The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry shares a story from his recent canoe trip with his son, JP, and reflects on what it means for us as fathers as we endeavor to walk with the Lord. Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into t...

Your kids have God-given talents and abilities, of that there is no doubt. The question is how best to steward those giftings as their father — how to support them as they pursue their passions, how to encourage them when things get challenging, and how to love them because of who they are, not because of what they do or accomplish. That's the conversation we have in this episode with Ti...

Dave Novak bristled at the idea that he might have "daddy issues." Yet, the signs were clear when he reflected on the unhealthy ways he was showing up in his relationships and in his ministry, and when he identified the deep bitterness he felt toward his father for the way he was treated as a child and for the lack of emotional connection that he craved. Dave resolved to break the cycle and b...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett explains the "5:1 Rule" as it pertains to our interactions with our kids -- and specifically how we should think about the words we speak to them. Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into...

In this episode we continue trying to discern the "heart of a father" by looking at the idea that our Heavenly Father desires good for us, and that we in turn should desire good for our own kids. That seems like a pretty self-evident concept on the surface. All fathers want what's best for their kids, right? But for many, our relationship with God and our perceptions of Him leaves us wonderin...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry shares a fun anecdote about how a man and his umbrella helped him hear from God, and what it means for helping our kids to learn to hear from God, too. If you haven't yet listened to Episode 59 of the podcast featuring Jason Vonk, it will provide context for Perry's story. Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday F...

We know our earthly father's voice. We've heard it a million times. We could be in a room with a thousand other men and as soon as we heard our dad's voice, we'd be able to pick it out with full confidence. But how are we at discerning our heavenly Father's voice? He speaks to us, too. Regularly. He longs to guide and direct our paths, to give us words of encouragement, to comfort us, to lovingly...

Problem solving is a valuable skill possessed by most successful people, and it's certainly something that we should strive to instill in our kids. But are some people just naturally better problem solvers than others? Or is it something that can be learned and improved upon? We're joined in this episode by Mike McKearin, problem solver extraordinaire (inventor, entrepreneur), to explore those que...

A new year is upon us, and it's important as fathers that we reflect on the previous year and cast a vision for the coming one. In this episode Brett and Perry take a slightly different spin on the traditional reflection and planning process and share the "Leave, Keep, and Start" framework that they're implementing in their own families this year. Brett also reveals a fresh take on the "Leave" pie...

PSA:   This episode is rated PG-13 because of the topic being discussed.   Be careful about listening to it within ear shot of young kids. With Christmas right around the corner, the magic of the season is amplified for many families by presents under the tree from Santa Claus on Christmas morning. Santa is a symbol of the season to be sure, a representation of generosity and j...

While the holidays are meant to be a joyous time of celebration, for many it's a time when grief gets amplified and sadness clouds our enjoyment of the season. Perhaps your family is dealing with the loss of a loved one this Christmas. Maybe you've moved or been laid off work or someone you care about is sick. Whatever the source of your grief, it's important to walk out your journey well this hol...

It's natural for kids to have a me-focused worldview, and it comes out all the more for many at Christmas. It's our job as fathers to help instill in our kids an others-focused perspective. There's no better time to do that than during the Holidays, when opportunities abound to give . In this episode Brett and Perry share ways they handle giving at Christmas in their families, dive...

Christmas season is upon us! As the calendar turns to December, the hustle and bustle steadily builds toward the big day, and it’s easy to get swept up in the chaotic pace and lose the intentionality necessary to make the season meaningful and memorable for our families. In this episode Brett and Perry talk about the role of a father during Christmas, explore their respective mindsets heading into...

Our sons are going to grow up. The passage of time is inevitable. But even when our sons' bodies are fully grown, does that mean they're a man? What defines a man? Better yet, what makes for a good man? The journey to manhood doesn't -- or shouldn't -- happen by accident. It requires intentional initiation by a father. As Don Ross, founder of Manhood Tribes , explains in this episode, it's incumbe...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Perry shares an epiphany he had while walking out of a grocery store about the true meaning of life. Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the weekend so that you can show up more fully in th...

This first-of-its-kind episode unfolds in a new format that we're calling "Quick Hitters," where Brett and Perry tackle five questions relevant to fatherhood while attempting to answer them in under two minutes each. The questions they take on are: What are you currently reading? Who was your favorite TV dad growing up, and why? What's the grossest thing you've ever had to do as a dad? What's the...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett shares a story about a man hanging off a cliff face that highlights the importance of looking for the good in all situations... yes, even when your kids are driving you crazy! Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that y...

"The Man and His Wives," one of Aesop's famous fables, teaches a profound truth about the importance of keeping our priorities straight. Brett and Perry use the humorous tale as a launching point to discuss how they determine what's important in their own lives — and whether their intended list of priorities matches up with reality. They then turn to the life of Jesus to look at what He prioritize...

Welcome to Friday Focus on The Faithful Fatherhood Podcast. This week Brett reflects on the challenge of fatherhood and reminds us that fatherhood is only hard if you're trying to be a good father... so good for you! Check back every Friday morning for a new Friday Focus episode where we share one piece of encouragement, insight, motivation, or how-to that you can focus on heading into the we...

As time passes, it's easy to forget the feelings, thoughts, and incredible emotions we experienced when meeting our kids for the first time. Yet, it can be valuable to reconnect with that time and remember just how much of a miracle life is, and how in awe we were at the innocence of the child entrusted to us as and the humbling new responsibility of fatherhood. Join us in this episode as we talk...

All too often, fathers hurt their kids. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally. Either way, the impact is profound. Father woundings run deep, and they hold us back from living the fullness of the life we’ve been called to — unless we’re able to release the offense through the power of forgiveness. That’s not easy to do, of course. But it’s necessary. Joining us in this episode is Past...

Perry Hughes, co-host of the podcast, is currently traveling the western United States with his family, and boy does he have some stories to share! He finally got satellite Internet up and running and was able to check in for this episode. Perry recounts some of their crazy adventures so far and shares several lessons-learned that will encourage all of us striving to be faithful fathers. A Dose of...

Sometimes the call to fatherhood is sudden and unexpected. Seth Johnson, director of IAMercy, experienced that first-hand when God called him to father the street children of Nairobi, Kenya. What started as a feeding ministry has evolved into so much more, with several of those street boys becoming Seth’s sons. In this eye-opening and raw conversation with Seth, he shares some of the heartwarming...

One of the goals of a faithful father should be to have a close, trusting, intimate relationship with his kids. Easier said than done. While we might desire — and even strive for — such an outcome, we often lack the tools to develop such a relationship. Bill McCarthy, a clinical mental health counselor and founder of 180° Counseling, joins us in this episode to share his formula for nurturing just...

As fathers, we have a responsibility to steward the health of our kids until they’re old enough to make informed health decisions on their own. Yet, while our intentions might be good, the evidence suggests that we’re falling short in that task. Childhood obesity continues to rise, and nearly all indicators of health when it comes to our kids are less than ideal. Somewhere there’s a disconnect. Jo...