Family & Parenting

I don’t know about you, but thoughts of heaven bring me great comfort! I love the promise in Revelation 21:4: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” On Focus on […]

Every December, you pledge to slow down at Christmas. And every December, the season rushes by in a blur. You’re not alone. It’s tough to hit the brakes during the holidays. There are parties, decorations, and a mountain of gifts to wrap. Is it any wonder we feel stressed out instead of relaxed and closer

In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, we learn about Aslan, a great lion who rules Narnia. Susan, a little girl who stumbles into the enchanted world through a magic wardrobe, asks Mr. Beaver if Aslan is safe. “Safe?” Mr. Beaver replies. “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe.

When you and your spouse don’t see eye to eye, do you understand why? According to Dr. Kevin Leman, a common reason most couples overlook is birth order. That little boy, that little girl that you once were, you still are. Your birth order influences how you see relationships and, therefore, your marriage. Birth order

Christmas is all about Jesus. We celebrate the historic reality that the Creator of the universe cloaked Himself in flesh and blood and submitted Himself to the care of human parents as a vulnerable, dependent child – the ultimate expression of humility. “Unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given” (Isaiah

Thanksgiving is one of our nation’s most cherished traditions. Before America was even founded, the Pilgrims expressed gratitude to God for His many blessings – even when life was hard. And life was hard. The Pilgrims’ voyage across the Atlantic Ocean took 65 days in cold, miserable conditions. Many of them became ill, and one

When two people share the same vision, they can change the world. Take Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak for example. Their vision for home computers revolutionized the tech industry and made Apple one of the most valuable companies in the world. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield did the same thing with ice cream. They turned

Is your marriage in a rhythm? Or in a rut? Three ruts are common to most relationships: Seasonal ruts are positive marital rhythms that served you in a past season of marriage but are no longer helpful, such as conversation habits or work schedules. Inherited ruts are negative rhythms you inherited and brought with you

Jean and I have two boys, Trent and Troy. They’re in their 20s and on a good track through life. They’re active, so we don’t see them as often as we would like, but we stay in touch almost daily and have a good time when we’re together. Unfortunately, that experience is not true of

I didn’t have good role models growing up. My dad left our family when I was five and died an alcoholic a few years later. Hank, my stepdad, walked out on my siblings and me the day of my mother’s funeral. My foster dad, Mr. Reil, brought even more chaos into my life. By the