Making the Connection

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I live in a house of girls. So, every night, we gather around and have a little awards ceremony to award the best actress of the day. Not really, but as the only male in a house full of females, I can tell you there’s a lot of drama! And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

But I admit that sometimes my man-brain has a hard time understanding the way that girls think. And as a dad, it’s especially challenging as I work to raise young godly women in a culture that, in so many ways, is geared against us.

In Greg Wright’s book, Daddy Dates: Four Daughters, One Clueless Dad, and His Quest to Win Their Hearts: The Road Map for Any Dad to Raise a Strong and Confident Daughter, I got a clear glimpse into the ways he has successfully navigated some of the turbulent waters ahead of me. This Austin native has four daughters and he’s passing on his wisdom to the rest of clueless dads. He says that our most important job as a husband and dad is to pursue the women in our family as long as we’re breathing.

It’s too easy to try to parent on auto-pilot. But Greg stresses the importance of winning our daughter’s hearts by being intentional through a strategy of having regular daddy-daughter dates, not just for the purpose of hanging out together, but to gain greater understanding into their hearts and to speak into their lives as they grow.

He offers some relational equations that are helpful:

1. Rules – Relationship = Rebellion
2. Relationship – Rules = Destruction
3. Relationship + Rules = Connection

And this one sums it up: Talk + Action + Time = Trust

While freely admitting his mistakes, Greg also seems to have done it right. This book gives me hope and encouragement as a dad. And I’m newly inspired to take being a dad to the next level. He gives insight into having good talks, ideas for great date nights, and guidelines for dealing with some of the particular struggles that our girls will face as they grow to maturity.

If you want to grow and learn how to better understand the girls in your family, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book, available here.

I read the Kindle version provided to me by BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

10 years ago today, we woke up to a new reality. It was a new world where life would never be quite the same. I vividly recall how surreal it was as we watched the second tower attacked while still trying to process the first. We chose to believe in the face of fear. We chose to unite in spite of our differences.

This summer, as I visited the site of ground zero, I was struck by the size of the damage that was done. In some ways, the face of our nation was scarred. But the scars serve to remind us that we are healing. And if we really do remember, we will recommit today to all that it means to be an American.

I’m proud of my country and today, I will remember.

Did ye know that this year marks the 400th birthday of the King James Version of the Bible? There’s no doubt the most published book in history is also the most influential book in the world. But while the average American has 4 copies of the Bible in their homes, not to mention access to the Bible for free on the Internet, it’s also the dustiest book in most of our libraries.

Why is that? Because, like the long term prisoner who only had a Bible and wrote all kinds of trivia on the walls of his cell while missing out on its true meaning, too often we have been taught to approach the Bible for more information instead of applying it to our lives for transformation. I’m excited about starting our new series “Word Up!” this week because we’re going to learn practical skills for getting the most out of the Bible. I believe it’s the key to not only seeing lives changed, but ultimately for changing our world.

I want to personally invite you to be our guest this Sunday and invite your friends to join you! Verily, I shall seest ye there!