FSM
I had a great FSM with Parker last night. A weekly meeting is part of the discipleship covenant we made at the beginning of the year and I'm convinced a consistent touchpoint is huger than huge. It creates a natural window to discuss important things. And here's a free tip. Every once in a while, take them to their favorite restaurant and meet over some ribs.
I'll eventually write a book detailing the theology and methodology behind all of this because so many dads want help discipling their sons. But I'm trying to share things as we go too.
Part of the covenant we made is reading through the New Testament together. I'm trying to take that to the next level by having Parker develop the daily discipline of reading Scripture. For me that is in the morning. For him it'll be in the evening. He's much more of an owl than a lark. If he can develop that spiritual habit of spending time with God each day it'll be more important than anything else we accomplish during this year!
We also started working on our code of conduct. We're trying to come up with core values that we want to define us. Not sure what it'll look like. And I'm not just trying to force my values on him. The word education means to draw out. I'm trying to draw out of him who he wants to become. Eventually we'll condense that code of conduct into a coat of arms that we will design together.
Finally, I want to say that this sounds much better and much easier in blog form. Not every meeting feels like a success. And sometimes it seems like we're moving backwards. But if you are determined to disciple your children, and you keep meeting week in and week out, some good things and God things are going to happen!
I'll eventually write a book detailing the theology and methodology behind all of this because so many dads want help discipling their sons. But I'm trying to share things as we go too.
Part of the covenant we made is reading through the New Testament together. I'm trying to take that to the next level by having Parker develop the daily discipline of reading Scripture. For me that is in the morning. For him it'll be in the evening. He's much more of an owl than a lark. If he can develop that spiritual habit of spending time with God each day it'll be more important than anything else we accomplish during this year!
We also started working on our code of conduct. We're trying to come up with core values that we want to define us. Not sure what it'll look like. And I'm not just trying to force my values on him. The word education means to draw out. I'm trying to draw out of him who he wants to become. Eventually we'll condense that code of conduct into a coat of arms that we will design together.
Finally, I want to say that this sounds much better and much easier in blog form. Not every meeting feels like a success. And sometimes it seems like we're moving backwards. But if you are determined to disciple your children, and you keep meeting week in and week out, some good things and God things are going to happen!
6 Comments:
thank you for this post.
thank you for taking your role as a father serious!
thanks for the occasional post about how its going mark
for those dads looking for help, i've found men's fraternity to a real help (not all the lessons, but there are several that are really key) - maybe that'll help until mark gets his book published.
in the meantime, i'm going through the same process with my 12 year old son, culminating with a "man's meal" and ceremony at fogo when he turns 13 - i think the key is just to be proactive, plan something (as opposed to nothing or waiting) and follow through...
thanks again mark
Love the Fago De Chao idea! My son loves meat. And there isn't any better place for a carnivore! I think I'm going to follow your example on this one :)
Mark
Mark - have you posted the discipleship covenant on your blog? Would you?
Do you know of anything similar for dads of daughters?
I haven't posted it yet :) But I might post it at some point. Trying to really share the journey as much as possible but still protect how personal this is for me and my son. You know what I'm saying?
I haven't seen anything for daughters, but I'll be crossing that bridge myself in a couple years :)
Blessings,
Mark
Thanks for the encouragement as a dad, first. But also as a pastor, my heartbeat is to see parents taking the lead in their children's lives and the church as their partner.
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