With Thanksgiving behind us, we shift into Christmas and our secrets begin. We don’t tell Uncle Johnny about the fishing pole wrapped in a refrigerator box beside the tree, or little Susie about the American Doll she’ll finally get this year (that she’s been asking for since she was four). But a few other secrets pop up around the holidays …
The Many Colors of Mother-Daughter Relationships
In my recent release, Of Fire and Lions, I explore the biblical story of Daniel, who was exiled to Babylon. Remember the guy thrown into the lions’ den who escaped unharmed? Because the Hebrew Bible usually records only male descendants and Daniel has no recorded offspring, this novel gives Daniel only daughters. Five, actually; and a significant part of the story involves …
Working Through Childhood Hurts
Childhood Memories–Good and Bad During the past two weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to spend lots of time with family members “back home” in Indiana. We’ve shared lots of childhood memories, and invariably some childhood hurts have resurfaced with the joyful recollections of yesteryear. Though I’m not equipped as a counselor to tell you how to handle childhood hurts, I am …
Follow The Leader
What makes a good leader? A good parent? A good friend? Interestingly, the same qualities apply to all and are traits Jesus displayed while He walked on this earth. It’s sort of amazing to see them in a Roman governor…
Is Like Or Unlike Likeable?
Relationships. Ugh. I’m certain in the Garden of Eden they were—like everything else—perfect. But in their post-curse condition, I believe they’re the single-most-used character-refining tool in God’s tool chest. Why do we pick the friends we pick? The spouse we choose?