From my message last Sunday: 10 Killer Marriage Tips

By request - Here is the clip I used early in my message last Sunday:

Thought you would like to see this again. Hope you enjoyed it!!

From my current series: Ten Tips for a Happy Marriage

Here is another clip from my files for this current teaching series:

From my message this morning: six levels of communication and more...

Here is a follow - up  from my message this morning at NRN:

Here are the six levels of communication I mentioned early in my message this morning.  They are presented by Dr. Gary Smalley:

 

 

Ready to discover your personality/ temperament ?

 

CLICK HERE

 

to download a PDF version of the personality test developed

by the Smalley Center for Marriage.

 

 

 

 

 

A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?

Preparing for worship on April 28 2013

I am preparing for worship tomorrow at NRN.  Here is the scheduled set of songs we will sing together for worship:













Then I continue in the current teaching series:

 

 

Join us for a message about communication in marriage:

Good listening for better speaking

 

Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.

                                                                 Proverbs 18:13 (NLT)

 

A preview of my message - Bengy and the zipper

At prayer time last evening a good friend asked if I saw the video he sent to me.  I simply said yes - considering I would place it here on my blog.  Then the conversation continued as two couples shared about going to my blog to learn their love languages.  I listened carefully as they shared.  We closed the evening in a great time of prayer.

Ready for some laughter?  Here is the clip Dave sent to me:



Hope to see you Sunday at NRN

A preview of my message - Don't send a man to the grocery store

 

 

 

 As I continue in the current teaching series I plan to share this Sunday about:

 

“Good Listening for Better Speaking”

 Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.                                                      Proverbs 18:13 (NLT)



 

 

Here is a funny clip to serve as a preview of my message for this coming Sunday at NRN.

 

 

Sharron and I listen to SiriusXM Radio when we travel and love to listen to stories of Jeanne Robertson.  I hope you enjoyed it also. 

 

Who is LB?  "Leftbrain," or "LB" as Jeanne lovingly refers to him, is her husband Jerry. Jerry plays an active role in Jeanne's business when he is not playing golf, badminton, table tennis or tennis. He is in charge of areas such as the computer, finances, shipping books and tapes, picking up office supplies and other leftbrain tasks. Please understand. Jeanne and LB have a great relationship. He is happy to do any and all of these tasks and others as long as he still has time to play golf.

Prayer Song

 

Let's begin NOW to pray for our church - our community - our city - our state - our nation - our world!  Here is the song for this year's observance:

                             Members of the Christian rock band, Sanctus Real (Sparrow Records)

 

 

 

 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7

 

 

Fasting and prayer are religious exercises; the enjoining them an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the time for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets; and right can never be safer than in their hands, where the Constitution has deposited it. – Thomas Jefferson, 1808

 

Join us this evening at 6:30 for prayer at NRN

Happy Birthday to Sharron

To my lovely wife SHARRON! 

 

 

 

 

I thank God for you.....  

 

Love,  Rick

 

Preparing for worship at NRN April 21 2013

As I prepare for worship tomorrow at NRN I am very excited about what God is doing at our church.  Over the past few weeks we have welcomed several first time guest.  Here is the planned worship set for tomorrow:











We plan  to pause for a time of prayer. 

Then we will worship the Lord with our financial offering.

I will continue in the message I began last Sunday in the teaching series:

 

There are three things that amaze me — no, four things

that I don’t understand: how an eagle glides through the

sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates

the ocean, how a man loves a woman.

 

Proverbs 30:18-19

 

Invite someone to join you at church tomorrow. You'll be glad you did!

 

 

The Marriage Promise

 

Here is a simple clip from one of my favorite groups

 - One Time Blind -

about the Marriage Promise.

 

 

 

 

Plan to invite someone to join you at church this coming Sunday.....

Best Relationship Tip Ever

 

Here is more from Dr. Emerson Eggerichs about

Love and Respect.

 

 

Questions and answers from the Five Love Languages

Here are a couple of questions and answers from The Five Love Languages web site and by Dr. Gary Chapman:

Q: My husband and I have the exact same love language. Why do we feel disconnected?

A: Many times, if a couple happens to have the same love languages, they have different dialects within those languages. So, you still think that what makes you feel loved makes them feel loved. The best way to handle that is to say to them, “Okay, so Words of Affirmation is your love language. It’s my love language too. What are the kinds of words that you like to hear from me? And where do you like to hear them? In private or in public?” So, find out something about the nuances of speaking their love language. That’s the key: learning to speak their language and their dialect of that language.


Q: Is it possible to have more than one primary love language?

A: The short answer is “yes.” I’m often asked that. People will say, “It seems to me that two of those languages are just about equal for me.” And I say, “Fine, we’ll call you bilingual.” But most people have a primary love language, a secondary love language and then the other three fall in line after that. But I do think that for some people a couple of these will be just about equal. And what that means is both of those will speak very deeply to you emotionally. So if your spouse or friend is sharing either one of those languages, it’s going to be very meaningful to you. But keep in mind that most people have a primary love language and the key is you have to give heavy doses of the primary then you can sprinkle in the other four to get extra credit.

 

Want a better marriage? Be a better spouse.

 

Want a Better Marriage?      Be a Better Spouse. 

by Darlene Glasgow

 

How long were you married when you realized that your spouse didn’t seem quite as perfect as you once thought? Does he/she seem to push your buttons more often now than when you were dating?
Of course no one really expects their spouse to be perfect. We married them for better or worse — right?

Once the so-called honeymoon stage has passed, couples begin to settle into the routines of married life. It’s at this point that some may question what happened to that sweet girl I married, or where did that considerate guy that I married disappear to? The truth is; that guy/girl that you married is still right there. If the honeymoon has ended in your marriage and your bride/groom seems different, then maybe it’s time to stop evaluating how they have changed and instead take a look in the mirror.

Have you ever considered that your partner was sweet, cute, kind, and considerate because while you were dating, you actually brought those traits out in your partner? Perhaps you too were more pleasant, more fun, and more concerned with your appearance back then, so your partner responded in the same manner. Why should this change now that you’re married? Why does the honeymoon have to end? As the marriage matures, the relationship does change in some ways as both partners become more comfortable in their roles as husband/wife, but there is no reason why the marriage relationship can’t be just as wonderful as the dating relationship. Actually, I think God intends for our relationship in marriage to be even more wonderful than it ever was while dating.

If you don’t feel that your relationship is as great as you would like it to be, then here are a few suggestions that may help. However, this is not a list for “fixing” your spouse or tips on how to make your husband/wife a better mate. No, this list is all about “you”, because the first step to a better marriage relationship is to first be a better spouse              Continue at StartMarriageRight.com

From my message today at NRN

Here is more information from my message this morning at NRN:

HUSBANDS: Love you wife just as Christ loved the church - and gave himself up for her...

Learn your love language - and your spouse's love language

 

 

 

 

WIVES:  So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

 

Here is the interview of Dr. Eggerichs:  

 

                              

 

Check back tomorrow for more information - including the clip I shared about an emotional affair.

 

Preparing for Worship tomorrow at NRN

Tomorrow at NRN is going to be an awesome time of worship to our Great God!

Here is worship set planned:










We continue in our worship through prayer and presenting our offerings the Lord.

The Teaching Series continues:

 

What happens when you invite a person to church?

I am excited about church on Sunday.  I plan to invite a friend.  What happens when you invite a person to church? 

Here is an actual example from a local church:





It's not that hard to invite a person to church.








Looking  forward to meeting your guest this Sunday!

Corporate Prayer Time tonight at NRN

Tonight we gather at 6:30 for Corporate Prayer at NRN.

I know the weather forecast  is for sunny skies and 85 degrees.  I will probably even wear shorts to the  prayer time tonight - but I plan to bring an umbrella.  See why:

The Five Love Languages

Last Sunday we began the new teaching series:

I mentioned the book - the Five Love Languages
by Dr. Gary Chapman.  Here is a preview:




Are you ready to discover your love language - and the love language of your spouse?

 

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/

Reflection from my message today at NRN

Today we launched a new teaching series:

Thought you would like to see the bumper clip once again:

 

 

 

Here is a portion to today's teaching to remember: 

 This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in

 knowledge and depth of insight.                     Philippians 1:9

 

 Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

  Love never fails.                                            1 Corinthians 13:7-8a

 

Honor

 “I will honor those who honor me.  1 Samuel 2:30b (NLT)

                   kābēd – “to make weighty”

 

In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives.

                                                                    1 Peter 3:7a (NLT)

                   timē – “to value, esteem”

 

Respect

 “Each of you must show great respect for your mother and father.”

“Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the

aged.”                                                    Leviticus 19:3a, 32a (NLT)

                yārē – “to fear              hādar – “to swell up”

 

He must manage his own family well, having children who respect

 and obey him.                                               1 Timothy 3:4 (NLT)



Preparing for Worship at NRN on Sunday April 7 2013

Tomorrow at NRN I plan to launch a new teaching series:

 

 

 

We plan to begin with an awesome time of worship by singing our praise and adoration to our Risen Lord - Jesus Christ!



We will come together for prayer as we prepare our hearts to come to the table of the Lord for communion.  The new teaching series  

is not just a marriage series. This is a hope-inspiring, life-giving story about relationships. This is a story of love - love had and love hoped for. But the story is not over. The characters are still being developed. There are still chapters to be written. This is the story of Mr. & Mrs. Betterhalf.

A new Teaching Series - Preview The Mug Illustration

A New Teaching Series begins this coming Sunday (April 7, 2013) at NRN.  I am really excited about this series.  Come join us this Sunday for a time of awesome worship and preaching from the Word of God.  Here is a preview of the new series:

Preview of New Teaching Series - Tim, John & Bob on marriage

This coming Sunday (April 7, 2013) I plan to begin a new teaching series at NRN.            Here is a preview of this series:

This is not just a marriage series. This is a hope-inspiring, life-giving story about relationships. This is a story of love - love had and love hoped for. But the story is not over. The characters are still being developed. There are still chapters to be written. This is the story of Mr. & Mrs. Betterhalf.

Here is a clip on perspectives about marriage:

A one minute sermon by Tamara Lowe

Ready for a one minute sermon?

 Listen to this one minute sermon by Tamara Lowe:

 

Need to see it in print?   Enjoy

To be a survivor in this Amazing Race with the need for speed you need God's Grace and if your desperate like housewives watching days of our lives, you can't cope without hope and that is not on a soap. If you're looking to Oprah or Dr. Phil you can shop non-stop or pop a pill, but the void won't fill and the pain won't kill until you love the one that hung on a hill.

Kicking back in your lazy boy easy chair watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, nah your not gonna find it there. No American Idol or Council Tribal has the final answer that will satisfy ya. C. S. I. ain't got a clue. S.V.U. don't know what to do Not the E R or the OC not those seen on a CD TV DVD or MP3 can save you and me. CNN has got no Good News here's a headline you must choose. It's not a simple life Paris Hilton, It's treading on thin ice living in sin.

You can be an apprentice for Donald Trump or eat Fear Factor fast food from a dump. You can be a heavy hitter or wheel of fortune winner or a Fox news no spin spinner or flat out sinner but you better check this life that you're livin' and make sure your sins are forgiven. I bet ya 50 cent Elvis done come and went, and eventually every Black-eyed-pea, Gwen Stefani, P-Diddy and Britney. Every wanna-be on M T V with their Icy Bling, every Dixie Chick that Sings, they all gonna see the king of kings. I don't care if you're J-Lo, Leno or Bono. One thing you gotta know. Some day you're gonna die, Bro. Then Where are you gonna go?

Hey, i'm not talking some punk junk that is irrelevant. Like your Grandma's church from way back when. It's not some preacher feature on T B N. that you need to be liking or listening. The real superstar is Jesus Christ. He's the way, He's the truth and the life. One day he's gonna split the sky. He is the brightest light and the highest high and so what I came to say and what I'm telling you is don't buy that stupid stuff they be selling ya. it's all designed to fill your head and waste your space until your dead.

here's the bottom line in my rhyme. Give your life to God while there's still time.

Reason for God Part 1

 As our culture is becoming more and more bombarded with myriads of belief systems, there are good reasons to develop a reasonable apologetic for the Christian faith. That is, you better know why you believe what you believe. It is our responsibility to do so. We are called to be able to "give an account" for why we believe what we believe.

Of course, there are good, good reasons for the existence of God. However, you're not going to win over a skeptic of the faith by proving the existence of God by way of the Bible. . .skeptics today don't believe the Bible. We cannot use the Bible to prove the Bible, as it were.

So, we need to start at even a more foundational place with people in order to help them come to understand practically that there is a God. The older Christian apologetic books like Evidence that Demands a Verdict often assume that the reader has at least some respect for the authority of the Bible. Today that is not as true as it was thirty years ago. The arguments (I mean that word in the best sense) that we have for our faith need to be sourced in the reasonability/plausibility of the existence of a God. In fact, there is good reason to see that being an atheist actually requires more faith than being a Christian.

What Keller is brilliant at is entering the predominate belief systems of the day and showing that those systems are often self-contradictory and collapse on themselves. . .they require great faith to believe in.

  This video is lengthy, but great.

Enjoy.

 

 

How many people saw Jesus alive?

Lee Strobel shares about how many people saw Jesus alive after the Resurrection: