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What does it take to be not just a good father, but a transformational one? Former NFL quarterback Jeff Kemp brings decades of wisdom to this intimate conversation about the journey from boyhood to manhood to fatherhood—and it may not be what you expect.

Growing up as the son of NFL star and vice-presidential candidate Jack Kemp, Jeff struggled with the pressure of comparison. "I became insecure because I could never be as good a big deal as my dad," he confesses. This vulnerability opens the door to the episode's most powerful revelation: authentic fatherhood begins not with perfection but with understanding your identity as a beloved son of God.

Jeff introduces us to the concept of "Level 5 Friendship"—the missing ingredient in many men's lives. "A Level 5 friend is trusted, loyal, confidential, intentional, committed and consistent," he explains. "Most men don't have a Level 4 friend or a Level 5 friend." Through his organization Men Huddle, Jeff helps fathers create intentional communities where they can be vulnerable about their struggles without fear of judgment.

The conversation takes an emotional turn when Jeff shares the story of his father's deathbed blessing. After reading his father a three-page list of thanks for everything his dad had taught him, Jack offered his son a final prayer that affirmed Jeff's identity, purpose, and surrender to God's will. This powerful moment illustrates how a father's words can anchor a child's identity for a lifetime.

Perhaps the most surprising insight comes when Jeff suggests that apologizing may be a father's most powerful tool. "My best fathering as a father of grown sons is an apology," he says. "I'm modeling the gospel when I say 'I messed up.'" This humble approach creates a culture of grace that reflects God's heart toward us.

Whether you're a new dad, a seasoned grandfather, or still healing from father wounds of your own, this conversation offers a new vision for manhood and fatherhood. Discover how receiving God's love rather than trying to earn it can transform not just how you parent, but how you live.

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Ready to be the parent or grandparent you’ve always dreamed of becoming? Subscribe and Tune into my podcast each week, and check out my resources, heartfelt encouragement, and practical tools to help you make a lasting impact on the ones you love most. Click this link below:

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Have you ever felt your identity slipping away as your once-adoring child transforms into a boundary-testing teenager? That profound shift when your sweet little one who hung on your every word now questions, challenges, or even rejects your guidance can leave you wondering not just how to parent effectively, but who you are when your role seems to be changing beneath your feet.

This episode dives deep into one of motherhood's most challenging transitions: maintaining connection with your changing child while preserving your own sense of self. Pastor Ed McGlasson offers a paradigm-shifting perspective on motherhood that transcends traditional parenting advice. Rather than focusing solely on techniques to manage your child's behavior, he illuminates how securing your own identity creates the foundation for authentic connection with your evolving child.

"Children need a lighthouse when the storm is raging around them," McGlasson explains, painting a powerful image of what steadfast motherhood looks like amid adolescent turbulence. This metaphor captures the essence of effective parenting during seasons of change—remaining steadfast not because you're controlling outcomes, but because you're anchored in something deeper than your children's responses to you.

Drawing from spiritual wisdom and practical experience as both a parent and counselor to countless families, McGlasson reveals how mothers can distinguish between their identity and their role, creating space for both authentic connection and healthy boundaries. You'll discover specific prayers and mindset shifts that help you remain effective even when parenting feels like navigating uncharted waters.

Whether you're currently navigating the choppy waters of parenting a teenager, preparing for those years ahead, or reflecting on your journey with now-adult children, this episode offers transformative insights into how motherhood can be both profoundly influential and deeply fulfilling—not despite your child's changes, but through them.

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Ready to be the parent or grandparent you’ve always dreamed of becoming? Subscribe and Tune into my podcast each week, and check out my resources, heartfelt encouragement, and practical tools to help you make a lasting impact on the ones you love most. Click this link below:

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We explore how to father teenagers without provoking anger, shifting from control to connection through questions, presence, and prayer. We share stories, Scripture, and practical tools to help you keep your teen’s heart and model a lived faith they can follow.

• The mission is to equip men to lead families with faith and courage
• Why it's best to move from top‑down authority to adult‑to‑adult conversations
• Training or leading by example: The sermon they see beats the one they hear
• How to pursue your estranged kids with persistence and forgiveness

Subscribe to our podcast to stay tuned each week for The Father Difference live show.

Support our ministry by checking out the donation link here!
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Support the show

Ready to be the parent or grandparent you’ve always dreamed of becoming? Subscribe and Tune into my podcast each week, and check out my resources, heartfelt encouragement, and practical tools to help you make a lasting impact on the ones you love most. Click this link below:

https://www.thefatherdifference.com/links

Send us a text

We explore how a father’s true power begins with receiving the Father’s love, why belief shapes behavior, and how the principle “more is caught than taught” changes home life. Stories of loss, hope, and a prophetic call for prodigals to return point us toward simple, daily steps of presence.

• Mission to equip men to be fathers who make a difference
• What the Father thinks about us shapes how we live
• Zephaniah 3:17 and the Father’s joyful song over you
• Modeling faith through crisis and loss
• Hope for prodigals and a renewed vision for 2025
• Prayer for families, cities, and restoration
• Invitation to join and support the Fatherhood Academy

Support our ministry by checking out the donation link here!
https://www.thefatherdifference.com/donate

Support the show

Ready to be the parent or grandparent you’ve always dreamed of becoming? Subscribe and Tune into my podcast each week, and check out my resources, heartfelt encouragement, and practical tools to help you make a lasting impact on the ones you love most. Click this link below:

https://www.thefatherdifference.com/links

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We point to one thing that changes a family’s future: the man you become in Christ, lived out in front of your kids when life gets hard. Through fires and loss, we show how formation, not perfection, builds a legacy your children can follow.

• Wildfires and a family update in Southern California
• Romans 8:28–29 and how suffering shapes character
• The story of David and Goliath as a model for parental formation
• “Whose son are you?” and the imprint of a parent
• Practical habits that build legacy: prayer, confession, presence, service, celebration
• Encouragement for single parents and grandparents
• Restoration for estranged families and breaking bitterness
• Prayer over families for healing and courage
• Resources, coaching, and community to equip fathers

Support our podcast by checking out the donation link here!
https://www.thefatherdifference.com/donate

Support the show

Ready to be the parent or grandparent you’ve always dreamed of becoming? Subscribe and Tune into my podcast each week, and check out my resources, heartfelt encouragement, and practical tools to help you make a lasting impact on the ones you love most. Click this link below:

https://www.thefatherdifference.com/links

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Pastor Ed shares his family's experience of devastating loss during the California wildfires, including the destruction of his son's home in Pacific Palisades, while finding hope through Romans 8:28-29.

• Christmas Day theft of grandchildren's presents, followed by wildfire destruction, creates a testing ground for faith
• Romans 8:28 promise that "all things work together for good" points to becoming more Christlike, not to material restoration
• Everything that happens to believers must pass before God's throne of perfect peace
• Suffering reveals where we've placed our trust and provides an opportunity to grow spiritually
• Prayer is the most potent response to tragedy, followed by giving and blessing others
• His daughter's example of gathering children to forgive thieves demonstrates true spiritual maturity
• God can bring revival out of destruction, just as He did after the great San Francisco earthquake

Visit www.thefatherdifference.com/links for a free book download and information about personal coaching.

Support the show

Ready to be the parent or grandparent you’ve always dreamed of becoming? Subscribe and Tune into my podcast each week, and check out my resources, heartfelt encouragement, and practical tools to help you make a lasting impact on the ones you love most. Click this link below:

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Pastor Ed explores the transformative power fathers have in shaping their children's identity, faith, and future through intentional presence and blessing.

• Your words as a father have extraordinary power to shape your children's souls and future
• The sincere faith you demonstrate becomes the anchor your children return to throughout life
• Speaking specific blessings over your children cements their identity and purpose
• Teaching your children to forgive quickly prevents bitterness from destroying relationships
• The physical act of laying hands on your children creates powerful moments of blessing
• Your legacy isn't found in career achievements but in the character you transfer to your children
• Modern culture often diminishes the father's role, while God designed fathers to provide essential blessings
• Being present and engaged as a father creates ripple effects across generations
• The story of Jacob renaming Benjamin demonstrates how a father's words can rewrite destiny
• Forgiveness frees both the forgiver and the forgiven from emotional prisons

Visit thefatherdifference.com to learn more about our Fatherhood Academy and receive coaching to become the father God has called you to be.

Support the show

Ready to be the parent or grandparent you’ve always dreamed of becoming? Subscribe and Tune into my podcast each week, and check out my resources, heartfelt encouragement, and practical tools to help you make a lasting impact on the ones you love most. Click this link below:

https://www.thefatherdifference.com/links

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The cancel culture phenomenon has infiltrated family relationships, with many parents experiencing the pain of being "ghosted" by their own children. This growing issue stems from an inability to navigate forgiveness and reconciliation, leaving families fractured and relationships broken.

• Most couples in troubled relationships don't know how to forgive one another
• When children "cancel" parents, they often believe something false about themselves and their parents
• Asking "Is there something I've done that hurt you?" creates space for healing
• Proverbs 17:9 shows that "love prospers when a fault is forgiven"
• Forgiveness requires specificity—saying "forgive me for what" rather than generic apologies
• The story of Tom and his son John demonstrates how God can heal relationships before it's too late
• A father reconciled with his daughter after 17 years by asking how he had hurt her
• The prodigal son story is really about the father waiting on the porch, ready to restore the relationship
• Building a culture of forgiveness in your family safeguards future generations
• Be quick to repent to God first, then model forgiveness to your children
• Ask questions rather than preach sermons to your children
• Don't give up on estranged children—they need you in their story

Visit www.thefatherdifference.com/links for a free book download and information about personal coaching.

Support the show

Ready to be the parent or grandparent you’ve always dreamed of becoming? Subscribe and Tune into my podcast each week, and check out my resources, heartfelt encouragement, and practical tools to help you make a lasting impact on the ones you love most. Click this link below:

https://www.thefatherdifference.com/links