Some say our nation is changing. If so, it's time, America, to remember who we are and work to preserve us.

I outsource a lot of things in my life. I don't make any of my own clothes or grow any of my own food. There are plenty of people who are more skilled than me at that, so I stick to what I am good at and pay them for their services. But there are certain things in life that are just too important to outsource. It doesn't matter how good anyone else is at it. It's important that you do it yourself. Here's an example for ya. Dating your wife. Here's another example. Teaching our children about Jesus.

I just want you to know that I understand. I understand how it feels to be in love with a woman. To want nothing more than to be with her forever. Feeling as if the universe has played a cruel joke on your heart by allowing it to fall into the hands of a creature that looks just like you. I too was a lesbian.

As the University of Virginia sociologist Brad Wilcox pointed out recently, there’s a strong link between suicide and weakened social ties: people — and especially men — become more likely to kill themselves “when they get disconnected from society’s core institutions (e.g., marriage, religion) or when their economic prospects take a dive (e.g., unemployment).” That’s exactly what we’ve seen happen lately among the middle-aged male population, whose suicide rates have climbed the fastest.

Does anyone like to be criticized? It depends on how the words are spoken.

I worry that this Christian college version of The Bachelor has too many young women focused on finding their mister, at the sacrifice of the academic, spiritual, and personal development that the undergrad years are meant to bring. Many young women admit restraining their personalities, talents, interests, and the display of their intellect—basically playing the part of the fool—just to increase their chances of snagging a mate.

Let them know that it is not abnormal to experience doubt. This does not mean that your children will experience significant doubt, it just means that doubt is a common issue they will experience in varying degrees in a fallen world. Typically struggles with doubt do not start until one reaches adulthood as your children begin stand on their own two feet in many ways, including in their faith walk. But if you have helped them to understand that doubt is something that is common to all Christians, they won’t be scared to share their struggles when they arise later in life.

Love emanates from these three things: a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. If we understand the opposite of these three things it may help us get a clearer picture of the connection of the gospel to love.

The single person’s struggles matter very much to God in his sparrow-cherishing, sheep-pursuing mercy, but not so very much to society, at least not in obvious ways. So long as marriage retains its institutional vitality, it will always bear the greater share of interest for storytellers because its participants have—more visibly than anyone else—one foot planted in the world of necessity and the other in eternity.

While I’ve recognized my perfectionist tendencies for some time now and while I am confident that God is changing me, the reality is that I tend to carry that disposition into my relationships, not least of which is my marriage.