Stress and Resilience in the Family: Pastoral Care Ministry Forums
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In Which Church Will the Children be Baptized?
I’ve received numerous emails related to the challenge of deciding where children will be baptized, when parents come from different faith denominations. Many messages alluded to flawed strategies couples used when deciding when and where to baptize their children. Other messages described successful strategies that couples used to reach mutually satisfying resolutions related to their children’s baptisms. This article provides a sampling of some of the most flawed, as well as most successful strategies used. If you’re engaged or married to someone from a different religious and cultural tradition, this information could prove to be helpful. More »
The Gift of Life
The gift is Life – not merely abstract or even of visible cycles and experiences – but one born from the love of a Person, “He Who Is… Life.” (Exodus 3:14, John 14:1) The precious Gift is the Antidote to all of the tragedies and wounds of our fallen existence, and as He once offered Himself for the life of the world, so now and so always He continues to poor Himself out to all willing to receive Him. Life is Jesus Christ our Lord. And this Life is worth living. More »
Marriage In and Beyond a Pandemic: Challenges and Opportunities
Why are marriage difficulties amplified right now? The simplest explanation? Couples are experiencing more relational strain as they navigate the challenges and stressors of Covid. More »
Son of Man: Jesus a Fully Human Being
It is difficult to see through murky, cultural distortions when defining what makes a person fully- alive, purposeful, worthy, or important. Cultural “norms” marginalize large groups of people, including those who do not meet accepted physical, mental, or cognitive standards of what is considered “normal.” To put it bluntly, people with disabilities are often seen as less than alive, less than purposeful, less than worthy, less than important - less than human. More »
Prune Your Soul
I used to be fearful of pruning my rose bushes, wanting them to have full freedom to grow any which way they would. I didn’t want to be like a highly caffeinated hairdresser lopping off more than enough inches, leading to something that looked like a shearing rather than a trim. ‘Don’t be afraid to prune’ gardening experts say, “pruning leads to new growth and continued blooming.” (Marie Ianotti) More »
