There is a disease running rampant across our nation. It is the destruction of the family unit. There was a time forty years ago when family was the most important thing in a person’s life. You made your decisions based on what was good for the family. When you married you committed for life. You also understood that parenting was a lifelong privilege and opportunity.

Today we see symptoms of this disease. The family unit is unraveling. Divorce rate is higher than it’s ever been. There are more homes and shelters for abused women and parent-less children than ever before. Our prisons are full and our law-enforcement officials are exhausted. Drug and alcohol abuse seem to be commonplace. There are metal detectors in schools while the court dockets are full of domestic strife.

How do we stop this destruction of our nation? Is it to teach more about marriage? Or is it to lead by example and raise children within a strong marriage? I often ask folks if they know of any healthy unions. More often than not the response is that they can’t think of even one

It has often been said that marriage is the union of two full-time givers. I know of many healthy marriages. All of these couples have been married for over thirty years. They are best friends with their spouse and their children are aware of the love their parents share with each other. These marriages set a good example of what it could be like if selflessness were to replace selfishness.

If the current trend doesn’t change our nation will go the way of others that came before and it will crumble. Where there is domestic violence, substance abuse, neglect, rejection and desertion, the family is destroyed. Individuals begin to wonder if family is something they can have, if marriage is an ideal they believe in. I believe we can reverse this trend. It will take hard work and commitment from those with the determination to take back the family. The family unit is fragile, it needs constant care. It must be a priority and our primary focus. Out of all the events that create a lifetime, family is the one thing that makes the entire journey with us. By building strong relationships and believing in their permanence, we help to make life more livable.

It seems that now is the time for action. Family Coaching provides a place for families to heal and create the bonds that make them a cohesive unit. It is hard work; grueling, sad, and sometimes overwhelming, but worth it when you see the family connect their hearts and learn to truly love each other.

We must all work together as one to cure this fatal disease.

What is a Christian? What is the definition of a Christian? Is a Christian someone who listens only to Christian music, or goes to church every Sunday?

To answer this question I must first a address the root of the word.

In my opinion ‘Christian’ is a bad word.

I often have this conversation with people about Christianity. We Christians have ruined the reputation of our leader. Instead I tell people that I’m a follower of Jesus. That I came from Nazareth, Texas and Jesus came from Nazareth near Galilee. I follow Him. I follow what He did. I follow how He lived. I teach as best I can of things that He taught. But I really think that Christians have soiled the reputation of the Creator of this world. We have pushed people away from ever finding out how much they are loved by Jesus and by His father who is also our Father.

I am amazed when I talk with others that people somehow think being a Christian makes you a small thinker, which is exactly the opposite of what Jesus taught. Jesus taught that you are to think large. You may ask what is a Christians world view? How should we think? How should we act? In my opinion it starts with believing in Christ.

In John 14: 12 Jesus says, “I tell you the truth. If you trust Me, believe in Me, you can do more than I am doing.”

I memorized it years ago because I couldn’t believe it. I love that! I love to be able to put my hand on someone and just because my hand is there they feel healing in their body. They feel reassurance. Their depression leaves them.

I think of Jesus as being fun, as enjoying life and showing people how to live big.

One of the first things Jesus did was to create really good wine.  The story says that they had been celebrating for days at a party and they ran out of wine. He told the people to get twelve huge barrels (similar in size to modern day oil barrels) and fill them full of water. Then He said to pour the water into their glasses. As the men who had filled the barrels were pouring the water into the glasses they saw the water change to wine. When the party goers tasted the wine they were astonished that the bad wine had been served before the good. They asked of Jesus “Why would you serve the best wine we’ve ever tasted now that we have been celebrating for days?” I believe it’s because Jesus liked to have fun. He loved to have a good time and have people around Him. He obviously had something to say.

Another story tells us of five thousand men, women and children who followed Jesus out into the countryside. He didn’t have port-a-potties. He didn’t have sound systems. He didn’t have any food. And yet they still followed Him because they wanted to hear what He had to say. I think about something like that happening today and I wonder who would be willing to follow?

I know that Christian is a bad word. So you will hear me say that I follow Jesus. I study Him. I learn how He did it. I learn what He did. I learn His attitude. The greatest thing I’ve learned is how to be a servant. How to get my lazy carcass up and go do something extra nice for someone else; whether it’s bringing someone a cup of coffee, preparing a snack for somebody or making one of my children breakfast in bed. Those little things say I’m a follower of Jesus.

I’m sorry that we’ve done that to His reputation. I hope you will discover the things I’m talking about, the Jesus who is amazing, who loves people a lot. He rescued me from the bottom of a slimy pit of puss and yuck and turned my life around. He forgave me, set me free.  It’s my wish that you will find this to be true; that you can follow Jesus. You don’t have to be like all the Christians that you see and hear about. You can be the follower.

So in the end when someone ask what is a Christian; I tell them a True Christian is a follower of Christ.

Sometimes we hold onto the people or situations that enslave us which makes releasing anger all the more difficult.

What if we could just let go of our captives?

Pat reads a translation of Isaiah 58 from The Message Bible

Being pregnant isn’t always about eating right, but also THINKING right. Listen to these great tips for pregnant women.

What’s inside your heart? If there is pain, how do you extract it without hurting yourself more?

Psalms 8 is a beautiful passage about what babies and children already know.

PS – The passage that momma found was from Psalms 8

If you haven’t already, I highly recommend getting a copy of The Message Bible. You can help this blog by purchasing one here:

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