Marriage is Not a Fairy Tale
As I was growing up, I read all the fairy-tale stories like Sleeping Beauty, hoping to one day meet my prince and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, most fairy tales give us an unrealistic picture of what our life with the prince will be like.
The Tragedy of Tiger and Elin
More than anything else, divorce demonstrates the sacredness of marriage. The shattering of a family reveals the incredible bonds that were never meant to break...
How to Stop Enabling Your Young Adult
Many parents continue to support their adult children, and in some cases even participate in raising their grandchildren. For things to change, everyone must breakdown.
Neutralizing Arguments with Your Spouse
What if there is a way to engage in lively conversation without bickering or arguing? What if you could disagree with your mate and still not argue? Would you be interested?
Married to a Narcissist
What can you do if you find yourself in close relationship with someone with narcissistic tendencies?
Hurting People Hurt People
We seem wired to find fault and cast blame, minimizing our own faults while maximizing the faults of our mate. While there are certainly situations where one mate has perpetrated abuse on the other, many marriages are fraught with mutual wounding.
Adult Texting Increases, Teens Still Text More
Texting by American adults has increased substantially over the past year, but still does not approach the magnitude of text messages exchanged by adolescents.
No Need for God? Stephen Hawking Defies Divine Creation
Professor Stephen Hawking is a remarkable human being. His courage and tenacity are an inspiration to all. His work on the theory of gravity has changed the way the field of physics is taught. But, when he crosses that border from science to theology, his worldview leads him into abject disaster.
What Are You Working For?
Is a job something that should be viewed as a blessing in our lives? The way by which we can reach others for Christ? The way by which we can support ourselves and our families? The way by which we can give back to God, by tithing to our church or to ministries or by helping individuals and families in need?
?Contemporvant?
We?re wanting the world to marvel at our hip glasses, hip graphic tee?s, hip tattoos, hip sound and lights, hip vocabulary, hip message titles, hip musical covers and styles, and hip videos. It?s as if we are trying to out-green Al Gore, out-Africa Bono, and out-edge Apple ? or at least to be seen as part of the party.
What's Hot? 9/3/10
A listing of hot cultural items from the the Internet, music, television and movies.
Loving ?Those People?: Keeping Your Marriage Strong in a Blended Family
Stepping up to the task of being a dad and stepdad, plus becoming a loving husband all at the same time, really calls upon you to intercede for your new and existing extended family. Here are some ways to successfully blend your families.
Why Do Long-time Married Couples Break Their Vows?
Many people were surprised to hear the news that Al Gore and his wife Tipper have decided to get a divorce. People automatically think that a couple married for 40 years would stick it out until one of them dies. But the trend has been changing for some time.
Don?t Divorce On a Friday: 7 Ways to Save Your Marriage
While the stats may be alarming, many marriages can be saved. You don't need to stand by, helplessly riding an emotional roller coaster, bracing for the next brick wall.
Walking Down the Aisle as a Modern Family
Weddings should be a joyous time for our families. But with so many complex family dynamics today, including step family relationships, weddings can bring up a lot of feelings we thought we had taken care of and buried.
The Day My Marriage Died: Healing in the Wake of Divorce
Every divorce circumstance is unique. However, for true healing it's necessary to grieve the death of the dream, the death of the covenant and the death of "What should have been." After 20 years of working alongside those experiencing the trauma of divorce here are a few suggestions.
The Case Against Marriage, Courtesy of Newsweek
The Newsweek article represents what may be the most direct journalistic attack on marriage in our times, presenting arguments that had to date been made largely outside of mainstream circles
When Your Son Says "I Do": A Mother?s New Role
I stepped back and surveyed my boy, the groom. He towered over me, tall and confident. He's ready, I thought. But am I? I'd played the role of leading lady on his life's stage throughout his growing up years, but that was about to end.
Say ?I Do? to the Name Change
The Globe and Mail recently suggested that women who get married should say "I don't" to changing their name. Is this advice wise?
Walking Down the Aisle as a Modern Family
Weddings should be a joyous time for our families. But with so many complex family dynamics today, including step family relationships, weddings can bring up a lot of feelings we thought we had taken care of and buried.
"Should We Marry If We?re Theologically Divided?"
A while back I posted a question from Calvin, a Reformed dispensationalist fundamentalist, and Aimee, a Pentecostal, who have fallen in love and want to get married. Y?all gave a spirited round of responses. Here are my thoughts on the question...
When Nightmares Come True: Facing Miscarriage and Keeping Your Faith
A dozen reminders of my loss assaulted me - a congratulations card on my desk, a baby name book on the coffee table, a bag of maternity clothes waiting to be taken to our bedroom. Could I trust Him enough to go through this nightmare without anger and accusations?
Surviving a Struggle for Identity
Why are we so consumed with trying to "find" ourselves? Is there really a piece of us missing out there that we must find? Cindi McMenamin, author of Women on the Edge, shares ways you (and your marriage) can survive an identity crisis.
The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness
In the sixties, American women reported themselves happier, on average, than did men. Today, that statistic has reversed. Why are women more unhappy?
I Need a Teammate, Not a Cell Mate
Some have resigned themselves to the idea that marriage is indeed an institution, and they feel like they have received a "life sentence." In order husbands and wives to regain special freedom to be colaborers, the shackles of mistreatment that one places on the other need to fall away from their hearts. Here's how.
Faith in Faith or Faith in God?
As real as the New Age movement threat is, I have become equally concerned about the ominous threat that the word-faith movement poses to the body of Christ.
The Evangelical Reformed Movement: A Comeback
Where some Christians fret over the loss of Christian consensus in America and the growing ranks of the religiously unaffiliated, we see great opportunity. The demise of nominal Christianity opens new possibilities for genuine discipleship.
?Contemporvant?
We?re wanting the world to marvel at our hip glasses, hip graphic tee?s, hip tattoos, hip sound and lights, hip vocabulary, hip message titles, hip musical covers and styles, and hip videos. It?s as if we are trying to out-green Al Gore, out-Africa Bono, and out-edge Apple ? or at least to be seen as part of the party.
Murphy's Law in the Ministry
If anything, Murphy is an equal opportunist - the people of God know him well. Scripture is filled with godly men and women who never saw him coming.
SNL-Based MacGruber is Predictably Vulgar
From the standpoint of secular humor, it must be admitted that some of MacGruber can bring an unbidden grin to the face, accompanied by a blush. But from a Judeo-Christian standpoint, much of it is just too over the top to be appreciated or enjoyed. It will most definitely be offensive to most conservative viewers.
Killers Lacks Any Instincts?Acting or Otherwise
Ashton Kutcher may be the second most popular person on Twitter, but Killers is truly a movie only his mother could love. Not only is the flick sorely lacking instincts of any kind, but the only chuckle in this nearly plot-free endeavor is a wisecrack about his character learning his mad gun skills in 4-H.
Kerrie Roberts Makes a Memorable First Impression on Debut
Already making a name for herself on Christian radio, thanks to her uber catchy lead single "No Matter What," Kerrie Roberts has one of those instantly memorable voices a la Natalie Grant that's definitely put to good use on her self-titled debut.
Bible
& Devotionals
Daily Manna from the Net [NIV]
Daily Manna from the Net for Thursday, December 31, 2009 [Mark 2:7-12]
'Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?' Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, 'Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . .' He said to the paralytic, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.' He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!' Mark 2:7-12 NIV Listen
The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life ?John 4:14
The picture our Lord described here is not that of a simple stream of water, but an overflowing fountain. Continue to “be filled” ( Ephesians 5:18 ) and the sweetness of your vital relationship to Jesus will flow as generously out of you as it has been given to you. If you…
He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water ?John 7:38
A river reaches places which its source never knows. And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, “rivers of living water” will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 ) regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives…
Watch with Me.” Jesus was saying, in effect, “Watch with no private point of view at all, but watch solely and entirely with Me.” In the early stages of our Christian life, we do not watch with Jesus, we watch for Him. We do not watch with Him through the revealed truth…
They were Yours, You gave them to Me . . . ?John 17:6
A missionary is someone in whom the Holy Spirit has brought about this realization: “You are not your own” ( 1 Corinthians 6:19 ). To say, “I am not my own,” is to have reached a high point in my spiritual stature. The true nature of that life in actual everyday confusion…
He would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord ?2 Samuel 23:16
What has been like “water from the well of Bethlehem” to you recently? love, friendship, or maybe some spiritual blessing ( 2 Samuel 23:16 )? Have you taken whatever it may be, even at the risk of damaging your own soul, simply to satisfy yourself? If you have, then you cannot…
He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow . . . ?John 7:38
Jesus did not say, “He who believes in Me will realize all the blessings of the fullness of God,” but, in essence, “He who believes in Me will have everything he receives escape out of him.” Our Lord?s teaching was always anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of a…
. . it is written, ?Be holy, for I am holy? ?1 Peter 1:16
We must continually remind ourselves of the purpose of life. We are not destined to happiness, nor to health, but to holiness. Today we have far too many desires and interests, and our lives are being consumed and wasted by them. Many of them may be right, noble, and good,…
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full ?John 15:11
What was the joy that Jesus had? Joy should not be confused with happiness. In fact, it is an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him. The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father? the joy of doing that which…
Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven ?Luke 10:20
Jesus Christ is saying here, “Don?t rejoice in your successful service for Me, but rejoice because of your right relationship with Me.” The trap you may fall into in Christian work is to rejoice in successful service? rejoicing in the fact that God has used you. Yet you will never…
Jesus said to her, ?Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?? ?John 11:40
Every time you venture out in your life of faith, you will find something in your circumstances that, from a commonsense standpoint, will flatly contradict your faith. But common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense. In fact, they are as different as the natural life and…
. . . one of His disciples said to Him, ?Lord, teach us to pray . . .? ?Luke 11:1
Prayer is not a normal part of the life of the natural man. We hear it said that a person?s life will suffer if he doesn?t pray, but I question that. What will suffer is the life of the Son of God in him, which is nourished not by food,…
Other
The Weather Channel: Your Local Weather Outlook--Rutland, VT (05701)
Your Local Doppler Radar
This map shows the location and intensity of precipitation in your area. The color of the precipitation corresponds to the rate at which it is falling. This map is updated every 15 minutes.
Your 10-Day Forecast for Rutland, VT (05701)
Today: T-Showers Late & High 84°F / Low 61°F.---- Wed: AM Showers & High 76°F / Low 56°F.---- Thu: Few Showers & High 63°F / Low 54°F.---- Fri & Beyond.... For more details?
Fair, and 79 ° F. For more details?