Entries by Cavin Harper

How to Make Sure You Don’t Drown in Shallow Water

Have you ever known someone recognized for doing so many good things throughout their life, only to end up in late life doing something so very foolish that it discredits everything they’ve done before? As grandparents, that’s the last thing we want to happen in our lives. Yet, it is not inconceivable to do something […]

Four Ways to Prepare Your Younger Children for Adulthood

Intentionality, more than proximity, is the key to impacting our grandchildren and helping them grow in their thinking and understanding as they grow from childhood to adulthood. God gave us, parents and grandparents, the primary responsibility for that task. It is foolish to think they will figure it out on their own, or that we […]

What Does it Mean to be a Gospel Shaped Grandparent?

After a speaking session about intentional grandparenting, a grandmother approached me to say how much she appreciated my emphasis on intentionality. “I’ve decided to be intentional about getting my granddaughter to come to church with me. If I can just get her to church, she will be exposed to the Bible and the Gospel.” As […]

What’s On Your Watchlist? – Part 3

There’s an old story of two Englishmen who traveled to Africa to explore the wonders of the interiors of Africa. They hired native tribesmen to serve as their guides and set out on their expedition. Thoroughly engrossed in the adventure and wonders of Africa, they soon realized that they had wandered farther than expected. Speed […]

What’s on Your Watchlist? (Part 2)

#2: Your Mind “Ideas have consequences… bad ideas have victims.” -John Stonestreet We started the year putting our focus on a personal “watch-yourself-closely” watchlist. As image bearers of our Creator, we must watch our heart, our mind, and our soul lest we fall prey to a shriveled soul—what I call ‘elderitis’. When a grandparent is […]

What’s in Your Watchlist? Part 1

Your Heart We can’t fake it, but we must fight for it. We can’t manufacture it, but we must work at it. If we neglect it, the consequences are devastating. What is it? The condition of our soul. By now, most everyone who will make a New Year’s resolution has made it. The majority of […]

Don’t Miss the Peace!

“’This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.”  Luke 2:12-14 […]

The Glory and the Awe

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.’”  Luke 2:9-10 ADVENT WEEK #3: THE JOY OF OUR WAITING […]

Christmas Mystery and Wonder

“The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” Luke 1:35 The mystery and wonder of what we call the ‘Annunciation’ is central to the Christmas message. Jesus is God […]

Christmas… Bah, Humbug?

The Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) There is certainly no shortage of Christmas “Scrooges” these days. Unfortunately, Scrooge is just as alive and well in the 21st […]