Christian Manhood

There's something kind of refreshing about the austere quality of this workbook-style resource for training boys into men of Christian character from Plain Path Publishers.

If you and your son are used to slickly produced material with vibrant colors, "hip" graphics, and bite-sized information, you may well be underwhelmed by this meaty, no-frills presentation.

However, if you can get past the surface, you're in for some powerful Biblical principles.

Each of the chapters gives an overview of a principle, specific examples, Biblical underpinning, exercises & questions to discuss, and (my personal favorite) a personal evaluation section.

I don't agree with everything in every section, and much of it will seem a bit "old-fashioned" at first glance--but that has more to do with our cultural norms than with the material itself.

Overall a great resource to help you and your son set manhood goals.

Christian Manhood
Author:	Gary Maldaner
ASIN:	B0019M4A86
Genre:	Religion & Spirituality/Christianity
Recommended:	Yes
Score:	8 out of 10
Summary:	A Guide for Training Boys to be Spiritually Strong Men

Chess for Kids

I think I've been bitten by a bug I haven't had in years: playing chess!

I have distinct memories of my dad sitting in the living room for hours wrestling with a "computerized" chess board (personal computers were a new thing in those days). I never could beat the guy when we would play, but I always enjoyed the time together.

I've played with my kids at various times through the years, but I have never really been challenged to improve my game...until now. My 10 yr old has a natural knack for abstract strategy so he's making me work a little harder.

If you have never taken the time to sit down and "do the chess thing" with your kids, here's a web page with some substantive and anecdotal inspiration:

The New York City Schools Chess Program included more than 3,000 inner-city children in more than 100 public schools between 1986 and 1990. Based on academic and anecdotal records only, Christine Palm writes that the Program has proven that:

• Chess dramatically improves a child's ability to think rationally
• Chess increases cognitive skills
• Chess improves a child's communication skills and aptitude in recognizing patterns
• Chess results in higher grades, especially in English and Math studies
• Chess builds a sense of team spirit while emphasizing the ability of the individual
• Chess teaches the value of hard work, concentration and commitment
• Chess instills in young players a sense of self-confidence and self-worth
• Chess makes a child realize that he or she is responsible for his or her own actions and must accept their consequences
• Chess teaches children to try their best to win, while accepting defeat with grace
• Chess allows girls to compete with boys on a non-threatening, socially acceptable plane

Chess for Kids

Dad's Deep Divide

So the summer is long gone now, but I just found this article about Michael Phelps. I kept on wondering as I watched his record-setting performance this summer why only his mom and sisters were there to cheer him on, with no dad in the picture. Now I know.

How sad that this young man has records and fame, but lacks the one thing he probably wants more than anything else: the approval of his father.

"This is his world, and I'm just watching him travel through it," Fred [Phelps] told the Baltimore Sun in a 2004 interview. "People ask me how he's doing, where he's swimming next, and it's hard to say that I don't know."

Our sons may never reach this level of notoriety...but no matter what course they take , may it never be the case that we check out of their lives. It is our duty to make sure the divide does not remain.

DAD'S DEEP DIVIDE WITH SWIM KING MICHAEL PHELPS - New York Post

Father, Son Reach Everest Summit

This is an old article, but I just stumbled on it. The big headline here is "the youngest American to successfully scale Mount Everest", but to me the kicker is that he did it with his dad: side-by-side.

I have no desire to climb Everest (or any peak where death may be involved for that matter) and no delusions that I will ever achieve a goal of this magnitude, but I couldn't help but think about spiritual parallels of this achievement...

Are we with our sons as they scale the "peaks" in their lives? Are we walking side-by-side with them into high spiritual ground? Instead of Generation Everest are we aiming for Generational Manhood?!

Spokane Father, Son Reach Everest Summit

Exhortation

Look at I Corinthians 16:13,14.

This is part of Paul closing exhortation which we need to heed as men today. These verses have five significant applications to fathers and husbands.

"Watch ye" for as long as we are in this world we are in the place of danger, we are surrounded by pitfalls and snares on every hand. (See Mark 14:38.) We dare not trust ourselves and we cannot trust the world through which we journey.

"Stand fast in the faith" is a command we must embrace for so many people blow hot and blow cold. We must embrace the whole counsel of God, understanding doctrine as we walk in truth. The wife and family desperate need our consistency and stand on the Word of God. (See Matthew 4:4; 11 Timothy 1:14.)

"Quit ye like men" was a reproof from Paul because some of them were acting like babies; some were divided into sectarian groups. He had fed them with milk and not meat for they were fussing, quarreling Christians. (See I Corinthians 1:1-10.)

"Be strong" reminds us of I John 2:14 which speaks of young men in the faith who were strong, overcame satan, and were men of power for the Word of God abided in them.

"Let all your things be done in love" brings to focus again the great importance of a walk in divine love. (See Ephesians 5:1,2.)

Resolved

Recently a question came up about how much of my "early days" to share with my oldest son. I didn't become a Christian until I was 27, so there were plenty of years where I lived a worldly life.

As questions come up about girls, music, drinking, drugs, etc. I have to use discretion about what to share and what not to. In the past, I have been very open with him...in fact I started to feel that I was maybe being too open. I didn't have a principle on which to base my decision about what to share.

Thankfully, this short article from Fathers.com made me consider an excellent point:

don’t share your past unless you’ve resolved it

Through God's mercy I have resolved all much of my past, see it for what it is, and have come to terms with it. Now I can warn my children about my mistakes, give them a Biblical explanation/alternative, and help them avoid the same pitfalls.

Check out the entire (short) article here:

Raising Self-Controlled Sons

Do Hard Things

I've been searching for a book to read with my 16 year-old...this looks promising:

Written when they were 18 years old, Do Hard Things is the Harris twins' revolutionary message in its purest and most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential.

Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life and map a clear trajectory for long-term fulfillment and eternal impact.

Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things is packed with humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-life rebelutionaries in action. This rallying cry from the heart of revolution already in progress challenges the next generation to lay claim to a brighter future, starting today.

Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris

The Truth Project

Straight from the website:

In a recent study, the Barna Research Group revealed a stunning statistic that continues to reverberate throughout the evangelical world. Only 9 percent of professing Christians have a biblical worldview.

Because of this, today's believers live very similarly to non-believers. A personal sense of significance is rarely experienced, we spend our money and time on things that fail to satisfy and we begin to wonder what life's ultimate purpose really is. We are, in short, losing our bearings as a people and a nation.

To counter this slide within the body of Christ, we are launching one of the most ambitious and powerful projects in the history of our ministry—Focus on the Family's The Truth Project.

The Truth Project is a DVD-based small group curriculum comprised of 12 one-hour lessons taught by Dr. Del Tackett. This home study is the starting point for looking at life from a biblical perspective. Each lesson discusses in great detail the relevance and importance of living the Christian worldview in daily life.

The Truth Project

Panthers Father & Kids Experience

I have been the "team captain" of the local All Prod Dad's Day sponsored by All Pro Dad since January of this year. It has been great fun to get together with other dads and their kids once a month and just share time together.

The big news is that the yearly Carolina Panthers Father & Kids Experience has just been announced! We had a great time last year and would highly recommend it. It tends to fill up quickly so register ASAP.


Saturday
November 8, 2008
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Panthers Practice Fields
Event expected to sell out early

Fireproof

I'm a little slow on the uptake when it comes to movies. Apparently this is a "Christian movie" (think Facing the Giants) that broaches the subject of marriage...and how to save it.

This seems like the type of movie I would typically wait to see on DVD (I get to go to the movies so infrequently, I like to save it for more visually epic films) but this might make a great date movie.

Check it out:

Welcome To FireproofTheMovie.com

See. Do.

A greater sorrow than a man not seeing a need is the man who sees it and does nothing about it. But a still greater sorrow is the man who sees the need and can do something about it but won’t.
— Edwin Louis Cole