We are one week into the new year, the kids are back at school, most of us are back to work, and if I am honest, a little funk has set in. I am enough of a realist to know that we would not wake up on January 1st, 2021 and all of 2020...
Hope in the New Year
We are wrapping up this year and ready to take a few weeks break to rest and refresh before jumping into all that lies ahead. None of us know what 2021 will look like. After all, when 2020 kicked off we were full of optimism and hope for the new decade. None of us...
When They Have Seen Too Much
With free pornography on every device, a dark world is just a click away, and has only escalated its impact on our families as the pandemic continues to push everyone online. As Christian parents we must face this crisis boldly. This week we are talking about how we can step into our children's...
Be In The Moment
Here are three easy ways to make sure you are making room for those special and meaningful moments in your family Christmas. ...
Encouragement to Stay the Course
Many parents made the decision to homeschool, or virtual school in the heat of a hot and contentious COVID-19 Summer. Many of those same parents are now looking at the school books, paper, and computer strewn across their dining room table thinking what have we done. For every family who thoroughly enjoys...
Managing Teenage Angst
Student Ministry Pastor Nathan Kocurek shares 4 tips for overcoming: stressing about being cool (acceptance), stressing about grades (insecurity), stressing about parents (independence), and stressing about relationships (identity). ...
Hunger Nextdoor
This is the face of hunger in your community. For too long I had felt that food pantries, SNAP food programs, and food donations drive were to help people in other places. But every community in this country is home to families who struggle with food insecurity including rural, and suburban communities, not just...
Find Routine in the Chaos
In an unpredictable world we live in, predictability can anchor our children's need to feel secure. I struggled with routine and schedules for my boys when they were young, going an entire day feeling like nothing was accomplished. Some days were great, and some days we struggled to get anything completed. If we focus...
Family Prayer Time
A few months ago my family and I started strategically focusing on prayer during our family time. We took time to write down our conversation and prayer requests. Sometimes the requests were big things, such as looking for a job, or small things such as looking forward to some sunshine the next day. We...
Making Room In Our Home and Our Hearts
Several years ago my parents moved to the Dallas area to be closer to my family. My son was young at the time and I have long valued the influence his grandparents have had on him over the years. This week Darla Hill, a member of our Care Team, challenges us to look...
Separation Anxiety: The Importance of Time Alone in Childhood
We have been with our littles 24x7 for months as we navigated this pandemic. Now that we are starting to return to preschool, play activities, even church our kids seem to be suffering more or new separation anxiety. While it can be so hard to seperate from our children when they are crying, upset...
Modern Expectation of Christianity, Part 2
In Part 2 of our conversation with our resident 30 something Sarah Mcfarland, and Julie MacManus our Mom raising a teenage daughter, Pastors Dave Carl and Nathan Kocurek break down what this new generation is looking to find. In our discussion we understand that this generation is looking for purpose more than anything. Unfortunately,...