From the time our eldest child, Caleb, was just an infant (and possibly even before), I knew that I wanted to do something significant to mark the point when our children would come of age. I reject the whole notion of a “teenager,” a modern construct invented by pop culture, and instead wanted to reinforce… Continue Reading
Consider this: Parents are called by God to disciple their children. Luke’s gospel tells us, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). This is true of character, but this is also true of habits and loves. Consider this: Mothers bear the image… Continue Reading
Becky and I have read to our children since they were infants. We read so much to them, and some of the books over and over (and over and over!) again, that they began to recite from memory every line of some books before they could read themselves. (In case you’re wondering, my favorite is Where… Continue Reading
Here are my noteworthy reads from the last couple of months: Augustine’s Confessions, translated by Maria Boulding–Our church ladies’ book group finished this in February. I really enjoyed this very readable modern translation. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis, read by Nadia May [audiobook]–Love, love, loved this! Great narration also. A Handbook to Morning Time by… Continue Reading
I haven’t done a reading post in awhile. It’s not that I haven’t been reading, but it always seems that the last few months of the year I have a harder time keeping track of my reading. At the end of 2016 in particular, I just blew through a bunch of modern mystery novels. I… Continue Reading
June was baby month around here (Christopher arrived on June 20th). In addition to getting everything ready for his arrival and resting up for the big day, I managed to get in a decent amount of summer reading as well. I love the extra time I generally have in the summer for reading. Here’s what… Continue Reading
We finished school this month, so that has, thankfully, left me with some more time to read. As a summer goal, I’m going to try each month to read some fiction, have a biography or history going, and also have a more purely didactic book going (on education, theology, Christian life, parenting, etc.). We’ll see… Continue Reading
August: August was back to school month for us as well as me getting ready to speak at a conference, so, while I didn’t get much read, two out of three of my books were excellent. Caught Up in a Story by Sarah Clarkson I bought this after listening to Sarah on a podcast at… Continue Reading
Since reading a highly recommended secular parenting book earlier this summer out of curiosity, I’ve been on a bit of a parenting book binge, looking for intensely practical parenting advice like that book offered, but from a biblical perspective. Bonding with Your Child Through Boundaries by June Hunt, with Peggy Sue Wells, was released by Crossway this summer, and… Continue Reading
At long last, I finished my master’s degree in Christian education in December. Much as I’m thrilled to be done, I loved the external pressure of hard book lists and required reading deadlines. Don’t get me wrong. I love to read on my own. But…I probably wouldn’t pick up some of the heftier, weightier things… Continue Reading
This essay was originally published on April 27, 2012. A couple of events have coincided during the last day or so to bring a question to my attention. That question is essentially, What music should I provide for my small children to listen to? I would like to answer that question by providing general suggestions concerning music… Continue Reading