by Jay FitterDiscipline is one of the defining elements of parenting; whether used sparingly or liberally, it’s fundamental to the parent-child dynamic. Through discipline, children are taught to become responsible, honest, kind, sharing people. By following their parents' guidance, teachings and rules, they ideally grow up to be well-behaved and respectful individuals.If you, however, punish your child instead of disciplining them, the end result will not be the same. Punishment is an act...

by Peder Eide Several years ago, my wife and I, along with our three children, were sitting around the dinner table.  Suddenly, my wife looked around and said, “I have the feeling we are not all here yet.”  I counted my kids – one, two, three-- yep, we’re all accounted for.  But my wife’s moment of realization soon began to take hold in my own heart as we began to talk about possibly adopting a child from overseas. November is National Adoption Month and there are many families who are...

by Tom Frye According to a survey released by Baptist Press, if a child is the first person in a household to become a Christian, there is a 3.5 percent probability everyone else in the household will follow. If the mother is the first to become a Christian, there is a 17 percent probability everyone else in the household will follow. But if the father is first, there is a 93 percent probability everyone else in the household will follow. Conversely when fathers are absent or are unengaged,...