Sincere Faith at Home

I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice. (2 Timothy 1:5) Paul knew Timothy’s heritage. He knew that the things that characterized the grandmother and the mother characterized Timothy. That’s the way sincere faith works. . . . Listen to this, moms! Please […]

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Root of Rebellion

In a world hell-bent on having its own way, it is terribly difficult to cultivate the right attitude toward authority. The “QUESTION AUTHORITY!” mentality is so interwoven into the fabric of our society, it seems impossible to counteract it. Realistically, about the only place we can come to terms with it is in our homes. […]

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The One Thing Your Father Needs

In an age of equal rights and equal time, it’s only fair to give dads equal attention. For a few minutes, I’d like you to think about your father—or, perhaps, about the predominant male role model in your youth. Meditate on what that one individual has contributed to your life. Think about his influence over […]

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The Heartbeat of the Home

Cease listening, my son, to discipline, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. (Proverbs 19:27) The birth of a child is not taken lightly by the Lord. Each one is significant. Each one is viewed by God as a transfer of love from His heart to the couple receiving the gift. God never […]

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Taking It Easy with Time and Touch

Maybe it’s because I just had another birthday. Maybe it’s because I’m a granddad several times over. Or maybe it’s because of a struggling young seminarian I met recently who wishes he had been higher on his parents’ priority list than, say, fifth or sixth. He was hurried and ignored through childhood, then tolerated and […]

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Mother’s Day

If there’s one attitude families are guilty of more than any other when it comes to mothers, it’s presumption . . . taking them for granted . . . being nearly blind on occasion to the load moms carry. This was reinforced in my mind last week as I was thumbing through a row of […]

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Miles That Matter

John Steinbeck’s delightful little volume Travels with Charley fascinates me each time I read it. It tells how the author and his dog took to the highways, traveling hundreds of miles, encountering all sorts of interesting people and intriguing situations. William Least Heat Moon, of American Indian stock, wrote a similar work many years later […]

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Mother’s Indelible Impression

Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her rejoice who gave birth to you. Proverbs 23:25 There is no more influential or powerful role on earth than a mother?s. Significant as political, military, education, or religious public figures may be, none can compare to the impact made by mothers. Their words are […]

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Memories

My desk was top-heavy with research works on Paul the apostle and his century-one letter to the Philippians. Well-worn volumes, lexicon, dictionary, concordance, Greek New Testament, maps, charts, several versions of the Scriptures, pen, pencils, a couple of stacks of paper needed to be put away. I had just completed a manuscript and my heart […]

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Knowing Your Child

Educate a child according to his life requirements; even when he is old he will not veer from it. Proverbs 22:6 MLB When it comes to rearing children, developing a strong home where happiness and harmony can flourish, there is a primary starting point: knowing your child. This is the most profound insight, the single […]

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