FIRST GLIMPSE: a crack in the foundation

by Eric Thomsen, managing editor, ONE Magazine

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It started with a hairline crack, a tiny fissure creeping up the basement wall and disappearing into the woodwork behind the floor joists. I paid little attention; after all, most new homes settle. Just a harmless crack, I thought to myself. Months went by; the crack widened. Others joined it, creating a strange, web-like pattern across the basement wall. Mildly worried, I promised myself I would monitor the progress of this intruder.

Then, on a beautiful afternoon in late fall, the unthinkable happened. Balancing a large platter of grilled hamburgers in one hand, I turned the knob with the other and leaned into the French door leading to the deck. Wham! Face met glass. Hamburger patties rolled across white carpet. And the door didn't budge.

Mumbling under my breath, I salvaged the remaining burgers and spent the next ten minutes prying the door open. Suddenly I was very worried about the condition of our beautiful, new home.

Contractors soon confirmed what I already knew. The foundation of our house was crumbling beneath us.

Six months, thousands of dollars, and countless inconveniences later, our foundation is secure; the crack is gone, but the insecurity remains. I still catch myself scanning the walls of the basement looking for another hairline crack.

Today, many homes have crumbling foundations. The damage has nothing to do with bricks, blocks, or mortar, but the cracks are still obvious. Broken families, rebellious kids, grieving parents, substance abuse, out-of-control spending, sexual addiction—all threaten to destroy this sacred institution. Sadly, most changes have gone unnoticed, creeping in gradually. Often, by the time a family awakens to the danger, the damage is done, and the home is destroyed.

The August-September 2005 issue of ONE Magazine gives today's families the tools they need to build a strong foundation or to repair one that is crumbling. Inspect the blueprints for godly parenting shared by best-selling author, Robert J. Morgan. Travel to India and visit the RajKumar family who beat the odds and escaped the darkness of Hinduism. Visit Mr. Richie with 3-year-old Warren and learn valuable lessons about teaching children to serve others. Weep with Susan Henderson as she offers hope to families with nowhere to turn. Read the testimony of a teen who surrendered her life to God at the risk of leaving family and friends behind. And when you finish reading, grab your hard hat and get busy. Free Will Baptist families are under construction!