I Took My Son Dove Hunting… Then God Taught Me Something

What happens when a simple dove hunt with your kids turns into a conversation about fatherhood, faith, legacy, and discipleship?In this episode of Cross Trails, John and Troy talk about taking their kids dove hunting—and how the experience became a reminder of what really matters. The hunt wasn't just about birds, guns, or being outdoors. It was about spending time together, teaching responsibility, building memories, passing down a heritage, and creating opportunities to point our kids toward God.We talk about the importance of being present with your children, putting the phone down, teaching kids how to work, simplifying life, and making the outdoors a place where conversations about Jesus happen naturally.We also get real about the challenge of balancing work, ministry, marriage, fatherhood, and the temptation to become so busy doing good things that we neglect the people God has placed closest to us.One of the biggest questions of the episode is this:What are you actually passing down to your kids?Proverbs 22:6 reminds us to train up a child in the way he should go. Deuteronomy 6 reminds us to continually talk about God's commands with our children—when we sit at home, when we walk along the road, when we lie down, and when we get up.The goal isn't simply to raise kids who know how to hunt, hike, fish, camp, or navigate the outdoors.It's to raise kids who know Jesus.