Due to my love for music, I want my kids to know its inherent beauty beyond their ability simply to hear notes. So with no hidden dreams of creating prodigies, my husband and I have invested our finances, time, and oversight into making music a priority. We’ve given our kids certain choices along... read more »

This story of the prodigal son is one of the most famous and familiar of Jesus’ parables. And the most personal. For it touches an area that is often the most painful—our children. In the parables of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7) and lost coin (Luke 15:8-10), the emphasis is on the lostness and... read more »

I don’t know what else I can do!” my exasperated friend sulked. “I set high standards for my kids and hold them accountable for their actions, and all they do is hate me. What did I do to deserve this?” He noted how he has always been “hard” (his word) on his son so that he would do... read more »

Christmas has come and gone. The decorations that decked the shopping malls and churches have been taken down. And the Christmas tree in your living room has probably been dumped outside. The festivities and revelry may be over for us, but after Jesus’ birth Joseph and Mary observed three... read more »

During a press conference in New York City for Clint Eastwood’s new movie Hereafter, the journalists were clearly smitten with him. When a Brazilian journalist apologized for his poor command of English and a “silly question,” Eastwood sat forward in his chair and told the writer, “No... read more »

My dad surpassed the biblical lifespan of 80 years mentioned in Psalm 90:10. But his 84 years was barely 9 percent of the average lifespan of the first 10 generations of humans. Adam lived 930 years. Seth, 912. Enosh, 905. Kenan, 910. Mahalalel, 895. Jared, 962. Enoch, 365. Methuselah, 969. Lamech,... read more »

Contestants in the Wife Carrying World Championships meet in the Finnish town of Sonkajärvi. During the contest, men tote their wives a full 831 feet through gravel, grass, and sand, over two obstacles and through water. Dropping your wife means a 15-second penalty—not to mention dealing with an... read more »

John 3:17: God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him. It’s obvious, when you look at creation as a whole, that God loves diversity. Debbie and I have three sons, and each one of them is different from the other two. They’re distinct in... read more »

Okay, I admit the title of this devo is misleading. I don’t have sons. I am the proud father of three lovely girls! And by the grace of God, I strive to be the kind of parent God wants me to be. Now since I have raised only daughters, I’ve been told that my parenting expertise is restricted to... read more »

When our first child was born, my husband determined to share in the care of our child. While we have different parenting strengths and styles, we have carried the responsibilities together, with the exception of one area. My husband decided that although nature’s design made it impossible for him... read more »