Darkness, Discernment, and the Light of Christ Every October, Christians seem to return to the same question: Should we celebrate Halloween? For some, the day is simply about children dressing up, visiting neighbors, and collecting candy. For others, its connection to frightening imagery and the occult makes participation feel troubling. The conversation can quickly become tense, with sincere believers landing on different sides. As I looked more closely at both the history of Halloween and what Scripture teaches, I discovered that the answer is more layered than a simple yes or no. Halloween has a complicated history, but God gives us clear principles for approaching it with wisdom, confidence, and grace. That does not mean every choice is equally wise. Christian freedom is not permission to participate in anything that celebrates darkness or contradicts God’s Word. Before deciding, we should understand what an activity involves, pray, and measure it against Scripture. If our family c...

  Simple ways to begin spending time in God’s Word—without pressure, perfection, or a complicated plan For a long time, I wanted to read the Bible. I wanted to know what was inside and understand the words I heard pastors reading on Sundays. I opened it and tried a few times, but I was never quite sure where to begin. Should I start with Genesis and read straight through? Should I follow a Bible-reading plan? Should I study one book at a time? What if I read something and didn’t understand it? The Bible is filled with history, poetry, prophecy, wisdom, letters, and the story of God’s relationship with His people. When I looked at all of it at once, it felt overwhelming. Sometimes the pressure to read the Bible the “right” way made it harder to begin at all. Maybe you’ve felt that way too. In Episode 2 of the Life on the Path podcast, Brandi and I talk honestly about how to read the Bible when you don’t know where to start. We share some of our experiences with Scripture, the thing...

As a former special education teacher, behavior analyst, and children's author, one thing I've learned is that meaningful growth rarely happens in a single moment. Character is often built through everyday conversations, small acts of kindness, thoughtful reflection, and time spent learning together. That's why I created The Shine Library. The Shine Library is a growing collection of faith-filled resources designed to help children develop kindness, respect, courage, integrity, and a deeper understanding of God's love. Inside you'll find printable activities, discussion prompts, reflection pages, family resources, and faith-based learning materials created to encourage meaningful conversations between children and the adults who love them. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, homeschool family, children's ministry leader, or educator, these resources are designed to be simple, practical, and easy to use. Some of the resources currently available include: • ...

T his week, my sister-in-law Brandi and I recorded our very first episode of Life on the Path , and we chose a topic that many Christians struggle with at one time or another: prayer. If we're being honest, prayer can sometimes feel intimidating. We may wonder if we're saying the right words, praying long enough, or approaching God the right way. Sometimes life feels so overwhelming that we don't even know where to begin. The good news is that prayer was never meant to be about having the perfect words. One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation was this: Prayer is a relationship, not a performance. God isn't looking for impressive speeches. He desires a genuine relationship with His children. In Matthew 6:7-8 , Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father already knows what we need before we ask Him. Prayer isn't about informing God of our circumstances; it's about drawing closer to Him . During our conversation, we talked about something many believers ...

One of my favorite parts of being a children's author is connecting with other writers who create stories that encourage, inspire, and spark meaningful conversations with young readers. Today, I'm excited to introduce you to author Angela G. Williams, creator of the delightful Milo the Moss children's book series. Why I Wanted to Feature Angela One thing I've come to appreciate through this author journey is the opportunity to connect with writers from different backgrounds and experiences. When I learned more about Angela's story, I was fascinated by the unique path that led her to become an author. Originally from South Africa and now living in the United States, Angela's life experiences have included wildlife photography, working as a game ranger, genealogy research, and writing across multiple genres. What stood out to me most is how those experiences have shaped her storytelling. Whether she's helping children explore kindness through Milo the Moss or...