The school year is coming to an end. Summer is just around the corner. There are no more book reports, science fair projects, after-school band practices or dance rehearsals. Typically, days are less structured, so why not take advantage of it by encouraging and challenging your teen to engage in practices that nurture faith?One way …
“And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” – Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NLT) I’m …
I remember the first time I attempted to read the Bible all the way through. Genesis was captivating because it was filled with stories of men and women who struggled with God. The opening of Exodus was gut-wrenching as I imagined Pharaoh ordering the murder of children. I tried to envision the plagues. The Bible …
“Too many leaders are like travel agents passing out brochures to places they’ve never been.” Brennan Manning The first family retreat I led was a near-disaster. It was my first big event as a first-year student minister. Ten families registered. Games, worship, food, activities were all planned weeks ahead. I was excited about families being …
“Our own experience with loneliness, depression, and fear can become a gift for others, especially when we have received good care. As long as our wounds are open and bleeding, we scare others away. But after someone has carefully tended to our wounds, they no longer frighten us or others. When we experience the healing …
A new year… new possibilities… new habits… This time of year is a great time to rekindle, renew or begin some important disciplines with your children. Here are just a few ideas: Follow a Daily Reading Plan. Encourage, provide incentives, and participate with your child in some kind of reading plan. YouVersion has several plans … Continue reading »
It’s a new year which means a great opportunity for new beginnings, recommitment and renewal. One of those commitments should include growing as ministers. Here are five keys I’ve discovered to growing as a minister. Put your family first – I’m just going to say it from the outset, unless you determine to put your … Continue reading »
Just 9 work days left in 2012. I’ve attended a few Christmas parties, have eaten more than I should, and am feeling the exhaustion of weeks of ministry. These next 9 days are some of the most tempting days to slack off and shut down; but I’m fighting that tendency because these last days of … Continue reading »
(This post is the second of a 2-part series on Advent from my perspective) Growing up in a church heritage that didn’t observe Christian Advent I never fully understood or appreciated this season. It hasn’t been until the past 5 years that I’ve begun to appreciate this season and participate in it as an individual and … Continue reading »
A parent of a special-needs child shared with several of us in a seminar 4 things the church can do to support families. They include: Start learning Ministry leaders, Bible class teachers, small group leaders to learn about their children, how to relate, the challenges they face in order to better understand and disciple children … Continue reading »
In a world where so much focus at Christmas is placed on gift giving, card sending, and party attending, the season of Advent itself is a precious gift. Its purpose is to help us remember the story of a peasant girl who gave birth in a stable to a child whose life, death and resurrection … Continue reading »
Families of children with special needs face challenges most of us take for granted. Challenges such as Finding respite. While most of us can easily find child care and respite many parents of children with special needs find this challenging. Attending church. Families of children with special needs often feel limited to where/when to attend church … Continue reading »
