Category Archives: Parenting

The Christian as a Teacher

Allow me to offer three illustrations that involve teaching. Teaching, of course, can be a wonderful thing that produces desirable results. As we will see with each of these illustrations, however, sometimes the whole process can turn sideways in a … Continue reading

Posted in Bible Study, Children, Influence, Parenting, Scripture, Teaching, The Bible | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Lord, Send Us Rattlesnakes”

Once upon a time there was a family of backslidden church members. The family consisted of a father and three sons. They had all once been very active in church but lately had fallen away completely. Many people visited the … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Backsliding, Church Attendance, Discipline, Disobedience, Obedience, Parenting, Personal Holiness, Prayer Requests, Rebellion, Repentance, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Idolatry in Early Bloom (A Word About Youth Sports)

When you are the parent of a child involved in youth sports, you know more than you want to know about gyms, football fields, baseball diamonds, and soccer fields. You know how time consuming those places are. You know how … Continue reading

Posted in Children, Choices, Christian Liberty, Church Attendance, Discipleship, Family, Fatherhood, God's Will, Idolatry, Motherhood, Parenting, Personal, Priorities, Sports, Worship, Youth | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Word to Parents

One day a man happened upon the cocoon of a budding butterfly. Realizing what the cocoon was, he became excited at the prospect of getting to watch a beautiful butterfly ultimately emerge from it. And, sure enough, he only had … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Character, Children, Disappointment, Fatherhood, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, Motherhood, Parenting, Perseverance, Problems, Trials, Youth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Blessing of Changing a Sermon

On Sunday, July 1st, 2009, I had in mind to preach a sermon on prayer. Specifically, I planned to preach on the so-called “Lord’s Prayer.” But as I began to ease into my studying and preparing for that sermon, the … Continue reading

Posted in Baptism, Belief, Change, Children, Christ's Death, Christ's Resurrection, Disobedience, Forgiveness, Obedience, Parenting, Personal, Preaching, Reward, Salvation, Seeking Forgiveness, Sin, The Holy Spirit | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Our Anniversary

Fifteen years ago today, Tonya and I stood in her home church and got married. If I have never done anything else right in my life, I married well. She is my best friend, my life-partner, and the mother of … Continue reading

Posted in Children, Marriage, Parenting, Personal | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Easy Eddie’s Example to Fathers

Back in the days when Al Capone ran the city of Chicago, his lawyer was a man nicknamed “Easy Eddie.” Despite the fact that Capone’s empire was built around bootleg booze, prostitution, and murder, Easy Eddie’s legal skill always kept … Continue reading

Posted in Children, Doing Good, Fatherhood, Influence, Parenting, Personal Holiness, Priorities | Tagged | Leave a comment

My Runaway Child

One night, when my son Royce was eight years old, my wife Tonya had to chaperon a school dance for a couple of hours. That left me at home with not only Royce but also his older brother Ryan, who … Continue reading

Posted in Backsliding, Belief, Children, Christ's Death, Corporal Punishment, Depravity, Disobedience, Family, Fatherhood, Forgiveness, Humor, Parenting, Personal, Rebellion, Salvation, Sin, Spanking | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church Or YBOA Basketball?

For the past three years, my son Ryan has played two categories of youth basketball. One, he has played in our county’s recreation league. Two, he has played on our county’s YBOA (Youth Basketball of America) team for his age division. The rec. games … Continue reading

Posted in Choices, Church Attendance, Commitment, God's Will, Parenting, Personal, Priorities, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Children Are…

Think about how you would finish the following sentence: “Children are…” Truth be told, some of the parents of young children might finish it in a way that wouldn’t be heartwarming. Having learned to function in a state of semi-exhaustion … Continue reading

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