We were on vacation, enjoying a visit with grandparents and cousins. The day before we left, my then ten-year-old son pouted and fussed to the point where I'd had it. I headed toward him to correct him. Suddenly, in my thoughts, a quiet, powerful voice said, Stop. Do not bring discipline to Sam. Just ask him what's wrong. It was the voice of the Holy Spirit. I switched gears and said, "Sam, what's wrong?" "I'm going to miss Mitchell!" said Sam, bursting into tears. I comforted my son as he wept at the thought of having to leave his cousin. Once he had a chance to let his Continue Reading

During a Sunday morning service years ago, our pastor asked the congregation to gather in small groups to pray for one another.  My group included a teenage boy and his mother. We took turns expressing prayer needs, but when it came time to start praying, the boy turned to his mother and said, "Mom, you're going to have to help me with this." His mother prayed aloud, one sentence at a time, and he repeated what she said. Clearly, this young man had never learned how to communicate with God outside of religious rituals. He was certainly old enough and smart enough to talk to God Continue Reading

She was raised in a Christian family, and she was frustrated. No one seemed able or willing to provide her with satisfactory answers to her big questions about life, God, and reality. Halfway through high school, she abandoned her religious upbringing. It happens far too often, doesn't it? A young person has questions, but instead of engaging them and helping them wrestle through to the answers, adult Christians (including parents) often prescribe more devotional experiences as the answer. However,  encouraging the emotional side of faith more does nothing to satisfy the Continue Reading

“Oh, come on,” said the exasperated mother. “Can’t you cooperate just once?” The father chimed in with similar frustration. “You’re being a pain in the butt!” You’d think these parents were dealing with a defiant toddler or a rebellious teen. Nope. They were talking to the ultrasound image of their pre-born child. Why were they angry?  Because their baby wouldn’t turn in the direction they wanted. What kind of relationship do you suppose this child had with his parents once he was born? Given the way they demonstrated disdainful impatience toward their son long before he was Continue Reading