The Disciplemaker Team 
Blessing and cursing are polar opposites. Blessing flows out of generosity of spirit that desires good for another, while cursing is inspired by evil intent. Blessing builds up; cursing tears down. Blessing invites others to draw near; cursing pushes them …
There are many occasions when a thoughtful blessing can be a special gift for someone to treasure. Consider giving a blessing to your child at a pivotal age, a friend with a milestone birthday, an engaged couple, a toast at …
Acta non verba. Deeds not words. As we prepare to honor our fathers on the third Sunday in June, I would like to share an unforgettable story about my father, Ernie Goble. This story is seldom told because it is …
By Connie Albers, author of Parenting Beyond the Rules: Raising Teens with Confidence and Joy What does a teen need? As my first child entered the teen years, I found myself asking this critical question everyday. For decades, parents have wrestled …
by Connie Albers, author of Parenting Beyond the Rules: Raising Teens with Confidence and Joy Teens are living amid a rapidly changing culture. Some teens easily adapt while others struggle to figure out how their beliefs fit within the current culture. …
We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s good to have friends in high places.” The junkyard (and I have lots of great, junkyard lessons in my book, Salvaged) turns that axiom upside down. In reality, it’s good to have friends in …
Leaders ultimately are judged by their actions, which Jesus teaches flow from the heart. Some of the stuff that came out of my dad’s junkyard would have made Dr. Frankenstein proud (and I have a lot of great junkyard stories …
Read moreLeadership Will Never Be Right if Your Heart is Wrong
I was in seventh grade when Mom and Dad bought a run-down cattle ranch about thirty miles northeast of San Jose. Besides the sprawling but neglected ranch house, there were acres of rolling hills, fenced pastures, and decrepit fruit trees, …
Why should I practice hospitality in spiritual friendship? To me, hospitality is a natural thing you do in friendship. You open your home to your friend whenever she needs to come to you—and she would do the same for you. …
The amazing thing about service is that it rarely returns void, even if we don’t see the end results ourselves. Service has a way of inspiring others to see the areas of need around them and step out of their …