Father On Purpose Podcast

As Christian men, we know there's a distinction between what's important and what's urgent. In our heads, we understand the dangers of letting the things that scream the loudest steal our attention from the things that matter most. Unfortunately, our lives don't always reflect a proper balance between the two. In this episode, we'll examine one key for bringing some order to the chaos that creeps...

Men have a natural desire to be the smartest guy in the room. Deep down, we love being the one who solves every problem and ends every debate. Even with our children, we often tell them what's right instead of letting them discover God's truth on their own. If your kids are going to reach their God-given potential, though, they'll need to struggle some and find their own answers to the biggest que...

Life is full of decisions. As guys, we make a lot of them without a second thought, while others keep us up at night. Whether the choices are major or minor, life is also full of counselors who are ready to help you sort through your options. As men of God, we have to be careful because the advice we get is only as good as its source. The book of Proverbs gives us insight as to why God's Word is t...

If you're a married man, you remember the day that you watched your beautiful bride walk down the aisle. If you're honest, you probably also assumed that everything was going to great from that point on. Before long, though, you realized that even when the wedding is amazing, building a marriage takes a lot of hard work! In this episode, author and speaker Jackie Bledsoe shares some simple tips fo...

As guys, we know that trust doesn't always come easily. We like being in control, so relying on anyone for anything is a big ask. Unfortunately, that even includes God more times than we'd like to admit. While trusting Him gets a lot of lip service inside Christian circles, living out complete dependence on our Creator still comes with its own unique set of challenges. That's why identifying some...

For centuries, believers have taken comfort in biblical words and images found in passages like Psalm 23. We love the idea of walking beside still waters. That's probably because we know life doesn't usually work that way. The waters might be calm for a while; but, without warning, we find ourselves caught in the whitewater. We experience the fear of those moments when we're doing all we can to av...

Businessman Jay Strickland doesn't claim to be an expert on family relationships. In fact, he'll be the first to tell you that he's just a guy who treasures his family, works hard and loves Jesus. Between growing up in a trailer park to sharing the family farm with his children and grandchildren, Jay's gained his wisdom through practical experience, navigating the highs and lows of his "blessed" l...

You know the drill... up early, car packed, and on the road for the next great family adventure. If that's your story, then you'll probably also admit that the incredible memories you create sometimes come with a dark side. Crowded attractions, high prices, and short fuses can leave a bitter taste that no cotton candy can sweeten. But it doesn't have to be that way. With a little reimagination, yo...

The key to any great recipe is using the proper ingredients. Mixing the right stuff in the right amounts can lead to a masterpiece. Put in the wrong stuff, and there's no telling what you'll end up with. Genuine manhood works the same way. God's given you everything you need in His Word. Stick with His plan, and you'll be just fine. But the world works overtime to tease you with things you just do...

When the ancient Hebrews talked about the heart, they focused on every nook and cranny of a person's being. Everything was rooted in the heart, which also made it a prime spiritual battlefield. That's why Solomon said that guarding your heart was one of the most important things you could do in life. Truth is, not much has changed since Solomon's day. As a man, you still need to guard your heart b...

The apostle Paul knew that the Christian life revolved around two important principles: prayer and praise. So, early on in his letter to the Colossians, he urged his friends to continue their conversations with Jesus and to never forget why He is worthy of all honor. Things haven't changed much. As guys living for God in the 21st century, Paul's insights are still words we can live by. If we want...

When the apostle Paul prayed for his Colossian friends, he wasn't just wishing them the best. He was challenging them to live lives worthy of the call Christ had placed on their lives. As a father and husband, you face the same challenge. God wants you to walk worthy of His call and to become all that He has created you to be as a man. Find out more about what it means to live a life worthy of God...

Some 2,000 years ago, the apostle Paul assured his friends in Colossae that he would never stop praying for them. Specifically, he had been praying that they would know God's will and plug into God's wisdom. When you stop and think about it, that's also a great prayer for men to be praying for their families. If you want to become a more effective prayer warrior for your wife and kids, start with...

In the game of baseball, even the most successful batters fail almost 70 percent of the time. But the good ones never let that get them down. They just keep swinging, working to make the most of the other 30 percent. Sometimes as a dad, we just have to keep swinging even though we might be striking out. But the truth is, the perfect father is a fantasy. The perfect husband is a myth. You're going...

Contrary to popular opinion, quitting is not always a bad thing. It really depends on your "why." If you're giving up because you feel defeated or frustrated, you're probably heading in the wrong direction. But if you're letting go because you feel God pulling you toward a new adventure, you're right on target. Chris Harper, speaker and CEO of BetterMan , discusses this tension between living in d...

As guys, we've all crossed lines that we never should have crossed and made mistakes that we wish we could go back and change. But while time machines aren't an option, we can rest in the knowledge that God provides fresh starts. Even solid believers who have walked with the Lord for years can get a much-needed second chance in Him. Author and speaker Jeff Kemp has discovered that truth firsthand,...

Whether you're a "big man on campus" or the guy quietly working behind the scenes, you want to know how to measure success as a man—how many points you're scoring in any given area in life. And you're not alone in that. To use sports analogies, we all want to know that we're putting the ball in the basket or moving closer to our goal. Learning to score points as a dad and husband is often hard. In...

Some guys have a reputation for tossing out the written instructions and trying to build things out on their own. While that might work when you're putting a bike together at Christmas, it's never a great way to walk through life. In His grace, our heavenly Father has given us an instruction manual for living His way. The Bible is our field guide for a successful and satisfying life. We'll talk ab...

From the day our kids are born, men are programmed to protect. It's our default position to hang on for all we're worth and to shield our kids from the hurts this life dishes out. It feels natural, but it might not be the best plan for us or our kids. In this episode, Pastor Craig Bowler stops by to share what he's learned from his own lifelong struggle to release his daughters into the care of th...

We live in a culture where chronic anxiety and other mental health concerns are almost commonplace. What's worse, they've become rites of passage for our children, as well. Jon Seidl understands the paralyzing toll mental health issues can have on individuals and families. He's lived it firsthand and shared his experiences in his book, "Finding Rest: Navigating the Valleys of Anxiety, Faith, and L...

Dr. Dub Oliver is more than just one of the most respected voices in Christian education today. Along with serving as the president of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, he's also a voice for families and has a passion for helping men identify and live out their true, God-given calling in life. Dr. Oliver shares what God has taught him about what it means to be a godly father.   Learn more ab...

Poet Robert Frost once wrote about choosing the road less traveled and how that decision "made all the difference." Of course, life is full of choices. As fathers, we make dozens every day. Many are mundane and pass without a second thought, but others can represent transformational shifts for both us and our families. Today's episode digs deeper into these "critical intersections." You'll pick up...

We live in a culture where authentic manhood is under attack. Around every corner, guys are being challenged to justify—or even apologize for—their masculinity. Josh Hatcher has spent more than a decade encouraging men to run toward the storm and to embrace their God-given responsibilities of Christ-like discipleship and intentional manhood. His insights on what it means to be a man and father in...

For more than a decade, Pastor Joby Martin has served as the founding pastor of the congregation of Church of Eleven22 in Jacksonville, Florida. He's also a popular author and speaker at conferences around the country. Pastor Joby brings his wisdom and experience to the Father On Purpose podcast, sharing what God has taught him over the years about biblical fatherhood and manhood.   You can learn...

Romans 12 has served as a refreshing fountain of wisdom and insight to help us navigate several manhood "hotspots." In this episode, we're excited to be joined by pastor and author Chip Ingram as we put a bow on our Romans 12 series. With more than 40 years of experience as a discipleship leader, Chip offers some great closing takeaways about how to be a Romans 12 father.   You can learn more abou...