How Do I Know If My Teenager is in Trouble?
Worried about your son or daughter but not sure how to know how bad it really is? Answer the questions below and add up the score to see the results.…
Worried about your son or daughter but not sure how to know how bad it really is? Answer the questions below and add up the score to see the results.…
Would you turn in your Bibles, please, to the book of 1 Samuel chapter 1, 1 Samuel chapter 1. It’s in the Old Testament. If you’re at Genesis, keep going.…
The Bible is God’s precious gift given to all. And on it, He placed no age restrictions. Accordingly, it is vital that we understand one very important thing. The Spiritual Discipline…
Have you heard from Heaven a calling for your marriage? It’s not a one-size-fits-all. God has a plan cut out just for you! With principles from the Marriage Devotional and…
Dear Roger, My wife and I are helping some dear friends through problems in their marriage. But after finding out about some of the issues they’re facing, I’m not sure their…
The Darkness of a Broken Family – 1 Samuel 24 – Skip Heitzig Good morning. How are you today? This just makes me miss film photography every time I see…
Angel and I have a nineteen-year-old and a seventeen-year-old. On the precipice of empty-nesting, I’ve been reflecting upon what has worked and what hasn’t worked as I have tried to…
Emmeline Wetherbee shares what she loves about her godly father, Brad Wetherbee in this humorous yet compelling interview..
Modern Family “Setting the Tone” Jeff Jones, Senior Pastor 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 For every one of us here, we want to help those we love flourish in life, not hinder…
Every day it feels like we read another news report about the mental health crisis among children and youth, as well as how depression, anxiety, and suicide rates are getting…
Cameron Buettel is an author partnering with Pastor John MacArthur at www.gracetoyou.org. Here are his powerful insights. Parenting is never easy. Nobody in this fallen world has mastered it. And…
Dear Roger, Economists tell us that we are on the verge of a recession. Some say that it’s 50-50 that we will or won’t have one. I’ve noticed that…
The joy of giving is something we can instill in the hearts of our children and grandchildren from a young age. I learned of a family sponsoring a child whose…
Dear Roger, The holidays are here! Joy and excitement are everywhere! Well, not everywhere. You and I both know that there are a lot of hurting people at Christmas time. A lot of…
Christmas is filled with images of angels atop our trees and lighting our front yards. But very few of us know how amazing and powerful they are. Most people…
This is the story of my wife, Angel, from her perspective. I am a type A, first born. By the time I was twenty, I had my life planned out.…
Preparing your kids to spread their wings requires patience, humility, creativity, uniqueness, and parenting with the end in mind. Discover 7 tips that will grow you as a parent while…
Dear Roger, It’s approaching Father’s Day. Why are there so many bad dads mentioned in the Bible? What do you think are some of the most important things about being…
Recently one of the members of our connection group courageously poured out her heart. She felt disconnected from God and bruised by a challenging season of life. “How can I…
Dear Roger, It’s been almost a year since I took my three children and left my husband. At that time, my daughters were 15 and 13, and my son was…
One of the darkest rooms anyone can enter is dealing with a broken family. To be part of a family that is fragmented and malfunctioning feels bleak and miserable. The…
Deborah Mitchell, a popular CNN blogger and confirmed atheist, claimed that raising children without God is better than raising children with God. Mrs. Mitchell lists seven reasons why she raises…
People can be perturbing. Marriage and family life would be a lot less stressful if husbands and children didn’t sometimes act irresponsibly or disregard our feelings or instructions. Ministry would…
I love back-stories, the story behind the story. Many years ago, our family watched the hit movie The Blind Side, and we loved it. The film is about a boy…
This comprehensive survey compiled in 2018 will inform how you relate to your children, your students and your church ministry. Don’t miss it! www.josh.org
Your children use complaining because it works! Train Up your child; not Down. Expect more from your kids, and they will rise to the occasion www.birthorderguy.com..
People can be perturbing. Marriage and family life would be a lot less stressful if husbands and children didn’t sometimes act irresponsibly or disregard our feelings or instructions. Ministry would…
“I want my kids to love me. But I am afraid that if I am too strong they won’t.” If you have ever had this concern, listen to this episode.…
In the family, God calls us to pass on wisdom and receive wisdom. God uses family to help us establish boundaries. God makes the path of family bigger. Team Sermon…
As the Church, we must not say of abortion, “This is murder,” without saying to pregnant women, “We will serve you.” If we’re doing the former without the latter, we…
It is estimated that around one in twelve children struggle with depression at some point between the ages 9 and 16, with girls more likely to be affected than boys. Unfortunately, depression…
The book of Proverbs provides us with great advice about the importance of family and the responsibility to pass on wisdom, good character and integrity to the next generation. God…
Hi Roger, What would you say to someone who states that they can’t “help” their homosexuality? I’m thinking of someone who believes that they were born that way and that…
Did you know that your kids use anger to control the people around them? Learn how to help your kids deal with their anger in this episode. www.birthorderguy.com.
DEFINITION Sexuality refers to God’s anthropological design and pattern for the procreative relationship between male and female and to the experience of erotic desire within that design. Gender refers to…
While speaking about sexual purity at my church several years ago, I told parents that if they’re going to let their children have unrestricted Internet access in the privacy of…
Many of you know that eighteen years ago, my wife and I walked out of a Russian orphanage with two little one-year-old boys. Suddenly, for the first time, I was a…
“Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is clean, but an abundant harvest is produced by strong oxen.” Proverbs 14:4 When I met my now wife, I knew that…
The day had finally arrived. Years. Now, I mean years had gone by…notwithstanding great disappointment. You see, this was a day of miracles. It shouldn’t even have been happened. Not…
Anger is a natural emotion. It’s a choice. Our children can learn to manage it. Kids get angry because life isn’t going their way. This is especially true in kids…
Ours is a cocooning society. Politics and pandemics have isolated us. We sit dazed and mesmerized by our gadgets. But technology is no substitute for companionship. We have virtual friends…
Week 52 – Pray that, as this year comes to an end and we look forward to a new year, the Lord will help your grandchildren to grow daily in…
One of the most used (if not overused) terms of our culture is the term dysfunctional. It has become the chic descriptor of flawed and broken people and especially families. Too often…
In my previous blog, How to Respond to a National Crisis, we looked at the first of four kinds of crisis in our lives, taken from this month’s Intentional Living teaching with Dr. Randy…
Dear Roger, I’ve had a very hurtful past. My wife abused me. She was angry and mean to the children. Of course, we’ve all had our share of physical…
We tend to view marriage through the lenses of consumerism. We live in a day and age where individual happiness is the ultimate value, so marriage becomes primarily an experience…
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does…
One of our favorite games as a family is called Oh Heck. You might know it as Up and Down the River. The reason this simple card game is so…
Dear Roger, Please help me build my relationship with God while I’m isolated from my church and others. Sincerely, Ronnie Dear Ronnie, I would love to help! I’ve put together…
Is a lifetime commitment to a spouse even reasonable? Does permanence have to become a goal if it means a couple just has to grin and bear it? What if a…
I don’t care how tough you are. You may be a Navy Seal who specializes in high altitude skydiving behind enemy lines. You might spend each day making million-dollar, split-second…
“Did God make them gay?” What a whopper of a question. I groaned a little bit inside as my inquisitive 13-year-old asked me this. He was peering over my…
Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry. He lived and interacted with others at the speed of walking. He had time for people. He was relaxed. However, for most…
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How to Discuss Racial Injustice In moments of crisis and conflict, we often wonder, “What can I do?” and, “How do we talk about this?” It can be hard to…
One – A Blessing of Hope May the God of peace, the eternal One and only God, grant you an awareness of his immediate return. May you be patient, may…
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) She had the most angelic sweetheart lips.…
Dear Roger. I think I take my loved ones for granted.. My kids are driving me crazy! I dread holidays and family reunions. They are always a mine field! We’ve…
How do I deal with the loneliness of social distancing and home quarantine? First, look at your loneliness—look at it differently. Take the time you now have on your hands…
Sixteen years ago, my wife Maria and I were in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, having traveled there the day after my Ph.D. hooding at Southern Seminary. Shortly after our arrival, we met…
Are you praying a lot for health these days? I am. How many of your prayers are for your or others’ health or safety? If we were to take every…
If you were to list your top three most creative people, who would be on that list? Maybe Vincent van Gogh? Walt Disney? JK Rowling? Thomas Edison? Leonardo DaVinci? Marie…
The best sermon ideas come from scripture. So here are some Mothers Day sermon ideas for you. My hope is that this list will be helpful to save some of…
How do you shelter in place? Are you climbing the walls? I have learned this skill over many years. So many people have asked how I’m doing during the quarantine.…
Thirty-six times in the New Testament we see a recurring word pattern—an action verb followed by the words one another. In English grammar this phrase is called a reciprocal pronoun—I…
Parents of teenagers: are you excited or panicked about your kids? Dr. Russell Moore pens words of encouragement for you today! “I noticed in my social media archive app that…
My Daddy was an extrovert. He never met a stranger. Dad, a consummate salesman, built a successful construction company from the ground up. Pop was a joiner! He served as…
If you have breath, you are the proud owner of conflict. It lurks around every corner of our days. I wake up first in our home. I get dressed and…
Questions are powerful! Ask a well-crafted question and you can open up a closed-mouthed child, build relationship, and explore the depths of your thoughts. Question-asking can also help you reflect,…
1. Forgive Quickly. The Bible speaks of keeping “short accounts.” In other words, don’t hold on to anger. Keep your marriage “current” instead of bottling up past issues, only to release them…
It’s that wonderful time of the year! Or is it? Many people are deeply lonely during the holiday season. This is what Dr. Deb Waterbury advises: “It’s simply amazing to…
Do you dread Christmas? Or love it? Some people dread the holidays because family feuds abound. Is it “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?” Well, it should be, and…
Who are the most influential leaders in your life? What made them such great leaders? I fear that our cultural understanding of leadership is going further and further astray from…
It isn’t hard for kids to be happy around Christmas, especially if they think there’s going to be a pile of gifts waiting for them on December 25th. But this kind…
Children are like wet cement. If you’ve ever worked with wet cement or seen someone work with it, it does harden up pretty quickly and so it is with…
Countless American families hastily evacuated their homes due to fires, floods or hurricanes. The stories of their frantic retreats are remarkably similar. They rescue two things as they rush out…
At many points after a loss, the mourning person can benefit from the support of others. Individual grief reactions can vary widely from person to person and also within the…
The right tools are key… to any job. And when the job is one with an eternal impact, the tools are that much more significant. Praying for my grandchildren IS…
My husband’s father, Roger Sr., was an amazing mentor. He intentionally instilled values in his growing young sons. What a man! What a legacy! Roger’s Dad repeatedly quipped pithy sayings…
One of our favorite games as a family is called Oh Heck. You might know it as Up and Down the River. The reason this simple card game is so…
We talk to a lot of parents who want to protect their children from pornography. But what should you do when your teenagers push back when you suggest accountability software?…
Dear Roger, I would like to know about my unsaved family and friends. Will I know they’re missing heaven? – Jack Wilson Dear Jack, You may have asked the unanswerable…
“Unless the Lord builds the house, they that build it labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1 Marriage can be hard sometimes. Does my marriage, if a healthy one, really help me…
God is the One who entrusted children to us in the first place: God, our Heavenly Father. And thankfully, He has a lot to say in His Word about His standards for…
Why don’t we talk about death? Why are we silent about the inevitable? Randy Alcorn shares his thoughts: “There’s an old story of a slave who travels with his master…
Dear Roger, I have been through a bad divorce, and have no way to earn back my assets now at 64. Is it wrong to ask for a prenuptial agreement?…
You shed crocodile tears when your little cherub bravely entered the kindergarten door, Sponge Bob backpack in tow. You watched your tyke kick his first soccer goal. You rejoiced…
Dear Roger, Our small group is reading through the New Testament together. I never realized how much of the Gospels was devoted to the subject of demons. I got to…
The following is an excerpt from Dr. Leman’s podcast on www.birthorderguy.com: Blaming others has been around since time began. Let’s go back to Adam and Eve. Adam said in…
Empathy does not appear automatically. Nor does it develop in a smooth, steady progression. Indwelling sin is a constant impediment (as illustrated throughout the Book of Proverbs), which requires a…
Dear Roger, I identify as asexual. An asexual person is a person who has no sexual feelings or desires for another person. Some asexuals can experience emotional attraction, but it…
Do You Have a “Daddy Complex? In the secular counseling world there is a concept referred to as the “Daddy Complex.” While there is no official diagnostic criteria for…
Anytime someone speaks of GENERATIONS, I’m drawn. Isn’t it funny how we seem to have radar when it comes to certain topics? A couple of weeks ago, for instance, our worship…
Being a mom is a high honor and one of the most precious gifts of my life. At the same time, being a mom is tough. It’s tough when your…
Proverbs 16:32 says, “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” “Self-control is often used to describe a favorable character trait in…
Dr. Kevin Leman shared three keys to helping your kids through a divorce: There’s no such thing as an “easy divorce” – for anyone involved. Kids of divorce feel like…
Affirming our grandchildren – it’s key: to building strong relationships, to discipleship, to passing the faith. Our words are powerful. When handled well, they can build up, encourage, communicate love,…
The grandparent/grandchild relationship is a special one (and it should be)! It’s sweet and wonderful and like-nothing-we’ve-ever-known-before, but we must take care not to mishandle God’s design for it. “Now…
King Solomon penned Psalm 127. He was not the model father. God dubbed made the flamboyant monarch the wisest man on earth. When you read Psalm 127, you’ll notice…
Have you ever come across a word that seems to jump out at you consistently? A word that causes you to sit up and take notice each time you hear…
Wherever you are in your “mothering,” may you find rest, strength, comfort, wisdom… or even a swift kick in the seat of the pants as you spend time in God’s…
I once heard someone say that the relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is the most fragile of all human relationships. If you are one of those people, you already…
How do you treat your elders? Do you respect your aging parents, your frail grandmother, your annoying aunt with dementia? Do you consider them an inspiration, an inconvenience, or both?…
You simply cannot go wrong when praying Scripture. To be honest, as I look back over my life of prayer I must admit there have been times when I simply…
One of the most powerful tools any grandparent can utilize is that of asking questions. This simple act reaps so many benefits. Asking questions of your grandchildren shows your interest…
“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s…
How your teenager will respond has everything to do with respect-your kid’s respect for you, and your respect for your kid. Respect begins from the earliest of stages and builds…
Same-sex marriage, transgender orientation, and bisexuality fill movies, television and social media. It’s everywhere. So should Christian parents remain silent, or do they help their children understand what the Bible…
Balancing work and family can be tricky. Here’s Carey Nieuwhof’s article on how to re-prioritize and win at home and at work. How’s it going at home…really? Here’s what…
Lysa TerKeurst shares how mothers can pray for their daughters. Here are her thoughts! There is something I’ve come to realize I need to guard against as a mom. I…
One of the acceptable idolatries among evangelical Christians is the idolatry of the family.” That’s what I tweeted last week. To be honest, I didn’t think much about it. I’ve…
Oftentimes, it feels like marriage is an expectation society has for each of us—as if marriage will make our lives complete. What happens when marriage doesn’t come quickly for us?…
“You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” – Jesus Christ 1. Existing fetal homicide laws make a man guilty of manslaughter if he kills the…
“You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” – Jesus Christ 1. Existing fetal homicide laws make a man guilty of manslaughter if he kills the…
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 KJV In America, 82% of adults said…
There is a girl in church (or group of girls who wear totally inappropriate clothes to church. What do I say? Drop Your Stone For those of us who…
When families come together for Christmas, they bring their values and routines with them as well. Increasingly—perhaps even unconsciously—those are shaped by a relationship to technology. Everything from gift lists and free…
Dear Roger, Thanksgiving and Christmas are tough times for me. I really don’t want to spend any time with my family. It’s like when we get together the pain and…
King David had no reason to invite Saul’s crippled grandson, Mephibosheth, to sit at his royal table. But David had made a covenant with Jonathan. Jesus has made a permanent…
Christmas may be celebrated around the world, but many people find it a lonely time. Dr. Deb Waterbury suggests ten ways you can avoid loneliness this Christmas: “It’s simply amazing…
Christmas is not always a time of joy. Randy Alcorn shows us five ways to rejoice this holy season. He writes: “Family tensions (whose house do we go to when?),…
Are you really excited about the holidays, or are you dreading them? Many people dread “family time.” Russell Moore writes: “We tend to idealize holidays, but human depravity doesn’t go…
I woke up in Hell. Really. It was that hot. Open heart surgery was finished and my thirteen-year-old body was racked with pain. It’s easier today. Open the chest and…
There are over 300 identifiable human needs. So how do you meet the needs of the children in your home? These thirty needs are carefully described with accompanying Scriptures. Tape…
Was Jesus a zombie? In this age of “anything goes” some young adults are considering the possibility. According to some, His resurrection and most powerful call to discipleship certainly align…
Dating at age 16 was the rule in my family. My older sister was clearly ready at age 16. I was so immature at 16. On my first date, I…
Dear Roger, Why do churches often ignore the poor, the hurting, the victims of disease and disaster? My son tried to call all the Christian churches of Australia in supporting…
Dear Roger, My Dad is disrespectful to my mom almost every day, and it upsets me. He often tells her to stop talking because he’s tired of hearing her talk.…
Dear Roger, I would like to thank you for all of your insightful posts to the readers’ questions. They have served as enlightenment during those sleepless nights of confusion.…
The social networking phenomenon is accelerating at record speeds and isn’t likely to slow down any time soon. The Pew Research Center states the following statistics for 2018: “Some 95%…
A young teenage boy died in a hotel room after an overdose of drugs. The partiers around him didn’t even know he was in trouble until it was too late. Sadly,…
Parents today believe it is harder than ever to raise children. The number-one reason? Technology. That’s a key finding at the heart of The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in…
You can make a difference in how your child transitions from summer to school year. Joyce Wilson of Teacher Spark shares her secrets. (Don’t forget to click the links. They…
Dear Roger, Is drinking alcohol a sin? Sincerely, B Dear B I want to give you two perspectives. I want to spend a significant amount of time on scriptural insights…
The untouched idol of the American evangelical church is family. I love my family. No family is perfect, but I couldn’t be more grateful for a healthy family: a mom…
Are you in serious need of a makeover? Not the kind that refers to your “Mom jeans” or your hair color. I’m talking about a makeover of your heart. Used…
Do your children run to your side when they come home from school? Do family members stare silently at their smartphones during meal times? Do you stop thinking creatively when…
Parents let schools teach the A B C’s- but what about “the birds and the bees?” In recent weeks, several Texas school districts have been in the news because of…
There is a beauty in simplicity. And there is a greater beauty in harmonious complexity. Referring to Jesus, Jonathan Edwards said that there is in him “an admirable conjunction of…
Every year, around this time, parents and churches ponder how to communicate the Easter story to children, as something more than dyed eggs. The problem is, of course, that it’s…
Many years ago when our church began revitalization, we prayed and asked God whom he was calling us to reach. The answer we felt God impressing upon us then was…
You can’t save your children. You can raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord, guard them from the sinful influences and temptations of the world, and cocoon…
As the father of five sons, I find myself cringing if the news comes on in front of them. With high-profile men seen to be using and abusing women in…
So here’s a question that sounds a little far-fetched, but hear me out. It’s really not. Would you: Read your kids bedtime stories most night? Have a regular date night…
How would you feel if distant relatives showed up unannounced on your doorstep with plans to stay for a week and were eager to take a tour of your house?…
Dear Roger, The chaos in our government is breaking my heart. I wonder if any politician is righteous and honest. It seems like no one tells the truth any…
The Bible does not describe us merely as wayward, broken, or needing a moral boost but as those who are dead in sin (Eph. 2:1). Dead men and women do…
Should we protect the planet by addressing the population boom as China did? Interesting question. Here’s what Dr. Russell Moore has to say: “Once, as my wife and I were…
Did you know that your kids use anger to control the people around them? Anger may be a natural emotion, yet we have seen the devastating effects it can have…
Hi Roger, How can I impact someone else’s life without harassing them with religion? I have many friends that don’t believe in God and many of them find it…
It was 8:00 p.m. and we nearly had a family riot. We had another 2 loads to move. I had said we’d only work until 8:00 pm. One child, said “You…
Climbing into the car, I pasted on a brave smile and waved. “Bye, Sweetie,” I called out the window, swallowing hard to dissolve the lump in my throat. As I…
What if someone, especially someone you love, disappoints you with bad behavior? There are times when we the best of our logic fails to understand the worst of other’s behaviors. …
Do you care if your child texts while driving, wears a seat belt, rides in a car where the driver has been drinking alcohol, drives a car while drinking alcohol,…
My parents marched into the classroom and demanded to know why their son got a B. It was tense. This was my first B in high school and it was…
Praying For Your Children by Dr Neil Anderson The Apostle Paul concludes his teaching on the armour of God by saying, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times…
Several years ago, I quipped before an audience, “Election years make people crazy.” And that was before I had any idea what was coming in 2016. For families with children, this…
If you could only tell your top leaders a few things, what would you tell them? 1. Your competency will take you only as far as your character will sustain…
Dear Roger, What happens to America in the end times? Sincerely, Peter Dear Peter, The quick and simple answer is that no one knows. However, there are some Biblical and…
“Anybody who acquires deep expertise does so at the expense of breadth. The challenge is to understand how much depth is enough, and how much is too much.”-Andrew Hargadon. Most…
Thanksgiving conjures up memories of many friends whose delicious dishes have graced my holiday table: Colonel Sanders, Aunt Jemima, and, of course, Sara Lee. Nothing good ever emerged from my…
Dear Roger, My life is getting more and more difficult. It seems that everything I do is a struggle. I pray to God to make things smoother; but it seems…
After a loss, each member of a family has his or her own unique grief process. But just as important and unique is the grief experience of the entire family…
“Gary R. Brooks, Ph.D., describes what he observes as a ‘pervasive disorder’ linked to the consumption of soft-core pornography like Playboy.1 He mentions five main symptoms of this:” • “Voyeurism…
I must admit I was speechless for close to an hour. I saw a video posted online, of an undercover operation in which Planned Parenthood’s top doctor is selling the body…
Our God stands unchanging through time as the source of our strength. The power of same is the culmination of our consistency with Him. If you resist the monotonous, you’ll…
Russell Moore shares his insights about tension during the holiday season. Here are his wise suggestions: “We tend to idealize holidays, but human depravity doesn’t go into hibernation between Thanksgiving…
Casas Church devotes a day to honor First Responders. In a culture filled with fear, we must trust God and pray for those who protect us. Remember who you are, where…
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.&“Train up a child.” Rarely is a proverb so often…
Is it okay to talk to our loved ones who’ve gone on to be with Jesus? First, would it even be possible for someone in Heaven to know what’s happening…
Dear Roger, My life is not turning out at all like I thought it would. I dreamed of marrying the right man, having a good job and a happy family.…
After having her whole world rocked—and in a very public way—author and popular speaker, Lisa Whittle was forced to honestly confront her own brokenness for the first time. That time…
As we meet the needs of our children, we forge bonds that forever change our relationships. Discovering the wonder of being with our children and listening to their hurts are…
Me. Myself. And I. The three people we tend to care about the most in western civilization. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, the sickness of self-absorption has infected…
We, the church, are the bridge God created to impart grace to the world. We must appropriate the grace God has given us. We don’t go to church, we are…
Over the last two weeks, we announced that the U.S. now has at least 8,000 multisite churches (by the broadest definition) and also 5 trends in how multisites launch and…
A lifetime of influence always reflects a person of character. A pastor or spiritual leader is not a job description, it’s a life that’s shaped in a certain way. We…
Is Christianity Dying? Christianity is dying. At least, that’s what major newspapers are telling us today, culling research from a new Pew Center study on what almost all sociologists are…
This article was authored by Ben Driver, a guest contributor to Covenant Eyes. When dealing with porn we need to look at the big picture and the little picture. We…
Velcro love sticks and stays. God’s HESED love causes us to act on commitment, not feelings first. Suffering is the context where true love begins. Christ’s sacrifice is the embodiment…
Loving your mother-in-law can be a mixed bag. My mother-in-law made it abundantly clear that she didn’t approve of me from Day One. Her son, an angelic boy scout who…
A few weeks ago, I told myself, “I am going to Internet so hard in 2015!” That wasn’t an official goal, but more of a statement you yell at your…
In Leo Tolstoy’s novel The Death of Ivan Ilych, the protagonist, Ivan Ilych, is a smart, competent attorney dying from an unknown cause. Tolstoy describes a scene in which Ivan…
Dear Roger, Hello, I date a minister and he smokes pot and drinks beer on daily basis and on Sundays he’s in the pulpit, calling people to the altar,…
Pregnancy used to be an event of universal joy and approval: the excitement and promise of new life, the beauty of a woman in her finest moment, the sweetness and…
Many hurting people coming to the church for help are dealing with an unchangeable issue in their family system which is constant and painful and creates a stress level that…
God made both men and women in His image with equal worth and value. He also made them distinctive-equally different, and gave them the responsibility of ruling over creation. Gender…
How should Christians relate to a secular society that does not know Jesus? Paul’s letter to Titus sheds light on this scenario, showing us how God’s grace should motivate Christians…
Do you want to keep a pulse on the next generation of seekers? How do they perceive Christians, and why should it matter to us? The Barna group, in a…
The number of very large churches continues to increase, as our graphic dramatically illustrates. And within that group, the biggest churches continue to get bigger. In the past I’ve written…
What are you trusting God to do in your life today? Do you need to address some things in your health, break some old habits and start some new ones?…
Much is riding on the children being raised in today’s America, children who could grow to become a mighty generation of Christian stalwarts. That’s why we know we are praying…
Only God can initiate revival in the hearts of His people, convicting them of their sin and prompting them to return to God. Written by Henry and Richard Blackaby and…
When I was young, there were plenty of people who didn’t think I’d amount to squat. My life’s philosophy was “I only count when I get other people’s attention.” And…
If you’ve ever traveled to another country, you may have noticed you don’t see many moody teenagers. Why is this? Young adults in the rest of the world aren’t like…
There’s always that one kid. The kid who won’t stay in his seat at the restaurant. The girl who has to have the last word. And the boy who’s always…
Is debt inevitable or is it often incurred to buy things we want rather than need? Three lies credit card companies tell us are as follows: debt is a tool…
I used to be an atheist. In my teenage years I didn’t believe in God. It all seemed rather strange to me and I saw no evidence for God, so…
In Psalm 127, we are encouraged to allow God to “build our house,” or build our lives. We can rest because He is in charge and nothing can be done…
How do you experience healing for the shame wounds in your life? Confess your sin. change your lifestyle. God believes in you. Don’t be afraid to pray simple, honest prayers.…
Fighting fair as a couple will preserve your unity as a couple and deepen your love. Don’t use words to wound. Re-frame your language away from judgment. Be compassionate and…
Christian Smith, professor of sociology at Notre Dame, wrote in the most recent Books and Culture a review of six books that deal with the new phenomenon of “adultolescence”—that is,…
Aklak shivered, fighting back tears as he hugged little Kaya for the last time. He would never again gaze into the pudgy round face of his great-grandson. Aklak’s gnarled limbs…
The old guy at the corner hasn’t seen him. The woman selling the figs hasn’t either. Jesus described him to the scribes at the gate and the kids in the…
Why do we reserve romance for one day a year? If we want to “spice up” our love lives, we need to make every day Valentine’s day (at least as…
Hosea was asked by God to marry an unfaithful woman and love her unconditionally. In doing so, he demonstrated the kind of amazing love God has for his children.
Many people see multiple personality disorder as demon possession. Can a person with this disorder NOT be demonized? Here is a review from Dr. Chet Weld on the insightful book:…
Singleness and marriage are both gifts from God. Intimacy is indispensable to marriage. When we deny sexual intimacy, we are cheating the marriage.
The biblical concept of submission in a marriage relationship is applied as it models the relationship of Jesus and His bride, the church. Negative connotations of submission are dispelled, and…
Paul explains that this marriage and this union of a man and a woman coming together and becoming one flesh was just a picture of something far greater. It is…
This is not a defense of the humanity of the unborn. It is an argument that if the unborn are human they ought not to be aborted. There are some…
What is the Christian church supposed to look like? What are some of the most common and dangerous problems facing any church and how can you correct them? …
Young pastors or seminarians often ask me for advice on what kind of early ministry experience to seek in order to best grow in skill and wisdom as a pastor.…
How do you deal with a rebellious child? When they insist on leaving, let them leave. When things get tough-don’t run to the rescue. If they come back, run to…
I’ll never forget the day my friend Karl called to tell me he was leaving Mongolia, never to return. We were planning to work on a ministry project together. Then,…
n Psalm 127, Solomon encourages parents to establish a stable home environment, to set appropriate boundaries, to practice the art of being “with” and to meet the children’s primary intimacy…
Sexuality is designed by God as a way to know Him more fully. Knowing God is designed by God as a way of guarding and guiding our sexuality. By John…
Our world becomes chaotic when our relationships are out of order. We must relate wisely to those above us, beside us and below us. Many of us disqualify ourselves from…
“Mommy, I’m so thirsty. I want a drink.” Susanna Petroysan heard her daughter’s pleas, but there was nothing she could do. She and four-year-old Gayaney were trapped beneath tons of…
Burnout happens only to givers. Its nature is the depletions of the physical and emotional resources that enable the giver to keep giving. Losing these resources causes despair, depression, irrational…
Got any aches, pains and complaints? Anyone who served in World War II would say, “Sure. It cured everything!” The acronym APC was widely used in the middle of the…
What is your “peace barometer”? How do you define and measure God’s peace in your life? Have you ever heard a Christian say they have decided to do something or…
We often say when we see a car come out of nowhere that the car was on our “blind side.” Do you have a “blind side” spiritually-some area of your…
Have you ever found yourself making (or thinking) any of the following statements? As you work through this exercise, consider how God may want to adjust your thinking as it…
Help the children believe in God’s sovereign wisdom and goodness in creating them with the body that they have, to believe in God’s sovereign wisdom and goodness in making other…
Salvation is by grace through faith. That is a foundational truth. But it is usually understood to mean that nothing you do contributes to salvation. With this, a pervasive passivity…
Dear Roger, I am a devout Christian and my girlfriend is Mormon. We are getting closer to closer and have been dating about a year and have gotten through tough…
Joseph’s model for reconciling with his brothers and father are illustrated in this story. To reconcile a broken relationship, your much rebuild trust with truth, repentance and time.
Jesus had much to say about divorce and remarriage. The sermon deals with what Jesus said about marriage and divorce, whether or not Jesus was a liberal or conservative when…
Solomon pens this psalm about building your life, enjoying your family, living protected and focusing on your priorities.
Rape, robbery, suicide, and the ravages of combat are just a few of the circumstances that can cause post-traumatic stress disorder. As pastors and concerned friends and family members, it…
Amnon abused the trust that his half-sister Tamar had given him, and committed incest with her. He not only ruined her life, but irreparably scarred the household of David.
On my evening commute the other day, I was amused by a motorcyclist who passed, wearing a club vest bearing the name “Loners”. Hmm! A club for loners? The club…
The stories of Eli, Samuel and David reveal that spiritual men can have unspiritual children. Four myths of child-rearing include: going to church produces spirituality, kids need to make their…
A Vietnam vet, a widow and a mom relates their journeys defending their country and keeping the faith.
YOU HAVE one. A sack. A burlap sack. Probably aren’t aware of it, may not have been told about it. Could be you don’t remember it. But it was given…
Eli, Samuel and David were godly men who were terrible fathers. Myths that growing up in a spiritual leader’s home will produce godly offspring include going to church produces spirituality,…
“Yes, Brother, I see that hand!” Church leaders, like all men with feet of clay, are tempted to climb ladders of success. Buildings, budgets and baptisms are never far from…
Celebration is about spiritually savoring all of who God is, all that He has done. It is all about the joy available to us and the connections we have with…
Our culture is so busy we are quickly replacing face to face time with texting, tweeting, voice mail, email and other forms of technology. Especially at Christmas, let’s make sure we give…
Dear Roger, I continually struggle with the story of Abraham and Isaac. In all truth, this story really bothers me. I realize that God did not have Abraham…
I believe it was Roger Barrier who I first heard point out that there are basically no functional families in the Bible. That is absolutely the truth. And to see…
Too often as Christians we don’t explore the belief systems of others, and in doing so, fail to understand how they think. When we take a hard look at comparative…
A healthy marriage is characterized by mutual giving and receiving. Parents must teach biblical values, invest love and defer to their needs.
Leah, wife of Jacob and sister of Rachel, was switched with her sister on Jacob and Rachel’s wedding night. She lived in a loveless marriage, unappreciated and unsupported. We can…
Our children need to develop healthy, functional relationships by practicing self-awareness, self-management and social awareness. As Joseph’s story unfolds in the Old Testament, we see how these characteristics lead him…
The most vital relationship we can help our children develop is with the Lord. As parents, grandparents and other family members, we are called to invest in our children the…
Jacob’s dysfunctional family is jealous and angry with Joseph, the favored son. Genesis 37 relates details of the conspiracy against Joseph and his consignment to slavery in Egypt.
This is usually an “Ask Roger” question. But this time, I have a question, and I am going to ask my resident Thanksgiving expert, Tom Terry. Dear Tom, What is…
Every pastor’s wife deals with pandemonium. The day-to-day challenges of family, work and ministry demand patience, grace and strength. Proverbs 31 was written by a mother to express the inestimable…
Marilyn Morris, founder and president of Aim For Success, Inc. and author of Teens, Sex and Choices and ABCs of the Birds and Bees for Parents of Toddler to Teens…
A life script is an ongoing program for our lives that we act out automatically. The script can be constructive, destructive, non-productive or a combination of all three. Family, culture…
Paul gives us three pictures of the church in this passage. As members of the family of God we have the privileges of belonging, companionship, provision and protection. We also…
The book of Proverbs adds a unique perspective to the body of literature we now call the Old Testament. The Law and the Prophets warned that Gods people should hear…