fathers

October 20, 2013 by kevinstilley

Manhood, Fatherhood, and Marriage – book recommendations

In the book Teknon and the Champion Warriors, Brent Sapp recommends the following resources on manhood, fatherhood, and marriage. What do you think of his recommendations?

The Christian Husband, by Bob Lepine
A Father for All Seasons, by Bob Welch
Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart, by Stu Weber
Halftime, by Bob Buford
The Man in the Mirror, by Patrick Morley
“Mens Fraternity: A Journey Into Authentic Manhood”, an audio seriesby Robert Lewis
Point Man, by Steve Farrar
Temptations Men Face, by Tom Eisenman
Tender Warrior, by Stu Weber
Moments Together for Couples, by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
The Mystery of Marriage, by Mike Mason
The New Building Your Mate’s Self Esteem, by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
Sexual Intimacy in Marriage, by William Cutrer and Sandra Glahn
“The Song of Solomon” audio series by Tommy Nelson
Loving Your Marriage Enough to Protect It, by Jerry Jenkins
Different Children, Different Needs, by Charles F. Boyd
Parenting Today’s Adolescent, by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
Passport to Purity, by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
Raising a Modern Day Knight, by Robert Lewis

February 23, 2013 by kevinstilley

Fathers and Sons – select quotes

A man is not a man until his father says that he is.
~ Robert Lewis

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.
~ General Douglas MacArthur

No man will ever rise above the opinion his children have of him.
~ Dennis Rainey

Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.
~ Albert Schweitzer

Your son at five is your master, at ten your slave, at fifteen your double, and after that, your friend or your foe, depending on his bringing up.
~ Hasdai Ibn Shaprut

My father taught me how to be a man — and not by instilling in me a sense of machismo or an agenda of dominance. He taught me that a real man doesn’t take, he gives; he doesn’t use force, he uses logic; doesn’t play the role of trouble-maker, but rather, trouble-shooter; and most importantly, a real man is defined by what’s in his heart, not his pants.
~ Kevin Smith

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Bent Tree Father-Son Retreat

Click on thumbnails to enlarge images.

October 10, 2009 by kevinstilley

A Father’s Blessings

Parents often bless their children in ways beyond their understanding. What obligation do we have to share the meaning behind our actions and words?

When Rabban Gamaliel gave his daughter in marriage, she asked for his blessing. He said: “May I not see your return.” When her son was born, she asked again for her father’s blessing, and he said: “May it be God’s will that the words: ‘Woe is me’ cease not out of your mouth.”

“Why is it, my father,” asked the daughter, “that you curse me on my two days of rejoicing?”

“These are indeed blessings and not curses,” responded Rabban Gamaliel. “If peace shall abide in your family life, you will not return to my home to live. And if yoru son is strong and hearty, you will continually remark: ‘Woe is me; the child ate too little; he drank not his milk; he is late for school.'”

(Bereshit Rabbah, 26)

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Tony Dungy on Family, Fatherhood, & Football

Tony Dungy, the first African-American coach to win the Super Bowl when the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in 2007, speaks with WSJ’s Bob Hughes about his latest work, the children’s book, You Can Do It !

June 14, 2008 by kevinstilley

They Call Me Dad

family photo father's day Over the years my wife has done many wonderful things for me. One of the finest was that she trained our kids to welcome me home at the end of a long day at work. When our firstborn was just a toddler I would step through the door and hear her shout out “Dad’s home!” Parker would come running, with plenty of hugs and kisses.

[Read more…]

March 2, 2008 by kevinstilley

Fathers – Select Quotes

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, “You’re tearing up the grass.” “We’re not raising grass,” Dad would reply. “We’re raising boys.”
~ Harmon Killebrew

I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.
~ Sigmund Freud

If the new American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right.
~ Bill Cosby [Read more…]