True or false: Acid reflux (heartburn) is ultimately caused by having too much stomach acid. If you thought "true," you might be thinking of the antacid commercials where we see a cartoony diagram of a stomach slowly filling with acid until it starts to come up through the esophagus and into the back of the throat. But if you said, "true," you would be wrong. Don't take my word for it. An editorial published in the journal Gastroenterology stated it pretty clearly: Treating gastroesophageal reflux disease with profound acid inhibition will never be ideal because acid secretion is not the primary underlying ...Read More
5 Great Bible Verses for Kids to Memorize About Thankfulness
I've found some great Bible verses for kids to memorize about thankfulness. One of the biggest character battles we face as parents in raising our kids—actually, one of the biggest character battles for Christians in general—is that of discontentment and entitlement. Underneath this is the most vexing problem I deal with in my home: a lack of gratitude. A grateful soul is well fortified to stand against many kinds of temptations in life. Pastor Douglas Wilson says this is God's "gratitude displacement" strategy for fighting sin: when thankfulness and joy fill up all the available space in the heart, the tempting ...Read More
Homeschooling 5 Ways to Teach Your Kids About the Election Process (+ a Free Unit Study)
Election Day is coming and it provides a great learning opportunity for kids to understand the American political system. In the days leading up to Election Day, take some time to really help you kids understand the election process. 1. Teach kids about the history of the right to vote In the United States (and much of the democratic world) originally only white, male, landowning adults had the right to vote. But over time, attitudes in America began to change. Before the American Revolution, most colonists did not vote for their governors or local officials. They were appointed by the King (though there were ...Read More
“Storks” and Sex Ed: A Movie Discussion Guide for Christian Parents
"Just a brief exposure to baby cuteness can ruin your life!" – Junior, Storks Plot Summary – Storks are well known for delivering babies to expectant moms and dads...unless, of course, they just get tired of doing that and see a whole lot more profit in package delivery. That's the premise behind Warner Animation's Storks, a spastic children's film about the birds (and the one lonely human) who works at Cornerstone.com. Nearly two decades after the storks decide to call it quits on the baby-making and baby-delivery business, Junior, a stork with a superb package-delivery record, is offered a once-in-lifetime ...Read More
The Real Reason We Get So Angry With Our Kids
Anger is a cowardly emotion. It only comes out when it believes it is safe to play. And unfortunately, this means behind the private walls of my home, my kids become easy targets of my anger. I see the cowardliness of anger every time I'm fuming over something my kids are doing—and then the phone rings. Suddenly, without a great deal of effort on my part, my voice can go from venomous viper to smiley secretary as I put on my best face for the one on the other end of the call. But God has a different agenda in mind for our lives. In our effort to repent of our anger, the apostle Paul has some sage words of advice ...Read More
The Event of the Year! 2016 Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle
Most people will never make the necessary changes to improve their health. In fact, a recent study published by Journal of the American Medical found that less than half of people who had a heart attack or stroke made any meaningful changes to their lifestyle. And just 4.3% made all of the changes recommended by their doctor. WOW! Why do you think that is? I think I know. One of the biggest reasons why we don’t make changes in our lives is that even though we know weshould, we simply don’t know how. ...Read More
5 Reasons We Love Jonathan Park Audio Adventures
The day the first set of Jonathan Park CDs arrived in the mail, our older boys anxiously brought them to their room and began to listen that night. They fell in love with them immediately. I grew up listening to Christian audio dramas like Adventures in Odyssey—which still appeals to our kids—so when I heard about the audio adventures of Jonathan Park, I thought our kids might enjoy them. These CDs did not disappoint. About Jonathan Park Jonathan Park began as a radio project of the Institution for Creation Research as a way to introduce children to how science reveals God's creative mind and power. In fact, the ...Read More
What We Wish Our Parents Would Have Taught Us About Sex as Teens
The young boy sat in his room filled with embarrassment. His mom recently found “evidence” of masturbation while doing the laundry, and she told him his father would talk to him more when he came home from work. Dad quietly knocked on the door, and upon entering, handed his son a small book about “becoming a man.” All he said was, “Your mother thought you should read this.” He quickly turned and left the room. That was the extent of “the talk” this boy got during his young teenage years. Sadly, that may be more than a lot of kids got from their parents. Among the thousands of Christian adults I’ve spoken to, I’ve met ...Read More
