[Raven]

Originally Posted by The Lemon

Sometimes the "connection" is not made (or not consistant) because they are out of balance in their life.

I know of some 20+ year marriages that have failed - both ministers and others, one thing I noticed in the ministry was burnout - when a person gives constantly in ministry and has nothing left for the home...guess what suffers??

I can't tell you how many times I have heard of ministers wives who are depressed, and despise not only their respective role in ministry, but also their husband and even the church - the same can be true of the husband. When there is no "coming together" and no deep emotional connection between spouses...there is a great storm coming..PERIOD.

No wonder Paul said he would prefer folks to be like him. After all, when you marry, a husbands duty is to please his wife, and the wife her husband....you can't do this as an absentee husband / wife / or father. The way we "do church" is half the problem in my opinion.. and that goes from the top down. Here is a noval idea:

1. Stop running a Church like a profit center
2. Make a living using skills and education outside the ministry - thus preventing the survival temptation to live off of people's free will generosity
3. Don't train saints to expect you to be there at every bekon call
4. Set the stage for personal growth and accountability and quit coddling saints for 30 years on the pew
5. Stay out of the politics in organized religion...politics is bad regardless of where it is
6. Don't play to the crowd and to your peer group...be you and be honest
7. Stick to principle and drop tradition where you can
8. Don't try to protect your image...just be a Christian
9. Preach the truth in love
10. Prefer your wife and children over other people, organizations, expectations.


There...

Excellent advice!!!