Category: Parenting
The Twilight of Childhood: Celebrating Andrew’s 12th Birthday
It’s a hard time of life. You’re not a “little kid” anymore but you’re not a teenager, either. They call them the “tween years,” which I think means you are lost somewhere between the whacky childhood years and the chaotic teen years. Whatever it is, today our Andrew officially enters his last year of the…
Come Let Us Adore Him – Advent Devo
If you are interested in a good Advent devotional for you or your family, I would recommend this one by Paul David Tripp. Click on the large image below to check it out at Amazon.
On Jacob’s 18th Birthday
There is that first time you hold your newborn child that redefines who you are. Wrapped tightly in the little blanket, knit hat on head, eyes tightly shut, feeble and helpless. Though the last two adjectives can also be used to describe the feeling of being a new dad, it is the child in your…
On Teaching Them To Soar
It’s Friday morning, my day off, and I’m sitting outside at Rembrandt’s, one of my favorite spots in Chattanooga. The temperature has finally dropped below 90, the birds are singing and a breeze is gently blowing. The coffee is hot and it’s a great time to reflect on things flowing through my mind. As I…
Boys Will Can’t Be Boys
As the father of two active boys, I need to remind myself regularly of the truth that is found in the following video. Boys are not like girls and it’s past time we stop treating them in the same way with the same expectations. Boys tend to be more active, sillier and LOUDER. That’s not…
Taking Heart
“Take heart.” Since I preached on this Sunday at The Gathering, I’v been thinking about what this means, and what this means to me. One is objective and the second is more subjective…how it changes me. Last night, I posted a quote from the message Sunday on Twitter and Facebook. It was the part where…
A Super Saturday
Great morning leading a discussion in one of our Institute classes. It’s such a privilege for me to participate, much more lead a group like that. I love seeing the growth that’s happening as a result. Late this afternoon, Jacob and I went for a run together at the campground at Chester Frost Park. Actually…
Video: The Calling of Parenthood
Sunday, I dealt with very touchy issues related to parenting at The Gathering. These included the challenges of parenting and the pain that comes from the inability to have children, along with the dangers of engaging in extraordinary means of impregnation, such as IVF. My goal was to deal with these issues from a biblical,…
Children and Salvation: Is It Ever Too Early?
My six-year old was saved Monday. Well, at least that’s what he told me when he came home from school. As it turns out, a children’s ministry from a local church holds a voluntary Bible club with the kids after school every so often and so, during that time, the salvation bracelet was given to…
Milestones
Everybody knows “how time flies.” It’s the inevitable part of life and, the older you get, the faster it goes. On the eve of my 45th birthday, I’m struck again with that fact. Yes, time does fly and it does, indeed, go faster every single year. I was reflecting on this yesterday while Jacob was getting…
Shai Linne’s Fal$e Teachers
My twelve year-old son, Jacob, has taken to hip-hop music. Now, if you’re like me, the revelation that your son likes hip-hop can be a bit concerning. I certainly don’t need to mention the fact that most hip-hop music is angry, often violent young men spewing their anger and violence out lyrically. Much of it…
They’re Not YOUR Kids
Not sure if you saw this or not, but a recent commercial on MSNBC has one of its hosts claiming that we have to get past the notion that our kids are actually “our” kids. Instead, they belong to the community. I don’t disagree with her basic idea of the importance of looking after each…
Fatherly Advice
I realize not everyone has been blessed with kids, but if you have or hope to be, I want to encourage you to read part 1 of this very helpful and honest post on fatherhood by Dr. Thom Rainer.
My boys getting ready to go on a run with me. (Taken with instagram)