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This is a continuation of the previous post.  Let's briefly look at the final 5 big issues facing families today per the Lifeway Research article http://www.lifeway.com/article/164120.

6.  Financial Pressures - "The chronic misuse of debt and/or mismanagement of financial resources."  This one nearly always tops the list of reasons for divorce.  We parents need to ask ourselves, "If I died today and my children were forced to pick up all my debt-load and pay it off, how would they fare?"  And why are so many of us in so much debt?  "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Tim 6:10).

7.  Lack of Communication - "The increasing abbreviation or near elimination of meaningful family member interaction."  Is texting and facebooking and video-gaming and TVing helping or hurting us?  Why do young men and women (teens) in churches feel more comfortable talking about deep struggles or issues with a Youth Pastor or friend than they do their own parents?  We had better re-learn the art and value of life-on-life, face-to-face discussions about all of life with our families!

8.  Negative Media Influence - "The growing influx of destructive images and messages into the home."  I am not sure more commentary is needed on this one - we're all living it daily!  But, maybe I should ask, "If you are not with your children most of every day, then how can you possibly know what they are being exposed to?"

9.  Balance of Work and Family - "The rising pressure to invest more of one's energy in work at the expense of family."  Priorities.  Priorities.  Excuse it all you want, but we all essentially do what we want to do.  Is a change of heart needed?  Seek the heart changer Himself, Jesus Christ!

10.  Materialism - "The placing in high regard of ownership and consumption as a family priority."  Are you a user or a giver?  A consumer or an invester?  What are you teaching your children in this area of life?  They learn by watching!  Are you giving them everything they want and more?  Do you expect them to give away their time, talents, clothes, toys, as they see people in need?  Are they learning hard work?  Are we training them to recognize God's absolute ownership of all things?  Are we holding all things with open palms?  1 Chron 29:10-20 is a great place to start!

Do you see how intertwined all 10 of these issues really are?  Our lives are so complicated, why not start simplifying and biblifying?