The Cultural Commission

The Cultural Commission is a non-profit, tax-deductible North Carolina based, Christian education resource for youth and adults. The Commission exists to serve homeschool families, Christian schools, teachers, "those in authority," churches and their youth groups.

Offerings include tutorials, family seminars, and lectures focused on Christian and opposing worldview studies, apologetics, speech, debate, logic, philosophy, great books of western history tutorials, journalism, Constitutional studies and America's Christian Heritage.

My oldest son attended a week long theater camp last summer and enjoyed it immensely.

Check out the website at: http://theculturalcommission.org/

Four Pillars of a Man's Heart

Building upon the "Four Pillars of Manhood" model set forth in his bestseller Tender Warrior, author Stu Weber leads readers in an expanded, in-depth biblical exploration of what it means to be a king, warrior, mentor, and friend.

Addressing key circumstances faced by men of all ages and backgrounds, and using ample illustrations and stories to drive home his points including his time in military service, Four Pillars of a Man's Heart focuses on areas of struggle and opportunity faced by husbands, fathers, and single men of all ages and backgrounds.

Four Pillars of a Man's Heart
Author:	Stu Weber
ISBN:	1576734501
Genre:	Religion & Spirituality/Christianity
Recommended:	Yes
Score:	9 out of 10

30 Days

I found this website a long time ago and totally forgot about it and misplaced the link. I finally stumbled on it again. This looks like a great tool for a family where the parent has lost touch with a teenager somewhere along the line and needs some "neutral ground" to regain the connection. The stated purpose of the curriculum is:

To strengthen the connection between their hearts, one parent and one student commit to spending 10 minutes together for 30 evenings. Each evening they go to a room with a closed door. By candlelight they break the seal on an envelope in the 30 Days notebook. Inside the envelope they find five cards. Following the instructions on the cards, they say and do those things that have the greatest power to deepen relationships. This experience is designed for students junior high through college.

You can get more information including sample cards at:

http://www.josiahpress.com/index.htm

Aspects of Manhood

Here is a document I wrote up for my oldest son's 13th birthday detailing the aspects of manhood related to "Knowing your Identity". It is strongly based on Stu Weber's book Four Pillars of a Man's Heart. I added a fifth "pillar" and expounded on each aspect, giving high-level points that I wanted to touch on.

I then gave this document to the men that I invited to speak at my son's ceremony with instructions to read over it to get the general feel for what I wanted to communicate, and then personalize as they saw fit. The results were incredible.

Please feel free to use this as a template or starting place for formulating your own list.

http://conklins.googlepages.com/aspectsofmanhood.doc

Faith on Ice

My family and I have been hockey fans for quite awhile (my oldest plays inline roller hockey) and we have been fans of the Carolina Hurricanes since they moved to the area. So the Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup last year was a huge event for us!

One of the players, Glen Wesley, attends our church and he and his family are active members participating in several ministries. I have never met him, but understand from direct sources that he is the "real deal".

It is always great when a sports figure gives credit to God. Here is an interesting article on this man of faith:

http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/custom/radA4BF3.asp

Christian Fathers

I have not spent a lot of time there yet, but this website seems to have various articles on Christian fatherhood categorized into four broad areas of "Legacy, Finances, Leadership, & Time".

When I have more time I will drill down into some of the articles, in the meantime you can check it out at:

http://www.christianfathers.com/

Engraving Creations

Need a personalized object for your child's rite-of-passage ceremony? I recently used this company to create a marble cube laser-engraved with manhood principles for my 7 year old and I was very impressed with the results.

They are very customer service centered and willing to listen and understand your request. They sent me several "proof" images prior to actually doing the engraving so I was sure I was getting just what I wanted.

http://www.engravingcreations.com/

High Calling

I intended to read this book for awhile and finally got around to it. It is a tear-jerker to be sure, but an excellent peek into the the life of a truly driven, yet loving man.

In this memoir, Evelyn Husband describes how her husband, Rick, commander of the ill-fated space shuttle Columbia, grew up longing to be an astronaut; how his dream came true; and how it ended with his death in Columbia's explosion in February 2003.

Details about NASA, quotes from Rick's journal, and interviews with those who knew him add depth, but this is at its heart a story of Christian faith and how Rick Husband grew in his walk with the Lord as he approached being a husband and father with the same tenacity (or more) with which he pursued his dream of being an astronaut.

I was inspired by his story, his zest for life, and his longing to be what God called him to be.

High Calling
Author:	Evelyn Husband
Publisher:	Thomas Nelson
ISBN:	0785261958
Genre:	Religion & Spirituality/Christianity
Recommended:	Yes
Score:	7 out of 10
Summary:	The Courageous Life and Faith of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband

Steve Farrar

One of the "top ten" voices in the modern Christian men's movement is Steve Farrar. His best selling Point Man and more recently his book on raising boys called King Me have been incredibly influential in my own life. I had the chance to see him speak and to meet him and he is truly a "man's man" kind of guy.

Here is a link to his blog with recent articles, info on his books, his conference schedule, and links to other resources...a wealth of information:

http://stevefarrar.blogs.com/

Homeschool Graduation

One rite-of-passage that our culture does honor is high school graduation. But a homeschool graduation holds a place of special significance. Here are some impressions from such a ceremony as discovered on the web. It is sure to inspire and encourage.

http://www.chfweb.net/articles/week14.htm

A Father's Blessing

God has given those of us who are fathers a unique and powerful role to fulfill with our children. We influence them greatly, either for good or for ill. Some children grow up and vow that they will not be like their dads. They spend their whole lives reacting against their fathers. But even then the father is exerting a strong influence over the child. Hopefully, as Christian fathers, we will bless our children with a rich legacy of the things of God so that they will want to follow Him all their lives.

This article by Steven J. Cole draws out the lessons in Genesis 49, as the dying patriarch Jacob imparts his final blessing to his 12 sons.

http://conklins.googlepages.com/blessing.doc