St Paul’s letters are hard to understand. It’s important to read scripture and understand what it meant to the person that wrote it, and the persons for whom it was written. In the case of St. Paul, both the writer and the audience were first-century Jewish persons.   When we don’t make the effort to read Romans from the perspective of first-century Jewish persons, we will inevitably read our own preconceived notions into it.  We attended N.T. Wright’s four-day seminar on chapter 8 of the Book of Romans. Four days about one chapter. Paul writes densely and fills his writings with...

Our children, at any age, are always hoping to feel loved by us.  Receiving love from your mom and dad is a primary psychological drive. It’s a reason why psychologists are always trying to get you to straighten out your relationships with your parents.  As parents, let’s make sure we fulfill our role. It’s our unique opportunity.  Collaborate as they transition to independence COLLABORATING will help you stay in that role.  Thinking in terms of COLLABORATING with your young adults during their transition to independence helps shift the relationship to a life-long, loving, adult, relationship.  Because collaboration means both parties...

Always a Parent My Uber driver was having a mildly heated cell phone conversation. He hung up and apologized to me with a super-charming Middle Eastern accent, “Sorry, I had to take that call from my kid. He’s 35 years old. Oh my Godt, the parenting, it never ends! Never! “  He was frustrated but laughing.  We are always parents.  The fact of being a parent never “ends” but the relationship will certainly SHIFT.  The big question becomes: WHAT will it shift to?  Do you want to be one of those moms whose daughter can talk to her about “anything”? ...