Summer has been a crazy series of events this year! From personal events and happenings, to family stuff, to ministry opportunities, the last few months have been a whirlwind of activity.

Earlier this year, we started a series here on The DadCast, based on the book How God Makes Men, by Patrick Morley. Over the next few episodes, we’re going to continue to look at the lives of some people from the Old and New Testaments, and learn some of the lessons that they can teach us about biblical manhood.

Our roles as men, husbands, and fathers is completely dependent upon allowing God to transform us into the man he desires us to be.

In this episode of The DadCast, we will take a look at the life of Moses, seeing just how God does about changing our character to reflect his.

So listen up, and hear what God wants to teach us through this amazing life. That’s the main idea behind Episode 18 of The DadCast!

Click To Listen

Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download (Right click, select “Save as…”)

Episode Notes

How To Be A Great Dad

Moses was the one God had chosen to lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt, out of slavery. But when he thought he was ready, he wasn’t. He had to be prepared. God had to work on his character before he could use him completely.

Here is a brief summary of Moses’ life:

[default_list]

• Born in a time when Hebrew boys were to be killed.
• Placed in a basket and sent down river.
• Found by Pharaoh’s daughter, and raised by her in Pharaoh’s household for 40 years.
• Felt God’s call to save his people. Killed an Egyptian who was abusing a fellow Israelite.
• Flees Egypt.
• Lived in Midian, got married, and had kids. This wilderness period of his life lasts another 40 years.
• Saw God in the Burning Bush.
• Gives God a series of excuses, senses his own inadequacy.
• God sends him back to Egypt.
• After 10 plagues, God secures Israel’s freedom, Moses leads them out of the land.
• Leads them through the journey to the Promised Land for the next 40 years.

[/default_list]

When Joseph led his family into Egypt, the point was to save Israel. Now, Moses leads them out. Again, the point is to save Israel.

Before God could use Moses to save Israel, he had to transform his character. When Moses though he was ready for the job, God saw that he wasn’t. But when God had prepared him, Moses felt his own inadequacy. What God had created in Moses’ life was humility.

The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings.  So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.  Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them.  Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” – Exodus 3:7-10

Dadhood Resources

[default_list]

• How God Makes Men, by Patrick Morley – Purchase on Amazon | Read the Review
• FamilyMan Website
• Cabool Christian Church
• DadCast #17 – Joseph
• DadCast #16 – Abraham

[/default_list]

Show Your Kids Today That You Love Them!

Where do you see that God may be seeking a character adjustment in your life? Know this: God has called you to do something incredible, in your marriage and in the life of your kids. Even though it may seem difficult at times, maybe it’s hard right now. But realize that “the purpose of the wilderness is for God to recalibrate how we see him, ourselves, and our role in the world.”

God is using you to build the lives of your children. Allow him to transform you into the best tool for the job.

Summary Question

Does the life of Moses help you understand that God may be taking you through a humbling process that will fundamentally change the way you think an view life? How is he affecting this change in your life? You can leave your thoughts in the comments by clicking here.

Be deliberate, Dad!

Subscription Links

If you enjoyed listening to the DadCast, please consider subscribing for more episodes:

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a DadCast you would like to see or a question about how you can become a more deliberate dad, feel free to contact me.

Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks!

The post #018: When God Needs To Change Our Character [DadCast] appeared first on Deliberate Men.

We started a series in the last episode of The DadCast, based on the book How God Makes Men, by Patrick Morley. Over the next few episodes, we’re going to look at the lives of some people from the Old and New Testaments, and learn some of the lessons that they can teach us about biblical manhood.

Each of these men from the Bible can help us understand how God shapes us and transforms us into the men that God has called us to be, and this applies to our roles in society as men, as husbands and as fathers.

In today’s DadCast, we will be looking at the life of Joesph, to see what we can learn about God, and about ourselves.

So listen in, and see what God wants to teach us through this event in history. That’s the main idea behind Episode 17 of the DadCast!

Click To Listen

Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download (Right click, select “Save as…”)

Episode Notes

How To Be A Great Dad

Joseph was part of God’s plan to save the nation of Israel. He wasn’t ready to do this right away. God had to work in his heart to prepare him. That resulted in some pretty difficult times for Joseph.

[default_list]

• Favorite of his father, but hated by his brothers
• Almost killed by his brothers
• Sold into slavery, into Egypt
• Falsely accused of wrongdoing
• Thrown in prison
• Forgotten

[/default_list]
[default_list]

• Eventually placed as second in command of all Egypt
• Saved Egypt from a severe famine
• Saved his family from the famine
• Saved the nation of Israel

[/default_list]

God used these difficult events through Joseph’s life for something greater.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come closer to me.” And they came closer. And he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.  Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.  For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.  God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.  Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. – Genesis 45:4-8

Dadhood Resources

[default_list]

• How God Makes Men, by Patrick Morley – Purchase on Amazon | Read the Review
• FamilyMan Website
• DadCast #16

[/default_list]

Show Your Kids Today That You Love Them!

How do you trust God for the greater good in your life? Your kids are watching to see how you live out your faith. Make sure you do the best you can to show them that you trust God to do amazing things in spite of what you may or may not be able to see.

Morley presents a few areas where this is visible in the life of your family: your marriage, at work, in your health, with your money.

What have you been carrying around, and for how long? Whatever it is, God wants you to know that He is making you into part of His larger plan to redeem this world and bring glory to His name. That’s who you are.

Trust Him and wait for Him, and in due time:

• Your purpose will become visible
• Your pain will become explainable
• Your peace will become possible

Why? Because God makes men by orchestrating even the toughest circumstances of our lives for a greater good.

Summary Question

The principle of the greater good. Is there a situation in your life where God may be doing something bigger than you can see? How can understanding this principle free you to trust him more in this area? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Be deliberate, Dad!

Subscription Links

If you enjoyed listening to the DadCast, please consider subscribing for more episodes:

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a DadCast you would like to see or a question about how you can become a more deliberate dad, feel free to contact me.

Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks!

The post #017: Trusting God For The Greater Good [DadCast] appeared first on Deliberate Men.

Over the next few episodes, we’re going to look at the lives of some people from the Old and New Testaments, and learn some of the lessons that they can teach us about biblical manhood.

Each of these men from the Bible can help us understand how God shapes us and transforms us into the men that God has called us to be, and this applies to our roles in society as men, as husbands and as fathers.

So listen in, and see what God wants to teach us through these lives. That’s the main idea behind Episode 16 of the DadCast!

Click To Listen

Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download (Right click, select “Save as…”)

Episode Notes

How To Be A Great Dad

Abraham faced three major times of testing in his life that led to greater faith. Those tests were difficult, and required him to trust that God was in control, even when it didn’t feel like it.

Those three tests were spread out over the course of Abraham’s life:

• Test 1:  Leaving Ur
  Genesis 12
• Test 2:  The promise of a son
  Genesis 15-19; Key verse: Genesis 15:5-6
• Test 3:  The sacrifice of Isaac
  Genesis 22; Key verse: Hebrews 11:17-19

Dadhood Resources

• How God Makes Men, by Patrick Morley – Purchase on Amazon | Read the Review
• FamilyMan Ministries (Blogpost on Father-Daughter Retreat)
• Fathers Of Faith & Daughters Of Excellence (Retreat website)

Show Your Kids Today That You Love Them!

One of the greatest ways to develop faith in the lives of your kids is to allow them to see your own faith, in good times as well as in times of struggle. If you are facing circumstances that seem overwhelming, remember that your kids are watching. They will see how you handle the situation. This is an incredible opportunity to strengthen your own faith, and the faith of your children.

Summary Question

What area of your life is God calling you to trust him more? And how can you include your kids in that faith growth process? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Be deliberate, Dad!

Subscription Links

If you enjoyed listening to the DadCast, please consider subscribing for more episodes:

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a DadCast you would like to see or a question about how you can become a more deliberate dad, feel free to contact me.

Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks!

The post #016: Believing God In Spite Of Circumstances [DadCast] appeared first on Deliberate Men.

I’ve had a pretty busy schedule for the past several months, and The DadCast is one of the thing in my life that had to take a back burner. But for as long as I wasn’t recording and posting The DadCast, it was always in the back of my mind.

In this episode of The DadCast, what I would like to do is review my thoughts for the future of The DadCast, at least for the next few months, and share where I think we’ll be going together.

I’m looking forward to getting back into the swing of this, and sharing my thoughts about dadhood with you!

That’s the idea behind Episode 15 of the DadCast!

Click To Listen

Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

Episode Notes

How To Be A Great Dad

In Episode 15 of The DadCast, I share some of my passion for The DadCast, and some plans and ideas for the future. The DadCast is a tool that I want to use to help you become the best dad that you can be, the dad you were created to be.

My goal is to make The DadCast into a better tool, one that helps, encourages, and assists you in your dadhood journey.

Dadhood Resources

How God Makes Men, by Patrick Morley – Purchase on Amazon | Read the Review

Show Your Kids Today That You Love Them!

• Set aside some time to spend with each one of your kids
• Listen to your kids
• Teach them something new
• Have a movie night together
• Make sure they know that they are one of your top priorities

Summary Question

Now that The DadCast has resumed, what are some topics you’d like to hear addressed in future episodes? What do you want to talk about? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Be deliberate, Dad!

Subscription Links

If you enjoyed listening to the DadCast, please consider subscribing for more episodes:

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a DadCast you would like to see or a question about how you can become a more deliberate dad, feel free to contact me.

Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks!

The post #015: Back On Track With The DadCast [DadCast] appeared first on Deliberate Men.

It’s that time of year again! For most of us, our kids are headed back to school for another year. And this can be an exciting time in our lives and families!

As a youth minister for more than two decades, this has been an important point in the year for ministry. As a homeschool dad, it wasn’t as important, because we structure our school activities around our busy schedule.

But this year, all that changes.

In this episode of The Dadcast, I want to share with you some thoughts on the beginning of the school year, and how that has impacted my life. And I’d like to encourage you to take an active role in this part of your kids’ lives as well.

And that is what Episode 14 of The DadCast is all about!

Click To Listen

Episode Notes

DadCast Encouragement

In this episode of The DadCast, I simply want to share some thoughts from my heart about our kids going back to school.

We have homeschooled our kids since they were old enough to start preschool. And it has always worked great for us. But this year, we’ve decided to give our oldest daughter the opportunity to go to public school. She began her freshman year of high school with a new reality, different than anything she’s ever known.

In this episode of The DadCast, you’ll hear my thoughts and my emotions as we make this transition in our lives.

Dadhood News

Schedule change for future episodes of The DadCast. This fall brings with it a couple of events on my personal and ministry calendar that will make it hard to keep the current schedule of every other week for new episodes. My plan is to shift everything by one week. So episode 15 will not be released in two weeks, it will be released in three weeks. After that, the every other week schedule will resume, and allow my calendar the flexibility needed this fall.

Thanks for understanding!

Summary Question

How do you cope with sending your kids back to school? What do you do to make this transition easier for yourself, for your wife, and for your kids? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Be deliberate, Dad!

Subscription Links

If you enjoyed listening to the DadCast, please consider subscribing for more episodes:

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a DadCast you would like to see or a question about how you can become a more deliberate dad, feel free to contact me.

Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks!

The post #014: Back To School [DadCast] appeared first on Deliberate Men.

Outside of your relationship with God, the relationship with your wife is the most important relationship that you have.

In the last episode of The DadCast, we discussed five things that you can do to prioritize that relationship and make it the best you can.

But that was just half of the list. There are at least five more ways that you can do this.

Digging into the next five ways to maintain and prioritize your relationship with your wife is what Episode 13 of The DadCast is all about!

Click To Listen

Episode Notes

DadCast Encouragement

In the last episode of The DadCast, we talked about how easy it is to get caught up in parenting, staying focused on the kids, and neglecting one of the most important relationships in your life, the relationship with your wife.

In order to be the best dad that you can be, you have to be the best husband that you can be. You have to prioritize your relationship with your wife. She needs you to be a great dad. But she also needs you to be a great husband. And the old saying is true: if mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. If you want your family atmosphere to be great, one of your top priorities is to develop and maintain your relationship with your wife.

When you do this, the benefits are too numerous to count! You and your wife will start to see the marriage of your dreams, and others around you will notice as well.

This is a basic biblical principle. In Philippians 2, Paul talks about keeping your priorities right. He says in verses 3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

That’s the principle in play here, as well. When you place the needs and wants of your wife above your won, when you place her above you, you are showing here that she’s your priority. And you’re showing your kids that she’s your priority. That makes you a great dad, and an even better husband.

So let’s continue to talk about what it takes to prioritize and maintain the greatest relationship possible with your wife.

That is what Episode 13 of The DadCast is all about!

Dadhood Resource

• Love Busters by Willard F. Harley
• His Needs, Her Needs by Willard F. Harley

Other Resources mentioned in this episode of The DadCast

• Episode 12 of The DadCast
• Proverbs 31:10-31
• Philippians 2:3-4
• 1 Peter 3:1-7
• Genesis 1:27
• Ephesians 5:21-25

How To Be A Great Dad!

Here are the second five of ten ways I’ve found to improve and prioritize your relationship with your wife.

1. Respect your wife and the dignity of her value and worth
2. Listen to the needs of your wife
3. Be more than a spectator in the home
4. Share leadership in the home
5. Implement dating and romance in your relationship with your wife

Show Your Kids Today That You Love Them!

Here are some specific action steps you can take for each area.

Respect your wife and the dignity of her value and worth

• Listen to what’s going on in your wife’s life.
• Drop what you’re doing to help her with her needs when she asks you for something. It’s ok, you can come back to what your doing later. Her need is more important than the episode of Star Trek you’re watching anyway.
• Honor her publicly anytime you have the opportunity to do so.
• Communicate to your kids the value of the role your wife plays in your home and family.
• Give her some freedom in the decision making process in areas that concern the home and family.
• Give her the opportunity to have a “vacation” away from her role, just like you have a vacation from your job.
• Make a list. If your wife were permanently out of your life tomorrow, what would you miss about her?
• Read Proverbs 31’s description of a wife. Make a list of all the positive traits described here. Share with your wife how she fits that profile. Give her some praise.
• Help her accomplish her dreams and goals. Do you even know what those are? Make a point to find out.
• Show her you value her in the little things in life.

Listen to the needs of your wife

• She wants to see your care because of your interest.
• She wants to feel your closeness and love.
• She wants to know that you’ve heard her.
• Support your wife. Back her up in her authority with the kids.
• Respect your wife. She takes care of the kids, feeds the family, clothes the kids, and more. Show her some respect for doing these things.
• Give your wife affection. Physical touch, cards, flowers. These go a long way to communicating to your wife that you love her.
• Give her a break occasionally. Get a sitter so she can go out. Or you watch the kids so she can enjoy some time to herself.
• Listen to her. Hear what she says. Ask questions to make sure you truly understand where she’s coming from.
• Read the description in 1 Peter 3 of husbands and wives together. How does this describe your marriage? How can you improve?

Be more than a spectator in the home

• Change “I love you” statements to actions of love.
• Change your laziness and turn off the TV to help with the kids in the evenings. Help them with their homework. Read to them.
• Remember that the home reflects the personality of your wife. When you complain about the house, you’re complaining about her.
• Don’t procrastinate. When she asks for you to do something, get it done. Quickly.
• Take the initiative. Do things for her without being asked. Surprise her by helping out around the house.
• Set aside some time each month for projects that she needs done around the house.
• Set up an accountability relationship for this aspect of your life. Allow another man to ask you if you’re doing this.

Share leadership in the home

• Partner in leadership in the home with your wife.
• Stop and ask, are you struggling in this area of submission to one another?
• Read Ephesians 5 and compare this description to your marriage. How are you doing? Are you giving up and loving your wife without being demanding? Or are you allowing distance and coldness to grow?
• Listen to your wife. Ask her what changes you need to make to be the best husband you can be in this area.
• Seek help if you need it. Don’t be afraid to ask for professional help.

Implement dating and romance in your relationship with your wife

• Take a romantic getaway. Make it an overnighter if you can, at least once a year.
• Write notes to your wife.
• Make the time to date your wife, without the kids. She needs some alone time with you.
• Do things together that interest you both. Things such as biking, walking, and concerts are more fun when done together.
• Be sure to change your dating through the seasons of your marriage. When the kids are young, you may need to keep it shorter and closer than when the kids are older.
• Seek outside resources. There are a lot of resources on the web and in other formats that have some incredible ideas for dating your wife. Seek them out.

Summary Question

How do you prioritize your relationship with your wife?  What else would you add to this list of ten things? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Be deliberate, Dad!

Subscription Links

If you enjoyed listening to the DadCast, please consider subscribing for more episodes:

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a DadCast you would like to see or a question about how you can become a more deliberate dad, feel free to contact me.

Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks!

The post #013: 10 Way To Prioritize Your Relationship With Your Wife – Part 2 [DadCast] appeared first on Deliberate Men.

It’s easy to get caught up in parenting, staying focused on the kids, and neglect one of the most important relationships in your life.

That’s the relationship with your wife.

In order to be the best dad you can be, you also need to be the best husband you can be.

Your kids need to see your marriage as a firm foundation and a safe place.

So, maintaining and prioritizing your relationship with your wife is what Episode 12 of The DadCast is all about!

Click To Listen

Episode Notes

DadCast Encouragement

In order to be the best dad you can be, you also need to be the best husband you can be. Your kids need to see just how much you love their mother. They need to see that you are working to make that relationship better than ever.

That means you have to prioritize it. You have to be as deliberate and intentional in this as you are in your dadhood skills.

Studies show that kids from homes with great marriages are more stable, more secure and happier than other kids. That just makes sense; creating a home environment that is a great environment provides kids with a sense of permanence, and it allows them the freedom to stretch their wings, knowing that there is a safety net in the home.

In order to be the best dad you can be, you need to prioritize the relationship with your wife over almost everything else. In my opinion, only your relationship with God should be a higher priority. You wife comes next.

Being a successful husband and building a great marriage is critical to being the best dad you can be.

Finding out what it takes to prioritize and maintain the greatest relationship possible with your wife is what Episode 12 of The DadCast is all about!

Dadhood Resource

• His Needs, Her Needs by Willard F. Harley

Other Resources mentioned in this episode of The DadCast

• The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
• Josh McDowell’s One Year of Family Devotions
• Your Family Time With God by John Maxwell

How To Be A Great Dad!

Here are the first five of ten ways I’ve found to improve and prioritize your relationship with your wife.

1. Show your wife affection
2. Treat your wife as special
3. You don’t need to win every argument
4. Step up as the spiritual leader of your home
5. Understand your wife

Show Your Kids Today That You Love Them!

Here are some specific action steps you can take for each area.

Show your wife affection

• Learn your wife’s love languages. Discover how she best expresses and feels loved. Work on communicating love to her in these ways. her love language, not yours.
• Read through Ephesians 5, and look at the ways that a husband is called to love his wife. I see three main aspects of love here:
  – Love your wife with a sacrificial love. Love you wife enough to be willing to pay any price to enable her to serve Christ.
  – Love your wife with a sanctifying love. Set your wife apart and love her like no other.
  – Love your wife with a satisfying love. Don’t view your marriage as simply a way to get your own needs met. It’s a two way street.
• Be vulnerable with your wife. Ask her for ways that you do get your love across.
• Ask her what you’re not doing, and how you can start doing it.
• If you can’t seem to get started here, seek out a professional marriage counselor.

Treat your wife as special

• Read 1 Peter 3:7 together. Discuss these four things:
  – Treat her with respect. She deserves your honor and is worthy of complete and total respect.
  – Be considerate to her needs, her physical needs, spiritual needs, and emotional needs.
  – Help her out. Your role is to help her, protect her, care for her and help her carry her burdens.
  – She is your co-heir in Christ. Work together, as equals in this marriage partnership.
• Take the time to develop some ideas how 1 Peter 3:7 would look in your marriage. Write these ideas down. Act on them.
• Eliminate any habits of yours that annoy your wife. Show her how much you’re trying.
• Purchase and read His Needs, Her Needs, by Willard F Harley

You don’t need to win every argument

• Swap pet peeves. Does your wife do something that just irritates you? I’m pretty sure you do something that irritates her as well. So swap. You offer to work on that area she doesn’t like if she’ll work on her area that you don’t like.
• Never use the words “You always….” or “You never…” Here are a few quick steps to eliminate hurtful words like these:
  – Stop the hurtful words
  – Take the time to cool off
  – Reflect on your own feelings
  – Dig deeper to see what the root is
  – Deal with it quickly. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.
  – Forgive and forget.
  – Seek help from others if you can’t do this on your own.
• In order to drop the discouraging words, replace them with encouraging words.
  – First, give praise to God. Thank him for the wife he’s given you.
  – Second, praise your wife! Tell her the things you love about her. And tell her frequently.

Step up as the spiritual leader of your home

• Pray. Pray for your wife. Pray for your kids. And pray that God grows you in this role as spiritual leader in your home.
• Listen. Give your wife your attention. And when you do, make it your undivided attention. Focus on what she is saying. Be fully present.
• Put your family first. Set work aside and focus on them when you are with them. Prioritize your family. This will help your wife and kids feel like they matter to you, that they are important.
• Love them. No matter what they do.
• Live what you believe. Be willing to walk according to God’s Word, and ask your wife for forgiveness when you fail.
• Seize the moment. Make the time to spend with your wife and family together. Share your heart. Explain why you do things the way you do. Pray together.
• Schedule date nights. Make the time to spend with your wife, without the kids. Share your vision and goals for your marriage, and for your family. Pray with her.
• Don’t create unrealistic expectations for your wife. And do what you can do, the best you can.
• If you don’t know where to start, start small. Start with family devotions, maybe a couple times a week. There are a couple of resources for this listed in the episode notes for this DadCast on DeliberateDads.com.
• Pray together.
• Seek forgiveness when you fail.
• Have someone hold you accountable for your spiritual leadership in your family.
• Grab any good ideas from any other sources that you think might work in your situation. Like DeliberateDads.com. That’s what it’s here for.

Understand your wife

• When you come home, ask how her day went.
• Ask her if she’s had any downtime today. And if she hasn’t, enable that to happen.
• Grab the kids and go for a walk, bike ride, run some errands, and give her a break.
• Do the dishes with the kids after dinner for her.
• Shower her with words of appreciation, like “I understand! Your day would have certainly done me in! It means so much to me that you take such good care of the kids and our home. Thank you!”
• Give her a night out, without you. Keep the kids, do dinner for them, and allow her to have an evening with some friends.
• Schedule a night out, with you. You take care of getting the sitter, and take her someplace nice for some time together.f her day has been rough, take some action. Corral the kids, play a game, watch TV, allow her to retreat for a half hour or an hour with a book, or to take a bath, so she can have a few moments of quiet.
• Spend quality time with your wife and kids, on a regular basis.

Summary Question

How do you prioritize your relationship with your wife? We will discuss five more ways in the next episode of The DadCast, but what else would you add in the meantime? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Be deliberate, Dad!

Subscription Links

If you enjoyed listening to the DadCast, please consider subscribing for more episodes:

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a DadCast you would like to see or a question about how you can become a more deliberate dad, feel free to contact me.

Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks!

The post #012: 10 Way To Prioritize Your Relationship With Your Wife – Part 1 [DadCast] appeared first on Deliberate Men.

One of the most important roles we play as dads is the role of preparing our kids for life on their own.

As tough as it may be to think about it, one of these days, our kids will leave our home and head off for college, or the military, or a marriage and family of their own. You and I both want our kids to succeed in life.

But why? What is our motivation for seeing our kids succeed? Why do we want them to become the best people that they can be, that God has created them to be?

Looking at our motivation for raising our kids to be successful is what Episode 11 of The DadCast is all about!

Click To Listen

Episode Notes

DadCast Encouragement

You and I both want to be the best dads that we can be. But why? What is our motivation? What is the why behind the what?

Because we want our kids to be successful. Right?

First of all, let’s define “success.” When I use this word, I don’t mean that our kids will become the leaders of Fortune 500 companies, making millions of dollars so that they can fund their parents retirement. That’s not what I mean.

Sure, it would be nice of our kids become successful in that way. But I think it’s more important that our kids view themselves as successful no matter where they end up in life. If my son becomes a zookeeper, I want him to feel fulfilled in that role. If my daughter lives her life as a stay-at-home mom, homeschooling her own kids, I want her to see that as a success.

Do I want my kids to be agents of change in their lives? Of course I do! But I want them to be a leader and an influencer no matter where God places them for their lives.

Looking at my own motivations, I see ten areas why I want my kids to be successful. And I want to share those with you.

Dadhood Resource

• Raising Great Kids
• Raising Great Kids – Parents of Preschool Age Kids Workbook
• Raising Great Kids – Parents of School Age Kids Workbook
• Raising Great Kids – Parents of Teenagers Workbook

Other resources mentioned in this episode of The DadCast

• Rapha House
• JAARS

How To Be A Great Dad!

Let’s look at our motivations. Rather, I want to look at my motivations for developing my kids into what God wants them to be. But in looking at my reasons, I suspect you’ll find that your reasons are similar, probably very similar.

So why do I want me kids, Hannah, Lydia, Titus, Jadon, Abigail, and Jude… Why do I want them to be successful? Why do I want them to develop strong character, a sense of what’s right, and leadership capabilities?

Looking at my life, I found ten reasons. And I want to share them with you.

1. Because I see their skills and gifts
2. Because I see the needs around them
3. Because I want to give my kids an edge
4. I want them to reach their potential
5. Because my kids are hungry
6. Because I want my kids to be influencers
7. Because my kids, and their friends, are set to be difference-makers
8. Because we are at a crossroads in history
9. Because I want to leave a legacy in my kids
10. Because I want to give them a foundation of faith

I know there are more, but many of them are variations of these ten reasons.

Show Your Kids Today That You Love Them!

What’s the point? Why does this matter? What can I do to instill these reasons into the day to day dadhood of my life and family?

Here are few ways that we can influence our kids and help them become who God has created them to be.

I believe that these are so important, that I will be looking at these in more detail in the next episode of The DadCast. But here is a quick list.

• Help your kids know who they are. Help them to see who God has created them to be, their gifts, their talents, their passion, and their skills.
• Help your kids develop those gifts and skills. For example, I mentioned that Hannah has a desire to reach the lost as a missionary. Now that I know that, I strive to place opportunities before her from which she can grow in that desire.
• Help your kids find their passion. Just because one of your kids is good at something doesn’t mean they enjoy doing it. Help them find that one thing that gets them excited. And them help them to grow in it.
• Help your kids see people as God sees them. Learning to value others is the first step in being able to meet their needs. Helping your kids develop this trait will be a key part of their entire lives.
• Help your kids develop endurance and perseverance. Many of the things in life worth doing are hard. Help your kids develop the skills need to stick to them.
• Help your kids learn to give their best. As my dad and grandfather were always fond of saying, if anything is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. Teaching your kids to pursue excellence will give them a jump start over many of their peers.
• Help your kids grow in their faith. Create an environment in our home that rests on the foundation of Christ and his Word. Help your kids learn to trust God for the big things in life, as well as the small.

These are just a few of the things you can do to be a positive influence in the lives of your kids. These are just a starting point.

I would suggest that you sit down with a pen and paper and think through your own motivations. Ask yourself why you want to invest in your kids lives. Write down every answer that comes to mind. Many may be similar, and you can refine the list later. But start off by writing down everything you can think of.

When you examine your motivations, you can see both the good and the bad reasons for why you do what you do. And after identifying them, you can work to enhance the good and eliminate the bad.

Summary Question

What are your motivations for investing in the lives of your kids? What would you add to this list of ten? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Be deliberate, Dad!

Subscription Links

If you enjoyed listening to the DadCast, please consider subscribing for more episodes:

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a DadCast you would like to see or a question about how you can become a more deliberate dad, feel free to contact me.

Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks!

The post #011: 10 Reasons To Be The Best Dad You Can Be [DadCast] appeared first on Deliberate Men.

It’s June. And that means summer vacation is in full swing. The weather is warm, and there is plenty to do outside!

Dads, you need to get outside and do things with your kids! There are a lot of things you can do, but the big idea is to just do it!

Getting outside with your kids is what Episode 10 of The DadCast is all about!

Click To Listen

Episode Notes

DadCast Encouragement

Summer vacation is a great time to

Dads, you need to get outside and do things with your kids! There are a lot of things you can do, from big things like camping or a float trip, to bigger things like a trip to the beach or an amusement park, to the really small things such as taking a walk or heading to a park or pool nearby. Whatever you choose to do, the main idea is to just do get outside and do something with your kids!

Most likely, your kids love playing outside, in the back yard, at the park, on the basketball court, and lots of other places. Summer draws kids outside like nothing else. That is an opportunity that we can take advantage of as dads!

Dadhood Resource

• Geocaching.com
• National Play Outside Day

How To Be A Great Dad!

Benefits from being outside

• Spending time outside has been shown to reduce depression.
• People who exercise outside feel more energized and experience more positive emotions than those who exercise indoors.
• Looking at a natural scene sparks the part of the brain associated with happiness and balance.
• Spending time outside increases levels of vitamin D, which helps protect against bone problems, heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues.
• Spending time outside even helps improve distance vision and might even prevent nearsightedness.
• The great outdoors may be widely effective in reducing the symptoms of ADHD, and concentration levels improve overall.
• Schools with environmental programs score higher on standardized tests in math, reading and writing, and other subjects.
• Stress levels have been shown to fall within minutes of seeing green places.
• Nature even makes you nicer, boosting your social interactions, and helping you build relationships better.

Show Your Kids Today That You Love Them!

Here are some suggestions to help you spend some time outside with your kids:

• Go geocaching.
• Head to the park.
• Take the kids to the pool.
• Mini-golf.
• Try a float trip.
• Go ride a bike.
• Have a picnic in the backyard.
• Camp in the backyard.
• Play croquet or bocce or even kick around a soccer ball or throw around a baseball.
• Take a hike.
• Teach your kids to help you cut the grass.
• Work in the garden or the flowerbed instead.
• Watch wildlife.
• Build a bird house or a bird feeder together.
• Go fishing.
• Try a photo scavenger hunt.
• Rake the leaves together.
• Play in the rain.
• Make nature art.
• Look for fossils and collect them.
• Simply watch the clouds.
• Build a bonfire.
• Go pick blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or whatever grows near you.
• Build a fort or a treehouse.

Summary Question

What are you doing with your kids outside? Or what do you need to do so you can start this habit with your kids? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Be deliberate, Dad!

Subscription Links

If you enjoyed listening to the DadCast, please consider subscribing for more episodes:

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a DadCast you would like to see or a question about how you can become a more deliberate dad, feel free to contact me.

Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks!

The post #010: Get Outside With Your Kids [DadCast] appeared first on Deliberate Men.

This weekend is Father’s Day. I don’t know about you, but my family enjoys days like that, where we can relax together as a family and celebrate, well… me!

Don’t get me wrong, we make a big deal out of Mother’s Day as well, and the kids’ birthdays, too. But for us dads, Father’s Day is kind of a big deal.

And Father’s Day is what Episode 9 of The DadCast is all about!

Click To Listen

Episode Notes

DadCast Encouragement

I’ve always just kind of taken Father’s Day for granted. It was always just there. I never stopped to find out just what it was all about, besides fathers, and how it got started.

Where did it come from? How did it start? What’s the background?

These are questions I’ve always wondered about. So I dug around, did a little research, and found out a few things about the day.

So Father’s Day is what I want to talk about in Episode 9 of The DadCast!

Dadhood Resource

• Why A Daughter Needs A Dad – JeffRandleman.com – Amazon.com
• Why A Son Needs A Dad – JeffRandleman.com – Amazon.com

How To Be A Great Dad!

Here are some of the sources of the material on Father’s Day shared in this episode of The DadCast:

• History.com
• Wikipedia (taken with a grain of salt…)
• Father’s Day Celebration.com
• InfoPlease.com
• Chiff.com
• Federal Trade Commission

Show Your Kids Today That You Love Them!

There’s Father’s Day, in a nutshell. But what does this mean for us? How do we apply this fun information to our lives?

Here’s my idea: Dads, this day is about you, according to tradition. But in your own mind, make it about your family. While they honor and celebrate you, you honor and celebrate your wife and kids. Be the best dad that you can be on Father’s Day, so that your family’s celebration can be extra meaningful.

Make their celebratory efforts worth it, dads!

Summary Question

How does your family celebrate Father’s Day? What does your day typically look like? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Be deliberate, Dad!

Subscription Links

If you enjoyed listening to the DadCast, please consider subscribing for more episodes:

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a DadCast you would like to see or a question about how you can become a more deliberate dad, feel free to contact me.

Also, if you enjoyed this podcast, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks!

The post #009: Father’s Day [DadCast] appeared first on Deliberate Men.