It's Random

I was recently able to set up a family internet filtering hotspot system called CIRCLE. It’s a pretty cool system. It has the ability to filter content with different strictness levels, set time limits and bedtimes, track usage, and lockout certain apps and software. It’s all controlled through an app on the device of the administrator.  Disney has got involved and have even made some content…

Dad! Publicize Your Walk With Jesus

The older I get the more personal and private my spiritual life becomes. It’s crazy to think about how I used to be the guy from the charismatic upbringing dancing (mostly jumping) in the aisles during worship at my charismatic bible school. Now I stand near the back of the church with my four children and my worship is very solemn and internal. My hands may go up and I may sway a bit but I sure…

Your Children Need New Parents

I’m spending this week serving as a media assistant (self-titled) for our District Minister’s Renewal. It’s been a good time. Running the media has meant that I have to pay close attention to everything that happens in the service since I am responsible for what is displayed on the screens. I especially have to pay attention to the speaker. He is a pretty good storyteller and communicator so I…

Why My Kids go to “Big Church”

It has taken me two years to write this post. Mostly because the last thing I want to do is sound critical of people who minister to children. Let me say that this post isn’t intended to change a culture of ministering to kids through Children’s Ministry in church. On the contrary, my goal here is to inspire parents that they can have an active role in ministering to their kids always. Even while…

I CAN’T Mess This Up

    I’ve never heard a parent of adult children say: “I wish I had been less involved when my kids were growing up.” As I counsel parents after workshops or other ministry I never hear “I think I spent too much time with my kids” or “If only I had given them less of myself.” I’ve also never heard “My kids and family are a mess but that’s ok, I’ve been successful in other areas.”     When it’s all…

I’m Just Tired

We’re in Dallas TX now and attending meetings for two days. I love these things. I love chatting with people and learning new things. I love getting advice about ministry from people who have been there before. It’s been a great first day and I’m excited for more. The problem is, I’m just so tired. I’m not just tired because we drove nine hours yesterday and didn’t make it to bed until way too…

You’re a Parent, Not a Cab Driver

We took our van on a road trip to Dallas this week. Traveling isn’t unusual for us but being in the small confines of a Honda Odyssey proved to be a bit challenging at first. Since we always travel in our home, our RV, we aren’t used to sitting in three rows and having our backs to each other for so long. Our kids were behaving terribly. Until I broke the invisible taxi cab partition.       The…

You Might be a Bad Parent

  Some parents are crazy! They let their kids do anything. They get to listen to whatever music they’d like. Watch whatever shows or videos they want and play games that have mature language and brutal violence in them. Many parents even let their kids have complete access to pornography. They just allow it! Ugh…it’s preposterous. How could a parent let that happen? It’s very likely that this…

Send Your Wife to a Conference

My wife, Melinda and I have gotten very good at communication. We bring up and discuss interesting and challenging topics all the time. We get personal, we lovingly get in each other’s faces, we work stuff out. While this is one of the things that makes our relationship strong, it’s not enough for our growth as believers in Christ. That’s why, every year, I send my wife to a conference. To say “I…

My Kid’s Other Daddy

              Something clicks inside me when I am the only one responsible for my children. I have an ability to adapt to any situation. I can calmly settle disputes. I can even prepare multiple meals simultaneously while remembering everyone’s dietary restrictions and meal presentation preferences. I don’t know where it comes from, but I’d like to channel it more often.   I realized during a…

What’s in Your Pocket?

I was asked last fall to help a few families with setting up security on their kid’s phones and computers. I went to their homes and sat with them and explained everything their child could do on their phones. I talked them through certain apps that are popular but their kids probably are too young to use. I even took them step by step through the process of setting up parental controls on their…