At the summit of Mt Tyson, took time to process on the plane when flying back home.   “How could I explain in a simple way what a profound experience, amazing fun and bonding time Caleb and I had.  All I could say was it surpassed all that I had anticipated.  Darren Lewis is an amazing teacher, leader and visionary.  He picked just the right environment and organized the very best adventures.  Presented the lesson with simplicity and conviction.   All 22 of the sons and fathers shared epic experiences together in the rain-forest, over mountains, by the beaches, on the rapids, and below the waters (the Great Barrier reef) of Northern Queensland, Australia.

Standing in the clouds a top Mt Tyson, Tully, Queensland, Australia

I want to share first hand from a sampling of fathers and sons in their own words.  When asked what this experience has meant for the fathers and sons, they said:

• “An improvement in a better understanding and communication with my son. The start of better things to come, and an experience to refer back to in the future.”
• “We have both said this is the highlight experience of our father-son relationship. It was an epic event that took our relationship deeper and further than anything else.”
• “This has given me valuable insight into manhood and has given me a vision / goal to strive for my sons, my family, my wife, and myself.”
• “Put it back on track. Renewed the quality time of our relationship.”
• “Everything – it presently represents one of my highest priorities in life – one of leaving a legacy that proceeds me long after I’m gone.”
• “It has provided an opportunity to affirm my son & his capabilities… it would not have happened otherwise. It has built a bridge for communication into the future!”

2. When asked “What was the high point of your experience?”

• “Watching my son’s eyes light up during white water rafting and during the initiation ceremony.”
• “There were too many high points. It would be easier to list the low points.”
• “Publicly affirming my son, the initiation ceremony, and the evening presentations. Spending one-on-one time with my son.”
• “My son looking up at me and taking it all in during the initiation ceremony.”
• “Watching the joy on his face accomplishing some activities for the first time; being able to spend time together.
• “To look my son in the eyes and tell him publicly that I love him, and that I’m proud of him.”
• “The self-examination following the evening presentations, and the opportunity to realize that a good relationship can become a “great “ relationship… not only father-son, but beyond this.”

Darren has done well keeping a good balance of not making this a “church camp” but keeping it distinctive in strong Biblical values and teaching.  One last quote I will share of how a father shared the experience of a renewed relationship with God and the role He should play in his and his sons life in the future.  In his own words…

...to tell you how much of an impact last weeks trip had on me and my son. On the plane back, my son gave me a letter he wrote in Tully (which I read that night with my wife), expressing his thanks and how much he enjoyed his time with me and the other fathers and sons. It was not something I expected and was touched (which I later told him). The other positive and surprising outcome from him is his request, that he would like to understand more about Jesus and I quote “what does it mean to accept Jesus in my life”. Your program has made a big impression on us both. I consider this as a positive wake up call, and even though we are Christians we have not been practicing ones for a very long time….mostly due to life excuses etc. My wife and I plan to change this going forward…..small steps.

Men, if you are are looking for a concentrated time with your son to build character and a vision of what a man is, and maybe craft your own vision for what it means yourself, consider Father Adventures.  It may be the greatest investment you make in your sons life and your relationship.

Click here to learn more of them:  Fathering Adventures

Join the Facebook Fan page so you can keep informed on the latest adventures: Facebook

Caleb turns 16 this summer (he is getting older, I’m not getting old).  The next 10 days we will celebrate this rite of passage into young manhood.  Anybody who is able to drive a deadly weapon (a car), has to shave facial hair, and leaves for college in 2 yrs is more than an adolescent, he is a young man.  Caleb and I are heading to Australia on Tuesday to participate in Fathering Adventures - a 5 day excursion to the land down-under.  This will be a huge trip with some amazing Aussies.  Would you covenant to pray for us as we gather for adventures (rafting, kayaking, diving, and mtn climbing), but also as we have some deep and meaningful conversation (topics: Intentional fathering, authentic manhood, 4 marks of a man, etc.)? We will close with an initiation into manhood ceremony.

There are some things I would like to enlist your prayer support on…

1. Pray as we tour Sydney on July 1st (we will never live in June 30th, that’s wierd).  We will be jet lagged, but it is our only day to see and do the town.  We are looking forward to it.
2. The mission of Fathering Adventures is that the hearts of the fathers are turned to their children, and the hearts of the children are turned to their fathers (Luke 1:17).
3. Please pray for Darren Lewis, leader of Fathering Adventures, for his health, and even more importantly, his sensitivity to God’s Spirit, and His leading. From what I understand, four of the eleven father-son pairs coming are unchurched. May they experience the drawing of The Father during their time amongst us. May God’s message be heard, understood, received, embraced and lived out by all.
4. Please pray for Melissa, Darren’s wife, and their 3 sons who won’t be participating… Brandon, Joseph, and Theo… that they will be covered, protected, and blessed despite Dad’s physical absence.
5. For the health and protection of all of the participants, and their families.
6. For a new generation of men in Australia and the United States to be born: men of honor, character and integrity…modern-day knights.

Join the Facebook fan page and stay in touch.  Many of you men are raising a modern-day knight too.

The ambiguity of sexuality has led us to animal like responses.  We are led to believe that we should do what comes “natural,” feels good, or feels right.  We have lost our guard rails as to what is sexual activity versus what is  fooling around, spooning, or hooking up.  The Kinsey Insitiute  studied 599 college students  from 29 states and asked what they considered sexual activity to be.  The study showed that a person could go so far as “oral contact with genitals” and only 37% of women and 44% of men would classify that as sex¹.

I still value the values of saving oneself sexually until married.  I wish I could have told Lori on our wedding night what she was able to tell me on our wedding night: I have saved myself for you.  Thank you Lori for being disciplined, having values to save yourself.  It was the sweetest and greatest wedding gift you could have given me.

With most of the teens getting their sex education from their peers, in value neutral sex education schools, TV/movies or Teen magazine and only 32% of teens getting their education from their parents, is there any wonder why we wander²?  I want to recommend some resources for wherever you and your family are in the sexual conversation.  Some of these books have shaped, saved, and inhanced mine and Lori’s relationship to be beautiful and complete.  Others we have used as tools to help us educate our children for sound sexuality.

Parents of Young Children…  Parents need to be ready and willing to talk about sexuality in simple child like ways.  Children do not need pperceive sexuality questions with parents as being taboo.  If they can’t ask us, who do you want them asking?  Check out the book How to Talk Confidently With Your Child about Sex.

For Children…  Children will explore and learn many things sexually from the neighborhood kids, TV, or from big brothers or sister (right, wrong or indifferent).  Helping them understand their differences as a parent  is important.  Check out the book Why Boys and Girls are Different

For Parents of Teens…  If you haven’t been talking to your children growing up, this can be an awkward conversation.  Check-out Dobson Preparing for Adolescene or Teens and Sex by Tripp.  Dobson, I am most familiar with and comes with a long line of endorsements.  Another book I am reading right now, that I can personally recommend is 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter.

Adolescents…Ohhhhhhh, the information (or better put mis-information) that flows freely through the school locker rooms, Internet porn, sleep overs, or at parties, can leave a teenager scarred for life;  or worse thrust them into parenthood years before their due.  Teens and early adults should consider picking up the books He’s Hot, She’s Hot or Wait for Me.  We need to promote open and honest conversations with our teenagers.  Eighty-eight percent of teens said it would be easier to avoid sexual activity and prevent teen pregnancy if they could have better dialouge with their parents about the subject matter.³

Married Adults… If you never learn the correct info, if you are still relying out sleep over sex talks, or locker room education into your marriage, you can go along time in marriage living off of all the misinformation and be very frustrated sexually in your marriage.  I HIGHLY recommend every married couple read the late Dr. Ed Wheat’s (he was a medical doctor and counselor, a powerful combination for this topic) book Intended for Pleasure.  I require all couples that I perform their wedding ceremony to buy and read the book.

Sex is awesome!  Understand the maker of sex was God.  He wants this area of our life to be the best (John 10:10); therefore, stick with the Masters plan.

1. USA Today, Oct 19, 2005
2. Christanity Today, July 10, 2000
3. Vicki Courtney, 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter, 2008, pg 159