Fourteen-year-old Connor Halsa from Minnesota caught more than fish on his summer vacation last year. He and his family were enjoying a sunny day on the lake when he reeled in a wallet that contained $2,000 in cash. And yet, even as Connor spread out the money on a rock to dry, not once did visions of a new bike or gaming system dance through his mind. That wallet belonged to someone, and Connor intended to find out who and return it to him.
Practical Advice for Parenting Strong-Willed Children
One of my boys is strong-willed. Over the years, Jean and I have joked that we were raising a lawyer-in-training. He could find a loophole in anything.
Once, Jean hosted a women’s tea and set out chocolates in the living room. She later discovered half the bowl was gone. When she asked our son if he’d eaten all the chocolates, he responded, “No,” without hesitation.
“You didn’t eat the chocolates?”
“Oh, I ate some of them.
The Impact of a Life Well Lived
I’m excited for the opportunity to highlight the life and work of my friend Dr. Gary Chapman on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “The Impact of a Life Well Lived.”
Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
I can think of few people who exemplify this more than Dr. Gary Chapman
Many of you know him as the author of The Five Love Languages, which has sold 20 million copies and has been translated into over 45 languages.
Loved from the Inside Out
At an orphanage in Guatemala, author Dave Willis saw how deeply love can change a person’s life. Most of the children at the facility had been rescued from sex-traffickers or abusive families. Like Margarita, who had been abused by her father and uncle. Everyone who should have protected her wounded her instead.
When she arrived at the orphanage, she hardly spoke and didn’t trust anyone – especially men. John and Jessica, the couple who ran the orphanage, did their best to love Margarita and to help her feel safe in every way that they could.
Invisible Things
When Albert Einstein was a little boy, his father gave him a compass. The moment changed his life. No matter what direction he faced, the needle always pointed north. It was the first time he realized that something invisible influenced the universe.
You and I are so used to invisible things that we rarely give them a second thought. We can’t see air, but we experience its influence every time it fills our lungs or blows through our hair.
Discovering the Secrets to a Lifelong Romance
Why did you get married?
To work a job?
To do laundry?
To pay bills?
Of course not. Yet, many couples wind up with marriages in exactly that kind of “ho-hum” condition.
After the euphoria of the wedding ceremony fades, life settles into a daily routine of often-mundane activity. Careers are chased, children are born, and ever-larger homes are purchased requiring greater amounts of time and money to maintain. Before long, a relationship once nourished by hours on the phone together becomes two people who only talk when they’re discussing something practical, like finances or the kids’ schedules.
The Ol’ Ball and Chain
There’s a satirical video on social media that highlights a common marriage stereotype. It begins with a young woman accepting a surprise marriage proposal. The moment she says yes, the footage switches to clips of her toiling away in domestic drudgery. One moment, she’s enraptured by the beauty and romance of marriage. The next, she’s buried beneath dishes, laundry, and buckets of soapy water.
Negative stereotypes about marriage don’t end there. Some people refer to their marriage as a life sentence with no chance for parole.
Using Your Unique Personality to Share Your Faith
What stirs in your heart when you read Matthew 9:37-38? “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’”
What about Mark 16:15? “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’”
Do verses about evangelism like these excite you? Or do they fill you with anxiety?
For extroverts like me, connecting with people about the Christian faith is somewhat natural.
The Empty Nest Years
If your children have launched into adulthood recently, congratulations! You’re entering a new chapter of life called “The Empty Nest Years.” On the horizon ahead of you are obstacles to overcome and exciting new opportunities to take advantage of. The question to answer in this season of life is, “How do I move forward with purpose?” To that end, allow me to offer a few suggestions.
Start putting your kids’ childhood behind you. Letting go of the parenting phase of life isn’t always easy, but it’s important to do.
Earn, Save and Give All You Can
If your boss offered you a big raise, can you think of a good reason to turn it down? Coach Tony Bennett, the University of Virginia men’s basketball coach, had the best reason of all: to bless other people.
In 2019, Coach Bennett’s team won their first NCAA Championship title in program history. As a reward, the university offered Bennett a substantial raise. Although he was grateful for the offer, Coach Bennett rejected it. “I have more than I need,” he said.
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