Motherhood and Fatherhood are under assault today.
Broad based attempts by academia, governments,
businesses, and yes, even some churches,
are attempting to do away with terms such as
Mother and Father, Mom and Dad.
As reported in this March 10, 2021 New York Post article:
"A Manhattan private school aiming to use more
"inclusive language" is encouraging its students
to stop using the terms "mom," "dad" and "parents"
because the words make "assumptions" about
kids' home lives."
Grace Church School serves junior kindergarten
through 12th grade students in Noho, NY
and offers a 12-page guide for students and staff
on making this Episcopal school all inclusive.
The guide explains that instead of using Mom and Dad,
students and staff should use "grown-ups, folks, or family."
And instead of "husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend" they
should use "spouse, partner, or significant other."
There's no end to guides published by institutions
of learning, businesses, governments, and the media
on how to revolutionize how we speak to one another.
Everything is included except what has been
normal for most of mankind's history.
Where is this downgrading of Mothers and Fathers
going to take us?
Stay with me as I'll not only use terms such as
Mom and Dad on today's program, but will
honor mothers and fathers everywhere.
And I'll also be offering you an important resource
for parents and grandparents and anyone else who
desires to invest in our future generations.
This booklet--Successful Parenting: God's Way--
by Dr. Jeffrey Fall can be yours free of charge,
so be sure to have writing material available to take
down our contact information that will be given several
times during this program.
And stay tuned as I'll be back in five seconds
to talk about "The War Against Parents."
♪
Every year in the United States, Canada,
and elsewhere, people celebrate parents
with Mother's Day and Father's Day.
In some countries, especially in
South American Catholic countries, Mother's Day
celebrates Mary, the mother of Jesus, but that
has no relevance to North American celebrations.
Thanks to the determination of Anna Jarvis to honor
her own mother, and the financial backing of
Philadelphia merchant, John Wanamaker...
"[I]n 1914, President Woodrow Wilson approved a resolution
that made the second Sunday in May a holiday in honor of
"that tender, gentle army, the mothers of America."
Honoring fathers was not so easy for a variety of
reasons, and it would not be until 1972,
that's 58 years later, that President Richard Nixon
would proclaim Father's Day a federal holiday.
Much of the reason it took so long is because men
and women are simply different, as difficult
as that is to accept by today's social engineers.
As History.com explains:
"The campaign to celebrate the nation's fathers
did not meet with the same enthusiasm--perhaps because,
as one florist explained, "fathers haven't the same
sentimental appeal that mothers have."
The differences between men and women go beyond perception.
One woman who understands not only the physical
differences, but the differences between
what men ought to be, is swimmer Riley Gaines.
From this New York Post article discussing Gaines'
reaction to having to share a locker room
and swim against a 6'4 male who claims to be a female,
we read the following:
"Trans rights activists say trans women are real
women and must be included in sports.
Gaines, who comes from Tennessee and swam for the
University of Kentucky team, said America needs
"more masculine men" and praised World War II veterans.
"That's the last time we had strong men," she said.
"Think about this: 1940s, World War II.
Men lied about their age to get in to enlist.
Now, in 2023, we have men lying about their sex to
get into women's sports or women's prisons or domestic
shelters or sororities or bathrooms, locker rooms."
She blames society for rebranding "masculinity
as toxic and bad and undesirable."
Now there's a strong woman, not only in the pool,
but in the public discourse, ready to stand up for
truth and fairness, and frankly, plain sanity.
Consider the reality women swimmers face
when competing against men.
"By the conclusion of Thomas's swimming career
at UPenn in 2022, Thomas' rank skyrocketed from 65th
for men to 1st in the female 500-yard freestyle,
and from 554th for men to 5th for women in
the 200-yard freestyle."
Who in his or her right mind refuses to admit the obvious.
Men and women are different and those
differences are critical beyond athletics.
They're critical in the way we interact and in
the roles we play in society as a whole.
Both dads and moms are needed for a
well-ordered society.
Mothers tend to be more nurturing.
Fathers, even by the nature of their deeper
voices, but also by their demeanor and ability to
suppress emotions when needed, tend to keep
better discipline in the family.
There are exceptions, of course, but these
are general traits, and both are needed,
and sound-minded people know this.
Our world has always been flawed and this
is especially true when it comes to male/female
relationships, with extremes at both ends of the pendulum.
Women have been oppressed in some cultures,
especially in various parts of the Middle East and Asia,
where oppressive clothing styles, denial of formal
education, and abusive punishments are a far cry
from what God intended when He created Eve to
be Adam's helper.
But in our Western nations, many women have cast off
all cooperative effort to become competitors of men,
and neither extreme is working.
We here at Tomorrow's World believe in God-given roles
for men and women.
We believe in family values where both husbands
and wives are to be honored.
In a few minutes I want to give some honor to
my very own parents for shaping my life.
But first I want to mention a special resource
for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone else
interested in investing in the future generation.
Successful Parenting--God's Way, can be yours free of charge
by simply letting us know that you want this resource.
Dr. Fall begins chapter one with this
thought-provoking paragraph:
"For millennia, the cycle of human life has continued.
Children are born, they grow up, and most
eventually produce children of their own.
One generation dies and is replaced by the next.
Yet few have understood the answer to the age-old
question "What is the purpose of this repeating
cycle of life?"
To those steeped in the mistaken belief system
of evolution, their only conclusion is that this cycle
of human life exists solely to reproduce the species.
Life has no meaning, they believe; it just exists."
Dr. Fall addresses this question of the purpose
of life, so even if you don't have children,
or if your children are already grown, the
question of life's purpose is relevant to you.
Successful Parenting--God's Way goes well-beyond parenting.
It has general interest for all our viewers,
but it is a must for parents and grandparents.
So be sure to order your copy today by calling
the toll-free number or going to our website
at TWTV.ORG/Parenting.
And after this short break, I want to give some honor to
my own parents for shaping my life, and show why both
moms and dads are different, why their
natural roles are different, and why both
are vital to a peaceful and productive society.
♪
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♪
Welcome back, where I'm discussing the need for
both fathers and mothers and the vitally important
roles they play in creating and maintaining
an orderly society.
Before the break I said I wanted to give some honor to
my own parents for shaping my life, so please indulge me
as I make a few personal comments about them and
the way that they profoundly impacted my life.
Neither of my parents were perfect, as no parents are,
but I don't doubt the love they had for me.
Many years ago I used to spend a lot of time with
a deacon visiting our members in Michigan.
I saw him as an "old timer" at the time,
but I'm now older than he was during those years
that we spent together.
One observation he made was that everything
in life appears to be backward.
"We get married," he said, "when we know little about
what real love is.
We have children when we have little understanding
of how to raise them.
We have little income when starting out and when we
need it the most.
Our first home is usually small when we need
a larger one for raising a family.
But after the children move out we have a large home,
a full bank account, and better understanding
of how to raise children."
Now he stated this with a sense of humor,
but there is much truth in it.
And one point that most children fail to recognize is
that parents are learning how to raise them in real time.
The book of Hebrews hints at this concept in
the context of how God shows His love for us
by chastening us from time to time.
Here it is in chapter 12 and verses 9-10:
"Furthermore, we have had human fathers who
corrected us, and we paid them respect.
Shall we not much more readily be in subjection
to the Father of spirits and live?
For they indeed for a few days chastened us as
seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that
we may be partakers of His holiness."
As with most children, I received some painful
correction from time to time, but corporal
punishment ended by the time I reached the age of 12.
And even after that, while I was told no on numerous
occasions, I never remember being "grounded" as they say.
But, yes, there was some loving correction, administered
for my good, as we read in verse 11 of Hebrews 12:
"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present,
but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields
the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those
who have been trained by it."
And so parents are instructed in Proverbs 29:17...
"Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
yes, he will give delight to your soul."
When my father said to do something he expected it
to be done, but I never remember him telling me to
do something that was not reasonable or that wasn't
for my good.
Well, I guess there is one exception to that.
One evening when we lived in Alaska, and that's before
it became a State, the older girl who lived next
door, came over to show off that she could smoke.
Now my father thought it would be funny for his
six-year-old son to go over to her parents and
show that he could do one better--smoke a cigar.
That didn't exactly work out as planned, but I never smoked
again--so I guess it worked out well in the long run.
My parents were not "helicopter parents."
They didn't hover over me and prevent me from
learning cause and effect lessons on my own.
They did want to know what I was doing and where
I was going, but I could be gone most of the day
playing in the woods, fishing, or playing
"pick up" games of baseball or football.
We learned a lot about how to set rules
for ourselves, how to negotiate differences--
in general, how to get along.
Now frankly, I marvel that my parents gave me as much
freedom as they did, but that does not mean there
were no boundaries or expectations.
They never held the religious convictions
I came to embrace at age 16, and I never saw my father
read the Bible, but he somehow innately
understood some biblical principles.
As an example, he understood a principle
found in Proverbs 29:15...
"The rod [switch] and rebuke give wisdom,
but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."
Before sharing more about my parents, I want to
remind you of today's offer:
Successful Parenting-God's Way.
As explained earlier, this easy-to-understand
resource goes beyond parenting.
It explains the purpose of marriage and family;
and answers a bigger question:
What is the purpose for our existence?
In a world where man/woman, father/mother are not
only downplayed, but actually spoken against,
Successful Parenting-God's Way is as a breath of fresh air.
Yes, there are still people who do appreciate the
differences between men and women and recognize
the importance of moms and dads in creating
and maintaining an orderly society.
Successful Parenting-God's Way is yours free of charge.
Just call the toll free number that will be shown
on the screen, or go to TWTV.ORG/Parenting
to obtain your copy.
And when I come back, in 15 seconds, I'll share a
few more insights that I learned from my parents.
♪
This clear and straight-forward resource
will help you understand this vital truth--
straight from the pages of the Bible.
Call now!
Or go to...
♪
I'm discussing the subject of how God created mankind
male and female, how we are innately different,
how both sexes are needed, and how both should
be rightfully honored.
Before the break I said I would share with you
a few more insights into my own parents.
Even though they are no longer living, I want
to give them the honor they deserve.
My parents endured the Great Depression and World War II.
My father served in the Army and when the war was over,
he made the newly formed Air Force his career.
I once asked him, why he left being a photographer
taking pictures of celebrities and plane crashes,
to become a first sergeant.
He explained that the man in that position before
him was not getting the job done, so his squadron
commander offered the position to him.
I knew from the testimony of others that he was
highly respected in that responsibility, so I asked
him why he was successful when the man before him was not.
Without hesitation, he said,
"It was my upbringing.
It did not matter whether it was my father or my
older brother who also had a farm, when they told me
to take the wagon down to the south forty, they
expected me to do it.
And they didn't always say please."
Now don't misunderstand, I was taught to say,
"Please pass the potatoes," or "Please pass the butter,"
at the dinner table.
But there is a time for "please" and a time to
simply be told what to do.
Is this not scriptural?
Notice Jesus' parable of the Unworthy Servants,
as found in Luke 17, beginning in verse 7.
"And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending
sheep, will say to him when he has come in from
the field, "Come at once and sit down to eat"?
But will he not rather say to him, "Prepare something
for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have
eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink"?
Does he thank that servant because he did the things
that were commanded him?
I think not.
So likewise you, when you have done all those things
which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants.
We have done what was our duty to do."
Without a strong guiding hand from my father,
I very well could have ended up as many of my fellow
classmates in those turbulent decades of the 1960's and 70's.
While my father contributed to building self-discipline,
my mother contributed to broadening my education.
She made sure that I knew how to read and write.
She enrolled me in swim lessons, got me involved
in organized sports, taught me music and social graces.
And, yes, she was the one who taught me how to use a
hammer and a saw--something that many boys today
don't know how to do.
She also taught me how to iron my clothes and make
my bed, but it was my father who taught me
how to polish my shoes.
There was a year, that I can look back upon, that
emphasizes the importance of fathers in the lives
of their children.
My father was deployed to Morocco in 1956 and for a
full year there was not that masculine guiding
hand that I needed.
My mother did her best, but she simply could
not carry the weight fully needed to keep
a rambunctious and sometimes rebellious eleven-year-old
boy in line.
One constant conflict we had was over
doing my piano lessons.
In retrospect, it's abundantly evident to me
that as wonderful as my mother was, I also needed
my father at that time.
Remember, there was no Internet back then
and transatlantic phone calls had to be set
up in advance and were infrequent.
Each parent plays a different, but pivotal role,
in raising children.
Each, by nature, is different.
The sexes are not the same and to assert that they
are is to deny the unique qualities of both man and
woman, mother and father.
Our world is in confusion.
Men and women have become fearful to express openly
that they recognize the obvious--that men and women
are different, that it's important for children
to address parents with the loving terms, mother,
father, Mom, and Dad.
In discounting the differences, the unique roles each
play in the family relationship is lost.
That's why we're offering you a special resource--
Successful Parenting-God's Way.
Whether you're a mother, father, grandparent, aunt,
uncle, or merely someone interested in helping the
next generation toward success; you need
this refreshing resource.
No, we're not the product of blind evolution.
We are not here merely to breed and preserve the species.
No, we are the creation of God, and He has a purpose
for you and for me.
Successful Parenting-God's Way explains that purpose.
May I ask you, dear friends,
why would you not want to know what that purpose is?
So to learn Godly principles of child
rearing, and to learn your purpose for being,
order your free copy of Successful Parenting-God's Way.
And do it today before you forget.
If you get a busy signal, wait five or ten minutes,
and try again.
And when I come back,
I'll show you what God says about the subject
of men and women, fathers and mothers.
♪
For today's free offer call...
Or go to...
This clear and straight-forward resource
will help you understand this vital truth--
straight from the pages of the Bible.
If you're calling for the first time, you will also
receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's
World magazine.
Six inspiring issues discussing news, science,
and modern culture will help you make sense of
your world from a biblical perspective.
Call today and join millions around the world
who are turning to Tomorrow's World for
truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times.
Call now!
Or go to...
♪
Today I've been discussing what it means to be
male and female--to be a father or mother.
These distinctions are being blurred
and discounted today.
Social engineers are running amok in academia,
government, the media, and businesses large and small.
Is it any wonder that we find ourselves in such
confusion and conflict when we allow confused
or opportunistic men to compete in women's sports?
None of this could happen in a world educated in the
word of our Creator, but the understanding that
we are a product of an all-wise and all-powerful
God, has been under assault since the time of Darwin.
And the correct understanding of God's plan and way
of life has been under assault for millennia.
Contrary to social activists, and those
they have successfully confused, God created us
as male and female.
When confronted by the Pharisees about the grounds
for divorce, Jesus quoted from the first chapter of Genesis.
Here we read it in Matthew the 19th chapter, and verses 4-5:
"And He answered and said to them,
"Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning
'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason
a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined
to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?"
The Bible points out differences--different
strengths and weakness-- with both men and women.
We see these differences in the way Paul spoke of the
roles of each in bringing up children in 1 Thessalonians 2.
First, we see the gentle nature of a women,
in verse 7, where Paul uses a motherly characteristic to
explain how he first came to the Thessalonians:
"But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing
mother cherishes her own children."
Paul later uses the masculine, fatherly
approach to further explain this relationship
with the Thessalonians.
While still gentle, we see the more authoritative
demanding characteristic of a father, with an
eye for long-term success.
Again, chapter 2, this time in verses 10-12.
"You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and
justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among
you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and
comforted, and charged every one of you, as
a father does his own children, that you would
walk worthy of God who calls you into His
own kingdom and glory."
The Bible also points out pitfalls for both men and
women, natural weaknesses expressed by both sexes
that can seriously harm their households.
In Proverbs 21, verse 9, we read of a pitfall women
are more inclined to fall into:
Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
This is also repeated for emphasis in chapter 25
and verse 24.
So women should not disregard this instruction.
But Paul warned fathers about a tendency they can have.
In their zeal, they can be overly demanding of their
children and cause them to want to give up trying.
Here it is explained in Ephesians 6, and in verse 4:
"And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to
wrath, but bring them up in the training and
admonition of the Lord."
God has made us uniquely male and female.
There are obvious variations and exceptions in terms
of personalities, but we're still made, male and female.
Both sexes are necessary for procreation, but both
are needed for an orderly and stable society.
Neither should be discounted.
If others care to enter someone else's fantasy land,
then so be it, but those grounded in the values
given to us by God ought to know better.
We invite you to join us every week on Tomorrow's World.
In this world of growing chaos and confusion,
you need the solid guidance that comes from your Bible.
Richard Ames, Wallace Smith, Rod McNair, and I
will continue to share with you the teachings of
Jesus Christ, the good news of the coming Kingdom
of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies
and their meaning.
We'll see you next week right here, at the same time.
♪
For today's free offer call...
Or go to...
Call today and join millions around the world
who are turning to Tomorrow's World for
truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times.
♪
The preceding program is produced by the
Living Church of God.
♪