I Did It My Way
Then, under cover of night, so my neighbors couldn’t see me, I poured gasoline on the roots of that sweet little tree.
Advice from a Single Dad
A few months ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Lawrence Jackson, a local single dad who wants to encourage other parents who struggle to parent alone. It’s our hope his story helps someone. TEZ: Lawrence, how did your kids initially handle the news of your marriage break-up? LAWRENCE: The initial reaction to the divorce from…
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The Stronghold of Bitterness
This is one in a series of behind-the-scenes blog posts regarding my book, The Single Dad Detour. At the start of Chapter 3, I mention a friend named “Rick.” A fake name for the book, but a real friend, nonetheless. Rick and I were buddies from my days living in Polk County, FL. We went…
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Sunset is Quickly Approaching
My youngest daughter entered high school last fall. I feel like she was just born a few months ago and I holding her in one arm. Parents, have you ever said “I have plenty of time”? I’m not so sure we do. Time flies by so fast and before you know it, it’s dusk. I’m…
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Protecting Your Gift
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value…
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20 Things Your Teen Needs to Know Before Leaving Home
“Pick up your jacket and clean your bathroom!” I called from the kitchen. I was ticked as I cleaned the mess my teen had left after they made their own pancakes. The batter was everywhere (even the walls) and the dirty dishes looked like they had just fed an army. Why does it take 4 pans…
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Guest Post by Dena Yohe: Easter Can Be Hard
Some of us wonder if our child will ever like us again or want to spend time with us, or worse yet, we wonder if they’ll survive. We’d be content just to hear from them to know they’re alright.
Those Flashing Lights
I was nineteen—old enough to know better. My yellow Maverick was a clunker and needed more attention than I was willing to give. In a hurry to get to work, I cranked the engine, threw the car into reverse, checked my mirrors, and backed out into the street. I turned on…
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Beyond the Fence
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. —1 THESSALONIANS 4:17–18 (NIV) THE SIGN READ: Stay Three Feet from…
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How Can I Trust God Better?
“I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.” Psalm 119:176 (NIV). Do you ever find yourself slightly alienated from God wondering how you can trust God better? Our daughter’s pet helped me understand how easy it was to go astray. “Stop it!” my young daughter scolded.…
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Is It Ok For Christians To Cuss?
“Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children.” Ephesians 5:1 (NKJV) A couple years ago, I got so mad at my teenager that I cussed. Should Christians cuss? No. But I did, sadly. If you know anything about me, I don’t normally swear and would never allow it in my home. I was raised that this is not…
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Do You Feel Lost as a Single Parent?
Her name was Babette—Babs for short. She was my first Global Positioning System (GPS), and I loved the way she made my life so easy. After a few years, however, I noticed I couldn’t always trust her. One day while I was driving, Babs broke beyond repair. Our relationship was over and…
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Your Future Impact
I come from a very godly heritage on my mother’s side. I have ancestors and living relatives who are missionaries, pastors, and laypeople deeply grounded in the Word who followed hard after God. I’m thankful for that. Now pause for a minute and picture your own family tree. I’ll bet you thought mostly “up”, didn’t…
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Contentment
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) As a young boy, I owned a pet hermit crab named Crusty. His cage contained several spare shells that I painted (blue, red, purple)…
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New Anthology Featuring Tez Brooks
I’m excited to announce my third anthology with Guideposts “All God’s Creatures: Daily Devotions for Animal Lovers 2021” is now available. Order your copy today https://www.shopguideposts.org/all-god-s-creatures-2021.html
FaithTalk LIVE Interview with Tez
August 26th 2020–Rick and Dan, with guest Tez Brooks talking about his Book of the Decade award.
The Little Things
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18 From my porch I saw it fly right into someone’s windshield. I walked toward the pile of feathers. A juvenile red-tailed hawk lie on his back, stunned. Wings could be broke… or might just need to rest…
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Serious Writer Awards Tez for “Book of the Decade”
NASHVILLE– August 20, 2020 Serious Writer chose The Single Dad Detour (Kregel, 2015) by Tez Brooks as “Book of the Decade” Thursday evening. Usually held in New York City, the annual dinner and ceremony were moved to Nashville due to COVID restrictions, with Serious Writer adding Book of the Decade as a new category this…
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Dependence
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:4-5 Several years ago, I built a pond in our backyard and stocked it with…
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