Parenting

Protecting Our Children Day 6: Letting Go   I’ve written these articles from the perspective of a father with Christian children. I can only imagine the associated worries and thoughts parents have with unbelieving children that are hitting adulthood. I used to let my mind go there prior to our oldest girl’s getting God’s salvation. The relief was as real as the joy. A parent will probably never lose the protective instinct,…

Protecting Our Children Day 5: Dating Decisions So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22, ESV) If you’ve read some of my prior material (or if you know me fairly well), you already know this: I have dated exactly one person in my entire life. She’s the last person, too, because I hit the…

Protecting Our Children Day 4: Pitfalls of Pornography   Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8, ESV) I hate writing about this topic. There, I said it. I wish it wasn’t necessary because I really hate talking and writing about it. It’s not because I’m some perfectly righteous man who has never fallen into the trap—I have. And…

Protecting Our Children Day 3: Harmful Habits Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV)  When I was in high school, I agreed to go to my old elementary school to speak as part of the D.A.R.E.…

Protecting Our Children Day 2: Choosing Friends      Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20, ESV) If you’ve never seen the movie “Remember the Titans,” that needs to change soon! The excellent commentary on race relations and loving our neighbors is elevated by the focus on football and an incredible performance by Denzel Washington (among others). In the movie, one of the…

Protecting Our Children Day 1: Social Media Dangers Truthfully, this should be part one of a series just on this subtopic. The vast dangers associated with social media will take us down a myriad avenues. And yes, I realize the irony of posting this on social media networks! But while maybe 5-10% of social media comes from a sensible place, the rest is a horror show of stupidity and danger to the…