Bible Teacher. Pastor.Educator.

Hey Brothers....Young men......20 “little things” that could change your marriage

Doug, you made me mad last week because I was too dumb to notice the simple things I wasn’t doing. After I left you I made a list of 20 doable things that I would pursue this week.”

Here’s his list:
1. Clean up my dishes
2. Not leave clothes on the side of my bed
3. Put the toothpaste in the drawer (I usually leave it out)
4. To hug/kiss her right when I come in the house
5. Fill-up the gas in her car
6. Not watch TV in bed when she’s trying to sleep
7. Write her a short note and put in her briefcase
8. Don’t read the mail and leave the envelopes out
9. Put stuff back in the refrigerator
10. Walk the dog at night so she doesn’t have to
11. Be more affectionate
12. Listen to music instead of sports’ radio while we’re getting ready
13. Turn the lights off when I leave a room
14. Offer to help the kids with their homework
15. Comment and affirm her more often
16. Ask her if I could do the shopping this week
17. Don’t bring my phone to the dinner table
18. Care more deeply about her day
19. Make the bed
20. Bring home flowers/dessert/gift one night a week

via www.dougfields.com

Man Enough to Love a Real Woman by Joshua Rogers Sobering but very thoughful article......I loved it....I am reprinting this...

Man Enough to Love a Real Woman
by Joshua Rogers

Cory, one of my happily married friends, was annoyed with some of his single, male buddies.

"Joshua, it's so irritating," he said. "I suggest a woman to them, but they say 'she's not attractive enough,' or she's lacking in some other area. And here's the crazy part: In every case — without exception — the woman is way out of their league."

I shook my head. "I know. I used to be like those guys, always finding a problem with every woman I dated. I didn't realize I was the one with the problem."

And my problem was pride. I measured women against a vague standard of perfection that eliminated each woman almost as soon as I met her. It was a pageant of sorts, where women were scored in a number of categories. And somehow I had gotten it into my head that I was worthy to be their judge.

The Perfect Christian Girl

I was like a lot of single, Christian guys. I just wanted to follow God's will in finding a wife — that's all — oh yeah, and I also wanted a modest version of the Cosmo girl. And, well, I didn't want her to be too needy. Oh, and she also needed to be smart — really smart — but not, like, so smart that she made me feel stupid. And, of course, she needed to be spiritually mature (you know, like me). And one more thing: I wanted her to have a cool and fun personality (whatever that meant).

In other words, I wanted to date the perfect Christian girl — not a real woman.

Of course, I knew what a real woman was like. I grew up in a Christian home with lots of real women around, each of them imperfect in one way or another, yet fully feminine. These women had opinions, unshakable faith, curves, feelings, hormonal surges, weight fluctuations, talents, wrinkles and a regular need for affirmation. It didn't bother me: It was part of who they were, and I loved them for it.

But when it came to prospective mates, I wasn't so gracious. I figured I deserved to have the best qualities of every woman wrapped into a nice package, waiting at the end of a rainbow. And yet, despite meeting dozens of women in my quest, I could never find that perfect, Christian girl. But that didn't stop me from looking for her — until I discovered that, in fact, I wasn't the perfect Christian guy.

Dealing With Reality

Just before meeting my lovely bride, a series of unfortunate circumstances and poor decisions collided, bringing out my worst (seriously, trust me, it was ugly). When the train wreck was over, I felt I would be lucky if any Christian woman would take me. Though it may sound like it, I wasn't suffering from low self-esteem. I was finally dealing with reality.

Before, I assumed my future wife should have the perfect intellect, teeth, personality, body type, people skills and past. But in the face of my brokenness, it occurred to me: An imperfect guy can't demand something from a woman that he can't give.

Learning Humility

Around the time of that revelation, I met my wife at a party on Capitol Hill. Unlike before, I didn't think, I'll consider taking that girl out. I thought, I wonder if she would go out with me. I cautiously introduced myself, and as we talked, I found myself focusing on her qualities, rather than mentally trying to ferret out her deficiencies.

We eventually began dating, and I continued humbling myself — indee

via www.boundless.org

Love: 1 Corinthians 13: 6 - Text Sermon by Pastor James Owolabi...Journey Community Church In Tacoma Ocotober 23rd 2011

    Love Is A Verb

Sermon by Pastor James Owolabi Preached at Journey Community Church October 23rd 2011 am Service

1 Corinthians 13:6 by James Owolabi

Series:Love

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Christians who have the Love of God in their hearts do not delight in evil. They rejoice with the truth because they understand that:

• God does not rejoice in the destruction of the wicked.

• God’s grace is greater than any sin. 

Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace. – Jerry Bridges

• God values a heart of repentance over a head full of religion. 

Our first problem is that our attitude towards sin is more self-centered than God-centered.

• We are more concerned about our own "Victory" over sin than we are about the fact that our sin grieves the heart of God.We cannot tolerate failure in our struggle with sin chiefly because we are success oriented, not because we know it is offensive to God" - "Pursuit of Holiness" Jerry Bridges

 Tips for the Journey

1. Seek to love without expectation.

2. Learn to ask forgiveness when you hurt those you love.

3. Seek to give grace to those across “the hallway”.

Back to message list

via journeyencounter.org

Kid Dies From a Video Game Marathon

Twenty-year-old Chris Staniforth, who reportedly played the game “Halo” on his Xbox for up to 12 hours at a time, died in May from deep vein thrombosis, a condition triggered by sitting for extremely long periods of time. A coroner said that there was a blood clot that formed in Staniforth’s leg that moved up to his lungs to cause a fatal pulmonary embolism, the New York Daily News reported. This problem usually occurs among people who sit on a long-haul flight, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms involve leg swelling from the blood clots, followed by shortness of breath, chest pain and dizziness.

You and I may feel this is an exaggerated illustration. Unfortunately, it is not an isolated case. Many kids suffer from the problems of sitting in front of video games or computers that results in physical problems—not the least of which is obesity.

So—what are we to do as caring adults?

1. Balance screen time with face time. For every hour in front of a screen, plan an hour of real-life experience with people.
2. Discuss the downside of video games and social media with kids. They’re not all bad, but kids should know that there is a negative impact to this lifestyle.
3. Put limits on video game time and be sure kids get up and move around every two hours, for their brains’ sake as well as their bodies’.
4. Create interest in “real” problem solving exercises, by engaging students in discussing genuine problems around the world. Students can get involved in fixing dilemmas that are real, not virtual.

Any further suggestions from you?  Is this a real problem in our culture?

Tim

via blog.growingleaders.com

Wedding thoughts!!!!!30 Reflections from this past weekend and Getting ready for a second trip to Alaska this year.

 

 

 

 

 

I had  a great time this past week performing a wedding for Alexis Chosvig "Joseph" and Micheal Joseph. God was the master of the ceremony and the gospel was preached. Christ was lifted up. It was a 30 minute wedding.

1. I love it when I can talk about the love of Christ in a wedding.
2. I love it when the bride and groom are in love with Jesus Christ. LOVE IT~~:::: Love it when both parents are believers in Jesus Christ!!!!!!
3. I love it when I can say to them; " Love is a verb". Marriage is a covenant between God, a man and a woman".
4. I think I am a spoiled by God that He allows me as a single unmarried Pastor to perform weddings.
5. I got one of the best compliments after the wedding about the sermon.
6. "Pastor James  that was one HELL of a sermon opps....revenrend sorry for my language. .....but i loved your sermon it made me cry". WOw that was so cool!!!!!I love real compliments.
7. Yes I did
   cry ( just a little bit, i have known her since she was 11 give me a break) while I was performing the wedding.
8. The bride and her family are deep and close friends who live in portland. Love the Erick and Lauri Chosvig their family..like a runner loves a morning run. 
9. Yes my heart danced for joy like an African mama seeing her son released from prison.
10. I pray that their marriage will last for 40-60years.
11. I pray that God is the center of their home. 
12. I pray that God gives the bride amazing grace and wisdom as a miltary (Airforce) wife.
13. Yes I made a mistake during the pronouncement and called the bride the wrong name  (Erica.....her sisters name......). They forgave me. Love that family.
14. Then I lost it because I was overwhelmed with joy and peace.
15. Yes the reception hall was classy, trendy and wow it took my breath away.
16. Yes Sunday School at North Mason Bible Church was awesome.
17. Yes I am getting ready for my trip to Alaska to serve missionaries and Pastors families by ministering to their teenagers.
18. Yes we will be hiking and I think am in better shape to do that this time.
19. I will miss my 6;30 am gym check in while am in Alaska. I met a couple at my gym this morning. Wife is 73 and husband is 82. Wow that is amazing!!!!!! He looked in better shape than I did. I will be working out till am 82.....Help me Jesus!!!!
20. Yes!!! I am dreading the small plane rides. They are  very scary. 
21. I love missionary kids and third culture people.
22. Yes I love cross culture ministry even though Cross culture marriages scare me.
23. I love Jesus and that is why I go to Alaska every year. Even twice this year
24. Yes they are paying for my traveling expenes to come there and I glad they are being generous to me. 
25. Thank God for Jesus Christ.
26. Met a Pastor from Anchorage at our church yesterday. He has been a pastor for 16 years.
27. He knows one of the camp counselor from the camp who is picking me up at the airport.
28. Pray that I dont miss my 6;00 am flight tomorrow from Seattle to Anchorage.

Grace and Peace

Pastor James Owolabi