Imagine uma única respiração escapando da boca em um dia frio e desaparecendo no ar. A vida aqui é breve. É como um ponto, que tem começo e fim e é breve. Mas desse ponto procede uma linha que continuará para sempre. A morte não é uma parede, mas uma porta.

Now that nationwide legalized homosexual marriage is here, it has broken down many restraining walls in our society. Consider the speed at which transgenderism and gender identity have grabbed hold of our culture, and even the world of our children and grandchildren. Christian families in my hometown of Gresham, Oregon are feeling some of those effects after reading Oregon’s new public school policies regarding transgender students.

The holy habit of giving is like the holy habits of Bible study and prayer and witnessing and hospitality. These things need to be integrated into our lifestyle.

Several years ago, a friend and I were driving through a neighborhood on a beautiful summer day and he said, “We haven’t seen a single kid outdoors. They’re all inside, watching movies, playing video games and looking at computer screens.”

It’s not the people who know God who have reason to be miserable—it’s those who don’t. Unfortunately, children who grow up seeing church as a morose, hypercritical place will turn their backs on it in their quest for happiness. Those who have found happiness in the church, and ultimately in Christ, will usually stay or return.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kelly Needham and her husband, Christian singer/songwriter Jimmy Needham. I appreciate what Kelly has to share in this article, as she thoughtfully challenges us to be like our Savior in our attitudes toward children.

Who is God? Who is mankind? What is God like? Does God have a plan? Do even bad events serve God’s purposes? In light of the great number of young people who reject their faith, we must encourage our children to think through these questions.

In October 2015, Randy Alcorn was a guest on Greg Laurie's Podcast, A New Beginning, talking about happiness. 

Some years ago, I sat with my daughters at a wonderful father/daughter banquet at our church. Someone at the table asked my youngest daughter, Angela, what I’d done that made the biggest impression on her. I had no idea what she would say, but of course I hoped for something spectacular. :)