Corrie ten Boom was a survivor of a concentration camp during WWII.  Years later at a local church, she saw the former Nazi guard who put her in jail.  Anger welled up inside her.  She knew she needed to forgive him, but couldn’t…she didn’t have the strength.  As the man approached her with an outstretched hand, Corrie received him…a powerful moment!  She forgave the man who had caused her enormous pain.  We all...

Now that school is in full swing again, you may notice that your child is starting to experience some pressure.  Children often feel socially and emotionally stressed through school.  As parents, we should look for ways to help them learn how to cope with stress in healthy ways.  Set a good example in how you handle stress.  If your children are fearful about something, listen to their concerns, and share how you...

When you think of marriage rules, you think of the ones you should keep.  Be loving. . .be faithful. . .be honest.  But, here are some marriage rules you should break.  First, be 100 percent yourself.  Yes, you want your spouse to accept you completely for who you are.  But, on those days when the “real” you feels grumpy, irritated and out of sorts, try not to dump on your spouse.  Second, do everything together. ...

To determine whether you should just insulate or completely isolate your child from potential temptation, bad influences, or pain, here’s a quick checklist.  First, what’s the risk factor? When your child asks to do something, you should first and foremost identify whether this activity poses a real threat to your son or daughter.  Second, has your child earned your trust? Have they consistently done what you’ve...

It’s the word "if." Think about it. We spend so much time worrying… "if we lose our house," "if I get sick" or “if I lose my job”… that we can't enjoy life.  Erma Bombeck said, "Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere."  And Dr. Gary Oliver says you can master worry by doing 10 things.  First, face your worries.  Second, pinpoint your worries and anxieties.  Third,...

My guess is that it’s people who accept you as you are…who don’t try to change, critique, or control you.  Have you ever thought about whether other people really like to be around you?  If not, maybe it’s because they feel, right or wrong, that deep down inside, you really don’t love or accept them for who they are…you’re always trying to change the way they do something, you’re constantly criticizing them for...

Susan and I have been married 24 years. After so many years, you’d think we would have smooth sailing in our relationship all the time, right? Well, not really. We still argue. And, more often than not, it’s usually about the same two or three things…like my sometimes critical spirit towards Susan.  So, what can be done about the same old marriage fights? First, identify the root cause of the problem. Once you and...