Introduction to our struggles

Welcome to "American Christian Family", where I will be writing regularly about the struggles of maintaining family Christian values while raising children in our American society--which I have found to be painstaking due to today's American way of life both domestically--and yes, globally. To take the lessons of the Gospel and turn this into a parental approach I have found to be both progressive and conservative, depending on the topic.

I am putting myself out there as a "soccer mom" with an accredited writing background, an extensive study in religion, and someone who is willing to put their neck on the chopping block for both those coronated American Christian leaders and atheists to have a field day with. Who would think that celebrated Christian leaders and atheists would have something in common? This speaks to the wolves in sheep's clothing as much as it does herotics. So fasten your seatbelts, put on your helmets, because we are in for that exciting ride all of us regular folk who aspire to be better Christians struggle with!

The first sampling: As a Christian-learned parent who volunteers for everything from Vacation Bible School to ballet, piano lessons and sports, I constantly find myself in the position to defend our values to...my children's friends! Not their parents, mind you. Children today do not hold their tongue because most of them do not do so at their parents' house. Some of my children's friends come over and wonder at various Christian artwork we have in the household and point-blank ask "Are we obsessed with religion or what?" Or what about all these sports and activities that are now claiming Sunday away from worship and family? I am a forty-something and can remember when Sundays were sacred and everything was closed down on this day. No longer the case! Here is the struggle that we Christian-conscientious parents are up against! And the minute we stamp down our foot, we are pointed out by our children's friends and families as strange and so different from everyone else. We are put on the defensive and find ourselves to be the rare exception (seems I can so many times almost hear the crickets chirping).

This all happens at the same time my children join me to watch the evening news--yikes! Here is an opportunity where I am trying to teach them about the importance of truth, human rights justice, and the need for peace--this is reflected in our Savior's teachings. In future editions I will quote directly from the gospel to this effect. But the end result is that good solid Christian-based values have been dissolved--or moreso, wrongly redefined--at almost every level of life! It bares repeating--beware the wolf in sheep's clothing! Why do we let these wolves speak for us?

Since my mother's death five years ago, I look to the bible--particularly the gospel--for advice on the best way to raise children. I tie the bible to everyday living. I can safely say that most, not all, families that claim to be Christian DO NOT do the same. Most American Christian families emphasize attending weekly church services and perhaps encouraging some parish life in addition. But never have I witnessed an American Christian family perform disciplined daily reflections and prayer--unlike many Muslims and Jews. Ask yourself honestly, what Christian do you know of that prays five times daily? Negligence has lent itself to a large detachment from true Christianity. Here in the U.S., this just isn't the American way of life...and here is where those of us with otherwise "strong" Christian convictions fail and thus cannot be taken seriously.

Why is daily devotion so important? Because all of us make decisions, great and small, every single day. Is the decision one Christ would approve of? If you don't care, why bother calling yourself a Christian?

This is your introductory sample of future blogs to come, filled with guidance and quotes from the gospel as we face our daily struggle in this society. I hope you stay tuned and welcome your input, I am especially looking forward to advice from those attempting to achieve the same...a solid American Christian family.