The image of a bird’s nest being carefully built, filled with fledglings, and then emptied is a helpful metaphor for the parenting journey. Those who’ve been through it know that this season of letting go isn’t merely a phase of life—it’s an entirely new chapter. While some parents look forward to this transition with great anticipation, many find it emotionally disorienting, feeling a deep sense...
Remember, your relationship with God is revealed in your everyday relationships. If you hide parts of yourself from other people, you hide parts of yourself from God. If you hide from God, you will hide from other people. They go together. When you are transparent with the Lord, you will be less terrified to be seen by other people. This is how life works. And this means that we must consider our...
Many pastors feel isolated and helpless, especially those just starting out in pastoral ministry. However, it helps to have a trusted friend who has traveled the road and can be a guide for navigating the journey. In their new book, Shepherding the Pastor: Help for the Early Years of Ministry, Phil Newton and Rich Shadden share the benefits they have gained from pastoral mentoring. In this...
Once there was a Spanish father and son (José) who, like many fathers and sons, had an angry argument where they both said hurtful things. The son stormed out saying he never wanted to see his father again, and the father said much the same. Then, as Ray Stedman tells the story, Years passed. The father regretted the things he had said in that moment of intense emotion. He longed for his son...
When you’re a student, specifically a college student, it’s safe to say a lot of you probably have a weird relationship with your parents in comparison to how it was back in high school. They are these people who—after being your governing authorities for eighteen years—are still giving you the ability to go grocery shopping and buy textbooks. But now they aren’t really calling the shots with how...
