Doing Life Together

What happens to your emotions when you go on social media platforms? Could they become negative and lead to depression? My daughter recently tried an experiment related to this question. She was given an assignment in one of her graduate school classes to unplug from all social media for 48 hours. No cell phone or computer…

Rejection is something that we all experience from time to time. Some people experience it frequently and it can cause psychologically and spiritual damage if not handled well. Rejection is all about exclusion of some kind. That exclusion can be social, relational, from peers, family, friends and romantic relationships. A group or an individual can be…

Soon, we will all be shouting, “Happy New Year!” It’s a warm and hopeful sentiment because we know that happy people live longer, are healthier and live more prosperous lives. But how we try to find happiness matters. Scripture confirms that true happiness is found in our relationship with God. But may the righteous be…

Do you go to church? When you ask your friends this question, what do they say? Does religion influence your life on a daily basis? A number of people you might informally poll may represent a trend we are seeing across the country. People may say they are spiritual, even that they believe in God, but do…

You bring your laptops to class. It’s a given, right? And some of your classmates may actually be using them for the classwork being discussed. I often sit at the back of the lecture hall when another professor is lecturing. I can see the students on their computers while the lecture is being given. Some have downloaded…

Watching the TV commercials and Christmas movies, you could easily forget about the true meaning of Christmas. So part of the challenge during this final weekend of Christmas is to be intentional about the holiday and focus on the spiritual significance through all that surrounds us. Here are 3 strategies to help avoid the commercialization of…

I am divorced and think my ex spends way too much money on Christmas gifts for our two young kids. This is causing tension between us. It feels like a competition I can’t win. I find myself spending too much because I don’t want to look cheap. He has more money than I do. I…

What if there was a way to reduce pain and the use of narcotics? What if you could go through child birth without an epidural and work through the pain? Sign me up! Virtual reality (VR) might be an answer. Just talk to Erin Martucci. She is believed to be the first woman to use VR for…

Reader Question: Every year, we have this family conflict. My husband’s parents live about three hours away and mine are six hours away, in opposite directions. Both sets of parents want us to spend Christmas with them. How do we handle this without upsetting either family? This type of family conflict is common this time of…

Reader Question: My ex-husband has and I have divorced and he has visitation rights with our two children, ages seven and nine. The kids were scheduled to visit him over the Christmas holidays, but circumstances have changed and I would like some advice. My ex no longer goes to church and is living with a…

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