Today, I’ve got a simple idea to help you build a great marriage. It’s fun, too. Laugh together. Proverbs says, “A joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). Jean and I have great memories of laughing together in the car or around the dinner table. A few times we’ve laughed so hard for so long … Continue reading Bringing Laughter to Your Marriage →

Culture moves faster and faster. With jobs and kids and all that goes on in life, balance can be difficult to find. Today, I have a suggestion to make that endeavor a little easier. Consider Carl. Like you and me, he’s busy. His work hours are hectic. He travels frequently. And even when he’s home, … Continue reading Life Balance →

Helping children navigate the ever-changing world of technology and social media can be overwhelming. Nevertheless, it’s an important part of today’s parenting agenda. Entertainment consumption shapes who we are, how we think and what we believe. That’s especially true of impressionable children. On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Becoming a Screen Savvy Family,” we’re … Continue reading Becoming a Screen-Savy Family →

Guy and Amber Lia were convinced that they’d made a mistake as soon as they got married. Neither had communication skills to work through differences. Both reacted to each other instead of responding. Only a short time after their wedding, their relationship spiraled, and they considered throwing in the towel. Every dating couple imagines marriage … Continue reading Identifying Triggers in Your Marriage →

It’s time for your checkup! Not a checkup for your body, your teeth, or your car, but for your marriage. According to research, only 19% of couples take part in pre-marital counseling. Of those who get married, only a third seek counseling before getting divorced. And of those couples, many limp into a pastor or … Continue reading Marriage Checkup →

I’ve always believed that a child’s first teachers are mom and dad. Most parents understand their role during their child’s preschool years. But once their child begins elementary school, many parents defer a lot of educational responsibilities to teachers and administrators. In short, they step back and let the professionals take over. Tragically, that’s a … Continue reading Putting Children First in Education →

Are you where you’d thought you’d be at this point in your life? If not, take heart. The best may be yet to come. Many reach their thirties, forties, or fifties, disheartened that they haven’t accomplished more. Some even fear that they’ve wasted too much time and will never achieve anything worthwhile. I say, no … Continue reading Late in Life →

A friend of mine once dialed a wrong phone number and reached an elderly woman, who said, “I live alone and don’t have anyone to talk to. Can we chat for a few minutes?” My friend agreed, and they had a lovely conversation. That woman was not unique. In the wake of COVID, nearly half … Continue reading Human to Human Connection →

Successful marriages don’t thrive because of so-called “chemistry,” good luck, or wishful thinking. They thrive because the couple sacrifice their own interests for the sake of each other. On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Embracing Your Role as a Spouse,” our guest, author Kevin Thompson, describes three roles of a spouse: As friends, spouses … Continue reading Embracing Your Role as a Spouse →

When my son, Trent, was a teenager, I asked him to rake pine needles out of a rock bed in the front yard. He did a good job, but a couple of times I had to urge him to give a little more effort.  Trent often declared a task “good enough” a bit too soon. … Continue reading Teaching Kids to Love God and Serve Others Well →