Living in the midst of a pandemic has forced us to reckon with our fears and anxieties in ways we otherwise may not have. In ordinary circumstances, we are able to create routines, life rhythms, and a sense of security that enable us to manage fear and anxiety. But when we are placed in a prolonged season in which there is a lack of surety about the future, our old coping mechanisms do not work...
Ministry to children and teens is different from ministering to adults. Many ministry workers avoid children and teens, knowing it requires a different approach. We can often make the mistake of relating to children as we do with adults, when many young people simply cannot interact at an adult level. If we want kids and teens to open up about their world, and if we want to minister with them...
When life’s trials, disappointments, and sorrows visit our children, the Psalms provide a helpful tool to teach our kids how to talk to God about their troubles. They give real-life examples of how men like David trusted God through difficult times. Too few of us know how to lament over tragedy and loss, and as a result, we feel alone in our struggles and distant from a God when troubles come...
As the number of older adults balloons in the US, the statistics are staggering: 12% of Americans (34 million) are providing care for an adult over the age of 50 (Pew Research). The economic value of unpaid caregiving exceeds the value of paid home care and Medicaid spending combined ($470 billion in 2013; Family Caregiver Alliance). An estimated 3 trillion dollars of wages are forfeited because...
Virtues and vices sometimes feel very similar. Think about it. What’s the difference between being patient and passive, spontaneous and impulsive, or optimistic and naïve? There is a good bit of nuance in differentiating the alternate dispositions. Most people who are expressing the unhealthy disposition would tell you they’re expressing the positive one. We can ask the same question about the...
