is retirement biblical?

the power of a praying husband (part 4)

One of my fav-or-ite books in the Bible is Proverbs. (You know, I say that about every book in the Bible, except Leviticus!) Here are four Proverbs that husbands should put into practice  immediately that will drastically improve our marriages!

1. “Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” – Proverbs 29:20
We should not be too quick to speak. Dude, I totally stick my foot in my mouth over this one. So I’ve started counting to 10 before I give a quick, unthoughtful, smart response when Whitney says something I don’t like or agree with!

2. “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.” – Proverbs 29:11
We don’t have to say everything we feel, when we feel like it. (Especially when we’re angry.) So instead, take a deep breath! This is totally a sign of maturity. Sometimes when I do this Whitney says, “Well aren’t you going to say anything!”

3. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” – Proverbs 18:21
This one is killer. Our words have the power to build up or destroy the people we love the most. It is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL for us to think about whether or not our words are building up our wives, children and the people we love or destroying them. I have said so many things that I regret.

4. “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.” – Proverbs 15:28
Timing is everything. It’s so important to have a strong enough, deep enough relationship with your spouse to know how and when to talk about important things with her.

this Sunday’s message

The title of this Sunday’s message is “When Theology and Reality Collide!”

We’ve all had thoughts about God, life or whatever that have left us wandering whether or not they were true. . . whether or not our beliefs were true or just something made up or that someone told us to make us be good.

So what happens when what we believe and what we experience in life don’t add up? What do we do when our worldview or our perspective on life is. . . wrong?

Those of us who are church goers are sometimes hesitant to ask questions about God or to question God directly. But Job’s story makes us ask some really hard questions about what we say we believe and what we actually experience in life.

I’m totally pumped about this Sunday’s message. . . and a little nervous too. But I can’t wait to dig in and unpack Job 5!

stuck on Job 5

Okay, you would think that after almost three theological degrees (several thousands of dollars) and over 12 years of ministry experience. . . that there would not be any passage in the Bible that would stump me, right?!

WRONG!!!

In Job 5, Job’s friend gives him some great advice about what people who are suffering as the result of sin in their life or who God is punishing should do – great advice!

The trouble is that Job is totally innocent! He hasn’t done anything! He totally doesn’t deserve any of the suffering that he is going through. So his friend, his best friend totally doesn’t believe that he’s innocent.

So why am I stumped? Well. . . so why do innocent people have to suffer? Why won’t Job’s closest friend believe him? I mean this passage really makes you wonder if God can really be trusted.

Uugggghhhh.

the power of a praying husband (part 3)

There are seven things that a we should pray for in order to be the husbands that God (and our wives!) wants us to be. Man I wish I’d prayed specifically for these seven things earlier in my marriage!

1. Pray to be the husband God wants you to be.

2. Pray to know how to really love your wife.

3. Pray to be led by the Holy Spirit in all decisions.

4. Pray to be delivered from negative and sinful behavior.

5. Pray to speak words that are constructive rather than destructive.

6. Pray to have the desire to pray for your wife.

7. Pray to grow spiritually, emotionally and mentally.

Hey, even if you only get one out of seven right, just think how much it will improve your life and rock your marriage!

the power of a praying husband (part 2)

Healthy, positive and honest communication is key for great relationships! But this is an area where we all struggle from time to time.

It’s also important to know the right times to have important conversations with one another. The author of The Power of a Praying Husband suggests there are many things that a woman wants to hear from her husband.

Three out of the top four are probably. . .

“I love you.”
“You are beautiful.”
“The bills are paid!”

One way we can take our relationship to a deeper level is by asking our spouse, “How do you want me to pray for you today?”

Now that is true intimacy!