“Run — flee the evil desires of youth; run away; run away from infantile indulgence; run from temptations that capture young people; run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts — instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.“  1

Okay, yeah love is the obvious choice, but why does the choice STILL have to be so [expletive] hard!

1 – 2 Timothy 2:22

Yesterday was Valentines Day.  Yesterday was also the anniversary of the legend of the green hippo.  If you don’t know that story or want another opportunity to laugh at me, feel free to read it again in Sex, Lies & the Truth – Pt 3 of 3 – The Truth.

I’m trying to grow up, grow more appreciative, take my Valentine less for granted, show the love I think of, feel the love that lives within and follow her example of generosity.

I worked a fourteen-hour day yesterday, but I still got a couple things right.

Mario Manningham, the NY Giants wide receiver was a good receiver in 2010, but the 18th worst at catching the football this year.  Fortunately, when it mattered most he caught the football that helped save the season for the Super Bowl winning Giants. 1

Most of us live life like Manningham, success one moment and we fail the next.  We want to be the best but stumple into stupid fights with the people we love the most.  It’s a those times we need to be the clutch player and choose to do what’s most needed.

Clutch At Home

Did you watch the Super Bowl?

Here’s a short summary:
Eli Manning was poised.  
Tom Brady looked panicked.
Aaron Hernandez dropped two passes.  
Mario Manningham caught the one that mattered most.

As you can imagine Manning and Manningham play for the Super Bowl winning New York Giants.

Winners Win

NFL players are generally assumed to be the best players in their sport in the world.  While some would argue that the Giants and the New England Patriots were not great teams, they were successful and won when it mattered most.

The Love & Respect Experience By Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
“A Husband-Friendly Devotional That Wives Truly Love”

If you’re a typical husband:
– you’re not eager to be vulnerable
– you don’t want to be corrected or enjoy opportunities to challenge your behavior
– you don’t want to schedule weekly interrogation sessions
Those concerns are addressed in the book. 

This book is meant to build you up, not to break you down.

The devotions are easy to follow and quite short — 800-900 words each — three or four minutes of reading.

Just in case I needed another “WHAT is happening in our world” moment, news out of Scotland:

“Sex trafficking victims reveal horror of witchcraft and torture being used to enslave women in Scotland“

Assuming it’s true — and I have no reason not to think it isn’t — it’s so heart-breaking and horrific.

FML

One “victim had been trafficked from Africa and was only prostituted in Scotland. She was trafficked by a trusted community member she turned to after witnessing the murder of her parents and grandparents by the police.”

Cuts lined her arms.
He drinks himself into oblivion.

She chases after “Mr. Perfect.”
He’s looking to “hit it.”

She’s settling.
He’s settling.

You must love yourself before you can love another.

Accept yourself for who you are, but don’t “settle.”
- Don’t let addictions stand in your way.
- Don’t let lies blind you.
- Don’t let self-pity poison your heart.

“You’re better than that!!!”  That’s mysilentscream.

I’ve worked several jobs in my life.  Twice I’ve had jobs at motels.

When I was in my early twenties I worked the graveyard shift [11pm-7am] as a desk clerk at a hotel in suburban Chicago.

Back in the day, it was known as “a no-tell motel”; the kind of seedy place people took late night dates for an hour, or so, of privacy.

I won’t tell you which motel I worked at.  Today it’s known as “the ultimate in comfort and good taste”.  There is no reason to dispute that based on my experiences from two decades ago, but it’s safe to say that when I worked there the rooms were not chosen for their “comfort and good taste.”

True intimacy is far more than physical interaction. Sexuality is not limited to the genitals: it covers a much broader spectrum of caresses, kisses, friendly company and words of affection. It includes a unity of personality, emotions, and our spiritual nature.

Charles Sell suggests that in order for there to be sweet music in our relationship we must keep in mind “if you’re married to a violin, be a bow.” 1

Get to know one another more intimately.

True Intimacy Takes Time

Maintaining an intimate relationship involves renovating and maintaining the romance.

Gary Smalley wrote, “Sharing deep feelings with each other is emotional intercourse, and it’s vital to sexual satisfaction.“

Listening to couples talk about their sex lives for the past two decades certainly has validated that statement.

Charlie Shedd interviewed a number of women and asked about their sex life. One woman said, “I always thought that sex begins at breakfast.  A few tender words to start things off would mean so much.  Then perhaps a phone call sometime during the day.  Some endearments exchanged when he comes home and maybe some help with the supper dishes.  Talking things over after the children are in bed.  Exchanging ideas. Discussing what we’ve been doing during the day.  A love pat here and a few kisses at the right time.  I guess I’ve had the wrong idea.  I thought maybe sex could begin at breafast, build upduring the day, and then explode in bed at night!”