What Has Happened To All The Fathers

I've been reading a book by Alveda King recently.  The title of the book is King Rules.  If you haven't read this book you need to put it on your list of reads.  In the book Alveda writes about how the family template changed in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.  She speaks of children living in single-parent homes and growing up without the experience of living under the loving influence of both parents (King, 2014, p.30).  In America today 1 in 3 children live in a home without a father compared to 1 in 10 in 1960 and that number is climbing every year.

What has happened to all the fathers?  I believe that it started in 1963 when one woman single handedly took prayer out of our public schools.  This is when the era of free love, sex, drugs, and rock & roll started.  Men began to run from their responsibilities and abortion on demand became legal.  Children became disposable and the divorce rate skyrocketed.  This was the beginning of the fatherless home.

The progressive movement in this country has decided that America no longer needs God.  If we no longer need God then I guess we no longer need fathers.  When we push our heavenly Father out of our lives then we push out our earthly fathers out too.  When a child does not have a father in the home, they do not have a male example to look up to.  Children need that male fatherly influence in their lives.  Boys need to be taught how to be a Godly man by a Godly man and girls need to be shown how women should be treated by their fathers.  Without these examples in their lives, children will get their examples from television and movies.  Those examples show men as idiots and fools or mean, violent beasts who disrespect and use women.

There has to be a change in the way we view fathers and manhood.  There has to be a change in the way we treat men who stay at home and those who leave their babies behind.  There should be more Godly examples to the young men and boys of this nation to look up to instead of a sports figure.  Children should see there fathers as a hero and not a football or basket player.  We need a revival of manhood in America today.

Men of God, are you ready to stand up for those who can't stand for themselves?  Are you ready to be an example to the children of America?  Pray for a revival of manhood in America today and Lord let it begin with me.

King, A. (2014). King rules: Ten truths for you, your family, and our nation to prosper. Nashville, TN: Nelson Books.

Copyright 2014 Keith Johnson.  All rights reserved.

Do They Know You Are a Disciple?

John 13:34-35 (NIV) "A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

In the world today there is war and strife in every nation.  In the United States there are tensions brewing and protests all around the country.  Why is this happening?  I believe that this is happening because the world doesn't know that we are His disciples.  Why don't they know?  Because we are not following the command that Jesus gave us.  We aren't showing the love of Christ to our brothers.  Our brothers are black, white, brown and yellow.  We are all one brotherhood in Christ and we are not showing it.  Jesus command was simple.  Love one another as I have loved you.  That's how they will know that you are my disciples.

In this crazy mixed up world that we live in there is not enough love.  There is more hatred than ever before and I believe that satan wants it that way.  If there is no love for one another, then people will not see that Christ is love and that Christians are His disciples.  We have to show love to all men of every race and every nation.  We must make disciples and to do that we must be disciples.  The division among the people of America breaks the heart of God.  He is yearning for His people to come back to Him and to love each other and to take care of each other and to stop this infighting and struggling against each other.  We must put aside our differences and realize that we are not going to agree on everything but we can agree that Christ is love and that we must follow His command.

Men of God, do they know you are a disciple?  Love one another and show them that you are.

Why Don't We Make Disciples

Matthew 28:16-20 -Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

After the Resurrection Jesus commanded the eleven to "go and make disciples of all nations".  If that is God's command, then why don't we obey Him and do what He asked?  Are we afraid that people will mock and ridicule us?  Are we afraid that we will be rejected?  Are we afraid that we will get fired from our jobs for speaking of Christ at work? I guess the question is are we afraid?

Jesus said many times in the Bible to many people, "Do not be afraid".  If Jesus tells us not to be afraid then why are we?  The Great Commission is to go and make disciples of all nations.  We were commanded to do this by Jesus Himself.  You may be afraid but jesus also said to not be afraid for I am with you.  If He told us to do this then we should obey.

Making disciples begins with making sure that we are disciples.  Making sure that we are where we should be in the Lord and making things right in our lives.  We must ask for forgiveness and prepare to be a disciple first.  It's not easy to be a disciple and it sure won't be easy to make disciples.  You must live out your testimony daily because you never know who is watching.  You have to be an example to others in your daily life and in secret.  You must be that bright light shining on a hill in this dark world that those who are lost can see.  Yo must show them the way and teach them.  You see your job's not finished when someone gives their life to Jesus.  That's just the beginning.  Once that person makes that commitment your work has just begun.  This is where the discipleship begins.

Men of God are you ready to make disciples?  If not begin to prepare now.  You must follow God's command and make disciples of all nations.  It begins with you.

This Is What The Lord Says

Jeremiah 6:22 - 23  This is what the Lord says:  Look an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is being stirred up from the ends of the earth.  They are armed with bow and spear; they are cruel and show no mercy.  They sound like the roaring sea as they ride on their horses; they come like men in battle formation to attack you, Daughter of Zion.

In the book of Jeremiah, God was telling Israel to turn from their wicked ways or face punishment.  I believe that God is saying the same thing to America today.  America has forgotten where she came from and how she got here.  America has forgotten the blessings that God has bestowed upon her and has become drunk with her own selfishness.  We have become so prosperous that we no longer believe that we need God.  We are gods and we have made ourselves successful.  Religion is for the weak minded, for those who need something to give them hope.  God is for those who can't think for themselves.

This country was founded on Biblical principles by God for the purpose of freedom of religion and the right to worship when, where and how we want and not freedom from religion.  The fact that a majority of Americans no longer consider themselves Christians is an atrocity.  The fact that we have forgotten our heritage and we are trying everything that we can to remove God from our everyday lives will bring this country to its knees.  If we don't turn from our wicked ways and bring God back into our everyday lives, this country will be destroyed.

In Jeremiah 6:26 God also tells Israel to put on the sackcloth, my people and roll in ashes; mourn with bitter wailing as for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.

If we don't listen to the Word of God, we will be destroyed.

I know this is a gloom and doom message from me today, but I feel in my heart that America must return to God and we must bring God back into our daily lives.  We must put God back into the classroom, back into the boardroom, back into our homes, and yes, back into our churches.  The men of God who preach and teach us from the pulpit every Sunday must begin to speak the truth and tell the sheep what will happen when the wolves infiltrate the flock.  I'm not hearing this message from the platforms of our churches today.  America will fall and when it does it will be hard and fast.

We may not be able to stop the destruction that is coming, but we can at least ensure that we can endure.  If we get back on our knees and begin to cry out to God for His forgiveness.  If we fall prostrate on our faces before Him and cry out for revival.  if we pray for an outpouring of His Holy Spirit, we can make it through.  We need a revival and we need it now.  Let it begin in me oh Lord.  Let it begin in me!  Men of God, let it begin in you!

Should We Be Thankful?

On this Thanksgiving Day 2014, I have to ask the question.  Should we be thankful?  Should we be thankful for the rise of terrorism and the violent murders being perpetrated by radical Muslims around the world?  Should we be thankful for the fact that the Biblical definition of marriage is being destroyed by the liberal court system in America and that this new definition is being embraced by many churches and so called Christians?  Should we be thankful for the racial tensions and rioting that is going on in Ferguson?  Should we be thankful for the persecution of Christians around the world and even in our own country today? (It is here and it will get worse)  Should we be thankful for the floods and earthquakes that we here about almost daily?  Should we be thankful for the current administration in Washington turning its back on Israel?  Should we be thankful for the wars that are raging around the world right now?

You might be surprised at my answer to these questions.  My answer is Yes, we should be thankful.  Why?  Because this all means that the coming of the Son of man is nigh at hand.  Jesus told us that all of these things would happen and when they do that we should be ready.

Matthew 24:3-12 tells us - 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" 4 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…(NIV)

Jesus told us that all of the things that are happening right now around the world and in America today are supposed to happen and when they do we are to be prepared because He is coming soon.  I believe that we are only a whisper from God’s own mouth from the eastern sky breaking open and the trumpet sounding. Then we will see our Lord’s triumphant return to gather up his chosen people.  Again Jesus tells us…

13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 15 "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand— Matthew 24:13-15 (NIV)

Men of God are you ready?  Are you standing firm?  Are you standing up for what you believe in?  Many are not.  The events foretold in the scriptures from Jesus’ own mouth are being fulfilled right before our eyes.  The Men of God must stand firm and cry out to the world and speak the truth.  Are you willing?

We Are Living in Laodicea

Rev 3:15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. (NIV)

Men, we are living in Laodicea.  Many Christians today are neither hot nor cold.  They are playing church and looking for a pastor to tickle their ears.  They don't want to hear the truth.  They want someone to tell them that everything is great and that they can wake up every morning and be blessed and happy no matter what.  

These people are moving through life without any worries.  They get up every day and they go to work and they cruise through life and seem to have it all.  Well I hate to break it to you but these people don't have any problems because they are not a threat to satan and his plan.  They are listening to the positive messages being preached from the pulpit every Sunday that tells them everything is ok.  No one is giving them the truth.  The truth is if America doesn't wake up, get down on their knees and cry out to God for forgiveness, this country will soon see God's hand removed from our land.  We will experience the same types of trials and tribulations that others are seeing in the Middle East right now.

2Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land (NIV).  


This is a wake up call for the men of God in this nation.  We are about to see persecution like we have never seen before.  Our leaders in government are turning away from God in droves.  They are turning their backs on Israel.  We are no longer supporting Israel the way we did in the past and that will come back to us.  Christians are being persecuted all around the world and it will come to the shores of America and soon if we don't do something about it.  Men, we need to lead this effort to bring God back to America.  If we sit back and continue to let this happen America will feel the wrath of God and soon.


I'm not saying that this is a prophetic word from God to the Men of America but I believe in my heart and soul that the Men of God MUST stand up and take our country back from those who want to destroy it.  Even though we have read the last chapter in the book and we know how it ends.  That doesn't mean that we can just wait for it to happen.  Jesus told us to go into all the world and preach the gospel and to make disciples.  He didn't tell us to sit back and wait for the end times to come.  We must be about our Father's business.  We must toil tirelessly and continue to work until He calls us home.


Take it for what it's worth.  You be the judge whether you need to respond or not.  But I believe that God wants you to be A Man on the Move.

We Can No Longer Look The Other Way

Isaiah 30:1  "Woe to the obstinate children," declares the Lord, "to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; (NIV)

We are on the brink of destruction in America today.  According to a recent poll less than fifty percent of Americans now consider themselves Christians.  That fact is disheartening enough but when you also consider that among the forty-nine percent or so that do consider themselves as Christians a large number of them have forsaken what the Word of God considers sin.  You see there is a considerable number of "Christians" today that have turned away from the Bible and have been blinded by satan's version of "Christianity".  That version is based on tolerance and acceptance.  That group of "Christians" has decided that being a "Christian" means that they should embrace same-sex marriage, abortion on demand and many other social issues that are clearly against what God's Word plainly spells out as sin.

II Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, the will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (NIV) 

To make matters worse, there are a large number of preachers and pastors in America today, that have also fallen victim to this blindness.  They so want a "Mega Church" that they have become "seeker friendly" and do not want to do or say anything that would offend a potential member (tither). The sermons are usually uplifting and non-confrontational.  There is no mention of sin and the consequences of that sin.  There is no mention if anything that would be considered controversial.  They want to tickle the ears of those who sit under their shepardship.  The music has become a concert instead of true "Praise and Worship.  What these pastors don't realize is that their parishioners are blindly going to hell and they are driving the bus.  Sin is sin and Christians must stand up and say so.  Call it what it is.  If God says it is sin, then it is SIN!.  They are doing no one any favors by not calling it what it is.

Revelation 3:19 - 22  "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest and repent.  Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.  To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne.  Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (NIV)

In Revelations, God speaks to the church.  He is telling us that we can still make this right.  He is standing at the door and waiting for us to open it. We can still stand up for what we believe in and we can make a difference in America.  Men of God, REPENT!  Men of God, stand up and be counted. Men of God, have the courage to say that sin is sin.  Hate the sin, but love the sinner.  You don't have to accept what they are doing to accept them. Show them the love that God has for them and help them to see the consequences of what they are doing.  Men of God, take our country back from those who would destroy it and make God the head of our universe. Not tolerance.