Back for some more...

Here I am! Thanks for hanging with me! I appreciate the patience exuded by WHOEVER reads this blog! Sorry again for the lapse in posts, sometimes time just sneaks away!?Actually, last week was pretty CrAzY in the Barrett House! My wife's family came for a couple days of a visit...and my Dad, Sister, 2 Nephews & Niece made an impromptu trip from Missouri out to AZ for Spring Break as well! It was REALLY nice seeing everyone, and we had a good time together. But anyone who knows what company is like, it's AWESOME, but 'daily routine' absolutely banishes from your scheduling!

Isaac had a GREAT time seeing cousins, and SWIMMING! He's doing so well in school this year, I am so proud of him! Daddy got to go to his Parent/Teacher Conference yesterday and was REALLY impressed with his progress and inteligence! I know most parents feel the same way about their kids, it's pretty special! He still can't wait for 'Tackle' Football to start, and appears to be really liking swinging the GOLF CLUBS! NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Caleb is my special little bro! School is still going well for him, he absolutely LOVES going each and every day! He's quite a 'handful' at times, that's for sure! But he's doing great! Whenever he looks up at ya and gives ya that smile with about 73 dimples, you can't help but MELT!

SUNDAY SNAPSHOT...

A young minister was faced with his first wedding ceremony. He sought counsel from an older preacher. The experienced man told the young man everything he needed to do and made one final suggestion: "If you ever forget what you are supposed to say," he advised, "just quote Scripture. It’s always appropriate to quote Scripture." The young man did a great job in conducting the marriage ceremony, until he pronounced the young couple husband and wife. At that point, his mind drew an awkward blank. He did not know what to say. He remembered the advice of the old preacher to quote Scripture, so he quoted the only verse that came to his mind. It was, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Unfortunately these mistaken words are all too often true. Many couples do enter into marriage not knowing what they do or how to do it. Many couples have little knowledge of how to pursue a successful marriage. I heard it once said… “Marriage is like twirling a baton, turning handsprings, or eating with chopsticks. It looks easy until you try it." It does take work!! After all…being married and having a successful marriage are two different things.

We’re starting a new series at the Church of Celebration last week called LOVE AFFAIR! Love, as it should, begins in the HOME. In a society which screams contradictions to how the Bible actually defines MARRIAGE, I’ve found quite often that people are desperately seeking a reprieve. They desire what God wants for them, but their choices represent otherwise. God first seeks for you and me to live wisely and be Sprit-Controlled. This is where we first must make a change. Committing our lives to Christ completely and falling back in love with our wife and/or husband naturally follows.

Four-year-old Suzie had just been told the story of Snow White for the first time in her life. She could hardly wait to get home from nursery school to tell her mommy. With wide-eyed excitement, she retold the fairy tale to her mother that afternoon. After relating how Prince Charming had arrived on his beautiful white horse and kissed Snow White back to life, Suzie asked loudly: “And do you know what happened then?” “Yes,” said her mom, “they lived happily ever after.” “No,” responded Suzie, with a frown, “they got married!”

As you may have discovered in your marriage…‘Getting Married’ and ‘Living Happily Ever After’ are not necessarily synonymous. I challenge you to start working on making them synonymous again!