Miles That Matter

John Steinbeck’s delightful little volume Travels with Charley fascinates me each time I read it. It tells how the author and his dog took to the highways, traveling hundreds of miles, encountering all sorts of interesting people and intriguing situations. William Least Heat Moon, of American Indian stock, wrote a similar work many years later […]

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Mother’s Indelible Impression

Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her rejoice who gave birth to you. Proverbs 23:25 There is no more influential or powerful role on earth than a mother?s. Significant as political, military, education, or religious public figures may be, none can compare to the impact made by mothers. Their words are […]

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Memories

My desk was top-heavy with research works on Paul the apostle and his century-one letter to the Philippians. Well-worn volumes, lexicon, dictionary, concordance, Greek New Testament, maps, charts, several versions of the Scriptures, pen, pencils, a couple of stacks of paper needed to be put away. I had just completed a manuscript and my heart […]

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Knowing Your Child

Educate a child according to his life requirements; even when he is old he will not veer from it. Proverbs 22:6 MLB When it comes to rearing children, developing a strong home where happiness and harmony can flourish, there is a primary starting point: knowing your child. This is the most profound insight, the single […]

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Having the Grace to Say “Yes”

“Ryan’s parents just gave him a car! He wants to pick me up and drive to the mall. This is so cool! Can I go?”—Jason, age 15 When your children and grandchildren ask you for an object or a privilege, their request presents an opportunity to express grace in your relationship. But how can you […]

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Five Cheers for Mom

She looks well to the ways of her household, . . . Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also. (Proverbs 31:27-28) What does motherhood require? Transparent tenderness, authentic spirituality, inner confidence, unselfish love, and self-control. Quite a list, isn’t it? Almost more than we should expect. Perhaps that explains why Erma Bombeck […]

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Easy Ways to Help a Family in Need

When families are dealing with special needs, many of the basic chores of everyday life go from humdrum to hassle. As your friends, neighbours, and church members care for family members with special needs, take some time out of your week to offer a helping hand. Here are several ideas: Offer to clean someone’s home […]

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God News and Bad News

“I have some good news and some bad news.” Ever heard that before? We often choose to hear the bad news first, hoping the good news will provide a joyous overshadowing of the other. And sometimes we have to come up with the good news ourselves. I’ll share some of my own good news and […]

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Creating a Legacy: Preparing the Stones

“Papa, papa,” the boy pointed to a stack of twelve stones as he yanked on his grandfather’s tunic. “What do these stones mean?” “Oh Jacob, let me tell you a story about our Lord’s hand of deliverance. . . .” After forty years of pitching tents and digging graves, the children of Israel finally crossed […]

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Christmas All Year Long

Read Matthew 1-2. Have you ever thought about giving something away every day of the year leading up to Christmas? These daily gifts could be called our “Christmas projects,” one per day, every day till Christmas. Just think of the fun of being able to say “Merry Christmas” in July! Here are a few suggestions: […]

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