Strategic Families Graham Clark

We often hear that we should not fear anything. I would clarify this to say that the Bible clearly and repeatedly and expressly commands us to fear the LORD. That God commands us is all the reason we need. But what's really cool is that God promises tons of blessings to those who fear the LORD. We need this message today and we need to teach it and model it to our kids! In this episode, Graham makes a biblical case for fearing the LORD. Let's model this and teach it to our kids!
Scriptures Used:

Psalm 36:1-4 – Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.


Deuteronomy 10:17 – For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.​


1 Chronicles 29:11 – Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.


Isaiah 45:5a – I am the Lord, and there is no other;​ apart from me there is no God.​


Deuteronomy 4:24 – For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.


Psalm 33:8-9 – Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.


Psalm 113:4 – The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!


Philippians 2:9-11 – Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


Psalm 76:11-12 – Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared, who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.


Psalm 147:10‭-‬11 – His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.


Psalm 89:6-9 – For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.


Jeremiah 10:6‭-‬7 – There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you.


‭‭Revelation‬ ‭15:3‭-‬4‬ ‭– And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! [4]  Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
 


Proverbs 15:33 – The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.


Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.


Psalm 25:12-14 – Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and

**Part 2 of 2 with John Fort** Join us in this two-part interview to learn from John Fort, Director of Training for Be Broken Ministries. John is the author of Honest Talk: A New Perspective on Talking to Your Kids About , which discusses 6 critical conversations we need to have with our kids. John helps us see that we can't just think of "The Talk" -- this is a conversation that starts with emotions and feelings and goes on for years. Through these two episodes, you will be much better equipped to discuss this sensitive but incredibly important topic with your children. Let us not shy away but dive in -- for the sake of our children's purity and wholeness!Scripture referenced:
1 Timothy 1:15-16, ESV: Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
Resources:
Be Broken Ministries
Critical Conversations FREE Webinar - good starting point for any parent
Honest Talk, by John Fort – a book or parents who want all the basic information on addressing these issues with their kids
The Need for Freedom – a course for parents of teens who have had no conversations yet
Recommended Song:
LIFT MY HANDS, by Forrest Frank
Music:
Intro: Life of a Traveler, by Black Rhomb (License #3565685)
Outtro: Avocado Street, by Wes Hutchinson (Courtesy of YouTube Music)
If this podcast been a blessing to you, please consider subscribing, leaving us a review and/or donating to our Patreon account. Thank you!Check us out on www.strategicfamilies.com.

**Part 1 of 2 with John Fort** Join us in this two-part interview to learn from John Fort, Director of Training for Be Broken Ministries. John is the author of Honest Talk: A New Perspective on Talking to Your Kids About , which discusses 6 critical conversations we need to have with our kids. John helps us see that we can't just think of "The Talk" -- this is a conversation that starts with emotions and feelings and goes on for years. Through these two episodes, you will be much better equipped to discuss this sensitive but incredibly important topic with your children. Let us not shy away but dive in -- for the sake of our children's purity and wholeness! Scripture referenced:
1 Timothy 1:15-16, ESV: Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Resources:
Be Broken Ministries
Critical Conversations FREE Webinar - good starting point for any parent
Honest Talk, by John Fort – a book or parents who want all the basic information on addressing these issues with their kids
The Need for Freedom – a course for parents of teens who have had no conversations yet
Recommended Song:
What a Friend, by Matt Maher - video/live version, studio version
Music:
Intro: Life of a Traveler, by Black Rhomb (License #3565685)
Outtro: Avocado Street, by Wes Hutchinson (Courtesy of YouTube Music)
If this podcast been a blessing to you, please consider subscribing, leaving us a review and/or donating to our Patreon account. Thank you!Check us out on www.strategicfamilies.com.

In this episode, 5 of the 6 Clark Family members talk about the value of kids working outside the home. What's that you say? Kids working? I thought being a kid was all about FUN?!? Well, being a kid is fun, but remember -- we want to raise them to be adults. Kind, compassionate, productive, hard-working, considerate adults, no matter where God calls them in life. Yes, they need to work INSIDE your home -- chores are hopefully a given! But they also need to work OUTSIDE the home and gain all of the incredibly valuable experience and insights that come from having a job for someone else and having to perform it faithfully -- even when it's inconvenient. Katie and Graham set the stage for why we believe this is so important, then our three oldest children, ages 13, 11 and 9, talk about their experiences from having jobs in our neighborhood. Have your kids listen in as well! With some intentionality, you will be well on your way to some great lessons. And we promise, work will NOT steal their childhood -- in fact, it will ENHANCE it tremendously.Scripture referenced:Proverbs 14:23, NIV: All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Recommended Song:Piano Concerto #1 (all movements!) by composer Sergei RachmaninovMusic:Intro: Life of a Traveler, by Black Rhomb (License #3565685)Outtro: Avocado Street, by Wes Hutchinson (Courtesy of YouTube Music)Young Map Camp Spot: Summer, by JSH Pedals (Courtesy of YouTube Music)If this podcast been a blessing to you, please consider subscribing, leaving us a review and/or donating to our Patreon account. Thank you!Check us out on www.strategicfamilies.com.

Our guest for this episode is Dr. Christopher Perrin, co-founder and CEO of Classical Academic Press. Dr. Perrin is a wise man who has a great deal to teach us about parenting and generally living life as a Christian. He's one of those guys who just makes you feel smarter after listening to him! You'll see what I'm talking about as you listen to this interview. Our main topic is logic -- what it is, why it's so useful for the Christian life, and how we can bring it to bear on our family life. In many ways, this is really about using language effectively in our everyday lives -- AND, helping our kids really use their heads to combat the bad arguments they will surely encounter in the world. For Dr. Perrin, who is steeped in the Classical Christian tradition, the topics of logic and rhetoric are not just academic skills, but ones we can use powerfully as a way to love and honor Christ. Glean from Dr. Perrin in this interview and emerge a wiser parent!In this episode, Dr. Perrin addresses:The three-fold path to wisdomThat we experience joy when we use language well.The definition and use of logicWhy we the liberal arts are called "liberal" and "arts".Various fallacies - fundamental attribution, ad hominem, red herring, etc.The liberal arts come into their own when they are qualified by Christian love.Because Jesus Christ is THE truth, anyone who seeks the truth is in some way in touch with the God who created it. The use of our reason is subject to our spiritual condition.The importance of music within the family. Bringing Scripture into the home -- especially the Psalms. Encouraging parents to keep doing the things they love & keeping them alive. Modeling being a student in front of your kids -- reading books, enjoying arts, etc.Scriptures referenced:John 1:1, ESV: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John 17:17, ESV: Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.Resources:Follow Dr. Christopher Perrin on TwitterClassical Academic PressThe Art of Argument: An Introduction to the Informal FallaciesThe Christopher Perrin Show (podcast) -- HIGHLY recommended by yours truly!Recommended Song:Endless Praise by Charity GayleMusic:Intro: Life of a Traveler, by Black Rhomb (License #3565685)Outtro: Avocado Street, by Wes Hutchinson (Courtesy of YouTube Music)If this podcast been a blessing to you, please consider subscribing, leaving us a review and/or donating to our Patreon account. Thank you!Check us out on www.strategicfamilies.com.

**Part 2 of 2 with Monica Irvine** Our guest for this episode is author and speaker Monica Irvine, and this topic is so relevant, practical and really critical to our children's upbringing -- we're diving into the topic of courtship and dating. Monica is the founder of The Etiquette Factory, a ministry designed to equip us to help OTHER people feel valued. Monica has amazing ideas on ways we can be successful in this arena with our kids. But these aren't just tips. Monica has so much WISDOM that's based in her own experiences raising her three sons. And, she has great stories to illustrate the principles she shares. Monica really urges us as parents to take seriously how we communicate with our kids on this topic -- all to give them the best chance to honor God and all members of the opposite as they grow. What a fantastic concept!Scriptures referenced:
John 17:17, NIV: Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Matthew 8:5-13, NIV: When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
 
Resources:
theetiquettefactory.com
fundamentals4kids.com
Parent Wise with Monica Irvine
Parent Wise with Monica Irvine on Apple Podcasts

Strategic Families on Facebook
Recommended Song:
Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me, by CityAlight
 
Music:
Intro: Life of a Traveler, by Black Rhomb (License #3565685)
Outtro: Avocado Street, by Wes Hutchinson (Courtesy of YouTube Music)
 
If this podcast been a blessing to you, please consider subscribing, leaving us a review and/or donating to our Patreon account. Thank you!Check us out on www.strategicfamilies.com.