2. Three Words for Fathers Just a short word for “balance

3. Tighten Up Work hard, you have responsibilities… As a citizen, Ephesians 6:5-8 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

4. Tighten Up Work hard, you have responsibilities… As a citizen, Ephesians 6:5-8 As a provider, 1 Timothy 5:3-4, 8 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. …8. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

5. Tighten Up Work hard, you have responsibilities… As a citizen, Ephesians 6:5-8 As a provider, 1 Timothy 5:3-4, 8 As a Christian, Ephesians 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

6. Tighten Up Work hard, you have responsibilities… As a citizen, Ephesians 6:5-8 As a provider, 1 Timothy 5:3-4, 8 As a Christian, Ephesians 4:28 As part of the body, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

7. Tighten Up Work hard, you have responsibilities… As a citizen, Ephesians 6:5-8 As a provider, 1 Timothy 5:3-4, 8 As a Christian, Ephesians 4:28 As part of the body, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 As a light, Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

8. Loosen Up What is the push? Why the pressure? The Hurried Child, by David Elkind, 1981, 1 st printing Why are we pushing our children to adulthood? Jordan Romero, 13 Jessica Watson. 16

9. 1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven… Are we engaged in vicarious living?

10. Or maybe we are NASCAR fathering? Are we training efficient pit crews or efficient child raisers? When we push our children toward worldly goals we’re usually pushing them away from the family and away from spiritual things.

11. No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. Luke 16:13 As we push our child to excel in Math Science Music Popularity Sports Dating Career planning College degrees Etc., etc. Do we push them to excel in Bible studies Prayer Worship Kindness Patience Respect Service Self-control Etc., etc.

12. Lighten Up Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Ecclesiastes 7:16 Do we lack balance? Too rigid? Don’t listen? Can’t flex?

13. Lighten Up Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged 4 Suggestions for flexing reasonably 1.Be real to your kids 2.Keep rules to a minimum 3.Practice saying “yes” 4.Mistakes are not the end of the world

14. Tighten up, Loosen up, Lighten Up Proverbs 24:3-6 3 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; 4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 5 A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, 6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.