Brad Mathias Announces ROAD TRIP TO REDEMPTION

It's no secret that families today are struggling. Daily pulled in a dozen different directions by jobs, schooling, and extracurricular activities, parents and kids often feel disconnected from each other, and the distance can produce devastating effects.

If you're feeling this tension in your life, follow this top 10 list of reasons to take your family on a road trip this summer:

1) It's time to unplug.
Leave the office behind. Power down your computer, and turn off that smartphone. Give this time to your spouse and kids, and allow old-fashioned conversations to occur.

2) Go somewhere you've never been.
We live in the greatest country in the world. Go explore, and don't be afraid to pull off the road on a whim. It's time for an adventure.

3) Face your fears, and try a new activity together.
New experiences can change past ones and help build trust and respect. Go horseback riding, river rafting, rock climbing, zip lining, etc.

4) Discover new cultures and savor new flavors.
Try regional foods and sample local culture. You just might find something new to enjoy.

5) Go outside.
Introduce your kids-and possibly yourself-to outdoor life. Go fishing or hiking, and camp out under the stars. The night sky might look a little different than it does in the city.

6) No schedules allowed.
This is a vacation! It's time to leave calendars and deadlines behind. Don't be afraid to venture off course and enjoy some freedom. Show your kids how to be spontaneous.

7) Let your kids make decisions.
This is their vacation too! Let them make some choices along the way. That horrible dining experience or weird roadside attraction just might give you an opportunity to laugh together.

8) Change your perspective.
Walk above the clouds on a mountaintop, or swim under a waterfall. Reconnect with your family while sharing incredible experiences.

9) Fall in love with your spouse all over again.
Book a separate hotel room from your kids for at least one night. Allow yourself some time to reconnect as a couple.

10) Life is short.
Your kids won't be kids forever. Use this time to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Brad Mathias, author of the new book, Road Trip to Redemption (Tyndale Momentum, June 2013), thought everything in his family was fine until he and his wife discovered a devastating secret. So they piled their family into the car and embarked on a wild, crazy, seven-thousand-mile, what-are-we-thinking trip across the country. As they drove, they realized how far apart they'd drifted, found unexpected blessings along the way-and journeyed together from pain and loss to recovery and redemption.

Road Trip to Redemption is available now wherever books are sold. For more information, visit the Tyndale Media Center. For media inquiries, contact Brian Mayes at brian(at)nashvillepublicity(dot)com or call 615-771-2040.