Courageous

Alright now! Are YOU courageous?  Hello there!  So, Sherwood church is getting good at this movie-making thing.  Still making faith-based movies that are making strides in the mainstream.  When I first saw an ad for this one, I could hardly wait til its September 30 debut.  Have you seen it?! If not, please do!  Check out this song for the movie by Casting Crowns:

The movie takes a good look at fatherhood from the perspective of 5 dads.  Christianity Today even did a lil' spotlight on da jank (within an article about how Sherwood and Mt. Zion [a predominantly black congregation] are working together to help bridge the racial divide in Albany, GA).  Anywho, enough about the magazine article (you should check it out, though!! I'm sayin'...).  Fatherhood...whew...Lord Jesus, have mercy!  Jesus had(has/will have) the Ultimate Dad.  It even seems like he had a half-way decent earthly father in the person of Joseph (aka Joe da builder. Shout out to carpenters and construction workers!).  So, what in the world can a Christian film say about the state of fatherhood in America?  A WHOLE lot, mannn! Watch the movie and you'll see!  Even if you gotta wait for it to drop on Blueray, DVD, Netflix, Redbox...just please no bootleg.  HA-HA.

Some thoughts:  fatherhood, especially within the black context, is an issue that is often talked about.  Come on now!  Dads, please, stick around and play an active role in your children's lives.  WE NEED Y'ALL!  We need y'all to love your wives as Christ loved the church (E-FIIIIIVEE!!!) [Ephesians 5].  To teach them about God (according to Scripture!) [Ephesians 6:4].  To train them up correctly (there's sum'in bout dat daddy discipline that can put da fear uh God in you sho' nuff!) [Proverbs 22:6]. To love them (and show it!) and have compassion on them [Psalm 103:13...maybe a stretch but I think you get the picture].  To spend time with your kids.  To be a role model.  Show them what a man who follows Christ is supposed to be like.  And by all means...don't try to do it by yaself!  This flesh is A BEAST!  Ask God to help you!  The Holy Spirit is called the Helper (I mean, He CAN help you be a good father, too!). Enlist the help of others to be praying for you, giving you good advice, sharing tips. Even attend dad-friendly help sessions. Maybe not the manliest thing to do but who knows what good stuff you could learn??

I ain' no dad, but c'mon men.  We need you.  We love you.

Til next time,
U.M.