Christian Home and Family

Christ is Risen: what difference does it make?

Posted by Carey

· Sunday, April 20th, 2014

Over 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ, rose from the grave. Because Christ is risen from the grave: All of that, and thousands upon thousands of other blessings can be yours, because Christ is risen. But you must trust in – rely on – believe in – the sacrifice Jesus made, in a personal way. It has nothing to do with you…

You’re going to die eventually, why not now?

Posted by Carey

· Friday, April 18th, 2014

No, I’m not advocating suicide… well, maybe I am, in a way. I’m advocating what Jesus insisted upon for everyone who wanted to be His disciple… Jesus was NOT the soft-spoken, wouldn’t-harm-a-flea guy the culture makes Him out to be. He was a radical. He was an extremist. He was passionate for the things that mattered most. That’s where statements…

Podcast 68 – Why the fruit of the Spirit is not a checklist

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, April 16th, 2014

TODAY’S PODCAST Podcast 68 – Why the fruit of the Spirit is not a checklist If you’ve been in Christian circles for any length of time, you’ve heard a sermon or talk about the fruit of the Spirit. You’ve seen it on plaques in people’s homes, you’ve heard children’s songs about this list of virtues. Our human tendency is to…

3 reasons divorce is not an option

Posted by Carey

· Monday, April 14th, 2014

Remove the word “divorce” from your vocabulary. That’s some advice my wife and I received when we were first married… and it was great advice. In my thinking, if you always have divorce in the back of your head, as a “just in case” option, you’re going to be less committed to working through the hard things that inevitably come…

Dealing with emotional pain in marriage

Posted by Carey

· Friday, April 11th, 2014

Emotional pain left over from the past is powerful. And it’s especially damaging when it resides inside a marriage relationship. I’ve seen couples married 5 years, or 35 years, struggling to get past hurts that happened years and/or decades earlier. Pain and resentment, like rotting garbage, pile up year after year, offense after offense, and grow into a stinking, smoldering,…

Podcast 67 – Trusting God when it hurts

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, April 9th, 2014

TODAY’S PODCAST Podcast 67 – Trusting God When It hurts One of the most difficult parts of the Christian life is continuing to trust God when hard things are coming into our lives. God, what are You doing? Why is this happening to me? I thought I was Your child and that You were my Protector? These and a thousand…

Family devotions – group style

Posted by Carey

· Monday, April 7th, 2014

There are lots of ways to do family devotions… from Dad leading the way, to Mom or a big sister reading a Bible story or leading some kind of game or activity. All of those are great ideas, and you should do them as they fit your family. But here’s an idea for family devotions you may not have thought…

Marriage devotionals – a good start, but you need more

Posted by Carey

· Friday, April 4th, 2014

Imagine yourself lying helpless in a hospital bed. You’re nearing the end of your life. There are tubes, wires, and oxygen tanks all around you. Doctors and nurses scurry in and out of the room. Your family is gathered around you. Everyone has that sad, pitiful look on their faces that says, “He’s just wasting away.” At that moment, what…

Podcast 66 – Learn how to engage in purposeful parenting

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014

TODAY’S PODCAST Podcast 66 – Learn how to engage in purposeful parenting Parenting is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work if you’re going to do it in an effective, God-honoring way. In this episode of the podcast Carey is going share with you about a concept he calls “purposeful parenting” – it’s a way of viewing your…

How repeated confessions can kill relationships

Posted by Carey

· Monday, March 31st, 2014

“I don’t want to hear you say ‘I’m sorry’ anymore. I want to see you change. Your words are empty confessions.” Have you ever wanted to say that? To your spouse? To your children? It may sound like a pretty heartless thing to say, but there comes a time when it needs to be said. There have been at least…

Podcast 65 – Help your kids fight the condemning voice in their head

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, March 26th, 2014

TODAY’S PODCAST Podcast 65 – Help your kids fight the condemning voice in their head Everyone fights those nagging little voices of condemnation that speak to their own minds. It’s part of the human condition. But for Christians, there is a powerful way to deal with those lies, and it’s based on the truths God has shared with us…

Podcast 64 – The myth of safety

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

TODAY’S PODCAST Podcast 64 – The myth of safety American (western) culture tries to convince us that we can be “safe.” We purchase insurance policies, save up cash, build retirement funds, all for the sake of being safe. But is it really true? As Christians, we even “Christian-ize” the concept, taking scriptures to support the view and to give ourselves…

Daily devotional mind hacks you might not have considered

Posted by Carey

· Tuesday, March 18th, 2014

Most Christ-followers intuitively feel that daily devotional time is something that should be part of their every day life… But it’s not that easy, is it? There’s a ton of truly important things that compete for your time… In a legitimately busy life, how do you make time for Quiet time (daily devotional)? And once you make the time, how…

Is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder a condition, or a sin?

Posted by Carey

· Friday, March 14th, 2014

A.D.H.D. / A.D.D. has always been somewhat of a mystery to me… Through the years, I’ve been on both sides of the opinion-scale, from sympathetic, all the way to skeptical. Before I launch into my thoughts on the subject, let me say this: I know that it’s easy to make judgments about things from the outside, but quite another thing…

Podcast 63 – Little white lies, or big black sins?

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

TODAY’S PODCAST Little white lies, or big black sins? We all tell “little white lies” now and then. But are they really so little? And what impact do they have on the life and example of a Christian family? In this episode Carey talks about what God thinks of our “little white lies” and challenges us to be people of…

What he’s really saying when he wants to shack up but won’t marry you

Posted by Carey

· Monday, March 10th, 2014

OK, I’m on a soapbox here… and I know it. This situation makes me mad (righteously so, I believe) It makes me mad at the guys, who are foisting a stupid, woman-destroying idea on young women. The guys will tell you all kinds of rationale for why you should consent to living together… Living together will enable us to “try…

How to pray for your family, Colossians style

Posted by Carey

· Friday, March 7th, 2014

The Bible not only says that you SHOULD pray for your family, it also gives examples of HOW to pray for them… But you may not have recognized these examples, because they are not geared specifically toward the family. They are prayers the Apostle Paul prayed for the folks he was writing. They were groups of people who had come…

Podcast 62 – Your responsibility for your children’s faith in Christ

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, March 5th, 2014

TODAY’S PODCAST Your responsibility for your children’s faith in Christ “Wait a minute! I thought my kids were responsible to have their OWN faith in Jesus!” They are. You can relax. That’s not what I’m talking about. Of course they have to choose to place their trust in Jesus, but the question is, “How are they going to get to…

8 things every wife needs to understand about her husband (# 5 will probably shock you)

Posted by Carey

· Tuesday, March 4th, 2014

Ladies, do you ever have trouble understanding your husband? Do his little quirks baffle you? Does his perspective on life make you shake your head? Do you ever wonder, “What is this THING I married?” If you do, you’re not alone. Your husband probably feels the same way about you, at times. I don’t mean that in a derogatory sense…

Podcast 61 – REVAMP! – changes to the podcast

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, February 26th, 2014

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST REVAMP! I’ve been taking a break from podcasting for the last 4 to 5 months. I did so because I wanted to make sure I was “practicing what I preach” regarding keeping family priorities in order. So, during a time of huge transition for my family, I took some time off from the podcast to make…

Reality VS feeling in the battle for Christian growth and obedience

Posted by Carey

· Monday, February 24th, 2014

I remember jobs I’ve had that were not very enjoyable. Do you? For me, the workday at a job like that seemed eternal. Time after time I felt like I’d been there for 4 or 5 hours, only to look at the clock and discover that I’d only been at work for 2. Can you relate? What a disappointment!…

1 HUGE reason husbands should help with housework

Posted by Carey

· Friday, February 21st, 2014

I guess there could be many reasons a husband should help with housework… but in my mind, there’s really only one. In talking about the freedom we have from the rules and regulations of the law, the Apostle Paul says it this way… Christian men, we need to get out of “me” mode and into “them” mode. There…

The only acceptable mindset for Christian parents. Is it yours?

Posted by Carey

· Friday, February 14th, 2014

Do you have the only truly acceptable mindset for a Christian parent to have? The main word in that sentence is the word CHRISTIAN. It dictates everything else about the sentence. As a CHRISTIAN, you are: All of those things are important about you, as a person. They guide the way you think and the way you live. “CHRISTIAN” is…

When delighting in your wife (or husband) seems impossible

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, February 12th, 2014

Delighting in your spouse can be a real challenge… but of course, you know that. It’s a challenge because stuff happens in marriage, stuff that strains your relationship and causes hard feelings between you. Betrayal, arguments, disagreements about kids or finances, extended family tensions, physical issues, irritating habits… all of these can put the two of you on opposite sides,…

Dad, how can I believe in God when I can’t see Him?

Posted by Carey

· Monday, February 10th, 2014

Teaching your kids to believe in God, when they can’t see Him. My daughter, Faith, is a sharp little girl. She’s 10 years old at the time of this writing… and I’m beginning to notice more and more that she’s a thinker. The two of us were talking a couple of weeks ago, about life, faith, fun… all kinds of…

Break’s over! Christian Home and Family is moving forward

Posted by Carey

· Friday, February 7th, 2014

Some time ago (almost 4 months ago , can you believe it?) I told you that I was going to be taking a break from blogging, podcasting – the whole nine yards. I told you that I needed to take a break to make sure that I was keeping my priorities straight. Thanks for your patience. I’m writing to today…

Do you live with your wife in an understanding way? – an event opportunity for married men

Posted by Carey

· Saturday, January 4th, 2014

One of the passages that the LORD has graciously used to kindly “beat me up” since the early days of my marriage is 1 Peter 3:7 Over the years I’ve learned (many times the “hard way”) what it means to live with Mindi in an “understanding way” as Peter instructs. It’s more than: It’s about HER. Guys… we have got…

Allergic to baby Jesus

Posted by Carey

· Tuesday, December 24th, 2013

I should be used to it by now… but it still astounds me that a holiday with the name of CHRIST prominently in it, can be celebrated in ways that ignore Him completely. I’m talking about CHRISTmas. I’m beginning to suspect that our culture is becoming increasingly allergic to the baby Jesus, born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. And…

danger of growing up in a Christian home

The dangers of growing up in a Christian home

Posted by Carey

· Friday, November 22nd, 2013

You likely haven’t thought of growing up in a Christian home as a dangerous environment… but it is. Here are some of the dangers of growing up in a Christian home… as I see them… The danger of familiarity If your children grow up attending worship services, hearing the Bible read, working on memory verses, singing worship songs, etc. they…

Teach your kids to hate you

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, November 20th, 2013

Teach your kids to hate you? No… I’m not trying to be sensationalistic… just true to what Jesus said: So was Jesus a hate-monger? No. He was and is King of the Universe. And as King of the Universe, Jesus rightly deserves: Your kids need to know that… and you need to teach it to them. [pullquote position=”right”]Jesus is worth…

Podcast 60 – Scripture Memory Songs with Danny Stephens

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, October 30th, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST Scripture Memory Songs I grew up through the 70s and 80s, eras of HUGE musical styles and progressions… and the melody and words of thousands of songs from those days are still embedded in my mind. Music is powerful… able to insert itself into our souls in ways like few other things. It makes sense to…

I need to practice what I preach

Posted by Carey

· Monday, October 28th, 2013

How do I need to practice what I preach? On this blog and podcast, I incessantly “preach” about the importance of the family in God’s plan for history. I speak often about the importance of parents going first in setting the tone and example for the Christian household as they disciple their children in the ways of Jesus. And I…

Podcast 59 – Working hard at work while working hard at home

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, October 23rd, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST Working Hard at Work While Working Hard at Home Any parent or spouse knows the depth of desire that wells up in your heart when you realize the great responsibility you have to your spouse or your children. But when you add the burden of being a provider to the mix, it can become overwhelming very…

Podcast 58 – a sabbath rest for your family

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, October 16th, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST a sabbath rest for your family The idea of a “sabbath” has taken on all kinds of worship-oriented connotations that I don’t think the LORD meant it to have. The main idea you see in scripture is the idea of rest… it’s a statement of our neediness before God. He shows His goodness to use by…

A Mouse in my House: how to overcome distractions

Posted by Carey

· Monday, October 14th, 2013

Overcoming distractions is like getting the mice out of your house When we first moved into our current home, we had a mouse problem… or should I say, a “mice” problem. It turned out there were many. Our cat would stare into the heat vents for hours on end. Then we began to hear scratching inside the walls at night….

3 Simple and Easy Ideas for Family Prayer

Posted by Carey

· Friday, October 11th, 2013

Here are 3 simple and easy ways of going about “family prayer” that you can try in your family! 1. Pray for the person to your (right/left). In our “family nights” (we sing together, read and discuss the scriptures, and pray together), we often use this method of prayer. It goes something like this… “OK, everyone turn to the person…

Podcast 57 – The number one way to kill your marriage

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, October 9th, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST The Number One Way to Kill your Marriage In over 20 years of working with my wife, alongside couples in a context of marriage counseling, I have seen one thing that kills more marriages than anything else. It’s not anger. It’s not infidelity. It’s not financial disagreements. It’s not having to deal with a blended family….

It’s not the Sunday school teacher’s job to teach your kids about Jesus

Posted by Carey

· Friday, October 4th, 2013

An example of teaching your kids about Jesus A few weeks back we had some friend’s little boy stay with us for a few days while they were away. He was a joy to have around. He’s a polite, thoughtful, funny, active little boy of about 6… and I’m glad we had him around for that short time. One morning…

Podcast 56 – Teaching your kids to pray for their future spouse

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST Teaching your kids to pray for their future spouse We pray about the big things in life, but for some reason not many people pray for the person who will have the most influence and affect on their life – their spouse. In this episode of the podcast I’m joined by my wife and oldest daughter,…

I know God exists because…

Posted by Carey

· Monday, September 30th, 2013

Throughout the years many people have come up with arguments for the existence of God… and I don’t think I’m going to come up with anything new in this post. BUT… maybe I can help you think the issue through from an angle that impacts the health of your family. Here are a handful of things that directly impact the…

God’s purpose for the family throughout history

Posted by Carey

· Friday, September 27th, 2013

Today’s post is a fragment of my partner video, that tells about the purpose and direction of the ministry of Christian Home and Family. This post in particular is aobut the purpose for the family God has carried out through history. You can read the video text below the video. God’s purpose for the family is not clearly seen until…

Podcast 55 – The family dating game

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST The Family Dating Game When you hear the word “dating” you might think immediately of those emotionally laden years before you were married. You were looking for Mr. or Miss. “Right” and the tension and hopes were high. Ultimately, you wanted to have some positive, healthy, deep experiences with another person that lead you to a…

Come out of the closet, parents.

Posted by Carey

· Monday, September 23rd, 2013

Time to come out of the closet, parents… I remember hearing a phrase about the “prayer closet” as I was growing up in my “King James Only-Independent-Fundamental-washed in the blood-women only wear skirts” Baptist church. It makes sense that I heard it there… cause the idea of a prayer closet is only clearly indicated in the King James Version. Here’s…

Taking responsibility for your life

Posted by Carey

· Friday, September 20th, 2013

This is a “repost” of the very first post I ever did on this blog… way back on 5/13/2012 It took me 45 years of life, 23 years of marriage, 5 kids, and a TON of God’s grace to truly “get” what I am praying you will get from this post. It’s my prayer that the LORD will do a…

Podcast 54 – The foundation of family unity

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, September 18th, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST The Foundation of Family Unity Sibling rivalries. Loud arguments and disagreements. Violence. These are some of the more extreme things that can happen in a home where family unity is not carefully and diligently built. When that’s the case, the home can be one of the most volatile and unhappy places. Where does family unity come…

Dealing with changes in your marriage

Posted by Carey

· Monday, September 16th, 2013

Changes in your marriage can throw you for a loop… It’s quickly approaching fall time as I write this. I look out my front door and see the first signs of yellowing aspens far up on the shoulder of the mountains. When it comes to the seasons, I like change. I like the crisp feelings of fall time, the cozy…

Can you give me one minute? I need your help!

Posted by Carey

· Friday, September 13th, 2013

It’s pretty simple… I’d love to make this website and the podcast as helpful to you as I can. So please, tell me… What are some topics relating to the Christian family that YOU would like to hear discussed on the Christian Home and Family Podcast? Some of the following categories might help stir your thinking: Marriage conflict Communication Teen…

Podcast 53 – Intensive Christian Marriage Retreats

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, September 11th, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST Intensive Christian Marriage Retreats In modern times we’ve come to think of relational struggles as areas needing the help of “professionals.” Therapists, Counselors, Analysts, Psychiatrist, etc. I’m sure there is benefit in some of those types of relationships. But what my wife and I have discovered is that mature, biblically based Christians who know how to…

What is your super power?

Posted by Carey

· Monday, September 9th, 2013

There are so many movies out about people who have superpowers… I think part of the intrigue of these movies (and the comic books they come from) is that we all WISH we had some sort of super-duper-special-thing that made us different, set apart, or “special.” We’d like to be able to fly, shoot lasers out our eyes, or have…

What is an intensive marriage counseling retreat, and why do they work so well?

Posted by Carey

· Friday, September 6th, 2013

You may not have heard about an intensive marriage counseling retreat before… but it’s a tried and true way to put some focused attention on marriage issues you and your spouse may be facing, and do it alongside a couple who has a heart for your marriage, a vital knowledge of the scriptures, and a deep dependence on the LORD…

Podcast 52 – Your family can make a difference, with Carl Walker and family

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, September 4th, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST Your family can make a difference As a family it’s easy to get caught up in all the “stuff” of life – athletics, music lessons, school and homework, social clubs, work and home life… you can probably add 10 items specific to your family that keep you hopping. But how often do you take the time…

The key to a loving family

Posted by Carey

· Monday, September 2nd, 2013

It seems like the people I want to love the best are the ones I wind up treating the worst… Can you relate with that at all? The scriptures say that I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), that the old is gone and the new has come… Yet, I still find myself irritated, impatient, angry, selfish, and the…

Men… be done with the little boy need for pity… (audio from John Piper)

Posted by Carey

· Friday, August 30th, 2013

Marriage is a tough road… for men and women. Each of us are learning throughout the course of our marriages to live with and for the benefit of a person who is almost entirely different than us. That’s a tall order for anyone because it’s next to impossible to get into the skin of someone else for the sake of…

Podcast 51 – Men: Become a student of your wife – live with her in an understanding way

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, August 28th, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST Men: Become a student of your wife Husbands have a hard time understanding their wives… it’s so common that there are jokes all across our culture about the fact. But rather than give in to the belief that it is “impossible” Christian men are called to something more, something higher for the sake of being like…

2 common concerns about involving kids in the family business

Posted by Carey

· Friday, August 23rd, 2013

this is post #3 in a series Should your kids be involved in the family business? Many parents are concerned about whether or not their kids should have a part in the family business. In conversations I’ve overheard, there are two main concerns: I don’t want my children to grow up resenting the business, or the family. I don’t want…

Podcast 50 – How men can teach their sons about sexuality

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, August 21st, 2013

This podcast bears a PG-13 rating, so parents should be aware and remove small children from within earshot! SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST How men can teach their sons about sexuality When you were a kid did you ever have “the talk” with your parents? If so, was it comfortable or awkward? If not, why do you think your parents never…

Sowing and reaping in a family economy

Posted by Carey

· Monday, August 19th, 2013

this is post #2 in a series Sowing and reaping… how does it apply to a family economics model? As I’ve spent time thinking about family economics, I’ve found a strange conflict banging around in my head. On one side is the home-spun wisdom that I’ve heard all my life. You could say it as… If it’s going to be,…

Our family economic model – an experiment in providing for the entire family

Posted by Carey

· Friday, August 16th, 2013

I am very intrigued and inspired by the idea that the members of a family can work together to create a viable economy for their household. My wife and kids and I are working on an “experiment” of this kind right now. The main thing that started the gears turning along these lines was that we began thinking about the…

Podcast 49 – Men, Women, and the Church

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST Men, Women, and the Church The issue of male and female roles in the church has been a hot button topic for most of the later half of the 20th century, and the issue still rages today. But God’s word has very clear descriptions for us about what male and female roles in the church are…

Tips for teaching children respect

Posted by Carey

· Monday, August 12th, 2013

Teaching children respect is one of the most important and difficult things we have to do as a parent. It’s important because respect communicates value and love to others, which is one of the reasons God has put us on the planet. Every Christian parent is seeking to guide their child to become a devoted follower of Jesus, which means…

My top 10 Christian family resources on the internet

Posted by Carey

· Friday, August 9th, 2013

My Top 10 Family resources There is a lot of junk on the internet. But there’s also a ton of great information and resources – much of it free! Today I want to point you to some of the better resources for Christian Families that I feel will be of benefit to you. Some are specifically geared toward families, others…

Podcast 48 – Christian men and sexual temptation

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, August 7th, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST Christian Men and Sexual Temptation Sexuality is one of the explosive issues every person has to deal with, and the way God has wired men seems to make them even more prone to the allure of sexual temptation. It’s an issue that’s been neglected in the church far too often, but one I wanted to deal…

Parenting is about making disciples

Posted by Carey

· Monday, August 5th, 2013

Parenting is about making disciples Many parents have the idea that their job is to raise a well-adjusted individual who is a benefit to society. That’s an admirable goal, but it falls a bit short, biblically speaking. For the Christian parent, parenting is about making disciples. It’s a task that flows out of the mission that Jesus gave to His…

Men: Don’t settle for easy

Posted by Carey

· Friday, August 2nd, 2013

Men: Don’t settle for easy As a husband and father I find that my natural tendency is to take the quick and easy way. What I mean is that I often don’t give considered thought to a situation or circumstance, I just do what’s easiest. But I have come to find that in the end, the quick and easy way…

Podcast 47 – The wife’s role in marriage – part 2

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, July 31st, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST The wife’s role in marriage – part 2 A user’s manual is an important document. It tells us how the product designer intended the product to be used, and how to do so effectively and safely. When we depart from its instructions, we do so at great risk to the product and ourselves. In spite of…

The benefit of times of intense focus – in parenting, marriage, and life

Posted by Carey

· Monday, July 29th, 2013

Intense focus is often needed in life One of the many things my dear wife has taught me in over 24 years of marriage (as of this writing) is that there are times in life where I need to intensely focus on something for the sake of getting over a hurdle or establishing a new habit. It’s a skill we…

A way to repurpose daily devotions for men that leads your family spiritually

Posted by Carey

· Friday, July 26th, 2013

Hey Men, do you struggle to stay consistent in your daily devotions? Do you struggle to lead your family spiritually? In 20 years of pastoral ministry those are the two most common struggles I’ve seen almost all Christian dads have. In this post I’m going to show you how you can build the habit of consistency in your daily devotions…

Podcast 46 – 10 lies parents tell themselves – with Steve Johnson

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, July 24th, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST 10 lies parents tell themselves Parents have the best of intentions, but sometimes those intentions can lead us to fool ourselves on a number of different levels. Today I’m talking with Steve Johnson, a family ministry coach with a ton of experience. He and I are going to discuss ten lies you might be telling yourself…

The #2 trait of happy kids

Posted by Carey

· Monday, July 22nd, 2013

Yes, I said #2 trait of happy kids… The number one trait is that they know and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ. What trait could be so significant that it comes in second only to the gospel? CONSIDERATION From the time our kids were very small we regularly used a handful of significant words that you wouldn’t typically hear…

9 ways you might be handicapping your children

Posted by Carey

· Friday, July 19th, 2013

Yes, you could be handicapping your child… My elementary school had a “Special Education” department. Many times when my class was on the playground, the special ed kids would be enjoying recess too. I remember some of them, very clearly. There was Mark, a 22 year old who was afflicted with Down’s Syndrome. He LOVED pushing the merry-go-round (you remember…

Podcast 45 – The wife’s role in marriage

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, July 17th, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST The wife’s role in marriage There has been a huge movement over the past few decades to completely level the playing field between men and women. In many ways it’s been a good thing. But one of the extremes that has come out of that desire has been an attempt to diminish and downplay any and…

Trust in marriage may not be what you think

Posted by Carey

· Monday, July 15th, 2013

Trust is easily broken… and very difficult to rebuild. If you’ve been in a relationship for any length of time you know that to be true. It only takes a handful of hurts to cause a boat-load of doubt and mistrust. Many couples struggle to rebuild or regain trust, which is important. In our marriage intensives we often have to…

Tips for parents – attitude and approach matter (your attitude and approach)

Posted by Carey

· Friday, July 12th, 2013

One of the biggest tips for parents I can give has to do with attitude and approach… and just because I’m writing about it doesn’t mean I’ve got this one all buttoned down. Nope… just the opposite. I’m working on this area daily. I find myself vacillating back and forth between two types of parenting styles, two different approaches which…

Podcast 44: Christian books, Christian classics, and the Christian family with Luke Wilson

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, July 10th, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST Christian books, Christian classics, and the Christian family In my Christian walk I’ve had many people who have invested time and energy into my growth and discipleship. But there were key points in my journey when there simply weren’t individuals available who could come alongside me like I needed. I thank God that at those times…

John Piper on the effects of porn on a man

Posted by Carey

· Monday, July 8th, 2013

If you want to hear the entire quote about how John Piper recognizes the effects of porn on a man, you can find his comments in audio form at http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/ask-pastor-john/is-my-boyfriend-s-porn-a-marriage-deal-breaker by

Podcast 43: God’s description of a Christian Husband

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST God’s description of a Christian husband The world is filled with ideas of what a man should be. When it comes to being a husband we can find even more expectations and examples of what makes a “good man” for a woman to find. But doesn’t it make sense to find out what God says a…

This 4th of July teach your kids the kind of patriotism that matters

Posted by Carey

· Monday, July 1st, 2013

Christian patriotism – what is it? In just a few days in the United States of America patriotism will be displayed in full force through the observance of Independence Day. Fireworks demonstrations, barbeque, and red, white, and blue are the order of the day. From the time I was a young boy I understood the 4th of July to be…

The natural way to raise Godly children

Posted by Carey

· Friday, June 28th, 2013

The natural way to raise children… How did your children learn to talk? Did you sit down with an alphabet chart and teach them phonics? Did you grill them on vocabulary every day? Did you work at it very hard at all? Most of us taught our children to speak by speaking to them, reading to them, pointing at the…

south sudan christian families with william levi

Podcast 42: Rebuilding South Sudan on Christian families – with William Levi

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, June 26th, 2013

Links & Resources mentioned in this podcast: Operation Nehemiah Ministries The Compass Weekend The Marriage Improvement Project SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY PODCAST Or if you are using a “podcatcher” here is the feed address: https://christianhomeandfamily.com/feed/podcast/ LEAVE FEEDBACK AND A REVIEW ON I-TUNES NEXT EPISODE: July 3, 2013 – Podcast 43- Men as godly servant leaders in…

What matters most

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, June 26th, 2013

What matters most? by

Purpose in life: a challenge to young men

Posted by Carey

· Monday, June 24th, 2013

The events of the past few days easily land on my top 10 list of most encouraging experiences. I was honored to spend Thursday noon through Saturday noon with 4 very special, Christ-seeking young men. They joined me for Christian Home and Family’s first “Compass Weekend,” and it was an event I will remember for years to come. We came…

The power of a good works mindset

Posted by Carey

· Friday, June 21st, 2013

Mindset is huge. For you and for your children. If you think wrongly, you will live wrongly. That is why it is so important for you and your children to learn the truth of God and learn to act on it. In the Bible we find… Mindset comes from having a firm, clear conviction about who you are and why…

Podcast 41: Explaining Death to Children

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, June 19th, 2013

Links & Resources mentioned in this podcast: List of Bible verses relating to death. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY PODCAST Or if you are using a “podcatcher” here is the feed address: https://christianhomeandfamily.com/feed/podcast/ LEAVE FEEDBACK AND A REVIEW ON I-TUNES NEXT EPISODE: June 26, 2013 – Podcast 42- Family miracles in the South Sudan with William Levi…

10 things I learned from my Dad – father’s day tribute

Posted by Carey

· Monday, June 17th, 2013

A father’s day tribute – 10 things I learned from my Dad I thank God for giving me the Dad He did. For the past (almost) 46 years my life has been impacted by God’s grace through his life. I clearly see it… and I’m grateful. This post is a brief Father’s Day tribute. It’s a list of 10 of…

The Chisel – a parable for parents

Posted by Carey

· Friday, June 14th, 2013

A parable for parents. There once was a chisel. When the Carpenter was not using him, which was not very often, he could always be found in the top tray of the toolbox, under the apron, right next to the Carpenter’s pencil. You could be sure to find him there because he was one of the first and favorite tools…

Podcast 40: Servant Leadership in Manhood

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, June 12th, 2013

Links & Resources mentioned in this podcast: The Compass Weekend for Young men SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY PODCAST Or if you are using a “podcatcher” here is the feed address: https://christianhomeandfamily.com/feed/podcast/ LEAVE FEEDBACK AND A REVIEW ON I-TUNES NEXT EPISODE: June 12, 2013 – Podcast 40- Servant leadership in manhood The main music track used in…

Learn to ask good questions

Posted by Carey

· Monday, June 10th, 2013

The power of good questions is amazing… Part of the way God receives glory is through the mystery of Him being God. He creates things and says things and does things that are truly “unbelievable”… except for the fact that they were made, said, or done by God, who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). He conceals things, which brings Him glory……

Raising independent kids is not such a smart idea

Posted by Carey

· Friday, June 7th, 2013

Is it such a good idea to teach your children to be independent? I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard well-meaning parents (Christian and non-Christian… it makes no difference) say that they want their kids to learn independence. I get it. Really, I do. I know that what they mean is that they want their kids to learn…

Podcast 39: Positive affirmations in the home – with Pastor Sam Crabtree

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, June 5th, 2013

Positive affirmations in the Home Links & Resources mentioned in this podcast: Pastor Sam’s excellent book “Practicing Affirmation“** Learn how to review and rate the Christian Home and Family podcast on Itunes Below is the video I first saw that introduced me to Pastor Sam. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY PODCAST Or if you are using a “podcatcher”…

My Family Version 1.6.1

Posted by Carey

· Monday, June 3rd, 2013

MY FAMILY: version 1.6.1 Year after year the dynamic within the home changes. Every family changes. The ages of parents and children change. Relationships change. Situations change. People change. It’s kind of like software updates… what version is your family? At this point my family is what I might call version 1.6.1. Yes, I’ll tell you what that means (to…

Your kids grow up fast – make the most the time you have (VIDEO)

Posted by Carey

· Friday, May 31st, 2013

Life is like a river – it rushes by! So do your kids’ lives! It seems just a little while ago my oldest son was just a kid. But as I write this he’s married and expecting his first child next week! Kids grow up fast. It makes me think about all the time I’ve wasted, all the opportunities I’ve…

Podcast 38: God’s design for Christian Marriage

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

God’s design for Christian Marriage SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY PODCAST Or if you are using a “podcatcher” here is the feed address: https://christianhomeandfamily.com/feed/podcast/ LEAVE FEEDBACK AND A REVIEW ON I-TUNES NEXT EPISODE: June 5, 2013 – Podcast 39- Positive Affirmations in the Home with Pastor Sam Crabtree The main music track used in the Christian Home…

My greatest fear as a parent

Posted by Carey

· Monday, May 27th, 2013

My greatest fear as a parent is not that my kids might have trouble with these issues: My greatest fear as a parent echos the words of Psalm chapter 69, verse 6… I fear that I might somehow lead my children astray… And that kind of fear can be a good thing for a parent to have… It’s one of…

Teaching your children to walk by faith not by sight

Posted by Carey

· Friday, May 24th, 2013

Walking by faith is not only a difficult thing, it’s a very unnatural thing, at least to us fallen souls. From an early age we are raised toward independence, self-sufficiency and self-reliance. But our true need is to be less of a maverick and more of an obedient child. But that realization is only the beginning of a faith-walk. Being…

stages of grief and the soveriengty of God - with R.C. Sproul, Jr.

Podcast 37: Stages of grief and the sovereignty of God, a conversation with R.C. Sproul, Jr.

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

Stages of grief and the sovereignty of God – a conversation with R.C. Sproul, Jr. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY PODCAST Or if you are using a “podcatcher” here is the feed address: https://christianhomeandfamily.com/feed/podcast/ LEAVE FEEDBACK AND A REVIEW ON I-TUNES NEXT EPISODE: May 29, 2013 – Podcast 38- Gender roles in marriage The main music track…

How to practically Go with God (one example)

Posted by Carey

· Monday, May 20th, 2013

You’ve heard the phrase, “Go with God.” In this series of posts I’m trying to unpack what the Bible describes that to look like. In the previous post, I opened the door to Galatians 2:20… let’s walk on through today to try to understand what it means. Notice what it says is fundamentally true – of you and of Jesus….

Change your life (and your child’s) forever

Posted by Carey

· Friday, May 17th, 2013

Knowing that Christ really lives in you can change your life forever I wrote briefly about this as one biblical value to teach your children earlier. It’s a HUGE and strange idea for “modern” people to hear. In a nutshell it’s this… Jesus Christ literally LIVES WITHIN YOU (if you’ve trusted Him as Savior and LORD). Not in a symbolic…

Podcast 36: Jesus restores the original in male/female relationships

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

Jesus restores the original SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY PODCAST Or if you are using a “podcatcher” here is the feed address: https://christianhomeandfamily.com/feed/podcast/ LEAVE FEEDBACK AND A REVIEW ON I-TUNES NEXT EPISODE: May 22, 2013 – Podcast 37- Stages of grief and the sovereignty of God with R.C. Sproul, Jr. The main music track used in the…

Podcast 35: When adult children turn away, a conversation with Rob Rienow

Posted by Carey

· Wednesday, May 8th, 2013

When adult children turn away from the faith Links & Resources mentioned in this podcast: My Compass Weekend for Young Men Visionary Family Ministries “When They Turn Away” book “Never Too Late” DVD curriculum (4 items down the page) SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY PODCAST Or if you are using a “podcatcher” here is the feed address: https://christianhomeandfamily.com/feed/podcast/…

Biblical values to build into your home

Posted by Carey

· Monday, May 6th, 2013

Some core biblical values to consider. When Mindi and I were expecting our first child, we did the typical “new parent” things. We read books on pregnancy. (and we watched a video or two like the one at the bottom of this post) We read books on parenting. We talked a lot about our hopes and dreams for our family….