Who’s your dad? If you’re like me, you instantly think of your earthly father. You’re right. Equally as true, God Himself is your dad. As a dad of five, including two who were adopted, this verse takes on a special meaning for me. Romans 8:15 says, “…you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons…”. God didn’t just let us into His heaven, He let us into His heart. I hope, this Father’s Day, you are reminded of this powerful truth. Mention it to your own kids. Don’t just have Father’s Day be a weekend you receive, but make it a time to give written or verbal blessings to your children. Remind them of the space they occupy in your universe—as cherished children!

Knowing how to prepare your kid for the real world isn’t easy. Our friend and Pastor Jarred Morgan writes, “Do you remember the 80’s cartoon G.I. Joe? At the end of every episode, there was a public service announcement. It would go something like, ‘If you see a live power line down across the road don’t move it, call your local authorities and they will come and take care of the problem…now you know and knowing is half the battle.'”

There’s a lot of truth in that statement. You know what the current culture looks like and you know what dangers it brings—but knowing is only half the battle. In order to navigate the battle between culture and your children, it is important to know the battle. It’s important to know the culture and its message, but it must be more than knowledge…it’s action as well. Here’s how to prepare your kid for the real world.

In honor of Father’s Day, here are some of my personal favorite dad jokes. Use with caution:

• So what if I don’t know what Armaggedon is? It’s not the end of the world.
• What’s so great about Switzerland? Not sure, but, the flag is a big plus.
• What did Tennessee? The same thing as Arkansas.
• Why did the man fall down the well? Because he couldn’t see that well.
• I like to tell chemistry jokes. But, only periodically.
• A friend of mine asked me to round up his 37 sheep. So, I said, “40”.

'Dad joke in honor of Father's Day: What did Tennessee? The same thing as Arkansas. Share on Twitter

Smell the roses. Dad, you and I live with pressure all year. Time, kids, money, deadlines, and jobs. If possible, take a day and sit that stuff aside. I pray you can relax, enjoy time with your family, maybe even your own father. Rejoice in the blessing that is fatherhood, giving thanks to the one perfect Father who adopted us into His eternal family!

Make it a great week,

Kent Evans
Author of The Manhood Journey, co-founder of Manhood Journey and Father On Purpose.

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.