My oldest son, Joshua, took up soccer this past spring and will continue this fall. My wife and I have really enjoyed watching him play, and even as a beginner at the age of 12, he seems like he has the temperament, body frame, and ability to develop the necessary skills to be a solid player. I’m looking forward...

I’m on my couch attempting to relax. It’s been a stressful week, and I would love to escape into a favorite television show. My muscles begin to relax…my shoulders loosen up a little. “Ahhh, yes…finally a little time to…” An agitated little boy approaches me. He’s whimpering and snot-crying. My relaxation will have to wait. Finally, after a couple...

I grew up with the reputation of being a squeaky-clean church kid—and I liked it. I had the approval of my parents, peers, and teachers. What could be better? Unfortunately, this approval led to self-righteousness and self-centeredness. I thought life was about me—and I had it good! I didn’t need to think much about seeking or obeying Christ because...

The Bible has a lot to say about adoption. God’s heart and passion for orphans screams from page after page and book after book. It’s hard to ignore. A little over 13 years ago, my wife and I felt certain that God wanted us to adopt one day. We didn’t know what it would look like, but we were...

I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have been standing in the crowd as John the Baptist preached. As he warned all within earshot to flee from the wrath to come, to live just and honest lives as they awaited the coming of the Messiah, God’s promised Rescuer. And then, finally, to have heard him say, “Here...

On Palm Sunday 2014, we welcomed our firstborn—a son, Elijah. At a week old, we took him to our church’s Easter service and he slept through the whole thing. Last year, right at two years old, Elijah rocked and wiggled in his seat as his Sunday School teacher told the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Later that day,...