8 I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument, 9 also that the women should dress themselves in moderate clothing with reverence and self-control, not with their hair braided or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes, but with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for … Read More
How to Maximize Your Joy in the New Year
Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that … Read More
Irreplaceable: Recovering God’s Heart for Dads is finally available!
Well, Friends, It has been a long-time coming but my book Irreplaceable: Recovering God’s Heart for Dads is finally finished and available for purchase on Amazon! In many ways, this represents the center of my life’s work to date. Not only do I hope this book blesses you and yours, but I would be so grateful for your help in getting … Read More
Hero-dads are Inadequate to Provide for All of Their Kid’s Needs
It was the morning of July 19, 2014—the day after my oldest son’s wedding—and I was lost in thought. Just the night before, at the glorious end of a full day of celebration, Pam and I had watched as he, his beautiful bride, and many friends danced with all their hearts to Coldplay’s “Sky Full of Stars.” Standing there, watching … Read More
Cohabitation vs. Marriage in Historical Context
Although the primary culture shift that took dads out of the home dates back to 1760 and the Industrial Revolution, in North America, changes in attitudes toward marriage are more recent, dating back to the 1960s. During this time, our culture began to aggressively delink sex from marriage and parenting. Further, even the sacred ties between marriage and parenting began … Read More
Understanding Father Absence as One of Our Most Serious Social Problems
“The supreme test of any civilization is whether it can socialize men by teaching them to be fathers.” Margaret Meade Father absence refers to the fact that there are now 18.4 million children, 1 in 4, who are growing up in homes without their biological, step, or adoptive father in the home.[1] Tragically, father absence affects minorities disproportionally, especially the … Read More
Love’s Fiery Passion, Part 1 of 2
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, … Read More
Happy Together: Moms, Dads, & Healthy Marriage
Recovering God’s heart for dads means recovering his heart for moms and healthy marriage too. In God’s ideal and design, dads do their best work together in a loving relationship with mom. To say it another way, women and wives are essential and full partners in raising healthy kids. And marriage is intimately tied to fatherhood. It’s been said that … Read More
What I Learned About Marriage from Kay Hymowitz
Most Christians believe deeply in marriage and see it as the foundational institution of the human race (Gen. 2:18), but many have never thought about what it does for society. For me, the most insightful book I’ve read to date on this is Marriage and Caste in America by Kay S. Hymowitz. Hymowitz is an incisive American author and senior … Read More
Nuclear Family, 2 of 2
What of Jamie Smith’s critique from Part 1 that many nuclear families are “closed, self-sufficient, autonomous” units with little concern for others, including a church or spiritual family? He’s right but the reasons for this are myriad and complex and certainly not an indictment of the traditional family itself. Further, being self-sufficient isn’t always bad. Paul tells us to “bear … Read More