Family Connections

Archives

Published in the May 8, 2008 issue of The Evangel
The phone rang and it was my sister. "The ambulance is here and we are taking Daddy to the hospital again," she said. Although they live 125 miles from us, we went immediately. I strongly believe that the care of...

Published in the April 24, 2008 issue of The Evangel
It's 5:30 a.m. and Josh's alarm goes off. It's a Wednesday, and Wednesdays are long days in our house. Josh goes to breakfast with 3 high school guys. An hour or so later, Jackson and I head out the...

Published in the April 10, 2008 issue of The Evangel
Teachers use them every week to teach children in Sunday School. As parents, you can take advantage of teachable moments every day to help your children learn about God and build spiritual foundations for faith. In Deuteronomy 6:7, God commands...

Published in the February 24, 2008 issue of The Evangel
When we were asked to write an article about developing a compassionate heart in children, we felt extremely under-qualified. So how does it happen? Certainly it is a continual process that takes time. For children to understand compassion or...

Published in the January 28, 2008 issue of The Evangel
A few years back Donna and I were directing the Adult 2A Sunday School department and wanted to provide an opportunity for increased involvement in local missions for our members and their families. At that time, Tambi Swiney's class...

Published in the January 17, 2008 issue of The Evangel
When Mike and I married over 35 years ago, I received an unexpected blessing--a loud, loving family of in-laws that included a mom and dad, 3 sisters, 3 grandparents, over 30 aunts and uncles, and cousins too numerous to...

Published in the January 3, 2008 issue of The Evangel
We had it all planned. My brother-in-law had given us a devotional for Christmas, and we were determined to jumpstart our family devotions in 2007. And we did--for about a month. Then, life happened. The hustle and bustle of...

Published in the December 18, 2007 issue of The Evangel
Raising children to be independent can be a challenge. When do you turn over appropriate tasks to them so they can perform their own tasks? One of my seminary professors used to say, “Once a child has learned a...

Published in the December 4, 2007 issue of The Evangel
Now that Chaney is a junior in high school, I appreciate even more the time we spend together as a family playing, traveling, and relaxing. Since Chaney is an only child, Tambi and I have always been his primary...

Published in the November 20, 2007 issue of The Evangel
Sure, you have enough family pictures from the last few years to fill a warehouse! But what about those dusty pictures of ancestors your children wouldn't recognize, but without whom your present-day family wouldn't be the same? Setting aside...

Published in the November 7, 2007 issue of The Evangel
Fifty years ago this Christmas, we were married at First Baptist Church. Our children grew up in this church; all four were married here. Add the four spouses, 14 grandchildren, plus other kinfolks and we have lots of times...

Published in the October 25, 2007 issue of The Evangel
My wife Dale and I used to be pretty serious campers and hikers back in the days before we had children. We always knew that someday we would introduce Gigi (6) and Scotty (4) to the joys of pitching...

Published in the October 8, 2007 issue of The Evangel
Our daughters Anne Grace and Allie often sing Casting Crowns' lyrics, "If we are the body, why aren't his arms reaching? Why aren't his hands healing?" Good questions! This summer FBC's Family Mission Trip helped our family do a...

Published in the September 26, 2007 issue of The Evangel
Recently at dinner, our son James proclaimed that Pacman (Adam Jones) is his favorite Titans player. I'm certain his interest in Pacman only comes from constantly hearing his name in the news. After all, if he makes the news...

Published in the September 10, 2007 issue of The Evangel
We are proud grandparents of five wonderful children. If you're a grandparent--whether of one or ten--you know the joys this title brings! This is a monumental year in our family. Our oldest grandchild, Emily, is beginning her senior year; our...

Published in the August 13, 2007 issue of The Evangel
Protecting Your Child from Sexual Predators It is nearly impossible to watch the news without hearing a story about another sex abuse case. It’s no longer just the dirty-old-man in a trench coat or the stalking weirdo. It can...

Published in the July 30, 2007 issue of The Evangel
After 14 years of having little boys at home with me during the day, it’s hard to imagine that our youngest son, Spencer, will be starting Kindergarten in just a few days. Completing his enrollment paperwork, I’ve answered questions...

Published in the July 19, 2007 issue of The Evangel
I thought she was crazy. I was standing in the hallway at church, listening to a friend tell me that she planned to homeschool her daughter. I searched my mind frantically for some kind of reasonable comment. I was...

Published in the July 3, 2007 issue of The Evangel
On November 27, 2006, Bettye (my wife and best friend for more than 65 years) made that ultimate journey from this world. For her it was a graduation to a visual relationship with Jesus, to whom she had trusted her...

Published in the June 19, 2007 issue of The Evangel
I have a great new bumper sticker on the back of my van. It says My kid has more chromosomes than yours! I love that. I’d be the first to admit that living with Down syndrome is no walk...

Published in the June 5, 2007 issue of The Evangel
When you look at your children what do you see? More often than not, I see cooing smiles, laughter, curiosity, amazement, and joy. I also see determination, perseverance, energy and hope. The other day, my wife Rachel asked me...

Published in the May 22, 2007 issue of The Evangel
Ask your spouse for a date. On any day or night of the week, a date that allows time to focus on each other, without the distractions of daily life, is a good date. Those private times together help...

Published in the May 7, 2007 issue of The Evangel
My family was so blessed to have had a godly mother. A friend once told me it was hard for her to learn to trust the Lord in all things because she was not raised in a Christian home. Learning...

Published in the April 25, 2007 issue of The Evangel
As parents, we do so many things intentionally for our children: driving them to soccer practice and music lessons, providing healthy meals and secure homes. Why? Because we want our children to be well balanced—physically, men-tally and socially. But a...

Published in the April 9, 2007 issue of The Evangel
“We don’t really have any problems.” “We are just too busy.” “People might assume our marriage is in trouble?” Sound familiar? People give a variety of reasons for not attending a marriage retreat. The reality is healthy marriages are living...

Published in the March 12, 2007 issue of The Evangel
Now, there’s a fresh idea! Gather your family and go on a mission trip together. Stand on a spiritual mountaintop together. Imagine the joy and blessing when all the members of your family are a single unit praying together as...

Published in the December 4, 2006 issue of The Evangel
Tevye, the milkman in Fiddler on the Roof, asks a poignant question each one of us would do well to ask ourselves: “And how do we keep our balance?” He answers the question with one word—“Tradition.” He gives more descriptions...

Published in the November 20, 2006 issue of The Evangel
The holiday season brings with it a good probability that extended families will come together to celebrate. Immediately after the prayer has been offered for God’s blessing on the food and the celebration, an interesting opportunity will present itself....

Published in the October 23, 2006 issue of The Evangel
When I met my husband, I respected him. It is one of many reasons I married him. I saw integrity in the way he lived that impressed me, and I loved him for it. As a woman, I need to...

Published in the October 9, 2006 issue of The Evangel
Put yourself aside and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Philippians 2:3-4 (The Message) The values expressed in this scripture are challenging to live out,...

Published in the September 25, 2006 issue of The Evangel
If we are honest in our manhood, we men possess a desire that has been instilled within us since the early days of our little league sports careers…BE THE BEST! Husbands can be the best husbands by practicing three basic...

Published in the August 28, 2006 issue of The Evangel
Gramma, Memom, Grandpa, Papa - regardless of the name, this role is special and meaningful. What fun to share excitement and pleasures! Grandparents also can provide support and understanding in times of sadness and disappointment. The contributions grandparents make to...

Published in the August 14, 2006 issue of The Evangel
I remember the rickety old stool that I sat on in my mother’s kitchen. While she prepared dinner, we talked. Our conversations were not a lesson on cooking, or a lecture on life; but nevertheless, I learned how to fry...

Published in the July 10, 2006 issue of The Evangel
Let Us Hear From You! At First Baptist Nashville, the Family Enrichment Committee seeks ways for families of every shape and size to grow stronger. Our Evangel articles emphasize creative ways to spend time together. We plan seminars to address...

Published in the June 19, 2006 issue of The Evangel
…there was a little girl who loved fairy tales and other exciting stories. She lived with lots of adults, and someone—a parent, a grandparent, an older brother, cousin, uncle, aunt—was always willing to read to her. I was that fortunate...

Published in the May 22, 2006 issue of The Evangel
Summer is just around the corner! Visions of lazy days stretch ahead into blissful eternity. But things get in the way, and next thing you know, summer vacation is over before you’ve had one. Unless you make a plan to...

Published in the May 8, 2006 issue of The Evangel
Moses made it clear. Parents are called to be the spiritual leaders of their homes: “These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit...

Published in the April 24, 2006 issue of The Evangel
The Family Enrichment Committee is not trying to emulate Johnny Carson in borrowing his catch phrase. Indeed, the idea expressed in “there’s more to come” is not original with Mr. Carson. It appears throughout the pages of the Bible from...