New Plan for the Blog

Back to the drawing board.

Some of you know this already, but I am working on a new site for my blogs, to combine this one with Mission: Allendale. And when I say I am working, that really means me piddling around while a couple of friends do the real design work. Many blessings upon them.

The idea of combining the two sites might seem crazy, since one blog just came out of the other, and now I'm bringing them back together. Didn't I Fast Forward to Mission: Allendale? What gives?

Here's what we (some friends and I) have been thinking:

1. We want to move to a self-hosted website, to be able to get some functionality that may not be possible with "out-of-the-box" designs.
2. Wordpress-based blogs seem more professional, modern, and useful than Blogspot-based blogs. Creating Mission: Allendale on Wordpress helped me get used to the new posting format.
3. The new site will allow (at least, this is the plan) people the opportunity to sign up for Parenting posts, Allendale posts, or both.

Going along with this third point, here is the new plan for my posting, starting with my current blogs, but also will continue on the new site:

• Parenting:  Mondays and Thursdays
• Allendale:  Tuesdays and Fridays
• Other (links, pictures, videos, etc):  Wednesdays
• Church & Children's Ministry:  Instead of putting these articles on my own blog, I will start guest posting on KidMin1124. If you are involved in Children's Ministry, as staff or volunteer, you should follow that blog, which was recently ranked #16 out of 100 Children's Ministry blogs. (Yep, I'm already listed as an author and I have my first article, Are All Volunteers the Same?.)

If you notice, I will stop posting on Sundays (Sunday Shorts) and Saturdays (Saturday Round-Up). This will create some more time to focus on my main content, and to get away from writing a little more (I have to live life with my family!). Especially with the Saturday posts, it took a lot of time to compile articles that I liked, but with a "shotgun" approach to who it might reach. Based on some recent counsel I received from a book I read, I will target articles to specific people, when I think it will help them. (Plus, I will still share some resources via Facebook and Twitter.)

If you have any questions or comments about these blogs and my new plan, please don't hesitate to let me know.


Related Links:

• KidMin Articles and Radio Show
• A(nother) New Plan for the Blogs (May 2012)

**image courtesy of Gangplank HQ via flickr

Saturday Round-Up (October 1)

Happy October!

My Plastic Self. Months ago, a friend asked me to write about Barbie. I never could figure out just what to say. Maybe this article can suffice, at least for now.

Leading with Expectation.  "Personally, I gravitate toward pessimism and fatalism. These are the antithesis of expectation. They expect little and have a nasty habit of causing me surprise when God moves in extraordinary ways."

This Is Relaxing?  I assume that it is only (or at least primarily) women who can resonate with all the stress that can go into prepping for a massage.

The 5 Most Ridiculous Arguments My Kids Have.  Be sure to read through the comments for more scenarios. I'm sure this doesn't affect your kid, right?

Cthulhu vs. the Sith.  I'm really not sure what this battle is in reference to, but my kids and I loved this video.

Did You Forget That You're Saved?  "The gospel transforms us precisely because it’s not itself a message about our internal transformation, but Christ’s external substitution. We desperately need an Advocate, Mediator, and Friend. But what we need most is a Substitute."

The Next Step: To Disciple a Few.  An excerpt from Radical, and a lot of the same thinking that led me to write What's Our Ultimate Purpose in Allendale?

History of Lyrics That Aren't Lyrics.  A nice walk through time.

Saturday Round-Up (September 24)

It was a good week. Maybe that's because I only had to work 4 days. Maybe that's because my in-laws are in town (free meals!). And maybe it's because it's my daughter's birthday weekend (see tomorrow's post). And there were a slew of good articles (and 2 videos) I came across. Here they are, this time in order of how much I liked them. I think you'll like one or more, too.

The Difference Between Parenting and Making Disciples. Since I've read this, I've been thinking about my kids not in the context of "parenting," but in the perspective of "making disciples." The same holds true for how we can equip other parents to make disciples of their kids.

Bikers and Innocent Couples. I showed this video to my kids, to illustrate the principle of "don't judge a book by its cover." This has become more real to them, since (by their skin tone) in the vast minority in Allendale.

Did You Marry the Wrong Person? Yes, and you should thank God for that.

Power Corrupts, Especially When It Lacks Status.  "The experience of having power without status, whether as a member of the military or a college student participating in an experiment, may be a catalyst for producing demeaning behaviors that can destroy relationships and impede goodwill."

How Devoted Moms Buffer Kids in Poverty.  A good mom can make all the difference.

I Used to Think (Rap). "I was a wealthy man if I had one or two bucks."

Saturday Round-Up (September 17)

Some more great articles. But first, since I'm an good at math and a I'm a strong analyzer, what does this comic say about my creativity level? Beh, I don't care.

Engaging Muslims.  “We need an accurate and discerning look at the Muslim world,” Boyd said. “One size does not fit all.”

The Gateway Gospel vs. the Pathway Gospel.  Too often, I think that the gospel-centered life is about having to jump through hoops. I need to remember that it's more about the path of life. 

Fun time at the beach last month

50 Rules for Dads of Daughters.  Great tips. 

Homeschool Blindspots.  Stern warnings for homeschoolers like me. I can see myself already having falling prey to several of these errors. 

Is Spanking Your Child Ultimately Unbiblical?  Amazing things can happen when you abuse and misapply inductive Bible study. Like you equate the same context for punishing lawbreakers and disciplining children.

Children Are a Blessing from God -- All Children.  A good word concerning for how we need to perceive children that are disabled.

Fathers' Testosterone Drops Steeply After Baby Arrives.  The human male's biology is hardwired to change in order to meet the demands of having a newborn.

Saturday Round-Up (September 10)

Hope you have a great weekend. It was a great week for good articles; I think you'll find one or more that will help you.

from The Art of Manliness

Bookend Your Day: The Power of Morning and Evening Routines.  I'm definitely a creature of habit, but I could probably use a little more consistency, and a lot more effective use of my time. Here's a quote from William Blake, "Think in the morning, act in the noon, read in the evening, and sleep at night."  

Spurgeon on a Stupid Way to Read the Scriptures.  "It is always better to read a little and digest it, than it is to read much and then think you have done a good thing by merely reading the letter of the word."

A Year of Biblical Womanhood. "When the term 'Biblical' can mean anything, it means nothing." True, but where Rachel Evans errs is by not considering context. Still, an interesting and thought-provoking project.

The Perks of the Job Are Not the Job Itself.  Thoughts from a stay-at-home dad. Apparently, there are a lot of these type dads in the blogging world.

How to Comfort a Bereaved Child.  Nine principles (plus one more by yours truly in the comments).

The Duel. I haven't done well keeping up with the Republican candidates for the 2012 Presidential campaign. This article is a good overview. Or, if you only have 47 seconds, watch this video for a recap.

Structured Homeschooling Gets an A+. You know that I don't make a case that home schooling is the only or "Biblical" method for childhood education. But this small Canadian study showed some interesting data, such as home schooled children having advantages over children in public school in math (by a half grade level) in reading (over 2 grade levels). Small class size and individualized attention go a long way.

Family Meals May Encourage Children to Try New Types of Food. Not only are family meal times great for conversation and connection, but they can encourage healthier eating habits.

One Way to Serve Families with Disabled Children. Don't forget about the children in those families who are not disabled.

Take Your Small Groups Off Life Support.  Watch this compelling video. "For every 10 minutes of commute, we are 10% less likely to have meaningful relationships. The average commute for America today? 30 minutes, each way. . . . We weren't built for isolation. We weren't meant to live lives disconnected from one another. We are created in the image of a God who exists in community. We are created for community."

Saturday Round-Up (September 3)

Had a bunch of great articles I read this week. Whittled it down to these few:


Raising Writers in Four Simple Steps.  Use personal experience. Keep it focused. Be specific. Teach revision.

How Dutch Women Got to Be the Happiest in the World.  Around 75% of women in Holland work part-time, whether married or single, kids or no kids. The desire for a fulfilling life doesn't not mean you have to climb the corporate latter.

Kids with Tourette Syndrome.  An excellent overview of this disorder.

Parents' Stress Leaves Lasting Marks on Children's Genes.  I linked to an article last week how stress affects your DNA. Turns out it can affect the DNA of your kids, too, and not in a good way.

The 6 Ways You'll See Your Dad.  Will my kids view me this way?

Developing Healthy Body Image.  Parents play a big role in how their daughters view their bodies. We have to be mindful of the attitudes that we portray.

Studies Question Effectiveness of Sex Offender Laws.  I, too, have lots of problems with these laws. But that's another discussion.

7 Sure-Fire Way to Make Kids Feel Welcome in Church.  Very handy tips from Sam Luce.

Saturday Round-Up (August 26)

Last week's posts were in alphabetical order by title. Today's are alphabetical by the source's website.


Lose with Dignity. The first of a 2-part series about how to handle yourself whether in victory or defeat.

Where's My Older Woman?.  When we read or hear teaching about mentorship, we ask God to bring mentors in our lives. But maybe we should focus more on who we can pour into.

Johnny Cash, "Hurt".  Great analysis of Cash's video of "Hurt" - with the focus on the realization of the brevity of life and vanity of fame. Here's the video:

Teaching the Trinity to Kids.   I am a big fan of explaining theology to kids. But when it comes to hard topics, like the Trinity, the temptation is to utilize silly (or even heretical) analogies. Sometimes, we just need to teach the foundations without trying to make everything make sense to them. 

Toxicity of Aromatase Inhibitors.  This article may not make much sense to you, but it's related to what I did my Master's Degree work on. As you can imagine, when people ask what I researched, I would simply say "breast cancer research."

Parenting By Prayer. Reading this was convicting for me. Usually I am so focused on my own skills in getting to my kids' hearts, that I fail to cry out to the One who can actually change their hearts.

image courtesy of Getty Images

Stress Turns Your Hair Gray.  What stress does to your body is not just a temporary setback in your health. It actually causes permanent damage to your DNA.

6 Steps to Building a Team (Like Jesus Did).  Jesus seemed to break all the rules when it came to team-building, like choosing uneducated nobodies and giving impossible tasks. We must even expect success, failure, and betrayal.

Saturday Round-Up (August 20)

For those who have (or are) kids, I hope you had a good first week of school! And because it's the first week of school, I put these in alphabetical order by title. Yay, me.


Complex Choices in Medicare Advantage Program May Overwhelm Seniors.  When looking to set up programs to help others, we need to be sure to focus on the real need. What may be a great idea for one group of people may be detrimental for others.

Early Childhood Allergies.  Researchers have identified a protein that may influence how susceptible children are to multiple allergic diseases, such as hay fever, food allergies, and eczema. This discovery may lead to future treatments that could slow down or eliminate "allergic march" -- the gradual acquisition of allergic diseases.

Generational Conflict in Ministry.  In ministry (and in life), there are often disagreements and tensions that arise from each person's experiences, perspectives, and skills, even when the ultimate goal is the same. This is a good reminder of the importance to reach out, to listen, and to build relationships. You can also see this article on Tradition vs. Traditionalism.

How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver in 6 Different Situations.  Make sure you check this out. One day, you might need to save someone else's life. Or your own. Or your dog's.

Nothing going on here. Just a man giving his dog the Heimlich.

The 'Absurd' Debate About Length of School Year.  Instead of simple, cut-and-dry fixes, we need to make sure we are doing what students really need. But of course, the other side of the coin is that it is essentially impossible to tailor education to each child's wants and needs.

Why Joni Erickson Tada Wants to Bring Her Wheelchair to Heaven.  I'm sharing this story because it's an amazing testimony to someone who is completely trusting in God. And also to brag that I once wrote an newsletter article that was printed opposite one that she wrote. I'm kinda' famous.

Saturday Round-Up (August 13)

Only a few this week. Was on vacation, including 4 different parts of the state in less than a week.


Malicious Book Reviews. An author was awarded monetary compensation after receiving a malicious book review. Since I've done some book reviews (including Shepherding a Child's Heart, Parenting By the Book, Hints on Child Training, and Read and Share Storybook Bible) and I plan to do more, I should be careful, huh?

Real Men Repent.  "My entire life I battled sin, and I always came up on the losing end. When I placed my faith in Jesus Christ and through the repentance of my sins, I received the mercy of God and acceptance as his son."

China's Puzzling Flat Line.  The GDP in China has tripled in the past 12 years, but their citizens don't rate their lives as being any better.

The Wrong Body Language. Helpful hints for communicating well with others. 

Social Class as Culture. What social class you are in is more than just how much money you have. "People from lower classes have fundamentally different ways of thinking about the world than people in upper classes -- a fact that should figure into debates on public policy, according to the authors." This is similar to the case I made in Love Them Into the Middle Class.

Saturday Round-Up (August 6)

Here are some interesting things I read this week, in no particular order.

Watermelon Seeds. The average American watermelon has hundreds of seeds. And eating them will not make a watermelon grow in your stomach. In fact, they contain vital nutrients including protein.

The Danger of Gospel-Centered Behaviorism. Legalism can easily morph into a better grade of legalism. Gospel-centered living can be tainted by pride. (And I am a proud person.)

Not Every Day Will Be EPIC (and that's OK). To be a hero, we don't need to hit homeruns, climb Mount Everest, pull in a ginormous paycheck, or stop bad guys. "A life of faith is the greatest adventure this world has to offer. Period."

Titus 2 Is Not Just a Woman's To-Do List. First, BE. Then, RECEIVE. Finally, you are ready to DO.

image courtesy of Kecko via Flickr

Physics and Crop Circles.  Apparently, the crop circle phenomenon is growing worldwide. Who knew? Oh, yeah. The aliens.


NASA Tracks Drought in Northeast Africa. "Northeast Africa continues to reel from the effects of the worst drought to strike the region in decades. The arid conditions are contributing to famines that the U.S. Department of State says are affecting more than 11.5 million people, particularly in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti."

What to Expect This School Year. Successes, failures, teachable moments, conflict, and an end.

6 Characteristics of Spiritual Leadership.  Humility, Diversification, Mutual Helpfulness, Strength, Benefit to God's people, Surrender to God's Sovereign Guidance. From John Piper, in 1981.

Saturday Round-Up (July 30)

Tomorrow is a special day for me personally. Stay tuned.

Sin, Promises, and Spirit.  I need both the Spirit and the Word to clear away the mud of my unbelief.

Low Self-Esteem Is Not as Bad as Total Depravity.  "Somehow she felt as though she needed to be better in order to be accepted, approved, or significant. . . . If the other woman appeared to be 'more together' or better looking, or better 'built,' then she would feel worse about herself."

It Only Takes One Generation for a Church to Die.  "Today there are endless subgroups of confessing Christians who invest enormous quantities of time and energy in one issue or another: abortion, pornography, home schooling, . . . When such matters devour most of our time and passion, each of us must ask: In what fashion am I confessing the centrality of the gospel?"

Baptism - July 23 & 24.  It was the first time in years that we missed the weekend services where folks were baptized at Grace Church. Had friends on all three campuses that followed Jesus in baptism. So glad that we could at least watch the testimonies!

Startling New Truth About Sugar.  Researchers just discovered that sugar doesn't melt; it decomposes. That's cool to me just for research purposes. But you should care, too. Why? "This discovery is important to food scientists and candy lovers because it will give them yummier caramel flavors and more tantalizing textures." Yummier.

Leaders Celebrate the Loudest.  A great reminder to publicly brag on those who are below you.

The Debt Limit: Made Simple.  This video is from 20 months ago, but it gives a very simple explanation to the debt limit situation that the US is dealing with now. If you are as confused as I have been, watch this. (On a related note, we could solve the debt limit problem by minting a $5 trillion coin.)

Saturday Round-Up (July 23)

Can't believe summer is almost over! (That relates to none of the articles below; just had to say it.)

The Suburban Criminal Rap.  Not as good as his "The First World Problems Rap" video (which you can watch here), but this kid is really sharp.

How Dairy Farms Contribute to Greenhouse Gas Emissions.  On a dairy farm in southern Idaho, here are the emissions per head of cattle each day: one-third of a pound of ammonia, three pounds of methane, and 0.04 pounds of nitrous oxide. Multiply that by 10,000 cows, and you have a lot of gas.

Breastfeeding Difficulties and Depression.  There is a connection between difficulties in breastfeeding and depression. The study doesn't say which is the cause and which is the effect.

A Young Man's Guide to Understanding Retirement Accounts: The 401(k).  I was 23, and only a week out of graduate school, when I started my first job. So thankful I had some older guys who pushed me to start putting money away for retirement. I never saw or missed the 10% that came right out of my paycheck, but I loved the idea of an additional 5% as a match from my employer.

"Simon Says" Is Good for Preschoolers.  Regular participation in an activity similar to Simon Says may lead to good math and literacy skills down the road. Does that count even if I am victorious over those rug rats all the time?

You Say It's Your Birthday.  Did you know that the song "Happy Birthday to You" is under copyright until 2030? Warner Music Group collects up to $2 million per year from film and TV fees.

My Brain Made Me Do It.  "People who struggle with addiction have always said they feel out-of-control. The popular diagnosis of sin is that it is deliberate and intentional. Sin, however, is intentional and enslaving. Sin says that addicts do what they want, but they are also tragically bound to their despotic desires."

The End of 140.  This guy thinks that Twitter should expand to 280 characters. I disagree; when I want a public conversation, I use Facebook. Whatever you believe, you should follow me. @EspinosaJoey

Saturday Round-Up (July 16)

Hope you find at least one worthwhile.

How to Use Batching to Become More Productive.  We all know (don't you?) that multi-tasking is horrible, horrible, horrible for productivity. I'm going to start using the technique proposed in this article, where you list your tasks and focus on one at a time for 25 minutes, then take a 5 minute break.

Glasses That Expose What People Are Really Feeling.  These were originally designed for people with autism, who tend to have difficulty reading others' emotions.

Loss of Motion After Knee Surgery.  I played football for 10 years with no major knee injuries. Then, just two months into marriage, I tore my ACL playing church league basketball. (Boasting Alert: I tore it landing after blocking a 3-point shot.) Since I probably only have 95% of my range of motion, I'm sure I have arthritis waiting for me down the road.

India's Grassroots Revival.   "The Indian church is growing at a rate three times that of India's Hindu population." A long article, but worth looking through. 

Warren Buffet on Ending the Deficit in 5 Minutes. So simple. (But it's a lack of true leadership -- on both sides -- that hinders the process.)

Amazon Sales Tax.  I always thought that it was odd that you could avoid paying sales tax by ordering through the mail. But I do like paying less money!

Lack of Sick Leave Creates Tough Choices for Rural Workers.   "Caring for their own health or that of a loved one should not cost rural workers a paycheck or a job."

Lessons in Manliness from The Old Man and the Sea.  Love this review. Makes me want to go back and join Santiago on his adventure.

The Decline of the Nuclear Family.  "In the face of the confusion, hopelessness, and lack of any answers from our culture, one of the most radical things the church can call Christians to is back to God’s design for men and women."

Motherhood Is a Calling (And Where Do Your Children Rank).  "Live the gospel in the things that no one sees. Sacrifice for your children in places that only they will know about. Put their value ahead of yours. Grow them up in the clean air of gospel living. . . . If you tell them the gospel, but live to yourself, they will never believe it."

Saturday Round-Up (July 9)

Here's another random set of articles I came across this past week:


WiFi "Napping" Doubles Phone Battery Life.  A Duke grad student found away to extend the battery life of laptops and smartphones. My Android definitely needs this.

Refocusing on the Family.   Jim Daly has been leading Focus on the Family to be more culturally-relevant. His own story is a great one of how God can redeem life from brokenness.

Killing Mosquitoes and Saving Water in Rice Paddies.  A safe polymer has been shown to reduce adult malaria mosquitoes by 93%, while also reducing water evaporation from rice paddies.

Extended Sleep Time Improves the Athletic Performance of Collegiate Basketball Players.   So this is the reason I wasn't a stud athlete. Forget my lack of speed, size, or strength -- what was really holding me down was my lack of sleep. Regardless, this article is a great reminder that I need more sleep in order to be a better worker, husband, dad, etc.

Does "Education" Expand or Limit Your Options?  When I was in college, a mentor gave me this advice (as I was considering graduate school), "Get all the formal education you need to do what you want to do. But don't go to more school just for the sake of going to more school."

Tree Frogs Self-Cleaning Feet.  Turns out, the frog uses mucus. "If this can be translated into a human-made design it could provide a reusable, effective adhesive." Yeah, if they want some of my 4-year old's excretions, he produces enough for all of us.

Summer Jobs for Teenagers.  Only 25% of American teens have summer jobs. Why? Summer school and unpaid internships are a couple of reasons. But, "forget the kids who don't want to work. Worry about the kids who do."

Wife & Mother: Power to Grow or Destroy.   An encouraging word for women, who hold great potential, capacity, power. (And for more, read What Is Ezer?)

Dirty Words of Counseling.  Instead of "should" and "just," remember Because and Therefore.  "The gospel alone empowers obedience."

Reported Costs of Drug R&D Questioned.   Despite being an organic synthetic chemist at heart, I am not a big fan of the sales and marketing used by Big Pharma. Part of that is because "85% of new drugs exhibit few if any advantages over existing drugs." My latest case-in-point -- what is the big deal with Zyrtec, when Claritin (even the generic version) does the same thing?

Flight Deck of the Space Shuttle Discovery.  I saw the Discovery take off in 1985. Was the technology on it's flight deck top-notch 26 years ago? Check out this panoramic view.

Leaving Anger on the Field.  In a study of 649 children low socioeconomic backgrounds, sports participation helped improve self-control and lower aggression. Because the impact was greater among boys than girls, it seems to connect with what I wrote about boys needing help with emotional self-control.

Saturday Round-Up (July 2)

Another slew of articles I found interesting. Enjoy!


Releasing Ministry.  We need to equip and empower others, not drop the ministry, micromanage others, and fill a flow chart.

The End of Jewish Men?  Liberal Judaism is becoming feminized. But is this different from other liberal religions, and especially in the Western world?

Preventing and Reversing Diabetes in Mice.  An amino acid produced by beta cells in the pancreas, GABA, shows promise for curing Type I diabetes. And another drug showed promising results in Phase I clinical trials.

Fidgeting Your Way to Fitness.  Great news for those of us who have a hard time sitting still at work. Might not get much done, but at least it's good for us. On a related topic, sitting all day will kill you. On a not-so-related topic, soluble fiber and exercise reduce dangerous visceral fat.

The First-World Problems Rap.  People from places like Sudan, Afghanistan, and Chechnya should watch this video. They don't understand the struggles that we go through.

Dear Photograph.  If you can browse through these pictures without shedding even one tear, you must be a robot.

Women Get Up Sooner Than Men After a Fall in Soccer.  I hate the many "injuries" that interrupt the game, but I think it's hilarious that men remain on the ground for an average of 30 seconds longer, compared to women.

Know Your Fireworks.  You can study this slideshow, and be the know-it-all at your fireworks show this weekend.

Saturday Round-Up

Like last week, here's a list of articles that I found interesting and helpful. I hope you enjoy at least one or two. If not? Well, I guess I just wasted my time.


How to Remember a Person's Name (And What to Do When You Can't).  Written by . . . ummm . . . Mr. . . . ummmmmm . . . . You know who I'm talking about.

Growing Up Colt.  A review of the new book by Brad & Colt McCoy. I love the principle "Prepare your children for the path, not the path for your children." Our culture teaches that parents are supposed to make life easy for their kids. And here is Colt's video testimony:

Education: It Must Begin and End With Virtue.  An encouragement to focus on reading, writing, and art.

Low Fertility in Europe Reversed.  A population needs to between 2.1 and 2.2 children per women in order to maintain or grow its numbers. Since World War II, most countries in the European Union have seen their birth rate decrease. Some of this has stabilized, but currently zero of the 27 EU nations met this fertility rate, and over half have a rate below 1.5.

Six Truths on Christian Involvement in Society.  Notes from a John Piper sermon from 2000. Similar (but a more theological case) to what I wrote about Why Christians Should Serve Outside of the Church.

5 Pieces of Art by Children with Autism.  You'll want to see these, and read the descriptions from the artists. Here's one example:

 
Why Are Air Conditioners So Heavy?   Not a complicated answer -- it's the copper in it. But this title caught my attention because we've had 100 degree whether, and our building (for our summer camp) is cooled by five window-AC units.


Why Do I Keep Doing the Same Sin Over & Over Again?   The core problem is that I think I am stronger than my sin. I need the power of Jesus working in me, and this happens best in community.

Saturday Round-Up

I often come across a number of articles that seem interesting to me, but I don't always have time to analyze each one. Plus, you may not have an interest in the same topics I do. So what I plan to do each Saturday is have a handful of links on a variety of topics. If they are intriguing to you, click through; if not, fuhggetaboutit.

Parenting: Are Your Kids Bored This Summer?  A couple of dozen ideas, most of which are inexpensive or free.

Concubines.  Making a case that a couple living together before marriage is a step back towards primitive culture. Do you agree?

Voting in Early Primaries.  Voters in states with early primaries can have up to five times more influence than voters in later-voting states. Doesn't seem fair, does it?

Google Kids.  "Google should create Google Kids, a search engine that filters the Web for children." (And there is a follow-up article, called Google Kids: The Sequel.)

Will Smith A Capella Medley.  As with the video from Mike Tompkins, you can tell that I'm a big fan of this genre. I wasn't that impressed at first with this video, but it got better. Love the background dancer at 2:45 (lower right). Can't figure out the monkey ventriloquism at 3:29.

Anatomy of a team.  What do you need for a good team? Sam Luce gives 6 things, from having a common goal, to trust, to mutual submission.

When Children Don't Have Enough to Eat.  Would you be shocked if I said that 1 in 4 children live in a home that has trouble providing food for all family members? What if I said that that statistic was for the United States? (I'm glad that the children's program where I work will be an open feeding site in Allendale County, meaning that any child up to age 18 can walk up and receive lunch.)

Accountability Groups: the Tyranny of Do More, Try Harder.  "Christian growth . . . does not happen first by behaving better, but believing better."

How to Use Family Meetings.  Something we (my family) definitely need to do more of.

Seven Rules for More Effective Meetings.  Ever been at work in one of those meetings, that drag on and on? Yep. Here's how to avoid that next time.

Income Disparity Makes People Unhappy.  But the richest 20% of people aren't sad about income disparity. No duh.