Welcome to a Blog for Blended Families !

Blended Families often seek Encouragement, Hope, Motivation and Insight. Join us here each week for practical & powerful ways to rise up & defeat those challenges that can weaken, damage or destroy your family.
.................... God has a plan for victory for YOU! ....................

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

BLENDED FAMILY TODAY Radio Program

Hi everyone, Here's a link to our BLENDED FAMILY TODAY radio program podcast:
http://blendedfamilies.podOmatic.com
See you there! - - Dan & Rebecca

Friday, May 22, 2009

Radio Program for Blended Families

THE BONDED FAMILY begins Radio Ministry
BLENDED FAMILY TODAY is now a blog and radio show
.
J.J. JASPER, Christian Comedian and Blended Family Dad this week!


Join us for what is sure to be the most joy and fun-filled program of the year. WE GUARANTEE BELLY LAUGHS!

This Sunday, May 24th, Memorial Day weekend at 8 am CST, J.J. Jasper will be our guest. You know J.J. as a morning radio show host for American Family Radio, heard globally via www.afr.net. J.J. travels the country providing great, clean and belly laugh generating humor. You'll hear some on BLENDED FAMILY TODAY this weekend.

Visit J.J. Jasper website at: (what else??) www.jjjasper.com


To listen to program in Kansas City metro area, tune to 1510 AM. Worldwide (tell your friends in blended families) you can hear it via streaming audio LIVE at www.1510.com then click LISTEN LIVE button.

If you have a question you want answered, or want to support the radio program, write us at radio@thebondedfamily.com

OUR TOPIC THIS WEEK FOR THE SHOW: "VACATING" (vacations), FUN and FAMILY LAUGHTER are a gift from God to help you BOND as a step-family. You'll love this show. Great preparation for summer schedules.

Visit our radio program archives at: http://blendedfamilies.podomatic.com
OR...merely use the below resource:



Thursday, April 2, 2009

OUTFLUENCE Author and The Bonded Family Friend Al Betz Wins National Award

OUTFLUENCE's Nationally Recognized Author, Speaker and Friend to The Bonded Family named 'Author of the Month' for April.


As Rebecca and I are always on the outlook for people, books, ideas and resources to serve blended families, we came across in 2008, a gifted and gracious man Al Betz, who had written a book called OUTFLUENCE a Better Way to Influence.

As you pray and search for ways to help your blended family grow and 'bond' together, I am sure you find encouragement often when you discover something special. God is a God of 'no coincidences'. He can line up chance meetings and events. Have your 'antenna' up and watching for God's hand in your lives, your marriage, your children and for your blended family. Keep in communication with God daily through prayer, and just 'watch' and 'observe' what happens.

Al Betz was indeed a 'no coincidence' that we see God had aligned. To serve others. To help us serve blended families. Marriages and children. Sometimes you meet people and think it's God's amazing favor that you met them.

In the Old Testament, the book of Habakkuk, Chapter 1, Verse 5...

Look among the nations! Observe!
Be astonished! Wonder!
Because I am doing something in your days--
You would not believe if you were told.

Habakkuk 1:5 (NASB)

Habakkuk, a little known prophet who only has three chapters and is often missed in the Bible. It's in the Old Testament, go to the book of Nahum, and take a right. Kind of like the 'under the radar' demographic of blended families....nobody often notices or cares....(but God does). Habakkuk cried out to God in his frustration with the way things were going in 'his land'. Just like we want to cry out when things get tough in 'our land'. We encourage, keep looking up, trusting God, watch and be amazed... and as that saying you often hear in the world actually came from the Bible... God can show you things 'that you would not believe, even if you were told'. Trust in Him for your family.

Back to meeting Al Betz. As you are reading this, stop and think about in 2008, who is someone you think was placed in your life by God to encourage, motivate, share interests with and just overall have you remember to recognize the blessing from the Lord and lift up a prayer saying 'thanks Lord, for aligning our path to meet this person.' Also to that person it's important to let them know you appreciate them by sharing 'I'm so thankful we met'. For us, Al and Kay Betz are friends like that.

The OUTFLUENCE book is written for both secular and faith-based audiences, business and personal, young and old, and is filled with the clear foundation of what we came to see in Al and Kay. Their hearts, intentions and spirit is to serve. To be 'servant leaders'. From the first email and phone exchanges, we discussed that it 'wasn't by coincidence' that God aligned our steps and that we could blend our resources to serve families. Stay tuned in 2009 to see how OUTFLUENCE may serve you as blended families.

AL BETZ was named Author of the Month for April 2009 for his work on OUTFLUENCE by Business Summaries. Business Summaries is an outstanding service to help people, businessmen or families, who are busy and on the go, catch the basics and key points of new books that are popular reads. Nationally recognized authors and leaders have book summarized there.

Author of the Month for April 2009: AL BETZ (here's what they wrote)To read interview with BizSum.com, CLICK HERE.

Learn more about Al, purchase OUTFLUENCE, sign up for his "Pearls" messages by going to www.outfluenceonline.com

And as always...keep trusting that GOD CAN take your step-family 'from Broken to Blended to Bonded!'.

Monday, December 22, 2008

We (Wii) Are Family ! GAMES TOGETHER Can Raise Up Blended Family Life! Even improve VISION!

A VIDEO GAME THAT WEAVES A BLENDED FAMILY TOGETHER!
Wii CAN MAKE BLENDED FAMILY TIME BONDING TIME.

There is all kinds of research that set forth caution and warning of too much video game time for youth. Likewise I've read studies that the games can actually help in some cases mental quickness and acuity. XBox, PSP, PS2, Wii, Nitendo DS and others do seem to grab a large slice of America's children's attention. Many parents limit video game and TV time, and that is wise counsel.

It's Christmas time. More opportunity to bond as a family. Use it or lose it. We encourage you to make the best of the time together.

At The Bonded Family we enthusiastically suggest blended family game time. Treasure the time. Plan for it. Let it be a special time unique to your family. A TRADITION for your family. Perhaps play a game prior to a Family Summit time (we talk about this in conferences). Use the time as a catalyst to unity and fun. Sometimes everyone 'playing' together can help bring down 'strongholds'.

We believe a family that plays together and prays together....... will stay together.

The Bible holds solid counsel to check where our treasures, our hearts, our eyes and our spirit's are. Attitude is everything. Trust God to change hearts and attitudes.

In Matthew 6, verses 21 and 22 holds a message to blended families. To treasure one another by 'seeing' one another and the 'whole body' of the new blended family with good eyes, not critical or negative eyes.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light."
MATTHEW 6 : 21-22

God provides an important message to any age family member there. Parents and Children. Where are our eyes focused?? Importantly in the Christmas season, or any holiday time, we'd like to encourage with this message and include Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles or other people who sometimes impact thinking. If our EYES work to 'look for the good' instead of the shortcomings or flaws, then the 'whole body' of the new family will be more filled with happiness.

In our household, and we have heard from others, that video games that include many family members - children and adults - actually brings laughter, joy, teamwork, playing honorably,fun rivalries and foremost... BONDING MEMORIES.

We own a Wii game. Four controllers, means four people at once. (We are not endorsing one 'system' over another just complementing Nitendo Wii for it's games and inclusive ability) Besides enjoying and seeing via family game time that I still posess "age defying lightning quickness" -- hmmm...along with humility? :-) -- we so enjoy the laughter and joy that comes from the 'time together'. There is nothing better than high fives and belly laughter to bring people together. That is the key...the TIME TOGETHER. TIME TOGETHER can equal BONDING MEMORIES.

Now...there can sometimes be reluctant participants mostly spirit of the heart, stubborness, fear, etc. Pretty much anything the evil one can muster against your family. Look UPward and ask God, then look INward and see what your heart holds.

Remember John 10:10 (grab your Bible and check it out). satan wants to take out your family, wants to hurt you and destroy your family life. YOU CAN WIN THIS BATTLE. Jesus came that we might have Life! And He means for us all - when we trust in Him - blended family life!

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Sunday, December 21, 2008

WASHINGTON DC AND FAITH-BASED FUNDING FOR BLENDED FAMILY EDUCATION

VOTE FOR CONSIDERATION OF FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE FUNDING FOR BLENDED FAMILY EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS

We always seek to further the awareness of the challenges often faced in blended family life. President Bush started the FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES program and funding arena. President-elect Obama has expressed publically that he sees the value and believes in the work of ministries that are making a difference in America.

Rarely do we reach into Washington DC, yet we do always encourage people to vote and make their voices heard. That is part of good citizenship that all parents should encourage their families to be a part of.

Presently, even the U.S. Census doesn't even specifically track step-families in America. They do not extend exacting questions. Awareness of the uniqueness of situations is important to improving the nation.

We join a host of other organizations nationally, whether faith-based or secular, encouraging the government to become more aware of the unique family dynamics and situations of step-families, and consider them in funding programs that educate and improve society. We do know of Congressmen who have extended an ear to hearing more.

We have worked with the Faith-Based Initiatives office in Washington DC, and know they hold interest in step-family programs. We simply would like to see that continue.

Click below and vote.


Thursday, November 27, 2008

Blended Family - HOPE + The Will to Win!

Family Experience, Sports, HOPE and Faith...
Pat Williams Knows Blended Families !


To find success and blessings in your Blended Family...observe, listen and learn from those who have proven the ability to rise up, and are sharing their success. Watch for the level of PERSEVERANCE AND HOPE in their hearts. A 'Will to Win' that comes from God, because the trust is in God instruction, not man's.

We have experienced in our own family great joy at times... and... due to the normal dynamics step-families often face... we have experiences some trying times. Be encouraged. That's normal. Be strong and courageous. Trust God. You will get through it.

Romans 5, verses 3 to 5 reminds and encourages us when times get tough... "...but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." .... ROMANS 5 : 3-5

I had the privilege to spend some time and get to know Pat Williams in 2005 during a Ministry Conference that he spoke at. Pat Williams is the Executive Vice President of the Orlando Magic Basketball team, an author of 50 books, AND in a blended family. I didn't realize prior to that visit with Pat that he, through re-marriage and adoption, had walked through the dynamics of large families and is a terrific Father to 19 children. A truly encouraging and entertaining book for a fun read is You've Got to Be Kidding!: Real-Life Parenting Advise from a Mom and Dad of Nineteen Find it and buy this book at our online Bookstore for The Bonded Family

We spent time talking about our ministry - The Bonded Family - and our heart and passion for serving Blended Families. Our vision is to have Pat Williams one day speak at a major conference. Pat Williams understands step-family life. He has experience bringing together children from different backgrounds and circumstances. He also, foremost, knows that FAITH is the key principle to instill into a FAMILY.

Faith best can provide the 'will to win'...because the 'Head Coach' - the Lord God Almighty knows the best ways to win. The Bible is the 'instruction manual'. It is THE BOOK. Pat Williams knows 'the Book' (Bible) If you also reference and dig into THE INSTRUCTION BOOK...you'll soon rejoice in knowing that we always win in the end. Your family can too. Do not quit. That ROMANS 5 :3-5 Scripture will come to life. Watch out for discouragement... the evil one wants you to fail...God wants you to succeed in your new family relationships. We do too. Listen to this video clip from Pat...and be encouraged!



Pat Williams website is http://www.patwilliamsmotivate.com/
We encourage you to check it out. Pat is a man who loves the Lord, his family, and those around him. He is grounded and gifted and wants to encourage others. You will be blessed by any of his books.

Also, visit our blended family ministry site when time allows. www.thebondedfamily.com

If your church or community would like to host a B3 Conference - from Broken to Blended to Bonded - contact us at info@thebondedfamily.com