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Successfully Raising Young Black Men
 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
-I John 4:18
What is missing in many of the homes where young black men are being raised, is a sense of family. I believe that this is the primary reason why many of our young black men join gangs-they do not feel like they are a part of their biological family; therefore, being a member of a gang, gives them a feeling of being wanted and appreciated in a family-like unit.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." -Philippians 4:8
Abraham Lincoln once said on the subject of character: "Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."
"For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." -Proverbs 2:6
I strongly believe that in order to successfully raise your sons for the glory of God, we must show them the importance of a good, solid education. Our culture continues to discourage our children, especially our young black boys, by telling them that being smart isn't cool. But we must show them that the opposite is true, and that is, being smart is really cool.
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." -Philippians 1:6
At the church where I pastor, we have a feeding ministry. At one of our meal sessions, the son of a prominent pastor in our city came to our church to eat. He was hungry and had not taken a shower in days.
"For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." -Proverbs 2:6
I strongly believe that in order to successfully raise your sons for the glory of God, we must show them the importance of a good, solid education. Our culture continues to discourage our children, especially our young black boys, by telling them that being smart isn't cool. But we must show them that the opposite is true, and that is, being smart is really cool.
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." -I John 4:18
What is missing in many of the homes where young black men are being raised, is a sense of family.
"And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more."
-Matthew 25:20
I shall never forget how unfaithful our former musician was. Sometimes he would show up. Sometimes he would show up late. And oftentimes he would not show up at all. Well, I got tired of his unfaithfulness to his task. After some time of putting up with that, I said, "Lord, I need a new musician, one who is faithful to the task." The Lord spoke to me by telling me, all that I needed was in my house. However, I continued searching for a musician elsewhere. But God continued telling me over and over to trust Him, because all I needed was in my house.
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." -Exodus 20:12 One Friday night, my youngest son, Kenneth, asked to go to a football game with a friend of his. He went to the game and came home around 9:30 p.m. I was sitting on the couch, and Kenny just walked in, looked at me, but didn't say a word.
"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou riseth up." -Deuteronomy 6:6-7
"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." -Ephesians 6:4 After my wife and I got married, we moved into a one bedroom apartment. It was the kind of house where if you spun around, you could touch the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen all at the same time.
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