Category: Basic Training

This week and next are guest posts around Father’s Day. Earlier this year, I met Kent Evans, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Manhood Journey and Father on Purpose communities, and was immediately was drawn to his shared passion for creating better men and better fathers. The first post comes from Director of Outreach, Ryan Sanders, who writes about the motives for becoming a more godly husband and father. Next week, Kent provides his 7 reminders of being a good father. I hope you enjoy both of these encouraging posts and start becoming a father on purpose.  –Rich, your Chief God Buddy I know you. You want to be a better dad – a good father. But you’re exhausted trying to do it all. Could it be with all of your running around trying to be better—that you’re doing it for the wrong reasons? In this post, I’m suggesting yes.

I am white and I am privileged.  I also did not understand what that meant until recently. Over the weekend, I decided to change my plans for posts leading up to Father’s Day due to the killings of George Floyd, Brionna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and others. My desire to understand all of the reasons for the protests took on higher importance since peaceful gatherings in the town where I live, turned violent leading to broken storefront windows, looting, and vandalism. Like many white people, I did not think racism affected me because I am not a person of color. I also do not see my “whiteness” as my racial identity. Like many, I am sickened that a white police officer would allegedly murder a black man in what one person called a “modern-day lynching”.  It is heartwarming though to see people of all ages, races, genders, and religions rightfully protesting.

This two-part series about marriage began with a list of the lessons that I have learned in my 37 years of marriage which my wife, Cyndi, and I recently celebrated.  In the first post, I detailed three lessons that are more traditional or secular in nature. I conclude now with the remaining 3, which are more internal and biblical.   First, let me recap and categorize the lessons for you: External (Traditional) Companionship Offset Loneliness Provision (Security) and Support Sex for Intimacy and Procreation (and Avoiding Temptation) Internal (Biblical) Character Refinement and Holiness Self-sacrifice / Servant Leadership  Love and Respect  In my opinion, this second set contains the hardest lessons since they will reveal your inner weaknesses that need the most work… at least those did for me!  So let’s go over the second set. Character Refinement and Holiness Many men jokingly say that “they married up” to denote that they