Richard Mansel's Blog, page 3
April 2, 2015
April 1, 2015
Why Affection is so Important to Marriage
Thomas and Maggie sat in marriage counseling. Maggie dabbed at her swollen eyes as she cried about Thomas’ refusal to be affectionate to his wife of 32 years.
The counselor asked Thomas why he was cold towards her.
“That’s silly stuff. I won’t do it.”
“Maggie, did Thomas kiss you when you were dating?”
“All the time! I had to fight him off. Thomas even kissed me on our first date.”
“Did he hold your hand?”
Maggie smiled. “Absolutely! He was so romantic, bringing me flowers and candy.”
“Thomas, what changed?”
Thomas frowned. “Isn’t it obvious? I was a kid then. Look at me now!”
“Thomas, do you still love her?”
“Yeah.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“This is stupid. I’m leaving.”
Thomas slammed the door and Maggie was crushed.
A year later, the counselor saw Thomas in the park holding hands and kissing a new woman. Clearly, he had forgotten he was too old for affection.
A marriage without affection is like being frozen. We must be connected intimately with our spouse. Skin hunger is a very real thing.
Living without that connectivity leaves us empty. We cannot be one flesh with another person without affection. Being married roommates is desperately sad.
God commands us to be intimate. We are to be one in every way with our spouse (Genesis 2:18-25). Solomon begins his ode to passion in marriage, with the Shulamite woman saying, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth” (Song of Solomon 1:2).
We must never let the passion die in our marriage. Marital love cannot breathe without affection. Our bodies are not ours and we must be fully engaged with our partner (1 Corinthians 7:1-5).
Start today with a touch, a hug and a kiss and rediscover what you have lost!
March 26, 2015
March 25, 2015
March 16, 2015
Reading and Writing Music
I live in an active home and regretfully I have a difficult time reading or writing when there is noise. Since I can’t always get away from it, I put on my headphones and let instrumental music fill my mind instead so I can be free to read or write.
Accordingly, I wanted to share some of my favorites. I know there are countless examples of instrumental videos I could post but these are beautiful and long enough to serve the purposes I have in mind. I hope you find them helpful.
March 9, 2015
March 2, 2015
Protecting Our Marriage
Jake and Lesa labored to build their fortress. The blankets stretched over the chairs, until the kindergartners could crawl underneath, without any light showing through. They turned on their flashlights, rejoicing in their safety.
Years passed, Jake and Lesa were sweethearts in college. They had ostensibly been together since birth, growing up on the same street. Their love for one another was tender and sweet. They had friends and a lot of success academically and were happy together.
However, not all was well, as time progressed. One day, with broken hearts, they sat before their preacher, seeking advice. The scared young couple sat apart, unable to get near each other.
Through a series of exploratory questions, he determined that Jake and Lesa were facing opposition to their relationship. Both of them had friends who were pressuring them to break up.
They had always been together and they needed to play the field, their friends argued. Additionally, they were always together and their friends were jealous. The tension was palpable, despite their families’ support.
The young couple watched movies and TV and saw rampant infidelity. The thrill of new conquests faced them everywhere they went. Their confused minds wondered if they were being delusional in their goals.
The preacher cared for these young people, having watched them grow. His concern for them deepened and he contemplated his words carefully.
They needed to realize some things, he said. If they would survive as a couple, they must stubbornly remain together and refuse to break up.
Their relationship did not belong to anyone else. People will try to break them apart for jealousy and for the thrill of the conquest. No matter what, they must remain focused on their goals.
They must understand that Hollywood does not know anything about a good marriage. The world offers adultery, heartache, divorce and pain. If Jake and Lesa were to succeed, it will be because they refused to listen to these supreme failures.
“How,” Lesa asked in a quiet voice, “do we stay together, when so many marriages go bad? We aren’t even married. Already we are having problems.”
“Fifty years is a long time! How do you do it?” Jake exclaimed in a nervous laugh.
“You don’t have to do fifty years. You only have to do one day.”
Puzzled looks flashed across their faces.
“Every day you decide to make your marriage great. Today, you choose to create something wonderful for your spouse. The next day, you do it again. You make every single day wonderful and fifty years will show up soon enough.”
“It is like athletes who refuse to lose a game. They give it everything they have to win. They leave everything on the field or the court. Nothing else matters. God has given you all that you need to be a success in your marriage. Use it. Immerse yourselves in God’s Word and in prayer. You can do it. What’s more, God believes in you. What else do you need?”
The young couple’s body language began to change, as they relaxed. Their fingers moved towards their loved one’s hand. They began to scoot closer together. They could do this.
The preacher read them a passage that would forever reverberate in their heads.
“God is their refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1, NKJV).
Suddenly, they were six again, safely ensconced under their fortress tent; their refuge, where their light, the Lord of their lives (John 8:12), illuminated the path to a happy marriage, free from the wicked darkness (1 John 1:5).
They could do nothing but smile!
February 28, 2015
Muslim Religious Rights?
In the USA, we greatly value our religious freedom. Yet, the only way WE get to enjoy our right to free religious speech & worship is if ALL other religious groups receive the same right. Whether we agree with those other religious groups is immaterial as far as our constitutional rights are concerned. The US Constitution is fleshly but falls within the realm of scripture (Rom. 13). Accordingly, whether we like it or not, when we demand that the rights of Muslims in this country be denied, we’re demanding that our own religious rights be eliminated. Be careful what you wish for. I would rather see Mosques than have our own rights revoked.
