Raising Godly Boys Minute

Show. Don’t just tell. In Philippians 3:10, Paul says, “I want to know Christ.” He isn’t talking about head knowledge. In both the Greek and Hebrew languages, the word knowledge is experience based. Paul was saying that he longs to experience God in all of His glory. That should be our heart’s cry as Christian parents. We can take our son to church and tell him about the importance of a relationsh...

Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” But how? How do we as parents give our sons the chance for glorious triumphs? Break free of the tyranny o...

Your son craves four things. First, he craves belonging– to “fit in.” Second, he wants a sense of competence. He needs to feel “good enough.” Third– boys need to know their worth. And the fourth thing that boys crave is a sense of autonomy. They want freedom and independence. The next time your son is upset or angry, it may be a good idea to go through this list in your head. Which craving is your...

How can you train your son into good character, character that will last, character that will see him become a man of responsibility and action? The allures of society can drown your son in ease of life, pleasure, and infinite time-wasting.  Many young men simply fail to do anything with their lives. It doesn’t have to be this way. Irving Stone wrote of Michelangelo in The Agony and the Ecstasy, “...

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...

What is your son afraid of? In today’s world, there is a lot to fear.  School, friends, teachers, and classes are just a few.  Social media and today’s culture pile on enough to scare most adults, let alone children. But the bible says, “God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Anchor your son in the word of God.  Lead your children to godliness by exa...

“Raising boys is an extreme sport. That’s why I wear workout clothes every day.” That’s a lighthearted quote from the blog Simply Well Balanced, but it sure has a lot of truth in it! Raising a son is a good way to rack up the steps on your fitness watch. But let me affirm you— if you’re letting your boy be wild– you’re probably doing it right. Let him run around like crazy outside. Show him how to...

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 says that you might need to say something else. Dr. Eggerichs is widely known for his writings about how a man’s deepest desire is for respect. He says that desire starts when boys are...

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.  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. She reminded he...

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...