Fathering Our Future

No matter where you find yourself as a Christian, whether that be a faithful disciple or a full-time minister, you can never use God as an excuse to be absent from your family. That was never God’s design nor will it ever be His desire. In this episode, I talk about identity and what it really means to put God first. As Christian fathers, our first identity is as disciples of Jesus. But that shoul...

Every dad knows the pressure of a child acting out in public. The restaurant gets loud. The store gets uncomfortable. People start looking. And suddenly, you are not just dealing with your child’s behavior, you are dealing with your own reaction too. In this episode, I talk about one of the most important responsibilities we have as fathers: training our children at home for the real world. Our ho...

Your kids may trust you completely when they are little, but will they still trust you when they grow up? In this episode, I talk about a simple moment with my youngest daughter that hit me hard. She was tired, I picked her up, and she completely relaxed in my arms. In that moment, I realized I was a safe harbor for her. But I do not want to only be that while my kids are young. I want to remain a...

Every dad gets angry. The question is not whether anger will show up, but what we do when it does. In this episode, I talk honestly about anger in fatherhood, why it can rise so quickly, and how Christian dads can respond without damaging their children. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be angry and do not sin,” and that verse gives fathers both permission to recognize anger and a warning not to let it contr...

As fathers, we cannot rely on a "been there, done that" mindset. Our children are growing up in a world shaped by smartphones, artificial intelligence, and cultural changes that many of us never experienced. If we want to lead our families well, we must keep learning. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tim Elmore, author, and leadership and generational expert, for one of the most insi...

If you want to become a better father, one of the most important questions you can ask is this: Does the fruit of the Spirit show up in the way I treat my children? In this episode, I challenge Christian dads to examine whether their parenting reflects the character of God. Too often, we justify impatience, anger, harshness, and control in the name of discipline. But biblical parenting should be m...

Why don’t my kids listen? If you’ve ever asked that question as a dad, you’re not alone. Every father reaches a point where he wonders how to get his kids to listen, obey, and follow direction without constant frustration. In this episode, I break down what actually works when it comes to getting your kids to listen. This is not about yelling louder or repeating yourself more. It is about learning...

A couple of weeks ago I shared the best idea for Mother’s Day, but some moms did not agree. So I found out what the issue was. The problem was not with the moms or with my idea. The problem was with their husbands. This week on the podcast, I am addressing something Christian dads seem to miss when it comes to parenting. We are quick to define ourselves as protectors and providers, but we miss the...

Many fathers want to help their children succeed, but sometimes our help can quietly become control. If we are not careful, we can do so much for our kids that we never teach them how to do things for themselves. In this episode, I talk about why healthy fatherhood includes preparing our children for independence. I share how dads can raise capable, confident kids by giving them responsibility, te...

Most dads think the key to leading their home is having the right answers. But sometimes what we really need is to ask better questions and listen. In this episode, I share a simple conversation I had with my five-year-old daughter (thanks to my digital question cards - link below) that caught me off guard. I asked what she thought was most important to our family. Her answer was not what I expect...

When it comes to being a great husband, there are a few days we need to remember: her birthday, Valentine’s Day, your wedding anniversary, and of course, Mother’s Day. I grew up watching my dad spend lots of money on purses, perfumes, and other luxuries for my mom on Mother’s Day, while simply sharing the credit with me and my sister. That’s what I thought I was supposed to do… until I cracked the...

Some dads think being present means just being around but your kids can feel the difference between being there and being close. In this episode, I talk about something simple that has a massive impact on your relationship with your children. Proximity. Not just physical presence, but intentional closeness. As fathers, we are called to model our lives after our Heavenly Father, and one of the most...

If our kids don’t take our words seriously, it’s not because they’re stubborn. It’s because something is broken in how we communicate as dads. In this episode, I talk about what it really means to be a father of your word. Not just saying the right things, but actually following through in a way that builds trust, respect, and strong relationships with your children. I walk through a real story wi...

Every father has faced it. The meltdown in public. The tears. The frustration. The moment when you feel your patience slipping and you just want the behavior to stop. In this episode, I share a moment I witnessed between a dad and his little daughter at Chick-fil-A that stuck with me. Watching that interaction reminded me how easy it is for fathers to react out of frustration instead of leading wi...

Every dad would say, "I would die for my kid." It sounds powerful. It sounds noble. And in many ways it is true. Most dads would step in front of danger without hesitation. But what about the everyday moments? The challenge is not simply being willing to die for our kids in one dramatic moment. The real challenge is choosing to live for them every single day. In this episode you will lea...

Have you ever poured yourself out for your family and wondered if anyone even noticed? As fathers, we work hard. We sacrifice. We provide. We protect. And if we are honest, there are days when we wish someone would simply say thank you. In this episode, I talk about what I believe is the true heart of fatherhood, and it is not easy. A comment on one of my reels inspired this episode. A dad shared...

Most dads want to be a good dad . But what if that’s the wrong goal? In this episode, I challenge one of the most common and most misleading pursuits in fatherhood. Because being a “good dad” isn’t determined by how much we provide, how hard we work, or how many things we do right. It’s determined by our relationship with our child. Using biblical insight and real-life fatherhood perspective, we u...

Fatherhood changes everything, especially our expectations. Many dads step into parenting with ambition, personal standards, and a vision for what excellence looks like, only to feel frustrated when they cannot seem to measure up once children enter the picture. In this episode, we revisit expectations and why so many fathers quietly wrestle with feeling like they are falling short. Looking at Luk...

Are your kids doing things for you because they love you… or because they feel like they have to manage your emotions? In this episode, I unpack a powerful conversation that forced me to look in the mirror as a father. Using Micah 6 as a backdrop, we explore the difference between how pagan cultures tried to appease their unstable gods versus how our Heavenly Father actually relates to His childre...

Many parents say it without thinking: “Go to your room.” But biblically, psychologically, and developmentally it’s a mistake. In this episode, I explain why isolating children during discipline does more harm than good. Scripture shows us that isolation erodes identity, value, and hope. Add modern research on loneliness and child brain development, and the conclusion is unavoidable: connection, no...

I was raised to believe backtalk was disrespectful and had to be shut down immediately. But when I started looking at Scripture, especially the psalms of lament, I realized something uncomfortable: God invites questions, frustration, and hard conversations from His children. So why don’t we? In this episode, I explain why silencing your kids may be damaging trust, weakening your influence, and wor...

You’re a Christian dad. You want to teach your kids about the Bible but the Old Testament makes you uncomfortable because it can feel intense with the bloody stories, tough questions, and a God who seems “angry.” That’s ok. I’ve got you. This episode I connect with Chad Bird, Scholar in Residence at 1517, who specializes in the Old Testament. He helps clear up some misconceptions about the Old Tes...

You’re getting a double dose of boundaries this week because boundaries aren’t “nice to have,” they’re protection. In this episode, my friend and life coach Tom Lyman, shares boundaries that helped rebuild his life after years of addiction, and how those same boundaries can help you become a stronger man, husband, and father. Tom walks through five key areas every man needs boundaries: • Spiritual...

Most dads think freedom comes from removing limits. That mindset quietly creates dissatisfaction, broken priorities, and strained families. In this episode of Fathering Our Future , Anthony Vandagriff explains why boundaries do not confine dads. They define what matters and protect what God has already given. Using Proverbs 4:23, real life stories, and practical examples, this episode unpacks: Why...

As we head into a new year, I know how easy it is for dads to feel pressure to change everything at once. I don’t want to give you a list of resolutions. I want you to focus on one fatherhood discipline that actually matters and is worth protecting. In this episode, I explain why prioritizing time around the table with your family is far more formative than most dads realize. Research shows that c...