How do we find the best possible care for our aging mother? In our quest for a workable plan, one of the options that has surfaced is “assisted living?” What exactly does this entail? What kind of service does it offer, and how do we select a good assisted living facility? We’d appreciate any advice …
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How should I respond if someone sues me? In 1 Corinthians 1:1-11, Paul says that Christians shouldn’t bring lawsuits against one another. That makes perfect sense to me. I understand that brothers and sisters in Christ need to explore other, less adversarial ways of resolving their differences, and I don’t intend to sue anybody if …
How can I know if I need to seek professional help with my depression? What exactly is the definition of a “clinically” depressed person? I feel sad and fatigued much of the time, and nagging anxiety is a chronic problem, but I have no idea if these are serious issues or not. Can you help …
Can you help us figure how to spend a large, unexpected inheritance? At first we were excited, but now we’re seeing how quickly wealth can become a source of confusion and anxiety. My daughter thinks we should use the money to finance her education. My wife wants to remodel the kitchen. I’d like to make …
Is there a way to get out from under a hopeless amount of credit card debt? I’m spending more than I’m earning every month, and as result I’m sinking deeper and deeper into the hole. Most of the advice I get doesn’t apply to my situation because I’m in too much trouble. What can I …
Can you help me deal with the starving, binging, and purging problem I’ve had ever since I was a teen? Thoughts of food rarely leave my mind. My body weight has become an idol. I feel guilty, shamed, and dirty. How can I change?
How can I find healing from the effects of disaster and trauma? Over the past month our community has been devastated by a terrible flood. The impact to my family has included the loss of our home, interruption of work and school, loss of income, physical deprivation, and overwhelming anxiety about the future. Now that …
Are the entertainment media really as powerful as we’re often led to believe? The argument is regularly made that violence in society is directly attributable to violence in movies, television, and popular music. Is this really true? I’ll admit that I’m skeptical. It’s hard for me to believe that people actually go out and commit …
Should we let our 16-year-old girl spend time with an older guy? He’s 25 and very involved in our church praise band. For the last year he and my daughter have had a fun brother-sister type relationship. He’s very likeable and held in high esteem at our church, but for some reason my mother’s intuition …
How do I avoid toddler-care burnout? I’m a young stay-at-home mom with two children under the age of five. I love my kids, and I’ve willingly given up a career and other pursuits to devote myself to them full-time. Still, I have to admit that the stress, the strain, and the tedium all wear on …
What can we do to help our son develop a more positive outlook on life? He complains about everything and seldom seems happy. His negative attitude is affecting his school work, and I’m sure it’s hurting his ability to make friends as well.
How can we help a young child who is struggling with his faith? Last night during our prayer time my young son tearfully confessed that he’s having trouble believing in God. How should I address this?
What’s the relationship between fatherlessness and violent behavior among adolescent boys? I’m wondering about this because statistics show that an increasing number of children are growing up in homes where no father is present.
As a father, what can I do to improve my relationship with an emotionally erratic adolescent girl? This past year has been difficult for me. I’ve watched my daughter make the transformation from a kind, joyful, cooperative little girl to a sullen, argumentative, hard-to-get-along-with teen. Our relationship used to be a source of enjoyment for …
How can I get my child to obey and do as he’s told? Our young son is defiant and talks back. He won’t do his homework and refuses to clean his room. When we try to discuss these issues with him in a calm, mature way, we usually end up getting angry and yelling at …
How can I help my family develop a healthier lifestyle? We have young children, and I’d like to do everything I can during these early years to encourage everyone in the house – mom, dad, and kids – to develop habits that will give us many long, healthy, happy days together. Can you provide me …
Why is it so difficult raising adolescents nowadays? I understand that it’s supposed to be a process of gradually letting go, granting them more independence, and setting them free to become the adults God wants them to be. But while I know all this in my head, there are days when I just can’t put …
How can I teach my kids anything about God when I don’t fully understand who He is? This is something that most Christians seem to take for granted, but I have to confess that it’s always been hard for me to grasp. Given my own difficulties in this area, how can I possibly be of …
If there are identifiable gender distinctions – psychological and emotional as well as physical and sexual – do they have practical implications for parents? What do moms and dads need to know about this subject, and how will such knowledge help them do a better job of raising their kids?
How do I prevent my teenagers from using marijuana now that it’s been decriminalized? My state recently passed a measure decriminalizing the possession and recreational use of pot. Needless to say, this is all very disturbing for me. As a parent who is fighting hard to keep my children on the straight and narrow, I …