Peanut Gallery: Family is forever. Happy Fathers Day.
Month: June 2014
25 Facts On The Importance Of Fathers – Reblog The Gospel Coalition
25 FACTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS by Joe Carter, editor, Gospel Coalition (June 13, 2014)
In Scripture the word “father” is found more than 1,100 times. Yet in America it’s become increasingly harder to find a father in the home. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 24 million children in America — one out of three children — now live in a home in which the biological father is absent.
Increasing father involvement in their children’s live is one of the most important ways to address material and spiritual poverty in this country. One way we can do that is to reiterate the importance of fathers and the difference their presence makes. Almost every study conducted in the social sciences confirms what the Bible teaches — fathers matter.
Here are 25 facts from social science research on the effects of having a father in the home:
2. Adolescents living in intact families tend to report closer relationships with their fathers.
5. Adolescents with more involved fathers tend to exhibit lower levels of behavioral problems.
10. Fathers’ religiosity is linked to higher quality of parent-child relationships.
11. Fathers’ engagement in their children’s activities was linked to higher academic performance.
13. Close father-adolescent bonds protect against the negative influence of peer drug use.
17. Men who become fathers outside of marriage are more likely to be poor.
18. Fathers of intact families spend, on average, more time with their children.
21. Intact families are more likely to provide a safe home for children.
25. Children in father-absent homes are almost four times more likely to be poor.
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For more information: go to FAMILYFACTS.ORG
Trinity Sunday: Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9; Daniel 3:52-56; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; John 3:16-18 ~ Holy, Holy, Holy
TRINITY SUNDAY
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentence:
On this Trinity Sunday, we worship the One who creates, redeems and sanctifies, three persons, one God, without end.
Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy”
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A Reading from the Old Testament: Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9 (NLT)
So Moses chiseled out two tablets of stone like the first ones. Early in the morning he climbed Mount Sinai as the Lord had commanded him, and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.
Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,
“Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness….”
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Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped. And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.”
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A Reading from the Book of Daniel: Daniel 3:52-56 (DRA)
Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of our fathers: and worthy to be praised, and glorified, and exalted above all for ever: and blessed is the holy name of thy glory: and worthy to be praised, and exalted above all in all ages.
Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory: and exceedingly to be praised, and exceeding glorious for ever.
Blessed art thou on the throne of thy kingdom, and exceedingly to be praised, and exalted above all for ever.
Blessed art thou, that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims: and worthy to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and worthy of praise, and glorious for ever.
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A Reading from the Letters: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 (NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet each other with Christian love. All of God’s people here send you their greetings.
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 3:16-18 (NLT)
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son….”
Intercessions:
To You, Great God, be the glory – Trusting in Your grace and confident of Your mercy, hear our prayers.
+ For all believers – that we may know and experience Your love in whatever circumstance we find ourselves today….
Lord, hear my prayer.
+ For people who search for the truth – that You may embrace them with love and draw them into Your family….
Lord, hear my prayer.
+ For all who seek peace and justice – that we may inspire the peoples of the earth to work together toward that end….
Lord, hear my prayer.
+ For our faith communities around the world – that our Christian witness may be visible in the kind way we treat each other….
Lord, hear my prayer.
+ For all who are brokenhearted, confused, lost, sick, weak or poor – that the generosity of your people might offer help and hope….
Lord, hear our prayer.
+ For our loved ones who have died and those who mourn their loss – that we may live with the certain hope of resurrection, amd give glory and praise to God for ever more….
Lord, hear my prayer.
God of infinite mercy, hear the prayers of your people — who give praise for all the good things that come from you, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Hymn “To God Be the Glory”
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Married Fathers: America’s Greatest Weapon Against Child Poverty – Reblog
Married Fathers: America’s Greatest Weapon Against Child Poverty
The mainstream media, liberal politicians, activists, and academia bewail child poverty in the U.S. But in these ritual lamentations, one key fact remains hidden: The principal cause of child poverty in the U.S. is the absence of married fathers in the home.
According to the U.S Census, the poverty rate in 2008 for single parents with children was 35.6 percent. The rate for married couples with children was 6.4 percent. Being raised in a married family reduces a child’s probability of living in poverty by about 80 percent.
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Here are some of the highlights of this report:
+ Marriage is rapidly declining in American society… creating a two-caste system, with marriage and education as the dividing line…. Single parents now comprise 70 percent of all poor families with children.
+ Children from single-parent homes are:
- More than twice as likely to be arrested for a juvenile crime
- Twice as likely to be treated for emotional and behavioral problems
- Roughly twice as likely to be suspended or expelled from school
- A third more likely to drop out before completing high school.
+ The effects of being raised in a single-parent home continue into adulthood.
- Children from broken and single-parent homes are three times more likely to end up in jail by the time they reach age 30.
- Girls from single-parent homes are more than twice as likely to have a child without being married.
- Children living in single parent homes are 50 percent more likely to experience poverty as adults.
+ Government Complicity
In social service agencies, welfare offices, schools, and popular culture in low-income communities across America, one finds deafening silence on the topic of marriage. The welfare system actively penalizes low-income couples who do marry.
At the beginning of the War on Poverty, a young Daniel Patrick Moynihan, serving in the Administration of President Lyndon Johnson, wrote a seminal report on the negative effects of declining marriage among blacks. The Left exploded, excoriating Moynihan and insisting that the erosion of marriage was either unimportant or benign.
Four decades later, Moynihan’s predictions have been vindicated. The erosion of marriage has spread to whites and Hispanics with devastating results. But the taboo on discussing the link between poverty and the disappearance of husbands remains as firm as it was four decades ago.
+ Marriage: The Antidote to Poverty
To reduce poverty in America, policymakers should enact policies that encourage people to form and maintain healthy marriage and delay childbearing until they are married and economically stable. Marriage is highly beneficial to children, adults, and society. It needs to be encouraged and strengthened, not ignored and undermined.
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For the full report, click here.
Robert Rector is Senior Research Fellow in the Domestic Policy Studies Department at The Heritage Foundation.
Morning Prayer: 14 June – Psalm 53:1-4; Job 11:14-15; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 ~ on generosity
Morning Prayer
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentences
One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
Morning readings in June
DESERT FATHERS – The sayings of The Desert Fathers (c. 300 AD) speak for themselves. (For further reading: The Wisdom of the Desert by Thomas Merton.)
Psalm 53:1-4 NLT
Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!
God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!
Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to God.
Job 11:14-15 NLT
Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you. Then your face will brighten with innocence. You will be strong and free of fear.
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 NLT
Remember this — a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving — the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!
Reflections
Once some brethren went out to meet the hermits who lived in the desert. They came to one who received them with joy, and seeing they were tired, invited them to eat before the accustomed time, and placed before them all he had available.
But that night when they were all supposed to be sleeping the hermit heard the visitors saying: “These hermits eat more than we do.”
Now at dawn the visitors set out to see another hermit – and as they were starting out their host said: “Greet him from me, and give him this message: Be careful not to water the vegetables.”
When they reached the other hermitage they delivered this message. The second hermit understood what was meant by the words. So he made the visitors sit down and weave baskets, and sitting with them he worked without interruption. And in the evening when the time came for lighting the lamp, he added a few extra psalms to the usual number, after which he said to them: “We do not usually eat every day out here. But because you have come along it is fitting to have a little supper today for a change.”
Then he gave them some dry bread and salt, then added: “here’s a special treat for you.”
Upon which he mixed them a little sauce of vinegar, salt and oil and gave it to them. After supper they got up again and said more psalms, and kept praying till almost dawn, at which the hermit said: “Well, we can’t finish all our usual prayers – for you are tired from your journey. You had better take a little rest.”
And so when the first hour came they all wanted to leave the hermit – but he would not let them go. He kept saying: “Stay with me a while. I cannot let you go so soon, charity demands that I keep you for two or three days.”
But they, hearing this, waited until dark, and then under cover of night they made off.
Aidan Readings – Aidan of Lindisfarne
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Canticle:
Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Peanut Gallery: The general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) Having completed reading through the Gospel of John, our Scripture readings and reflections will be taken from the Aidan Daily Readings (Celtic Daily Prayer). We will continue with the Aidan readings through June. On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world. Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.
The Peanut Gallery 