Parenting

What parents can do that God can’t

Jesus never had to repent. Repentance is one thing parents must do that Jesus did not. Repentance is necessary for our salvation (Isaiah 30:15), like the first gasp of air at our new birth. We breathe lest we die. Yet we all are prone, at different times and in different ways, to resist repentance. As […]
On New York abortions, why there are better options

I read with horror this week about the fact that New York has legalized abortion right up to the time of birth. Really? So as the journalist on My Christian Daily pointed out, it’s legal to abort a baby just before death, but if you change your mind straight after the baby is conceived, you […]
Raising up Godly leaders within our children

As a parent of four children, I have to tell you that I am particularly keen to see them all do their best in life. I believe they only get one shot, I tell them to dream big, and I want them to reach for whatever it is they are dreaming for. I’m happy to […]
A Letter To My God-Fearing (Conservative) Parents

“If we hand our sons and daughters a faith exposed as misogynistic, racist, unconcerned about creation and the poor, they aren’t wrong to leave it.” -Jonathan Martin Dear (Spiritual) Parents, This letter is for you. Yes, for all you God-fearing pastors, mentors and 1990’s youth leaders. And for all you Bible-believing moms and dads who taught us […]
Teaching our kids good work ethic

My eldest son, who just turned 14 last week, has just landed a job at McDonald’s. As a dad, I am so proud to see him out earning some money, and also learning the value of it, from a young age, not to mention having to go through the interview process and then be offered […]
How Do You Raise Children in a Pornographic Culture?

Digital porn is ubiquitous. So how do we prepare our sons and daughters to win the war against the porn culture all around them? It’s a great question from a mom named Molly. “Pastor John, thanks for this podcast and all the times you address parenting. My question: What is the best way to prepare […]
Lego calls for more play time with kids; Christian charity agrees

Around three-quarters of children say they wish their parents would play with them more. A study by Lego also found those who play together for at least 5 hours per week are happier. Nearly half of families blame things like work, chores and technology for not spending enough time doing so. Trevor Single from the […]
On Abortion, An Open Letter to Chelsea Clinton

Dear Chelsea, I’m not writing to berate you or give you a religious lecture. I’m appealing to you as the loving and devoted mother of your two precious children, Charlotte and Aidan. As a mother, you experienced what I can never experience as a man. You understand what it is to conceive a child inside […]
The keys to raising Godly children

I never imagined when David and I married that we would end up with 9 children. We lost quite a few others along the way through miscarriage but we are very thankful for our nine. Having a big family is a big responsibility and for us the most important thing was, and is, to train […]
The 3 Keys to Christian Parenting

For their Latin class, my middle school students were tasked with memorizing the Apostles’ Creed. What was a chore for them was pure joy for me. I listened to them repeat over and over the systematic presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s when I discovered it. I realized some of the students, most […]
Don’t believe what you read, teens actually rock

I have one child who is a teenager and I have to admit that I entered this phase of life with a lot of trepidation. At the start of last year, I attended a school evening where they were helping the parents transition from managing the raising of a child into the teen years. It […]
How to Bring the Bible to Life for Your Kids

A couple years ago, my wife stumbled on a blog by a mom who had been reading the Bible to her children, one chapter a day. Not a children’s Bible. The Bible. She started when they were young, and eventually worked through all 66 books. I was inspired. That same week, I sat my three- […]