Currently 20% of Australian and 43% of American children are growing up in homes without fathers. Father-absent homes are common in our communities, our schools, and also our churches.
A couple of weekends ago, I attended the buck’s day celebration of a good Christian friend. In many ways it was a fairly ordinary day. Scenes of embarrassing public dress, a few games of bowling, inflatable boxing and fast food meals; in short, a day of good fun and frivolity. One part celebrated the boyish fun that will (in part!) be left behind, another rejoiced in our brother’s upcoming commitment to become a married man.