Going All the Way: Book Review

I finished reading Going All The Way this morning and I must admit that I was challenged and inspired by reading it - both for my own marriage and for applying it to any couple that walks thru my doors to get married. Here are some thoughts on it for the folks over at LifeChurch.tv:

"Habits of the Heart" was the most useful material in the whole book. That chapter contained good, concise challenges for pre-marital and married couples alike.

The 'Husbands/Wives' chapters (12 & 13):

• challenged me to re-evaluate my goals and responsibilities as a husband
• gave me insight into the peculiarities of my wife that will help me better relate to her thinking/feeling/needs
• basis in Eph 5.22-23 grounded the demands of God for healthy, holy ("oddly godly") marriage deeply in Scripture

The whole section on "Gearing Up for Your Two" was great, easy to understand and apply to my conversations with singles and pre-marital couples. They may find it hard to implement - depending on what has already happened, but it gives clear guidelines for keeping the One in focus while finding their Two.

Chapter 6 on "Playing House" gave me many things to equip couples who are doing just that. The "vows" Craig wrote for his frat buddy and his "live-in" were pointed and eye-opening. I have always felt that living together was a bad idea, but now I have some more meat to put into my argument for moving toward God's best for each person in a relationship.

Tomorrow I will post some of my favorite quotes from the book....

Grace&Peace

An Apology & Some Excitement About the Bible

First of all, I am sorry for the recent lack of posting...things are CRAZY here at Trietsch and we are all wondering when we might be able to come up for air.

In other news, I am very excited about my new study starting tonight. The book of Exodus is a foundational text for both Christianity and Judaism; therefore, it deserves special attention and thorough study. The theological questions and themes raised in the second book of the Torah resonate in the rest of scripture and echo even today. Good stuff!

Grace&Peace

Goals for 2008

Each January I take a step back from the busyness of life & ministry and look at what I would like to accomplish in the coming year. (I would like to adopt a habit of looking back at the previous year in December, but I am not there yet!) I don't like to make resolutions because most of them are in a ditch by Valentine's Day, so...

Here are some goals I have identified for 2008:

#1 - To study these 5 books
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Go Put Your Strengths to Work by Marcus Buckingham
The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Pat Lencioni
Change Your Church for Good by Brad Powell
Intuitive Leadership by Tim Keel

I usually read about 20 books a year, but I want to take extra time during 2008 to read these books carefully and prayerfully.

#2 - To be home for dinner and Caitlyn’s bedtime routine at least 4 nights a week

Being home when my girls are awake is crucial to maintaining a healthy family system in my life. Plus I need to learn that stuff can happen at the church without me being at every meeting!

#3 - To recapture my inner 'hopeless romantic' toward my wife

The busyness of life can get in the way of making time for each other, but when thought, planning, and a good dose of spontaneity get mixed together...who knows what can happen!

#4 - To help launch the Adult Discipleship Plan at Trietsch during Fall 2008

This ADP will go a long way toward growing our church into fully devoted followers of Christ...and that's where we need to be headed. And I want to lead the charge!

#5 - To complete my ordination paperwork by July 31

My Lay Ministry Committee will need time to read, process, and digest my writings before being able to offer constructive feedback on it, so they need the time to get that done and I want to give it to them. It's only fair and it will give me the opportunity to turn in all my paperwork early!

There are others, but these give me plenty to work on for now! Let's see what 2008 has in store!

Grace&Peace

Whew!

Sure am glad to know that Perkins taught me well!

Grace&Peace

Hat tip: Jay Voorhees

What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists. Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 71% Neo orthodox 61% Emergent/Postmodern 57% Roman Catholic 57% Modern Liberal 29% Reformed Evangelical 29% Classical Liberal 29% Charismatic/Pentecostal 29% Fundamentalist 7%