Joshua 24 v 15
(As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord)
Joshua was quite clear, he and his family would serve the Lord. The choice we make will decide our eternal future, so we should think deeply. Joshua’s words have a resonance for us today

We constantly read and hear reports of young people between the ages of 7 and teenage years terrifying whole neighbourhoods. They abuse, assault, vandalise and rob at will, and if anyone should remonstrate with them that person runs the risk of stabbing or serious injury. On several occasions men with families have been killed whilst defending their property. Whole gangs roam the streets seeking confrontation with other gangs and their members, which have cost the lives of substantial number of young men, sometimes innocent victims.

On so many occasions, broken homes have been a cause of such behaviour, with a mother unable to control or showing an utterly irresponsible line. One 12 years old boy terrified an estate and his mother said he was ‘her little satan, but wasn’t really evil’. An unwitting contradiction in terms, but added he just needs understanding. He certainly needs something, but more severe than understanding. Yet again an absent father

‘A nation is only as strong as its homes’, said Abraham Lincoln, and today our homes are reflecting the state of the our nation, which is in the deteriorating state of moral and social decay, which should make us fear for the future of our children and grandchildren.

The home now doesn’t mean as much today as it used to do, and to so many people the idea of two people being married as the ideal is old fashioned and rather stupid. .
Marriage was built on the foundations of the Bible. It has been said that in 100 years from now, marriage will have ceased to exist, and if some members of the government had their way it would be in a lot less time.

There are indeed powerful forces within the government and liberal establishment who are determined to destroy the traditional and biblical image of the home, marriage, and family. One senior Minister is waging a one woman war against it, and is quoted as having said categorically that there is no such thing as the ideal family. She is of course supported by other members.

God has laid down clearly what He expects, and we ignore to our peril
The Bible says ‘when the foundations are destroyed what shall the righteous do’. Homes are the foundation and bedrock of society, and they are being destroyed. If evil forces win the battle for the home there is nothing left worth fighting for. We have to restore the home as the basic unit of society..

There are problems in our homes. What's wrong? So often today couples marry without truly knowing each other and have no reluctance as divorce carries no stigma and is easy to access.

An indication of how our judiciary thinks and views the Christian faith was displayed in the High Court when it was said, ‘marriage is not generally regarded as a sacrament and divorce is a statistical commonplace’.

God never meant that we were to break up. Only death can part us. It is for life, It is for keeps. And God says only one thing can break the marriage vow and that is adultery.

The Bible teaches absolute fidelity on the part of both husband and wife, and the Bible recognizes no lower standards.

The Bible teaches that marriage is holy and sacred in the sight of God. I'm afraid that some enter into it like it's all a big joke. Some go into marriage for spite. Others go into marriage for luck and they break up and there's trouble and there's disappointment.. Marriage should be preceded by the most careful thought.

The Bible says only adultery is a reason for divorce, which only justifies the innocent party. One of the nations’ favourite television programmes has been featuring two people, who are neighbours, conniving at having an affair as a major story line People are so captivated by television stories they think they have to emulate them in real life. I dread seeing weddings or funerals on television as I know some of the ridiculous actions will be asked for in the following weeks.

We have so much unhappiness and trouble in the home today because we've got away from God's laws, rules, and regulations governing marriage, When God performed the first marriage, He laid down the rules, and He said if you want to have a happy home, obey these rules. If you want to have trouble, disobey them.

Having children means more than conceiving and bearing them. Raising children is a vitally responsible and important task. It is more than being a novelty for some celebrity or as a passport to the top of the housing list for a young woman. A whole future life is in the hands of parents, yet we hear of multiple children of a woman from multiple fathers who have no interest in the poor children.

It is reckoned that in the majority of homes no biblical knowledge or teaching is being given to children, probably as much due to the fact the parents have none.

Each generation claims things are worse than in their time, but I can never recall a time when children were allowed to terrorise whole neighbourhoods and cause such fear vandalising, abusing and stealing knowing they are virtually immune from any punishment. They are fully aware of the law which protects them, and little help is offered in most cases by police. It is hard to comprehend how the police allow such behaviour to develop, they certainly wouldn’t when it was known as ‘the Police Force’ rather than what is now little more than a social service. Society must decide what sort of a future we want as far as children are concerned.

We can learn so much from Jewish parenthood. Father’s teaching to his children of the Ten Commandments, one for each of the ten fingers, and the history of the Jewish people from the Old Testament, and the mother controlling behaviour. I have never known nor heard of a Jewish child being involved in violent disorder or crime. When I have sought an answer, I have been told it is because of the Jewish Mama in the home.

Mothers can indeed have a great effect on children. I was often required to be away from the home for long hours, and it is a great tribute to my wife that two of my sons became ordained, and have proved to be very wonderful and successful Ministers.

Far too many children are left to their own devices. How can teenagers roam the streets drunk and threatening people, stabbing other teenagers, and forming life threatening other gangs, without the parents knowing of it. So why don’t they do something about it. Yet again, in the days of an interested and efficient Police Force, action would have been taken under the Children’s Act for failing to control their children.

Some feminist thinkers have said that motherhood will have to go in a new social order and find a new way of raising children. You may have seen women being asked on television what their occupation was, and sometimes you hear the reply, ‘just a housewife’ No apology is needed . A housewife and mother is as great a calling as any in the world. Like God they are a very present help in times of trouble. My sons have all held their mother in the highest esteem and my son who died called Mum as his last word.
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Christian standards have gone from many homes, Everywhere, people search for happiness from the wrong things and wrong places. Many criminals have come from homes where there has been no peace, no discipline nor Christian values or teaching. The biggest cause of young criminals is due to marital breakdown and separation

It is a matter of great regret that government is forcing councils, some of which don’t need that much encouragement, to foster and send for adoption children to two people of the same sex. A child needs a father and a mother, both of whom are essential to a child’s moral and social development and welfare. It is therefore irresponsible to make such enactment and reveals contempt for God’s decree.

Is it not ironic that the equality Minister stated two men cannot be trusted to run anything and need a woman, yet she considers two men are capable of bringing up children.

The Bible says we have to have discipline in the home. It is a sign of the times that discipline has become non existent in many homes, schools, and society in general. Children have a natural bias to do wrong; you never have to teach a child to say no.

If Britain is to defend its values successfully, it must rediscover the Christian faith.