Happy Father's Day!

What Makes A Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea.
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle’s flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was compete,
And so, He called it...Dad.

Author Unknown

“And You Fathers"

 A man I knew had a military background.  He ruled over his family with an iron fist.  In a counseling session with him and his wife, he demanded that I tell her “the Bible teaches that I am the head of the house!”  “Actually,” I told him, “you’re not.”  We read together from I Corinthians 11:3. “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”  It’s true that God holds a man accountable for his family and gives him the authority to oversee it – but the head of every family is Christ! The most important role that God gives to fathers is the spiritual leadership of their family.  I thank God for Christian mothers.  The truth is that many homes would have no Christian influence or training if it was not for them.  Often, they are the ones who see to it that the children are taken to Bible study and church.  They are the ones who tell the children Bible stories and listen to their prayers at night.  I know many women who have raised faithful Christian children without the help of a husband and father.  But, it is difficult and not the way God intends for it to be.  In Ephesians 6:4 Paul makes a very direct charge to dads: “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the training and admonition up in the training and admonition not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”  How does God measure my faithfulness to Him?  One way is, by the way, I lead my family in following Him.  In Genesis 18:19, we read one of the reasons   Abraham was approved by God.  “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice.”

As fathers, we must provide leadership for our families. It is up to us to determine what our family believes and stands for.  As Joshua challenged Israel “Choose you this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” (Joshua 24:15)  How can we, as fathers be a spiritual leader in our home?  First, by teaching.  God commanded fathers to make His will known to their children.  (Psalm 78:5-6; Isaiah 38:19).  He told the fathers of Israel to lay up His words in their hearts and to “teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”  We share things we enjoy with our children.  We talk to them about sports, we teach them to drive a car and to hunt.  But are we training them in the way of the Lord?  Christian fathers must study God’s word and teach it to their children!  Second, by example.  In Deuteronomy  32:7, we are told “ask your father, and he will show you.”  Our own example is the strongest leadership that there is.  Do you pray with your children?  Are you taking an active role in the church?  As your children observe you day in and day out, do they know you to be a man of integrity – honest in all of your dealings?  Pure in your language, attitudes, and habits?  Fathers, God has given us a tremendous responsibility!  It’s time for all of us to say “as for me and my house – we will serve the Lord!” (author unknown)

Important Worship Service update

Camden Avenue Church of Christ services updates May 20, 2021

A note from our Elders:

We as elders continue to be concerned with the health of this congregation, as we have throughout the pandemic.  At the current time, the guidance from the various governmental/health organizations is fluid and sometimes unclear.  With that being said, the Elders met Tuesday night, and beginning Sunday 5/23/2021, the following changes will be made:

· The Elders encourage all to continue to wear a mask. However, it is the choice of each as to whether or not to wear a mask.

· Regarding distancing in the auditorium:

· The tape on the middle two sections will be removed.

· The tape on half of the right-wing (looking from the front of the auditorium) and all of the left-wing will remain.

· All exterior doors will be available for use.

· Bible class teachers can rearrange their classrooms as they see fit.

· Communion will continue to be available at either the back or front foyers.

 Thank you!

Jim,  Todd, Clayton & Paul

The elders of Camden Avenue church of Christ

Friday, June 18, 2021