Dad Talk blog

Who Do You Know FamilyLeadershipSpiritual Growth

Who Do You Know

He wanted to get into the Air Force Academy. The physical part of the application process was rigorous but he passed. The other testing and associated interviews seemed to go well. But then there was the requirement of having a congressman’s nomination for an appointment…
Rick Wertz
September 9, 2026
Reconciliation FamilyLeadershipSpiritual Growth

Reconciliation

Hey Dad, how are you doing? Whether in the midst of newborn craziness, starting a new school year or dropping a child off at college, the fathering journey calls for intentionality to strengthen relationship through every season, every step of the way. Easier said than…
Rick Wertz
September 2, 2026
Heart-Turning Spiritual Growth

Heart-Turning

With five kids in the home, he had not thought about spending one-on-one time with any of the kids. Every activity was coordinated as a family for all to participate. The only exceptions were summer gatherings with extended family. But then his wife scheduled he…
Rick Wertz
August 19, 2026
All In or Not Spiritual Growth

All In or Not

Reflect on this past week – your waking hours, not including hours on the job. Tally the time spent in prayer, worship, Scripture and study of God’s word. Divide the number you come up with by 74. This is a way to quantify the status…
Rick Wertz
August 12, 2026
Not Our Home Spiritual GrowthSummertime

Not Our Home

As a young kid, he would spend a part of every summer with his uncle. The boy’s home life was not healthy – there was alcoholism and it was a very low-income household. His mother reached out to her sister and brother-in-law about opening their…
Rick Wertz
July 8, 2026
Happy Birthday U S A FamilyHolidaysLeadership

Happy Birthday U S A

William Wallace, the 13th century Scotsman depicted in the 1995 movie Braveheart, led the charge for freedom from the tyranny of the English. Five hundred years later, George Washington led a successful charge for freedom from English rule in the American Revolution. Then the work…
Rick Wertz
July 1, 2026
Father’s Day 2026 FamilyLeadership

Father’s Day 2026

Happy Father's Day to you! On this Father's Day 2026, I encourage you as a dad, adoptive dad or spiritual father, to take inventory of where you are and commit to growing in your role as a father. Our Heavenly Father shares the moniker ‘father’…
Rick Wertz
June 18, 2026
Thank You Dad Family

Thank You Dad

An annual tribute to the dad that raised me in hope that it is an encouragement to you: Born in 1917, four years after his parents immigrated from the south of Russia, he spent his early years growing up in Nebraska. The family continued to…
Rick Wertz
June 11, 2026