Raising Godly Boys Minute

In today's directionless culture, how can a boy know which way to go? As a boy, Luke climbed a 13,000-foot peak.  It was terrifying and exhilarating!    Just below the summit, the path went through a channel cut into the rock by ferocious winds.  Protecting him from being swept off the rock face were steel cables mounted deep into the rock, secured there by the forest service.  Confident of t...

A perfect parent would raise a terrible son. If you’re like many of us, when your head hits the pillow at night, your mind buzzes with the ways you could have been a better parent to your son. But Ali Worthington, author of the book Remaining You While Raising Them, says to stop beating yourself up. She says even a perfect parent can raise a son who doesn’t know how to apologize or deal with a fri...

How do you feel about your son's friends? Do they make him a better person?  Do they encourage him to do the right thing?  Do your son's friends show him how to serve selflessly?  Scripture says “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” This is doubly true for boys, who are still moldable clay, waiting to be formed by whatever-- and whoever-- is around them.  More than listen...

Disciplining your son takes courage. Whether your son is a toddler with a squeaky voice or a teenager with floppy hair, disciplining him can be quite a challenge. You may be met with a tantrum, eye rolls, or even the dreaded “I hate you!”  Sometimes, the response from your son might be so harsh that you wonder if discipline does more harm than good. But don’t lose heart. Saying no and laying down...

Here’s a simple language shift that can reach the heart of your son.  When your boy is bickering with a sibling or a friend, your instinct might be to say “Son, you need to be kind.” But author Dr. Emerson Eggerichs [EGG-er-RICH] says that you might need to say something else. Dr. Eggerichs [EGG-er-RICH] is widely known for his writings about how a man’s deepest desire is for respect. He says that...

Why does your son need to learn courage? Does he need to stand up for himself?  Stand up for others?  Stand up for what is right? In today’s world, he will need to do all of these and more. English poet and playwright Sameul Johnson said, “Where courage is not, no other virtue can survive except by accident.” Lead by example.  Give your son godly mentors. Provide opportunities for him to test hims...

It was just three simple words. Evangelical Louis Palau was fighting terminal lung cancer. During that time, someone asked him, “After you pass away, if you could send a message down from heaven to all believers, what do you think you would say?” Palau thought for a moment, then responded with three simple words: “Go for it.” That kind of God-rooted courage is one of the most important traits to i...

Have you ever had a mentor or teacher that you wish you had listened to? In a whitewater course, two seasoned veterans taught  the intricacies of draw strokes, pry strokes, reading a rapid, and the joy of eddy turns. But five minutes onto the river, one boy panicked, ignored the calls of his mentors, and ended up capsizing his canoe in the middle of a rapid and wrapping it around a large rock, whi...

David Thomas, a psychologist, was attending an elderly grandpa’s funeral. David watched as two of the man’s grandsons approached the casket. One boy, who was six years old, cried loudly. Beside him stood another boy– fourteen years old– who was  holding back his tears. David overheard some adults express concern about the crying six year old. But David was more worried about the silent older boy....

What is Black Friday, really?  What is it about? Pursuing hard-to-find items only available for a short time is a treasure hunt to many. How can you use Black Friday to teach your children about faith in Christ? The bible says few find the path to salvation, and this short life is the only time we have to find it.  In some ways, Black Friday is like the man who found a hidden treasure in a field a...

What is your son thankful for? The Pilgrims were thankful to be alive.  They fled from religious persecution, faced the terror of the North Atlantic in a tiny ship and potential starvation when their supplies ran out. Today, your son faces new and harsh challenges to his faith and even his identity as a male.  How can you help him navigate past his obstacles into godly, thankful manhood? Model Chr...

“I guess I haven’t learned that yet.” That’s a phrase coined by author Shauna Niequist [knee-kwist].  After her two sons, Henry and Mac, had lived in a small town their whole life, Shauna and her husband moved the family to New York City. As her sons struggled with the transition to city life, Shauna pinned a piece of paper to the wall with the phrase “I guess I haven’t learned that yet” on it. Sh...

One educator said we live in a day of hurried loneliness, with hundreds of Facebook friends but not two with whom we think and share deeply.  Families rush from one activity to another.  To some people, the idea of a family sitting down together and leisurely sharing a meal is an idea from a Norman Rockwell painting. Parents, we must plan to make meaningful conversation happen.  We can embrace int...

For what are you thankful? Author Jerry Bridges called unthankfulness one of our “respectable sins,” easily accepted as normal. The Bible exhorts believers to live a life of habitual thanksgiving. In our day of consumerism, we are wise to practice the habit of gratitude and teach our families to do the same. Don’t lose the spirit of Thanksgiving.  Claim it, prepare for it, and practice the art of...

Ralph Waldo Emerson opined, “Life is not so short but that there is always time for courtesy and chivalry.” Have you ever been encouraged by the smallest courtesy?  Holding the door, bringing a glass of water, or any small thing is enough to brighten our day. Has anyone ever risen to your defense?  Stood up for you?  Told others you were right?  It is a great feeling. There is great power in acts...

Do girls feel more emotions than boys? David Thomas, a psychologist and author, says this common belief is not true. He says boys feel just as deeply as girls, but often don’t know how to process those feelings as well as girls do. As parents of boys, it’s important that we help our sons put words to their feelings. One way to do that is to simply discuss emotions out loud. When you’re watching a...

Are you sure your son has what he needs for this life? One mountain hike, a boy showed up without a ground pad to go under his sleeping bag.  The nights only dipped into the mid-40’s, but without a ground pad, the cold earth underneath him would have drained heat off his  body, leaving him shivering (and not sleeping) all night long. Check in with your son.  Talk to him.  Listen to him.  Make sure...

To him, it is a big deal. When your teenage son faces rejection or embarrassment, your first instinct may be to say,  “Son, in the scheme of things, this is not a big deal.” But that might not be the best approach. Through MRI scans of teenage brains, psychologists have actually found that a teen’s amygdala– the part of the brain that senses negative emotions– is much more reactive than a child’s...

Do you remember when you got your first pocketknife? Cody got his first pocketknife as a birthday present from his grinning grandfather under the watchful scowl of his mother.  The first thing he did was cut himself and get a bandaid put on his finger. As he grew in years and maturity, he learned to responsibly handle his knife, and went on to teach other boys how to sharpen, care for, and safely...

Have you ever seen a boy transformed? One member of an outdoor youth program was a troubled teen who had spent time in Juvie, and was likely headed for prison.  His leaders worked hard to mentor him, teach him, and praise every effort he gave, no matter how small. From annoyed disinterest to tolerance, he slowly began to listen.  To everyone’s surprise, he became one of the most faithful members,...

How can you teach your son how to have a relationship with Jesus?  A parent of a prodigal child was reflecting on his kid’s growing up years, and said, quote:“I’ve realized that we raised our children in church, but not in Christ.” [end quote] How can we teach our boys to abide in Jesus? First, we have to make sure our own walk with the Lord is growing. Second, encourage your son to not just atten...

Has your son ever wanted to be a knight? Plastic swords and armor strewn about his room, breastplate dangling from his bedpost, and picture books of Teutonic knights adorn many a boy’s room. What is it about righting wrongs, defeating evil tyrants and rescuing the innocent that calls out to a boy? The Bible says, “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” ...

It’s easier than you think. In her book Boys Will Be Boys, Dr. Meg Meeker jokingly describes a fictional encounter between a father and a son. The dad says, “Hey son, I’ll see you later, I’m going to a seminar on how to be a better father!” And the son answers,: “Oh, that’s easy dad, just hammer some nails with me.” Dr. Meeker’s brilliant point is that good and godly parenting is a lot more simple...

How does a boy know he is becoming a man? Sometimes, life tells them along the way. Late in the dry summer, Robert looked out his back door, and saw smoke billowing across his property. A growing fire crawled across his neighbor’s pasture, and threatened to roar into the woods on his land.  He yelled for his two boys, 12 and 15, threw rakes into the truck, and drove toward the fire. Jumping into a...

What does your son think about his looks? The media has been focusing a lot on a positive body image movement for girls. But it’s easy to forget that our sons can also feel pressure from peers to have a “perfect” body. How can you help your son have a healthy body image? First, and perhaps most importantly, get your son involved in outdoor physical activity. When he’s with friends, sweating, compe...