It’s hard to say “no” when someone asks you to help for a good cause or a good thing. But, to protect what’s most important, time with God, your spouse, your kids and grandkids, it’s good to say “no” sometimes. So to help you to know when to say “no,” here are practical questions to ask yourself.  First, “Is this something that I’m uniquely equipped to do?” You need to determine if your gifts and talents are...

Today we remember the dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. …a man of ministry, peace and vision.  He dreamed of equality between all races.  In 1963, Dr. King said, “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”  What’s your dream for your kids?  Is it your dream or theirs? Is it what’s best for...

Several years ago, my son came home from his game and asked me, “Were you there for the first quarter of my game, Dad? I started!” I responded “I didn’t get back into town and to the game until the second quarter...but you did great!” I then added, “But you really need to start eating better.” My son was silent. The disappointed look on his face showed me that my criticism had completely crushed the compliment I...

Helen Keller once said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”  We all want adventure.  We want to explore, create, discover.  A great way to start an adventure is to create a bucket list with your son.  Figure out what the two of you are passionate about, and then pursue those dreams.  To help you, I’ve created a generic bucket list for fathers and sons.  First, learn how to fly fish and then go...

Time passes in the blink of an eye.  One moment your daughter is dancing on your toes in the kitchen, the next she is getting ready to dance with a boy at her first prom.  While you can’t slow down time, you can make the most of the time you do have with your daughter.  So to help the two of you make memories, here is a general bucket list of things for fathers and daughters.  First, take dance lessons together. ...

At 211 degrees, water is simply hot water. But when water reaches 212 degrees, it produces steam. And steam is a powerful force that has the ability to move multi-ton trains and boats. Just that one more degree…that one small change makes a huge difference. You could be just one degree away from a breakthrough in a difficult relationship. One degree away from a sincere apology to your spouse. One degree away from...

On December 17th, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright changed the world by making the first controlled flight in a powered aircraft. But success came only after years of experimentation, failure, learning from their mistakes, and trying again. The Wrights persevered because they believed in their dream. They were also encouraged by their loving and supportive family. A monument in their honor reads: “In commemoration...