Category Archives: Parenting

Like I said in my first post, Black lives matter. If you haven’t read it, you can read it here. Here’s my story about how I came to believe that, which in all honesty shouldn’t be that hard for us … Continue reading →

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Todd Van Dyke | Leave a comment

And The Brokenness Remains

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Todd Van Dyke

    “Jesus wept.” This verse found in John 11:35 is the most poignant sentence ever written.  Two words, expressing one idea, boiled down to the simplest of words. A poem contained in a subject and a verb. The implications … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, Christ, Christian Life, foster care, gospel, Parenting, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

3 Jobs Every Teenage Boy Needs To Have

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Todd Van Dyke

I was blessed to grow up with parents that forced gave me the opportunity to work through high school and college. It taught me invaluable life lessons and helped to keep me out of trouble. It helped teach me various … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life, Parenting, Raising Boys | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Husband and Father: A Man’s Greatest Calling

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Todd Van Dyke

I was reading a book the other night and came across a quote that struck me to the heart and got me thinking, and subsequently blogging. The book is Mud, Sweat, and Tears: The Autobiography of Bear Grylls. Bear Grylls … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life, church leadership, Parenting, Raising Boys | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Why I Don’t Read My Bible…on an Ipad…that much

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Todd Van Dyke

I have an Iphone and an Ipad. It goes without saying that these are enormously convenient tools of technology. There is, however, one thing that I have found that Iphones and Ipads can’t do. They can’t sanctify my example and … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life, Parenting, technology | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Hellfire, Damnation, and Christian Cartoons…

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Todd Van Dyke

What does hellfire and damnation preaching have in common with many Christian cartoons? The answer is that often times they implore the same methods to try to get their point across. There are two types of evangelistic preaching. You can … Continue reading →

Posted in gospel, Parenting, tv | Tagged , | 3 Comments

A Letter You Will Never Get…

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Todd Van Dyke

Dear Dad, I was reflecting back the other day on all the things you taught me growing up and I wanted to take sometime to jot down my appreciation to you. I first want to thank you for the way … Continue reading →

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Breaking the Cycle

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Todd Van Dyke

The other day I was talking to some of our foster kids’ great-grandmother.  She was checking up on her great-grandchildren and asking how they were doing.  We try to update her on all the good and also on some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life, foster care, Parenting | 1 Comment

God’s Prescription for the Children

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Todd Van Dyke

To all those families struggling with foster children, to all those families with newly adopted children, to all those families with children struggling physically, mentally, or emotionally: Take Heart. God is with you. You are doing one of the best … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, Christian Life, foster care, Parenting | Tagged | Leave a comment

I’ve Walked a Mile In Her Shoes…(Part 2)

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Todd Van Dyke

Yesterday I tried to give a man’s version of a mother’s job. I tried to give some analogies to help husbands understand what it might feel like to be a Stay at Home Mom (SAHM). Today I want to give … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life, Parenting, trying to be funny | Leave a comment