Category Archives: raisedUP

The Big Game

Posted on by Karen Leaman

After the first Super Bowl in 1967, it became very important to Americans. This football game originated from the National Football League to determine the best team for that year. They pull their teams from two different conferences, the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference. Each conference consists of 16 teams from the North, South, East and West areas of the United States. These teams then play others from their division. After an entire season of football games, the best team from the AFC, and the best team from the NFC challenge each other to be the Super Bowl Champs. Not everyone’s team goes to the Super Bowl, but

Sowing Seeds of Kindness

Posted on by Karen Leaman

I just came back from a mission trip to witness to the lost in another country.  Handing out candy seemed to be a very minute act of kindness, that anyone can do.  At least that is what I thought.  Then I saw how the children responded, and how it allowed for conversations with their parents. Was this what a missionary really does to build relationships? Could I have done more?  After all

The Greatest Showman

Posted on by Paul Thompson

This review is rated S for spoilers. This is your final chance to look away… Ok, still with me? Good. Everyone seems to be watching this and listening to the soundtrack. My barista was flabbergasted that I hadn’t seen it. The youth choir I play for screamed excitedly when I asked them about it. Several of my friends fessed up to listening to the soundtrack nonstop. So, after the second week of it being out, I went to see it. I have a few problems with it, and

Heaven

Posted on by Ken Leaman

Do we long for Heaven?  Do we have a biblical view of where we, as Christians, will live for eternity? Isaac Asimov said “I don’t believe in an afterlife, so I don’t have to spend my whole life fearing hell, or fearing heaven even more.  For whatever the tortures of hell, I think the boredom of heaven would be even worse.” An evangelical pastor once said “Whenever I think about heaven, it makes me depressed.  I’d rather cease to exist when I die.  I can’t stand the thought of endless boring tedium.  To me, heaven doesn’t sound much better than hell.  I’d rather be annihilated than spend eternity like that.”

Encouraging Young Adults, Part II

Posted on by Dr. David R. Leaman

In trying to help our adult sons and daughters, we may inadvertently discourage them. This is particularly true when we hold them to an ideal, a notion of how they ought to be. Perhaps unconsciously, we expect children to fulfill our aspirations and make us happy. Parents unwittingly try to press children into a prescriptive mold and are disappointed when teenagers select divergent paths. We must be cautious and vigilant of our motives when conversing with adult sons and daughters.

Worry or Faith?

Posted on by Ken Leaman

Lately my faith has been tested.  It has caused me to spend a great deal of time thinking about how we as Christians should handle worry, and what we should trust in.

Christmas – What’s on the agenda?

Posted on by Karen Leaman

Well, I need to look at my schedule for Christmas… This month has walked right by me. Wonder where all of those days for shopping went to and how many great sales I missed. I could have saved some money. Ken would have been so pleased with me. Sunday: Dec. 17th: 1 week until Christmas.  […]

Have you tried lying?

Posted on by Paul Thompson

This suggestion is not only for parents but also for preachers and teachers.  You should lie to your kids. Now that I have your attention with that click-bait title, let me clarify.

Training to Fight? Or Not?

Posted on by Ken Leaman

Our world is hostel to Christianity and to the Gospel.  You don’t have to look far for example after example of this world attacking everything we as believers hold dear.  As a result, the world is a dangerous place for our Christian raised children, as they leave home, enter college, the military, or the workforce.  It is not a matter of if their spiritual beliefs will be challenged and ridiculed, but when and where it will happen.  We know that it will happen not just once, but many, many times.

Encouraging Young Adults

Posted on by Dr. David R. Leaman

As parents of young adults, our parental roles change when children mature.  The primary responsibility of teaching children how to love and make responsible choices remains. However, the methods we use must be different. We no longer establish and enforce the rules, nor discipline our adult children.  We don’t prescribe directions or make their decisions. […]