Parenting - Christian Service Brigade

Depression in Boys: How I discovered I was a harmful helper

Fall 2021, Parenting, Slider, Valor ParentsNovember 4, 2021343Views 0Likes 0Comments

I don’t really understand depression. God has not yet added that as a chapter in my life, and based on my experiences and temperament likely won’t be. Because of our built in differences some of us are simply more prone, through our natural emotional make-up, our history, or our biology, to experience depression. Because the…

Sometimes it just takes a little time

Fall 2021, Parenting, Valor ParentsNovember 3, 2021553Views 0Likes 0Comments

When common sense is not all that common There he stood near the front door, just a few days into his first week of high school. He had all of his school binders and books stacked in his hands, so high I could barely see his face. Pencils and papers were hanging loosely out of…

Mother’s Day was My Day for Disappointment

Parenting, Spring 2020 Online, Valor ParentsMay 9, 2020456Views 0Likes 0Comments

Motherhood took me by surprise. The kind of surprise that happens 9 months after your wedding day. Yes ... that kind. I was never that little girl; the one that dreamed of being a mom and having a house brimming with kids. I was the tomboy. As the second oldest of five, my sister and…

The War of Words

Fall 2019, Parenting, Valor ParentsNovember 25, 2019461Views 0Likes 0Comments

Ending the responses that trigger the conflict between you and your children When your children were young, you spoke words of life into their little beings. They cooed and you cooed back. You had no intention of ever berating your babies. Even if you yourself were raised in a home full of heated arguments,…

Rescue: When the answer to all the prayers for rescue is a heart crushing “No”

Fall 2019, Parenting, Valor ParentsNovember 25, 2019487Views 0Likes 0Comments

Minutes turned into hours. They’d been gone too long. I hesitated to verbalize my fear, as if doing so would somehow bring the fear to life. And then it happened. December 7th 2016 was a routine day for our family serving as missionaries in rural Alaska. Home was a remote village off the road…

Thoughts on Shaving

Fall 2019, Parenting, Valor ParentsNovember 25, 2019461Views 0Likes 0Comments

It became clear that this ordinary moment in my life was not ordinary for him at all Shaving is a big deal. It’s a big deal because it’s an annoying hassle and blades are a hugely expensive racket, running a close second to ink cartridges. But when you are a young man it represents…

Wipe Out

Parenting, Spring 2019, Valor ParentsApril 15, 2019474Views 0Likes 0Comments

When I took the job I had no idea how badly I would mess things up. The summer after I graduated high school, I took a temporary job working at a small radio station. Typically, I did simple tasks like answering phones and typing letters, but the most important job I had was in the…

My Dad Built Me While I Built a Little Wooden Car

Character, Parenting, Valor ParentsFebruary 8, 2019438Views 0Likes 0Comments

I have many fond memories of growing up in the Brigade ministry. A personal highlight for me was the annual StocKar derby at my church. My dad would work with me cutting, sanding and painting our masterpieces for the race. I learned a lot through the entire experience from preparation to race day. The process…

A Better Story

Culture, Fall 2018, Parenting, Slider, Valor ParentsNovember 1, 20181KViews 0Likes 1Comment

A tale for dinnertime conversation Ideas for discussing this story with your boys, and suggested answers, can be found here. The unbelieving world tells you a story: that you are the result of a cosmic “BANG!” That you are an animal. You have no purpose. You are not special. There is no God in whose image…

A Better Story: Discussion Questions and Answers

Culture, Fall 2018, Parenting, Valor ParentsNovember 1, 2018449Views 0Likes 0Comments

Boys love stories! And stories are a powerful medium with which to communicate deep truths to the heart. Below you will find questions and potential answers we hope will help bring about good conversation between you and your sons after you've read the article to them, A Better Story, a tale for dinnertime conversation The…

Why Our Stories Matter

Fall 2018, Parenting, Valor Parents, You’re Not AloneNovember 1, 2018492Views 0Likes 0Comments

Have you ever noticed that most of the Bible is comprised of stories? These stories tend to come in two flavors: God giving impossibly weak people the ability to do impossibly big things, and deeply sinful people being forgiven by God's amazing grace. These are not fables concocted from men's imaginations to make a good…

A Well Intentioned Fool

Fall 2018, Parenting, Valor ParentsNovember 1, 20181KViews 0Likes 1Comment

I found my anger in a broken drawer Do I get a pass because no creature can awaken anger and frustration like a 14 year old boy? We homeschool. My dear wife had taken the primary mantle of responsibility for this calling until they reached high-school. At that point she passed the baton to…

Depression in Boys: How I discovered I was a harmful helper

Sometimes it just takes a little time

Mother’s Day was My Day for Disappointment

The War of Words

Rescue: When the answer to all the prayers for rescue is a heart crushing “No”

Thoughts on Shaving

Wipe Out

My Dad Built Me While I Built a Little Wooden Car

A Better Story

A Better Story: Discussion Questions and Answers

A Well Intentioned Fool

Brigade was not started to do something for boys,
but

~ Joe Coughlin, Founder of Christian Service Brigade

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Sorry you couldn't find what you needed, but whatever your question, need, encouraging word, or good idea, we're eager to hear it! And we'll work to get back to you within one business day.

Brigade was not started to do something for boys, but

Office

Follow Us

We'd Love To Hear From You!

Sorry you couldn't find what you needed, but whatever your question, need, encouraging word, or good idea, we're eager to hear it! And we'll work to get back to you within one business day.

Brigade was not started to do something for boys,
but