For Married Or Single

Hello Emmanuel,

Strong marriages make strong families.  Strong families make strong churches.  Strong churches make the pastor look good.  I am a pastor.  Therefore, I am all for strong marriages.

Okay, so the logic is a bit self-centered.  The truth is that while marriage can be hard, God wants marriages to be healthy.  God wants clear and honest communication.  God wants trust and forgiveness and respect.  If you can’t have that in a marriage, where can you have it?

Another truth:  with a 50% divorce rate in this country and much dysfunction in existing marriages (and, yes, even in the church), there isn’t enough of what God wants.

Another new idea is on the horizon for Emmanuel, specifically in regards to romance (insert ‘awwwwww’ here).  Shawn Young and I have been talking about finding ways to provide opportunities for couples to strengthen their relationship.  For a few years I have been wrestling with the idea of having a couples group, but with all the Small Groups we have going on right now, I’ve had a hard time finding time.  Perhaps the time is now.

It isn’t exactly a Small Group as much as it is a couple’s devotion time.  Shawn is still working out the details, but this new program will be for couples to focus on themselves as a couple.  It is going to run from Sweetest Day to Valentine’s Day with a weekly exercise of some sort that will allow the couple to explore their relationship in some way.

Again, details are still in the works, but throughout this 16 week program there will be a few times when couples meet with other couples in a Small Group, retreat-like setting.  The idea will be to fellowship, but also to learn from each other the ups and downs of being in love (insert another ‘awwwwwww’ here).

I will be preaching on this topic on October 5^th (‘Horse And Carriage, part 1) as well as on October 19^th (Horse And Carriage, Part 2).  Sign-ups will begin on October 5^th for couples who are interested in this new idea.  If you aren’t sure about this, I encourage you to worship with us and listen to this new idea.

Kim and I will be participating and I’m sure I will like it…… or else…

Just kidding… I love her dearly….

…..  or else….

On another note, for those of you who find yourselves in singleness, I’m not leaving you out.  October 26^th is slated to be about the single life and the truths and myths surrounding such.  There are certainly perks (There is almost never an ‘else’ in the equation) to being single as well as struggles. 

God is Good,

Pastor Joe