A Father’s Testimony, Part II

Posted by rfathers on May 1, 2010

You might remember a copy of weeks ago, I told you about my friend Ollie Jones.  He has developed a great set of furniture and exercise equipment for special-needs children.  Now, Ollie could use your help in a contest which will enable him to give away hundreds of his inventions to families with special-needs children. 

I am asking you to read and listen to what Ollie has to say and to please vote for him as his furniture and exeercise equipment is truly God-given.  Please support this effort with your daily vote through the end ofthe month.

Thank you, here is Ollie’s message:

Beginning NOW thru MAY 31, please VOTE (Once-Per-Day) for us in the Pepsi Refresh Project. My grant idea is to “Provide the Wedgster Physical Therapy Device I invented FREE to 365 Special Needs Children Across America.

VOTE Instructions

• Click Pepsi Link http://www.refresheverything.com/JanaeDesigns
• Click the GREY “Vote For This Idea” logo in upper right corner.
• Follow Pepsi Login Instructions (Email Address, Create Password, etc.)
• Click “Vote For This Idea”
• Also, Click Links to PROMOTE my idea via FaceBook, Twitter and My Space.

My name is Ollie Jones IV.  I am the father of a 9-year old daughter, Janae Hope Jones.  Janae has Cerebral Palsy, I am very passionate about helping her, and children like her reach their fullest potential.  To learn more about our story, please watch our video “A Father’s Testimony” Via our website (www.JanaeDesigns.com) or YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbyNPL3BIqY

To stay informed and to help promote our cause, please join our Janae Designs Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Janae-Designs/115456145139403?ref=ts.
Again, please encourage everyone you know to VOTE each day in May.

NOTE: Pepsi accidentally entered someone else’s “Goals” and “Budget” information into my application, but are working on making the correction soon.

Thank you for helping us help children that are less fortunate.

Ollie & Janae
Janae Designs, LLC
561-249-2464
Website: www.JanaeDesigns.com
Email Address: Ollie@JanaeDesigns.com

Proverbs 19:21 – Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

A Father’s Testimony, Part I

Posted by rfathers on April 15, 2010

Good Morning Everyone,

I would like to introduce you to my good friend Ollie Jones and his daughter Janae. Ollie is a good brother in the Lord. Please view his video (A Father’s Testimony) to see how God is using him to help children with special needs.

The more times you view his video the more votes he gets in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “I Am Free Enterprise” contest.

You can see more about Ollie’s and Janae’s testimony and Ollie’s inventions for special needs children on his website (Janae Designs).

Here’s Ollie message:

Hello everyone; Please see our video below “A Father’s Testimony” (the short 3-minute version):

A Father’s Testimony

My story will be featured in an upcoming book written by esteemed Sun Sentinel business writer, Marcia Pounds. Marcia also encouraged me to enter my video in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “I Am Free Enterprise” contest.

The Most Watched Video Wins! So, please click on the video link above, share it with everyone you know and watch it repeatedly until Friday, April 16 at 6 pm EDT.

ADDITIONALLY – Starting May 1, please vote for Ollie’s Pepsi Refresh Project grant idea that would allow him to provide his physical therapy equipment invention FREE to 365 Special Needs Children across America.

Right before May 1, I will send you details on how to vote for Ollie. More information is available on his website (Janae Designs).

Preparing a Personal Purpose Statement

Posted by rfathers on April 13, 2010

Defining Your Purpose In Life: “Who are You?” and “Why Do You Exist?”

Have you ever asked yourself those two questions, “Who am I?” and “Why do I exist?”

These two questions are focal points in the book, The Man In the Mirror: Solving 24 Problems That Men Face, By Patrick Morley.  In chapter five, “Purpose: Why Do I Exist?” Mr. Morley goes on to say that:

“The plain truth is that most men don’t know their purpose in life or their purpose is too small.  A man can do nothing more important than to wrestle with the purpose of his life.”

Here are a few important points that the author makes on this topic:

• The problem shows itself when we as men set goals, achieve them (or not achieve them), then set new goals – without achieving any lasting satisfaction.
• We should derive meaning and identity from understanding who we are in Christ. (Discussed in chapter four of the book, “Significance: The Search for Meaning and Purpose”).
• Once we know who are in Christ – then we can answer why we exist.
• God has a purpose for each of our lives – which is why we exist.
  • Knowing our purpose helps us to focus our lives.
• We also need to know the difference between purpose and goals.  Purpose gives direction to our goals. 
• A goal is an objective to achieve in the near term.  Generally, goals are measurable, to be achieved by a certain date (i.e. donate $100 to a children’s charity every month).  But goals are not always fixed.  They can also be qualitative (i.e. to be a good man).
• Purpose is why I exist – what my function is life is.  It is what God wants me to do for the long-term. 
• Purpose is where we should begin.  Then set goals to realize the purpose God established for your life.
  • Goals are what we do.  Purpose is why we do it.
• There are three levels of purpose:
  • Universal Purpose (for everyone) – to be saved by God and to glorify him through a holy life of faith, love, obedience and service.
  • Personal Purpose (the specific call for me) – a personal, unique and specific purpose for my life.  God reveals this to each of us and it will be consistent with God’s written Word.
  • Other Life Purposes (specific areas of each of our lives):
    • Relationship with God
    • Relationship with wife
    • Relationship with children
    • Relationship with parents, siblings, other family members
    • Other relationships
    • Use of gifts (ministry, serving, witnessing, encouraging, etc.)
    • Career and Education

How to Construct a Written Purpose Statement

1. Write down the Universal Purpose that everyone has from God – as you understand it.
2. Write down your Personal Purpose – as you understand what God has revealed to you.
3. Write down your Other Life Purposes – for the specific areas of your life.

For anything that you are uncertain about what God wants for you – Ask Him – and then listen.

Use the following example as a guideline to write each of the areas above.

My relationship with my children:

Purpose:  Be a Godly parent.

• Goal #1: Give my children a heart for God.  (The results are not always quantitatively measurable.  However, you will see (or not see) the results in the choices and the behavior of your children as they grow and mature.)
  • Steps: enroll my children in Christian schools.
  • Activities (this is measurable): have daily family devotions with prayer and Bible reading and study, attend church weekly.
• Goal #2: Set a Christian home environment.
  • Steps: display Christian attitudes and values towards others in what we say and in what we do towards others, emphasize Christian movies and other activities, monitor and limit use of the computer, television and other media.
  • Activities: socialize with other Christian families.
• Goal #3: Be a good example of Godliness.
  • Steps: maintain a personal walk with God myself, be sensitive to the impact I have on my children, listen when they talk.
• Goal #4: Have a close and mentoring relationship with my children.
  • Activities: spent time with them, talk with them. teach them, give them room to grow, give Godly direction without being be overly critical.

Print a copy of thie outline for Developing a Personal Purpose Statement.
 
Also see our blueprint for developing a Marriage Plan.

The Characteristics of the New Generation of Fighting Men: #7 – Be the Priest in Your Home

Posted by rfathers on January 20, 2010

As Joshua prepared the people of Israel for his own death, he brought them together to recount to them the goodness of God and how God had kept them over the years. He charged the people to make a deliberate decision to serve the Lord. Joshua gave them a choice to serve the gods of Abraham’s ancestors, the gods of Egypt, the gods of the Amorites or the one true God Jehovah.

Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15 NIV)

Joshua spoke on behalf of his household as leader and priest of his family. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. Every man, husband and father needs to make this same declaration today – if you have not done so already – that your household will serve the Lord.

Apparently, even at the point when Joshua was near his own end, about 50 years after coming into the Promised Land there was still a problem with false gods in Israel. In verse 23 of Joshua 24, He told the people to put away … the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.

This shows that idolatry was still an issue among the Israelites even years after leaving Egypt and after the old generation of fighting men had been consumed in the dessert. Was this a prime reason why the old generation of fighting men refused to take the Promised Land that God had promised them? Were they powerless to fight because they were not serving the Lord?

Idolatry never stops being an issue because the enemy never stops trying to separate us from God. But also, as long as we are in the world we will have outside influences that help to make false gods look attractive. That is why God had laws against the marrying non-believers (Deuteronomy 7:3; 2 Kings 11:2) because they could entice us to follow other gods. And that is why the Apostle Paul told us:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV)

We must protect what God has given to us and be sure not to entertain that which can set us against God.

There are still false gods – even among Christians today – that need to be weeded out. That is why every man needs to be a priest in their own household and proclaim that as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

What is the Role of a Priest In the Home?

1. First off the man in responsible for his own salvation. That is, he is responsible to submit to God and to serve God.
2. Second, the man, husband, father is responsible to lead the members of his household in receiving the Lord the Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Yes, only the Holy Spirit can do the saving – but, the man, husband, father must follow the Lord and create an atmosphere where each individual has the opportunity to come to the Lord.
3. Third, the man, husband, father is responsible for creating the atmosphere where everyone has the opportunity to develop in their walk with the Lord. Yes, everyone is responsible for their own submission to the Lord, but the man should set the tone. Active family involvement in prayer and the study of God’s word is only the first step. This must be followed by careful regulation of outside and un-Godly influences being present in the home. Jesus made it clear, either you serve God – or you don’t (Matthew 6:24).

Are you a priest in your home? If not, are you ready to move to that level?

Let us know how this post impacts you. Please give us your comments below.

This is the last of seven posts on the Characteristics of the New Generation of Fighting Men.

In our next post we will begin a new series of seven entries on the Characteristics of the Fighting Army. You might ask, “What is the difference?” In the first series on the Fight Men we looked at what each man is individually responsible for while the series on the Fighting Army will talk about the structure, organization and approach of the Army as a whole – as an institution – and how it facilitates for the development of the men and the nation.

Please tell others about this important series on God Is Calling for a New Generation of Fighting Men.

What Mothers Say About Fathers

Posted by rfathers on January 14, 2010

This morning I received my regular e-mail newsletter from the National Fatherhood Initiative. I noticed a big ad on their website announcing the release of the first-ever national survey taking an in-depth look at how today’s mothers view fathers and fatherhood.

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

Why is God Calling for a New Generation of Fighting Men for today?

Posted by rfathers on December 12, 2009

Around 420 B.C. the Prophet Malachi warned in the last two verses of the Old Testament of a curse that would plaque the world should the heart of the fathers not turn to the children (Malachi 4:5-6).

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.

God’s Call for a New Generation of Fighting Men

Posted by rfathers on December 8, 2009

God has impressed on me that He is calling for a new generation of fighting men to face the current challenges of the twentieth-first century.

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?

Get a FREE Copy of “Fun Meals for Fathers and Sons”

Posted by rfathers on August 28, 2009

Help yourself to a free copy of the book that my two sons and I wrote some years ago, Fun Meals for Fathers and Sons: Recipes and Activities for Bonding and Mentoring. 

You will enjoy the two sections of the book: recipes and activities.  Everything is centered around a meal and creates the opportunity for fathers to bond with and to mentor their children.

To get a free copy of this e-book just sign-up right here:

Introduction

Article: The Importance of Bonding and Mentoring

Cooking and Eating Utensils

Fun Meals Recipes

Breakfast Recipes
RailRoad Eggs
Eggs and Cheese on Toast
Grilled Cornbread Muffins and Syrup
Waffles and Bacon Sandwich
Chicken and Waffles
Bacon, Tator Tots and Ketchup
French Toast

Lunch Recipes
Daddy Dogs
Chili Cheese Dogs
Egg Salad and Cheez-Its
Tuna and Crackers
Hot Dogs, Crackers and Cheese
Leftover Turkey and Crackers
Netfa?s Platter
Pretzels and Soup
The Hero
Turkey, Lettuce, Cheese and Potato Chip Sandwich
The Twists

Dinner Recipes
Mess ?em Up Jax
Fried Chicken Sandwich
Asiedu?s Finger Foods
Buffalo Wings
Lumpy Burgers
Chicken Wings
Uncle Siasa?s Grilled Chicken Sandwich – with Pickles
Mexican Tacos
HomeMake Pizza
Pizza Dogs

Outdoor Dishes
Grilled Hamburgers
Yellow Chicken
Roasted Marshmallows
Hanger HotDogs

Drinks
AGC Fizz
OJ and 7-Up
HomeMade Lemonade
Fruit Punch and Lemonade
Grape Juice and Orange Juice
Chocolate Explosion

Bread and Potatoes
Garlic and Cheese Bread
Cheese Toast
Bacon and Cheese Bread
Tator Tots
Silver Dollar French Fries
Boiled Potatoes Creations

Salads
Fruit Salad
Busy Salad

Desserts and Snacks
Kid Pops
Popcorn and Orange Juice
Cookies and Ice Cream
RootBeer Float
Strawberry ShortCake
Brownies and Whipped Cream

Fun Meals Activities
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Picnic at Work
Deck Sandwich
Back Yard Dinner
Midnight Snack
Rubber Target
Fast Food
Slow Food
PanCakes
I Scream, You Scream
Pizza, Pizza
Bike Ride
Tour Boat Lunch
Have Lunch, Will Travel
Park It Here
Mountain High
Take a Hike
Tent City
Fish Sandwich
At the Mall
No Talking in the Library
Sky King
Live Chicken Dinner
Breakfast at the Beach
Let?s Go to the Movie

To get a free copy of this e-book just sign-up right here:

Get a copy of the paperback version of
Fun Meals for Fathers and Sons for only $2.95. 

Seeking Psychiatric Help for Children

Posted by rfathers on June 30, 2009

Today I had the occasion to look for help for a friend who had a question about his son’s behavior.  I was again lead to a website that has a wealth of information for parents who are looking for answers.  That website is the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, www.aacap.org.

The American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry website has a convenient list of almost 100 questionable behaviors and issues of concern in their Fact for Families section.  They feature explanations about signs to look for, details about normal behavior, suggestions for further reading, some videos, recommended steps to take, and other helpful information for inquiring parents.

I recommend using this resources to help you answer questions about your children and about where and how to find help when the questions arise Facts for Families – Alphabetical Listing.  The website also features a host of other resources, links, papers, books and referrals that are helpful for families and professionals.

President Obama’s Father’s Day Message

Posted by rfathers on June 19, 2009

President Barrack Obama posted a Father’s Day Message on the U.S. Govenment’s National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) website (Fatherhood.gov).  Here is that message as borrowed from Youtube.com.