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We were recently asked a question that has stayed with us: “What is the biggest risk factor to kids in this generation that is leaning or turning them away from God?”
It’s a big question—one that deserves more than a quick, simple response. The temptation is to immediately point to culture, technology, or “the world today,” but we think wisdom requires us to pause, reflect, and respond with both truth and humility. As we've thought about this question, two foundational realities continue to come into focus. First: We Are Not in Control of Our
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If you haven't watched the vlog post, take a moment to listen/watch by clicking here: 01.07.2026 - Heart of Worship.
To listen/watch the Heart of Worship song video, hit play on the video to the right. This is the Shane & Shane version of Heart to Worship. It's a great song to worship along with. |
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I also mentioned the worship genre exploding around 2014. That's partly true. As I said above, 1990-2010, in my mind was the heyday of the worship movement. However, worship music continued to be a huge part of the landscape deep into the years between 2010 and 2015. It wasn't quite as big, meaning many of the bands artists and bands who were prevalent at that time had grown quiet.
Starting again in the latter part of the 20-teens, a new rise in the worship genre began to surface. That rise has been fueled by new bands and church praise teams such as Elevation, Red Rocks Worship, Maverick City, Phil Wickham, Crowder, and Cody Carnes.
All that's to say, there is still good worship music out there.
More to come soon!
- jay
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It's time to say goodbye to 2025 and hello to 2026. But before we do that, let's take a look back at the last year. A lot has happened in the Higham house. 2025 has been a year of changes, growth, and new experiences. In many ways, the Higham house doesn't look like it did in 2024. So come along and let's take a walk through 2025. This is our 2025, A Year in Review.
Saying Goodbye to West Virginia and Hello to Ohio
Saying Goodbye to the Boys
Breya Thrives
Don't get me wrong, it was an adjustment at first. It wasn't all kittens and roses. But God has opened the doors to a great group of friends, and academic and athletic success. We are looking forward to what the 2025-2026 school year will bring.
Ministry Still Drives Much Of what we do
As many of you know, Amy was on staff with Young Life while in West Virginia. She served students and families as the Regional Capernaum Coordinator and the Ohio Valley Capernaum Director. Capernaum is Young Life's ministry that ministers to students with disabilities. Obviously, we had to say goodbye to that ministry when we left WV. However, it prepared Amy for 2 new ministry roles that allow her to continue to serve the community in life changing way. The first is with Safe Families for Children, an organization that responds to God’s call for the church to practice radical hospitality within communities, addressing the challenges of social isolation, limited access to resources, and parental stress that often leads to foster care and family separation. (As per the website.) Her second ministry is with BPC as the Disability Discipleship Coordinator. This new role will combine much of what she learned and did with students and families in WV, and apply it to the students and families here at BPC and in the surrounding community.
The Summer of Weddings
WE have a podcast: Gathered in the Higham House
We Moved, Again
We Got Puppies, Yes, Puppies (plural)
Everyone was home for Christmas
Happy New Year!
- jay & amy
It's December 3rd, and time for our 3rd installment of Songs for Advent. Today we're listening to Phil Wickham's, Joy To The World. This version premiered on Dec 13, 2021 as the official performance of "Joy To The World (Joyful Joyful) for the Live From The Chosen event. The song featured Jordan Feliz, Bryan & Katie Torwalt, Maverick City, The Bonner Family, and of course Phil Wickham.
So, why this song? Simple. It's time to experience the joy that comes at Christmas. We celebrate Christmas to remember the arrival of Jesus on earth. The angels declared His arrival saying, "“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2 10-11 ESV.
Good news of GREAT JOY. Joy. Joy in response to the news, a Savior has been born. The world has waited for this moment. The promise of Genesis 3, enmity, has come. The promise is being fulfilled. What was broken by sin is being made new. Our rebellion meeting reconciliation. Hope, led by joy, has come.
The Gospel in flesh. Jesus, the baby born in Bethlehem, will be the one to crush the serpent and bring rescue to all the people.
Here's our question. Do you know the joy?
This Christmas, we invite you to know the Savior born, Christ the Lord.
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2022 was a rough year. It started with Amy's diagnosis of breast cancer in January. January and February were spent trying to understand the kind of cancer it was and how best to deal with it. March through April was prepping for her coming surgery. May 2, in a 15 hour surgery, the cancer was removed and the 8 to 10 week recovery process began. But 2 weeks after the surgery, something went wrong and we were back for another multi-hour surgery. Now, more recovery.
In June, Amy's dad went into the hospital, then hospice, then passed. That was June 11th. Just days after his passing, Jay's dad went into the hospital. On July 4th, he passed. A couple of days later, Toby, our family Goldendoodle of almost 14 years suddenly passed. It was a rough summer.
2022 also marked the beginning of our kids leaving the nest. Our oldest had moved to Florida in 2019 for school. In 2022, he official became a Floridian. In January of 2022, our second born moved to New York. By February, he was married. An our third born, his job was taking him to Florida for 2 to 4 weeks every couple of weeks.
By mid fall we were physically, emotionally, and spiritually empty. We decided to step out of ministry to allow for some time to grieve, heal, and seek God. As the holiday's approached, we started a season of transition. Our son, Logan, was the first to hear the song and sent it to Amy. At first listen, we knew this song would become something significant for us. Over the weeks that led to Thanksgiving, then Christmas, it was. And, to this day, the lyrics take us back to that season and the reminder that God gave.
The song begins with main character heading home for Thanksgiving and the anticipation of begin together with family and friends. The chorus takes us right to the truth that God is faithful and good and the One holds us in his hand. Verse two takes us into the Christmas season and the gift of Jesus and what that means for us.
It was what we needed to hear; that in all that we were experiencing, the hard, the hurt, the grief, the fear, the God was still God and we had much to give thanks for.
I don't know what you might be experiencing this year, but as we step into the Advent season, can we encourage you with this reminder. God is still God. And He loves you. He is moving in your story. He is never far from you.
- Merry Christmas
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Advent celebrates His first coming; a baby, born a little over 2000 years ago. But Advent also calls us to look forward to His second coming, and the reconciliation He will bring. This coming will not be as a baby in a stable, but the coming of a king, the King who reigns on the highest highs.
During this Advent season, we will celebrate in the traditional ways with candles, scripture readings, and calendars. But we will also celebrate with what we're calling, Songs for Advent. Songs for Advent, is a 25 day countdown to Christmas morning, sharing some of our favorite Christmas music. These songs help us remember Jesus' first arrival while we anticipate His second coming. We hope these songs will help you slow down and consider the gift and love that comes through the King of kings. Let's crown Him.
Crown Him (Christmas)
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But how did we get here? At a time when many are wrestling with finding their way, how can we help our kids make the transition from living under our roof to living under their own roof? After all, isn't that the goal, launching our kids to be independent, responsible, contributing members of society? (I heard that somewhere.)
Are you raising adult kids? Navigating challenging seasons with your adult children? In this episode we share what we are learning as we journey with our kids into adulthood.
recommended resources
Listen to previous Episodes
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Thanksgiving Traditions
listen to episode 5
Thanksgiving, A Time to Remember: http://www.lifeinthehighamhouse.com/the-blog/a-time-to-remember
- Life in the Higham House Thanksgiving Special 2020: https://youtu.be/Qm9hY6WA4a4
- Life in the Higham House Thanksgiving Special 2021:: https://youtu.be/9rcV7T6g9tA
- Life in the Higham House Thanksgiving Special 2018: https://youtu.be/6CgTpY7jR7U
- Life in the Higham House Thanksgiving Weekend 2017: https://youtu.be/jywqoC9Lfn0
- Life in the Higham House Thanksgiving Special 2017: https://youtu.be/LQZX_3GFwJg
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3 of the 5 married
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