Temptations Families Face

Breaking Patterns That Keep Us Apart

By Tom L. Eisenman
InterVarsity Press, $17.99

ISBN 080816887

Caught in the Fast Lane

Review by Diane Stortz

Some temptations that threaten the family are obvious-violence, drugs, alcohol, pornography, abuse. But our pressure-cooker world also offers more subtle hazards not so easily recognized. Families may escape the obvious dangers, yet never realize they have succumbed to other temptations equally damaging.

From allowing life's rush to swallow us up to misunderstanding family leadership, from neglecting to speak the truth in love to giving up on God when the crises come--these are the temptations families face every day, whether they know it or not. These are the patterns that keep family members apart says author and pastor Tom Eisenman in Temptations Families Face.

"The rush of modern life has simply caught a lot of families off guard," he says. "Even if our intentions are good, it is hard to stop the flow of activity long enough to catch our breath and consider what needs to be changed and how we might go about changing it." Eisenman is concerned with helping readers do both as the subtitle, Breaking Patterns That Keep Us Apart, makes clear.

Eisenman and his wife, Judie, have raised four children, three of whom are adopted. Along the way they have dealt with all of the problems described in the book. Readers will be encouraged by the many family stories Eisenman shares.

Some of the author's conclusions are refreshingly honest and practical. Citing "rising costs, a weakening job market and a dramatic drop in real earnings over the past two decades," for example, Eisenman has this to say about mothers who work outside the home: "What we need now is less condemnation and more creative thinking. We need to stand with each other and work together to find new ways to manage our complex families in these difficult times, with the goal of seeing to it that our children do not get shortchanged."

A tremendously helpful chapter about taming the influence of TV includes these honest words: "It has been an ongoing struggle for Judie and me to decide with our children what television programs or videos are worth watching. We often disagree with each other. . . . In discussions with our teenagers, we wrestle over the appropriateness of sexuality and violence as they are portrayed on TV. We have found it nearly impossible to set absolute rules with which we can all be comfortable."

The Eisenman family experienced each of the Temptations Families Face but successfully stood against each one. Readers will find this book a useful guide in their own struggles against the patterns pulling families apart.