Legacy Dad

I have to admit sometimes I get the feeling I am just over-thinking this whole "strategic father" thing...I mean, am I just making all this stuff up?!? Do Christian dads really need resources and encouragement?

Thankfully I'll stumble upon a website or blog now and then that has such a similar "heartbeat" to mine that those questions melt away and I'll get confirmation that I'm not in this alone.

Legacy Dad is such a website. With a tag line like "Real Men Leave a Legacy", it didn't take me long to figure out we are on the same page. From the intro page:

this site is about striving to be the best father, parent and spouse that a man can be. It is about being a role model and setting the example in many areas of your life. It is about being accountable and standing out from the rest:

Being a great husband.

Being a strategic father.

Being a role model for your children, friends and co-workers.

Being disciplined and smart with your finances and creating abundance.

And living your life by a higher code of biblical morals and values.

Go check it out:

Legacy Dad

Cinderella

If you have a daughter, you need to listen to this song. I have always liked Steven Curtis Chapman, even though I'm not a huge fan...but this song is really touching. The lyrics are below:

“Cinderella” by Steven Curtis Chapman

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you

There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

She will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Christ In The Rockies

No there wasn't a Jesus sighting in Colorado...but there is another organization providing stimulating and challenging outdoor adventures within a spectacular world-class outdoor setting to get fathers and sons engaged in the "manhood adventure".

Hopefully I will get to try one of these out someday...

Christ In The Rockies

Sky Ranch Adventures

Looking for a parent/child adventure to mark a rite of passage? Want to take a family vacation full of adventure and make memories that will last? Have a ministry team that needs to build unbreakable bonds? Take a look at Sky Ranch:

Since 1955, Sky Ranch Camps have provided an extraordinary camping experience to thousands of families. Over the years, the camps have continued to expand to serve youth, families and communities. Today, Sky Ranch Camps operates facilities in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado and is consistently viewed as a nationwide leader in Christian Camping.

Sky Ranch Camps is a Christian based organization providing Camping, Outdoor Education, and Retreat/Conference Center services for people to enjoy a positive recreational, fun, and memorable experience while being exposed to the truths of the Word of God.

Sky Ranch

Nuke Anything Enhanced

At the risk of seeming more like a productivity blog than a blog about fatherhood resources, I just had to share this little Firefox Add-on.

When you go to a web page riddled with ads with this little guy installed, you can zap away any unwanted screen content with a simple point and right-click. Even better you can select the actual text you want to read (most often 10% of the screen real estate) and right-click for "Remove everything else" to clear the page and only leave the selected text.

What a great way to get rid of all the junk!

I was considering teaching my kids how to do this because even with the computer in the dining area and my wife and I monitoring which sites they visit, there is still that occasional ad that is done in poor taste.

Nuke Anything Enhanced

All Pro Dad Monthly Breakfast

I shared in an earlier post about my involvement with All Prod Dad and how I was thinking of starting a local "chapter".

Well, we have our first meeting this Saturday and I am looking forward to it.

Here's the web page and fliers:



All Pro Dad | Triangle All Pro Dads & Kids Day

January Kick Off Flier PDF

January Kick Off Flier Word Doc

Family Matters

Here's the website for Family Matters, which appears to be the ministry of Dr. Tim Kimmel. It's stated purpose is:

Family Matters exists to educate, encourage and equip families for every age and stage of life. In the quarter of a century since Family Matters was founded, million of homes have gained a greater sense of calm and confidence from its unwavering message of hope. The transformational message that when you sow the seeds of grace you reap a harvest of greatness has brought healing and hope to families all across our continent.

I have not read any of his books, but I have heard of one called Basic Training For a Few Good Men. It looks to be right in line with other books this site endorses. Also they run a Raising Truly Great Kids conference in conjunction with FamilyLife.
Check them out at:

Family Matters

Balancing Football Season and Fatherhood

Man am I glad college football season is over! After years of putting it on the back-burner, this year I was really into it...probably because my alma matter won the National Championship last year.

Anyway, I could really see the time drain and some effects on my wife and kids this year. And now with the NFL playoffs (I don't watch the NFL regular season) on us, I am further torn.

Here's a short, humorous article from a dad with similar issues and his creative solution.

Tivo has helped me a little to reduce the time involved. Anyone have any other suggestions on balancing fatherhood and football?

iParenting - Children Today - Football Dad - Balancing Football Season and Fatherhood

Boundaries With Teens

I just picked this book up at our church library, and it definitely hit a nerve. Amazon has several favorable reviews, but just reading the first chapter was enough to convince me to read the whole thing.

Like with many books of this genre, there is apparently a whole Boundaries "franchise"... Boundaries with Kids, Boundaries in Marriage, Boundaries with Your Pets, etc.(I made the last one up) But don't let that put you off, because if there is truly any group that needs boundaries clearly defined, it's teenagers!

The key message here seems to come down to the old cliché "pick your battles" only reworded to the more eloquent tag line: "When to Say Yes, How to Say No". Even though the advice is well worn, here it is not presented with the usual shrug of the shoulders and a resigned fatalism...but with a wise, grace-filled exploration / reminder of what adolescence is like and the nut&bolts of how to set up and apply boundaries.

I'll publish a full book review when I'm done, but in the meantime here's more info:

Boundaries With Teens

Romance for Your Wife

Here's an good article from Fathers.com that recommends one of the new habits to start this year (come on, admit it...you made a list of them didn't you?) is to make it your pursuit to romance your wife on a daily basis.

What a child's house looks like on the outside isn't nearly as important as what it feels like on the inside. Every child has a deep desire to see a committed, loving relationship between the two people he loves the most.

The author gives a brief reminder why "loving your wife" is so important for your kids and gives 10 simple, specific ideas to help get you started.

FATHERS.COM - The Best Gift for Your Child: Romance for Your Wife

We Have Liftoff!

Around our house the new year brings a renewed resolve to "track" things.

A new master calendar adorns the fridge with transcribed birthdays and two months worth of social engagements; fresh monthly budget sheets are neatly placed in a stack; a year's worth of unfiled paper work is filed away...

I was just thinking the same necessity to "track" exists for our kids. As a reminder/encouragement, here's some words from Ken Canfield:

Remember the first manned American space flight? NASA didn't simply give Alan Sheppard, Jr. the keys to the Mercury Atlas rocket, wish him luck, and hope he'd send back some good pictures of the earth. Instead, they pro-actively launched him into space, tracked him carefully throughout his flight, and welcomed him after splash down. It was a team effort.

Like Mission Control, a father tracks his children's development and knows about their world. You need to know when to step in and help, how not to cause embarrassment, what dangers they are susceptible to, and how to help them reach their goals and dreams. In particular, you track your child's development. Is he moving successfully into adulthood? Does she have a healthy self-image? Is he adopting a sensible, moral lifestyle?