I'm noticing a growing trend of wives "throwing in the towel", leaving passive husbands. Initially, I was shocked by what I thought I was seeing: women, married* to nice, easy-going guys, were bailing on their marriages. Believers and non-believers alike. At first, it didn’t make sense. But then it did. Every aspect of the family… Continue reading Up the Down Escalator
June remains the most popular month of the year for weddings. To honour God’s amazing design for gender, marriage and healthy sexuality, I'm reposting an article from two and a half years ago, celebrating gender uniqueness. What better month to do that? Call me crazy, but one of the ways I like to express my… Continue reading Bigger Than Pronouns … Again
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 A week or so before our wedding, Melissa moved 700 miles south, giving up her cool Chicago apartment and a fun group of close friends. The day we wed at a small Moravian church in rural North… Continue reading What She Gave Up
There's no straight lines make up my life,All my roads have bends."from "Circle" by Harry Chapin When acquaintances ask about my backstory, I often laugh and say that I’ve taken a “scenic route” through life. “Scenic” denotes a leisurely drive along picturesque backroads, taking in breathtaking vistas or pastoral landscapes. But such a romantic picture… Continue reading No Straight Lines
The left thrives by keeping Americans divided, dependent and angry." Daily Signal For some of my more sensitive or battle-weary readers, this piece will seem like a bit of a rant. As I mentioned in my original blog article, "The Road Ahead", anything that affects the family is fair game and important. Sadly, many life… Continue reading Everyman’s Guide to Woke Terminology
A lie stands on one leg, the truth on two."Benjamin Franklin Melissa and I have been lying to our kids for over twenty years. We had three of our four babies when we were living in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Our house was a hundred and twenty-five-year-old late Victorian with a slate Mansard roof. An historic landmark… Continue reading The Disappearing Pool
(Every January I post an abridged text from one of my past sermons. Sermons are meant to be delivered for the ear, rather than for the eye. Still, but I hope you will find these messages edifying.) From God’s perspective, what do you think he would consider the most radical thing you’ve ever done? When… Continue reading Follow the Leader
Years ago, when I was immersed in graduate studies, one of my mentors suggested I start an “encouragement file”. It was a casual, out-of-the-blue suggestion at the time, but one I now acknowledge as packed with wisdom. Thankfully, I listened to my mentor and established an encouragement file back in 2003. First, one lonely note… Continue reading Words from the Heart
Helping them change their marriage was like untangling a ball of yarn that had been played with by a mischievous cat for a very long time." Napier & Whitaker -- The Family Crucible In 1943, American psychologist, Abraham Maslow, published a paper entitled, “A Theory of Human Motivation”. In it he described a hierarchy of… Continue reading A Worthwhile Climb
I love reading the Christmas story, especially at this time of year when we celebrate the astounding circumstances surrounding the birth of Israel’s Messiah (not to mention the Saviour of the whole world). For a huge seasonal blessing, please watch “Christmas with the Chosen”. It’s in theatres, but it’s also on YouTube. Bracketed by talented… Continue reading Pants on Fire
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 I walked the earth for too many years without having close male friends. Sure, I stayed… Continue reading Confidants
Many of God’s creatures will put up with a lot of adversity, but when precious offspring are threatened, some parents will defend their young to the death. Consequences for offenders can involve mauling, bites, missing eyes or ears, or even election loses. Mothers and fathers in Virginia (USA) rose up and sent a clear message… Continue reading Don’t Mess with our Kids!
(The following true story occurred about two years after my house fire incident recounted in “Dogs Can’t Talk”.) How is it that you meet someone just momentarily in life, but her name becomes permanently etched in your memory? When I was thirteen, my Southern Ontario town built an arena at the end our our street. … Continue reading Girl-Crazy #1
Everyone names pets. Some people name body parts. At our house, we name our vehicles. We didn’t always do that, but it is becoming a tradition. It all started with a 1994 BMW 3-Series. Since he was assembled in Munich, we gave him a nice Germanic name, "Hans". When we sized-up to a 7-seater Mazda… Continue reading What do You Name?
I’d do almost anything to help save or strengthen a marriage. From my experience, most distressed husbands and wives who seek marital therapy confess communication challenges. It’s pretty much ubiquitous. All of us are broken, and our brokenness has no better stage upon which to play than in a marriage. Naturally, men and women who… Continue reading Round and Round the Barn
After much consideration, I’m recommending people within my modest sphere of influence take a pass on the controversial "vaccines" that are being pushed by the political left. Lots of ethical and health rationale listed below. Before I launch into my reasons, I wanted to pose a question: Regardless of one’s political perspective, shouldn’t everyone be… Continue reading Left Jab
I was spoiled by my family yesterday. The five of us (plus our Rough Collie) took a rigorous Father’s Day hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, followed by appetisers and beverages at a local brewery. After late afternoon showers and naps, we prepared supper together and kept the day’s celebration going. Heading… Continue reading More Than Neckties
Land stolen, now draped in thick darkness, In spite of new bright daylight hours; Patriot hearts stilled mourning the darkness, Hopes frustrated, outlooks now soured. Left staged a prolonged, stiff resistance Used name-calling, lies and deceit; Whatever it took, mob resistance Toppled good, by way of a cheat. Fake news and big tech are now… Continue reading Whiplash
(An abridged version of a sermon I originally delivered at First Baptist Church in Marblehead, MA just before it changed its name.) “Grace and peace to you, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!”Apostle Paul I’ve been thinking about grace and peace. Our church has decided to change it’s name. One of the… Continue reading On the Sign and In You
The second smartest thing I’ve done in my life was to record my childrens’ words — those funny, profound or egocentric things that pop out of their mouths between the ages of two and eight years. Let's all have privacy together!" R, age 2.5 There’s something special about that fleeting six year period when kids… Continue reading The Second Smartest Thing
Peace in the Home 