R-e-s-p-e-c-t

Great day yesterday talking with the ladies about how a man spells love: r-e-s-p-e-c-t. I mentioned this from Dr. Emerson Eggerich, pastor and author of "Love and Respect." 400 men were asked the question, “Which would you prefer?

1.      to be left alone and unloved in the world

2.      to feel inadequate and disrespected by everyone

74% said if they were forced to choose, they would prefer being alone and unloved (Eggerich, 49).

Harley in his book, "His Needs, Her Needs" calls it admiration. Gary Rosberg calls it encouragement and affirmation. The Apostle Paul calls it respect in Eph. 5:33. 

Nothing stokes a guy more than seeing his wife's eyes light up with admiration. And nothing tears at his soul like contempt and disrespect. 

Additional reading resources: 
Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas 
Love and Respect  by Dr. Emerson Eggerich
Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney 

"Every Word"

Question: Is the Scripture inspired by God? Then are the actual words inspired by God?

I'm not a scholar. I can read the Greek manuscripts of the NT but not very well. But I'm continually amazed not only at God's Word but the actual words God has preserved for us.

Dr. Martin-Lloyd Jones was the first one I heard talk about this and I believe this is true: God did not only "breathe" the principles and ideas of Scripture. He breathed the specific words.

As we looked at 1 Peter 3:7 on Sunday, I was reminded of this again. Peter is talking about how the way we treat our wives affects answered prayer. Peter uses the word ἐγκόπτω (pronounced eng-kop'-to). It's only used a few times in the NT and it means 'to cut-off.' It is related to a military term that means to dig a trench. In effect, Peter is saying, "If you treat your wife with disrespect or abuse her, your prayers will be intercepted." Like having call-waiting...the prayers will be cut-off by enemy traffic. Wow. What a picture. 


I believe that God chose Peter and used his specific vocabulary to preserve not only this principle for us, but the actually word ἐγκόπτω. Think how Jesus responded to Satan in the wilderness, "But he answered and said It is written Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" Every word.

Wow. God's word(s) are amazing. 

Updates for Dave Dickman

The hospital office at St. Anthony's has contacted us to ask for relief. They've been overwhelmed with calls. For updates on Dave Dickman, please visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/davedickman instead of calls.Thanks for caring and praying everyone.

Vision Weekend

What a super day yesterday! Baptisms, parade of ministries, C3 celebration, ministry fair. It was chaotic but what joy. Great vision weekend. Thanks to our C3 partners for a big day!