Melanie and I have six children, all married, with 13 grandchildren (and one on the way).

I look back over the 32 years we had children at home and can see 12 main rules we followed.

Here they are:

Every human being wants the answer to the question, “Does God really love me?”

I can tell you right now, He deeply loves YOU.  I can prove that to you by a simple study of God’s own Name.

Everywhere I go, people ask me, “How can I marry someone, like Melanie, who will stay together with me for a lifetime?”  Now, after 40 years together with her, I think I can help you in that.

“Fathering is not just a ROLE, it is a FOUNDATION.”

 People without fathering battle deep insecurity, wrong choices, and uncontrollable habits.

What is a fatherless generation missing?

Everyone knows that when you decide to marry you get engaged.

 Everyone does NOT know, however, that it is also the secret to staying married.

Want to know more? 

BALANCE is critical.  Your car tires, your body systems, and even your diet all require it.  

The bubble in a level shows perfect balance.  When balanced, it rests on the “sweet spot.”

How do you attain that inner balance that results in continual rest, freshness, and energy?

We have all seen The Ten Commandments where Charlton Heston smashes the stone tablets on the rock.  Some would think, “Now THAT’S leadership!" but actually, the Bible says that Moses was very meek.

Evidently, Moses’ powerful leadership persona was fueled by some inward spiritual “engine.” 

Here are my six top “motivations” for leadership:

It takes much more effort to cut when your ax is dull.

If you stop often to restore your edge, you can fly through your work effortlessly!

How can you maintain your cutting edge day in and day out?

A story was told of two guys in a wood chopping competition.  One never stopped.  The second stopped every few minutes and sat under a shade tree.

When the competition ended, the second man actually had more wood cut.  He confessed his secret:  “When I stopped, I was sharpening my ax.”

Here are my 5 secrets to a “cutting edge”:

What makes women attracted to men?  

Why are some of the most beautiful women in the world married to some of the ugliest men in the world?

Here are some things that women love in a man:

If you are single, you have got to figure this out.

If you are married, you have to remember it again.

What attracts a man to a woman after all?

We all put off confrontation.  We hide from people we should confront.  We have imaginary conversations with them we never get the guts to have. 

How do you resolve your worst confrontation scenario?

 

Confrontation is critical.

All good, true relationships have it. 

The question is, “Can you confront someone with a positive result?”

Habits are more than just discipline.  They are based on REWARD.

I have learned the secret of all spiritual discipline.  It’s not pain: It’s pleasure!

Here are my top 4 habits and why I LOVE them:

Don’t point your finger at those who battle addictions.  We ALL have either small or life-controlling habits.  How about that Hostess Twinkie you vowed to never touch again?

Freedom is wonderful and attainable.  How do you get free and stay free?

My father told me a life changing principle:  “If you want to be free, you have to let others be free.”  Control never changes people.

That works in marriage, also.  

Why are you so surprised when your spouse is exactly the person you married?

Easter is my favorite season.  I love Christmas as the “beginning” and I love Easter as the “completion.”

How does Easter affect my thoughts, my relationships, and my choices…EVERY DAY?

For all it’s wealth, America ranked 14th on the “World Happiness Index” recently.  Whatever happened to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?”

Does not a strong economy bring automatic happiness?  Absolutely not.

Here are my top 10 secrets to maintaining a happy heart, regardless of my environment:

“The desert is the greatest place for a miracle.”

All of us go through deserts.  It’s confusing, hopeless, and DRY.

I have good news for you:  It can also be the prime spot for a miracle.

Money.  It’s not supposed to be hard.  It is, however, without knowledge.  A zillion books have been written about it, but one small story and three little principles explain it all.

It’s about a desperate widow…

Someone great departed Earth last week:  Billy Graham’s spirit left his frail body and went to heaven.

He will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol this week.  All Congressional business will stop those two days. How did this simple North Carolina pastor dominate the world’s religious headlines for almost 70 years?

"Integrity."