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| Helpful Hints: If you have received login information for the RFL site (www.rflonline.org) you are part of the RFL Forum. To become actively involved in the Forum you need to join a group. Once you join a group in the Forum, you can interact with other pastors and Life Advocates, add a prayer request or encourage others with a prayer need, and add a local event! To join a group is easy! Sign into the Forum, click GROUPS/ Pastor or Life Advocates/ join group. That’s it! If you need help joining a group, please contact the RFL team for assistance (jrichard@lutheransforlife.org or knessa@lutheransforlife.org). | ||
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Biblical Manhood
A Biblical Husband/Father is a leader There is a story of a man who died and went to heaven. He immediately saw two signs above two different lines. One sign said: “ALL THOSE MEN WHO HAVE BEEN DOMINATED BY THEIR WIVES STAND HERE.” That line of men seemed to stretch off through the clouds into infinity. The second sign read: “ALL THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN DOMINATED BY THEIR WIVES, STAND HERE.” One man stood underneath that sign. He went over to the man, grabbed his arm and said, “What’s the secret, how did you do it? That other line has millions of men and you are the only one standing in this line.” The man looked around with a puzzled expression and said, “Why, I am not sure I know. My wife just told me to stand here.” We may chuckle at stories like this but leadership in the home is no laughing matter. During the last several decades, our culture has redefined the meaning and responsibilities of men and women in the home. Many men are confused and insecure. Many men do not know how to act in the home. When they were growing up, many men often lacked a good role model for fatherly leadership at home and have, therefore, no mental picture of what it means to lead a family. Consequently, they do not lead effectively or they do not even try.
Increasingly, many men are becoming passive in the home. They’ve decided that the easiest thing to do is nothing. The simplest thing―with the smallest risk―is to stay on the fence with both feet firmly planted in mid-air and let the wife do it. When a man is married to a strong wife who will take over, he often lets her do just that. Where can men look for guidance in regard to leading their families? The Bible gives us the help we need presenting the divine model for men in terms of leadership in the home. That model is best described as a “servant-leader.” What is a servant-leader? The following statement by the Apostle Paul is instructive in this regard.
Confusion about the Meaning of Manhood How can a twenty-first century American male know what manhood really is? On the academic scene, there is a tremendous amount of literature dealing with women’s studies. For example, at four of the University of California’s nine campuses, a person can earn a BA with a major in women’s studies. Yet none of the campuses offer a degree in men’s studies. The university’s inter-campus library computer has almost 15,000 listings under the heading of “women” but only about 800 listing under the heading of “men” (1800 percent more information about women than men!)
God doesn’t reveal His will to us without reassuring us of His promise to empower us and enable us to fulfill it. When He mercifully saved us by His grace, He did not leave us to “our own devices” in terms of living the Christian life—indeed, the life of biblical manhood. The reality is that if that were the case, we would never be able to continue in faith, let alone bear fruit for His glory. Our faith could not be sustained and we would quickly die spiritually. How we thank God for the abundant provisions He has made so that we can walk “in newness of life” more and more as “little Christs,” to borrow Luther’s expression! These God-given resources are entrusted to us to empower us and to embolden us to “act like men” (1 Corinthians 16:13), biblical men, all for His glory and for the extension of His Kingdom. To read the full version of Biblical Manhood, click here to order through CPH. |
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Resources for Father’s Day June 19th is Father’s Day this year. Although honoring fathers is to be a daily practice, now is a good time to educate our congregations on what God’s Word teaches about the role of a Father. The RFL site has a number of tools you can use.
Bible Studies:
Articles:
Articles for Fathers touched by Abortion:
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LFL Resources for Father’s Day Available Through Concordia Publishing House
How You Can “Speak” booklet – over 200 practical ways for you and your congregation to speak up For Life!
LFL has two bulletin inserts for Father’s Day―and both are on sale!
A Father’s Heart – God loves fathers. He is one! He is the Father of Jesus Christ and His love for fathers flows through His Son. Through Jesus, fathers understand they live in grace. “This is where they find the love, motivation, and strength to turn their hearts to their children. This is where they find forgiveness when they fail and the courage they need to try again.” |
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Ideas on what you can do in your congregation to honor fathers
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National LFL Conference
Date: August 5-6, 2011
Where: Irving, Texas
Theme: Adopted in Christ
Scripture: “[W]hen the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV). Learn More and Register Online
This year’s conference will focus on helping participants grow in their understanding of what it means to be Adopted in Christ and how this action of our heavenly Father affects our relationships with one another and the manner in which we deal with life issues in our congregations. The keynote speaker is Russell Moore, author of the book Adopted For Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches. Workshop topics include a panel with a birth mother, adoptive parent, and adopted child and will also cover embryo adoption, foreign adoption, foster care, and pastors and politics.
One way to support LFL and help keep conference costs under control is to include a Witness Sponsorship in the conference book―and encourage others to do the same! Check out these links for more info:
Download 2011 Witness Book Sponsorship Cover Letter Download 2011 Witness Book Sponsorship Contract
The conference is also a great opportunity for exhibitors. Find out more at this link:
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Life Quotes and Life Thoughts can also be found on the Home page in the Renewal For Life library. |
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