Life

Family Reunions Help Tell the Story of Us

In “the good ol’ days,” Jim and Shirley Cox, of Plantation, celebrated their annual family reunion at their beach house in a little coastal town called Garden City in South Carolina. The reason for the reunion was simple: to bring family members together. There was no schedule of activities to be planned, no internet ideas, themes, resources, free reunion registry and message boards or invites to address and deliver…via email. There was only the anticipation of 24 hours of shared memories and another day in which new ones could be made, and undoubtedly last a lifetime. Four generations later, that […]

-Read More


Can You Afford $400?

A typical American household cannot raise $400 without borrowing money or selling possessions, according to the results of a survey published recently by the Federal Reserve, the US central bank (The Fed’s Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2013). The agency asked 50,000 people if they could handle an unexpected “financial disruption” costing them $400. Just over half (53 percent) said they could “fairly easily handle such an expense” by using money in their bank accounts (checking or savings) or by leaning on a credit card. But the rest of the respondents would have to borrow, sell […]

-Read More


Our Children Are On Loan To Us From God; Invest in Them While You Can 

Well, I believe that whatever choices my son makes, whether good or bad, Godly or godless, wise or “what were you thinking,” we feel as though we managed and invested well. We’ve known from his birth that our kids belong to God and that we are simply managers and investors with what God has given us “on loan.” Life is about knowing and following an awesome God who by His grace offers forgiveness and freedom, even when things get difficult and challenging. We’ve guided Toby from birth to understand the importance of God’s inherent Word to teach and guide his […]

-Read More


Holding A Mirror To Our Marriages

Recently a prominent church leader once again has had to resign due to infidelity. On June 21, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church Pastor Tullian Tchividjian admitted to moral failure, acknowledging his actions disqualify him from continuing to serve as senior pastor or preach from the pulpit, and he resigned. People like to call it a moral failure. And then the commentators within the Body of Christ begin to write things for and against this leader and his choice. Now don’t get me wrong; I am not agreeing with nor endorsing sinful behavior such as adultery or any sinful behavior for that matter. […]

-Read More


How Division Can Ruin Relationships

Scripture tells us that “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against itself falls” ( Luke 11:17). Is it any wonder Satan would attack families, friends and neighbors in this very way? He knows the way to collapse or undermine something is by ultimately dividing it. His strategy is subtle, and in stages, so he doesn’t overtly implicate himself in the matter. He starts off by eliciting strong opinions, which can be the beginning crack in his plan of division. It is interesting to try and trace a conflict’s origin. Have you ever tried […]

-Read More


When We Love Them, We Fight for Them!

As parents, we will face countless trials and tribulations.  Sometimes the issues are small — sometimes they can spiral out of control.  As a mother there have been more times than I care to count where the possibilities were frightening, but the options were few. Many times my only option was…fight. When we love our children, there may come a time when the only thing that stands between their stupidity and/or destruction is our will to fight. We fight them with words, with actions, with consequences and most importantly we fight on our knees to God in prayer. We ask […]

-Read More


Serving a Healthy Movie Menu for Summer Blockbuster Movies

  What does a proper diet mean in your home? My kids would be fine replacing broccoli and carrots with chocolate and soda at every meal. No doubt they would feel satisfied and content, but the truth of the matter is the end result would be they would be “jacked up” with short term energy and long term health issues. One of our favorite movies in our home is the 2003 holiday favorite called “Elf” in which Will Ferrell plays Buddy the Elf. He is a fun loving elf who enjoys maple syrup on every meal. One of the greatest […]

-Read More


Who Wants Marriage Anyway?

  A 2014 Pew Research Center survey asked which of the following statements came closer to the beliefs of their respondents: Society is better off if people make marriage and having children a priority. Society is just as well off if people have other priorities other than marriage and children. Survey says… 46 percent chose # 1, 50 percent chose # 2. Among 18-29 year-olds, two thirds chose  # 2.   “Marriage should not exist” The world seems to be abandoning marriage. More heterosexual couples are opting for cohabitation, and while homosexual couples are fighting for the right to marry, […]

-Read More


Study Reveals Strategies for College Success

  Eager to have a family picture taken, 18-year-old Natasha Atencio nearly sprinted, in heels, through the West Broward Church of Christ lobby toward her mother’s Bible study class. She knocked on the closed door, opened it and motioned for her mother to come out. “That’s Natasha,” said Melvern Atencio, Natasha’s mother, who excited the room with a serious expression. “When she wants to get something done she’ll get it done no matter what!” Natasha is one of more than 25,000 Broward and Palm Beach high school students graduating from high school this spring. And her determination to achieve her […]

-Read More


Choices for Your 401(k)

In our culture of continual job change, people who leave their jobs are faced with a decision about what to do with their 401(k) account. Indeed, a 2012 report by the U.S. Labor Department notes that the average worker holds 11 jobs from age 18 to 46. How many previous employer 401(k)s and company plans do you have, and are you keeping track of them? Probably the biggest mistake you can make when leaving a job is cashing out your old 401(k). According to a 2012 report by Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, 25 percent of unemployed or underemployed workers […]

-Read More