The Mississippi State Legislature is considering a bill that could see parents who "spank" their children face either 10 years in jail or life imprisonment depending on the intention and bodily harm caused to the child, but critics of the bill say its intentions are not clearly defined.

"I love you, but you need to obey." Every English-speaking parent has said that phrase at some point or another. It's our attempt as parents to express commitment to our children even as we require them to obey: "I love you despite anything you do, but you also need to obey what I tell you." I'd like to take issue, however, with using the conjunction but between these phrases.

The Christian book for teens entitled Character Concert covers cutting-edge using cartoon-like pictures. One youth chaplain said of the book: "I was very impressed with it." Character Concert is available by clicking on the link and from amazon.com.

There are commonly 2 extremes as we all wrestle with this question. The first is the careless lack of discernment of many churches who have an alter call for 4-5 year olds, ask them to raise their hand if they love Jesus, then baptize them as converted followers of Jesus. The other extreme often results from the carelessness of the first.

I am a hospice chaplain. I visit people who are dying – in their homes, in hospitals, in nursing homes. And if you were to ask me the same question - What do people who are sick and dying talk about with the chaplain? – I, without hesitation or uncertainty, would give you the same answer. Mostly, they talk about their families: about their mothers and fathers, their sons and daughters.

Before you thumb your noses at traditional values on marriage and family, remember this: When God wanted to paint a picture of his great love for he church and cost of his death, he cited marriage between a husband and wife. God in Jesus Christ is the faithful and sacrificial husband for his bride, the church.

When I was a child, I broke something my mom treasured. Much later, I broke something far harder to fix. Friday Tidings offers glue for the heart.

A friend of mine who has kids in college likes to remind that while your physical strength is spent when your children are young, as the kids get older then your emotional strength is spent. Whether you feel like you just can’t do it, you just don’t have it in you anymore, or you feel like you’ve got what it takes– the gospel triumphs over all.

The scriptures say to honor your mother and father. What if your parents are not the Godly examples they are supposed to be? (Divorced because of adultery (both), with one of them being an alcoholic. All while supporting one of them financially, so they do not end up on the street.) How can I honor either of them when I have no respect left for them?

When it comes to culture making, we are so apt to think big that we devote our energy to areas where we often have little authority. As a result, we miss the opportunity to effect change in the place we have the most direct influence: our homes.