We live in a place and time where everything and everyone is competing for our attention.  Television, movies, billboards, music, school, jobs, sports, friends, and more are all battling to consume our time, thoughts, and actions.  We all need a refuge where we can go to keep us grounded from these pressures.  A refuge where we can get help to discern the good and the evil that exists within these things so that we can make godly decisions about them.  That refuge can be, and often should be, our family.  Jesus often communicated the importance and power of family (households).  He boldly stated that the only way a family can stand is if it is completely unified. 

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand."   (Matthew 12:25)

Satan is also well aware of the power and strength that can exist within a family.  He, therefore, often makes the family his primary target.  Once a family is divided, it becomes a lot easier for him to attack the individual members of that family.  Therefore, we must counter his attacks and make every effort to develop, strengthen, and maintain the unity of the family.  The primary way we can accomplish this great task is to rely on God, his word and his love to guide and direct us.  Secondly, we must allow others into our lives and our children's lives to help us detect any "blind spots" that may be there.

We have been married 16 years and have four children--three girls ages 13, 11, and 8, and a boy ho is four.  We work hard at teaching our kids to know and love God, and we do our best to help them understand the importance of family.  We want it to be a place where they are comfortable being open about the challenging things going on in their lives as well as a place where they love to bring their friends over just to hang out. We firmly believe that if we provide this type of atmosphere in our home, it will greatly help in shaping their overall character and a strong spiritual life.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.  (Proverbs 22:16)

One of the primary ways we create this environment in our home is by laughing a lot and doing many fun and crazy things together.  Laughter is a natural resource that doesn't cost you a penny, but it is priceless in value.  A Christian household should absolutely be full of joy and laughter, happiness and excitement.  It is not intended to be a sterile, quiet place that is governed by strict rules and empty religious conversation.  So we can't say this enough--laugh a lot and have some fun!

To close out this article, we have listed some examples of the different activities we do inside and outside of our home that have helped our family to have a lot of fun together.  Hopefully, some of these ideas will inspire you and help you to bring about the much-needed unity that God desires for every family.

• Water fights, outdoors and indoors (mellow out; it's only water!).
• Controlled food fights, with the appropriate items, of course (spaghetti noodles, dry cereal, grapes, etc).
• Have fun nicknames for everyone in the house that you only use around the house.
• Have at least one meal together every day where everyone can share the details of their day or make plans for the future.
• Play harmless tricks on each other (hiding and scaring someone).
• Play board games together.
• Get down on the floor and wrestle with each other (mom and dad too); activities where the family actually interacts and touches one another can be very bonding for the family.
• Do role reversals.  Spouses swap roles and be each other in front of the kids.  Parents and kids swap roles.  Be careful and respectful with this one.  (Watch out -- you may also learn something about yourself).
• Play upbeat, fun music while doing the chores.  If you're brave, let the kids determine the volume.
• Dance around the house together (the goofier, the better!!)
• Watch late-night movies in Mom and Dad's room with popcorn and soda.
• Let the kids plan and lead the family devotional
• Look through old photos and scrapbooks or watch old family videos together.
• Read stories to the kids and speak in different voices for each character in the story.
• Sing along with the radio or CD in the car.  Turn the volume down for a few seconds and see who is still on beat with the right words when the volume is turned back up.
• Find creative ways of waking the kids up in the morning (singing, playing an instrument, dripping water on them, tickling them, etc.)
• Turn the volume down on a movie or television show and take turns making up your own dialogue as to what is being said by looking at the characters' body language and facial expressions.
• Change song lyrics to something totally silly.
• Go sledding, kite-flying, have snowball fights, build a snowman, etc.
• Have cookouts and invite friends (your kids' friends, too) over to hang out.
• Have water and soap fights while washing the car.
• Let the kids help you cook the meal.  It might be a bit messy, but it will create a memory.
• Build a tent in the house with sheets and blankets over chairs and tables, then sleep there overnight.
• If you own a video recorder, record the kids doing skits or performing a concert, then watch the video as a family (Kids love seeing themselves on the screen; adults do too).
• Write each other cards or hide notes for each other around the house.
• Take family vacations--they are a must!  Plan them out and make them an absolute blast.