It takes only one degree from 99 degrees to reach the boiling point. At that point, everything sizzles.

What are the extra truths and extra efforts you need to increase friendship in marriage? (fun, enjoyment, companionship, etc)

Malcom Gladwell, in his book The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, tells us ….. tipping point are “the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable.” Gladwell defines a tipping point as: “the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point.

Song 2:15 Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.

Many times it is the little things that we do and we don’t do that makes the difference in our marriage. In business, we are expected to meet the expectations of our clients thus bringing customer satisfaction. But if we give or do things beyond the normal expectations, then this will bring customer WOW! Thus, resulting in customer loyalty.

How about in marriage? What are the little efforts that we can do to increase the heat (to 100 degrees maybe?):

Here’s a few examples:

1. Make time for emotional connection.
Your spouse is more important than your children (in the food chain).

Invest a little time each day just thinking about your spouse. Pour into your marriage the same as you pour into other areas of your life you are passionate about.

2.  Hang out together.

Plan an outing that the two of you will enjoy as a couple. Plan a date and go some place fun. Stay up late and watch an old movie together. Go to a concert.

Run errands together on Saturdays, meet for a lunch date once in a while, even just take a walk around the block. What Shirley and I do (for the past 19 years) is to do grocery together. I get to choose my junk food.

3. 

Laugh.

This is key. Don’t take everything so seriously. The world would say being married with the same spouse for almost 20 years could be drab. But laughter can put spice and sparks in marriage.

Prov. 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

4. Show affection.

Hold hands, kiss passionately (not just smack), hug more than just before you walk out the door, snuggle on the couch. Studies show that men who kiss their wives everyday before going to work live five years longer than those who don’t. Go and add 5 years to your life.

5. Get Away From it All

Get out, put all your cares away for a few hours, and enjoy each other.  Plan your dream vacation.

How about you? How can you add an extra degree to your marriage?

To my beautiful wife Shirley who celebrated her birthday today:

You are God’s greatest gift to me and our children. You continued to inspire and encourage me in our 19 years of marriage. We have been through a lot as a family. We had times of laughter and times of weeping; times of abundance and times of lack; times of sickness and times of health; times of blessings and times of testing; finding new friends and some even falling out; success or even failure. But whatever we have gone through in life, you stood here by my side. You help bring focus in my life, family and ministry.

Thank you for being a great wife, a loving mom, a loyal friend, a partner in ministry. I have truly received a beautiful favor from God through you.

Prov. 18:22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

A short acronym that describes her:

S- supportive, strength of character

H- opeful, happy

I-  nner beauty

R- espectful

L- oyal and loving

E- ncourager

Y- outhful

Happy birthday! I love you so much! Looking forward to the many more years that we will spend together.

Psa. 78:3 what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us.
Psa. 78:4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.
Psa. 78:5  He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children,
Psa. 78:6  so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
Psa. 78:7  Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

I remember when I started attending church in 1986, there were only young people since we were primarily reaching out to students. But as the years went by, I saw people of all ages being added to the church.

Our God is a generational God.
He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Exod. 3:15)
Deut. 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

But there was a generation in Israel in the old testament that missed it.
Judg. 2:7 The people served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.
Judg. 2:8  Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten.
Judg. 2:10  After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel.
Judg. 2:11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals.
•    This is one of the saddest moments in the history of Israel.

Satan is also constantly attacking the next generation. He wants to cut off and isolate the next generation from the previous generation.
•    (OT) Pharoah tried to kill all the baby boys during time of Moses.
•    (NT) King Herod also wanted to kill the babied during the time of Jesus.

We also see an attack on the next generation of today.
1.    Millions of babies killed in abortion.
2.    China’s one child policy.
3.    Africa’s aids and poverty epidemic leaving thousands of children as orphans.
4.    Korea’s waning Christian influence with the youth. Ex. Prayer mountain dwindling
5.    International child trafficking.
6.    In Phils, millions of OFWs abroad leave children behind.
There is a pattern of the enemy attacking the young people.

How do we keep the generations strong in God?
2Tim. 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
2Tim. 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

A Multi-Generational Picture
Grandmother Lois – Mother Eunice – Timothy – Reliable Men -Others.
Because God is a generational God, we are called to reach all generations.

TWO GENERATIONS THAT NEED TO WORK TOGETHER
ESTABLISHED GENERATION (NOW-GEN)
•    These is the current generation. Those whom God has touched; who experienced the praiseworthy deeds of God, his power and wonders he has done.
•     If you have been touched by God then you have a message and a responsibility to share that message.

We need to properly pass the baton to the next generation.

What’s happens next after you pass the baton?
People (players) will hold on the baton longer or they become…
•    Spectators – watch the game from the sidelines
•    Commentators – critique others
Generation gap will be evident.
Example: Charles Barkley
•    Coaching – making others better; helping others fulfill their destiny and calling
Example: Phil Jackson was able to help make great players in Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
Note: Phil Jackson used to play for the NY Knicks and had the worst record for personal fouls in the NBA. But when he coached he produced 10 championship rings with two teams – Bulls and Lakers.

EMERGING GENERATION (NEXT-GEN)
Psa. 78:6  so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
•    Everybody is trying to reach them – McDonald’s, Jollibee, MTV, Disney, Nintendo, Xbox.
•    Are we really doing our part in reaching and discipling the next generation of world changers?
•    Parents are ultimately responsible for their own children.

MAINPOINT: LET GOD BE HONORED IN EVERY GENERATION IN OUR NATION.
Results when the different generations work together.
Psa. 78:7  Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
•    Trust in God – not in human wisdom or ability, nor wealth, nor hollow philosophies
•    Remember His deeds – Faithfulness of God.
•    Keep his commands- Obedience to His Word

That’s my sunday message. Hope to see you all in Araneta this friday July 24 for our 25th annoversary celebration!

Bill Gates created the Microsoft empire and has amassed a huge fortune since 90% of the world’s computers run on their operating system. (Unfortunately, I belong to the 10% who don’t use the Windows platform.) Last June 2009, he stepped down from the day to day operation of Microsoft to focus on philantrophy. He is now running the world’s largest charitable organization – the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation valued at $27.5 billion. He co-chairs with his dad, Bill Gates Sr.

When asked [by Fortune magazine, July 6, 2009] what was the best advice he ever got, his response was his dad encouraged him to do things that he wasn’t good at –in sports like soccer, swimming and football. (This is contrary to some leadership teachings that says you only focus on things that you are good at.) What it did to him was to be exposed to different leadership opportunities and it also showed him that he wasn’t good at a lot of other things. Talk about teaching humility the hard way.

Bill’s father, Bill Gates Sr. made sure that he would get along with and encourage the right things with his kids. Family traditions and values are observed. His dad and mom even took parent effectiveness training in their church.

We can see two things:
1.    As a parent, don’t underestimate the impact of your influence over your child.
Prov. 22:6  Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

2.    As you are growing up, never cut your ties with your parents for advice. This is still seen now in their foundation since Bill’s dad co-chairs with him. Bill Sr. is still considered as the voice of wisdom for Bill.
Prov. 19:20  Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.

I remember asking my mom and dad for advice many years ago as I was making a decision whether to go to business or become a pastor. They said, “Never make decisions based on money.” I decided to be a pastor and never had any regrets. Thanks for your wisdom, Mom and Dad!

What about you, “What’s the best advise you ever got?”

What you honor, you value.  And what you value, you prioritize.

Eph. 5:22  ¶     Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
Eph. 5:25  ¶     Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

Some of the ways that we can honor our spouse and help boost our marriages are:

•    Everyday you need to listen to the most important voice in heaven. Likewise, we need to listen to the most important voice on earth – your spouse.
•   Meet your spouse’s needs. Don’t just look at your needs.
•    Have a regular date night. Many of the conflicts can be avoided when you have a consistent time together just to bond.
•    Engage in meaningful conversation – one that has emotional connection. This requires talking and listening (on both sides).

•    Respect your spouse’s opinion. You don’t monopolize all the world’s wisdom.
•    Say “I love you” at least three times a day. No, its not a title to a movie but it’s one good habit that we need to have.
•    Kiss passionately. Yup! You heard me right. It bonds you almost instantaneously. Medical science gives several benefits of kissing. It releases tension. It aids in weight loss. It slows the aging process. It increases fitness. It boosts self-esteem. And it prevents tooth decay (I think you have to do it with brushing.) Just to name a few.
•    Have sex regularly. I’d rather not elaborate on this one.

A good, no, a great marriage not only honors God but is also the most precious gift that you can give your children.