Father & Son Golf Adventures

I'm personally not a golfer, but I understand that many men enjoy it. Here's a website that takes the love of golf and father/son bonding and puts the two together in a great way:

Father and Son Golf Adventures (FSGA) provides an awesome venue for Fathers to spend quality time with their sons doing things that they both enjoy and can contribute too. The events that FSGA organize and run are specifically designed to engage Fathers and Sons in fun and interactive activities. They are structured to allow both the Fathers and Sons to fully enjoy themselves (they are adventures) and encourages Fathers and Sons to work together and play together.

Father and Son Golf Adventures

An Incredible Football Journey

The Cardinals were not expected to be in the SuperBowl. But former SuperBowl MVP Kurt Warner had different ideas.

He's a great player who is also humble and has a real relationship with Jesus Christ which he is not afraid to tell others about.

Here's a few links to "all things Kurt":

Kurt Warner on Wikipedia

An Incredible Football Journey from Focus on the Family

KurtWarner.org

Tony Dungy Retires

Tony Dungy announced he was retiring yesterday. While his achievements on the field have been substantial, in my opinion it is his achievements off the field that have had the greatest impact:

Dungy has been involved in a wide variety of charitable organizations, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action, Mentors for Life, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, the Prison Crusade Ministry, and All Pro Dad. He also works with Basket of Hope, the Black Coaches Association National Convention, Indiana Black Expo, the United Way of Central Indiana, and the American Diabetes Association.

I've read his first book "Quiet Strength" and would definitely recommend it. Apparently he has a new book out as well I hope to review sometime in the future.

Tony Dungy Retires - International Herald Tribune

Tim Tebow is The Man

If you're not a Gator fan, you may not know the full scoop on quarterback Tim Tebow. He's definitely a great example of an athlete using his position to glorify God. Here's an overview:

• Timothy "Tim" Tebow (born August 14, 1987) is a college football quarterback for the Florida Gators.
• Tebow was born in the Philippines to Bob and Pam Tebow, who were serving as Christian missionaries at the time.
• While pregnant, Pam suffered infection with a pathogenic amoeba, and an abortion was recommended by her doctors. She refused, instead relying on her faith.
• All of the 5 Tebow children were homeschooled by their mother, who worked to instill the family's deep Christian beliefs along the way.
• In 1996, legislation was passed in Florida allowing homeschooled students to compete in local high school sporting events. With the rest of his family living on a farm in Duval County, Tim and his mother moved into an apartment in nearby St. Johns County, making him eligible to play for the football team at Nease High School.
• Tebow was considered one of the nation's top recruits and received a scholarship to Florida.
• He was the first college football player to both rush and pass for 20 touchdowns in a season and was the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy.
• Tebow spent the last three summers before enrolling at the University of Florida in the Philippines, assisting with his father's orphanage and missionary work and now spends his Spring Breaks continuing the work there (including performing circumcisions!)
• His contribution in the 2006 college football season was as a key reserve that helped the Gators win college football's national championship game for the first time since 1996.
• Tebow was featured prominently in an ESPN "Outside The Lines" feature on homeschooled athletes seeking equal access to high school athletics in other states. He argued in favor of extending the right to play for local teams to more states.
• Tebow's example inspired equal access supporters in Alabama to name their bill in the Alabama Legislature "The Tim Tebow Bill". http://www.timtebowbill.com/
• He is very vocal about his faith and has stated he wants to use football as a platform to reach others with the Gospel message. He always bears a testimony to Jesus Christ and gratitude and praise to God when interviewed on national television. He started a recent trend of putting Bible verses on the black strips under his eyes.
• He says his list of priorities, in descending order of importance, is faith, family, academics and football.
• He's playing in the College Football National Championship this Thursday 1/8/09. (I'll be at the game!!!)

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

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

Homeschool Football League

We were a little late in joining this organization, but now that we have, my oldest son is loving it.

Homeschoolers are finally starting to get "equal opportunities" in sports. What I especially like about this group is their desire to have dads very involved:

The Homeschool Football League is committed to helping foster stronger father and son relationships. Each season, we schedule events like our Father and Son Game and our Kick, Punt, Pass Competition. These special occasions have been a tremendous success and highlight the difference between the HFL and other secular leagues...As we continue to build the league, we will base our development, conduct, and decisions on the principles of the Christian faith lived out in the life of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Homeschool Football League

Excerpt from The Warrior Within

In keeping with the theme of the last post on dad inspiration, here are some excerpts from Pat Williams' The Warrior Within : Becoming Complete in the Four Crucial Dimensions of Manhood from leadershipnow.com. He gives lots of examples about his interaction with sports stars to drive home his points.


About half way down is the header "How to be a Perfect Dad"...something we can all identify with:

Don’t you want to be a perfect dad? Sure you do! To help you reach that goal, I’ve assembled a simple guide to flawless fatherhood. Follow these easy steps and you, too, can achieve perfection as a father.

Step 1: Forget About Being Perfect

Got that? If you did something hurtful to your kids, such as yelling at them when you shouldn’t have or missing one of their important events, then admit it and apologize sincerely. According to Pat, acknowledging mistakes actually magnifies you in your kid's eyes.

Excerpt from The Warrior Within : Becoming Complete in the Four Crucial Dimensions of Manhood - Leadershop @ LeadershipNow.com

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

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

Spotlight: Tim Tebow

This is rather indulgent of me, but as a University of Florida grad, I can't pass up the chance to give a nod to the winner of college football's most coveted award.

More important than his football prowess though is his potential to be a role model to young boys. In a day where most college players are sporting tattoos and mohawks to go with their prideful attitudes, it's good to see one that still says "yes mam" & "yes sir".

Tebow is the fifth and youngest child of parents Bob and Pam Tebow, both University of Florida alumni. Home-schooled, he was born in the Philippines, where his parents were missionaries, and grew up in Jacksonville. He spent three summers doing missionary work himself before attending Florida.

He says his list of priorities, in descending order of importance, is faith, family, academics and football.

Congrats, Tim!

University of Florida Spotlight: Tim Tebow

All Pro Dad Experience

Two of my boys and I attended an All Pro Dad sponsored "Carolina Panthers Father & Kids Experience" and had a great time. Mike Minter came out and briefly spoke, and then the dads & kids moved from station to station having fun by mixing football and fatherhood. I have to admit that by the end, my kids calling me an "All Pro Dad" and really meaning it felt good.

I really like the way this organization doesn't beat dads over the head with their message, but instead gets it across in a way that piques your interest. I am seriously considering becoming a "team captain" for the All Pro Dad's Day Monthly Breakfast.

Take a look at other upcoming father & kid events: NFL Events.

All Pro Dad

This NFL sponsored program was launched 10 years ago with the help of NFL coach Tony Dungy, because of his admiration and love for his father, Wilbur. Looks like it has continued to grow and expand its offerings.

All Pro Dad is Family First's innovative program helping men to be better fathers. All Pro Dad's 43 NFL spokesmen, multiple NFL seminars, 550 All Pro Dad's Days, and Play of the Day daily emails that reach almost 31,000 fathers each day, all inspire and equip fathers to be actively involved in their children's lives. And every month, over 90,000 fathers log onto AllProDad.com to benefit from insightful fatherhood resources.

I took a look at the articles section and was very impressed with the tone...while not overtly Christian, it is obvious there is a strong Christian influence. There are many mentions of the importance of faith, servant-leadership, and strong family bonds. Looks like registration is open for a local "Carolina Panthers father & Kids Experience."

Check it out:

All Pro Dad

Punt, Pass, & Kick

Finally, one of my boys is showing interest in playing football! He's got a ways to go yet (just starting 6-7 yr old flag football) but like any red-blooded American dad, I'm already scouting out opportunities:

The NFL Pepsi PUNT, PASS & KICK program is a national skills competition for boys and girls between the ages of 8 -15 to compete separately against their peers. Established in 1961, the PP&K program is the oldest NFL Youth Football program.

NFLYP-PPK

Can World's Strongest Dad

Read this article. Prepare to be touched. Prepare to be inspired.

Watch the video. Prepare to have a lump in your throat...

http://cjcphoto.com/can/

The Danger Habit

I have to admit I have never understood the "extreme sports" mindset. I'm not sure if it is a generational thing, or just a personality issue, but I have never felt a pull to "live on the edge" and don't fully understand or appreciate those who do.

However, there is a whole emerging culture that finds its identity in pushing the envelope...and this includes Christian youth. Also, I can't deny that there is an intrinsic link between the radical nature of these pursuits and the pursuit of true manhood.

Here's a website for Christian "radicals" that tries to explain how the two fit together:

You've been called adrenaline junkie, thrill seeker, out of the box, ADD, extreme, off-the-hook, and sometimes just plain crazy...But what if you were created as a Radical for an important reason?...The Danger Habit explores the mindset of born radicals against a backdrop of historical heroes, scientific research, and Biblical truth.

The Danger Habit

The Goal

I recently was doing a casual search for some information on Danny Wuerffel, former NFL quarterback and winner of the 1996 Heisman Trophy as a senior playing for the University of Florida Gators. I knew he was serving for a ministry called Desire Street Ministries and wanted to find out more.

The search returned his bio on a really cool site called TheGoal.com. It appears to have the life stories and Christian testimonies of hundreds of World-Class athletes from all sports and nations!

Also included are features for various big sporting events. Check it out:

http://www.thegoal.com/

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

Building Men

Did a little searching and found a website for Joe Ehrmann called "Building Men for Others".

Building Men for Others (BMO) was created out of an awareness that one of the greatest crises in America centers on the issue of masculinity and its correlating themes of boyhood, manhood, husbandry and fatherhood.

BMO will assist boys, men, parents, families, schools, communities, sports programs, coaches, religious institutions and anyone desirous of helping young boys and damaged men become whole and healthy men.

http://www.buildingmen.org

He Turns Boys Into Men

Joe Ehrmann, a former NFL star, is now a volunteer coach for a high school football team, but his real purpose for being on the field is to totally redefine what it means to be a man.

In this Parade Magazine article, Jeffrey Marx discusses Mr. Ehrmann's view on the “three lies of false masculinity”: athletic ability, sexual conquest and economic success; as well as gives a quick yet inspiring window into Mr. Ehrmann's technique to instill “strategic masculinity” into his players.

Worth a look:
http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2004/edition_08-29-2004/featured_0