Category Archives: Parenting
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Twaddle
Are you reading “twaddle” to your children? In her book, For the Children’s Sake, Susan Schaeffer Macaulay helps us to understand that “twaddle” is the “useless” and “inferior” use of words “produced or written for children by adults.” She saw that it “devalued their minds” (p. 15). Macaulay further contends that children “would be depressed […]
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Tiger Mom Parenting – Part 1
If you are a parent, you need to read this article. Especially interesting is the follow up response of the author’s 18 year old daughter, revealing a child’s perspective on this style of Tiger Mom parenting. You haven’t heard of Tiger Mom Parenting? Well, before you press on the link, I need to give a […]
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Train Up a Child
I have a test for you today. Take a few seconds to read the following lists. Try to spend the same amount of time on each one–focus…ready, set, go! A B ocean/breeze bread/b_tter leaf/tree music/l_rics sweet/sour sh_e/sock move/actress phone/b_ok gasoline/engine chi_s/salsa high school/college pen_il/paper turkey/stuffing river/b-at fruit/vegetable s_lt/pepper computer/chip television/rad_o chair/couch l_nch/dinner Now, close your […]
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Jephthah’s Daughter
Do you remember Jephthah? He fought for Israel as a judge, as God’s deliverer. However, while he was an effective leader of the nation, he made some grave mistakes in his leadership at home. You see, Jephthah was a dictatorial parent. Before battling the Ammonites, Jephthah prayed in Judges 11, “If you will give the […]
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The Greatest Legacy
The ancient Spartans had a secret that allowed them to be the fiercest of warriors. They understood that to win wars they needed to raise children who embraced self-sacrifice more than any pleasures which might be enjoyed. Known for their fearlessness, their strategic warfare, and their red cloaks which masked any loss of blood, the […]
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Amusing Ourselves to Death
Recently I visited an old friend of mine who is now a pastor. He has three children and a successful ministry. But within a few minutes of being in his home, I realized that something wasn’t right. One of the children was in her room playing a computer game, while another was in the den […]
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Pool Table Mercy
Recently a mother wrote: “My nine-year-old son said something disrespectful to me, so I got out that belt and I started chasing him! He ran down to the basement, but as soon as I got down the stairs, I began to hesitate. I realized something: he was running from me.” If you’re about to discipline […]
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Training in Wisdom
Recently we discussed the necessity of raising children who pursue excellence in their area of their giftedness. As parents and teachers we need to provide a broad spectrum of activities and choices in order to narrow the preferred “skill” that a young person needs to develop. I once hired a young man who was basically […]
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Liar, Liar, Your Pants Are on Fire – Part 1
Have you ever lied about something? Have you ever thought about why people lie? The Bible says “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies” (Psalm 58:3). But as we grow older, most people continue to lie for two main reasons: 1. Insecurity 2. Fear of consequences As we […]
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Liar, Liar, Your Pants Are on Fire – Part 2
Do you remember the phrase “Liar, liar, your pants are on fire?” I remember it, but not for good reasons. I was a born liar. I guess that makes the Bible completely accurate when it says that even a baby that comes forth from the womb speaks lies (Psalm 58:3). No one had to teach […]
