Recently in our nightly family prayers my wife read Isaiah 43:25 (NKJV) where God said He will forgive our sins "for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins". Immediately, led by the spirit, she said, "wow, God is so holy He will not remember our sins". This blessed me as most people have selfish thoughts when they hear that God will not remember their sins. Probably we will never be able to completely comprehend how holy God is. God is so holy He doesn't want contaminate Him self with our filth or the memory of our filth. Does that mean really bad sinners are safe? God has a book of life or a good record so when there are really bad sins as He told Moses "Whoever has sinned against Me I will blot out of My book" (Exodus 32:33). After Jesus was given authority to judge by God, we find the book referred to in Jesus' revelation to John when He revealed that the people who will enjoy eternal life with God and Jesus are those "whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Revelations 21:27). We want forgiveness and our names to stay in the book of life. When Jesus teaches us to pray to God, the first statement is "Hallowed be thy name" which is a 400-year-old expression for saying "May Your holy name be honored"(Matthew 6:9). God is holy!

To refresh what you have learned in our Workshop or entice you to experience our Workshop

As you improve communication, you will discover that most problems can be solved by improved communication using the Speaker Listener Technique we teach in our Marriage Workshops. Occasionally there could be a problem that could use formal problem solving.

1. Agenda Setting - decide and write down the specific concern (like, how do we keep our dishes washed)

2. Brain Storming - write down all the ideas, no evaluating, silly ok (like, hire a maid, only use paper plates, eat out all the time, take turns, etc.)

4. Follow Up - agree to a specific time to follow up and see how the agreement worked and be specific (like if you wrote down we agree to get our son a pet, one of you could be thinking a puppy and one could be thinking a horse)

Remember some problems could seem to be unsolvable. That is the time to decide how we can protect what is great about our marriage from this seemingly unsolvable problem.

The Better Half "When your partner won't support your efforts to make your marriage better" Without your spouse's support to improve your marriage, you can still pray daily for God's will to be done in each of your lives and your marriage. Jesus said, "all things are possible with God", Mark 10:27 NIV). Obviously, without your spouse's cooperation you would have difficulty in problem solving. No matter how serious the problem appears to be, it is good to consider that your marriage may be more important than most problems and it is good to make an effort to protect your marriage. Remember, God said "I hate divorce" (Malachi 2:16).

A Psalm for reflection "How I wish My people would listen to Me; how I wish they would obey Me!" Psalm 81:13 (TEV)

Understanding the Teaching: What I share in the teaching is what I believe God wants me to share. All the direct quotes from God are highlighted in royal purple. Of course the words of Jesus are in red. Rather than follow some made up doctrine, remember that Jesus said that every thing He said (Jn 12:49) and everything He did (Jn 14:31) comes from God. All teachings and all opinions should be supported by what we learn from God or Jesus (see the scripture referred to in the footnote).

When our church was first starting, it seemed like the contemporary song "Lift Jesus Higher" was descriptive of our ministry. Over the years I have experienced human loneliness as most people called Christians, including those involved in ministry, follow their religion or their own desires rather than Jesus. That human loneliness is more than off set by a closer relationship with God. Now I identify more with the old song "I have decided to follow Jesus" with a second verse "Tho' none go with me, I still will follow". Over the years I have observed many people who say they are followers of Jesus while still following religious beliefs from their past or simply doing their own thing. I remember one funeral where it was mentioned that I might be sharing time with a Native American Medicine Man, because a denominational Pastor had said that the Indian's Great Spirit was the same as our God. I suggested that the Great Spirit was not the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and did not have a son named Jesus. (I conducted the funeral by my self) People haven't changed in 2,000 years. The early Christians had a great set of rules that included praying the prayer Jesus teaches us to pray three times a day (the Didache part 3) following the Jewish religious practice of praying three times a day. Jesus teaches us to pray the Lord's Prayer but does not say we have to pray it three times a day.

Last Sunday at our Sunday School/Bible Study (we have a casual environment) people were commenting how Judas saw Jesus' miracles and heard Jesus' teachings and still did his own greedy thing by betraying Jesus. Yes, Satan played a role in Judas conduct just like Satan played a role in Peter's denial1, but it is hard to blame everything on Satan. Judas greedy nature helped as did Peter's fearful nature. For Peter it didn't go away as John shares that the followers of Jesus, on the evening of the day they discovered Jesus had risen from the dead, were together "with the doors locked for fear of the Jews"2. These followers of Jesus could have remembered that Jesus taught we should not "worry" and to not "fear" men and to have "faith" in God3.

Followers of Jesus, who have faith in God and do not worry, do not hide behind locked doors in fear. Jesus teaches us that we can recognize people by "what they do"4. Do you live a life where being a follower of Jesus is obvious or are you a secret agent where the only one who knows for sure that you follow Jesus is your imagination? Some may object that they cannot be held responsible being cautious when endangered or for being tempted in some situations. More than likely many of the people who followed Jesus personally knew about or were among the seventy followers who were sent out in ministry and came back excited, telling Jesus "even the demons are subject to us in Your name"5. Also as followers they could have remembered that Jesus teaches concerning believers that "In My name they will cast out demons"6. As a follower of Jesus we have no excuse. We need to tell others about Jesus and not worry if it is politically correct or acceptable. Let God guide you on when to share and what to share. As a follower of Jesus, people should be able to tell we are a follower by what we do and our actions without us saying a word. If you are tempted by greed or feel that fear can cause worry instead of faith in God, resist in the name of Jesus. Never forget that Jesus said "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me"7. Are you willing to use spiritual warfare and put your faith in God?

"God help us to live like we talk. Help us to be followers of Jesus and it to be obvious to everyone. Thank you God, in Jesus' name, amen."

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