There's no doubt in my mind God has a special place in his heart for the biological family. I know I honor the Lord when I honor Aimee, my boys, my parents and grandparents. And I'm sure God enjoys my pictures, too. The lasting memories I have of my family preserved in the stillness of a photograph represents a part of my heart. It's good and right.

 

[Pictured: My son, Keith, getting mauled by his great-grandma]

 

And yet, my love affair with my family can be idolatrous, too. It's a fine line, I think, and that's something we all have to work out. I know wives often neglect their husbands because they find more of their identity in mother than wife. I know husbands do the same thing with their jobs. The question at hand, however, is this: Do I relegate my Christian brothers and sisters to second or third rate status? While I think I am not guilty, my walls suggest otherwise. If the Hebrew (Israelite) culture found it impossible to separate thinking from an appropriate and corresponding action, wouldn't the noticeable absence of spontaneous "family" photographs of those I claim to love so much tell me that there may be a discrepancy between what I think I believe and what, in fact, I do believe?

 

This is just food for thought. Take it for what it's worth. I think you get my point, though: it's important that we all find ways to make our church family a little more family-like. After all, the Millennial Kingdom may be right around the corner and it's gonna be one big happy family. I say we get a running start...and start taking some pictures.