MORE PROOF—PLEASE LISTEN
I’m sure some of you have wondered from time to time—Does Pastor Mark really know what he’s talking about when he writes about the family? Are there any others out there who agree with him, or who can provide evidence for the things Pastor Mark so strongly asserts?
You wouldn’t be the first to ever think something like this. It’s human nature to doubt, but it’s also human nature to ignore the facts, to ignore wisdom. Which is always detrimental to our wellbeing and success.
Recently, I read an article on a new book that’s just been written. It’s entitled What Really Matters: Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Freedom and Family. It’s written by Tim Goeglein, Vice President of Focus on the Family. The review writer of the article I read gave a simple summary of the books advice in this statement:
“Readers may be surprised to find that there are no easy answers, but there are simple ones: More family meals together—a ban on children under 16 using smartphones—a restoration of the American male’s role as head of the household and a role model for male children.”
Now you tell me—WHO DOES THAT SOUND LIKE? WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT BEFORE?
The author of this book, Tim Goeglein, worked in the highest echelons of government and Christian ministries on this very thing—marriage and the family. He is deeply researched and deeply informed on all the relevant facts and statistics regarding the family, marriage, etc.
He is saying the very same things I have been writing about for the last 8 years, and preaching and teaching about for the last 40 years! In fact, get this, I was thinking when I started Strong Disciple 8 years ago of putting my articles into a book, entitled: Faith, Family, Fatherhood, which is very similar to the title of this man’s new book that I am referencing today.
I know some of you may think of me as a dinosaur, or radical in some of my views, but here is another quote from this book: This particular factor Tim Goeglein underscores has accelerated broken families today: One major contributing factor to broken marriages and families is the rise of smartphones, the first of which Apple introduced in 2007.
“Smartphones have caused more upheaval than anything I have seen in my career,” therapist Andrew Sofin is quoted as saying in an Institute for Family Studies report cited by the authors. “We’ve normalized them being intrusive and taking precedence when people are lying in bed, playing Wordle, or scrolling through TikTok rather than talking with each other.”
Remember my article Edition 131–The Family Meal? Remember my article Edition 1–Wake Up, Fathers? Remember my article Edition 15–The Intentional Father? Remember Edition 82–Fathers, What Will You Be To Your Sons? Remember my article Edition 87–Strong Fathers Desperately Needed? Remember my article Edition 4–Smart Dads Use Dumb Phones?
It’s easy to forget isn’t it? So, let me suggest—right now, go re-read those articles. I believe they will speak to you in a fresh, new way today.
In the spirit of the Apostle Peter: “I plan to keep on reminding you of these things—even though you already know them—Yes, I believe I should keep on reminding you of these things as long as I live. So I will work hard to make these things clear to you. I want you to remember them long after I am gone.” 2 Peter 1:12-15 NLT
For those of you who do not have my older articles in your inbox, you can find them all right here: https://strongdisciple.
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
