Get a Room

Pre-Marital Ponderings

This quote/philosophy came from a co-worker of Selma's. It reflects his approach to pre-marital counseling. Selma sent it to me because she knows I do a lot of PMC.

It's simple and makes sense. Enjoy and pass it along to someone you know who is about to get married.

"Your chances of having a long and successful marriage is probably going to be determined primarily by how you handle the three key problem areas most couples face: money, sex, and in-laws. The problem is usually around too little of two of them, and too much of the other one. You can probably guess which ones fit into each category, but we'll spend the next three sessions talking about each of them."   

David Francis, as he would begin his pre-marital counseling with engaged couples

All Aboard for the Summer Marriage Cruise!

I know it's cold outside. It didn't get to 30 today. As I write this there are flurries just on the other side of my window.

So how about thinking of a cruise?

We will have an informational meeting about our marriage cruise - planned for July 20-25, 2009 - this Sunday, January 25, immediately following the second service. We will meet in the choir room directly behind the auditorium.

The meeting will last for about 15 minutes. We will share some info details and let you ask questions as well.

Note that we are looking at a Caribbean cruise. A 5-nighter launching out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. We chose that launching site because Southwest Airlines (with its great rates!) flies into there.

We found last year that a cruise is an amazing marriage enrichment "venue" in that we meet together once a day and after that, couples can do things together or be by themselves.

Please take a look at meeting with us and consider going with us this summer.

More Info on 'Fireproof'

Eric and Amy Massengill are awesome drama folks. I hope you have seen them perform at one of our recent marriage enrichment events such as Real Marriage or Romance and Roses. Amy, one of this blog's faithful readers and "commenters", sent the following link regarding the recently released movie "Fireproof." It is a good article on the movie's surprising success. Please take an evening to see this amazing movie. Your marriage won't regret it.

Thanks, Amy!

Enjoy the article - and I will tell you in a later blog how Selma and I watched the movie last week in Orlando, Florida  - in a way I've never done before!

http://www.comcast.net/articles/entertainment/20081009/Film.Fireproof/

Coming and Going

Have been out of touch for quite a while with the blog scene. It seems like this is an every other month apology, so consider this paragraph this month's installment.

This is not an excuse for not writing, but Selma and I have been speaking a lot - A LOT - this fall with a ways to go yet. Also, my home computer crashed. I mean CRASHED! So, with a new computer, getting up to speed - it has been ... interesting.

Here is where Selma and I have been lately and where we are going, speaking wise:

September 26 - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY MINISTERS - Nashville. We led two workshops - one on parenting and one on building a marriage ministry in your church

September 27 and 28 - REAL MARRIAGE at FBC Smyrna - Along with the super help of many, MANY people, we did the teaching part of those two marriage evenings.

This is dangerous, but it's a blog so I can try to thank everyone. If you don't want to read it, skip to the next event. Thanks to:

Susan Garland - Such a hard worker - thanks for your able assistance

Joy Conklin - Best cell phone cookie I've ever had, but the stain is still in my mouth!

Gary and Melody Henderson - Such creativity and energy!

Jana Gibson - You have the gift of service and our marriage ministry is better for it!

Al and Lisa Bell - The epitomy of servant hearts

Phil and Natalie Wilson The Bob Eubanks of the 21st century and his lovely wife

Danny and Karen Smith - the "Kiss Cam" specialists - great pics!

Nicole Williams and Tammy Bright - Thanks for helping greet the couples as they entered

Eric and Amy Massengill - You continue to amaze us with your writing and acting talent

Eddie and Megan Gonzalez - My Missouri partner and his lovely wife! You two are awesome!

Lloyd Boner - Sound was right on target

Linda Sutton - You make our messages come alive with your CG talent

Justin Crutchfield - So much behind the scenes stuff. So helpful, man

David Cox - What a band! And so much help in so many other ways

Jason Stewart - Thanks for everything, man

Michael Sullivan - The Sully Man! A huge role you played again.

Al Ward - Always a mean guitar

David McCaman - What pressure? You've got a great marriage!

Pat Hood - Your support is so amazing ... and so needed

The X People - These are the people that worked as hard as any of the above, but I failed to mention. Please forgive me if that is the case. I do thank God for the wonderful and HUGE number of people who always help in so many ways.

I'll make a deal with you X People: feel free to let me know if you helped and I didn't list you above. I will be happy to do so in a later blog. Also, if I remember you myself, you will be listed in a later blog whether you say anything or not.

Above all, of course, is our Lord. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. This was not a perfect event, but wow, it sure was good again for marriages! It's from Him and for Him, and He gets the credit and glory once again. Glad to give it to Him.

Now, back to the speaking schedule:

October 2-5 - Selma and I gave three keynote messages at the FESTIVAL OF MARRIAGE - Glorieta, New Mexico. We also led two workshops there.

October 12-15 LIFEWAY KIDS CONFERENCE - Orlando, Florida. Selma is keynoting for this conference on Monday while I will lead a workshop with her based on our new book, The Parent Adventure, set to come out December 1.

October 15-18 BETH MOORE CONFERENCE - Hartfort, Connecticutt. This will be Beth's 100th event with LifeWay and her 50th state - a very big deal! It's called Deeper Still and will also include Priscilla Shirer and Kay Arthur. We are privileged to be part of it.

(No, we are not through yet) October 24-26 - FESTIVAL OF MARRIAGE - Ridgecrest, North Carolina. Selma and I will be leading workshops there on marriage and parenting.

November 16 and 23 - MARRIAGE MOMENTS - FBC Smyrna. This is a fun one. A good one to end the year on. We'll just be leading a couple of Sunday morning sessions on marriage. This will be interactive. Like Real Marriage, we will be facilitating, not "preaching". It will be held at 10:45AM in the new Cafe ONE room, in the CrossWalk area.

So, as I boast in the Lord for the opportunities, I wanted to show you what we are in the middle of - so you can pray for us. Please pray for our stamina. Selma has an incredible full-time job at LifeWay while I still do the counseling and events for marriage and family at the church. Understand that the above fall schedule is a total of something like

* 18 speaking events

                    * in five states

                                    * in less than two months

Praise to God for the opportunity - - -

Praise Him for His faithfulness - - -

And praise Him for friends who lift us up in prayer support. We feel you. Please continue, for our survival - but more importantly for His glory.

Catching Up Just a Bit

Hey there. Been a while. Been a lot of miles since we talked. And lots more to go, Lord willing. Here's what's gone on lately, with elaboration to follow in subsequent posts:

* Went on a fabluous marriage enrichment cruise to Alaska! (Hey, somebody's gotta do it!) Thanks to Pat for suggesting this wonderful idea. I'll speak more about it later, but just know (and I'm actually serious about this part) that a cruise is an excellent format for a marriage enrichment event. Selma and I were able to counsel with several of the couples who went. The cruise gave us session time each day with group. We also had time to counsel with another couple. Plus there was lots of time for us alone. Praise God for an awesome group and for an incredible trip to an incredibly beautiful part of His creation.

Look for info this fall about another one - perhaps south of here, for next summer. We want you on that one with us!

* Finally got over the motion sickness from the trip around Tuesday! It was a 7-day cruise. (Don't think we'll do one that long again!) Got off the ship in Seattle on Friday morning. Major hangover, but then, I have my own special brand of motion sickness anyway. Glad the hangover's over.

* Couldn't believe Big Brown did NOT win the triple crown. What's with that? Selma actually saw the last triple crown winner - Affirmed - run at the Kentucky Derby. (Don't tell them at the seminary in Louisville or they might try take away my degree!) That was 1978. We were just kids then.  

* Sad to hear that Jim McKay died. The voice of ABC's Wide World of Sports was my hero growing up. He was a class reporter. I remember watching in a dorm at Florida State in 1972 when he announced that the Israelis were "all gone" - killed by terrorists. Sports will miss Jim.

* And another huge loss - Tim Russert. Coming home from the cruise, we came off the plane in Minneapolis and looked at the airport TV's to hear of his death. I almost lost it right there. Tim was my favorite political commentator. I've taped and watched everything I could about him these past few days.

* Immediate prayer needs, please ...

-- Mom. She's in the hospital. Pray that those who care for her will do a good job. And that we have wisdom on how to handle her housing situation afterwards.

-- Thursday and Friday - Selma and I are shooting the rest of The Parent Adventure. It goes with the book we are writing. It will be a long day of shooting many different scenes, each introducing the viewer to the next session's content. We are not professional actors by any means and it can be intimidating trying to remember your lines n front of a crew of 10-12 people who are professionals.

Long blog. Pardon any typos. Sorry. As my daughter Jennifer used to say when she'd talk and talk, then stop just long enough to take a breath, "I've just got a lot to say." Will try not to wait as long to catch up next time!