Category: lessons

A quiet exodus is happening in our churches, without headlines, slowly and silently. Without warning, a familiar face vanishes, leaving only an empty pew. Throughout my lifetime, the statistics have not changed. Despite the additions of youth ministry, college ministry, and entertaining activities, we are losing approximately two-thirds of...

Driving down a country highway near the desert offers a chance to enjoy nature and find peace, unless a pair of turkeys crosses the road. I saw them on the shoulder, walking into my lane. I slowed down slightly, moving over in my lane, but one of them kept...

“Never again.” Those words echo from Dachau Concentration Camp as a reminder. Survivors and witnesses declared that the horrors of the Holocaust must never be repeated. However, the attitudes and actions behind those horrors are bigger than one historic event. We must continuously say “never again” in the face...

What began as an ordinary Tuesday in September 2001 quickly turned to chaos within two hours. Even as planes fell and towers crumbled, courage and faith began to rise. Ask anyone old enough to remember, and they can easily recall where they were, what they were doing, and how...

The fourth time is the charm! After weeks of frustration, including lost parts and repeated cancellations, we finally have a working dishwasher, a changed outlet, and everything back in place. The biggest problem was not a non-functioning appliance. The greater issue was the lack of consideration for our time...

We’ve all had those home repairs that drag on longer than they should. What I didn’t expect was for our dishwasher to become a teacher of patience, frustration, and, ultimately, gratitude. It all started over a month ago. Suddenly, the dishwasher decided to run for a few minutes, then...

This title could easily be “What Children Taught Me about Friendship.” No inhibitions. No prejudices. Nothing to prove. As I watched a group of 3–7-year-olds during Bible class, I witnessed the beauty of connection. Children of different backgrounds and skin tones sat shoulder to shoulder, holding hands during the...

Teaching—whether in a formal school setting, at home, or in Bible class—is a source of great joy in my life. While I don’t have experience in a traditional classroom beyond my own time as a student, I have over 17 years of experience teaching in the home and Bible...

In the first month of the year, I attended three funerals. One for an almost 92-year-old force-to-be-reckoned-with woman, with whom I shared a birthday; one for a friend’s brother, only 31 years old; one for another friend’s mother, who recently turned 65. I attended each of these services for...

For the second time in United States history, a President will serve for two non-consecutive terms. It is only the third time Inauguration Day and MLK Day coincide (the second inaugurations of presidents Bill Clinton in 1997 and Barack Obama in 2013 being the other two occasions).  Homeschooling allows...