Rock Solid Families

As Christians, we are called to live with the values given to us through God's Word.  Many of those seem commonsensical, such as "thou shalt not kill", but others seem more challenging, "love your enemy".  What do we do when we are confronted with a person or situation that challenges our Christian values but we still want to love the people involved?

In this show, Linda and Merrill take on the difficult topic of how we should speak and interact with friends and family that are coming out in a lifestyle that Christian beliefs do not support;  such as being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or even engaging in furry fandom.  Engaging in and maintaining relationships with the aforementioned can be challenging while still maintaining your Christian values. This show helps to set parameters and understanding of the relationship so that you can respect each other and work to maintain the relationship. 

These conversations are very specific to the individuals involved.  The dynamics and history of the relationship play a massive part in how to proceed in the relationship.  By no means do Linda and Merrill claim to have all the answers to these situations.  Their discussion comes from their personal experiences when working with clients in these circumstances and walking the balance of honoring their Christian values while maintaining a working relationship with the client. 

The challenge that confronts all who proclaim to be Christian is to love people.  We must learn to do this well. 

For more information or questions please contact:    https://www.rocksolidfamilies.org/

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When was the last time you felt lost?  How did that feel to you?  Confused, frustrated, concerned, even worried.  Being lost can be a scary and exhausting experience.  Because of this, people will begin to do whatever they can to find their location.  They will make guesses on what direction is best. They will make U-turns in the middle of the road. They will sometimes keep pressing with the belief they will eventually recognize something that looks familiar.  And, worse case, they will ask for directions.  

This scenario plays out in the lives of all of us in some form or another.  But in this show, we talk about how this plays out in the bigger picture involving the direction of our lives.  We often think we have a course set and know where we are headed only to discover a road block or detour that alters our course.  We search for direction and answers and even begin to question every turn we make.  The anxiety grows and the symptoms worsen.  We are lost and we  have don't believe we have access to any kind of map or directions.  

This show is about all of us experiencing the path of the lost.  We search for things that might bring us to our promised land or a place of contentment, but nothing appears.  We experiment with relationships, jobs, friends, drugs, and sex, but nothing seems to provide the direction that we desire.  If we are fortunate, we become exhausted and begin to reach out for help.  The help that we ask for is critical, but it must be truthful.  Listening to someone tell us a lie could be even more devastating.  We must hear the truth in order to find our way. 

God's Word is the only true way.  In His word we learn exactly the nature of God through Christ.  Learning about the direction of Christ is the greatest thing we can ever do in order to find our way and help lead others to their way.  God has a way for each and everyone of us.  Listen to His direction and you will see your path.

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Have you ever felt like you're the only one that doesn't have your act together?  We look at TV personalities and people on social media and we often come away thinking they have the best version that life has to offer.  

Rock Solid Radio had the opportunity to host celebrity, Rachel Cruze to the show.  The main thing we walked away with from our show is just how down to earth and authentic she is. Rachel is the daughter of Dave Ramsey that introduced Financial Peace University and a host of many other ideas and products to help people effectively manage their money.  From radio shows to to TV appearances, Dave became quite well known.  

Fast forward a few years and we began to see his daughter, Rachel, tag along his side.  Whether it was at live events or helping her father write a book for kids and money matters, Rachel began to cut her teeth in the business.  Rachel began to see that she had a knack for public speaking and she loved the message and service she could provide when it came to money management.   She also recognized that she could speak to a very different target audience than her father.  Because of her age and role in life, she began to build a message for young families, moms, and kids.  She began to see that she could be even more proactive in her approach to money as she could help parents teach their kids about money smarts at a very young age.  

Rachel has now authored or coauthored  five different books, hosts a regular show, and is involved in numerous projects and missions at Ramsey Solutions.  With all of this, she is a mother of three young children and a wife to her husband, Winston.  When asked how she manages all of these responsibilities she is quick to recognize the importance of priority.  With her first priority being her foundation in God.  She claims that from this everything else follows.  This is what helps her and her husband stay grounded and steady in the day to day life.  

For more information about Rachel Cruze go to: https://www.ramseysolutions.com

For more information about Rock Solid Families go to: https://www.rocksolidfamilies.org

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2020 was considered by many to be among the most challenging of years.  Everyone was praying that 2021 would bring a respite from the Covid scare and the uncertainty in politics and world affairs.  But, as life would have it, not everything was as peachy as we would have liked.  Covid continued to be  on the front page, the economy took some of the steepest declines we have seen in decades, our job market was completely turned upside down by people not going back to work as the government subsidized their time at home.  As a result, business and industry have seen an employee shortage never seen before.  To add insult to injury, we had no shortage of natural disasters with hurricanes, tornados, and fires.  So, what about 2022?

None of us no for sure what the future will hold. But, the most important part of looking into the future is to be able to have hope and purpose.  Hope that there is something better and purpose in that you will have a reason to get out of bed every day.  In this show, Linda and Merrill discuss some of the trends they say coming in their office on a regular basis.  Some trends are positive and some negative.  As they progressed through the show they began to look at areas and ways that we can have hope.  Our hope comes in a belief system.  A system in which, as Christians, we believe that God is our provider.  He sees us through the challenges of life and because of this we can have hope.  

God also explains to us that he made us for a purpose.  He cares about us and wants us to be working in our purpose. So, the real task that Merrill and Linda explain is discovering your purpose in the new year.  Recognizing the gifts and talents you have been given and then using them to serve others.  If you truly want your best year in 2022, be intentional about working in your purpose.  Don't allow the world to tell you what you should be doing for your days' work.   

2022 may be your year for a leap of faith, a new adventure, a life-changing decision that will forever change your life and the people around you.  It is time to live a life of abundance and not scarcity.  Of boldness and not fear. 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to five you hope and a future. 

https://www.rocksolidfamilies.org/

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As we started this show we were talking about how tired we were from all the Christmas celebrations we were involved in.  But our weariness doesn't compare to the many people that feel that weariness on a regular basis.  Day after day many people experience depression, loneliness, and even hopelessness as they peer into the future.  

As we close out 2021 and come into 2022 it seems that there are many things trying to steal any possibility that we may have for joy.  Whether it's Covid, the economy, politics, racism or cultural divisiveness, we have no shortage of things trying to rob us of a peaceful 2022.  But, that is 100% not the truth if you learn about the joy and peace that we can all experience through Jesus Christ.  

During this show we specifically tell how Jesus makes us promises that ensure us the opportunity for the best year we have ever had.  A year filled with a deep joy and a sense of peace that doesn't make sense to our human condition.  A joy we can experience even in times of chaos and tragedy.  It sounds crazy, but it is true.  Putting our trust in the provision of joy by Jesus tells us that no matter what happens in our time here on earth, we can have a promise of eternity with him.  

Let's be clear, this does not mean that difficulty will not come our way.  But, what it does mean is that we will have a different mindset when we do walk through difficulty.  We will be able to view our life through abundance rather than lacking.  So, in this new year, take the time to truly dig into the freedom that Christ provides.  Make this the best year of your life. 

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Could you image being one of three siblings and on Christmas morning both of your siblings received their regular share of gifts, and you received nothing?  Put that vision in your head for just a second.  What kinds of thoughts would be racing through your mind?  How would you feel about your other siblings or parents?  Let's take this one step farther and imagine this happening year after year.  

This is not a scene that I hope any child ever has to experience, but in today's show we will explore something that can be just as bad in terms of neglect.  This show takes a closer look at what it means to treat your marriage like a person.  Meaning that as any person needs to be cared for, so too does the marriage.  It needs to be provided for and nurtured.  It needs to be protected and fed.  It needs attention and interaction in order to be healthy and able to give back.  

Way too often the marriage is treated like the forgotten child.  We get busy in so many other things and priorities that we forget to care for the marriage.  Over time the marriage begins to withdrawal and the life begins to go out of it. 

This Christmas take the time to recommit to treating your marriage like any other person you  love.  Take care of make your marriage as a valued part of your family.  We promise that when you treat your marriage well, it will respond with all that it can give back to the individuals in the family.  

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Before you quickly excuse yourself from this show or the thought that you might be a jealous person, you might want to take a second look!  This show is a powerful lesson on what jealousy, envy, and coveting are all about.  We are quick to rationalize our behaviors but with a little reflection we can see how easily and often we fall into these ugly spaces. 

Jealousy and Envy have one major thing in common, YOU!  That's right!  These challenges are all about your selfish nature.  Your desire to have what you do not have.  When this is directed towards things we tend to call it envy.  When it is directed towards relationships, we tend to call it jealousy.  Either way, it is about you thinking about what you want; coveting.  

As you listen in to this show, take a minute to assess your own approach to how you handle your wants.  Are you always in a state of "want", or are you able to limit your visits there?  Being stuck in a state of wants is due to our obsession of self and working from a deficit mindset.  Never having enough! 

Functioning on a regular basis in a deficit mindset is a sin because it is a slap in the face of God.  It is making the statement that what He provides for us is not enough.  This is why we can become more and more cynical of God.  We pray for what we want and often times it seems we never get what we want.  God's message may simply be: "You already have what you need." 

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You know the definition of insanity; doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results!  That's what many of our arguments with our spouse looks like.  Why do we keep fighting about the same issues?  

This show is so powerful at giving you the tools to stop this insanity.  Couples seldom are arguing about what they appear to be arguing about.  Whether they are arguing about kids, money, in-laws, or even the color to paint the bathroom.  Recognizing that these are not actually the source of the arguments is the first step to stopping the insanity.  

Arguing typically comes about when we are messing with something in the following areas, control, affection, trust, respect, and love.  When one of these areas is being handled improperly in the eyes of their partner, arguments ensue.  If we want to stop the arguing we have to drill down to what is happening at the base of the argument and do the work to restore and rebuild these areas. 

Make yourself a promise that you will never argue again with your spouse.  Instead, you will take the time to recognize what area is being stepped on and do the work to correct it.

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As we approach the Christmas Season we see many things around us that remind us of Christmas.  Between presents, Christmas trees, ornaments, music, and all the Christmas parties, there is no shortage of reminders; at least reminders of the secular version of Christmas.  That is why we have called this the season of stuff.  Every where you look you see Christmas stuff!

Stuff is not all bad!  But, when we loose our focus on the main reason for Christmas, and set our focus on the stuff, we tend to become disappointed, frustrated, and often just feeling like the Christmas is a bit of a let down.  As Christians, this should not even be close to what our experience should be for Christmas.  This is the celebration of the greatest birthday in the history of mankind.  And, not only is it a birthday party, but we are the ones that receive the gift!

During this season take some time to learn and recognize exactly what the gift of Christ means to you as an individual, but also, us as in all of mankind.  The gift of Christ is something that none of us could have ever bought on our own.  It is the single most valuable thing that  mankind has ever been given.  However, when we don't understand this and really don't know why it is so valuable, we cheapen the gift.  We cut the value in our own mind simply becuase we do not understand how valuable and rare the gift is.  

This season when you are giving your children Christmas gifts, teach them the value of gifts.  Teach them what a gift is and what makes it valuable. Then you can begin to teach them about the rare but valuable gift of Christ. 

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Have you ever heard the song by Country Music Singer, Mac Davis, It's Hard to be Humble?  Merrill tries is talent at singing a portion of the song only to be derailed by Linda.  But, the point is how do we deal with being humble.  In this show, Linda and Merrill take on the conversation of humility and thankfulness as we come into the Thanksgiving Season.  

These are terms that often get thrown around lightly, but the challenge of actually living this words is no light task.  Humility is not how many of us have been raised up.  We often see parents raising their children to be prideful leaders.  People who will answer to no one and should get whatever they desire.  A "me first" approach to daily living.  This seems to work, at least for a little while.  But, at some point, the rest of the world doesn't care so much to give you what you want or to please you.  That's when things begin to get dicey.  

In John 13 :1-7 Jesus gives us the perfect example of what it means to act in humility.  To take on the heart of a servant.  He does this by washing the feet of his apostles.  Jesus did this to show us that even when a person is being referred to as a king, he must have his priorities straight in service to others.  He must understand what others mean to him and how he can give back to them for the service they have done for him.  

In this life of daily challenges, we realize quickly that we are unable to go it alone. We must learn to walk in humility and thankfulness for first and foremost what God is and means to us. We must recognize our purpose as His servant and not the other way around.  He made us, we did not make Him.  For that reason, we are able to begin to celebrate our gifts and give the thanks and glory to Him that blessed us.  

Teach your children early in life that they are unique and blessed with gifts from God.  Teach them to be thankful and to learn to use their gifts to glorify God by serving others.  Teach your kids that they are the hands and feet of Christ!   

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