Thank GOD for Christian Friends!

The East Tenessee Singles Retreat was excellent. Kudos to Amy, Brian and all for their hard work and planning!!

I know that several of you are mourning the loss of loved ones.    Several have health concerns and illness. It’s hard being a single parent. It’s trying as you wait for the person that GOD will provide to come along -or- if content single, sometimes tiring to answer to scutiny from family and friends.

We also have things to share and celebrate! The restoration movement is 200 years old this year! A good thing to reflect upon. We have family triumphs and milestones. GOD is very good to us!

Let’s share our prayer requests this week. Good times, bad times….are for family! And, to quote Sly Stone, “We are family”

East Tennessee Singles Retreat

We will be going to Pigeon Forge, TN this coming weekend for the Retreat. Look under coming events for contact numbers. Come if you can. Pray for all of us if you can’t.

(Belief in God) B.I.G. Heroes

Faith is not believing that GOD will let you have it your way. It is believing that GOD’s way is the right way and responding with action!

By Faith (BIG) Noah heard GOD’s warning and built a boat!

By Faith (BIG) Abraham picked up and moved to a new land!

By Faith (BIG) Joseph accepted his fate and thrived!

By Faith (BIG) my Aunt Rose prays for all of us daily by name!            By Faith (BIG) Bruce Porterfield has glorified GOD as the disease (ALS-Lou Gehrig’s) has stripped him of an athlete’s body and made him dependent on others .                                                                                                                       By Faith (BIG) you take your prayers to GOD and walk with HIM each day.

Tell me your challenges, prayer requests and (BIG) stories as we prepare for a (BIG) Singles Weekend at Disney this Jan.

Balance in Life?

Just a few questions….Why are people more excited about sports than about church?  Is football really a religion?  Why is it easy to say “I love ice cream” and hard to say “I love you”?  Why can’t boys cry occasionally and girls be tough?  Change happens every day, why aren’t we used to it?

Shake up #4- Appreciate Those Who Enter Your Life!

So….who remembers the “generation gap” ? When I was a teenager (say…1975-78), the term generation gap was used when  the younger (under 30- “don’t trust anyone over 30!”) and the middle age had problems communicating (“kids nowadays are no good”- my dad and most of his generation. And, instead of honest effort to communicate, most just took a pass on trying.

Here’s the question? Is there still a distinct generation gap and is it an issue at your church? And, what does scripture tell us as a strategy to cope with it?

I am committed to helping those in the church who want my help. I care deeply about young adults because I know statiscally that about half will drop out of church. I care about single parents who often quit church and keep their children home with them. I care about hose who have never married, whether by their choice or the inability to find a satisfactory mate. And, I understand the pain involved in losing a mate to death, regardless of the age!

Titus 2:1-8 shows what the Father expects of us, an interaction of encouragement, teaching and respect.

Tell me your thoughts and how we can appeal to singles of all ages as we prepare for the upcoming LAUNCH Singles Weekend at Disney!!!

SHAKE UP #3- Send those exes back to Texas!

So, what am I talking about? I’m telling you what Paul told the Corinthians I 1 Corinth 7:15 “if the unbeliever leaves, let them go!!!!”

And don’t spend the rest of your life chasing after or feeling guilty about someone who is ruining your life! I’m not telling you to give up on a good man or woman or to force out a questionable one but you don’t have to obligated to some one who is shacked up down the road!  I think the saddest (and most pitiful) country song is “He stopped loving her today”. He loved that sorry girl til HE DIED! No thanks!

So, get the baggage out of your life. Heal. Move on.

Tell me the worst story about a bad ex who wouldn’t let you go (or a story about someone you knew- I’ll tell the first one) Or make comments about my blog

SHAKE UP #2- Don’t be so picky

Socially and eventwise, I mean. Make acquaintances wherever you go! Get to know people for who they are and find the good in everyone. A lady here in P’cola has the sweetest love and concern for a homeless man who hangs around her store. Oh sorry, his name is “Bob”. She sees a sweet, older man who protects her property as he sleeps on the bench at night. And, she discreetly has searched for a better place for him to live. In return, he is a true protector and treats her like a daughter. They found the good in one another!!

Commit to activities! Krissie wants your commitment to the Deltona singles day!  I certainly want it for the conference at Disney. The same with all your brothers and sisters who plan events for you! Don’t wait to see if something better will come up. Commit to your church family early and often. The same with home life. Pick an event and make a big deal out of it…and go. Don’t let being too busy or too tired keep you from enjoying life!

Knew a guy who couldn’t date a girl because she had “ugly feet”. He nissed the “pretty” face, figure and Christian spirit. Focus on the Godly!!!

Share your thoughts and Bible verses that relate!!!!

Shakeup#1- GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!

It’s a long route from desiring a friend/date/spouse (you choose) to having a good friend/date/spouse.  So, for the next few weeks we are going to discuss ways to build relationships using both the Bible and Psychology Today as references (funny that!)

So, #1- Get out of the house!! If you want a social life with a computer, then you can BLOG and FACEBOOK til the cow’s come home. However, at some point you have to get out of the easy chair, get presentable and go do something! Few people actually meet their friends through UPS or PIZZA delivery.  Go volunteer in the community, join a share group at church, go to a parade….anything! But get out!!

Might I suggest checking the UPCOMING EVENTS! Good Friends will be found at the retreats in Tennessee, Deltona and Orlando. I know! I met many there myself!!

Responsibilities of the Church to the Singles Parent

Many never married ”women” choose to be sexually active and risk pregnancy. Others deliberately become pregnant to either have a child or “hold on” to a relationship. Many “men” are only happy to oblige. Thus our culture accepts the following mores as truth:

–It’s ok to be sexually active to please yourself or to have a child

–Single adults must be sexually active.

–Single men cannot be held responsible for their actions and are reduced to a bilogical sperm donor who is unnecessary in a child’s life.

As a Christian, I REJECT this lack of reasoning! Christians must take a stand for what is right. We must communicate that pre-marital sex is wrong. The singles ministers (ok, so you don’t have one…) and yourn ministers must teach abstinence! If sexual intercoarse has started, it has to stop to walk the Christian walk. We must create a safe environment where accountability can be established. We can teach right and wrong and emphasize God’s standard for purity. Although we can be forgiven, we must CHOOSE not to sin.

If already a single parent, you can expect your church to spiritually and emotional support you and your children. We, the church, are obligated to assist you to reconcile with God (Gal. 6:1)

Tell me what you think. Get involved in your local church! Expect the love of the church.

Communication basics for men

Things not to say on a first date could include all of the following:

Yo, Baby! Hey, Baby! etc. are not appropriate ice breakers………

I HATE that dress!   -or- that dress makes you look fat  -or- do you dress from K-mart????

I have a history of ____________ (insert your worst flaw).

Are you grumpy all the time or is it just me??

Tell me again about your ex!

Did you bring your wallet?

You’ll have to drive. My drinking problem caused me to lose my license (if this is true, you already know the pain of it).

Ok….so a little humor this week. share your thoughts (funny or serious) Check out the upcoming events including the Tennessee, Deltona and WALT DISNEY WORLD Singles events and expect alot of e-mails about the same. God bless you all! Jim