Raising Godly Boys Minute

Have you heard about Generation Z? No, it’s not a new boy band. It’s a label applied to those born between 1997 and 2012. Many people look at today’s Generation Z as media-obsessed teenagers who are lazy, cynical, and unambitious. But this stereotyping fails to reveal the clever, creative, and compassionate way these teens are influencing their communities. Many times, they simply haven’t been ins...

Do you like to run? Most people don’t. To excel, the sport requires training, endurance, and determination. In some ways, parenting is a lot like running a race. But the parenting race is more similar to a marathon than a sprint. When our boys are young, it feels like we’re providing constant instruction and correction. We wonder, “Will this ever end?” But before you know it, you’ve rounded the co...

When’s the last time you went on a scavenger hunt? Well, you know, they are making a comeback. Teenagers, especially, like the competitive aspect of searching for and finding a bunch of weird objects . . . all in the fastest time possible. Searching for plastic flamingos is hilarious, but don’t forget to teach your son about the importance of searching for wisdom in God’s Word. More than ever, tod...

You know, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that only 18% of American homes consist of a mother, father, and child. That’s an incredibly sad statistic. It means that kids in over 100 million households don’t have the loving influence of either a mother or a father. More often than not, the father is the one missing from the home. This leaves boys without a role model and without a father’s guidance a...

Boys love football. Flag football is fun, but tackle football is an even bigger rush. Quarterbacks and wide receivers get a lot of the glory, but football coaches are quick to point out that it takes an entire team to win a football game. The same is true in parenting your son. As a parent, you are certainly the most influential person in his life. But his teachers, athletic coaches, and friends a...

Growing up, I never heard my dad say he was proud of me. It’s just something his generation didn’t do. One day, when I was in my twenties, I was astonished when, from the pulpit, my dad mentioned how proud he was of me. Six months later, he passed away. I’m so thankful I heard those life-giving words directly from him. But I realize now that I need to lean on my Heavenly Father to help me overcome...

There’s a horrible plague sweeping across America. But it’s probably not the one you are thinking of. This plague is attacking boys’ minds and destroying their ability to live healthy and productive lives. What is this plague? It’s the disease of entitlement. More than ever, boys feel entitled to possessions and entertainment. The tragedy of this mindset is that boys fail to understand that happin...

Kids live in a digital world. Reliable research tells us that kids ages 8 to 12 spend an average of 4 to 8 hours a day staring at phones, TVs, and other devices. The question is: What are they watching all those hours? Sure, some of it may be harmless. But much of what kids see online is sensual, crude, and violent. Boys are especially influenced by what they see. As a parent, it’s your responsibi...

If you see someone having a heart attack, you call 911. If a water pipe breaks in your bathroom, you call a plumber. But when your son won’t listen to you or when your son blatantly disobeys, what do you do? Too often, we complain or vent our frustration to a friend. Or perhaps we think of a solution and take immediate steps to solve the problem. But if you are wise, your first course of action sh...

On his first day of preschool my son peered into the classroom and said, “Dad, I don’t want to go in there.” I dropped to one knee in front of him and put my hand on his shoulder. Meeting him eye-to-eye, I reminded him about the first time he had ridden a pony. At first, he had been scared of the horse. But he faced his fear, and had been so glad that he did. With that memory in mind, my son walke...

The average American consumes 90 bananas, 16 apples, and 122 strawberries per year. Those fruits are packed with vitamins and minerals. This nutrition is vital for growing boys . . . who prefer to gobble down pizza, hamburgers, and cookies. But even more important than physical fruit is spiritual fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 says that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindnes...

You’ve probably never flown an airplane before, but your son might have. Well, not a real airplane, but possibly a Boeing 737 on a video game flight simulator. When flying, a pilot must rely on his instrument panel to provide him accurate information about airspeed, altitude, and direction. Without this information, the pilot puts himself and his passengers at risk, especially when flying through...

If you step outside tonight and gaze into the night sky, you might notice Sirius [sirēus]—the brightest star visible from earth. Even though it’s located over 50 trillion miles away, it still shines brightly in the darkness of space. Your son can also shine brightly in today’s dark world. Teach him to honor the Lord by doing what is right. By training your son to love God and obey His Word, your s...

An elephant can carry seven tons of weight, but all it takes to restrain it is a flimsy rope. Why? When a baby elephant is in captivity, a chain is tied around its back leg and attached to a stake in the ground. No matter how hard the baby elephant struggles, it cannot break the chain. That memory is so strong that, when the elephant is fully grown and capable of breaking free, it believes it cann...

You grab your tackle box, tie on your favorite lure, and head to the shore for a relaxing day of fishing. But, hours later, you haven’t had a single fish bite your line.  Parenting can feel like that sometimes. Especially when you are trying to communicate with boys. When it doesn’t seem like your son is listening, it’s time to adjust your approach, time to connect with him. Put your phone down. G...

Your son probably thinks Valentine’s Day is silly. But it’s actually much more important than he realizes. When your boy sees you buy your wife flowers, or dress up for a date with your husband, you are sending several important messages. First, you are showing your son that you have a healthy marriage– something that psychologists say is crucial for a child’s well being. Boys who are raised by ma...

31 donuts. That’s the average number an American eats in a year. Some eat fewer, but boys probably eat MORE than their fair share. Talking about donuts, have you ever wondered why there’s a hole in the middle? Because donuts are fried in oil, the hole allows the dough to cook evenly, without the outside becoming burnt and the inside remaining doughy. In addition to being a tasty treat, the donut i...

Most 3 or 4 year olds will cling tightly to you in the swimming pool. To them, the water looks incredibly deep and scary. But as they take swimming lessons and learn how to tread water, they gain confidence to splash, swim, and dive. As your son continues to grow, don’t let him flounder and sink in other areas of life. Peer pressure and temptation are heavy weights that threaten to drown him in co...

Boys like toys. Frisbees and basketballs are inexpensive. But other toys, like electric scooters or remote-controlled drones, can cost a lot. When your son asks for a toy, do you always buy it for him? While toys can certainly help kids grow physically and mentally, there’s value in having your son work for the extra things he wants. Younger kids can complete extra chores. Teenage boys should be g...

Have you ever lost your car keys? You’re not alone! Each year, over 20 million people lose their car keys or house keys. Keys provide access to important belongings. But of all the keys out there in the world, the most important key is YOU. You are the key to your son’s growth and development. Your son needs guidance as he matures into a young man. This is accomplished by helping him understand an...

I’ve heard it said that this is the first generation being raised by Google. It’s estimated that Google processes over 5 billion questions and searches each day! That’s fine when it comes to knowing what temperature to bake a ham, or how to install a doorknob. But when it comes to raising your son, don’t let Siri, or Alexa, or Google take charge. Boys need to be guided through life. This begins by...

Have you ever noticed that boys love to run? They seem to be constantly dashing, darting, and scurrying around. And when they get older, they run even faster . . . which makes keeping up with them even more work. Parenting is exhausting. In addition to school and church, there are sports practices, music lessons, and a whole bunch of other activities that take time and energy. In the busyness of e...

Have you ever met a boy who doesn’t love a treehouse! But before a treehouse can be enjoyed, it must first be constructed. After design plans are created, 2 x 4’s are measured, cut, and nailed together. Plywood is added to the floor, walls, and roof. And, of course, don’t forget the top-secret door in the floor. The building process isn’t only for treehouses. Parenting boys also requires careful p...

The cheetah is the fastest land animal on the planet. They can run up to 60 miles per hour. But, the cheetah doesn’t run fast just to show off. No! The cheetah runs fast to catch its prey. You see, the Thomson gazelle, the cheetah’s favorite prey, has been clocked at a speed of 40 miles per hour. Boys enjoy competition. It’s part of their physical and psychological makeup. But ultimately, competit...

With risk and competition disappearing from activities presented to boys, they are turning to the virtual worlds video games to find realms they can conquer and areas where they can excel. The result of this virtual conquest is apathy, rebellion, or outright resistance to real-world challenge. What boys need most is Christian men of character, trained and equipped to lead them in a male-centric en...