Raising Godly Boys Minute

Is your son “too cool” for mom’s kisses? Here’s what you can do. Rhonda Stoppe was sitting in a hospital room with her six year old son Brandon. He was getting a sleep study after having a horrible seizure. Brandon was asleep, and Rhonda walked over and kissed him on the forehead. The technician told Rhonda to go look at the screen. Rhonda was astonished to see that, even though Brandon was asleep, his brain activity actually showed that he knew his mom kissed him. So if your son rolls hi...

Are you an idol worshiper? While most Americans don’t worship carved statues, idol worship is still prevalent in our society. We idolize things like money, possessions, and jobs … and people like actors, athletes, musicians, and even members of our own families. A biblical definition of an idol is anything or anyone we value more than God or worshiping someone or something other than God as though it were God. In the first of his ten commandments, God said, “You shall have no other gods befor...

Here’s a simple parenting tip– take some time to relax with your boy. Pediatrician Dr. Meg Meeker says that most parents don’t realize the importance of “doing nothing” with sons. Even if you only have ten minutes, invite your son to sit down on the front porch with you with his favorite snack or drink. Don’t badger him with questions, check your phone, or start lecturing. Simply sit together. Dr. Meeker says this is important for several reasons. It communicates that res...

Winston Churchill, British prime minister during World War II, said, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” And yet, some in our society are trying to change history, to make it conform to their political, social, and anti-Christian beliefs. Don’t let unbiblical ideology distort our American heritage. Remind your son that this great nation was founded on biblical principles. Principles like freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. Unfortunately, our nation is in...

What is TV teaching your son about masculinity? One study about male representation in TV shows studied 25 shows, over three thousand characters, and over four hundred episodes. Researchers found that, across the board, the male characters usually displayed the same negative traits– unhealthy coping mechanisms, aggression, a lack of emotion, and even a lack of care as a father. Without guidance, your son may begin to believe that these behaviors are normal and accepted in men. Make sure y...

Ever heard of the Discovery Channel’s show Dirty Jobs? As the name suggests, in the show a man named Mike Rowe tries disgusting and dangerous occupations. He tours sewers, learns from roadkill cleaners, removes chewing gum from sidewalks, and helps exterminators. You’d think such gross content wouldn’t make good television. But the show was a hit among men. Not only does Mike’s investigation of the jobs appeal to our innate love of adventure, Mike also continuously expresses admiration an...

Your son needs a gang. Every young man is asking the same questions– “who is with me, who is in charge, and what is our mission?” Unfortunately, those questions are very clearly answered in violent gangs, which is why so many young men are drawn to such groups. What your son needs is a group that can answer those questions in a healthy way. Sports teams with positive coaches can offer such environments– so can well run youth groups, engineering clubs, and outdoor adventure groups like Tra...

What makes you happy? Not just a little happy, but really happy? Maybe it’s when your team wins the championship, or when you get that work promotion, or when you slice into that perfectly cooked steak. Those things are fine, but one of the greatest joys in life is seeing your son obediently follow the Lord. Third John 3:4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” Walking in truth isn’t accidental. It takes time and energy—for you and for your son. Set the ...

Boys need their mom and their dad. As a mom and dad play with their young son, the mom will remind him to “be careful.” The dad will toss the son into the air and encourage him to run as fast as he can. The boy will ignore his mom and hang onto his dad’s every word. But when that little boy falls and scrapes his knee, he’ll suddenly stop ignoring his mom. He’ll run to her, seeking comfort. As they grow up, boys continue to need both the rough, masculine influence of their dad and the co...

What’s your son’s default location? Jackson, a 16 year old, was tinkering on his car in the garage when his mom brought her laptop out and set up a makeshift desk. She didn’t say much– just did her work and asked Jackson, once, what he was working on. When she left an hour later, both she and Jackson were smiling. She had keyed into a secret of parenting a teen boy– figure out his default location, and be there. It may be the garage, the gym, the football field, or by a gaming console. ...

Has your son experienced the death of a loved one? Maybe a classmate who died. Or perhaps a grandparent who suddenly passed away. Dealing with death is hard for everyone. But for kids, it’s especially confusing. A common perception is that boys are tough. But the truth is, we all experience grief and heartache. It’s just that we handle it in different ways. As a dad, take time to listen to your son. Evaluate what he knows about death and how much support he needs. Remember the good times wi...

A reporter once asked John D. Rockefeller, “How much money is enough?” Rockefeller, widely considered the wealthiest American of all time and the richest person in modern history, replied, “Just a little bit more.” Sadly, Rockefeller would never have enough money to be satisfied. When it comes to our possessions, the Bible consistently calls us to be content with what God has given us. Contentment leads to thankfulness and discontentment leads to selfishness. Take time to write out all the ...

Do your kids have household chores? Some kids think taking out the trash or washing the dishes is cruel and unusual punishment. But it isn’t. In fact, research shows that chores actually help kids in their physical, mental, and social development. When you give your son a job and he successfully completes it, he develops self-worth and self-esteem. This leads to confidence in knowing that he can accomplish other tasks. What a contrast to the entitlement attitude that plagues many young mind...

Boys love toys! Some of their favorites are racecars, robots, and rockets. And (according to kids) the louder, faster, and crazier the toy, the better! As a dad, you probably don’t play with toy dinosaurs anymore, but you just might have a big-boy toy like a motorcycle or boat. It’s fine to enjoy toys. They can even be a way of connecting with your son. But don’t let toys consume your time and attention. C.S. Lewis said, “All these toys were never intended to possess my heart. My true good...

Did you know our homes are training grounds? President John Adams said, “Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private virtue, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics.” Our homes can be training grounds for good and godly character. More than I want my children to be famous, rich, or exceptional, I want them to be good. The apostle Peter wrote, [M]ake every effort to supplement your faith with goodness (2 Peter 1:5). Culture today includes many examples of badnes...

One of life’s great challenges is learning to not just go with the flow, because sometimes the flow goes in the wrong direction. We live in a day of great distraction. Because of the digital age, information flows constantly. Some say we have become the society that is looking down – always checking our phones, tablets, and devices. These tools of mass distraction can cause us to miss important things in life. Many families cannot sit through a meal without everyone checking their phones....

John Wesley, a famous 18th century preacher, said, “There is no such thing as a solitary Christian.” As parents, we want to raise our kids to love the Lord and be responsible adults. But challenges from the worldly culture around us make parenting tough. Sometimes so tough that we grow discouraged when we don’t see immediate results. When you feel this way, remember that parenting isn’t a solitary process. That means you don’t have to go it alone. A variety of Christian resources are availa...

Do you manage your time properly? In the craziness of normal everyday life, it’s easy to lose track of time. Perhaps your son starts school at 8 am. You’ve got a work meeting at 10 a.m. Soccer practice begins at 3:15 in the afternoon. And, of course, there’s church, piano lessons, and dozens of other activities that you and your family participate in. The question is, are you punctual or persistently late? Don’t let tardiness become a habit. Figure out how much time you need to prepare ...

Remember this famous quote? “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country,” President John F. Kennedy during his inaugural address in 1961. As Christian men trying to raise godly boys, our mantra should be, “Ask not what God can do for me; ask what I can do for God.” It’s natural for us to think about ourselves first and not what we can do for God and what we can give back to him, including our time, talents, and treasure. As the Bible says, you must each...

Successful living involves risk-taking. Over 300 people rejected Colonel Sanders’ special recipe for Southern fried chicken before he received a “yes.” Today, because of his persistence, KFC boasts 20,000 restaurants in 125 countries. We are wise as parents to instill in our boys the value of adventurous living. When we do, we cannot control the outcome. But we can control ourselves. We can make taking risks a healthy part of our family culture. We can encourage our boys to try new tasks,...