Father On Purpose Podcast

Young boys face a wide array of challenges in our culture. They need godly mentors to come alongside them and pour into their lives. After finding success in both the secular and church worlds, Mark Hancock decided to use his love of nature to become one of those mentors—and to help other men who shared his passion for raising godly men. Learn more about Mark's organization, Trail Life, at www.tra...

One little patch of ice can send a car spinning into a guardrail. One small spark can ignite an enormous wildfire. And one snippet of gossip can damage a relationship forever. You may not think of yourself as "the gossiping kind," but all of us wrestle with rumors and innuendos more than we'd like to admit. As we wrap up our study of Proverbs 16, we'll dig deeper into what gossip really means—and...

One of the biggest lies we hear in life is that words can never harm us. Truth is, words can wound us deeply. Even worse, our words can do infinitely more damage to our family and friends than sticks or stones ever could. While men do so many things well, speaking life into those we love can be a particular challenge; yet our influence as husbands, fathers, and friends depends on keeping a leash o...

Nowhere is the clash of worldviews more apparent than in the struggle between gaining wisdom and collecting wealth. For centuries, the world has pushed us toward more stuff, while the Bible has challenged us to look up to discover what's most important in life. Wealth isn't evil, of course, but men of God are called to pursue something higher. As we continue our study of Proverbs 16, we'll examine...

Despite what the culture might suggest, integrity is not something you can simply turn on and off like a light switch. As a man of God, if you're going to have integrity in any part of your life, you've got to live with integrity in every part of your life. What's more, the example you set as a husband and father becomes the legacy you leave for future generations. As we continue our study of Prov...

We live in a world defined by conflict. Whether it's war among nations, arguments over politics, or even strife within the body of Christ, tensions run high and patience runs low. Between the external battles people fight with one another and the internal turmoil that steals our serenity, peace feels like a rare and precious commodity. Yet, as we learn from Proverbs 16, God has given us a recipe f...

Nobody's perfect. Intellectually, we know that to be true, but that rings hollow when we come up short and fall into the quicksand of sin. While our sin might create problems with our relationships here on earth, it ultimately offends the God who created us and sent His Son to die for us. Thankfully, He has proven time and again that He is faithful to forgive when we come to Him in humility. As we...

As guys, we like to act like we have it all together. But more times than we'd like to admit, our greatest enemy is the guy staring back at us from the mirror. Whether we're dealing with a spirit of bitterness or trying to make ourselves look better, our own arrogance and judgmental attitudes toward others often keep us from being the men God created us to be. Solomon understood that character fla...

The old cliché tells us that failing to plan means we're planning to fail. But, as guys, we've all experienced those moments when our best-laid plans come crashing to the ground. As we're streaking toward the finish line, we twist an ankle or stumble on a rock. Truth is, planning for the future is an important part of life—as long as we do it the right way. That's because our plans only work as th...

We all know that Bible study is supposed to be an important part of our lives as men and as believers. The sheer amount of wisdom to be had from a single verse can change your life. Yet, so many of us struggle to find the bandwidth to dig into God's Word the way we should. The desire may be there, but we just don't know where to start. As we set the table for our series in Proverbs 16, it's import...

Sports can be a blessing and a curse for parents. On one hand, the lessons on the field can instill important character qualities like teamwork, self-discipline, and hard work. On the other hand, sports can become an obsession that sucks both time and money from your family and their values. The trick, though, is maintaining balance and making sure your child develops a solid grasp on life beyond...

Some corners of our culture will try to convince you that "diversity" is a dirty word. In reality, diversity is God's idea. He celebrates our differences—and He expects us to celebrate them as well. In this episode, Gary Chapman and Clarence Shuler reflect on how their unlikely friendship has taken root and thrived for more than five decades. They'll also share how Dads like you can nurture cross-...

As men, fathers, and husbands, gratitude is one of our most significant tools. Unfortunately, the selfishness that betrays us all can be the ultimate gratitude killer. Selfishness thrives in a life that's not aligned with God, so the end result is always the same: pain and destruction. The key for us dads is to root selfishness out of our lives so the Father's character can shine through.

One problem with the rat race is that it turns us all into rats more than we care to admit. As guys, it's easy to let feelings of entitlement seep in and poison the well of our lives. We get so worked up chasing the next big thing that we miss what God has put right in front of us. We let our first-world problems blind us to blessings many can only dream of. As Christ followers, though, we're call...

In a world where social media makes everyone else's at-bats seem like a home run, it's easy to feel like you're striking out every time you step up to the plate. The weight of comparison can quickly pull you down to some dark places both emotionally and spiritually. What's more, the patterns you set in your life can have a tremendous impact on the lives of your wife and kids. Thankfully, the Bible...

Chasing riches is an enemy of gratitude and a catalyst for discontentment: A lot of things can steal our contentment as dads; especially something like money that will have us staring at our bank account, obsessed with the numbers inside. Only serving money will usher destruction into our lives. However, If we trust God with our money, we'll soon discover genuine gratitude and learn how little we...

Who says Thanksgiving only happens in November? As we celebrate the anniversary of this podcast, we're reminded of God's many blessings on our work and our lives. So, we're spending this episode focusing on gratitude and reflecting on all the reasons we have to be thankful.

With so many choices screaming for our kids' attention, even the best of parents struggle to effectively navigate the media maze. That's where Minno TV and its co-founder Erick Gross come in. Through Minno, Erick offers parents a little peace of mind by providing curated, kid-friendly, Christian content on an affordable platform. Whether it's a 5-minute family devotion or another option from Minno...

Last week and this week, we're discussing four fatherhood traps that each of us can accidentally step into. We dads are powerful, for better or for worse. We can do a lot of damage, but we can also do a lot of uplifting. Let's be our kids' biggest fans and support them in everything they do while not letting our insecurities get in the way. No matter where our kids are on their journey, our job is...

Culture tells us that Father's Day is the one day each year when it's OUR day. A day for us to receive gifts - socks, a tie maybe, who knows - a belt? Even Father's Day cards are great. But the underlying message from culture is you deserve to receive. So, let's flip the script this year, go against the grain and use Father's Day as a day to MODEL service to others - especially those in our own fa...

As dads, we are the steward of our children, but it's God who owns them at the end of the day. We must serve our kids and give them every chance to know God and love Him; after that, it's up to them. We just have to let God direct their adult life and not connect our success as fathers to "their success." Whatever they get into, whether music, cars, or something we know nothing about, all we gotta...

With over 60 published books and more than 20 million copies sold, Dr. Ken Blanchard needs no introduction. Coming off the release of "The Mulligan," a movie based on his book "The Mulligan," Dr. Blanchard talks about how important it is for dads to lead like Jesus and rely on Him for a mulligan in life when they need it. Dads need to know they always have another chance with the Lord on their sid...

Husbands have a unique role in ensuring their kids treat mom with the utmost respect and dignity. When they give her lip, we're there to reinforce her authority. And being a cultivator not only applies to bad behavior, but we can also promote good behavior and encourage acts of compassion. Team up with your kids and try buying her flowers and surprise her with her favorite snack. Those moments wil...

How should we deal with symptoms of imbalance that take valuable time away from our family? As loving husbands and fathers, our relationship with our wives and kids requires a much larger time commitment than anything else (if you want them to love you, that is!). So, let's ask ourselves: For the 16 hours we're awake each day, what can we do to carve up that time in a way that honors God, honors o...

"The best thing a father can do for his kids is to love their mother." When kids see dad embrace their mom and treat her with dignity, it provides an unparalleled sense of security and stability in their lives. As the leader of our homes, we dads must be that godly example for our children every day. If we show them that the Lord matters more than sports, a career, or any political figure—they'll...