According to a survey by the American Institute of Architects, 64 percent of architecture firms are reporting increased interest in outdoor living spaces: places for adults to relax and for kids to play. People say they want "a luxurious outdoor world" right in their backyard so they can escape their everyday lives, hang out as a family, and spend time outside while staying at home.

At least that's what people say they want. But there's just one problem: Evidence shows that for all of their good intentions, most families don't actually spend time in their backyard retreats. A book titled Life at Home in the Twenty-first Century revealed the results of an in-depth study of middle-class Los Angeles families. Researchers from UCLA recorded hours of footage while carefully documenting how families actually spent their time.

According to their research, children averaged fewer than 40 minutes per week in their yards. Adults logged less than 15 minutes per week. All of these families benefitted from sunny Southern California weather. They had nice porch furniture, trampolines, even pools. They just didn't use them. But the researchers also noted a profound disconnect between belief and action: Most families told the researchers that they were using their backyards often, but the researchers' observations proved otherwise.

One of the researchers noted, "Rather than use their outdoor retreats, people would retreat by turning on a [TV, computer, or video game] screen. People don't like this image of their lives. So they don't acknowledge it." Instead, families "perpetuate the illusion" of spending time outside because that's clearly the ideal.

Possible Preaching Angles: (1) Faith and Action/Works—What we say we believe must mesh with how we actually behave. As James says, "Faith without works is dead." (2) Families and Relationships—Families say they'd like more time together, but they often don't follow-through and achieve that goal.