Recently on my way home from work, I heard the song Lead Me by Sanctus Real.  The lyrics to this song resonated deeply with me as they perfectly verbalize the journey I’ve been on as a husband and father these past twelve plus years.  First, let me give a little background on my story.  My own parents were never married.  In light of this, my father was not around for the majority of my childhood.  God was gracious in providing several stable families who sort of adopted me during my junior high and high school years.  This gave me a good opportunity to see how an intact family actually functioned and allowed me to observe some of the traditional “Dad stuff” that I never had the opportunity to see in my own home.  I learned a lot, but there is really only so much you can observe and absorb as an outsider.  Fast forward to the present and I will tell you that I’ve struggled to figure out how I should be leading in my home as a husband and father.  I know that leading my family is so much more than merely protecting them and providing for their material needs.  Don’t get me wrong, those things are certainly important.  However, as a Christian man I need to strive to be a strong spiritual leader in my home as well.  I’d like to be able to say that I’ve got it all figured out, but I’m still learning new things each day.  I strongly encourage all of you husbands and daddies out there to spend a few minutes watching the video for Lead Me as well as the video telling the story behind the song.  I trust that the videos will serve to both encourage and challenge you in your journey as a husband and father.

Air 1 – Sanctus Real “Lead Me” LIVE from Air 1 Radio on Vimeo.

The Story Behind “Lead Me” – Sanctus Real from BrightBulb Entertainment on Vimeo.

My family & I just returned from the 11th annual Above Rubies Wisconsin Family Camp.  I usually complain about the 6 hours of driving each way, but at the end of the weekend I always feel like it was worth it.  This is the sixth time we’ve attended the Wisconsin family camp.  We only had three children when we first attended back in 2003 and now we’re working towards number six.  Our participation in the family camps over the years has been an encouragement to our growing family and has helped us to stand strong in our conviction that children are truly a blessing from God.  Having grown up as an only child, it’s been an amazing adventure to be a father of five and soon to be six.  I have the deepest respect for Nancy and her husband Colin and sincerely appreciate how they’ve ministered to our family over the past few years.

Above Rubies is an international ministry run by our friend Nancy Campbell with the focus of encouraging women in their high calling as wives, mothers, and homemakers.  You can learn more about Above Rubies at the web site:  www.aboverubies.org.

Earlier today I came across the Day of Discovery web site and noticed that they have pretty much all of their video content available in a streaming format.  As I was browsing around, I found Trapped:  Finding Freedom From Pornography in their Marriage & Family section.  In the video, several men share their stories about their struggles with pornography and how God led them out of their bondage.  I’m including the description from the web site below:

Through all of my growing up years my father was absent.  Fortunately, I was able to reconnect with my Dad when I got married nearly eleven years ago.  Sadly enough, he passed away a year and a half later.  In the time since his death, I’ve gotten to know the extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents).  When that side of my family has had a difficult situations like my grandfather passing away and just today, my grandmother in the hospital for surgery after her breaking her hip, I feel like it is my duty to act as my Dad’s representative for his family.  With the untimely passing of my Dad, I think this has been a part of the healing process for both my extended family and for me.  In many ways, it’s been quite an experience getting into the thick and thin of a family crisis or tragedy with a family who I wouldn’t have considered “my family” during my growing up years.  I am most thankful for the grace God has shown me in blessing me with these experiences.