Kindness at Home
1. CARL Hears from God (video)
Home is the place where we are most nurtured or most hurt.  This video uses humor (God speaking through a car radio) to help "Carl" (Rob Schwab) realize he needs to create a happier and more constructive relationship with his wife.

2. When the Kids Pay the Price 
                                     by Scott Cowling
I was raised in a home with a dad who was a mean drunk and a mom overwhelmed with work, kids and a drunk for a husband. I had five siblings. Four sisters and one brother. My mother worked nights and my dad more often than not, in my memory, would be at the tavern. We kids would sit in the dark in the living room and have a lookout posted to keep watch for my dad coming home. When a car was spotted coming down the road a shout would ring out, "Here comes a car," to which the television was shut off until either an all clear was signaled or a confirmation came that it was Dad.
     If it was Dad we scattered like mice to our rooms and pretended to be asleep. We ran out of fear because my dad couldn't just come in and pass out or be drunkenly playful. No, my dad would dredge up old perceived offenses and decide that we had not been punished enough for them. Often he would drag one of us out of bed for a beating while the rest cowered in our rooms.
     There was no hugging in my family and nobody uttered the words 'I love you.' My wife and I have made a point of having lots of hugs and I love you's in our home. I still struggle with the trauma of my upbringing and I am sure that I am not the best dad out there, but by God's grace I am not raising my children in the same way
     I realize that my dad was not a Christ believer and I know that he was searching for help. He at one time went to Catholic classes to learn about God and I believe even became baptized into the Catholic church. I often pray that my dad found the Lord before he died when I was 16.
     While I have much sympathy for my mother who was beaten often herself, I still have a hard time wondering why she didn't leave my dad, with us in tow. I know times were different then and a mother on her own with six kids would have been tough but.......??? I try not to think about the what if's. 

   

Charter Member Scott Cowling