a provocative reality for parents

Apart from their own sin nature, it’s almost certain that I will be the single biggest influence of sin in my children’s lives.
What do you think?  Do you own that?
Here’s why I own that and continue parenting with boldness(instead of throwing in the towel in hopelessness): Christ and His work on the Cross makes all [...]

the lynchpin of deep, lasting friendship: commitment.

Think of your closest and oldest friend.
How is that you are still friends with that person after years and years of life changes, moves, babies, marriages, conflicts, sin, and intrusions?  Or maybe a better question is: do you have a friend with which you’ve experienced a range of life and disagreements and have still maintained [...]

want something good for free?

Then go visit our friend at The Responsible Father.  (Same guy who hosts The Responsible Puppet in my blogroll).
He’s giving away 5 Fighter Verse Song CD’s.  I’ve recommended them before as a great tool to memorize Scripture and enjoy doing it!
What I may not have mentioned is that my husband Tom has worked closely with [...]

note to self: be a drop-out.

I sporadically participate in a competitive world of comparisons.
Note to self: drop out.
This is a plague for moms of every stripe.  Especially young moms with young kids (I think anyway, but who knows maybe it infects the moms with older kids too).
It’s as simple as seeing another child do well at something and, instead of [...]

it’s the old old story

I never grow tired of the Gospel. Not only has it forever changed my life and transformed who I am, it continues to be a balm in every circumstance.
This is what true Christians believe, and yes, it is foolishness, but to those of us who believe it is the power of God and the [...]

frozen embryos: awaiting demise or continued life

Al Mohler takes a look at what he calls the “disposition decision” in regard to frozen embryos:
For those whose progeny are now frozen in fertility clinics, the “disposition decision” will eventually have to be made. The decision about the eventual disposition of these human embryos will reveal what these couples truly believe about human dignity [...]

miscarriage and memorials

I think a lot of miscarriages happen with little said or done.
Many women miscarry before they’ve had the chance to tell family and friends that they’re pregnant.  And so, after the loss of their little ones, they soldier on.  The baby is remembered mainly in the heart of a grieving mother.
For me, it’s helpful to [...]

repent! it’s never the wrong message.

I think when difficulties/trials/catastrophes/sufferings are brought to bear on our lives, an apt message to preach to our own soul is always, “Repent!”
It’s so offensive.  And the message seems to rub salt in the wound.  It’s kind of like, “Hey, I am enduring a terrible loss, the last thing I need to do is be [...]

riding the coat-tails to second-hand glory

Do you want to be famous?  Maybe not really famous, but just a little bit famous: well-known and respected by a couple hundred (or maybe just a couple tens of) people who think you are awesome.  And smart and clever and insightful.  And very godly.
So, if that doesn’t work out, would you latch onto fame [...]

autumn resolutions

I’ll let Pastor John say it better than I could:
“God approves of New Year’s resolutions. And mid-year, and three-quarters-year, and monthly, and weekly, and daily resolutions. Any and all resolutions for good have God’s approval—if we resolve by faith in Jesus.
I would like to encourage you to make some autumn resolutions. Socrates said, “The unexamined [...]