After serving in the ministry for many years, routine, duty, and the noise of distractions can affect even the most dedicated servant. The mundane can subtly replace perspective. Hymn writers have often expressed these basic human tendencies in spiritual songs. For example, no one could debate the potentially discouraging emotion from the events that led Horatio Spafford to writeIt Is …

Have you ever been invited to an epic feast? When I lived in the United Arab Emirates, I attended a lavish Emirati wedding as the plus one of my friend, Ellen. The wedding hall was filled with a thousand muslim women, celebrating with the bride, groom, and their families. Platters of appetizers, main dishes, and desserts covered the table all …

Can you believe it? Its time to launch another school year. For many of you, this will be your 30th, 40th, or even your 50th time to start a new school year as an educator. Thats amazing! For others, you are in your first year or decade, and youre still trying to figure out if this is what you want …

Quick question: Who would like to go back and relive their middle school years? No one? I think once was hard enough! We describe them with words likeawkward,confusing, sometimes evenpainful. But you know what? Alsoamazing. Really. I dont think of my own middle school years as amazingbut when I look back at my three (now grown) sons, and the hundreds …

In our current, independence-driven culture that finds its greatest meaning in satisfying the self, the smallest members of our society are often pushed to the side. Today, many view children as an affront to personal autonomy, merely as depletions of our time, energy, and resources. This forces us to ask, is this an accurate perspective? How should we view these …

Introduction In Part One(Do I Need a Homeschool Co-op?), we looked at whether your family needs a homeschool co-op. Once you decide that outside support may be helpful, the next question is how to choose a homeschool co-op or group. A homeschool co-op or microschool, learning center, pod, or forest school can be a wonderful addition to your homeschool. It …

The National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) has announced an expansion of national testing in an effort to provide state lawmakers with data that can help them improve education in their states. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often referred to as the Nations Report Card, has been providing data for only fourth and eighth grades in math and reading. …

New survey data is further confirming an alarming trend of increased loneliness, social isolation, and addictions to pornography and gambling among young men in the U.S., all while grappling with economic concerns. At the same time, the report noted that the vast majority of young men remain ambitious about their future. In anextensive reportreleased recently by the Institute for Family …

Sixteen-year-old Adam Raine did what millions of American teenagers now do: he turned to artificial intelligence for help with schoolwork. His parents did not regard ChatGPT as a threat. In writtenSenate testimonylast September, Adams father, Matthew Raine, said the family viewed it as a homework helper. After Adam died by suicide in April 2025, his parents reviewed his ChatGPT conversations. …