Oprah Winfrey recently delivered a commencement speech at the USC school of journalism, inspiring graduates with this message: “Your life journey is about learning to become more of who you are and fulfilling the highest, truest expression of yourself as a human being. That’s why you’re here.”1 Oprah’s message exemplifies the self-focused culture in which […]

Does anyone else notice that the voices of our culture are getting louder? I don’t mean the message. I mean the voices. The voices are loud. They are strong. Sometimes filled with high-octane, celebratory energy. More often they are angry and disagreeable. The intense volume of voices sets some alarm bells off for me, because […]

We never know when the Lord will teach us a life lesson that is crucial to ministering to children and teens. Take a walk with me down memory lane, back to the 1950’s.  Parenting norms were the epitome of free-range parenting – especially with my grandma and two aunts living in the front of our […]

Recently, several big storms rolled through my town with lots of thunder and lightning. They frightened my youngest son, Daniel, producing some traumatic emotions in him. As I listened to my husband comfort Daniel as he tucked him into bed amid the loud booms and rain hitting the window, I sat in awe. Instead of […]