Must read - what's gone wrong with the family and church and how to begin recovery. Lines up almost 100% with how my thinking has developed over the last 15 years.

Reforming The Family - The Industrial Revolution and the Sociology of the Christian Family by Brian Aleshire

Similar thoughts, specifically from a young mother's perspective: Why Modern Motherhood is so Difficult

For a helpful study of God's perspective on leisure, Redeeming the Time: A Christian Approach to Work and Leisure by Leland Ryken is recommended. I have not read the book yet but have read several other books by Dr. Ryken and found them all very good. I suspect the same here. And a great set of study notes is available at the Contend for the Faith website. We are using these as a guide in our family devotions for a few days. Leisure is rarely done well so a family is wise to study and discuss the issue together.

Feb 28 noon update - CONTEST WINNER! Congratulations to Leslie, winner of the free pass. We had 5 entries via contact/email and 2 via comments. If you didn't win, Vision Forum is offering $25 off all orders over $75, so you can get all 20 weeks for $60 if you order before midnight Feb. 28. Use SAVE25 as the coupon code with your order.

Our friends at Vision Forum just announced a new 20 week series Family Strategies: Practical Issues for Building Healthy Families. A new message will be released each week. You can listen online or download to your smartphone, iPod, or MP3 player.

This series covers many of the topics addressed here at Every Good Path and we are very glad Vision Forum invited us to give away a free pass for the entire series to one of our readers!

If you don't win the giveaway, you can still qualify for discount pricing if you sign up before March 1.

Here are the topics Vision Forum's Doug Phillips and his wife, Beall, will cover each week:

1. How to Organize Your Home to Promote Family Unity
2. How to Cultivate a Love of Reading with Your Children
3. How to Make Mealtime Meaningful
4. How to Prepare for a Year of Home Education
5. How to Take Children Safely Through an Airport
6. How to Involve the Whole Family in Family Worship
7. How to Address the Plague of “Jive Talk” in Your Home
8. How to Encourage Masculinity in Sons
9. How to Encourage Femininity in Daughters
10. How to Handle a Social Worker Visit
11. How to Wage War on Sibling Rivalry
12. How to Use Household Decorations to Teach Character
13. How to Talk to Your Children about Miscarriage
14. How to Involve the Whole Family in Hospitality
15. How to Build an Entrepreneurial Spirit in Your Children
16. How to Watch a Movie As a Family
17. How to Cultivate a Love of Meaningful Poetry with Your Children, and Why Doing So Is Important
18. How to Prepare Your Children to Listen to a Symphony
19. How to Take a Road Trip with Your Family
20. How to Select the Best Locations for Family Vacations

See more details on Family Strategies: Practical Issues for Building Healthy Families including samples and a video invitation from the Phillips.

To be entered in our contest, simply send us your contact information or leave a comment below with a link to your blog. Bloggers - link back to everygoodpath.net from your blog to be entered twice in the contest. Deadline is noon, CST, Monday, February 28th when we will select the winning entry at random. The Winner will be contacted and announced here (your contact information will be kept private).

We hope Family Strategies is a great help to you!

This site is for all matters of life in the Kingdom of God.  Literally - "every" good path.  So why does homeschooling keep coming up? [More]

Each Christian family must have a routine time of focusing on the scripture and praying for one another.  Here's what has worked well for us...

Links to sites and resources to help you begin considering if homeschooling is right for your family.

This new devotional focuses on the life of Jesus as found primarily in the gospels. All aspects of Jesus' life are covered in 138 short simple lessons, each on a single page of this outstanding family devotional guide. Each lesson starts with a short scripture passage, followed by a couple paragraphs of comments, then a few questions to aid family discussion, Answers to the questions are in the passage or comments and are listed in the back for convenience.

The author admits that a study of Jesus can be overwhelming. Therefore many families may read the gospel stories but would be intimidated by a detailed study of Christ. The author intends this book to bridge the gap between simply reading the stories and a deep systematic theology on the life and ministry of Christ. I commend the author and believe the book fulfills his intention...

Journal of thoughts and decisions as our 9th grade homeschool plan was developed and implemented... [More]

A simple, understandable, flexible schedule for your family is a great tool for keeping your collective life enjoyable.  There are many books, tools, and software planners available.  We've found a simple chart is the best way to keep everyone happy and efficient.   Here are examples of how we use our schedules.  We've attached blank copies you can freely print.

This site focuses on fathers - how they can provide for their families in all areas.  A father's training, discipling, and leading by example are profoundly challenging and important... [More]