Seven Elements of Flourishing Families and Relationships
A Functional Model For Churches and Families
Pro-active leadership is in the center, articulating and potentiating and bringing into focus all the others. With no leadership, chaos and entropy reign.
There are lines of connection going both directions between each pair of elements -- all complexly act and interact -- an interdependent web.
The top three are the usual and special competencies of the churches.
Principles without behavioral injunctions remain just abstractions.
Principles are needed to decide what behavioral injunctions are the best ones.
Without a spiritual foundation, principles are sterile.
Without principles and behavioral injunctions, spiritual foundations are unfocused and have very little power.
Positive emotional feelings are necessary before anything good happens.
Without caring community and a framework of the top three factors, the family has little hope of sustained focus and growth.
A sound material foundation (money, jobs, housing, physical safety) makes everything a lot easier, and conversely.