Raising Godly Boys Minute

Most of the time when your son messes up, he knows it. He has instant regrets. But it’s not easy to apologize. Guilt, ego, and fear get in the way. He may feel unworthy of your love and forgiveness. Consider the Prodigal son when he found himself broke, lonely, and even yearning for pig food. He was prepared to tell his father, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your...

When your son starts questioning why God sometimes doesn’t make sense, turn to Isaiah 55 and explain that God’s thoughts are “higher” than ours. Then, if you can, pull a cross stitch or embroidery off the wall. Turn that tapestry over so your son sees the tangled zig-zag of knots and loose threads on the back. Explain how that’s “our view,” and that life does get messy. Then turn it over and revea...

The best way to stay one step ahead of the latest technology might be … to ask your son! Whether he’s 9 or 19, there’s a good chance he knows more than you. Do a bit of research about emerging technologies in gaming and networking and then ask your son about it. He may be eager to show off his tech knowledge. Treat him as an authority. Tell him you feel out of the loop and say, “Can you help me?”...

Initially, a boy’s worldview comes from Mom and Dad. Beginning around the age of 4 or 5—no matter what you have planned for his schooling—he will begin to learn things from other avenues. Cool, fun stuff. And maybe dangerous stuff. Some is taught quite intentionally in textbooks and lesson plans. Other worldviews and attitudes come from friends, relatives, the kid down the street and the many scre...

Here’s a new prescription for your glasses… A comedy group once posted a fake commercial online for a device called “husband glasses.” When a wife put on the glasses, she no longer noticed the clutter in their home– but she could see a deer out of their window quite well. That satire video points out an interesting truth. Starting from a very young age, boys and girls see the world quite different...

Sometimes a country music lyric just nails it. In 1999, a unique song was released on country radio. It wasn’t about trucks or dirt roads– it was about the relationship between a loving stepfather and a stepson.  To everyone’s surprise, the song reached number one on the country charts. The key lyric, sang by artist Brad Paisley, reads:  “I hope I’m at least half the dad that he didn’t have to be....

Henry David Thoroeau once said, “I go a-fishing and a-hunting every day, but omit the fish and the game, which are the least important part. I have learned to do without them.” Even when our fishing lines are slack and our deer tags are unfulfilled, we men have been wired by our Creator to need challenge and adventure.  And boys today are no exception. Each week, help your son find a new activity...

You wouldn’t eat a raw potato, of course. But what if you chopped that potato up, and put it in hot oil for several minutes? You would have delicious, golden french fries. As parents, we want our sons to have the happiest life possible, free of things that are risky or hurtful. We often wish we could take away every obstacle in our boy’s way so that he can accomplish all of his dreams. But don’t b...

In 1962, the Soviet Union was winning the Space Race. To inspire the nation, President Kennedy announced, “We choose to go to the Moon.” He admitted that this wouldn’t be easy, but that we would succeed. President Kennedy was right. Achievement is built on the backbone of hard work. But it’s competition that spurs us to even greater heights of progress. That’s why it’s unfortunate that today’s soc...

Boys love action and adventure. God made them that way. But in our quest to keep them safe, we discourage risk. The result is that boys don’t have an outlet to test their courage and physical abilities. That’s one reason video games are so popular. Boys play them for hours, trying to conquer new levels and beat the competition. But life is more than a video game. As parents, we need to help boys d...

Every night, you make sure your phone is plugged into its charger. If you forget, you know that your phone won’t last through the next day. Your son is much the same way. If you don’t make sure his “battery” is charged at home, he will struggle to sit still and focus while he is at school. Make sure your boy has plenty of opportunities each day to do fun and fulfilling things. Create an obstacle c...

The USS Gerald R. Ford is America’s newest aircraft carrier. It’s longer than 3 football fields and taller than a 24-story building. But when this massive ship needs to stay in place, it relies on a 30,000-pound anchor. In life, your son doesn’t need a physical anchor, but he does need to be grounded in God’s Word. Today’s anti-Christian culture will try to make him believe that choices of moralit...

A young man was on his first river rafting trip with a group of friends. As he paddled through the rapids, he glanced at the shore and was surprised to see his dad, waving and cheering the group on. Later on, he saw his father again, standing on the shore, shouting encouragement. The boy realized that his dad was running along the shore and waiting at each section of rapids to cheer his son on. Th...

Today’s boys seem busier than ever. They dart from one activity to another and yet remain confused and unguided. Why is that? Consider, for a moment, the Falcon 9 rocket. It launches astronauts into space at more than 17,000 miles per hour! But if the rocket doesn’t go the right direction, the mission is doomed. That’s why guidance and navigation systems are so important. They keep the rocket stea...

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues of boys today. But why are boys so afraid? First, society has made a sport of putting men down. Many women think that in order to be empowered, they need to prove that men are beneath them. Second, our enemy, Satan, knows that if boys believe they are weak and not needed, they will not accomplish God’s purpose for their lives. As parents, we m...

It’s a tough world out there for boys. Research shows that they’re often unguided, ungrounded, unappreciated, and uninspired. Part of the reason for this is that, in the name of progress, the value of manhood is being discounted. In fact, the term “toxic masculinity” is used to shame people into thinking that gender differences are bad. But they aren’t. God designed boys and girls to be different...

How much have you thought about brains lately? In a typical male brain, neural connections go from the front to the back, while in a female brain the processing goes side to side. Boys also have more gray matter than girls, and scientists think this is why boys often excel at subjects like math, while girls enjoy language and arts. And since your son’s prefrontal cortex is bigger, he is more likel...

Does it ever seem like your son just doesn’t listen to you? Well, you may actually be right. Studies have found that boys are worse listeners than girls. Males only process information with one hemisphere of their brain. They also hear high-frequency sounds– like a mom’s voice– at significantly lower decibels. Here are some tips to help your son be a better listener. First, minimize distractions,...

Batman struggles with being obsessive. Ironman has a problem with arrogance. And the Hulk…well, I think you can guess what his character flaw is. We never say a superhero isn’t super just because they have issues. So why do we as men think we cannot be good mentors, just because we aren’t perfect? Forty-three percent of boys today are raised by a single mom. Seventy-eight percent of teachers are f...

What did you have for breakfast this morning? Around 49% of people had a quick bowl of cereal. Popular brands include Cheerios, Frosted Flakes, and Raisin Bran. Across the country, Americans enjoy over a hundred types of cereal. That’s a lot of variety, but there are even more ways of parenting kids. That’s why when it comes to raising your son, understanding his personality is vitally important....

Life is busy. We all know that. But sometimes it feels as if we have to do everything to keep life running smoothly. We have to drive our kids to sports games, make sure they finish their homework, and tell them for the hundredth time to brush their teeth. But it’s important to remember that we aren’t the only ones that want to see our kids succeed. Sunday school leaders, classroom teachers, coach...

A battle is raging—and it’s destroying people’s lives. No, I’m not talking about wars and conflicts scattered across the globe. Rather, I’m referring to the cultural war on gender identity. Secular activists use words like “toxic masculinity” to shame people into thinking that gender is destructive. But the Bible is clear. God created people either male or female. As a parent, it’s important you f...

During Jesus’ day, leprosy was an awful disease that caused horrible deformities. That’s why when Jesus healed ten lepers, they were thrilled. They probably rushed away to tell the exciting news to their family and friends. And yet, only one leper returned to give thanks to Jesus. We’re quick to blame those nine lepers, but at times, we’re just as ungrateful. We may not have leprosy, but our Lord...

Don’t you wish parenting boys was easy? Wouldn’t it be great if your son always listened carefully, obeyed immediately, and behaved perfectly? The truth is—that’s rarely the case. When your son tests your patience for the hundredth time in a day, take a deep breath and remember our Savior’s example. When the Pharisees tried to trick him, He responded calmly. When the Jews demanded that He be cruci...

I will make a bet that your cell phone is within reach right now! The first cell phone weighed 2.4 pounds and was larger than your head. That’s definitely not something you’d want to carry in your pocket. Fortunately, today’s cell phones are much smaller and lighter. They allow us to quickly talk And text each other. And yet, despite the extraordinary technology within a cell phone, these devices...