Fathering Our Future

Life is not perfect and we all have things we can complain or gripe about. While that remains true, our daily response should be to rejoice.

In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul repeatedly encourages the reader to rejoice. Paul wrote this instruction while rejoicing himself from prison.

I have four reasons why you should rejoice each and every day regardless of what you are going through. Life is not always easy but rejoicing through life certainly does not make it worse.

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One of the most overlooked components of the Christian faith is scripture memorization. Biblically we are instructed to know, meditate on, talk about, and study the scriptures. As disciples raising other disciples, we should be engaging in the scriptures with our kids and helping them memorize the scriptures as well.

Brian Mullins, the executive director of the Nation Bible Bee, joins me to talk about the National Bible Bee, what it offers, and how it impacts young people. This is a great program and ministry your kids can be involved in and potentially won monetary prizes if they excel. It’s a win win.

For more information visit www.biblebee.org

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In Luke 15, Jesus told a story about a son who lost his way; the prodigal son. We commonly read this story and make the mistake of thinking it is about the lost son when in reality it’s mainly about his dad.

There are several things we can learn from this dad but I want you to focus on three things this week.

1. His willingness to let go and allow his son to leave.

2. His commitment to his son that he patiently and faithfully displayed.

3. His eagerness to swiftly give grace.

This father, used as an illustration to help others know who Jesus was, models the traits we should aim to embody today as dads and disciples.

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The greatest fear a father, or mother, has is enduring the death of their child. It is a thought we keep far from us because it should never happen. Unfortunately, for some, it does happen.

I am joined this week by AJ Holloway, evangelist and cohost of Miqra Podcast. He and his wife lost their firstborn, at the age of 2, in a house fire. This event had the potential to rip his marriage apart and to emotionally ruin him, but he, by the help of God, is navigating this journey with his family.

AJ’s perspective is eye-opening and his response is inspirational. You’ll hear how he managed the loss of his firstborn throughout the last 5 years, how he and his wife saved their marriage, why he did not blame God for what happened, how we should treat people grieving a loss like this, and so much more.

You’ll be moved to tears, inspired, and informed in this heartbreaking and illuminating conversation.

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For more content make sure to check out https://fatheringourfuture.com/ and if you'd like to support this effort visit: https://fatheringourfuture.com/support/

It is so critical that we, as fathers, sit down with other dads and just talk. The topic does not always have to be exclusively fatherhood, but when we do talk about dad life, we grow ourselves as dads.

I was blessed with the opportunity to connect with Rod Richard on his podcast 4 Fit Fatherhood. This week I want to share that conversation with you. We talk about faith, fatherhood, marriage, community, and so much more. Listen and be encouraged to start having conversations of your own.

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For more content make sure to check out https://fatheringourfuture.com/ and if you'd like to support this effort visit: https://fatheringourfuture.com/support/

We are men and we are tough. However, that does not make us impervious to mental struggles. We are humans, we are broken, and we all have problems.

Mike Thompson, online fitness coach and former police officer, joins me to talk about mental health struggles with men. Mike personally suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks. His life was crumbling from within and he knew he had to make a change. You'll hear how Mike came to recognize his issues, how he started on the path to address them, and how he manages himself on this ongoing journey.

You can learn more about Mike by visiting www.mjttraining.com and you can follow him on IG: https://www.instagram.com/mjttraining/

-- For more content make sure to check out https://fatheringourfuture.com/ and if you'd like to support this effort visit: https://fatheringourfuture.com/support/

Fatherhood is a huge topic of discussion and a journey of continual learning. It can feel a little intimidating. Because there is so much associated with fatherhood, I wrote a book to provide a good starting point for dads.

I won't beat around the bush or waste your time with endless details. In a world of parenting manuals that could rival War and Peace, filled with pages upon pages of hypotheticals, this is your succinct companion. I lay out six foundational components for you to begin paying attention to and focusing on now. Inspired by the Bible, I’ve distilled a Christian perspective that's both powerful and practical.

You can get you copy here: https://amzn.to/3Py1vp4

If you purchase the paperback version but you'd like to explore the resources I've linked in the E-book, simply email proof of your purchase to [email protected] and I will send you the E-book as well.

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For more content make sure to check out https://fatheringourfuture.com/ and if you'd like to support this effort visit: https://fatheringourfuture.com/support/

Our mission as fathers is to equip and disciple our children to be a part of God's mission in a greater capacity than ourselves. If we are going to fulfill this mission, we need to ensure that our children do not follow our faith blindly but develop a relationship with Jesus themselves.

To help us learn how we can begin working with our children to help them understand their faith, I am joined by world-renowned Christian apologist, Dr. William Lane Craig. Dr. Craig shares personal stories of how he worked with his children, recommendations on things we can do with our children, and resources he has written to help parents teach their children about their faith in Christ.

www.reasonablefaith.org

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Books referenced in episode

God Is Self-Sufficient: https://amzn.to/44DAt4E

God Is Forever: https://amzn.to/46S954q

The Greatness of God: https://amzn.to/3NVkwzF

God Is All-Loving: https://amzn.to/3NSfW5m

God Is All-Good: https://amzn.to/3NSjPY3

God Is All-Powerful: https://amzn.to/3NWIryY

God Is Spirit: https://amzn.to/3DfPYDW

God Is Everywhere: https://amzn.to/46T9Tq3

Learning Logic: https://amzn.to/3KmOTyn

On Guard: https://amzn.to/3Y0ADkf

Reasonable Faith: https://amzn.to/3XQeIfz

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For more content make sure to check out https://fatheringourfuture.com/ and if you'd like to support this effort visit: https://fatheringourfuture.com/support/

We all have things we want to do in life. We have goals we want to achieve, disciplines we want to maintain, and daily tasks we want to complete. We all have an agenda but we need to question ourselves periodically and make sure our agendas are really as important as we claim they are.

Over the last couple of months my life has been a whirlwind. My wife had a foot surgery that put her out of commission for a while, leaving all responsibilities on me. The extra workload through off most of my plans, which impacted me negatively. When expectations are not met, I, like everyone else, tend to get slightly frustrated. Sadly, this was passed on to my kids. However, I am so grateful for the experience I am sharing with you today that gave me clarity on the importance of my personal agenda.

I may not have been able to do everything I wanted but I was able to publish my first book: Cut the Crap - Direct Tips for Becoming a Dad. It is a quick read with application questions intended to challenge dads and create action. This book is a great resource for soon-to-be dads and new dads, but I think it can be a good reminder for veteran dads as well. Get your copy HERE!

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For more content make sure to check out https://fatheringourfuture.com/ and if you'd like to support this effort visit: https://fatheringourfuture.com/support/

As fathers, we all experience numerous challenges and setbacks, but it's crucial to understand that failures should not discourage us; rather, they serve as valuable sources of wisdom. When we stumble, we should reflect, learn from our mistakes, and continue with a mindful approach, incorporating newfound insights.

Recently, I had an enlightening experience that helped me apply wisdom learned from a past failure. While working on a project for the kids outside, I asked for my son's assistance in looking after his younger sister. However, my expectations were not met, resulting in a minor disaster that I had to deal with. In that moment, I had a choice as a father: I could have blamed my son for not following my instructions, or I could have recognized that he is just a child and that I am ultimately responsible for his sister's well-being.

I want to inspire you to embrace your identity and responsibility as a dad. Take ownership of your actions, even in times when you may fall short, and strive to become a person who grows and positively influences your children.

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For more content make sure to check out https://fatheringourfuture.com/ and if you'd like to support this effort visit: https://fatheringourfuture.com/support/