He kissed his kids goodbye as he left for work, while they were asleep. And he kissed them goodnight when he got home, after they were asleep. The young dad was working hard to provide for his family but the long hours were taking a toll on his marriage and the relationships with his kids.
Trying to find that right balance between work, marriage, family, church and personal time can prove illusive. One can try to ...read on
Times were not good. The pressure was mounting. Oil had dropped to $8 per barrel and the oilfield services sector was being decimated. The young manager had to size down the operation by 75% and survival was still not guaranteed. There was a saying in previous downturns that when the oil companies catch a cold, the services sector contracts pneumonia. This was double pneumonia!
In the midst of one of the most severe downturns in history, the young manager became ...read on
He simply wanted some clarity about his heritage. The young man was adopted as an infant by a couple that provided a wonderful home for him. They were very supportive of their son’s efforts to connect with his birth mother and biological father. They knew clarity would provide the young man greater comfort and confidence in who he was.
One would think that such an inquisitive nature ...read on
I pray you enjoyed a wonderful CHRISTmas and new year with family. Were your holiday gatherings and mealtimes peaceful? When friends and relatives gather, lively discussion can get stirred up as folks express their thoughts around certain topics. Was there pressure to limit conversation to football and the kids?
There is so much to talk through with all that is going on ...read on
The single biggest determinant for a positive outcome in anything is commitment to the journey. This is a challenge to commit to the journey of becoming a faithful father. Be part of a fathering movement across our city, state and beyond by making 2022 the year to focus on physical presence, emotional engagement and spiritual leadership needed in family and the Church. Join me in accepting the challenge and encourage other dads in your circles to do the same.
Faithful Fathering is an ‘upstream’ ministry that strives to ensure that the next generation will not need to spend valuable resources trying to fix what should never be broken – relationship with the Father through our earthly father. The solution to many societal woes is realized through encouraging & equipping dads to be faithful fathers and reinvigorating churches on the fathering front.
Faithful Fathering is here to work with you to spark a ...read on
“Peace to you” is easy to say but how is it to be lived? “Peace” has been defined as “freedom from disturbance; tranquility,” at least per Webster’s dictionary. I think of the advertising for noise-cancelling headphones that sell the idea of being oblivious to the world around you, undisturbed and tranquil. Is that peace?
In this final week of Advent, the candle lit reflects ...read on
Joy is an emotion and men do not typically like to show emotions. How is a dad to celebrate great joy around Christmas? One example is King David’s celebration when the ark of God was brought to the City of David. In 2Samuel 6:14, it says, “Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might.” King David was elated, and celebrated great joy in getting the ark of God in its rightful place.
“Are you smellin’ what I’m steppin’ in?” That was a question posed by a friend from Mississippi. What I came to understand is that he was asking if I really heard what he was saying. The extension of course is that whatever is said is reflected in how you are walking. Are your kids “smellin’ what you’re steppin’ in”? Are you walking in faith or in something else?
In this second week of Advent, the candle lit represents the ...read on
The last number of months have provided many an opportunity to focus in on family as a priority. In spite of the challenges we have faced across 2021, there was much to be thankful for as November wrapped up. Now it is December and time for dads to lead the way to CHRISTmas. A family focus on Advent can help all tune-in to the Reason for the season, the Christ-child’s birth.
He kissed his kids goodbye as he left for work, while they were asleep. And he kissed them goodnight when he got home, after they were asleep. The young dad was working hard to provide for his family but the long hours were taking a toll on his marriage and the relationships with his kids.
Times were not good. The pressure was mounting. Oil had dropped to $8 per barrel and the oilfield services sector was being decimated. The young manager had to size down the operation by 75% and survival was still not guaranteed. There was a saying in previous downturns that when the oil companies catch a cold, the services sector contracts pneumonia. This was double pneumonia!
He simply wanted some clarity about his heritage. The young man was adopted as an infant by a couple that provided a wonderful home for him. They were very supportive of their son’s efforts to connect with his birth mother and biological father. They knew clarity would provide the young man greater comfort and confidence in who he was.
I pray you enjoyed a wonderful CHRISTmas and new year with family. Were your holiday gatherings and mealtimes peaceful? When friends and relatives gather, lively discussion can get stirred up as folks express their thoughts around certain topics. Was there pressure to limit conversation to football and the kids?
The single biggest determinant for a positive outcome in anything is commitment to the journey. This is a challenge to commit to the journey of becoming a faithful father. Be part of a fathering movement across our city, state and beyond by making 2022 the year to focus on physical presence, emotional engagement and spiritual leadership needed in family and the Church. Join me in accepting the challenge and encourage other dads in your circles to do the same. 
“Peace to you” is easy to say but how is it to be lived? “Peace” has been defined as “freedom from disturbance; tranquility,” at least per Webster’s dictionary. I think of the advertising for noise-cancelling headphones that sell the idea of being oblivious to the world around you, undisturbed and tranquil. Is that peace?
Joy is an emotion and men do not typically like to show emotions. How is a dad to celebrate great joy around Christmas? One example is King David’s celebration when the ark of God was brought to the City of David. In 2Samuel 6:14, it says, “Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might.” King David was elated, and celebrated great joy in getting the ark of God in its rightful place.
“Are you smellin’ what I’m steppin’ in?” That was a question posed by a friend from Mississippi. What I came to understand is that he was asking if I really heard what he was saying. The extension of course is that whatever is said is reflected in how you are walking. Are your kids “smellin’ what you’re steppin’ in”? Are you walking in faith or in something else?
The last number of months have provided many an opportunity to focus in on family as a priority. In spite of the challenges we have faced across 2021, there was much to be thankful for as November wrapped up. Now it is December and time for dads to lead the way to CHRISTmas. A family focus on Advent can help all tune-in to the Reason for the season, the Christ-child’s birth.
