Passing along some inspiration to a friend with a Love Dare

Posted By Hup | February 24, 2009

I’m on the train, so I’ll have to make this quick…

Last night Stephanie and I went to a couple’s session at our church (mark another one up for 2009 Goal #2!) that was led by two amazing people named Drs. Paul and Virgina Frieson. They run an organization called Home Improvement Ministries, have been married for 30+ years and have their faith situated smack-dab in the middle of the incredible relationship that they have together. They are truly inspirational and Stephanie and I, along with the other 100+ couples that showed up last night for the 2-hour event, were blessed to have them share their experiences with us.

(I’m now off the train and sitting on a bench in the SF station so that I can finish this…)

Me, my laptop and some currazy hair at the SF Caltrain station

Anyways, the couple’s session was all about keeping fire in your relationship and what it takes from both a man’s and a woman’s perspective to keep a marriage moving along the path that God had in mind when He created all of us fine-looking, loving yet somewhat selfish people. Paul and Virginia went through 10 main themes to not just remember, but to act on when in a marriage and as they went through each one they seamlessly tied each back to experiences that they’ve had and to scriptures that are written in the Bible. It was refreshing, entertaining and challenging all at the same time and it was a great way for Stephanie and I to get a jump start on some of the things that we will need to focus on once we take the walk down the aisle on August 29th — not to mention that many of the themes that we were walked through apply to our relationship right now. Good stuff.

At the end of the session there was a church-wide challenge for all of the couple’s to go through a 40-day journey called The Love Dare, which is a book that was created as a way to keep marriage (and other relationships) strong and on the path that God intended. The book is a part of the movie Fireproof, which I actually haven’t seen yet, but plan to see tomorrow at our church. Fireproof is all about a married couple who’s relationship is on the rocks and gets some much needed help from their son when he gives his dad The Love Dare and tells him to go through the 40-day challenge before they officially decided to break it off. If you’re in a serious relationship I recommend that you see it — I hear that it’s very powerful and life-changing for any couple that takes the time to watch it.

(my battery is about to die and I need to go workout so I’m going to wrap this up…)

Stephanie and I have decided to challenge ourselves for the next 40 days with The Love Dare, so I was reading our first day’s challenge on the train this morning when I started talking to a new friend of mine who was sitting across from me. Well, as I have found out over the past couple months, his marriage of 20+ years has been having it’s share of struggles lately and I have been able to tell that he could probably use some help. As I was reading my copy of The Love Dare I started chatting with him and quickly decided that he could use the book as well — so, I just gave it to him a few minutes ago and challenged him to the 40-day Love Dare. I wasn’t really sure how he’d take it, but after reading through the first few pages he seemed like it was something that he was excited to follow through with.

So, here’s to my new friend, Stephanie and I following through with The Love Dare. I’ll keep you all updated on our progress, but first I guess that we need to go get a new copy of the book. :)

Filed Under 50 Goals For 2009, relationship stuff, you gotta have faith

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    3 Talkies! to “Passing along some inspiration to a friend with a Love Dare”

    1. .FishNuts. on February 24th, 2009 12:24 pm

      Ryan- that’s an awesome story about the guy on the train- I hope the book really blesses mis marriage.
      You guys HAVE to see the movie (Fireproof)- I just saw it when I was home 2 weeks ago & its seriously so awesome and powerful…now I just need to find myself a man :) You two rock!

    2. Hup and Steph’s 50 Goals For 2009 : Hup and Steph on February 24th, 2009 2:05 pm

      [...] UPDATE: Went to an awesome couple’s session at our church and met some new couples afterward. [...]

    3. An amazing dinner with some new friends : Hup and Steph on March 8th, 2009 3:11 am

      [...] I mention this little Hup fun fact because when Stephanie and I went to the Love Dare couples event at our church a week or so ago, we ended up meeting an amazing couple whom we’d never seen before during service on Sundays. Their names were Matt and Christen (yes, they blog, too!) and they seemed super cool and really down to Earth, which, if you ask me, usually seems to be a pretty solid combo. [...]

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