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Actions Speak Louder than Words: A Sermon
In the series Love Helps, I shared a message about the importance of actions building oneness. I shared four actions to help build oneness: Be fully present. Control your calendar. Guard against...
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Every Relationship Needs More Grace – A Sermon
Every relationship could use more grace. In this message, I share some practical ways to share grace in building oneness in the relationships of our life. Here’s a summary: 1. Realize the grace you’ve...
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7 Suggestions for Raising Boys Who Welcome Your Input as Adults
People ask me all the time for advice on raising girls, and honestly, I’ve got some, but they all involve a shotgun and long ankle-length dresses, so you probably don’t want that. Just kidding. I...
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5 Tips For Leading Strong-Willed People
Have you ever tried to lead someone who didn’t want to be led? The same children that were labeled “strong-willed” by their parents often grow up to be strong-willed adults. Perhaps you know one....
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7 Tips For Surviving The Terrible Threes Of Parenting
Talking to younger parents often reminds me of a parenting phenomenon that we experienced firsthand. Perhaps, if you’re children are older, you did also. It’s called the “terrible threes”. Ever have a...
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10 Suggestions for Raising Godly Children
Most of the believers I know have a strong desire to raise their children to be godly; to be passionate followers of Christ. Years ago, before I even had children, God laid on my heart to develop a...
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7 Ways to Parent with Grace
Cheryl and I had a model for our parenting. Whenever I say that to people they hear “complicated”. It wasn’t. We aren’t complicated people. Simply put, we attempted to implement grace into our home....
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An Encouragement To Be A Dad (Happy Father’s Day!)
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Psalm 128:3 The role of a father is so important in the home. God bless the fathers of...
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Something I Want for My Boys Even More Than Their Happiness
My boys are in their mid 20s. They have pretty stable lives. They came off our payroll pretty much right out of college, which I guess is considered a blessing these days. They work hard. They are...
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5 Suggestions to Make Family Time More Effective
Frankly, I wish it happened more often, but I am always encouraged when it does. Occasionally a young father will come to me wanting to know how to be a better husband or father. One thing they...
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5 Things I Learned In Sending A Son Away To College
We are well into our years as empty-nesters. Both of our boys have finished college, one is in grad school, but both are supporting themselves and on their own. I loved the time with our boys at home....
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8 Paradigm Shapers for Making Discipline Decisions as a Parent
I frequently have parents ask me what type of discipline they should use with their children. I’m glad parents are asking the question, but I seldom can give a standard answer for every situation. I...
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3 Easy Parenting Principles We Used and Saw Amazing Results
I am frequently asked what we did or didn’t do as parents. I am amazed God has allowed us to raise the two young men we have. In their mid-twenties they are far better men than I was at their age. They...
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An Important Parenting Concept: Especially for Parents of Young Children
I have a theory about parenting. It’s a reality which only came to me when my boys were nearly grown I had observed it for years — we practiced it — but I only formulated my thoughts around the concept...
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Olive Tree Parenting – Growing Children of Character
Every time I write about parenting, people email me asking for more. I understand. Parenting is hard work. Most people who follow my ministry closely know this is one area of my life I have taken very...
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Why I Don’t Always Give People an Answer – Even When They Come to Me for Answers
I have a theory I practice often. I’ve been using it for many years — as a leader, father, a friend, and a pastor. It’s not always what people come looking to me for, but I think it’s the best...
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5 Joys of Being an Empty-Nester
I have to be honest. I was a reluctant empty-nester. Cheryl and I love our boys and them being at home was one of our greatest joys in life. Walking in the door and being handed a football to throw or...
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6 Tips for Happier, Healthier Relationships when the Relationship has been...
Do you have any injured relationships in your life? Broken hearts, hurt feelings, or grudges from the past are common among relationships. At some point we all have relationships, which have gone from...
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10 Principles to Consider for Parents on Healthy Discipline of Children
As a pastor, I’m consistently asked about disciplining children. I am not an expert – and every family is unique, with different parents and different children – but, I have learned some things...
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The Greatest Prayer a Parent Could Ever Pray
I love the story of Manoah and his wife. They had been unable to give birth to a child. It was apparently their greatest desire in life. One day an angel of God brought them good news a child was to be...
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