While driving, I spotted a sign, “Are you pregnant? If so, who is the father?” It really makes me sick. I am grateful to have both father and mother supporting me in my life with God’s guidance. However, some children don’t have a father or mother on their side. We analyze the effects of parenthood absence.
Based on professional literature, the absence of the father is the main source of the poverty and high crime rate.
Facts about children with single-parent homes:
- Children with married families are the least likely to commit delinquent acts.
- The abuse or emotional victims are more likely to be children of single-parent homes.
- They are more likely to be convicted before reaching age 30.
- Similar results from the early 19th century and today pertaining to the likelihood of becoming a criminal for children with single parent homes.
- The poverty rate is more likely by single parent families than normal married parent families.
- Countless more!!!!!
The effect on child from abandoning mother
When a mother is well burdened, her child needs his father. However, the father might not be there to support them. The single mother is likely not to meet all her child’s needs as well if the father also were in the home. As a result, the gap occurs to cause more issues such as a mother abandoning her own child physically or emotionally. The child: Where is the father????
The effects on sons who are abandoned by father
Studies have shown that without a good relationship with his father, a boy tends to yield more hostility and excessive aggressiveness. Personal security is lost. According to the studies over 50 years by two researchers at Harvard University, a father’s authority and discipline are essential to balance the family direction.
The facts from this newsletter are from the following sources:
I heard some people saying they saw something when they almost died. Near death experiences (NDEs) are psychological events, at times the victims seeing people they knew who had already died, witnessing ghosts, and so on. Here is a summary of what the LCMS Lutheran Theologians said 2015.
Many NDE reports elaborate a welcoming and often unnamed “being” of light. However, those claims should be taken with caution because we know that even Satan can show himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14) as the victims being manipulated. Scripture tells us, however, that “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
Scripture vividly emphasizes that upon death believers enter the presence of God. “We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:6-8; see also Luke 23:42-43; Phil. 1:23; Heb. 9:27).
The NDE report believers seek is for hope concerning life after death. As Christians, we know that salvation is not based on human efforts or in an unnamed “being” of light. Our Savior Jesus Christ is our living hope. Jesus was not just “near death,” but died and was buried and raised bodily to life on the third day—raised as we, through faith in his name, will on the Last Day be raised up from our graves (1 Cor. 15: 20-23; 1 John 3:2). With that said, we don’t know much about life in God’s presence and should not depend on NDE reports but on the Word of our risen and reigning Lord: “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Rev. 1:17-18).
~~ Pastor Andy
Many years ago during a difficult week I felt a darkness overwhelming me. I was physically tired, and I was dealing with a lot of stress. One morning when I woke up, climbing out of bed, felt like I was climbing out of the pit of hell. It felt like God was a million miles away. Then I remembered God’s promise: “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”*
Here I had a clear contradiction. My feelings told me one thing, but God’s promise said the exact opposite. I must now make a choice. Which I can believe? Is God’s promise a lie? Or are my feelings lying? They could not both be true.
In my life as a child of God, I have learned that God never lies. I can always trust His promise, no matter how I felt, no matter the circumstances.
So obviously, in this situation, what I was feeling was a lie. Where did that lie come from? Satan? Possibly. The enemy is always whispering lies about me and my Lord. But my own corrupt imagination is also capable of deceiving me, if I don’t keep in check with the Word of God.
Our culture today says: “Follow your feelings!” That’s usually a bad idea. Try this instead: Trust and obey God. You won’t go wrong!
*Joshua 1:5 Also see: Joshua 1:9 Psalm 139:1-18 Isaiah 49:14-16 Matthew 28:20 | ~~ Pastor Ron |
as if you were in prison with them.
Hebrews 13:3
On the day, September 12, 1934, Agnes Marie Dunn was born in Missouri, She, her parents and older brother boarded the train ride of their lives. She knew her family will always travel by her side.
After a short ride on the train, Agnes became Deaf and others now joined her family as riders. Her school friends, classmates, colleagues, students, and neighbors!
However, at some stations, such riders have stepped down from the train leaving others on this journey. Some, however, had gone so unnoticed that Agnes did not realize they vacated their seats.
This train ride was always full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Riders did not know at which station they themselves would step down.
On September 27, 2020, Agnes knew she was ready to step down from the train and go home to the Lord.
Agnes died peacefully at her daughter, Jane’s then home in Jefferson, Maryland. She had just celebrated her 86th birthday in 2020. Her last sign was “I Love You.”
Agnes has lived in the best way, love, forgive and offer the best of who we are.]
FOLDA
Agnes has left behind many memories that FOLDA plans to preserve as we share stories during the year whenever the public observe Deaf and other appropriate annual events during the year and beyond.
Agnes Sutcliffe founded Riderwood Deaf Community group in 2018. Membership is open to Deaf Riderwood residents. Hearing children of Deaf adults (CODAs) and hearing residents who use ASL are also welcome as their supporters. Bill Tipton is the current coordinator. There will be an event in September 2024 to celebrate her 90th birthday anniversary. More details later.
Agnes leaves behind beautiful memories for those who continue to travel on the train today.
You can read more about the life and legacy of Agnes Sutcliffe in prior editions of the Mustard Seed: Nov-Dec 2020 & Jan-Feb 2021.
at Gallaudet Ole Jim Gym – April 11
2024 Theme:
Every One Has A Story. Welcome to Ours.
The NDHM concept began 52 years ago in November 1972 in Colorado. It was then called Deaf Awareness Week. Today we focus on the three first Deaf historical events in American public education.
March 13, 1988, April 8, 1864 and April 15, 1817
Governmental agencies, the public library and grown children would benefit from such exposure.
Today FOLDA adds two following annual events for the public to observe the Deaf Culture of many things American. From Family to Heritage and Mental health. We also go globally.
A. September as Deaf Culture Month for two important reasons.
- International Week of Deaf People was founded in September 1958 by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD)
- International Day of Sign Languages was first proclaimed on September 23, 2017, by the General Assembly of United Nations in cooperation with the WFD.
B. December 3-10 is Clerc – Gallaudet Week
- Laurent Clerc (Deaf) and the Rev. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet (hearing) were honored as the two first American visionary leaders in the history of American public education. They cofounded the first American School for the Deaf that opened in Hartford on April 15, 1817.
- Dec 3 and Dec 10. Proclaimed annually by the General Assembly of United Nations as International Day of People with Disabilities Dec 3 and Human Rights Dec 10.