Father and Son Weekend only $349!

zipline

You are invited on an expedition of the heart, to remember the boy within, and for you and your son to truly experience the Father’s heart through a weekend that is much more than a typical father/son retreat. This will be a guided journey that pours affirmation into your son (and yourself) just as God was intentional in affirming his son (Matt 3:17). This weekend will create an environment that fills your son with AWE (Affirmation, Wonder, & Exploration).

tent-demouncle-kyle-signing

Join us on August 21-23 at Deer Run Retreat Center in Franklin, TN. For fathers and their sons, ages 6-11.

Some of the weekend’s activities include:

* Lord of the Rings Adventureallen-greyson
* Ropes Course
* Survivor Challenge
* Bonfires with s’mores
* Movie Night with popcorn
* Canoeing, zip lines and other water activities
* Affirmation Ceremony
* Father’s Blessing Ceremony
* Rite of Passage Experience
* And much more!

lincoln-with-bow1

To receive updates on The Father’s Heart Weekend, send your email address to:

Glenn McClure // 615.294.5072 glennmcclure@mac.com
Phil Davis // 615.400.8019 philbdavis@gmail.com


CLICK to register for August 21-23 Weekend

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

“This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.” Matt. 3:17 (MSG)

“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons…” 2 Cor. 6:18 (NIV)

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Jn. 14:18 (NIV)

father-and-son-hug

Published in: on May 8, 2009 at 2:28 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Greatest Untapped Evangelistic Opportunity Before the Modern Church by David Bunker

clip_image004 I believe that we are involved in the greatest evangelistic opportunity before the church today: the salvation of millions of children under the evangelistic and discipleship ministry of fathers and mothers in the home. This is not the only mission field, to be sure, but it is perhaps the most neglected mission field before the church in our time. Scott Brown – Vision Forum Ministries

Why does it take a weekend retreat for us men to get in touch with our deeper selves? Why must we go deep into our own history and story to reveal the pain and glory of our own pilgrimage? As I am going on nearly six months in my new gig with Awana, I am coming to the conclusion that we men have been hoodwinked. By whom you might ask? By the Church itself? Let me unpack this statement.

First of all, let me say that most of the men and women in full time ministry to children and teens are overwhelmed with the responsibility of pouring into children. Most are humbled and deeply desire to have parents be a part of the process. However, there has been the unwitting message that the Church is the place these children are ultimately going to be lead to the Lord and nurtured in that walk. Unfortunately the competition amongst churches has lead the Church to over promise and under deliver. Some of this comes from the tendency of Churches to market their ministries like we sell products and services.

Nashville is replete with dynamic seemingly thriving churches with great facilities and a burgeoning staff. Given the size and fiscal demands of churches and their behemoth budgets, it is no wonder they consistently tout their expertise in ministry and stewardship. “Come to our services, worship with us on Sunday, and involve yourself and your family in our programs and tithe, tithe tithe.” “If you do,” they say “God will bless you with a great life, your marriage will be without stress and your children will all be gloriously obedient and walk in the ways of the Lord.” This is of course exaggerated for the sake of my point but we are all living in the age of the expert. Give me your kids and I will help form them into disciples. Drop them off at our door and watch us work magic.

Unfortunately, statistics are now telling us that kids are leaving the church in groves when they graduate. Statistics are also telling us that kids no longer see any conflict between their faith and lying, cheating and stealing. The Church experts have somehow missed the trend. Our kids are going to be the first post Christian culture in a long while. By that I mean we have raised a generation of children that are no longer followers of Jesus. What to do? Well I could offer one more attempt to farm your kids out to experts or I could offer up a much more biblical and yet challenging alternative. Start a home church! As the father, see your children as the first ones you lead to the Lord and regard this as teaching them what it means to evangelize the world. What a novel idea. Or is it?

As spiritual manhood and masculinity have been under attack in the last half century through various cultural shifts, we men have found that women and the experts have seemingly taken over a job we were destined to have from the foundations of the earth. We men, who are fathers, have been given a mandate to raise our children in the admonition of the Lord.

So that this communication remains encouraging, let me say that I realize how many men have not been fathered themselves. My experience with New Adam and Samson in recent years has revealed to me the very thing I am bringing up in this letter. Without actively engaged fathers teaching their children the very Word of God, the children will have a large hole in their spiritual formation and ultimately in their character.

The Father’s Heat Weekend is a place to start. The weekend is planned by fathers and there are no experts pontificating from an ivory tower. The very nature of this gathering is to offer fathers and their sons an opportunity to come together through spiritual encounters that reveal the supernatural bond God has placed in their hearts for one another. Young boys get to see firsthand just how much their fathers love them. Fathers get to see firsthand how sons respond when offered lovingly an experience that leads them into the depths of our heavenly Father’s heart. For many men, it has become a jumping off point to fulfill much of what this letter reveals & challenges men to become. For other fathers, it is a weekend of confirmation as they see their boys blossoming and interacting in ways that honor the relationship that has been already formed over the years. It becomes a time of tremendous intimacy with your own child and with other fathers.

Seldom does or culture offer time where both fathers and sons can sit under the power and presence of God together and drink in just how much our God desires for the family to be a reflection of His family – the trinity. The very nature of God is communion. The Father’s Heart Weekend can be the very place for this deep communion to begin.

There is an uprising of men in our Church today. We are taking back our responsibilities to be the head of our home (I speak of this teaching with full understanding that mothers are deeply involved as well). In this headship there is tremendous leverage given to us by the Father Himself. As He covers us so we cover our children and wives. The great Messianic prophesy of Psalm 22 shows how God brings the glory of salvation from one generation to the next through those who take seriously the charge to teach their children: A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, they will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this. (Psalm 22:30-31) Give your children a thousand reasons to believe. Maybe this upcoming weekend will be one of the first reasons. Pray about it.

David Bunker (someone who had a father teach him God’s ways)

Research

Researcher George Barna maintains that if current trends in the belief systems and practices of the younger generation continue, in ten years, church attendance will be half the size it is today.

Dawson MacAlister, national youth ministry specialist, remarked that 90% of youth active in high school church programs drop out of church by the time they are sophomores on college.

Data from the Southern Baptist Convention indicates that we are currently losing 70-88% of our youth after their freshman year in college. In a report to the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, T.C. Pinkney observed that 70% of teenagers involved in church youth groups stop attending church within two years of their high school graduation. The Southern Baptist Council on Family Life**reported an even more staggering statistic — that 88% of the children in evangelical homes leave church at the age of 18.

Published in: on March 13, 2009 at 10:23 am Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Boy Within by Glenn McClure

sundae-faceIn his book Fathered By God (Way of the Wild Heart) John Eldredge writes (about the stages of initiation) “And the man, though now a king in a far more serious manner, must never lose the wonder of the boy, that condition we call young at heart.  For by maturity we do not mean rigidity, calcification of the heart.  As George MacDonald said, ‘The boy should enclose and keep, as his life, the child at the heart of him, and never let it go…the child is not meant to die, but to be for ever fresh-born.’ Jesus spoke to this when he said we must become like a child if we would live in his kingdom (Matt 18:3).”  Wow!

The child within is “to be for ever fresh-born!”  Recovering and holding on to the wonder of the boy within is what we are after as men and sons of the Father.  This is how we continue in the unlearning of self-protection and where we remember and discover anew the child we are in Christ!

As men, we need many opportunities to take ourselves out of our normal routines and put ourselves in a context and place where we can unplug, play and be fresh-born…again.

We must, along with the Scriptures and the church “disciple” our boys out in creation, where we can train, develop, and continue to mold them into holy young men that are learning how to walk and talk with God their perfect Father.

Masculine spirituality calls us out into the wild–with the Creator– where the Holy Spirit can transform us as we are taken to the Father through the finished work of Jesus His son.

Celebrating the wonder of our boys and calling out what is in their hearts in a masculine and spiritual way is what we are after as Fathers of sons.  There is a wonderful, mysterious beauty to all of this…praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Published in: on March 9, 2009 at 9:01 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Reminder…

I love this song from Andrew Peterson. I’m reminded that in many ways my life hasn’t turned out quite the way I was expecting … or even hoping for and yet somehow God redeems.  Things that I once thought of as trying or inconvenient as a parent, I now see as a beautiful gift.  One of the things we also talk about on our retreats is to “pay attention to what moves you”.  Watch this video and let me know how you are moved.  How does this speak into your story?

Published in: on January 24, 2009 at 5:56 pm Comments (2)
Tags: , , , ,

Father and Son Bowl ‘09

shapeimage_1

There is a great event coming up in a few weeks I want to let you all know about. A friend of mine that I work with, Darin Clark, has created an awesome father/son football game in Franklin called the Father and Son Bowl. What began as a pick-up game in their back yard in 2007, grew to a community event with 160 fathers and sons last year.

This will be the first year for Cooper and me to play and I’ve already got some of my neighbors coming. This is just another way to connect with your boys and show them they truly are beloved sons! I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning than playing a bowl game with fathers and sons.

One of the other great aspects of this game is ALL proceeds benefit orphans both locally and abroad, so are being a father to the fatherless through this event!

Here are the details:

Who:
Fathers with sons* from ages 5 to 75. You could be 95 with a 75 year old son or 25 with a 5 year old son. You don’t have to be athletic or in shape, it’s all about having a good time! Fathers and son-in-laws, Grandfathers and grandsons can play together too.

*If you are a son (or know of one) whose father is unable to play, you can still sign up and will be placed on a team if space is available. Just email us and let us know the situation.

Teams will be chosen at random. Father and son(s) will play on the same team. Requests for groups to play together will be considered, but cannot be guaranteed.

What:
6 on 6, two hand touch, backyard football. Each team will play one game. Special rules are in place to ensure the safety and inclusion of our little guys too.

When:
Saturday, January 31st – Super Bowl Weekend! See schedule below. Rain or shine (prayin’ for snow!).

Where:
Franklin, TN – Lasko Fields on 1809 Columbia Avenue

Cost to Enter:
A $10 per player donation is required. 100% of all donations benefit orphans locally and abroad.

How to Register:
Print and complete the registration form on the Sign Up! page. Mail completed forms and donation.

Registration Deadline:
Saturday, January 17th. Sign up today, space is limited!

For Questions, email FatherAndSonBowl@mac.com or call us at (615) 585-7257

Schedule:
8:30 am Morning Sign in
9:00 Morning Kick Off Ceremonies
9:15 Round 1 Games
10:15 Round 2 Games

—-

11:30 am Afternoon Sign in
12:00 Afternoon Kick Off Ceremonies
12:15 Round 3 Games
1:15 Round 4 Games

You can also join the facebook event page to stay in the loop with others attending the game.

Hope to see you guys there, it’s going to be a blast!

Published in: on January 6, 2009 at 9:58 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Dads, be careful!

Men,

For those of you who were at the Father’s Heart Weekend, I am the “baseball guy”. I had an absolute BLAST getting to talk baseball with all of you. It was an honor and joy to suit up again and feel a part of something that was such a major part of my own life, and still is.

Dads, something hit me really hard today. I realized, at age 38, that I have been carrying around something in my mind and in my heart that my own father unknowingly put on me. I have been carrying a sense of “nothing is ever good enough”. My dad is a perfectionist, as am I. I can remember playing ball growing up and one particular game stands out. I was a senior in high school, and we played a double-header one day. In this double-header, I had seven hits, two of them being home runs. I think I had 8 RBI’s too. The only other thing that stands out to me is that I made an error in one of the games on defense. I felt really good about the day and when I went home, I called my dad, who was at work and missed the games. I told him how I did and that I had seven hits, two home runs, etc. I then told him I booted a ball and made the error. After I finished my report on the game, the only thing he said, for whatever reason, was “Why did you make that error?”.

Guys, I can’t tell you how this one instance has affected my life. This was 21 years ago and I can remember exactly where I was sitting, what I was wearing, and I can remember how utterly shattered I was, even at 17, that my dad only focused on the ONE negative part of a great day for me and my team.

Men, what you say matters. Your words have power. You have the opportunity to name things properly for your boys. You have the opportunity to celebrate your sons and their accomplishments, whether huge or small. Know who you are, and break the cycle of the wounds you have from your own father, and give your sons something that will last forever. Kick their butts (metaphorically) when needed but do it out of love. When they are excited about something, get excited with them!! I believe my dad, in his own way, wanted to push me to make me better, but as a young man, that’s not what I heard. I love my dad. I have never known a more giving man and loving man (in his own way). But guys, let me tell you, your sons look to you for so much. They want to be defined by you. They want to know how to be a man. The way they look at you will eventually mirror the way they look at God!! Trust me on this. CELEBRATE YOUR SONS!! Be careful when choosing your words and look for reasons to instill in your sons all the things that God wants from us as men. Dive into scripture and find all you can on the things that God calls for us, as men, to be and transfer those things to your sons. You can do this. Be careful!!

Kyle

Published in: on October 21, 2008 at 5:23 am Comments (1)
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Father and Son Gratitude!

God really did reveal His heart to us through our time together.  Here is a group picture of some courageous Dads and grateful sons!

Celebrating with you the Father’s heart,

Glenn

“My son and I drew closer this weekend, a closeness that I did not know how to achieve by myself! I have the utmost respect for every person this weekend-Thank you!”–Ernie Eash

“I found the fun of following my son into a boy’s life. We did several things together that were new for both of us—the joy of discovering adventures together was amazing, and that’s harder to pull off in the course of “normal life” at home.”–Ben Ellis

“Hi Glenn –
The Father / Son retreat was so powerful. I’ve been on a high from all the incredible, life-changing experiences. I already ordered and received the book Adam’s Return. I hope to start it this weekend. Keep me posted on ways I can stand with you for this ministry. And thanks for being faithful to God’s call in regards to this gathering. The fruit of it is beyond measure.”–Allen Arnold

“I’m realizing the importance and impact about intentionally spending time with William. I believe the experience of this weekend will strengthen William and I through the memories.”–Joe Hoffert

“I loved watching my son find and establish his own identity.”–Bradford Crowther

“I can’t begin to thank you guys enough for doing the Father’s Heart Weekend Experience! I am praying that this grows and spreads across the state, the Church, and the world as one of the tools we need to revitalize men as Sons! You don’t need but a few experiences like that one to write a best-selling book….

I thought Joshua might be just a little too young and distracted to really get much out of it, but he was DEEPLY affected by it. On Sunday night, 8/24, at bed-time, he was in tears and couldn’t really explain it. Only that these were not really tears of pain, but longing; and though he couldn’t explain what he was feeling, it was coming from me. So I stopped trying to understand or get an explanation, and just relished in our connection.

Please let me know how I can help with any future efforts. And, hey, we need to work to bestow femininity to our daughters, too…” In Christ,–Joel Goehner

“I really enjoyed the obstacle course—I’m reminded how difficult it has been in my own life to HEAR my Father’s voice.”–Mark Snider

“The Father’s Heart Weekend was a great time to reconnect with my son and I hope will be a catalyst for more intentional time spent together.”–Kevin Vedders

“Andrew and I are closer. He is my beloved son. God has and is healing me.”–Marc Kochumba

“The opportunity to connect to my boy’s heart—in a place where we could all drop our guard and let each other be each other was great. Looking forward to what God does in our relationship in the future.”–Jack Noonan

“This was an incredibly facilitated event—tapping into men with giftings that I don’t have–that allowed me to share my heart with my boys in a way that I desired. It also helped me to become a better father because I was impacted by other gifted men that are called by God and answered the call.”–Eric Martin

“This was an amazing memory maker and I can’t commend the leadership or thank them enough! It was simply awesome!”–Roy Roper

“This weekend was the perfect time for me and my son to play, laugh, love and pray. Not only did I celebrate the boy he is—but I called out the man he will be in the company of other boys and men. Incredibly, God as my Father did the same to me. We both savored every single minute.”–Allen Arnold

“It was an incredibly moving weekend as a father and healing as a son. My son and I needed this connection. It was incredible.”–Jim Schettler

“This experience was intended to be primarily for my son, but I discovered tht it meant a lot to my own growth as well. I felt God stirring my heart to be the King and Priest He meant me to be for my children. Thank You!”–Jared England

“Hi Glenn,
I would like to again thank you for the wonderful weekend !! As a dad I feel equipped to be a “Dad” now, my heart is filled with so much joy, I am seeing glimpses of a relationship that I have desired to have with my son for years. Thank You, Thank You, first hearing God on this and then following through with it!!”–Ernie Eash

Published in: on September 29, 2008 at 3:23 pm Comments (2)
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

What is Masculinity Anyway? by Glenn McClure

A lot of us are not even sure what masculinity is, what it looks like or where it comes from. Is this simply an issue of gender or is masculinity a deeper reality? There are obvious stereotypical images that many of us have grown up with and associated with the masculine and being a “real man”: John Wayne, the Fonz, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo or Rocky Balboa. There is something deep in the heart of a boy that needs to know that he is strong, capable, comes through, has what it takes.

I have a seven-year-old son named Max and he continues to amaze me with the things that make his heart come alive: Star Wars, Prince Caspian, Harry Potter, being a cowboy(six shooter cap gun and holster), playing baseball, Tae Kwon Do, using any stick he can find as a sword or spear and wrestling with me (I’m the dragon and he is the young, strong prince). I should say that I have yet to teach my son how to sword fight with a stick or how to pretend that he and I are Jedi warriors. His imagination, heart and words all speak the language of a boy, a man in the making or one who bears the image of God through his masculinity.

As I researched the issue of masculinity, I read something I had never considered before. Leanne Payne writes in her book Crisis in Masculinity that “man contains within himself at least the vestigial elements of both the masculine and the feminine.” She goes on to write that the Judaic creation account states that before Eve was taken from Adam’s body, Adam was created both male and female in the image of God (Gen 1:27). The two taken together, compose God’s image. She goes on to write that in the terrain of the heart the masculine and feminine are two complementary poles of the human psyche and that they are capacities and potentialities that must be nurtured, affirmed and in proper balance. This explains why, still using the analogy of my son Max, the Jedi Warrior likes to have stories read to him, likes to pray and cuddle with me at night. There is certainly a softer, more intimate side to my son that he is not afraid to let me see.

Elizabeth Elliot, states that “the essence of masculinity is initiation and the essence of femininity is response.” Leanne Payne goes on to write “much that is called emotional illness or instability today is merely the masculine or the feminine unaffirmed and out of balance within the personality.” According to Leanne Payne and others, masculinity is not a thing to be learned, but rather a quality to be tasted or experienced. She writes “the masculine within is called forth and blessed by the masculine without.” John Eldredge writes “in order to understand how a man receives a wound, you must understand the central truth of a boy’s journey to manhood: Masculinity is bestowed. A boy learns who he is and what he’s got from a man, or the company of men.” If the masculinity is not called forth and blessed by the father, it will lay dormant and the boy will split off from his masculinity and over develop his feminine. Payne writes, “a man is never a man until his father tells him that he is one.” It is interesting to note that even Jesus was affirmed as a son by God the Father. The Apostle Peter writes about one account “For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Jesus needed to hear those words from His father and so do we.

We are in the beginning stages of this work with our sons. They are not men-yet-but we can affirm and bless the masculinity that is in our boys and call it forth. May God the Father help us as we desire to deposit a huge dose of affirmation into their hearts in a few weeks.

Published in: on July 29, 2008 at 3:11 pm Comments (1)
Tags: , , , , , ,

“Masculine and Spiritual Initiation” by Glenn McClure

I have had a dream for the last few years–a dream of providing spiritual, masculine experiences for Fathers and sons.

I ran across this quote recently: “To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act.” (Anatole France, 1844-1924). It sums up what I’m attempting to do with and about that dream for fathers and sons. I began to act by talking to other men in our community who have sons and have been affected in deep ways by the Samson Society, New Adam Initiation Weekends, John Eldredge, Richard Rohr, Robert Bly, George McDonald. These and others have given us a language to speak a conversation that promises a great hope- Jesus offers men a deep spiritual and masculine healing that connects us back to the true Father. This connection compels us to invite our sons up to the same journey…a journey that will lead them to the Father.

God has brought four fathers together: Phil Davis, Tom White, Richard Roberts and myself, and we’re excited about our vision for father/son masculine and spiritual experiences. These past few months we have been planning a Father/Son Adventure, and now the date is set for August 22-24! We are calling this “The Father’s Heart Weekend Experience” and it is for fathers and their sons ages 5 – 12. This event will serve as a “stage one” of several stages of a boy’s initiation process; this is the stage John Eldredge calls the “Beloved Son.” We are desiring to create a father/son environment that will embody AWE: Affirmation, Wonder and Exploration for the boys. The overall message that we hope will be communicated to the boys will be: “You are your Father’s delight” and “We love being with you-doing what you love.” We desire to give our sons a taste of the heart of their true Father. The One who created and loves them perfectly.

How are you sharing your heart with your son/s? How are you pointing him to his true Father. Post a comment and let us know your ideas and experiences.

Published in: on July 25, 2008 at 5:08 am Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

“Identity is bestowed!” by Phil Davis

I was reading the following excerpt from The Sacred Romance today and felt it so connected with my story and one of the short-comings of my own father.

…we develop a functional self-image, even if it is a negative one. The little boy paints his red wagon a speckled gray with whatever Father left in the can after putting a new coat on the backyard fence. “Look what I did!” he says, hoping for affirmation of the wonderful impact his presence has on the world. The angry father shames him: “What do you think you’re doing? You’ve ruined it.” The boy forms an identity: My impact is awful; I foul good things up. I am a fouler. And he forms a commitment never to be in a place where he can foul things up again. Years later, his colleagues wonder why he turned down an attractive promotion. The answer lies in his identity, an identity he received from the impact he had on the most important person in his world and his fear of ever being in such a place again.

I’m reminded that so much of what our sons will come to know and believe about themselves is passed, or bestowed, to them from their father. I spent some time a few days ago apologizing to my own son, Cooper, for expecting perfection from him. We had been watching “Disney’s The Kid” and towards the end of the movie, Rusty’s father becomes so exasperated with him that he begins to yell and shake him accusing him of something he did not do- it’s horrific to watch and it really stuck with me. As the story unfolds, you come to see that a vow had been made at that moment by an 8 year old little boy…”I will NEVER cry again”. And for 32 years, until his 40th birthday, he doesn’t. That’s a remarkable illustration of the power of a father.

As a father, I so want to affirm Cooper and let him know how much I delight in him and how his father’s heart is filled with love for him. Yet too many times what I bestow on him is a message of “You’re not good enough and you’ll never get it right.” And so, when my sin is unmasked, I must go to him and ask forgiveness making sure he understands the truth – “You are incredible, I am proud of you, and I am crazy in love with you.”

As I write these words, tears are streaming down my face. I have yet to hear these words from my own dad. Yes, I imagine it’s true but it was not bestowed to me as part of my identity…to know in my innermost being that I am the apple of my dad’s eye! I was left with the task of finding that part of my identity on my own, and for the better part of 30 years I’ve been looking for ways to feel that I matter to those that mean the most to me. Fathers, this is so crucial…we must not miss this role we have!

This is one of the driving forces behind The Father’s Heart Weekend. If I’m not intentional about carving out moments with my son, they won’t happen on their own. Time goes by too fast and the demands of life are too draining. I must do this for my son, and I must do it now.

Published in: on July 18, 2008 at 4:27 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
« Older Entries