I love living in Michigan

8.31.10

I love living in Michigan

I love living in Michigan, because we get to see the wide range of seasons change!  Though snowy winters are cold, around March every year people reminisce and long for that first real "melt." 

In fact, no matter how muddy and nasty that first melt is, I frequently open my car sunroof or windows to catch the fresh air while I'm driving down the road!  (So long as oncoming traffic doesn't splash that mud in my car!)

Then the first tree buds emerge, and perenials peek their heads up for the first time as if to say "Hello Spring!"  Fresh breeze filled with the sweet aroma of anticipation as kids all over jump on airplanes for warmer celebrations.  It's a hopeful season, called Spring.

When the school bells ring for the last time that year, and kids take the final bus rides home... you know that Summer has officially started.  Campers, tents, and travel trailers all hitch up and hit the road, as families celebrate simply "being" family.  Vacations.  Experiences.  Summer is installed by God Himself, so that we'd have awesome God-sized stories to talk about for the rest of the year.

As Summer rounds the corner, Fall creeps in.  Nothing better than a Michigan Fall... Apple Cider and fresh donuts, "trick or treaters", Lazy-Sunday afternoon's of watching the NFL... Cookouts, grill outs... tailgates.  Ah yes.  Fall.

Then we cycle back to winter.  With anticipation of the first snow fall, we eagerly look forward to celebrating the Holiday Season.  Christ's Birthday party is the best of all of them!

I love living in Michigan.

Virtual Business & Cottage Industry

08.30.10

Virtual Business & Cottage Industry

My amazing wife and I had our super cool neighbors over for dinner Friday evening.  We had a great time of laughing, sharing stories, and just "being" friends.  Our lives are on similar tracks, which makes relatability very organic.  They are dog lovers, younger married, and have a toddler daughter who is the cutest little girl you've ever seen.  These guys are seriously the coolest, and we will be sad to see them move away some day. 

We talked about anything that came to mind... A passer buy would have probably testified "white noise" reverberating through our open windows, as there were so many topics being discussed at the same time. 

Ever find yourself at a cocktail party, with crowds of conversations happening, and through it all you hear...

... Your NAME

or

... a WORD

that totally cuts through the busy discussions, grabs your necktie (or necklace respectively), slaps you upside the cheek, and subsequently auto-tunes your RADAR-ear to that specific conversation?

When my neighbor mentioned starting a "virtual engineering company"... that happened to me. 

When I "came-to" from the mind grabbing altercation... I inquired for further explanation. 

He then began to tell me, very matter of factly, how the "virtual business" industry has become very popular, and how he and his partners have done some research to validate this.  

Intrigued, I took my curiosity to my stand-in board of advisers.  Here's a recap of the ensuing discussion:  (THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVES!)

Virtual Company

• Posted by Rob Hughes on August 28, 2010 at 4:56am
• View My Blog

My neighbor was just telling me about the concept of "virtual companies" where no brick and mortar exist, per se... and all functions of job are done out of each staff member's own home / home office.

Is anyone else out there familiar with this concept?

Intriguing.

R

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God works in mysterious (financial) ways

08.28.10

God works in mysterious (financial) ways...

In our marriage, we've had at least a handful of "seasons."  The first year was our season for "honeymooning" and adjusting.  We were blessed by our parents to have an amazing wedding, a relaxing honeymoon vacation, and first learned how to integrate both of our incomes into one household budget.

We brought no debt into our marriage (Thank you DAVE RAMSEY SHOW) and had a starter emergency fund set aside for  rainy days. 

With two incomes coming in, we enjoyed many luxuries and dining experiences, and had funds to just play with... pretty much whenever we wanted.  Money was not a reason for any of our first year fights, that I can recall...  And to top it off, we owned a Condo, so had NO lawn, maintenance, or property issues to attend to.

Carrying that lifestyle with us, we entered a second season of our lifetime together.  This season was the responsibility season, where home ownership, landscape management, pet expenses, and fully funding emergency fund became priority.  We scaled back, set more aside... and were blessed to be able to pay cash for many of the household improvements and fixes that needed to be done. 

Next, we entered into the "baby preparation" season, where we scaled back expenses even further!  Living on one income (while still producing two) we ambitiously set aside enough funds to fully fund our emergency fund, and practice living on one income.  Our plan was always to bring my wife home from work, after our child was born.  And we did.

The season we are in right now is the tightest spending season either of us have ever been in.  Not only are we living on one income, but things are breaking (requiring $$$ replacement), and the economic outlook for our single source of income appears to be less than promising.  We are forced to make our grocery dollars stretch further than we've ever stretched them, and literally eating beans and rice for meals. 

We double think social gatherings with friends and family, filtering the venue decision through a financial "affordability" matrix. 

We have essentially forced our money to work extra hard for us...

The season we are in today is not comfortable.  It is not easy.  It is not enjoyable, necessarily.  But to God be the glory. 

Romans 8:28 (New International Version)

More Than Conquerors

 ²⁸And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,^[a] who^[b] have been called according to his purpose.

 

 

In this season, we have truly surrendered our money, our expenses, our future income streams to God.  He alone has this worked out, and we will trust in Him.  

We do love Him.

We know (today more than ever) what He has called us to do...  and we are moving in that direction.

He has revealed his purpose for us, and we follow his leading.  

If I take a step back and just look at the fruit that has come from this season's tree, I would totally see that God's hand is SOOO in this!

1.  We consult HIM much more frequently with purchases, decisions, and budget amounts!

2.  My wife and communicate more than ever regarding our family budget

3.  My wife and I have had deeper discussions regarding "Cash Flow" into our home than ever before.  --> We are getting on the same page now...

4.  A business vision has been born.  It is incubating and growing.  It is a Calling from God.  We hear it, and are doing something about it.  

5.  Our family has purpose, goals, and vision for the future (in all life areas.)

Though times are a bit tough right now, we know that our God has amazing plans for us.  I so appreciate our Heavenly Father for using this season to grow my wife and I closer to Him and His plan for us.  He knows that we would default to the "comfort zone" if everything were too easy.  

It kind of feels like he is gently pushing us down a path, that we've never traveled before... but know He is our tour guide.

(There is a BIG difference between "travel agent" and "tour guide.")

And so, on we march. 

Hooked on Wisdom

08.27.10

Hooked on Wisdom

I've been hooked.  

Check out this little diddy from the great Dr. Suess...

From:  One fish Two fish Red fish Blue fish

We took a look.

We saw a Nook.

On his head

he had a hook.

On his hook

he had a book.

On his book

was "How to Cook."

We saw him sit

and try to to cook.

He took a look

at the book on the hook.

But a Nook can't read,

so a Nook can't cook.

SO...

what good to a Nook

is a hook cook book?

While I may not be in dyer need of cook book advice, I am certainly in desperate need for wise counsel concerning areas of life I have rarely (or never) traveled before myself.  

For me, books have been insightful nuggets of wisdom that equip me with present day battle strategies and innovative ideas.  They allow me to be exposed to wise counsel learned through the experience of the author... sometimes accumulated over the course of many years!

Kind of like a microwave oven cooks pizza rolls during the Super Bowl half time, reading books has "mircrowaved" life lessons and true wisdom into my mind and belief matrix that would otherwise have taken many many trials (and errors).

Proverbs 4:5-7 (New International Version)

 ⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
       do not forget my words or swerve from them.

 ⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
       love her, and she will watch over you.

 ⁷ Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
       Though it cost all you have, ^[a] get understanding.

Solomon says it here!  "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom!"

I set a life area goal this month (August) to read two books, that would stretch and grow my mind.  I wrote this goal down.  I told people about it.  I claimed this ground in Jesus name.  

And he showed up.

I've never been a HUGE reader, but I'm so addicted to wisdom lately... its sick.  

This month, I've torn through:

Drive- Daniel Pink

Good to Great - Jim Collins

Escape from Cubical Nation - Pamela Slim

and am roughly half way through Tribes - Seth Godin

(synopsis & details on each of these books should be found in the Amazon window to the right of this blog)

I've learned to motivate people from within, by connecting them to autonomy, mastery, and a purpose.  

I've learned to lead from vision, and have a clearly defined "Hedgehog concept" that will guide our path in future business decisions (Including the investment of that new/greatest/shiny technology)

I've learned the entrepreneurial war-strategy of former Corporate Prisoner of War... and also the step by step guide to setting up a solid infrastructure to any and all businesses.

And now I'm learning how to identify "my tribe" of intrinsically motivated people moved by the same cause & purpose I am... and then how to lead them.

When I wrote down the goal to read two books this month, I was averaging about a book every 3 months.  The change in mentality and motivation is amazing.  Transforming. 

 

The lesson learned: WRITE YOUR GOALS DOWN!

Now taking this leap of faith (reading), I have discovered that wisdom is far more accessible than I had originally thought.  I'm hooked.  

Like an addict to a crack rock, I HAD to get my hands on more!

Here's what just arrived from Amazon.com:

Unleashing the IDEAvirus - Seth Godin

Visioneering - Andy Stanley

The Principle of the Path - Andy Stanley   (Thanks Elisa for your example and endorsement of this book.)

All Marketers Tell Stories - Seth Godin

Purple Cow - Seth Godin

The Dip - Seth Godin

Permission Marketing - Seth Godin

The LIKEability Factor - Tim Sanders

Making Vision Stick - Andy Stanley

Never Eat Alone - Keith Ferrazzi

Linchpin - Seth Godin

They way I see it, when I get through these books, I will have microwaved the equivalent of about 243 collective years of research, understanding, and experience into my mind...  talk about a TIME SAVER! 

Additionally, I have about 10 books on order from the library (free) so that I won't have to take another mortgage out on my home... :)  

God is good.  He is wise.  He wants us to gain wisdom.

And I'm hooked on it.

Worth Praying For

08.25.10

Worth Praying For

Being a slightly impulsive individual, I'm very quick to buy into inspiring ideas... Many times, the emotional energy of the moment is enough for me to sell out and move forward.  

I've many times said I'd rather make a good decision NOW, than the BEST decision later...

I've justified this with the fact that procrastination can lead to an overwhelming build up of tasks and decisions, thus paralyzing me (or my team.)  And part of that is true... however...

... I rarely pray over my personality traits.

Is it right to be an impulsive renegade?  and furthermore, is it right to write it off as a leadership "quality"... WITHOUT consulting the greatest example of SERVANT LEADERSHIP that ever lived?

Jesus teaches us to pray boldly.  Directly.  With His authority and in HIS NAME.

Mark 11:23-24 (New International Version)

²³"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. ²⁴Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

 He empowers us with the ability to powerfully command circumstances, situations, and experiences to submit to the authority of our faith, hope, and love.

As I examine my prayer life, I'm stunned to realize I too often pray for requests. 

God, please protect _______

God, please provide ______ 

God, please give me ______

God, please open doors / close doors with _______

Prayer is way more powerful than that.  And Jesus knew it!

Like a warrior soldier, Jesus wielded the prayer sword with strength and valor.  With each striking blow, He showed us how to effectively slash flesh and sin, and destroy the enemies advances through prayer!

Pray directly into situations.  Pray directly into emotions.  Pray directly into circumstances.  

CLAIM YOUR WOLD AS HOLY GROUND, OWNED BY JESUS CHRIST.... King of all Kings... Lord of all Lords.

Romans 8:31 (New International Version)

 ³¹What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Let me answer that for you... NOBODY!

No person can be against us.

No circumstance can be against us.

No fear can be against us.

No IMPULSE can be against us.

Having trouble keeping focused on that project?  PRAY

Having trouble staying motivated on that plan?  PRAY

Having trouble keeping focused on your vision?  PRAY

 

I will choose to pray over my tendency to make impulsive decisions, in all areas of life.  I will pray directly into it.  I will command my impulsivity, IN JESUS' NAME, to fall to its knees in submission to Christ's wisdom, truth, and love.

I urge you... pray with boldness and confidence... directly into your challenges as a leader.

Our God is big enough to handle that.

 

Miracles

08.24.10

Miracles.

God is in the miracle business, no doubt.  He's been stepping in to situations stacked up against the odds of success, and turning them around for His Glory. 

Wikipedia defines it as such:  A miracle is an unexpected event attributed to divine intervention.

Divine intervention is God's forte.  

A good friend of ours just had twin baby girls.  13 weeks premature.  

These baby girls have feet as long as the tip of your thumb, and weigh just over 2 pounds each.  

They have names, they have souls, and they have a miracle maker watching over them.  

Born by Cesarean-section, they will be living under tubes, lights, supervision, and medical procedures for the initial stretch of their long lives...  

Our Heavenly Father is big enough, strong enough, and good enough to step in (unexpectedly) and intervene with His divine power.  He alone can develop their lungs, their heart, their minds, their bodies.  

And He will. 

This is the promise that these baby girls (and all of us) can cling to, safely:  

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Our hope is in Jesus.  Our trust is in Him.  He loves these little girls WAAAYYYY more than anyone else ever could.  And He has great plans for them.

For now, we surrender them to His care.  Please join us in praying for these little angel girls.  

They are a true miracle, from God. 

~R 

Business Plans

08.24.10

Business Plans

I'm smack dab in the middle of writing a business plan right now... and I find myself at a road block.  I'm caught in between the two cliffs of functional and inspirational.

I'm a driver, a motivator, a leader, a decision maker by calling.  My gut feel tells me to write a plan that more resembles a story line, or plot.  

Start with the opening scene and define the market, 

crescendo into the main key issues/problems, 

then apply my business ideas to satisfying those issues,

and summarize in a timeline of how this will be done.

But, alas,... a pull stronger than gravity pulls me back to creating the sterile corporate strategic plan that so many failed ventures have fallen victim to.  

I must follow the example of Superman, and stay away from this Kryptonite.  Traditional plans don't sit well in my soul... which is probably the Holy Spirit warning me to stay away!

God knew this would happen.  This is why he told me to simply cling to your calling.

My calling?  To bring Glory to the throne of God, through innovation and startup energy.  

Here we go...

Today it begins...

08.23.10

Today it begins...

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.  Yesterday is gone.  Today marks the first day of your "future you."

And so I ask, what does the "future you" look like?  What does the "future you" do for a living?  Vocation? Relationships? Friendships? Finances? Physical care for your body?  

Over the last 8 months, I've been sharpening my sword with a great warrior in the battle.  This warrior has won many a battle... lost a few... and lead squadrons of troops to victory in many wars. 

This morning served as the turning point for our conversations.  The culmination of months of conversations and years of preparation.  

Activated.

A plan reviewed.  (and mentor endorsed) A vision renewed.  A GREAT GOD takes the bow off an amazing future, that only He could create.  

And so my future begins today. 

I will not compromise God time.

I will not compromise Husbandship.

I will not compromise Fatherhood.

I will not compromise existing responsibilities.

I will not compromise Self Care. 

I will not waste this vision.

I will not throw away my gifts, skills, passions, and life experiences in order to gain of convenience and predictability.

The only true "security" is knowing that God is in control. 

So, we march forward.

Back to back with mentorship and accountability, we march.

Though the future is filled with the "unknown"... we faithfully march.

We march to that place in which God MUST show up for it to work out.

surrendered.

Today, it begins...  as in Genesis 37.

Modern Warfare

08.22.10

Modern Warfare

We live in a world at war.  The war I reference is not that involving TNT, grenades, or missiles... (though I'm sure we could draw a few metaphors that would include them!)

NO.  

The war I am speaking about is of the spiritual realms.  It comes disguised as hurt relationships. 

It comes disguised as broken homes.

It comes disguised as unpaid bills and financial stress.

It comes disguised as escapism, isolation, and avoidance.

It comes disguised as lust, adultery, and degradation.

It comes disguised as passivity, resignation, and insecurity.

It comes disguised as selfishness, anger, and resentment.

If left to its own warpath, it will destroy homes, neighborhoods, cities, regions, states, and nations.

 

 1 Peter 5:8 (New International Version)

 ⁸Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

We MUST be on alert!  To simply avoid the acknowledgment of this war is to cowardly concede to it.  

 

2 Timothy 1:7 (New International Version)

⁷For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

God didn't give us the spirit of power, love and self discipline so that we'd waste it!  But rather, so that we would use it to advance His Kingdom forward!  Glory to God.

This war is real.  It's deceitful.  

The disguises it wears a mere illusions:

1.  Husbands, you frustrated that your wife isn't (__fill in the blank__)--> That's THE WAR

2.  Students, you trying to take the short cut out of that test so you won't look like a fool? --> That's THE WAR

 3.  Businessmen, you think your competition is your opponent and your only mission is to CRUSH them at every chance you get?  --> That's THE WAR!

4.  Ministry leaders, you getting frustrated when your volunteers aren't treating their "serve" with the same life or death mentality you treat YOURS?  --> THAT'S THE WAR!!!

Ephesians 6:12-15 (New Living Translation)

¹² For we^[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

 ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

This battle is not against each other.  It is not against your competitor.  It is not against your wife.  It is not against your volunteer.  It is not against the Flesh-and-Blood!  

 

It is against he evil one who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy us.  (see John 10:10.)

And we MUST suite up!  Get your armor on!

A great coach once said, "Sometimes the best defense, is a terrific offense."  

Suit up with TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, AND SPIRIT well in advance for when you will need it.  

So, the next time you find yourself in the tense heat of the moment, remember:

The battle is not between you and _______!  It is of the spiritual realms.  Jesus has, can, and will fight this battle for you!

 

Job

08.21.10

Job (Pronounced "Jobe")

There once was a wealthy man named, Job.  Cool thing about this dude is he was ROCK SOLID in his faith.  In fact, the Bible refers to him as "a man of COMPLETE INTEGRITY!"  Pretty amazing, if you ask me. 

Well anyway, Job was rich.  He had the modern day equivalent to a $50,000,000 family owned and operated agricultural business.  He and his boys, who helped him run the shop, had a great relationship and shared the responsibilities of running the shop well.  

They were a tight-knit family.

Their family business was flourishing.

They employed hundreds and hundreds of people (which provided for THEIR families!)

... and the best part of all... Job didn't take any of the credit!  He gave all the Glory to God!!!  

Amazing.

So... Satan, being the deceiver and destroyer that he is, comes up to God and says... 

Job 1:9-11 (NLT)

"Job has good reason to fear God.  You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property.  You have made him prosper in everything he does.  Look how rich he is!  But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!"

God sees this as an opportunity to assess Job's faithfulness, and already knows what will happen!  So he says....

 

Job 1:12-22 (NLT)

 ¹² “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

Game on.

 ¹³ One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, ¹⁵ when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

Job lost his animals and farm hands

 ¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

Job lost his sheep and shepherds

 ¹⁷ While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

Job lost his camels and servants

 ¹⁸ While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. ¹⁹ Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

Job lost his kids.  HIS BABIES!  His heirs to his little kingdom.  Gone.

... and you know how he reacted???  With grief and mourning... of course!... BUT FILLED WITH WORSHIP ALSO! 

 ²⁰ Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. ²¹ He said,

   “I came naked from my mother’s womb,
      and I will be naked when I leave.
   The Lord gave me what I had,
      and the Lord has taken it away.
   Praise the name of the Lord!”

 ²² In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

Okay, seriously.  I'm so challenged by this, because my faith isn't nearly that strong yet.  I want it to be, don't get me wrong... but can you imagine?

You build a company up to $50M over your lifetime, and it just crumbles down in a single hour?  Then your successors/compadres/children all die in a freak accident.  Blow after Blow.  Hit after hit...  

How do you react?

Well, I don't know how I would... but I can venture to guess that Job didn't decide to start his faith with God on this day.  I'm thinking he filled his mind, body, and spirit up with full on faith way early in his life... and had a full tank when this draining set of circumstances came his way.

We can learn from that, because let's be honest:  LIFE HAPPENS.  Maybe not to this severity... but you know just as well as I do that LIFE JUST HAPPENS.  

You run out of gas on the freeway

Your kid brings home a cold, and passes it to the family

You lose you job to an unexpected "restructuring"

You slip on ice and bang your head on the sidewalk, causing concussion and life long brain challenges

YOU CANNOT PREVENT LIFE FROM HAPPENING...

but you CAN pre-pare yourself for how you will respond.... by filling your mind with faith strengthening things.  

Philippians 4:8 (New Living Translation)

 ⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Just as Job built a reputation for being "a man of complete integrity," we must do the same.  By focusing and thinking about things that are right, pure, and lovely... and by walking with God through our every day life (and giving Him all the glory and praise for good things), we will keep the right perspectives and be able to stand strong when life throws storms at us.

The Gap

08.20.10

The Gap

If there is one thing I've grown to love about people it is this:  we all see the world from our own eyes.  

A handful of years ago, my wife and I attended a weekend marriage conference to strengthen our foundation in blissful joy.  We chose seats toward the back of the room (as this would allow us to step out for a glass of water or quick stretch if need be), grabbed our conference-supplied notepad and pen, and tuned our ears to the shared wisdom from a series of speakers.

Intuitively, I knew my wife would be interested in talking about the day's sessions and her noted "needs" that were identified within.  We'd retire to our hotel room, get out the notepad, and compare our notes, and open discussion on each of our "needs."

Crazy thing is... you'd think we were at two different conferences!!!

My wife wrote down what SHE needed to hear, and I wrote down what I needed to hear.  Both of us sat in the same conference, same time, same speakers, same curriculum... but picked up vastly different "take-aways."As different as our notes were, the end goal in our mind was the same for both of us... A healthy foundation in our marriage!

In business,  I refer to these "needs" as "The Gap."  Simply put, "The Gap" is the distance between where we are and where we need to be.  

Though "The Gap" looks and feels and is described different by everyone on the team who looks at it...  they share the same end goal as the common denominator.

"The Gaps" are meaningful opportunities, once identified, for an organization to use as stepping stones across the creek of prosperity.

But needs/gaps can't be identified without a few main things:

1.  An honest assessment of where you are at today

2.  A clear cut vision for where you want to be

3.  A humility and willingness to be willing to change some things to get there

3.5  A humility and willingness to allow others to disciple you through the transformation.

For my wife and I, we knew what we wanted and knew it was beyond our ability to "will it" to happen.  So, we needed the conference to catalyze change in our marriage.  We were both committed to allowing traction to take place in our marriage, through this curriculum.  We got honest with ourselves, and decided to do what we needed to do to set a strong foundation.

And so far so good!  Glory to God for that.

Where are YOU at today?

Where do NEED to be?

What's holding you back?

Who can help you get there?

 

 

Matthew 19:26 (New International Version)

 ²⁶Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."