Family

Written by cycleguy on April 25th, 2013

familyvalues

 

“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding is it established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”  Pr.24:3-4

There has to be no doubt in anyone’s mind reading this that the family is under attack.  I don’t want to go all “political” on you.  You know the issues.   Some might even say the family is dying.  That might be a little harsh. Disintegrating might be more accurate.   Again, I don’t need to go all ballistic on the culture in which we live.

Frankly, my concern is not so much what is happening (although I am concerned).  My concern is how to turn it around.

Legislation won’t do it.

Political correctness won’t do it.

Not even religious people getting involved in politics (who can you trust anyway?) will do it.

Have you ever heard the story of the little boy who defied his mother and was sent to sit in the corner?  He told her, “I may sitting on the outside, but I am standing on the inside.”  That is what happens when we think laws, rules, and regulations will really change things.

I hate abortion.  But making laws is not going to stop it.

I believe practicing homosexuality is wrong.  But making laws is not going to stop it.

I hate murder.  But we just recently saw laws will not stop it, especially gun laws.

Real change, real values, come from inside a person’s heart.

CHANGE THE HEART; CHANGE THE ACTION. 

I start a new series this Sunday- a four part series on the family.  They will all center around values.

A FAMILY OF VALUES

BECOMING MEN OF VALUES

BECOMING WOMEN OF VALUES

BECOMING YOUTH OF VALUES

(Pretty ingenious with titles don’t you think? 🙂 )  This week I am focusing on Deuteronomy 6: 4-15.  Other than the SHEMA (Deut.6:4), there are 4 words that stand out.  See if you can find them in verses 4-15.  I plan to blog about them in my next post.

Like all churches we have our share of families who are struggling.  It is also unrealistic to think there won’t be others down the road.  But if I can be proactive and “head it off at the pass” then I think that is a good way to go.  I would appreciate your prayers for me and the church during this series.  But start with this Sunday.  🙂  Thanks.

So…do you know those four words?  Next question (if you feel safe enough to answer), how is your family doing? 

 

 

21 Comments so far ↓

  1. Daniel says:

    This sounds like a great series. Hopefully lives will be touched in the moment and real changes will be enacted. Good luck.

  2. My family is song alright. Far from perfect bit pretty good.

  3. Betty Draper says:

    Teach, talk, bind and write the word. There is the four words I picked up on.

    Other then salvation I think any teaching for the family is the next important issue needed taught. Because my husband and I both came from dysfunctional homes we had to unlearn so much. But hearing sermons like this, hearing God’s design for the family was help us turn things around. It was our choice to be like our past or God’s future for us. The devil will hate this. He works over time to destroy the families. Praying for you and the hearts of your congregation.

    • cycleguy says:

      You and Ace are a great example for those who come behind to know it is possible to have a marriage that lasts. I’ll let you know Monday about your words.

  4. Susan says:

    How is my family going? Good days and bad days. Ups and downs. Top of the world and down in the dump. Pretty much like all families.

    I wish we could come sit in on these upcoming sermons. All of those examples are true, and there are Christians on Facebook who are beating the drum about legislating morality and saying or implying that if one doesn’t pass this or that opinion about guns, abortion, homosexuality…that one’s relationship with Jesus is about to be severed due to His extreme sorrow and disappointment.

    I’m not saying it’s bad to be on FB, just saying that I’ve learned that it can cause me to forget that there are other things that Abba has for me to do in the here and now. One of the side effects of that is that my blood pressure has dropped into a very healthy zone. Who knew? 😀

    • cycleguy says:

      Your family sounds like mine Susan. Without tooting my horn, they can be listened to by podcast and ovcf.org. I choose not to be on FB and don’t miss it at all.

  5. floyd says:

    Okay, I’ll take a stab; Love, teach, swore, serve. And If needed I can bring you a shiny red apple for extra credit…

    My family is blessed overall. I have one daughter that is a teenager which can be difficult at times… especially since she’s a bit like the ole’ block she was chipped off of…

    Praying for you and your families, Bill. Great answer to the call of the Holy Spirit. If the world is going to change, it will happen at home with God as the head…

    • cycleguy says:

      Not fond of apples Floyd. Fresh pineapple works. 🙂 As you know, you will survive those teen years. You’ve been through it twice already. The challenge is when you know she is like you. 🙂 All the bad my two did goes back to their mom and all the good to their dad. Yeah, and I have some swamp land in Arizona to sell you. Thanks for your prayers.

  6. Ed says:

    I love the series you do. They make me think.

    My family is doing ok. Mom and I are going through some health challenges. Her with her back, and me with my left hand/wrist. My brother and nieces are doing well.

  7. Sounds excellent. I’ve said the same thing many times. Laws are good to a point, but what we really need is heart change. If we don’t view life and the institutions He gave as He does, we aren’t going to come up with the same thoughts. We need His grace to meet us and transform us, to renew our minds. I’m with you, Bill! Thanks.

  8. Debbie says:

    Sounds like a really needed series! I picked teach, walk, bind and write.
    My family? I really don’t know where to begin, but will simply say that God covers us. It should not work . ..but He keeps us. So thankful. God bless you!

  9. David says:

    My guesses are – hear, teach, bind & write.

    My family is “hanging in there”, it seems we’re each in our own season of flux. That’s not bad, it’s just unusual for all of us to hit a time of individual “change” at the same time.

    • cycleguy says:

      Isn’t it funny (not haha funny) how families go through cycles? We seem to ride along and then BAM! It is strange all are going through it at the same time, but maybe that is good. 😉 Can pray for you David. Thanks for commenting.

  10. Ike says:

    Many years ago my wife and I took a Sunday School class on “Family”. I brought up Titus 2 where the older women should teach the younger women to be keepers of the home. I suggested that when mothers started going out into the work place….that was the start of the decline of the family. I started a war:-(

  11. Mike says:

    My family is mostly good although my son has drifted from the faith. He still believes in God, but does not see Him as solidly as the rest of the family. It’s one of those things you can’t force, so we pray for him to find his way back. It’s strange how our daughter is totally opposite, but was raised the same way as him.

  12. My family is doing alright, I think. We go through our ups and downs, and granted – our boys are only 5 and 2, so our experience is limited at this point. But it’s something I take very seriously, and I look forward to growing in this area as my boys grow.