Anti-Materialism Parenting
Perhaps you’ve seen the bumper sticker that reads, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” That little saying captures the philosophy of life known as materialism. Sadly, it’s a philosophy of life embraced by most people in our American…
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Christmas Lists and Spiritual Emptiness
With Christmas just a few months away, those of us who have kids and grandkids will start receiving lists of what those kids and grandkids say they want to find under the tree. The pervasive and convincing presence of marketing…
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The Danger of Having Too Much
Recently, I was talking to a friend who is a baby-boomer like myself, about the great undeserved blessing we’ve had to be born when we were born into the place in which we’ve been born. Somehow and in some way,…
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Desiring What Cannot Satisfy
Here are some wise words from Bernard of Clairvaux to share with your kids. He writes, “God alone can satisfy our desires. A man with a lovely wife may still look lustfully at an attractive woman. A well-dressed person wants…
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Pushing Back on Materialism 5
Today we finish our look at strategies for dealing with the materialism that becomes painfully obvious in our lives during this time of year. One of the most effective strategies I’ve experienced is to take a missions trip with your…
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Pushing Back on Materialism 4
Today we continue our look at addressing the materialism that so easily rears its ugly head in our lives during the Christmas season. I’ve worked with parents for years and I’m the parent of four children myself. I know full…
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Pushing Back on Materialism 3
All this week we’re looking at strategies for addressing our bent towards materialism. . . a bent that rears it’s ugly head quite frequently during the Christmas season. Today, I want to encourage you to let your kids know that…
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Pushing Back on Materialism 2
This week we’re looking at ways to challenge the materialism that marks our lifestyles as we prepare for Christmas. Let me encourage you to tell your kids about Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision, who started his organization after…
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Pushing Back on Materialism 1
Since the Christmas season is a chance for our materialistic bent to shine, this week I’m suggesting strategies for leading your kids out of these dangerous and disobedient attitudes. Out of sight, out of mind might be the cliché that…
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Brands and Kids
One youth culture trend that reveals just how much the adolescent pressures of past generations have filtered down to the youngest of children, is the obsession our children have over clothing and appearance. Fueled by effective marketing, clothing brands have…
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