On Saturday, 7 of us from Grace piled into my van and headed to the White Swan Reservation in Central Washington. White Swan is home to many of the Yakama people, who have lived on or around the reservation since 1855. Here are some brutal facts about life on the reservation: 100% of the Yakama people are affected by alcohol and drug abuse The average life expectancy of a member of the Yakama tribe is 39 years 70% of the teenagers on the reservation are homeless 65% of the kids on the reservation will drop out of middle school or h ...

Our instincts need some sharpening. For example. My wife often gets frustrated with me when she needs me to listen, but instead, I try to fix the situation. I know. Sounds so cliché. But it’s true. If my wife is upset I do not naturally think the best thing I can do right now is just listen. My instinct is to uncover the reason for the hurt, get to the bottom of it, and find a solution. It’s actually amazing to me how often I inappropriately respond to her. It’s almost like I have gift. Thankfully, I think the tides are turning. N ...

You have no control over your life or that of your loved ones. I hate this. I really do. I remembered how much I hate this on Tuesday evening when my youngest son had an allergic reaction to something he ate. He’s one. Not many things are more heart wrenching than watching a one year-old have an adverse reaction to something he needs—food. What’s worse is when that reaction threatens his very life. We’ve been here before. Our older son also struggles with food allergies. It’s been the cause of sleepless nights and many tears. It’s also ...

“My doubt is actually part of my faith.” - Andrea Palpant Dilley, author of Faith and Other Flat Tires Every Christian doubts their faith, but some are plagued by it. It’s a constant force that pushes them into the valley where they ask if the struggle is really worth it. People doubt their faith for a variety of reasons. A recent conversation with a young woman who is often harassed by doubt revealed that she had tons of unanswered questions, most of which have not been addressed thoughtfully by other Christians. Sometimes it is a ...

A few years ago, I asked my father if he had any parenting advice. I was a new parent and kind of clueless. Graciously, he gave it some thought and then gave me a list of 16 principles he and my mom pursued as parents. Take a full interest in what they do. Be a parent, not a buddy. Initiate conversations and ask questions. Say you’re sorry if you are wrong or have messed up. Encourage them in everything they want to try, even if it doesn’t last very long. If they develop a passion for something, support them. Learn to say no ...