A couple of weeks ago Donna and I were privileged to attend a FamilyLife "Weekend to Remember". It's an inspirational weekend conference focused on the biblical principles of marriage. About 800 people attended the Cincinnati conference, one of over 150 in the U.S. each year. We probably wouldn't have attended except that some members from the congregation have attended in the past and wanted to honor us with a gift that would be meaningful and educational. It was both and we are grateful for the kind and generous spirit of the congregation.

I've always believed that family is central to the development of good character and community. But as I listened to entertaining and thought provoking speakers I saw family in a way I had never seen before. Jesus taught, "The men and women of this age marry, but the men and women who are worthy to rise from death and live in the age to come will not then marry" (Luke 20:34-35 GNB) so why is family so important in this life?

It is illustrated by advice I received while in flight school. One of the best flight instructors I've ever known was training me in "turns about a point" and "figure eights". He stopped and made a simple observation that cut through all the peripherals. He said that every technique used in flying can be learned in the landing pattern. "All the techniques you will ever use in flying can be developed by doing touch-and-go landings," he said. He was right. Ascending, descending, maintaining straight and level flight, turning and banking, bleeding off speed; every basic technique of flying is learned right there in this simple procedure.

In what classroom can a person learn all of the techniques for successful living? It's the most natural of all learning environments which God provided for us. It's called family and every skill necessary for dealing with people can be learned in this classroom. Respect, value of life, a hard work ethic, sacrifice, governing the tongue, government, justice, mercy, discernment; all of the basic skills of life are learned here.

Before studying Theology at Ambassador College, I taught Junior High School in a large Midwestern city. Because my previous degree was in Psychology I was offered a job teaching in an "impacted school" which is a euphemistic way of saying the school was in the middle of a crime filled neighborhood. I was teaching in a "special unit". A special unit means they were the worst kids in the school. In fact these were the worst students in the worst school in the city.

One of the earliest and most overwhelming realizations I had was that these students did not have families. Out of the 60 students in our project, 59 lived in houses where most of the residents were of minimal blood relation and no father figure was present. They lived off welfare checks received each month from the government. The federal government had replaced the father.

However noble the intentions of those who began the system, the clear evidence is that no earthly system will ever replace the one God gave us at creation. God made us "male and female" and he placed us in families. It just may be the best classroom ever designed.

Until next time,