The Difference
May 30, 2025
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Here’s a life lesson that could change your life. It’s not pleasant. It’s very challenging to do, and most likely will have a high cost
Here’s a life lesson that could change your life. It’s not pleasant. It’s very challenging to do, and most likely will have a high cost
One of the great challenges of our time is not to become numb. There’s so much hurt, so much need, and so much conflict in
If you had to distill the secrets of leadership down to only one word, what do you think that one word would be? What one
Leo Tolstoy believed there were two kinds of people who followed two very different methods of human activity. One uses their reason to learn what
Have you ever thought about how much we owe to sorrow and suffering? Perhaps you have never stopped to consider that tribulation has produced some
What you focus on, expands. Good or bad, right or wrong, what you focus on will grow. Energy flows to where attention goes. If you
The Little Rascals films of the 1930’s were short comedies based on the sheer absurdity of children imitating adult behavior: dressing like adults, talking like
The tidal wave of hedonism washing over this country is destroying the basic foundations of our culture, and it’s extinguishing families and doing great harm
It’s been suggested we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. It’s true. The blessings of
It seems to me we’ve become a society that would rather worship celebrities than honor heroes. In our media-mad mentally, personality now trumps character. I
Henry David Thoreau wrote, “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.” There are many
There’s an interesting story in the Gospels of a father whose son is troubled by evil spirits. The desperate man brings his boy to the
Charles Kingsley said, “If you want to be miserable think of yourself, about what you want, what you like, what respect people ought to pay
The deadly sins that number seven are: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth. These are the sins of the self – the iniquities
One advantage of living for longer than a couple of decades is possessing the perspective that comes from witnessing history, of living through it, and
What’s the purpose of life? It’s a question as profound as it is common. To put it in a uniquely American vernacular, what is the
Like many people, I have found myself unemployed on occasion. The last time was due to the Great Recession. Millions of us lost our jobs
“Limited edition.” “While supplies last.” “For a limited time only.” We often see these tag lines on retail merchant goods, or marketing schemes, as a
Not every problem is bad and not every opportunity is good. We do our children a great disservice when we shield them from every problem.
I love my wife. When I say “my wife, it’s not the same as saying “my car” or “my house.” It’s not even the same
C.S. Lewis married his wife Joy while she lay in her hospital bed, what they both thought would be her deathbed. However, she experienced a
These two verses should be read and meditated on each and every day of our lives: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all
I’ve been working with children and families for a long time and what I’ve observed is that kids are fine – it’s the parents who
Growing up is painful. Being an adult is not only hard, it often hurts as well. But, take a moment to ponder the alternative. What
People who aren’t whole – who are hurting emotionally – often seek after romantic relationships in order to fill a void in their heart. They
I love my children and, because I love my children, I hate anything that would harm them. This is healthy. Hate – in the service
Other than deciding to follow Christ, the single most important decision any human being will ever make in their lifetime is who they will marry.
What people think about their future is more important to understanding their behavior than what they think about their past. Success is not determined by
Vulnerability is hard. And, scary. Few of us are willing to truly expose our thoughts and feelings. According to Dr. Brene’ Brown – who’s done
I’ve spent most of my professional life working in agencies that serve children; and I’m telling you the best nonprofit organization that serves children is
Parents take courage! You are the expert when it comes to your own child. No one can do it better than you. They are your
There’s a tree in my yard that bends. As it grows, it will eventually break under its own weight. It’s inevitable, and that’s a shame.
One of the driving forces in American culture is the yearning of parents to give their children a better life, with more opportunities than they
English poet and cultural critic Matthew Arnold defined hypocrisy as, “vice paying tribute to virtue.” In other words, when we sin and fall short of
I’m sure you’re familiar with the phrase “Too big to fail.” It’s the belief of political leaders that some industries are so vital to the
The Lord recently revealed a flaw in my character. He showed me that I’m not appreciative enough, especially of the people in my life. Do
Consider that anxiety and discouragement are just more “user friendly” forms of fear. And like any kind of fear, they should not be tolerated –
We are all about more: more house, more care, more food, more money, more of everything. In some areas the quest for more served us
I’m struck by an increasing awareness of the impermanence of everything. All things have a shelf-life. Everything has an expiration date. There’s not one thing
We inflict a world of hurt on kids when we take them from their families and homes, even if it’s justified by abuse. It’s never
Confusing pleasure with happiness, unhappy individuals buy, consume, inject, inhale, devour, ingest, guzzle up, burn up, and burn out. And still, happiness evades them. They
As much as we may resist the idea or hesitate to acknowledge it, perception undeniably matters. The way we present ourselves—whether consciously or unconsciously—shapes how
We are a culture that majors on minors, a society that’s become engrossed by insignificant and trifling matters. We make idols out of those who
His foster family called him Robbie, his relatives knew him as Bobby, and legally, he was Robert. He endured a childhood marked by deep generational poverty, abuse, and neglect. As an adult, he dedicated his career to understanding and transforming these experiences for other children. His journey has given him a compassionate and comprehensive, 360-degree perspective on orphan work—what the system refers to as child welfare.