Raising Godly Boys Minute

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...

Today’s world is a dangerous place. COVID continues to cause chaos, confusion, and turmoil. And then there are terrorists, drugs, and racial tensions. The list of worries and fears goes on and on. And yet, the Lord tells us that despite the chaos surrounding us, we can have peace. In John 14:27, the Lord says, “My peace I give to you . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”...

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...

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...

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 of 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...

Boys love the battles in video games! But did you know an even more ruthless battle rages around your son? Secular forces are battling for your son’s heart and mind. They want to distract him, tempt him, and destroy him by controlling his thoughts. But the Bible provides clear instruction on how to battle the enemy. Romans 12:2 says, “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the re...

Did you ever jump on a trampoline? If so, you loved seeing how high you could leap into the air. But, inevitably, every time you soared upward, you eventually came back down. As a Dad, you understand that parenthood also involves “highs” and “lows.” Maybe your son draws a picture that says, “I love my Dad!” Or perhaps he scores a goal on the soccer field. The “highs” of parenthood are great. But “...

Did you ever try to cut a 2 x 4 with a hacksaw? Or hammer a nail with a wrench? It just doesn’t work very well. Using the right tool makes all the difference in successfully completing a job. When it comes to training boys, having the right tools and resources makes a big difference. God’s Word is our go-to resource. From it, we learn important truths and principles that guide us as we train our s...

Prison is a hard place. But the pain of prison extends beyond concrete walls and barbed wire fences. According to Prison Fellowship, over 1.5 million kids have an incarcerated parent. Around 92% of them are fathers. That’s a sad statistic. It means that hundreds of thousands of boys are growing up without a dad. All boys need a proper role model to guide, encourage, and love them. Break the cycle....

If you’ve ever been to a circus, you’ve seen clowns juggling balls and clubs. Juggling may look simple enough, but it’s actually a lot harder than it looks. Parenting boys is also harder than expected. You’re trying to juggle multiple schedules, manage conflicts, and adapt to various personalities. And many times, you hardly have enough time to deal with one issue before another one comes flying a...

Have you ever heard your son say, “I’m bored”?  If so, you’re not alone.  These days, boys stay inside the house watching their digital devices for way too many hours a day. In fact, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, kids spend an average of 4 to 6 hours a day playing video games and watching TV.  Do your boys a favor by introducing them to the great outdoors....