A few days ago I was in a store and I asked a technical question. The person I was talking to said that he would get someone to help and the man he sent had Manager on his nametag. He looked familiar but the store Manager use to be someone different. I found out the former store manager had been gone for a year. As we talked, he stopped and said, "I remember you. we attended the Marriage Workshop." Now I knew why he looked familiar. After we finished our business discussion, I asked about how things were working out personally and he said, "Great, we use the Speaker Listener Technique frequently and we haven't had an escalation all year." Since this is June, that is awesome. For some couples it is awesome to go for a month without escalating. We have helped many through our Marriage Workshop and I praise God when we hear such a good report. It was in the news this week about a politician and his wife breaking up, after 40 years of marriage. He almost became President of our country and is worth millions, but that doesn't help a marriage. They could have benefited from our Free Marriage Workshop. The only draw back to our workshop is they both have to want to use the material to make their marriage work.

Notice all three Magnolias at the church and our big crepe myrtle are full of blooms.

There are people literally all over the world that have been effected by our marriage ministry, including every town within a 50-mile radius and many big cities such as Houston, Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, etc. A few years ago, I called people from the past to see if they were un-churched and discovered that we have people who have benefited from our marriage ministry in every denomination you can think of and every large independent church in the area. Also, there are some people in non-Christian religions. When they built a Mosque in town a few years ago, we noticed a decrease in one group. When I meet people we have helped get married they usually proudly tell me how long they have been married and usually say, "And we still have the bible you gave us as a wedding gift". (the bible we give them has their names in it, date of their wedding and a summery of their wedding vows) Yes, we have given thousands.

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

Forgiveness All marriages have opportunities for forgiveness. Failure to forgive is like drinking poison to get even (you only hurt yourself). The psychologists, whose 30 years of research in developing our marriage workshop material, found that forgiveness is essential. This is strongly reinforced by the fact that the Son of God (Jesus) taught that forgiveness is essential 2,000 years ago (Mt 6:14-15). Saying "I'm sorry" is powerful and equally as important is saying, "I forgive you". Sometimes healing can come from just talking about the offense, especially in a safe conversation like in your weekly couples meeting (prior to your weekly date night) using the Speaker Listener Technique. Even major issues like adultery can be forgiven and many couples have gone on to have great marriages after major forgiveness. In society, people think that forgetting is a sign of brain problems like dementia. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:48 to be "perfect" like God. God says in Jeremiah 31:34 (NIV) I will remember their "sins no more". Some people will say they forgive but the memory and hurt of the offence is still present. If you will forgive them and "pray" for them every day as Jesus recommends in Mt 5:44, eventually the hurt will leave and the memory of the offense will be healed. If you want the last word in an argument then apologize.

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 ("all things are possible with God", Mark 10:27 NIV). All marriages have opportunities for forgiveness. Failure to forgive is like drinking poison to get even (you only hurt yourself). Saying "I'm sorry" is powerful and equally as important is saying, "I forgive you". In society, people think that forgetting is a sign of brain problems like dementia. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:48 to be "perfect" like God. God says in Jeremiah 31:34 (NIV) I will remember their "sins no more". Some people will say they forgive but the memory and hurt is still present. If you will forgive them and "pray" for them every day as Jesus recommends in Matthew 5:44, eventually the hurt will leave and the memory of the offense will be healed. If you want the last word in an argument then apologize.

A Psalm for reflection "I am Yahweh your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." Ps 81:10 (HC)

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).

Do you have fear? Who do you fear? Jesus tells us, "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot afterward do anything worse. I will show you whom to fear: fear God, who, after killing, has the authority to throw into hell. Believe me, He is the one you must fear!"1 In religious teachings there are wide variances. Some religious teachings in the Jewish religion have so much fear of God they forbid saying God's name even though He says it hundreds of times, specifically tells us His name is "Yahweh". Other religious teachings in the Christian religion will quote what John wrote that "God is love"2 and totally ignore what Jesus teaches about fearing God. Some might think that following Jesus is just a choice. Once you know some of what Jesus teaches, it is sad to see people ignore what Jesus teaches. Jesus is "the Son of God" and Jesus says God told him what He "should say". Jesus also informs us that God has given Him "authority to execute judgment" and that "whoever is ashamed of Me and My words" Jesus "will be ashamed" of that person "when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels"3. Would you prefer to say that you are not ashamed of Jesus words and just that you think Jesus is a liar? Or would you be like most people who follow the Christian religion and say "I love Jesus and believe in Him" while ignoring what Jesus says? Recently the leader of one of the largest religious groups in Christianity was quoted, "today's men and women have a profound longing for Jesus". Perhaps suggesting that following their religious doctrine will satisfy a longing for Jesus. Between my house and Jesus Center there are several large churches. Through our marriage ministry we have contact with lots of Christians. Most of these people in these very different Christian churches would say they follow Jesus but they also follow the religious doctrines of their church groups.

A couple of days ago I was talking to a man and he mentioned some step issues in their marriage. From what he described, I mentioned including spiritual warfare in his prayer life. He sounded uncertain and I reminded him that Jesus said, "all things are possible with God". Then he said something and I remember responding that Jesus called God "father" and the Jesus said He was "God's son"5. He immediately responded with asking argumentatively "What about …" and then used a very educated term for a common Christian doctrine. My response was, "Hey, I was just mentioning what Jesus said" and he then went on to another subject. Although I am very capable of showing the scriptures that refute incorrect doctrines, my job is to share Jesus not defend Him. When I quote Jesus they are His words not mine! Jesus needs no defense, as He is the Son of God.

Last Saturday I heard a person who was very educated with a PhD and articulate in promoting parts of the Christian religion. He said, "Jesus is God" and used the popular expressions that "Jesus was God in the flesh". If this was true then when Jesus prayed to God and said things like "not My will, but yours be done" He was deceiving people6. When Jesus called God His Father and said He was God's Son and when Jesus gave credit to God for the miracles He did, He would have been deceiving people, if He was really God. Deceiving people is a characteristic of Satan not Jesus or God. Possibly one of the most offensive things you can do is have a religious doctrine that implies God or Jesus is a deceiver like Satan. All people who call themselves Christians are potential followers of Jesus. What will cause people to move past their religious church teachings and believe what Jesus says as recorded in the bible? Jesus says, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him"4. Initially, if God draws you to be a follower of Jesus, you can still fit in most Christian church group or denomination while following Jesus. Yes, I use the word initially as eventually as a follower of Jesus you will get tired of religious doctrines that contradict or nullify what Jesus says.

"God please draw more people to Jesus, especially those who claim they love Jesus and believe Him. Help me to know what Jesus teaches and show my love to Him by doing what He wants. Thank You for drawing people to follow Jesus, in Jesus name, amen."

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