If you have a son, grandson, work with boys, teach a boys Bible study, or know another dad who has boys, then this message is for you…

As part of the transition to manhood, boys desperately need their dads or other adult men in their lives to teach them about work, and to develop healthy attitudes toward work and a willingness to work for God’s glory.

The best way to do this is apprenticeship, where a boy “shadows” his dad or other adult men and learns about work and character by example.

An excellent resource I am using to teach my own sons about work is “Created For Work: Practical Insights For Young Men.”

The author, a dad himself and a carpenter by trade, tells inspiring stories from his own life and work — real-world stories that fascinate boys.

He uses these stories along with Scripture to reveal truths about diligence, initiative, honesty, promptness, responsibility, and many more aspects of character and work ethic.

Two of my sons favorite chapters are “Dirt” and “The Donut Race.” “Dirt” is about a guy who never lets dirt get in the way of completing his work. “The Donut Race” is about two boys who race each other to a donut shop one morning before school. One boy obeys the traffic laws, while the other one speeds. It’s an effective and humorous lesson on haste and also teaches how hasty people miss God because God is never in a hurry.

Having personally read this book with my own son when he was 8, and now re-reading it again with him at age 10, I give “Created For Work” two thumbs up as an excellent way for dads to spend quality time with their sons as well as impress on their minds key character qualities about work through reading together fun “guy-stories” and discussing the questions at the end of each chapter.

If you have a son, grandson, or know a boy or group of boys between the ages of 8 and 16, this book is highly recommended as an interactive resource. It is also an excellent gift idea for a boy or dad!

Learn More or Order This Resource

by Joey Watkins, Friday, August 29, 2008

I was walking across my bedroom toward the bathroom when a thought occurred to me…

“Am I just living WITH my family, or am I LEADING my family?”

There is a huge difference…

A dad who just lives WITH his family simply co-exists with them under the same roof.  He may share meals with them, drive in the same vehicle, watch the same tv shows, and sleep in the same house at night.

But in reality, his focus, his time, his thoughts, and his attention are primarily given to matters unrelated to his family such as his work, sports, hobbies, and other interests.

A dad who LEADS his family is entirely different.

His thoughts are daily on his children and his wife. He prays for his wife and children.

His work does not dominate his life, even though he works with all his heart when he IS working.

He values and priortizes time with his family. He blesses them with his words. He serves them in love.

He is intentional about personally instructing his children in the ways of God: teaching them about love, faith, truth, forgiveness, evil, and more.

Dad, carefully examine your daily patterns. Determine if you are just living WITH your family or LEADING them.

Your children desperately need their dad to LEAD them. Your wife desperately needs her husband to lead the family.

Your feedback: Give your feedback or input below to encourage or challenge other dads on this topic.

R E S O U R C E   for   D A D S

Raising A Modern-Day Knight

A Father’s Role in Guiding His Son to Authentic Manhood

Looking for a tool to guide your son into transitioning from boyhood to manhood? This book by Robert Lewis is perhaps the most popular on the topic. Lewis looks at what it means to be a man and then gives ideas and practical ways you can guide your son with confidence to authentic, Biblical manhood. Learn More

Click Here to Order This Resource

by Joey Watkins, Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Perhaps the clearest instruction to dads in the Old Testament of the Bible is found in Deuteronomy chapter 6.  Moses had gathered all the Hebrew men together — thousands of them – in a large group to give them direct instructions from God while they were in “transition” to their future home land.

“Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD; And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be in your heart; and you shall repeat them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as a token between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Maybe these instructions were just for a specific group of people for a specific timeframe. But I believe we see in this passage God’s ongoing pattern for parenting that applies to us today thousands of years later.

Dad, you and I are to repeat God’s word, His commands, His truth, to our sons and daughters. And to do so diligently. That means more than once or twice a week.

We are even told *where* and *when* to do so — at home, while traveling, at night, and in the mornings.

Notice it does NOT give options for passing this responsibility off to another person. It is a very clear and direct command to US.

Why? Because this is God’s plan for transmitting spiritual truth in the most EFFECTIVE manner possible! From dads to their children. God is well aware of “father power.” He created it. And He, of course, has the ultimate Father power!

What a privilege we dads have. What an honor. And what a tremendous responsibility. But we are called to do it. And it is up to us be diligent with our children.

Do you have input, insights, or experience on this topic? Please submit your comments and feedback below so that other dads can also be encouraged by your words.

R E S O U R C E   for   D A D S

by Voddie Baucham

In this book, Voddie Baucham, a father of 4 children himself, provides a great read for dads who want to instill their values and Biblical faith into their children and see it “stick” when they become adults. The message in this book will convict you, stir your heart, and encourage you to do whatever it takes to proactively lead your family. Learn More

Click Here to Order This Resource

by Joey Watkins, Thursday, August 14, 2008

Outside of the Bible, what book has most impacted you in your role as a dad?

For me, that question is very easy to answer. My wife and children would quickly agree with my answer because immediately after I read this particular book, they began seeing a very noticeable change in my choices, my actions, the time I spent with them, the things we did together as a family, and other evidences of major impact. And this book’s impact has not diminished.

Outside of the Bible, the book that has most impacted me in my role as a dad is Father Power by Todd Wilson.

Below is a short portion from Chapter 1. If you have not read this book, I of course highly recommend doing so… very soon. It will change your life… and your family.

"Guess what an adult believes about God whose earthly father was always gone on business or too busy at the office? He or she believes God cares very little about his life. He can be reached if something big comes up, but he’s uninvolved in the daily aspects of life."

"On the flip side, if a father communicates love and acceptance, his children will grow up believing God loves them. They will be able to succeed and fail without fear. They will turn to their heavenly Father and trust Him, because they were able to turn to their earthly father and trust him."

"They won’t struggle with accepting God’s love. It will come as naturally as a hug from dad."

"Why? Is it because they have a great grasp on their theology and doctrines of God? NO! They will view God in that way because their father taught them to, whether intentionally or not."

"That’s Father Power with a capital P. That’s the power you wield. It affects not only your children, but your children’s children and their children as well."

"How you wield the power will affect the way your great grandchildren view God. Your influence ripples across generations to come. Wow! Awesome! Incredible! And, really, really scary!"

"Dad, I can’t overstate the extent of your power. What your children will one day become is largely dependent on you. What they believe or don’t believe about God will come from you. The little words you say or don’t say will be cherished or bitterly remembered forever."

"Why? …Father Power."

"God has laid upon fathers the responsibility of transmitting His truth to the world, one child at a time."

"Am I diminishing the power of God’s written Word? NO! Am I saying that people can’t get saved without the aid of another human being? No! What I am saying is that your incredible influence as a dad is the single greatest means of assuring that future generations will follow God. Getting the right men into politics or fighting for religious freedom isn’t the key. The key to turing this country around and even the world is through father power."

R E S O U R C E   for   D A D S

Father Power

by Todd Wilson

Being a dad is the coolest, yet most demanding, thankless, overwhelming job on the planet. It is also the most important job you will ever… I mean EVER have.

by Joey Watkins

Something that really bothers me is the never-ending blame placed on our “evil culture” for the struggles, failures, pressures, and negative influence on the “younger generation” today.

Of course it’s easy to see the sin and degradation in the world, point our finger, and place the blame “out there.”

But the truth of the matter is that evil and godless culture have been around ever since the Old Testament cities of Babel, Sodom, and Gomorrah. And they will continue to exist into the future.

Instead, let us admit our own failure as parents to fully turn our hearts to our children and personally raise them, bless them, affirm them, and model to them how to overcome “the world” and learn the ways of God, His power, and His instructions for life — not “outsource” this responsibility to a local church, youth group, youth pastor, school, other adults, or youth programs.

As fathers, if our sons and daughters do not grow up to become passionate followers of Jesus Christ, full of faith, love, and bearing fruit for God’s Kingdom, then how dare we place any blame on anything or anyone else except ourselves.

Fellow Dad, God gave you and me the primary influence in our children’s lives.

Not television. Not the Internet. Not their friends. Not movies. Not music.

He gave that primary influence to US as their earthly fathers!

The power of our relationship with our sons and daughters is the strongest earthly influence and the most powerful earthly relationship in their lives. I pray this truth sinks deeply into your heart, your soul, and your spirit as it has gripped mine.

Invest your time, actions, money, and your words DAILY in your children’s lives. Don’t be so busy trying to “do good” out in the world that you miss the limited window of time you have to influence your own “next generation.”

Take maximum advantage of your “father power.”

Use it for God’s glory.

Make the most of it.

Seize the day. Every day.

You can do it. You have what it takes.

But don’t blame culture.

FamilyDads Resource

Father Power: Inspiring Every Dad To Be His Child’s Superhero