Ramping up to Christmas seems to start earlier every year. Thanksgiving used to be the marker on the calendar to start shopping and get the decorations out. Nowadays, it seems to be pushed up to November first.
Churches ramp up as well. Many are in the throes of ...read on
As a kid, it seems dad knows everything and can do anything. In the teen years, the reality that dad doesn’t know everything begins to register with the child and by the late teens he wonders if dad knows anything about anything. In his twenties, an adult child appreciates dad’s availability to talk about career choices and marriage. And in his thirties, the young man realizes his dad actually knows a lot about life.
Just as fathers and sons can drift apart, older and younger generations can ...read on
Men are built to do work. Accomplishments are recognized and celebrated from an early age. On the farm, young men were paid by the bail when they put up hay. Chores were expected to be done as part of the family responsibilities. That manifested into a work ethic that had a man willing to put long hours in doing the work before him.
Wayne Huizenga was a successful businessman. He was known for ...read on
A friend I have played tennis with for years always admonishes me to remember the p-word, patience. I have played serve-and-volley tennis through my college years. If I had to hit the ball more than once after a serve or return of serve, I lost the point. The objective was to get to the net and put the ball away. Patience never entered my mind.
At a recent study presentation, a young dad asked, “What is the best way for me to effectively balance work and family?” Great question! He was anticipating a problem as he struggled to prioritize right things in the midst of busy-ness. And it gave me an opportunity to discuss the myth of ‘life balance’.
It starts at a young age. You see a buddy get away with stealing a candy bar and it is tempting to try to steal one too. In school, a friend cheats on tests routinely and then brags about his grade-point average. It can be tempting to follow that example as well when you struggle to make good grades.
It can continue into adulthood. Some people seem ...read on
“He was a good dad but now he is an intentional dad.” This was a validating comment from a mom whose husband had been involved in a fathering initiative for a number of years at their church. It reflects the difference between ‘doing’ dad and the intentionality behind ‘being’ a faithful father.
Over the 25 years of ministry, weekend father-daughter and father-son retreats have consistently provided ...read on
Noted author and popular men’s ministry speaker, the late Steve Farrar instructed young men to: Complete your education or vocational training; Get a job; Establish a residence on your own; Pay off debt; Date young lady; Marry young lady; and, Start a family. Then he added with emphasis, “In that order!” Great advice!
Then there is the next chapter – stepping into the ...read on
When we stop talking, bad things happen. Dads and moms of teenagers know it is critical to keep the conversation going on whatever is happening in the kids’ world. The home has to be a ‘safe place’ for any questions and honest dialogue. If it is not, friends and social media will fill the void and introduce a new level of influence that may contradict values instilled during their younger years.
When folks are talking, even arguing, there is ...read on
Where were you twenty-five years ago? George W. Bush was president. The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were still standing. We had made it through the Y2K scare without incident. Cell phones were bulky but all were impressed that you could talk on the phone away from the house - Little did we know what was around the corner.
Twenty-five years ago, there were only two ...read on
Ramping up to Christmas seems to start earlier every year. Thanksgiving used to be the marker on the calendar to start shopping and get the decorations out. Nowadays, it seems to be pushed up to November first.
As a kid, it seems dad knows everything and can do anything. In the teen years, the reality that dad doesn’t know everything begins to register with the child and by the late teens he wonders if dad knows anything about anything. In his twenties, an adult child appreciates dad’s availability to talk about career choices and marriage. And in his thirties, the young man realizes his dad actually knows a lot about life.
A friend I have played tennis with for years always admonishes me to remember the p-word, patience. I have played serve-and-volley tennis through my college years. If I had to hit the ball more than once after a serve or return of serve, I lost the point. The objective was to get to the net and put the ball away. Patience never entered my mind.
At a recent study presentation, a young dad asked, “What is the best way for me to effectively balance work and family?” Great question! He was anticipating a problem as he struggled to prioritize right things in the midst of busy-ness. And it gave me an opportunity to discuss the myth of ‘life balance’.
It starts at a young age. You see a buddy get away with stealing a candy bar and it is tempting to try to steal one too. In school, a friend cheats on tests routinely and then brags about his grade-point average. It can be tempting to follow that example as well when you struggle to make good grades.
“He was a good dad but now he is an intentional dad.” This was a validating comment from a mom whose husband had been involved in a fathering initiative for a number of years at their church. It reflects the difference between ‘doing’ dad and the intentionality behind ‘being’ a faithful father.
Noted author and popular men’s ministry speaker, the late Steve Farrar instructed young men to: Complete your education or vocational training; Get a job; Establish a residence on your own; Pay off debt; Date young lady; Marry young lady; and, Start a family. Then he added with emphasis, “In that order!” Great advice!
When we stop talking, bad things happen. Dads and moms of teenagers know it is critical to keep the conversation going on whatever is happening in the kids’ world. The home has to be a ‘safe place’ for any questions and honest dialogue. If it is not, friends and social media will fill the void and introduce a new level of influence that may contradict values instilled during their younger years.
Where were you twenty-five years ago? George W. Bush was president. The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were still standing. We had made it through the Y2K scare without incident. Cell phones were bulky but all were impressed that you could talk on the phone away from the house - Little did we know what was around the corner.
