Why letting your kids struggle is good parenting
The opposite of good parenting is doing the easy thing in the short term. Now don’t get me wrong. There’s a certain parenting high when […]
Matthew Ruttan
4 Things I Learned from the American Election
We just witnessed one of the biggest political upsets in American history. Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton to become the next American President. Not only […]
Introducing TheUpDevo.com, your daily partner for a practical faith Today
Some people are passionate about Pokemon Go. For some it’s Starbucks or Fair Trade Coffee. For others, it’s the environment or finding the latest, greatest […]
The Curious Origins of Halloween
Every October 31st we cake on cheap make-up, forego our “don’t talk to strangers” rule, and pile in more chocolate than Augustus Gloop. Yup, Halloween. […]
How to quickly become the perfect husband and improve your wife’s life without changing anything you’re already doing
You’re right. There is NO way I can deliver on a title like that! So yes, it’s a bit misleading. But I did it for […]
The Yes or No List
We all need a permanent vacation from complication. Who’s with me! Life gets fast and furious. Demands get thrown at you like water balloons at […]
The Giving List
A few weeks ago in a blog I asked you this question: What is one thing you’ve done that has helped or served someone in […]
3 Ways to Curb Sibling Rivalry
If you have kids you’ve probably thought about sibling rivalry. It’s kind of like debt or a skin rash: You don’t think about it until […]
Can You Help Me?
Can you help me? I’m working on something and I’ve love your input. Here’s some background. I’ve never met someone who doesn’t want to do some […]
Two Awesome Rules for Your Home No Matter Who You Are or What You Believe
Every home has rules. Even the homes without rules have rules. (‘No rules’ is a rule!) Some are spoken, like ‘Put the toilet seat down.’ […]
1 Real Way to Showcase Humility (and Strength) to Your Children
Dallas Willard has more wisdom than Coke has sugar. Here’s what he says: “The most important thing in your life isn’t what you do; it’s […]
A Prayer for Justin Trudeau
Lord, you know what it’s like to lead. The rest of us can only imagine the cacophony of personalities and competing priorities, the stress and […]
The One Question Every Child, Tween & Teen Silently Asks Their Parents
Every single parent I know wants to do a good job raising their kids. But after that, the unanimity about how to do it usually goes out […]
What Makes People Happy?
What makes people happy? Presents? A thank you? A big bag of potato chips with zero calories? The answer will be different for different people. A […]
When You Seek God You See God
I seem to have troubling finding things… in the fridge. No matter how hard I look, things like bread, mayonnaise or pickles always seem to […]
6 Popular Questions about Easter (and the answers)
How do a magical bunny, the names “Maundy” and “Good Friday,” and the death of an innocent man all come together? These questions often arise this […]
Who Will My Daughter Marry? (A Letter to Dads with Daughters)
You and I both wonder, Who will my daughter marry? No matter who it is, the young punk (er, I mean, young man) will most certainly not […]
Who Was Valentine? And Some Advice for a Stronger Love
It was a grade-3 Valentine’s Day party. We had highly processed chocolate, some red balloons, and an awkward exchange of Valentine’s cards: Roses are red […]
Something Better Than “Giving Something Up” For Lent?
Ash Wednesday kicks off Lent — the 40-day period leading up to Easter (excluding Sundays). During that time, a lot of people “give something up.” […]
Giving Your Kids The Best Without Giving Them “The Best”
Life can get complicated. And expensive! If you have kids, you know there are infinite ways to spend money on them. To quote The Grinch Who […]