Well politics in church is exactly why I stopped attending shortly after the last presidential election. We were basically instructed that our vote should be for the "moral" candidate and you guys as well as I know this was the emphasis of the "religious" right nationwide. I attended church to worship my LORD, not to have my rights as an American dissolved by narrow minded people who can no longer distinguish between what is right and wrong and think for themselves. But I digress.

The topic is the point man. Jeremiah 29:11 I had never heard it put this way about the father of a family being the point man but it fits. I will also say that I admire your conviction and may the good LORD keep you and yours.

I was raised with no real religious background to speak of. I am the product of a broken marriage as is my wife of almost 29 years. She had a more religious upbringing and attended school at her church through gradeschool.

When we began dating it was very unpopular with her churches elders, me being an outsider and all and very nasty rumors were started about our relationship. Not Christianlike at all so she left the church she had been raised in. Religion is great it's just some who claim to be religious who are the problem.

We were married, me at 18 and her at 16 years of age out of state because our parents knew we were just "stupid kids" and forbid our marriage. Them being the experts on lasting marriages and all! Before we decided we were going through with it we had a discussion about our parents marriage history and how hard it was on us being from broken homes. We agreed that once married that was it, that no matter what our children would not suffer as we had and that this was for keeps through good and bad.

I am sorry for you guys but I got the best woman out there and we are madly in love even after 29 years. And we proudly thumb our noses at those who said we had to get married (first son was born 2 years after marriage) and to those "experts" who said it would never last. THIS is ours and you don't have it! I'm not trying to make anyone mad here but I'm very proud of what we've accomplished.

We have 2 sons, one owns his own home about 6 blocks from us and our youngest is still at home in his sophmore year of highschool. Our oldest son is an accomplished musician and has always been encouraged to pursue his dream of making a living at doing the thing he loves-music. Our youngest son just took his pre-ACT's and was graded in the 98th percentile nationally. He is also an outstanding athlete.

While I don't claim to be the worlds best husband and father, I have NEVER cheated on or hit my wife and show her the respect she deserves. I have always took the time to get involved in my kids interests be it coaching, praising or just listening. I also tried to instill in my sons that your word is your bond and that once you've said it you can't take it back. Also that there is pride to be taken in good hard work and that it is beneath no one to get your hands dirty. They also know that when you can't find the answer-PRAY.

I am saddened about the amount of children reared today by single parents because I know firsthand the heartbreak they face and the lessened prospects for a successful future for them. It is too easy to make kids and then abandon them with few or no consequences to be paid by a deadbeat parent. My own father skipped state at one point to avoid child support and ended up paying only a fraction of what he owed my mother. There needs to be far more accountability for these people and no way for them to turn their backs on their responsibilities.

I agree it is a fathers job to lead his family but the mother should be considered as important because she usually has more contact and the deepest relationship with the children. It's just a mans nature to be more distant for lack of a better word where his kids are concerned. This doesn't mean disinterested though. I e