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Are You Giving God a Bad Reputation With Your Kids?
Based on your parenting, what do your children think God is like? Do they have a general sense that God approves of them or that they better watch their step and look over their shoulder? We’re told in the Word to raise up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4.…
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Do You Consistently Pray with Your Wife/Husband?
New beginnings . . . that’s what many of us are thinking the the start of a new year, after a milestone birthday, or when you realize that you aren’t on track as you should be – How will we make this year different/better than the past? How can we make this a new habit…
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THE HARD EDGE OF GRACE – Is the Jesus Preached in Your Church Leading People to Heaven or Hell?
Some people can’t be helped. Jesus Christ is one of them. Many Christians today are committed to the idea that, if they just get Jesus “right”, representing Him well by loving everyone enough, then His message will be received and good feelings will abound. It’s a nice idea. It’s a comforting idea. It’s just not…
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Has Divorce Ever Crossed Your Mind?
Sometimes, what we know is true and how our spouse makes us feel collide in spectacular fashion. Make your wife angry and she’s liable to say anything. Back your husband into a corner and the marriage is in for some serious damage. Is this sinful? Yes. Is this the way mature Christians should act? No.…
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Is Hate Ever Appropriate for the Christian? Is It Ever Required?
Hate? Not us. We’re Christians. We’re not supposed to hate, are we? I still remember the prof at Multnomah Bible School (now Multnomah University), where I attended for one year before going to college. After class, a few of us gathered around to hear him field questions. “We’re not supposed to hate sin.” He said.…
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Read Your Own Mail and Stop Focusing on What Your Husband/Wife Isn’t Doing
How weird would it be to walk to your neighbor’s house with a letter of his that you had read, and begin telling him what the letter said he needed to do? Not much good is coming from that conversation. Everyone recognizes doing such a thing is just wrong . . . everyone except many…
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Syrian Refugees, Terrorists, and Responsibility: Christian Compassion in an Age of War
Refugees, what’s to be done with them? And the temporary, selective travel ban . . . should we let them in or should we keep them out? Nothing raises the temperature in the room as when the hard-edged realist meets the sanctimonious piety of the liberal Christian who shows up with her smiley-face emoticon and…
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Will the Spouse Who Wants to Feel Valued and Appreciated Please Identify Yourself?
If you happen by the Jacobson house some day and we’re all in the kitchen clamoring like robin chicks waiting for worms, it’s a pretty safe bet that another batch of Lisa’s famous wheat bread is almost ready to slice and spread with warm butter. A long time ago, Lisa determined to produce The Best…
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No Disrespecting Mommy (or Daddy!) – Ever!
No parent is okay with disrespect coming from their child . . . at least in words. Practice . . . reality . . . that’s another matter. In fact, what many parents of young kids say about their children defying them and how they parent resembles the distance between stars. Why the disconnect? Why…
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How to Trade Anxiety & Fear for Hope & Peace
Voices we listen to . . . they’re powerful, aren’t they? And, not just the voices inside the heads of young, immature kids. We expect them to be powerfully affected by their thoughts and self-talk. What about us? What about the adults in the room . . . about you and me? You’ll never measure up…
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Are You Speaking the Language of Unity In Marriage Every Day?
She was like a fresh-cut flower standing in a glass vase without water, wilting by degrees as her animated husband held the room with his winning personality. They had a stable marriage, good family, good life, but if you didn’t know all that, you’d think he was single. “My bedroom . . .” “My plans…
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She’s Not 12 Anymore – How to Have The Relationship with Your Young Adult You’ve Always Wanted
We are as gods to our children when they are young – safe haven in every storm, a comfort from every hurt, dispensing absolute wisdom and truth with every question. In the minds of our young kids, there is nothing we can’t do . . . which is easy when you’re all powerful and all…
FAITHFUL MAN® 