Wow – We saw God do amazing things in 2011, and we look expectantly to how, through His amazing grace, He will work through us in 2012! And so we've decided to once again read through the entire Bible together as a community. This year we are going to return to the Discipleship Journal reading plan we used several years ago, and we want you to join us!

The good news about ... read full post  |  3 comments

It’s often said, “Whatever is rewarded is most often repeated.” This principle should be considered when encouraging generosity within your family.

There are three primary motivators for just about everything we do in our spiritual lives: love, reverence (some call this “fear”), and rewards. This last one is often forgotten. The rewards of generosity can be found in this life and the next!

Put ... read full post

Generous Women … now, there's a redundancy! Why are women so generous? Issues that I often struggle with such as greed and materialism they seem to overcome with relative ease.

Take my wife (this is not a Henny Youngman joke!). Chris is constantly giving her time, her money, and most often, our possessions! If you need something and we have it, just come on over to the house and say so – and it ... read full post

College roommates. Those two words conjure up some interesting memories, don't they?

I once had a roommate who hated waking up in the morning. And more than anything, he hated the alarm. He had an alarm clock beside his bed, and when it sounded, he turned it off, rolled over, and fell back asleep. He had another alarm clock on his dresser. When it sounded, he got up, turned it off, got back in bed, and fell ... read full post

With all the heated debates centered around the new Jobs Bill, proposed by President Obama on Monday, it's often difficult to understand what the changes in Washington would mean for your giving. At National Christian Foundation, we're here to:

Be a voice in D.C. on your behalf and try to influence our lawmakers on decisions regarding charitable giving Help you understand what is transpiring in your nation's ... read full post  |  1 comments

You might have missed an important but little known holiday this past weekend. It was a day dedicated to the tickle monsters, the storytellers, and the ultimate spoilers. Last Sunday was Grandparents Day! Since a day hardly seems sufficient for the amount of love and care they pour into our lives, I'm encouraging families everywhere to embrace this special relationship in a meaningful way this fall and holiday

... read full post

OK, those that know me are probably thinking this title reflects that I have just experienced a sudden flash of self-awareness. No such luck.

Here's the story: this past weekend was a life milestone for my family. My wife, Chris, and I took our oldest child, Jonathan (pictured below), off to college at Baylor University in Waco, TX.

But first, let me take you back in time ...

It was 2003, and I ... read full post  |  3 comments

One of the most powerful things that we have experienced as a family are the trips we’ve taken to meet the underprivileged children that we support around the world.

Several years ago, I traveled to Africa with my son, Jonathan, to meet a boy named Antony. Our trip to meet Antony changed both our lives forever. As I watched the boys playing soccer together in the filthy slums of Kenya ... read full post  |  4 comments

There is no question that none of us are born with an inherent desire to live generously. In fact, one of the first words that all my children learned was, "Mine!"...with an exclamation point! We don't have to learn to be greedy. We have to learn to be generous, and we do so by watching others. Like the old adage says, 'It's caught, not just taught."

So Dads and Grand-dads, as we experience Father's Day and the ... read full post

It has been said that unmet expectations are at the root of all relational conflict.

Wherever tensions are brewing, you can be certain that someone’s expectations have been left unfulfilled. This is the case between nations. And it’s true between family members as well. If you expect things to be one way, and your loved one has a different picture in mind, there is potential for conflict. The longer ... read full post  |  1 comments