Pastor and author John Piper’s father passed away this week. In his blog, I found Piper’s Tribute to a Faithful Father to be one of the most moving essays I’ve ever read on fatherhood. It’s adapted from a sermon Piper once gave for Father’s Day.

I thank you heavenly father for my earthly father. What a legacy he has left to me and my children and grandchildren—and to this church. O, raise up fathers in this church with great legacies of faith. In Jesus Christ. Amen.

I hope you’ll have a chance to read it, a powerful reminder of the need for today’s men to rise up and be the godly fathers our children need.

Edit: Here’s a new tribute posted today on John Piper’s blog entitled, Hello, My Father Just Died. This was written only moments after Piper’s father slipped away into eternity. Every sentence is so poetic and beautiful, I dare not quote a single word out of context. I hope you’ll have a chance to read it — and pray for John Piper to continue on with his father’s legacy.