Life

Renew a Happy and Holy Marriage

Most of my days counseling are filled with praying for and providing resources to people in deep emotional and relational pain.  There is no lack of pain and struggle.  However, the application of Christian truths will renew a Christian marriage.   The concepts below are for spouses who are safe from violence in the home. In case of violence, we strongly recommend refuge elsewhere and professional help before returning to the home. Brothers and sisters in Christ First, the husband and wife have to recognize that their most eternal relationship is as brother and sister in Christ.  In the death […]

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Overcome Any Addiction

If you’re addicted, please listen. You may feel like you don’t have it in you – like you’ve tried to get sober and failed. You feel like you’re at war and you’re getting the snot knocked out of you. It feels like you are starving and you have no more supplies, and you’ve been out there forever, fighting. You’re bloody and beaten. And your enemies are coming over the hill charging at you; you feel like they’re going to finish you off. “Would you like to surrender?” You say, “Surrender? But I’m at war here!” Too often our pride, arrogance […]

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Preparing For Loss of the Family Provider

We all manage our budgets, plan for our major purchases, have financial plan for paying for our children’s college and our own retirement, but we seldom consider end-of-life planning. In reality, 2.4 million Americans die each year — and that number grows every year. Losing a loved one is an unfortunate event. More often than not, we find ourselves unprepared in many ways, especially financially, when it happens. The majority of individuals that lost a spouse between the ages of 30 and 55 described their spouse’s passing as having a “devastating” or “major” impact on them financially. The Center for […]

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529 College Savings Plans Offer Tax Benefits

Saving for college—whether for your children or your grandchildren—has become easier in recent years with the emergence of state-sponsored savings plans. Called a Section 529 Plan, after the section of the Internal Revenue Code that created them, these plans are offered by all 50 states and provide tax benefits to college savers. Two options While each state plan is different, there are two general types of plans: prepaid tuition plans and college savings plans. With a prepaid tuition plan, the money you put into the plan is earmarked for tuition at your local state university. In most cases, once you […]

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Six Pillars of Parenting for Fathers

The first Father’s Day in the United States was observed on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. The day was proposed by Mrs. John B. Dodd, who wanted to honor her father, William Smart, a Civil War veteran who raised six children alone after his wife died in childbirth. Clearly, Mrs. Dodd took seriously the Lord’s instruction, set forth in the fifth commandment, to honor your father.  I understand that not all of us have a father like William Smart, who seemed worthy of honor. But the commandment does not tell us to honor our father if he is honorable; […]

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Lawfully Wedded

I, Patricia, take you, Patrick, to be my lawfully wedded husband… While Christian marriage is a spiritual event, to be legally married according to Florida state laws, you must follow Florida Statutes Chapter 741. Accordingly, you must apply for and get a license to marry at the courthouse, documenting your identity and paying a fee which will be discounted if you can prove you took a recognized 4-hour premarital course. Your marriage must be officiated by an authorized agent of the state like a pastor or notary public. After your wedding, your officiator and two witnesses must sign your license. […]

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Christian Marketing Strategies

In this era of decreasing church attendance in many regions of the country and in various demographic segments of our society, some churches have turned to innovative marketing strategies in an intentional approach to draw the unchurched in the doors or to take the gospel to them where they are. In the eyes of some, the ends always justify the means, and these techniques are seen as cutting edge and effective tools to reach a jaded and turned-off generation. Others see these approaches as “going too far” in an effort to be “relevant” and to identify with the target audience. […]

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Breaking Free From Unhealthy Relationships

After attending church for about 13 years by her mid-twenties, Tewannah Aman, director of Broward Right To Life and the Guard Your Heart ministry, said she felt convicted about her relationship with a man at the time. She had asked in prayer, “Lord if it’s not your will that we’re together, I need you to show me. If you make it clear, I’ll leave.” A few days later, Aman’s pastor posed a series of questions: Does he really love Jesus? Does he read the Bible on his own and live it? Does he pray about his life? Does he care […]

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Has Your Family Altar Altered Your Family?

Members of our congregation often ask me about how to have family times of prayer, Bible study, and worship in the home. What they are inquiring about comes under the heading of “family altar,” which is a “spiritual” way of referring to family devotions—Bible study, prayer and worship in the home. As a pastor I would like to tell you that this is a daily practice and routine in our home . . . but I cannot. Oh, we were quite regular when we had our first child all alone for 20 months. When our second child joined the mix, […]

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Don’t become a victim of elder investment fraud

Sadly, it has become increasingly common for the elderly to become victims of fraud, exploitation or just plain bad advice. An estimated $40 billion is lost every year to investment fraud with losses from seniors totaling as much as $3 billion.  One in five older Americans over the age of 65 — a total of 7.3 million older Americans — have been victimized financially, according to a 2011 survey conducted by MetLife. Factors like mild cognitive impairment, dementia and early Alzheimer’s may, in fact, make seniors more susceptible to falling victim. Fraud and financial abuse against elders is more widespread […]

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