My wife and I are part of the Marriage Ministry at our church, and tomorrow we’re helping host a marriage retreat . I find it a little discomforting that we call it a marriage “retreat” though. Retreat from what? Marriage? I think we need to find a better name, like “Marriage Advance”. Umm, no that sucks. How about “Marriage Get Together to Build a Better Relationship with Your Spouse, Thing.” No that’s too long.
Anyway, we’re helping with the Marriage Enrichment Doo Da. It should be fun, and interesting, and hopefully enlightening.
A lot of people think that going to a marriage retreat is for people who are having problems in their marriage. Not so. Whether you are having troubles, or just seeking to learn more about having a better marriage, a Christ centered marriage retreat can be very enlightening.
Marriage is like your car. No, not because it has gas. It requires regular maintenance. You have to kick the tires every once and a while to ensure they’re still on tight. Ok, bad analogy. Give me a break, I’m trying to make a point here. Work with me.
The fact is, a lot of people don’t understand that marriages can get lost in the day to day drudgery of life without ever realizing it’s happening. People get married and have kids and after a few years lose contact with each other.
You need to stop what you’re doing every now and then to take time for each other in an environment created to help you find each other again. No, not Cancun. Vacations are fun but they don’t give you the revitalized focus on your marriage that you need. Marriage is a learning process, and if you don’t practice continuing education you may end up being in a marriage that’s unfulfilled.
A Christ centered marriage retreat can help you regain the focus on your spouse and your marriage. You learn about having a biblical relationship with your spouse, and also your roles as husband and wife. Yes, I said it: roles. No, not “I’m the man so I’m in charge and you’re the woman so make my dinner” kind of roles, but what God truly intended your marriage to be: a loving, sharing, protecting, providing, encouraging, intimate, beautiful marriage.
So the next time your church offers a marriage retreat, don’t scoff and think it’s just for marriages that are in trouble. Because if you don’t continue to educate yourself about marriage and find ways of exploring a Christ centered relationship, your's may end up being the marriage in trouble.
“God, please bless this weekend. Let marriages be saved, strengthened, or enlightened according to your will. Take away the barriers being thrown up at the last minute by the enemy to keep people from coming. He doesn’t want marriages to remain strong. He wants them destroyed because you have ordained marriage as sacred and holy. Let your spirit guide us as we help everyone become closer to each other, and to you. Amen.”
February 28, 2008
February 21, 2008
Bullseye!
Today on TV they showed the Navy shooting down that disabled spy satellite that’s been on the news for over a week. They said it was a perfect shot, hitting the gas tank and blowing it into pieces no bigger than a football. Good job ya’ll.
The reporter also talked about complaints that it wasn’t necessary to shoot it down and was a waste of 30 to 40 million dollars. Those people are missing the big picture of what really happened today.
Telling everyone it needed to be shot down to protect the advanced
spy equipment on board from falling into the wrong hands was just a good story to tell the public. Although it was probably true, there was something more important going on today that no one seemed to snap to. We just showed the entire world that we have the technology to launch a missile from a ship and hit a target no bigger than a bus, in outer space.
With one simple military operation, plus free TV coverage from every major news agency, we gave notice to the entire planet that the realm of space is ours, and nothing they put up there is safe anymore. We can hit it with pinpoint accuracy.
I give credit to the folks who planned this mission. It was perfectly orchestrated and televised. It displayed the capabilities of our mighty military and showed the world why we remain the strongest nation on Earth.
Thank God we didn’t miss!
“God, our military strength impresses only the secular world. I know our country remains strong because of our steadfast belief in you, and that your strength is what makes us mighty.”
The reporter also talked about complaints that it wasn’t necessary to shoot it down and was a waste of 30 to 40 million dollars. Those people are missing the big picture of what really happened today.
Telling everyone it needed to be shot down to protect the advanced
spy equipment on board from falling into the wrong hands was just a good story to tell the public. Although it was probably true, there was something more important going on today that no one seemed to snap to. We just showed the entire world that we have the technology to launch a missile from a ship and hit a target no bigger than a bus, in outer space.With one simple military operation, plus free TV coverage from every major news agency, we gave notice to the entire planet that the realm of space is ours, and nothing they put up there is safe anymore. We can hit it with pinpoint accuracy.
I give credit to the folks who planned this mission. It was perfectly orchestrated and televised. It displayed the capabilities of our mighty military and showed the world why we remain the strongest nation on Earth.
Thank God we didn’t miss!
“God, our military strength impresses only the secular world. I know our country remains strong because of our steadfast belief in you, and that your strength is what makes us mighty.”
February 14, 2008
Day of Love
The subject of love has been lamented and written about countless times throughout history. But the most powerful, most quoted sentiments ever spoken on the subject are found in the Bible, written by Paul in a letter to the Corinthians.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
Today, let love be your only task. Happy Valentine's Day.
"God, thank you for the precious gift of love."
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
Today, let love be your only task. Happy Valentine's Day.
"God, thank you for the precious gift of love."
February 12, 2008
Mirrors
My men’s group is studying how to be a good husband. A good Christian husband. There’s a difference. The Bible shows us that there are certain expectations of a man and how he conducts himself with his wife and family. It’s been an interesting study so far.
The guys in my group have been married for different amounts of time, some a short time, and some a long time. It’s a good dynamic. But no matter how long or short the marriage, I hear the same question, “how do I make my wife happy? What do I do to make her feel special?”
Most guys will pull out the old standard of flowers and candy. This shows that you’re trying, but you still don’t “get” her.
The answer my friends isn’t really rocket science. All you have to do to know exactly how your wife wants to be treated is to watch what she does for you. That’s right, she’s doing for you what she wants done for her.
People aren’t as complicated as pop-psychiatry tries to paint us. What flows out of us naturally is what we are. Take my wife. She’s a professional woman and works just as long and hard as I do, so the fact that she takes time most days to pack a lunch for me isn’t because she feels obligated or that she’s overly nice (which she is, by the way), but it’s because that’s how she wants to be treated.
She doesn’t need to hear “I love you”, she needs to be shown. Doing a project on the house or in the yard makes her feel loved, that’s how she’s wired. Me on the other hand need to be told, which is why I drive her nuts telling her I love her a hundred times a day. I keep thinking she needs it, when in fact it’s me who needs it because that’s how I’m wired.
Sounds pretty simple, huh? Well, actually it is if you pay attention and make a conscious effort to notice what your wife does for you. That’s what you should be doing for her, even if you don’t get how she could get love from doing those things. You’re not her, so what she thinks and feels is not what you think and feel. Accept that and take the time to learn her. Mirror what she does for you, back at her.
Oh, and gals… it works both ways.
“God, thanks for my wife. Only you could have picked such a perfect match for me. She is everything that I am not, and she brings balance to my life. Because of her I now understanding why ‘wife’ is only one letter away from ‘life’. Amen.”
The guys in my group have been married for different amounts of time, some a short time, and some a long time. It’s a good dynamic. But no matter how long or short the marriage, I hear the same question, “how do I make my wife happy? What do I do to make her feel special?”
Most guys will pull out the old standard of flowers and candy. This shows that you’re trying, but you still don’t “get” her.
The answer my friends isn’t really rocket science. All you have to do to know exactly how your wife wants to be treated is to watch what she does for you. That’s right, she’s doing for you what she wants done for her.
People aren’t as complicated as pop-psychiatry tries to paint us. What flows out of us naturally is what we are. Take my wife. She’s a professional woman and works just as long and hard as I do, so the fact that she takes time most days to pack a lunch for me isn’t because she feels obligated or that she’s overly nice (which she is, by the way), but it’s because that’s how she wants to be treated.
She doesn’t need to hear “I love you”, she needs to be shown. Doing a project on the house or in the yard makes her feel loved, that’s how she’s wired. Me on the other hand need to be told, which is why I drive her nuts telling her I love her a hundred times a day. I keep thinking she needs it, when in fact it’s me who needs it because that’s how I’m wired.
Sounds pretty simple, huh? Well, actually it is if you pay attention and make a conscious effort to notice what your wife does for you. That’s what you should be doing for her, even if you don’t get how she could get love from doing those things. You’re not her, so what she thinks and feels is not what you think and feel. Accept that and take the time to learn her. Mirror what she does for you, back at her.
Oh, and gals… it works both ways.
“God, thanks for my wife. Only you could have picked such a perfect match for me. She is everything that I am not, and she brings balance to my life. Because of her I now understanding why ‘wife’ is only one letter away from ‘life’. Amen.”
February 2, 2008
Cruisin'
My wife and I just returned from a vacation. We went on the K-LOVE Friends and Family cruise. We’ve “cruised” before, but this was the first time we’ve done a Christian cruise. It was awesome. Every day was filled with attending events and concerts with some of the best Christian speakers and bands in the industry.
If you don’t listen to Christian music, let me explain what it was like. Imagine 10 or 12 of your favorite bands. Music you listen to every day and bands you’ve only seen from a distant auditorium seat. Now imagine those same bands on a cruise ship doing 2 shows a day that you get to see for free. Now also imagine that you walk around the cruise ship all day bumping into these bands, in the hallways or riding the elevators or eating in the same dining room you’re in. And to top it off, they talk to you. Not like “How’s it goin?” as they briskly walk by. I’m talking about stopping and having a conversation with you.
That’s what it was like on this cruise. Every day.
There was a lot more to the cruise that made it fun though. My best friend and his wife were there. We don't normally vacation together, it just worked out that way because of the central theme of this vacation, Christ. Having them around really enhanced the fun of this trip though, and I'm really glad we got to spend some quality time with them.
We also met some new friends, like a wonderful couple from Sioux Falls, and an engaged couple from San Diego. Both were wonderful company and a lot of fun. We spent many hours eating dinner each night and laughing so hard our sides hurt. It was fun learning about these people's lives and how God is working in them.
Over all, this was a great vacation and I recommend it to anyone who wants to have a great time in a safe, Christian environment.
For more info check out www.klove.com.
"God, thanks for a great vacation. Thanks for the friends we shared it with, and for the new friends we made along the way. Oh, and thanks for getting us home safely. Amen."
If you don’t listen to Christian music, let me explain what it was like. Imagine 10 or 12 of your favorite bands. Music you listen to every day and bands you’ve only seen from a distant auditorium seat. Now imagine those same bands on a cruise ship doing 2 shows a day that you get to see for free. Now also imagine that you walk around the cruise ship all day bumping into these bands, in the hallways or riding the elevators or eating in the same dining room you’re in. And to top it off, they talk to you. Not like “How’s it goin?” as they briskly walk by. I’m talking about stopping and having a conversation with you.
That’s what it was like on this cruise. Every day.
There was a lot more to the cruise that made it fun though. My best friend and his wife were there. We don't normally vacation together, it just worked out that way because of the central theme of this vacation, Christ. Having them around really enhanced the fun of this trip though, and I'm really glad we got to spend some quality time with them.
We also met some new friends, like a wonderful couple from Sioux Falls, and an engaged couple from San Diego. Both were wonderful company and a lot of fun. We spent many hours eating dinner each night and laughing so hard our sides hurt. It was fun learning about these people's lives and how God is working in them.
Over all, this was a great vacation and I recommend it to anyone who wants to have a great time in a safe, Christian environment.
For more info check out www.klove.com.
"God, thanks for a great vacation. Thanks for the friends we shared it with, and for the new friends we made along the way. Oh, and thanks for getting us home safely. Amen."
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