DadAwesome 109 | Crafting Key Moments (Ryan Skoog Revisited)
Feb 16, 2020
Ryan Skoog, entrepreneur and ministry leader who builds mission-focused travel and social enterprises. He shares stories of prayerful fatherhood, designing 24-hour surprise adventures tied to family values, and bringing kids into sacrificial, compassion-building experiences. Short rituals, promise rings, and intentional one-on-one milestones are highlighted as ways to craft lasting moments.
47:11
Baptism By Fire At Birth
- When Colin was born he was rushed to the NICU with a possible fatal infection and Ryan prayed desperately for him.
- That crisis became Ryan's defining moment to “fight on his knees” for his children.
Choose Depth Over Breadth
- Ryan chose depth of influence in his family over breadth of external influence as a leader.
- He applies entrepreneurial intentionality to fathering to prioritize deep, lasting impact on his kids.
Create Value-Tied One-On-One Adventures
- Map family values and design one-on-one surprise adventures tied to those values starting around age seven.
- Use a physical token (cross, rock carving, sword) and a short whirlwind trip to cement the lesson.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Ryan's family and dad beginnings
02:25 • 3min
Passion for travel and family influence
05:40 • 3min
Founding Venture and 'tough things' model
08:11 • 2min
Entrepreneurship funds ministry operations
10:31 • 4min
Struggle, brotherhood, and family sacrifice
14:47 • 2min
Choosing depth: being an intentional dad
17:08 • 1min
Designing one-on-one adventure milestones
18:35 • 59sec
Examples of value-based adventures
19:34 • 2min
Whirlwind trips and ritual details
21:34 • 54sec
Sunrise climb for purity and promise rings
22:28 • 1min
Mother-daughter moments and legacy trips
23:40 • 1min
Compassion adventures and mission exposure
25:00 • 4min
Family dashboard, prayers, and memorization
28:30 • 2min
Fruits of the Spirit as family goals
30:27 • 2min
Why kindness matters as witness
32:00 • 3min
Modeling kindness and participatory growth
35:09 • 45sec
Practical tactics to grow kindness
35:55 • 4min
Power of praying for parenting breakthroughs
40:20 • 1min
Resources, community, and dad encouragement
41:47 • 2min
Prayer for dads and closing blessing
43:51 • 2min
Outro
45:27 • 2min
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The Entitlement Cure
Finding Success in Doing Hard Things the Right Way
Dr. John Townsend
In 'The Entitlement Cure,' John Townsend addresses the growing problem of entitlement in today's society.
The book provides practical strategies for parents, educators, and leaders to combat entitlement and foster a sense of gratitude and responsibility in children and young adults.
Townsend explores the root causes of entitlement and offers tools for cultivating a healthy work ethic, resilience, and empathy.
The book's approach helps individuals find fulfillment in doing hard things and appreciate the value of earned success.
By implementing these principles, readers can equip themselves and others for success and meaningful contribution.
#
Boundaries with Teens
When to Say Yes, How to Say No
Dr. John Townsend
'Boundaries with Teens' by John Townsend addresses the unique challenges of parenting teenagers.
The book provides guidance on setting appropriate boundaries that respect teens' growing independence while ensuring their safety and well-being.
Townsend explores topics such as communication, trust, and consequences.
He emphasizes the importance of teaching teens responsibility and problem-solving skills.
By understanding the principles outlined in this book, parents can navigate the complexities of adolescence and build healthy relationships with their teens.
Ultimately, this book empowers parents to guide their teens toward maturity and responsible adulthood.
#141
• Mentioned in 143 episodes
Ephesians
Canon Martin Kitchen
This book approaches the Epistle to the Ephesians in a unique manner, deviating from the traditional verse-by-verse analysis.
It acknowledges the debt of biblical studies to historical method while offering a fresh and comprehensive examination of the text.
The study provides a radical and insightful look at the Epistle, making it a valuable resource for scholars and readers interested in New Testament studies.
#
Boundaries with Kids
Dr. John Townsend
Henry Cloud
#8452
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Psalm 91
New King James Version
Meyer, David
This book provides an illustrated version of Psalm 91 in the New King James Version, designed for young children.
It aims to introduce them to the themes of trust, protection, and faith found in the psalm.
The illustrations help make the biblical text more accessible and engaging for young readers.
#141
• Mentioned in 143 episodes
Ephesians
Canon Martin Kitchen
This book approaches the Epistle to the Ephesians in a unique manner, deviating from the traditional verse-by-verse analysis.
It acknowledges the debt of biblical studies to historical method while offering a fresh and comprehensive examination of the text.
The study provides a radical and insightful look at the Epistle, making it a valuable resource for scholars and readers interested in New Testament studies.
#2791
• Mentioned in 17 episodes
Blue Like Jazz
Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
Donald Miller
In 'Blue Like Jazz,' Donald Miller shares his journey of faith and spirituality in a unique and relatable way.
The book is a collection of essays that reflect on various aspects of Christian life, from the author's experiences with church and community to his thoughts on God, faith, and the human condition.
Miller's writing is characterized by its honesty, humor, and a willingness to challenge traditional religious narratives.
#3257
• Mentioned in 14 episodes
The tech-wise family
Andy Crouch
Top 10 Revisited
Jeff sat down with Ryan Skoog and recorded this conversation in June 2019. Originally released as Episode 77, this conversation is being revisited as part of our Throwback Winter Series.
Ryan SkoogRyan is an entrepreneur, ministry leader, world traveler and adventure dad. He started Fly for Good, Volunteer Card, Yonder Travel Insurance, and the non profit Venture.org which helps people do tough things to help people in tough places around the world.
Conversation Notes:- 4:20 – Story of the first moments after their son was born
- 4:50 – "That was our welcome to parenthood. Welcome to getting on your knees and crying out to God in prayer"
- 5:34 – "I want to stay fighting on my knees like this all of the time for my kids"
- 6:30 – Story of travel and being exposed to those in need around the world
- 7:50 – Story of Ryan's dad and mixing love for travel with love for evangelism and serving others
- 9:25 – The impact of waking up and finding his dad reading his Bible every morning (praying through Psalm 91 over his family)
- 9:55 – Praying Ephesians chapter 1 and Ephesians chapter 3 over his kids
- 10:40 – Ryan explaining his career journey and the story of launching Venture
- 14:15 – the other organizations that Ryan leads:
- 16:20 – "As parents, we shouldn't just have experiences where we celebrate together with our kids. We also need experiences where we struggle together. Where we sacrifice together"
- 17:28 – "Instead of being an amazing leader & a decent dad, I want to be an amazing dad & a decent leader. If I have to make a choice, I want to take the same entrepreneurial type of thinking & intentionality to being a dad as I would to being a leader."
- 18:30 – "I wanted to be able to create experiences, key moments for my kids surrounded around our families core values"
- 18:50 – Ryan explains the step by step plan for creating these 1-on-1 moments with his kids
- Age 6 or 7 — Adventure in the woods. Create a cross.
- 20:05 – Rock Climbing while learning about character and values. Character anchors us like a rope anchors us
- 20:40 – Cliff jumping for learning about courage
- 21:40 – The set-up for the adventure the night before. Burnt edge paper with a note. 24 hour blitz trips.
- 22:30 – Climbing up a mountain for a sunrise. Holiness and Purity. "It's tough, but it's worth it"
- 23:50 – Mother/daughter trip to Chicago for tea.
- 24:35 – Trip to a church in Alaska with Ryan's dad and his son. A prayer moment. A moment about legacy.
- 25:15 – An adventure when they spend a night on the streets. Learning about compassion.
- 25:45 – Mission trips to difficult places in third world countries have transformed their kids. Their kids pray every night for these kids without mommy's and daddy's
- 28:20 – Normalizing in a good way intentional parenting
- 28:35 – The family dashboard of values and mission and prayers they are praying as a family.
- 29:30 – Memorizing scripture as a family
- 30:05 – "We should not, as parents, have a mentality that outsources faith to the church. They should reinforce what we are doing as parents"
- 30:30 – Every member of their family has a Fruit of the Spirit that they're working to grow in
- 32:10 – Introducing the focussed Fruit of the Spirit – KINDNESS
- 34:30 – Story of the early church adopting babies left in the trash – "The church was started on kindness"
- 35:15 – Inviting our kids to be able to call us as parents out when we are violating the Fruit of the Spirit
- 37:40 – Catching your kids doing something good and celebrating it
- 38:40 – Daily prayer focus
- 39:30 – Having the interviewing questions with our kids. Asking for feedback from them on how we are doing as dads
- 40:00 – Using code words to express large emotions with a short phrase
- 40:30 – "If you pray for something for your kids, you will see it start to happen"
- 41:00 – "God is actively wanting to answer prayers from parents for their kids. It's pretty amazing."
- 41:55 – Ryan's last words… Add more intentionality to your dad life.
- 42:50 – We need each other
- Recommended Books:
- The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place Hardcover (Andy Crouch)
- Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children (Henry Cloud and John Town)
- Boundaries with Teens: When to Say Yes, How to Say No Paperback (John Townsend)
- The Entitlement Cure: Finding Success in Doing Hard Things the Right Way (John Townsend)
- Take entrepreneurial business books and apply those principles to being a dad