Life Seasons*
There is a season for everything under the sun—even when we can’t see the sun. - Jared Brock
Singles
One Another Ministries | Shoulder to Shoulder
Shoulder to Shoulder exists to empower, equip, and encourage single mission workers, their teams and their agencies as they serve in cross-cultural ministry.
by:
Coming alongside mission leaders and teams
Encouraging biblical reflection on issues related to the value of singleness and marriage within the spiritual family of Christ.
Providing resources and training
Redeeming Singleness | Barry Danylak
Though marriage is highly esteemed throughout Scripture, the Bible also affirms singleness as an important calling for some Christians. Redeeming Singleness expounds a theology of singleness that shows how the blessings of the covenant are now directly mediated to believers through Christ.
Redeeming Singleness offers an in-depth examination of the redemptive history from which biblical singleness emerges. Danylak illustrates the continuity of this affirmation of singleness by showing how the Old Testament creation mandate and the New Testament kingdom mandate must both be understood in light of God’s plan of redemption through spiritual rebirth in Christ.
As the trend toward singleness in the church increases, the need for constructive theological reflection likewise grows. Redeeming Singleness meets this need, providing encouragement to those who are single or ministering to singles and challenging believers from all walks of life to reflect more deeply on the sufficiency of Christ. (See review by Drew Lewis in Book Review section)
Why Being Single in Missions Might be Better | Sarita Hartz
It was July of 2006 in Mbale, Uganda. I was 25, single, and about to free fall down the side of a 320 ft waterfall. In the beginning abseiling sounded like a good idea, a way to prove to myself that I could get over any of my fears. But once I realized there was just a skinny, African man holding onto a rope at the top, I began to shake on the inside.
Those first few steps backwards over the edge into oblivion were terrifying. And yet had I not made that leap I never would have seen what was below. KEEP READING
Single Mission | Dr Debbie Hawker and Rev. Tim Herbert
Single Mission aims to encourage and equip single mission personnel, and to help them be strong in their faith, effective in their ministry, resilient and content with their lifestyle. The challenges discussed include loneliness, pressure to marry, childlessness, being busy, sexual desire, accommodation, care for the elderly, vacations, cross-cultural dating, being single for the second time and raising children as a single parent on the mission field. VIEW ON AMAZON (KINDLE) VIEW ON CONDEOPRESS (PRINT)
Singleness with Purpose | Brooks Waldron
How many times have you heard someone say, “He's such a great guy, how is he still single?” Or, “She's such a catch. When will she get married off?” The implication behind such questions is that great men and women get married, and those who are not great do not. For many, being single imprints upon them a meaning that touches their very identities: They are defective, second-rate, somehow less than others who marry. In response to this message, Scripture teaches that single Christians are not defined by their singleness, but by their union with Jesus Christ KEEP READING
Singleness Isn't a Problem | T. Edwards
Paul said it's a gift. Maybe we should start treating it like one. If you’re a Christian, older than 22 and single, odds are things are weird for you sometimes. Intentionally or not, the Church seems to have expectations, and even a timeline, for when people who are single will grow up and get married. If we operate outside of that trajectory, we are often treated as if we have some sort of problem. You’d think there was some hidden Scripture that says, “Thou shall be marriedeth by this time, or thou be a freak.” KEEP READING
Marriage
Prepare and Enrich | Transforming Relationships
More than 4,000,000 couples have prepared for marriage or enriched their relationship through taking the P/E assessment and working with a Certified Facilitator. The assessment itself has been proven to improve relationship satisfaction; however there is something extraordinary about the relationship a Facilitator develops with a couple that truly helps the couple grow more than they would on their own.
The Marriage Quadrants | The Allender Center Podcasts
“You’ve got an individual, another individual in this paired relationship of intimacy, covenantal commitment, and what comes of it is almost a third being. Every marriage is way more than additive.”
Like any classification system (for example, the Myers-Briggs personality types), it is incomplete; no individual or marriage will fit neatly into a particular category. But since there are so many complex stories and dynamics at play in any one relationship, Dan argues that it is impossible to engage and work with a marriage without having some kind of theoretical structure to offer clarity and direction. LISTEN HERE
Modern culture would have you believe that everyone has a soul mate; that romance is the most important part of a successful marriage; that your spouse is there to help you realize your potential; that marriage does not mean forever, but merely for now; and that starting over after a divorce is the best solution to seemingly intractable marriage issues. But these modern-day assumptions are wrong. Timothy Keller, with insights from Kathy, his wife of thirty-seven years, shows marriage to be a glorious relationship that is also misunderstood and mysterious. The Meaning of Marriage offers instruction on how to have a successful marriage, and is essential reading for anyone who wants to know God and love more deeply in this life.
Wouldn't it be great if "happily ever after" really were the end of the story? Great marriages require intentionality and investment—just like a garden that must be watered in order to grow. FamilyLife's Weekend to Remember getaway offers
biblically-based insights from top speakers and marriage experts;
relaxing alone time to rediscover the reasons you fell in love, free from distractions; and
helpful tools, projects, and resources for an immediate impact on your marriage.
You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity | Francis and Lisa Chan
Marriage is great, but it's not forever. It's until death do us part. Then come eternal rewards or regrets depending on how we spend our lives.
In his latest book, Francis Chan joins together with his wife Lisa to address the question many couples wonder at the altar: How do I have a great marriage? Setting aside typical topics on marriage, Francis and Lisa dive into Scripture to understand what it means to have a relationship that satisfies the deepest parts of our souls.
Jesus was right. We have it all backwards. The way to have a great marriage is by not focusing on marriage. Whether you are single, dating or married, You and Me Forever will help you discover the adventure that you were made for and learn how to thrive in it.
Somehow, someway, every marriage becomes a struggle. Everyone’s marriage morphs into something they didn’t intend it to be. At some point you need something sturdier than romance. You need something deeper than shared interests and mutual attraction. You need changed expectations, you need radical commitments, and, most importantly, you need grace.
Happy is good. Holy is better. Your marriage is more than a sacred covenant with another person. It is a spiritual discipline designed to help you know God better, trust him more fully, and love him more deeply. What if God’s primary intent for your marriage isn’t to make you happy . . . but holy?
Should Newlyweds go to the Mission Field? | Wesley Mills
In mobilizing folks to the field, I run across people from all walks of life. From the teenager to the young married to the family of five and the retiree. I love that God is calling people of all generations to the nations with his name. Inevitably, I will meet with engaged couples and those on the verge of engagement. Usually, both people are passionate about going overseas, and now, they want to go together. I can’t think of a more beautiful picture than an earthly marriage telling of the coming, better marriage! Most couples are eager to get to the field and are prayerfully anticipating what it will be like to live, work and worship in a new culture. But the question often arises: Should newlyweds go to the mission field? READ MORE
Kids and Parenting
Gospel Powered Parenting | William Farley
"How can I hope to be an effective parent today when attack on the family are stronger than ever before?" The answer, says Farley, is the gospel. Parents who claim the gospel as their own have an enormous effect on their marriage, their integrity, and their love for their children. Keeping the gospel at the forefront of every aspect of marriage helps parents fear God, sensitizes them to sin, motivates them to enter their children's world, and causes them to preach the beauty of the gospel to their children through their marriage.
Shepherding a Child's Heart | Tedd Tripp
Written for parents with children of any age, this insightful book provides perspectives and procedures for shepherding your child's heart into the paths of life. Shepherding a Child's Heart gives fresh biblical approaches to child rearing.
Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family | Patrick Lencioni
As a husband and the father of four young boys, Lencioni realized the discrepancy between the time and energy his clients put into running their organizations and the reactive way most people run their personal lives. Having experienced the stress of a frantic family firsthand, he and his wife began applying some of the tools he uses with Fortune 500 companies at home, and with surprising results.
The Age of Opportunity | Paul Tripp
Paul Tripp uncovers the heart issues that affect parents and their teenage children during the often-chaotic adolescent years. With wit, wisdom, humility, and compassion, he shows parents how to seize the countless opportunities to deepen communication and learn and grow with their teens.
Help! My Teen is Depressed | Christine M. Chappell
If your teen is battling depression, you may be feeling helpless and hopeless. Perhaps you’re slowly coming to the realization that you have no idea how to rescue your child from the darkness he or she is in. Christine Chappell knows from experience that there are no quick and easy solutions, but here she provides biblical wisdom and encouragement to offer hope for the hopeless teen and help for the helpless caregiver.
Parenting with Purpose | Danny Silk
Children need encouragement from those who believe in them. That encouragement helps to shape their view of themselves and their understanding of the future. The encouragement needs to be as specific as possible so they know you're doing more than trying to be positive. Complimenting them on their abilities and gifts is good. Commending them for who they are is even better. Do both.
What is your calling as a parent? In the midst of folding laundry, coordinating carpool schedules, and breaking up fights, many parents get lost. Feeling pressure to do everything “right” and raise up “good” children, it’s easy to lose sight of our ultimate purpose as parents in the quest for practical tips and guaranteed formulas.
*Resources specifically for Men and Women can be found here.
