SOME BRAGGING ON MY KIDS

I am reminded tonight of how many reasons Melissa and I have to be proud of each of our four kids. Each is strong in faith and in character. Here's what I am seeing just this week:

SARAH has had play practice every evening for 3 to 4 hours in preparation for tomorrow's opening night. This is the musical that she auditioned for in spite of her fears. Now she is proving to be, not only courageous, but strong and persistent in the face of great demands on her time. I am amazed at how she stays positive and energetic.

SAMUEL took time out of his college activities to help me renovate the Mission Resource website this past week. He recently gave a speech about the Koran in a class and decided to read the book firsthand rather than simply research it online. Meanwhile, he is also sharpening his apologetics skills on a thoroughly secular campus and frequently has informed and compassionate discussions with atheistic classmates. 

HANNAH has been working her tail off, holding down 3 or 4 different part-time jobs while keeping up her studies. Recently her Honors Program workload began conflicting with the waitressing work she is doing to keep her debt low. Instead of just dropping the program, she took it upon herself to approach her professor to see if there might be some scholarship money that would enable her to drop the job to stay in Honors. She says if the prof doesn't come through with anything she will next talk to the President of the university!

CALEB has had a super tough academic load this semester - papers due and tests to take every time he turns around. In the midst of that pressure he has managed to drive to Purdue weekly for ROTC commitments and work a job at the local Chamber of Commerce. Not only that, but he has been leading a twice weekly Bible study. During today's Bible study 5 students came in as a sort of silent protest against having a Christian group on campus. They sat in the back, perhaps in an effort to provoke a reaction of some sort. Instead Caleb treated them to a very lively discussion of James 3 and taming the tongue! I am certain it was the best Bible teaching the protestors had sat through in their lifetimes. 

The world is a better place for having these 4 in it.