I. Mark 14:36 - Jesus makes reference to His father Abba - Greek transliteration of Aramaic abba, the form of 'ab' "father" used in direct address, used for God in early Christina prayers indicated familiarity between father and children. SDA Bible Dictionary pg. 2, Galatians 4:6, Romans 8:15. At one time we were taking care of a young boy. Someone suggested later that what the boy really needed was a father as well as a caretaker. II. John McCain John McCain was shot down during the Vietnam war. His father and grandfather were famous Navy admirals. In his biography, John relates how much he looked up to them. III Husbands, Love Your Wives Ephesians 5:25 This may be the most important thing a father can do for his children.  A. Positive command.

 B. "Help me that I may be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving. Help me to be a real house-band in my home and to represent the character of Christ to others." AH-215
 C. "He is the house-band of the family, binding the members together, even as Christ is the head of the church and the Savior of the mystical body." AH-215
 D. "Husbands should be careful, attentive, constant, faithful, and compassionate. They should manifest love and sympathy... When the husband has the nobility of character, purity of heart, elevation of mind, that every true Christian must possess, it will be made manifest in the marriage relation... He will seek to keep his wife in health and courage. He will strive to speak words of comfort, to create an atmosphere of peace in the home circle." AH-228
 I saw a home movie in which the family was happy and contented until the father came home. When he was there they started walking on eggshells, concerned about doing something wrong.
 E. "All members of the family center in the father. He is the lawmaker, illustrating in his own manly bearing the sterner virtues: energy, integrity, honesty, patience, courage, diligence, and practical usefulness. The father is in one sense the priest of the household, laying upon the altar of God the morning and evening sacrifice." AH-212
  1. Love your wives, he not bitter. Colossians 3:19. Respect your wife, no not let family matters create bitterness.
  2. Provoke not your children. Colossians 3:21. It is easy for a father to demand strict obedience that discourage children.
  3. Watch out for favoritism. Genesis 37:3,4. There was so much discord in the family because Israel loved Joseph more than the others. So much that they ultimately sold Joseph into slavery - which was considered worse than death iteslf. This was caused primarily by his father's favoritism.
  4. Teach by example and correction Proverbs 13:24. The reaility is that the chasting is for his own good. In fact, it says that if children are not chastised, they are not loved.
  5. Dwell with them, giving honor. 1 Peter 3:7. When children are placed in this position, they know they are loved and can better understand God.

IV. God Was All Wise In Instituting The Home Genesis 2:18,21-24. God loves all people equally - single and married. His original plan was for us to be together.
 A. We are social beings.
 B. We learn by association.
 C. We learn by observing. John McCain, while he was prisoner, in the difficult moments of his life he tried to remember how his father and grandfather would respond. He was shot down and starved in prison without medical treatment. He was offered his freedom when his captors found out who his father was. But he refused freedom over others because he knew his father would have.
 D. Christ is our example. He cared for his mother at the cross. John 19:26,27; Isaiah 9:6 - Everlasting Father