The most important conversation in your child’s spiritual journey concerns the one topic most of us avoid. For parents, it might require being uncool, being the bad guy, bringing the hammer, or even talking about uncomfortable topics like sex. For our kids, the conversation is too black and white, too conservative, a joy kill, and unloving. Sin. To older generations, the nature of sin and the biblical solution might seem an obvious and unnecessary topic. After all, the first step... Read more
About the time your kid turns 12 or 13, the innocence and purity of their faith in Jesus can suddenly turn to skepticism, and that’s when our biggest fear sets in—will my teen fall away from Jesus? First, here’s the truth. They might. Yeah, I know that’s not what you wanted to hear. But the reality is that our kids should start to own their own faith by the time they enter those early teen years. It might result in... Read more
The future of the rising generation is filled with anticipation and excitement, but it’s also filled with some disturbing youth culture trends that, as parents, we should be aware of if we are going to create Jesus-centered homes. If you’re over 30, then you know the world our kids are growing up in isn’t the same world we grew up in. In fact, it’s so different that you can hardly recognize it. And for some of us, that reality is... Read more
Every new year brings a firsthand glimpse of the incredible obsession many of us have with College Football (and, honestly, sports in general). The college football national championship game is expected to reach more than 24 million people this Monday night. That’s a stadium filled with lunatic fans, living and dying with every play for the chance to be a part of a team that earned a national title, and another few million stopping every other part of their lives... Read more
Parents. If we want to build Jesus-centered homes and raise our kids to follow Jesus, we need a new way of thinking. We worry about the health of our kids. We lose sleep when they’re up all night coughing. We rush them to the ER when they can’t breathe. We move hell and high water to ensure they have the best medical care when they need it. We willingly experience debilitating fear, frustration, and failure when we have to stand... Read more
The New Year is upon us, and while you’re considering your all-important resolutions to a better body, better health, or better financial stability, take a minute and consider your resolutions to build a more Jesus-centered family. Every new year means new beginnings, new goals, and new resolutions. There is something about the new year that brings a fresh zeal for change. We get charged to draw a line in the sand. A place to start something new. We get that... Read more
Do you memorize Bible verses and passages as a family? If not, now might be a good time to reconsider. Because there is something more than just spiritual happening when we memorize Scripture—there is something neurological happening too that, surprisingly, can drive your family closer to Jesus. And that’s always our goal—Jesus-centered families. Should Your Family Memorize Bible Verses? I have long lived on both sides of this equation. As a kid, I learned two key things in Sunday School.... Read more
We are a world obsessed with safety. We neglect to build the resilience our kids need to grow a strong world-changing faith and live Jesus-centered lives. We simply want strong, adaptable kids. That’s a loaded statement. I know. But, parents, I want you to take a second and consider what you believe is most important: Preparing your kids for the road ahead or doing whatever it takes to manipulate the circumstances and clear a path on the road ahead for... Read more
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