With excitement in her eyes, Sarah kissed her parents goodbye. John and Judy’s decision to let their sixteen-year-old daughter attend the girls’ summer art camp wasn’t difficult. They had heard great things about the program and believed it was an excellent opportunity. Then John and Judy learned the famous art camp was a magnet for […]
Read MoreCategory Archives: Parenting
Everyday Events: Teachable Moments
Perhaps it is easiest to teach theology from behind a pulpit. However, when it comes to our kids, theology is learned best while slurping spaghetti, casting a fishing line, or looking out the car window. This is true for a couple of reasons. First of all, theology is not something “other” than normal life. Though […]
Read MoreDating My Daughter
Dating is nothing new for my daughter. Years ago Rachael began leaving our house once a month for dinner and a movie with the guy she loved: Her dad. It wasn’t for lack of alternatives. Boys proposed to her when she was three, four, and twice when she was six. Each time she most emphatically […]
Read MoreCreating a Legacy: Preparing the Stones
“Papa, papa,” the boy pointed to a stack of twelve stones as he yanked on his grandfather’s tunic. “What do these stones mean?” “Oh Jacob, let me tell you a story about our Lord’s hand of deliverance. . . .” After forty years of pitching tents and digging graves, the children of Israel finally crossed […]
Read MoreChristmas All Year Long
Read Matthew 1-2. Have you ever thought about giving something away every day of the year leading up to Christmas? These daily gifts could be called our “Christmas projects,” one per day, every day till Christmas. Just think of the fun of being able to say “Merry Christmas” in July! Here are a few suggestions: […]
Read MoreBeyond Today
If you can look into the seeds of time, And say which grain will grow, and which will not, Speak, then, to me. —William Shakespeare1 Who wouldn’t want to hear from someone like that? Who hasn’t felt him- or herself standing on tiptoe, straining to see what lies ahead? Every generation has had its share […]
Read MoreAnalyzing Unselfishness
Read Philippians 2:1-4. To be “humble in heart” as Christ stated He was, is to be submissive to the core. It involves being more interested in serving the needs of others than in having one’s own needs met. Someone who is truly unselfish is generous with his or her time and possessions, energy and money. […]
Read MoreAll of a Quiver
I love to spend time in the Psalter. The Book of Psalms is a collection of songs and prayers. Some have referred to it as ancient Israel’s hymnal. The poetry of the psalms is compact and profound – they work like pictures for the mind and emotions; and we know a picture is often worth […]
Read MoreA Gift for Dad
In an age of equal rights and equal time, it seems only fair to give dads equal attention. Moms get the lion’s share of the parenting accolades, and let’s be honest—they deserve every bit they receive. Too often though, dads get lost in the shuffle. So for the next few moments, move over, ladies . […]
Read MoreA Dad’s Greatest Gift
Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding. —Proverbs 4:1 Dad, is it possible you’ve gotten overly committed, so involved in your work or some away-from-home project or hobby that it is draining your time and energy with your family? I understand, believe me, I do. . […]
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