the most significant challenges a man can face. No father should miss this God-given responsibility and blessing.? (Akili Kumasi)

Lastly, take a look and listen to the two musical selections that come to mind below:

1. “Cats in the Cradle” written/sung by the late Harry Chapin

Lyrics to “Cats in the Cradle”

(Verse 1)
My child arrived just the other day,
He came to the world in the usual way.
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay,
He learned to walk while I was away.
And he was talkin’ ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew,
He’d say “I’m gonna be like you, yeh,
I know I’m gonna be like you”.

(Chorus)
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little Boy Blue and The Man In The Moon.
“When ya comin’ home Dad?”
“I don’t know when, we’ll get together then, son,
Ya know we’ll have a good time then”.

(Verse 2)
Well my son turned 10 just the other day,
He said “Thanks for the ball Dad, come let’s play.
Can ya teach me to throw?” I said
“Not today, I got a lot to do.” He said “That’s ok”.
And then, he walked away but his smile never dimmed,
He said “I’m gonna be like him, yeh,
Ya know I’m gonna be like him”.

(Chorus)
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little Boy Blue and The Man In The Moon.
“When ya comin’ home Dad?”
“I don’t know when, we’ll get together then, son,
Ya know we’ll have a good time then”.

(Verse 3)
Well he came from college just the other day,
So much like a man I just had to say
“Son I’m proud of you, can ya sit for a while?”
He shook his head, and he said with a smile
“What I’d really like Dad, is to borrow the car keys.
See ya later, can I have them please?”

(Chorus)
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little Boy Blue and The Man In The Moon.
“When ya comin’ home son?”
“I don’t know when, we’ll get together then, Dad,
Ya know we’ll have a good time then”.

(Verse 4)
Well I’ve long since retired, my son’s moved away,
I called him up just the other day.
I said “I’d like to see you, if you don’t mind.”
He said “I’d love to Dad, if I can find the time.
You see my new job’s a hassle and the kids have the flu,
But it’s sure nice talking to you Dad,
It’s been sure nice talking to you.”
And as he hung up the phone it occurred to me,
He’d grown up just like, my boy, was just like me.

(Chorus)
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little Boy Blue and The Man In The Moon.
“When ya comin’ home son?”
“I don’t know when, we’ll get together then, Dad,
We’re gonna have a good time then”.

(Lyrics copied from Lyrics Mode

2. “Tears in Heaven” written and performed by Eric Clapton

This song was about his four-and-a-half year old son, Conor, who tragically died in 1991.

Lyrics to “Tears in Heaven”

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?

I must be strong
And carry on,
‘Cause I know I don’t belong
Here in heaven.

Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?

I’ll find my way
Through night and day,
‘Cause I know I just can’t stay
Here in heaven.

Time can bring you down,
Time can bend your knees.
Time can break your heart,
Have you begging please, begging please.

Beyond the door,
There’s peace I’m sure,
And I know there’ll be no more
Tears in heaven.

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?

I must be strong
And carry on,
‘Cause I know I don’t belong
Here in heaven.

Copied from Eric-Clapton.co.uk

by Akili Kumasi
ISBN #: 0-9626035-5-4 – ISBN-13: 978-0-9626035-5-6

Too many children grow up in father-absent families because of divorces, separations, and births to un-wed parents. Many have higher risks for academic, social and psychological problems. Pro-active fathers make a positive difference.

On the Outside Looking In encourages separated-fathers to step-to-the-plate with their children while:

• challenging them to be good fathers in spite of being separated from their children
• helping men become better parents

On the Outside Looking In will help separated-fathers:

• make relationships with their children work
• gain cooperation from their children?s mother
• obtain resources for help with starting over
• break the cycles of hopelessness
• See Table of Contents Below

Purchase a copy of On The Outside Looking In PAPERBACK BOOK Shipped in 24 hours Regular Price $10.95 Discount Price $9.85 — Save 10%

---

Table of Contents – On The Outside Looking In

Introduction

Chapter One:

Breaking-Up Is Hard To Do

(The Social Phenomenon of the Separated Father)

Chapter Two:

Like Father ? Like Son

(The Impact of Father-Absent Families on Children)

Chapter Three:

Starting All Over Again

(Reconciling With Your Children)

Chapter Four:

Do The Right Thing

(Seven Principles of Good FatherHood)

Chapter Five:

Some Do’s and Don?ts for

(Creating The Right Relationship With Your Children)

Chapter Six:

Co-Parenting With Your Children’s Mother

(Winning Isn’t Everything)

Chapter Seven:

New Beginnings

(Dating, Marriage and Step-Parenting)

Epilogue: The Reconciled-Father

Appendix: Resources for the Reconciled-Father

---

Purchase a copy of On The Outside Looking In PAPERBACK BOOK Shipped in 24 hours Regular Price $10.95 Discount Price $9.85 — Save 10%

]]>