I think ‘good for; good to’ is part of the answer. I love to talk with couples about what brought them and keeps them together. There’s all the standard comments: Love, respect, communication, patience, an occasional knock on the head with a frying pan. But sometimes they cut through the usual list of responses and say something truly interesting.

“She’s good for me.” I heard one friend say. “Before I met her I was knucklehead. Today, I’m a recovering knucklehead with occasional relapses.” We had a good laugh. I thought I’d get in a friendly jab, “That explains why you’re with her. Why does she stick with you!?”

He got serious for a moment and didn’t miss a beat, “She’s good for me. I try to be good to her. It just works.”

Ephesians 5:22-33 gives us a brief snapshot of how to have a healthy, happy, even holy marriage. It could be summed up in this one principle: “Mutual submission out of mutual respect.”

It could be said as a series of questions:

• Will you be good for or good to your spouse today?
• Will you look out for their interests and their needs before your own?
• Will you give more of yourself to them than you think you can afford and trust God to provide? (A good definition of sacrifice.)
• Will you be willing to repent when you’re wrong and forgive when you’re right?
• Will you value your relationship more than your own rights or opinions?

How we answer questions like these determines whether or not those mismatched couples will go the distance.

Good for | Good to – which are you?

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Last week —

• 213 Ministry Partners gave $48,702.06 to a budget that requires $46,154.00 per week in order to provide  ministries that touched at least 2414 individuals during 138 different classes, special events or ministry opportunities.
• Last Sunday we had:
  • 730 adults in Worship
  • 870 people in Sunday School
• Budget Receipts Year-to-Date: $307,394.78
• Budget Required Year-to-Date: $369,232.00
• We are behind budget $61,837.22

• Encourage & Train Underground Pastors
• Facilitate a retreat for Pastors and their wives
• Continue their ongoing ministry to feed and share the gospel with children.

Pray that God would give them boldness to share and effectiveness in their work.

TEACHER: JANET HENDRICKS – - – - ROOM 701

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

“O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD [endureth] for ever. Praise ye the LORD.”   Psalms 117:1-2

PRAY FOR…

- Protection, strength & wisdom for our FBCO staff

- Our Pastor Search Team & the man God has prepared to be our pastor

- All our service men & women and for the leaders of our country, state & city

- Our class to reach other singles, to share with them God’s love and His plan for salvation

- Continue lifting one another up in prayer as you pray over the Prayer & Praise sheet from Sunday

If you have a prayer request during the week, let us know at fbosingles@yahoo.com

THIS SUNDAY IS FEBRUARY 19, 2012 – Our lesson this week is “Be Repentant” Deut. 27:1-30:20

SNACKS THIS SUNDAY: Barbara M

LUNCH AFTER CHURCH: Potluck after 2nd Service

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: None this week

ACTIVITIES/ EVENTS/ SERVICE:

3rd SUNDAY POTLUCK LUNCH – Sun. 2/19 after 2nd Service - Bring your favorite dish to share. Someone will be in the kitchen from 8:30-8:50 AM for you to put your food in the warmer or refrigerator.

CHILI COOKOFF – Sat. 2/25 @ Taylor home @ 5:00 PM meet in SW Parking lot @ 4:40 PM – We will car pool to the Taylor’s home. Sign up in class. Pam is the organizer of this fellowship. Thank you, Pam!

SUNDAY SCHOOL RALLY – Sun. 3/4 9 AM – All SS classes will meet together in the education building for 30 mins. Then the women will go to “Springtime in Paris” while the men to go a “ManCave”.

LADIES ANTIQUE SHOPPING – Sat. 3/10 meet @ 10:30 AM in SW parking lot @ church – Day of antiquing and lunch. Watch for more info. and a sign up sheet in class. Dot is the organizer of this activity. Thank you, Dot!

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS – Sun. 3/11 – Don’t forget to set your clocks forward 1 hour before you go to bed.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY FELLOWSHIP – Sat. 3/17 @ Spainhower home, time to be annouced – Our annual green fellowship with a green gift exchange. Price limit of $5.00. Watch for more info. and a sign up sheet in class. Dot is the organizer of this fellowship. Thank you, Dot!

DON’T FORGET ABOUT…

- Monday Night Pizza @ Mazzio’s – Each Mon. @ 5:30 PM

- Wednesday Evening Meal & Class – Each Wed.- Meal @ 4:45 PM / Class @ 6:00 PM

Our Class Scripture: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

You don’t have to be an exceptional athlete, brilliant scholar, talented artist, or successful business leader to be useful to God. As a matter of fact, 1 Corinthians 1:20-31 makes it clear that words like ‘exceptional, brilliant, talented or successful’ don’t impress God. He’s looking for someone whose heart is loyal to Him.

A few years ago Gatorade asked a question, “Is it in you?” Today, I ask you the same question – but not about Gatorade, about something that really matters. What’s in you? What’s in your heart? Are you ready?

Paul said, “As much as is in me I am ready to preach the gospel.”

Is it in you?

This is a video of exceptional athletes doing unbelievable things. When your heart is loyal to God you can accomplish the unbelievable too. It’s not about your exceptional ability, but about the exceptional God you serve.

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thefarpoint/feed/~3/dCGrbPIUxs8/

Jack Welch, Seth Godin, Bill Hybels, Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Rick Warren, Mark Driscoll – these men are experts at articulating  practical steps for better business, leadership, living or scriptural application. They’ve built businesses and churches that have global impact and eternal influence. They speak in sound bites that become axioms for leadership, principles for success and proverbs for practical living.

It’s easy to see the value of practical steps. They are small, achievable goals, relatively easy to understand and attain. The big idea may be challenging. The mountain you intend to climb may seem impossible, implausible, even impassable. But take the right series of practical steps and you’ll find yourself at the top. With practical steps you can accomplish unbelievable things.

There’s also a danger to practical steps. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Good intentions may be the gravel under you feet, but practical steps are what move you down that road. People have to make a living. Chores have to be done. Dreams give way to the practical step of paying bills. The goal of business is to make money. Cheaper labor, higher prices sounds like a practical formula for bigger profit margin. Yet some companies find that formula failing while others, who choose to give away services for free, make money hand over fist. Christ-followers try to live ‘in the world, not of it.’ They take practical steps to separate themselves from temptation. They become so surrounded by ‘Christian’ people and ‘Christian’ culture they’ve excluded themselves from any real opportunity to be salt and light in a world desperately seeking the answers they hold.

Today, you’ll take practical steps. Will they be practical steps on the road to success or the road of good intentions?

It seems ironic, but here’s a list of practical steps to help you take the right practical steps.

• Know the Word. The Bible says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path.” It’s filled with practical wisdom for daily living.
• Know your purpose. There’s a difference between taking practical steps and taking a walk. Knowing your destination determines the difference.
• Surround yourself with smart, godly people. They provide insight and accountability on your road to success.
• Surround yourself with smart, godly people who disagree with you. If they’re smart and they’re godly it’s wise to listen when they push back. They likely have thoughtful, god-centered ideas you should evaluate and learn from.
• Move forward. It’s not really a practical step without the ‘stepping‘ part.

What practical step do you need to take today?

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thefarpoint/feed/~3/ZfB7uaMbEIU/