We’ve seen them… teased them… and wished we were one of them. Those “almost perfect” looking families.

Here’s a quick idea for a family tradition: on New Year’s Eve each person bring  top ten list of the greatest blessings in your life from the past year!

We’re all part of a family and each of us either make our family better… or detract from it.

Divorce rates are still in our society (among the secular and among the Christians as well)…

In recent years, the number of couples “living together” has increased by a factor of TEN!

40% of newborns in our society now are born out of wedlock – and these children start off their lives in an unstable environment and “behind the eight ball”!

The United States now leads the world in numbers of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases!

61% of teens from “Christian” families disengage from the organized church and drift from their faith.

We need God at the center of our family lives!

Even among church staff leaders, when asked the question of “who had the greatest impact on your life spiritually?” the answer is not a deep thinking author, or an evangelist… Hands down, most people point to their parents. Parent who did the job of spiritually raising them right.

Families are the ultimate small group. God designed families as His “Plan A” for spiritual formation and development… but God’s plan of having parents living lives that point their children toward a personal relationship with Jesus Christ – it doesn’t always work out. Remember, we are talking about highly fallible human beings here!

What is “Plan B”? There are also church ministries that are committed to the spiritual formation and development of other people’s kids!

As a parent, I can not put into words how much I am grateful to our Promiseland children’s ministry! I remember not enjoying going to church with my parents when I was a kid; but my three year old (Bekah) looks forward to going to church so she can learn about Jesus. Each time she repeats a curriculum point like “Thank you God, for Baby Jesus” or “God loves us; He gave us Baby Jesus” I know that she is learning and retaining some of the most important lessons she will learn in her entire life.

I also think about the high school ministry at our church… and I remember that it was back in 1982 that I was invited to attend the high school ministry and it was there that I experienced personal salvation. The impact that the high school ministry had on me rippled onto my mother, my sister, my step-father, and my brother-in-law. In December 1987, my family walked as a group onto the stage at church and were publicly baptized by Bill Hybels!

I thank God that there are ministries now (for my daughter) and way back then (for me) that are committed to loving and caring for other people’s kids!

Parents… Take full responsibility for “Plan A” raising your children AND take full advantage of “Plan B” opportunities!

If a couple enters into a covenant to raise their kids on “Plan A” then God will reinforce and assist their efforts…

Some of us received a great Christian heritage that preceded us and that we can pass on … some of us didn’t come from a great heritage – but either way, ALL of us can choose to leave a great Christian legacy for those that come after us!