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When I became a father, one of the first boundaries I drew was to demand that my children respect me. I had two goals: one, to be respected as a father by my children, and two, for my children to live a respectful life. However, the boundaries I drew, communicated to my daughter that she had to respect me or she would be punished. She learned her father would not tolerate disrespect—and, by example, to fear and guard against others disrespec …

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15:13On Memorial Day, we honor those who demonstrated the greatest love, "...to lay down one’s life for one’s friend." We honor those who’s time on earth was cut short, who missed many of life’s joys, who never married, who did not grow old with their soulmate, who did not see their children grow, who did not enjoy retirement. We honor widows who lost the love of their life, children who lost a father or mothe …

Strong Fathers Show Soft Hearts“‘No more ice-cream runs,’ I said to the kids. I was not trying to be mean, but it was really the only responsible thing to do.“My three kids—Faith, Grace, and Kennedy—were nine, six, and two at the time. My wife, Tammie, and I have always liked to do little things with them now and then that are simple but fun and kind of spontaneous. As a result, you never know when a do-nothing evening might turn into a 9 p.m. ice-cream, taco, or french-fry run. My mom used to m …

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Every year, between Memorial Day, when we honor fallen soldiers, and July Fourth, when we celebrate our freedom--tens of thousands of fatherless children of fallen soldiers, mark Father’s Day without an …

Excerpts from “The Right Fight: How to Live a Loving Life” by John Kennedy Vaughan“I think it is vital that we all understand love and live it, because the opposite of love is fear, which leads to selfishness, and the last thing any of us really wants is for fear to rule our lives.“Love doesn’t just respond to what people do. Love seeks to understand the thought behind the action. That is where the truth is hidden. We must ask ourselves why people do what they do before we respond. It’s not wha …

Excerpts from “The Right Fight: How to Live a Loving Life” by John Kennedy VaughanMy Father Taught Me: Respect the Threat; But Do Not Fear -- so I am passing this on from him to me, to my children; to you and to your children…“I don’t know much about medicine or viruses, but I do know about fear. I spent more than 15 years battling fear, and seven years writing a book about love and fear, ‘The Right Fight: How To Live A Loving Life.’“Throughout the years, I’ve learned a lot about faith, and t …

"As Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Man Sharpens Another." This verse was written at a time when men converted farm tools into weapons for battle. They rubbed these iron tools together to form sharp blades and points for swords and spears to become effective weapons for combat. Similarly, when men train, encourage, admonish, teach, coach, support, critique, confront, and develop each other, they become effective weapons for spiritual battle and to be loving husbands and fathers.An analogy I find usef …

Excerpts from “The Right Fight: How to Live a Loving Life” by John Kennedy Vaughan“Hope is choosing to believe the truth that no matter what, if we persevere in love, then God will go with us and see us through.“Hope is believing that with God all things are possible. We must keep the fires of hope alive in our lives! Keeping hope alive is not about convincing ourselves we will win or survive. Hope is not believing in ourselves or convincing ourselves we can get what we want. If our hope is in …

Excerpts from “The Right Fight: How to Live a Loving Life” by John Kennedy VaughanEmotions are running high with the pressures on so many levels of this pandemic: emotions in our homes, our neighborhoods, our communities. Just going to the grocery story can bring out the fear and anger in all of us. Bedlam on grocery aisle four can break out at any time!“Nothing has ever deceived me more than my own feelings."“I have learned that if my feelings don’t align with God’s word and the truth, I shou …

If We Sin, is Salvation Possible?Answer: YesIn your dying moments, if you believe that your sin can cost you your salvation, I would ask you two question; "Does anyone love Jesus perfectly? Does anyone love Him as much as they ought to? If the answer to the first question is no, then the answer to the second question has to be no, because we’re supposed to love Him perfectly, but we don’t, and we all sin. If we all are sinners, and we do not love Jesus perfectly, then how can anyone's salvat …