A new study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates families who eat dinner together are healthier, smarter, safer and stronger. Home-cooked meals generally provide more balanced nutrition and fewer empty calories. Having dinner with your kids also provides the opportunity for meaningful conversation, bonding and face time. As a result, families who eat together have children who do better in...

In the movie City Slickers, Billy Crystal asks, "Did you ever reach a point in your life when you say to yourself: 'This is the best I'm ever going to look, this is the best I'm ever going to feel, the best I'm ever going to do, and it ain't that great'?" What we do with that feeling of emptiness will speak volumes about our character. Well, will we get depressed or throw a pity party? Or will we use the...

The attacks on 9/11 took the lives of 3,497 people. But for those that survived, this September marks 10 years of mourning. 10 years of hurting. 10 years of learning to live without those they love. About 3,000 children lost a parent that Tuesday. 10 years later, the remembrance is especially significant for two reasons. The man ultimately responsible, Osama Bin Laden, is no longer a threat. And the long awaited...

Knowledge is a good thing. But it's simply the accumulation of information. A person can be a walking encyclopedia and still lack wisdom. Wisdom is supreme. It encompasses understanding, discernment and moral direction for our lives. So, how can you grow in wisdom? Here are three ways: First, listen to correction. Second, look to parents and grandparents for sound instruction and advice. Third, learn from, and...

Americans love to indulge on Thanksgiving. Can't you just taste that juicy turkey and dressing? Well, there are people who won't get to enjoy even the first bite of turkey. Maybe they're unmarried and don't have any family nearby. Maybe they're a single mom with three kids and can't afford all the fixings. Or maybe they're your elderly neighbor who's embarrassed to admit they don't have plans. Think about people...

Divorce… infidelity… the devastating loss of a child or spouse… these things, and others, can shatter a family. So, how do you begin the rebuilding process? First, survey the damage. Talk about it with each member of your family… really listen to the feelings they express, and be open about your own. Second, seek help from a trusted advisor or pastor who can help you sort out your emotions. Third, be patient—with...

We've all been wounded in life. Sometimes by others… a parent who walked out, a spouse who abused you, a child who rebelled. Sometimes it was self-inflicted… bad choices that led to an addiction, an extramarital affair, or a devastating accident. If emotional wounds go untreated, they can cause even bigger problems: depression, bitterness, a lack of trust in relationships. Once the wound is healed, sure, there...