I have a confession. When I am in a conflict with another, I have trouble letting it go. Though I should just drop it, I often just cannot seem to let things go. I have trouble dropping the matter. You may identify and share in this common struggle. I wrote this post about 7 months [...]
Some time ago, I took up swimming as exercise. Swimming, like other athletic activities increases one's need for oxygen. Normally, breathing is a very natural and even subconscious event that we do not even think about. But not with swimming. In swimming, the first thing that I had to learn what was called the "exchange" [...]
Have you ever had a feeling of spiritual paralysis? I have felt stuck. I have felt like something was wrong. It was like I was somehow out of step with the Lord. I felt a sense of being paralyzed. Spiritually paralyzed. Paralysis is non-movement. Physical paralysis may be caused by a physical malady. In the [...]
What was an animal in the ancient biblical culture? An animal helped to get the job done, and without it, the laborer would be seriously hindered in his capability to produce. A fool mistreats his animal out of shortsightedness, not realizing this animal ultimately makes his life easier. Without this animal, the job simply would [...]
Galatians 6:6 says, “Do not grow weary in doing good…” Part of not growing weary in doing good is exercising God's provision for rest. The Sabbath day should not thought of as a "punitive command". The Sabbath is not burdensome. The Gift of Six not Seven God could have demanded seven days of work out [...]
I think about my life and experiences as a ministry toolbox. God gives tools through our life experiences and they are found in each of our toolboxes. Our tool boxes are filled with items He has providentially allowed us to collect for a future use to accomplish His purposes. I view life as tool gathering. [...]
I had a college roommate, Tom. We had an agreement to take turns washing dishes. However we lost track of whose turn it was to wash the dishes. Neither of us thought it was our turn, and thus the cold war of dirty dishes ensued. The dishes got higher, the leftover bites of ramen noodles [...]
Our family has decided that teaching our kids to argue is a valuable life lesson that we can provide important training on in our home. You can read more about our process here, here and here. All the Answers? As a parent, I’m a fool to think that I have all the answers, all the [...]
Over the past two weeks I’ve shared about why I want my kids to argue, and how it can be done in a healthy, productive manner. Want to know if it’s really worked for us? The Appeal My wife and I have used a process called “the appeal” in our home with our kids. We [...]
Last week I suggested that it might be to a parent’s — and child’s — benefit to argue. BUT, it must be conducted under certain parameters that allow parents to lead with wisdom and remain in authority. May I Make An Appeal? About 15 years ago, I observed an interaction between a six-year-old child and their [...]