This summer our family embarked upon the grand adventure of multi-generational living. It began in May when our daughter, her husband, and their then 13-month-old son moved into our upstairs as they transition from starving graduate student status to starving artists status. The adventure is going well, everyone is adjusting, and my husband and I…
There are worse things than not having a pastor, and few things more important than selecting the right shepherd. There is no “magic bullet” for the call process, but starting the process with some theological and practical wisdom will make that process more likely to succeed. Of all the decisions a congregation makes, no decision…
What does it mean to faithfully lead our children and teens into a life of discipleship? And what does that mean in a world (and church?) filled with competing cultural voices which call them to “come and follow” on roads… Read More The post Youthworkers, Parents, and Contending For The Faith. . . appeared first…
I LOVE summer, but sometimes I think it can be the most selfish season for our family. The hustle and bustle of the school year and all that it entails finally winds down (only to pick back up again with back-to-school prep. Sheesh!), and we all get a chance to come up for air for…
Photo by Sandra Seitamaa on Unsplash Walking into a new and unfamiliar home, announcing her name, and leaving her biological mom behind without any tears, came a 5-year-old girl. She could not write her name, count to three or say the alphabet when she entered our daughter’s care. Within three days, her younger half-sister was…
Thanks to some very effective marketing, Amazon’s Prime Days are days when we really ramp up our thoughts and desires regarding stuff. I can’t point to any hard and fast data, but I can tell you about the seemingly endless… Read More The post Proverbs and Prime Day. . . appeared first on The Center…
It starts like an ordinary day. The morning routine is met with the usual resistance. (We do this Every Morning. Why are the kids always so surprised?) Milk is spilled on the counter. Somebody leaves something back at the house and we have to dash back to get it. Everyday chatter fills the air. You…
Relationships are central to making a spiritual impact on children. Children and teenagers tend to embrace their parents’ faith if parents have heart connections (relationships) with them. If a parent and teenager grow distant from each other, the parent will probably have little spiritual impact, even if the parent teaches biblical truth. Drawing from empirical…
A friend of mine started a Facebook group this summer to help parents find fun things to do for their kids. Almost every day different moms put up great ideas to keep children engaged and learning through the hot, stale months at hand. The trouble, of course, is that my children are too old for…
The chant was standard fare back when I was in high school, and it would reverberate through the gym several times a game as we cheered on our teammates running up and down the court. “WE DON’T MESS AROUND, HEY!… Read More The post A Youthworker’s Passionate Plea To Parents. . . appeared first on…