• Topic > Marriage & Family

    Side By Side

    In my family scrapbook is a picture of my daughter at age 4 working next to me, using a toy hammer to repair the siding on the house. Side by side we worked that day; she imitated my every action, absolutely convinced that she too was fixing the house. Rarely have I enjoyed a chore more. In the picture, it’s obvious that she’s enjoying it too.

    An insightful dialogue on raising children to have a personal relationship with God

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012, Part 3

    “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:23-26).

    Idea: How we make decisions and how we talk about the decisions we have made often differ.

    Purpose: To help listeners appreciate how decisions are made in the life of faith.

    Each Life A Gift

    A young woman was pregnant but unmarried. And even though she lived in a society that didn’t place a high value on unborn life, she wisely chose to allow her baby to live.

    The child, whom she generously made available for adoption, became part of a loving Christian family who nurtured their precious daughter, loved her, and showed her the way to Christ.

    Taking a moment to adjust your priorities

    Wednesday, January 4, 2012

    “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:23-26).

    IDEA: Children are profoundly influenced by their parents’ faith and values.

    PURPOSE: To help listeners appreciate the influence they can have on their children’s faith.

    Let’s look to the Scriptures for guidance as we pass down our faith to the next generation

    Tuesday, January 3, 2012

    “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.” (Hebrews 11:23)

    IDEA: The faith of our fathers and mothers contributes to the faith of their children as well as to their own.

    PURPOSE: To help listeners realize how much is at stake in their families as they follow Jesus.

    Join us for this special glimpse into the Christmas story!

    Luke 1 and 2
    Interview with Elizabeth
    HADDON: Elizabeth, thank you for joining us here at Discover the Word.
    ELIZABETH: I am honored to be here with you.
    HADDON: You have an amazing story—in fact, the story of a miracle. Tell us how it started.
    ELIZABETH: Well, as a young girl in my early teens I married an older man, Zacharias, who served as a priest in our temple here in Jerusalem. Of course I expected to have children with him—that was the hope and expectation of every young woman in Israel in my day. But it didn’t happen. Year after year after year Zacharias and I kept trying to have a baby—and year after year after year we were disappointed. If you haven’t gone through that yourself, I’m not sure you can know how crushing this was for us.

    Honoring Your Parents

    My dad recently turned 90 years old and his physical capabilities are fading. He can still move around with his walker, but he needs someone to cook his meals and help him with other tasks.

    My older brother Steve and his wife Judy lived close to him, so they decided to move in with Dad to care for him.

    A FIRM Foundation

    Before she was 2 years old, my granddaughter Katie did something that would make any grandpa proud: She began to recognize cars by make and year. This all started when she and her daddy began spending time together playing with his old collection of toy cars. Daddy would say, “Katie, get the 1957 Chevy,” and she would pick it out of the hundreds of tiny cars. And once, while he was reading a Curious George book to her, she climbed down from his lap and ran to get a miniature Rolls Royce—an exact replica of the car pictured in the book.

    Failure To Discipline

    We live in the woods, so we get very little prolonged sunlight in the summer. But we love fresh tomatoes, so I decided to try growing them in pots set in a few sunny spots.

    The plants started to grow right away and really fast. I was thrilled—until I realized that their fast growth was due to their efforts to reach out to the limited sunlight.

    A Modest Proposal

    As a college student, I heard count- less engagement stories. My starry-eyed friends told about glitzy restaurants, mountaintop sunsets, and rides in horse-drawn carriages. I also recall one story about a young man who simply washed his girlfriend’s feet. His “modest proposal” proved he understood that humility is vital for a lifelong commitment.

    A Hard Goodbye

    When our youngest son joined the Army, we knew that challenges lay ahead. We knew that he would face danger and be tested physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We also knew that in some ways our home would never fully be his home again. In the months leading up to his departure, my wife and I steeled ourselves for these challenges.

    The Power Of A Promise

    I wear only two pieces of jewelry: a wedding band on my finger and a small Celtic cross on a chain around my neck. The ring represents my vow to be faithful to Carolyn, my wife, as long as I shall live. The cross reminds me that it is not for her sake alone, but for Jesus’ sake that I do so. He has asked me to be faithful to her until death shall separate us.

    Dad’s Hat

    Amid the celebration, there was tragedy. It was the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. One by one the teams entered the stadium and paraded around the track to the cheers of 65,000 people.

    The Real Prize

    I’ve been amazed at the impact that my wife, Martie, has had on the lives of our kids. Very few roles demand the kind of unconditional, self-sacrificing perseverance and commitment as that of motherhood. I know for certain that my character and faith have been shaped and molded by my mom, Corabelle.

    Space Scouts

    Many of the first astronauts were once Boy Scouts. The scouts were good at capturing the imagination of young boys and instilling discipline to reach their goals—even if it meant reaching for the stars.

    On July 20, 1969, the Boy Scouts were busy celebrating at a conference. During the gathering, the scouts were delighted to hear from former Eagle Scout Neil Armstrong, who sent them greetings from space. One of their own had grown up to realize a wonderful dream!