Archive - February, 2009

Guys, do you want a new marriage?

February 11, 2009 in Family with 2 Comments

Over the last few weeks and months, I have been disturbed by the number of marriages that have crashed and burned among my friends. I guess I’m finally getting to the age where many of the people I know are bailing out on their marriages. I’m concerned and bothered by what is going on. The sad fact though, is that many of these people were active in their churches.

What type of example are we setting for people who are not followers of Christ? If we can’t even show and express love to our spouses, then how we can express the love of Christ to a lost and broken world? As Valentine’s Day approaches, I urge you to really spend some time examining your marriage. Ask the tough questions on how you can make it better, not how you can get out. If your marriage is struggling, then don’t give up! It can be restored to be something beautiful. You can have a new marriage with the woman you are already married to. When you show your wife how much you love her, an amazing thing happens. She will show you her respect and loyalty and love.

Here are some suggestions for the guys that are reading my blog: (look for a guest post from my wife tomorrow with tips for the girls)

  • Date your wife!! Your wife wants to feel pursued. She wants to know that you still care about her and not take her for granted. The dates don’t have to be expensive, but you do have to plan and put exert some effort. How much time do you spend planning church activities or planning projects at your job? You should put even more time and effort into your wife and family!
  • Watch the movie Fireproof with your wife. Seriously, this movie is powerful and I have personally seen it make a difference in many marriages that are struggling. It’s out on video so you don’t have any excuses. You can also visit Fireproof My Marriage for some great online resources to help your marriage.
  • Ephesians 5:33 tells us to love our wives. The greatest desire of a woman’s heart is to feel loved. We should always respond in love, even when we are hurt or feel disrespected. Guys, swallow your pride and take the lead to show love to your wife! It’s not about who wins an argument, it’s about putting her needs above your own.
  • Don’t neglect your time with God. Seriously, your love for your wife will be dramatically influenced by your love for God.
  • Deal with the “parasites” that are sucking the life out of your marriage. Get rid of the pornography and do whatever it takes to give your wife the love and time she deserves. If you need help battling an addiction, don’t be afraid to get it. James 5:16 tells us “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” Talk with your pastor or find a good friend that will hold you accountable. Set boundaries and take whatever measures are necessary to protect your marriage.
  • This may seem trivial, but it is very important. Spend time with your wife. Don’t spend all your time hanging out with other friends. Let her know how important she really is to you.
  • Discover your wife’s primary love language. Go to this site and take the 30 second quiz to discover what makes your wife feel loved. And then, commit time to showing her love in the way that it speaks most clearly to her.

My wife Jennifer will be posting some thoughts here on my blog for the ladies tomorrow.

And finally, Newspring Church is starting a new series titled “I Want a New Marriage” Check out the preview video below and then head over to their website at Newspring.cc to watch this week’s sermon. It’s going to be a great series, so check it out over the next few weeks.

Pick Me

February 9, 2009 in Crazy Stuff, Sports with 0 Comments

Just wanted to share a cool football video for everyone. Crazy Stuff

Blog Trouble

February 6, 2009 in Technology with 2 Comments

I noticed tonight that the graphics on my blog aren’t loading right. I’ve discovered the problem, but I don’t have time to fix it tonight. Hang tight and everything should be fully functional in the next day or two. It’s another reason that I’m considering moving from blogger to my own hosted WordPress blog.

A Reminder of My Past

February 4, 2009 in Technology with 0 Comments

My boss and good friend from my last engineering job sent me an email today with a patent that we were granted. It brought back a lot of memories about four-bar linkages and kinematic analysis. It was on a linkage that converted a leg extension bench into a prone leg curl bench, while keeping all the pivot points in the proper position. I really enjoyed working on that project and it turned out pretty sweet (check out the pic)

Do I miss it? Honestly, not much. I don’t have time to think about it. I enjoyed the people and I enjoyed the creative process in designing machines. The computer and math part was challenging and fun at the same time. On the flip side, corporate politics were a huge pain. And working with other departments who were always trying to blame others gets old. But for the most part, it was an awesome job.

But when you have a calling on your life from God, you don’t look back. I’m thankful for my past and how it has shaped me, but I am even more thankful for God using me to reach and teach others. My creativity has moved from designing linkages and cams to designing systems and processes and teachings that move people to be more like Christ.

The name of this site is FaithEngineer. An engineer solves problems by creatively applying scientific principles. So now I’m creatively applying the truth of the Bible to solve the problems of life.

If you’re interested, the patent is here.

Comfortably Uncomfortable

February 3, 2009 in Church Related, Leadership with 0 Comments

I was sending out letters today to our first time guests and it made me think about how people really feel when visiting our church. The truth is that I want them to be comfortably uncomfortable. We work hard at creating an environment that lowers people’s defenses. They may have pre-conceived ideas about church and about Christians. So our church is relaxed and informal. We have people greeting in the parking lot and at the door. We check-in all the children. We do everything we can to make sure that they get to their seat without feeling awkward or uncomfortable. But when the service starts, it’s not about being comfortable anymore. It’s about hearing from God. When God speaks to your heart, you can expect to be uncomfortable.

There will always be tension when we realize that God wants us to change and grow. It is uncomfortable when we are confronted with our own sinfulness. But here’s the crazy part, if you preach Jesus, and preach repentance, and preach discipleship, most people won’t get mad and leave the church. When they see lives being changed, and realize that it’s not all about enjoyment and entertainment, they become hungry to seek more of God. Don’t fall into the trap of wanting everyone to “enjoy” church and be comfortable, because for us to change we must be comfortably uncomfortable.

Super Bowl Ads

February 2, 2009 in Crazy Stuff with 0 Comments

I always enjoy the super bowl commercials. This year the game was as good as the commercials! Here are all the commercials. My favorites were G.I. Joe, Laughing my Butt off, Land of the Lost, Mean Troy, Monster-Need a new job, Sprint-Roadies, and E-trade – talking babies. Memorable commercials are humorous and they relate to your life. They remind you of past experiences and create in you a desire to find out more.

Our message of the Gospel is so much more important than these commercials, so why do most churches make it the most boring hour of the week? Our focus is telling the story of Christ through the truth of God’s word, but we should do everything short of sin to convey that message in a powerful way.

and yes, all these commercials aren’t Christ-honoring, but I trust you have good judgment and discernment.

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