The Art of Marriage at Sea: Learning to love your spouse all over again!

Just before Thanksgiving this past year, Shirley and I attended a “Weekend to Remember” marriage retreat put on by FamilyLife Ministries. I am here to tell you: Before the conference I loved Shirley very much and didn’t realize it was possible to love her deeper than I did, but I learned how much more I could love her and how I could serve her more. We both left that weekend realizing how much every married couple should attend a life-changing weekend like we had the privilege to experience. Now I have renewed my commitment to Shirley, and she really is stuck with me “till death do us part”! God worked so deeply in both of our lives and impacted us so much, we want to get that message to ALL married couples.

The institution of marriage is a sacrament of God. When we get married, we stand before a minister, our friends, and family; but most importantly, we stand before God and promise our vows to Him. How has our society gotten where divorce is so easily accepted? (I am not pointing fingers—I too am divorced. I made some mistakes that I am ashamed of. But praise God, He has forgiven me!) With the divorce rate approaching 50% of all marriages in the USA, no wonder every time you turn on the news, all you hear about is murder and mayhem all over the place. From big cities to small towns, I believe with all my heart that these problems are directly linked to the breakdown of the family. So many kids are growing up with only one parent, and most single parent households are without a father. People don’t seem to realize that the commitment to marriage is not an “agreement” that can be just walked away from. “You take your stuff, and I’ll take mine, and have a good life.” How sad that the God-given institution of marriage has become no more than a simple agreement.

Shirley and I have partnered with Intentionally Yours Ministries to put on a seminar similar to the one we attended titled “The Art of Marriage.” It is also produced by FamilyLife Ministries. This program is a DVD series with study guide that you and your spouse complete together. Normally this program is conducted over a Friday and Saturday. However, Shirley and I meet Scott and Sherri Jennings at our Weekend to Remember, and God laid on all our hearts to conduct the marriage seminar on a cruise this October. Their ministry, Intentionally Yours, is all about strengthening marriages and families by sharing their experiences and using this DVD series with these sessions:

• Session 1: Love Happens (Purpose of Marriage)

• Session 2: Love Fades (Drift to Isolation)

• Session 3: Love Dances (Roles)

• Session 4: Love Interrupted (Communication)

• Session 5: Love Sizzles (Romance and Sex)

• Session 6: Love Always (Legacy)

 

Don’t think this is just for couples who are newly married. Couples who have been married all their lives (Well, it may seem like that sometimes!) will also benefit. This is a great seminar for couples who have been married any length of time, and it would also be ideal for a couple about to get married. Instead of going to a church or conference room to study the DVD for a Friday night and Saturday, we are doing it on a cruise ship for one simple reason: We want to immerse you and your spouse into this program. Oh, there will be plenty of time to enjoy the cruise and the wonderful ports of call, but most importantly, there will be special time to spend with your spouse without the interruptions of our lives. A chance for the two of you to connect in a way that you never thought was possible. It’s not just a few hours in a classroom, then back home. Each day of the cruise we will spend time going through the DVDs and having discussions on the topics with real-world answers from other couples who have been through many of the issued that will be discussed. You can just sit back and take in the information, or you can actively get involved. No pressure. If you find that your situation needs more privacy, accompanying us will be trained counselors who will be willing to talk with you and pray with you.

 

As we set sail from Charleston, SC, on the beautiful Carnival Fantasy, there will be lots of time to explore both the breathtaking ship as well as the fantastic ports of Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas, making memories you will share with each other over and over again. If you have never been on a cruise before, know that virtually everything is included: world-class food, entertainment, most activities, and lots and lots of fun. Carnival’s fleet, after all, are “The Fun Ships”! Whether you are a seasoned cruiser or new to the seas, you will enjoy the Carnival Fantasy. It is consistently rated high for service, food, and cleanliness throughout the 22 ship Carnival fleet. No passport is needed (though having one is highly recommended); all you need are a government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license and a certified copy of your birth certificate.

 

I have to tell you, space/cabins are limited. We have a variety of cabins that will fit your budget, and payment plans are available. We have a special for reduced deposits from now until March 4, 2013; just $100 per couple secures your cabin. Here are the prices for this cruise of a lifetime:

• Inside Stateroom: $1,050 per couple

• Ocean View Stateroom: $1,200 per couple

• Suites are available upon request and require a full deposit of $500 per couple.

 

For more information about the cruise itinerary, visit agapecruisetravel.com. Please, please, please do not delay in securing your spot! Staterooms are limited for this very intimate setting. I can’t wait to welcome you aboard the Fantasy October 23, 2013, and see what God has in store for each of us!

 

Rick and Shirley Trollinger

To learn more about Intentionally Yours and FamilyLife, check out the following:

www.intentionallyyours.org

www.familylife.com

 

PS: What a great anniversary or wedding present to give to someone!

Modern Morality and Intentional Impact

Look at where our world is now. What a police officer has to encounter on the streets. What our society considers “normal.” (If you would’ve told me ten years ago that our country would be having a debate on the definition of marriage, I would have told you that you were crazy!) The decline in the morals of our society is unbelievable! There is no doubt in my mind that our nation is not going the direction it should.

Look at the battlefields that are public schools, what our teachers have to deal with now. When I was going to school, chewing gum in class was the biggest sin of all. When I got into middle school, smoking in the bathrooms was the big thing. There was some alcohol experimentation, but I don’t believe it was to the degree it is now. I cannot remember a single incident where someone brought a gun to school. (Well, I take that back: Several of the country boys had their shotguns in the gun rack in the rear window of their pick-ups, but that’s not the same as the issues we’re having now.)

What is wrong with having morals and standards nowadays? Why do those who disagree with Christians want to tell us to keep our religion to ourselves? Every time a politician talks about his faith, the media seem to go crazy about it. I don’t understand this, not one bit. It seems that every time we turn around, Christians are attacked by those who say we need to be tolerant—but the very ones who tell us that are not tolerant of us. As Christians we should love other people, and I think for the most part we do. I can remember when we as a country could have a political debate from different viewpoints and still be friends. Now, people who don’t believe the same as others call each other all kinds of derogatory names. (On the back windshield of my car I have a bumper sticker that promotes President Bush. There have been several instances when someone has shown me a derogatory gesture just because of that sticker. Why? What did I do to them? I don’t know them, and they don’t know me.)

It has become clearer to me that this world needs to return to the morals that we celebrated in an earlier time. But to reach people in this new age, we’ve got to try something new ourselves. Standing on a street corner, waving your Bible in the air, shouting at the top of your lungs that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” turns people off, no matter how true the statement is. I have met those who are “Bible thumpers,” and I wonder why they think they can convert people by forcing the Bible down their throats. Shouting aggressively doesn’t promote God’s message of love! Building relationships with people and being an example for others is a much better way of bringing others to Christ.

While relationship-building is important across the board, I especially want to challenge my fellow Christian small business owners to make a new effort in this area. That’s where we can intentionally impact our world for Christ: using our businesses as a mission field, from the relationships that we have built with our customers, employees, vendors, and communities.

Agape Travel has a business seminar coming up Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30 – Sept. 3, 2012, with Evangelist Dave Kistler of HOPE Ministries International. This seminar will change your life! Brother Dave will take the Word of God and show us how we can impact those around us in light of the Prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:10). By bringing just one person at a time to Christ, our sphere of influence will grow larger and larger, allowing us to bring the light of Christ to a dark world. Brother Dave and others will share with us how they have impacted their own communities through faith, charity, and life examples. Additionally, you will also learn valuable customer service skills to assist you with those clients who are a challenge to deal with, especially in a disputed transaction. Do not miss this study!

The coast for this seminar at sea is $465 per person for an inside stateroom and $500 for an oceanview stateroom. If you make your deposit before March 10, 2012, the normal $150 per person deposit is reduced to $75. The next payment of $200 per person is due April 30, and the final payment is due June 25. (I could be mistaken, but I believe a portion of this cruise’s cost is tax deductible. Don’t just take my word for it; please check with your CPA.)

Visit www.agapecruisetravel.com or email me at rick@agapecruisetravel.com for more information. I will get a registration form to you, and you can join us on this 4-day cruise from Tampa, Fl., to Cozumel, Mex., on the beautiful Carnival Paradise. We have limited space, so don’t delay—call or email me today!

God Bless,

Rick