*|FNAME|*, read this and see what's happening this month at Vail Christian Church...
What Is Marriage? Maybe it seems like that’s a dumb question but I don’t think many people really know anymore. It seems that, since the launch of Vail Christian Church, I have had to answer that question more than ever in my career as a pastor. I think it’s because so many of our people are in this lift-off season of life where marriage begins, families are having kids, and so much is just starting and getting off the ground. This “launching” stage requires so much energy and effort that issues become overwhelming and destructive very quickly. So when I am invited in to help and guide couples, most of the time I find warped understandings of what marriage really is.
For instance -- commitment. Commitment is a decision to have the abundant marriage God desires, regardless of circumstances or whether you think your spouse is doing his or her part. A key to having that commitment is realizing that marriage is an unbreakable covenant before God. God describes marriage as a covenant -- not as a contract, which could be broken, but as a binding, permanent agreement just like the covenant God makes with the Christ-follower. Or here is another big one -- choosing to do something even if you don’t feel like it...or until you do. We often let our feelings guide our actions, but we are actually built for the opposite. The architect of our lives has designed us so that when we love another person with our actions, our feelings inevitably follow.
Most of the time what’s missing is simply focusing on the good in our spouse and the sin in ourselves, instead of the other way around. We are easily dissatisfied with our marriages because we’ve never really spent an extended amount of time not saying anything negative to or about our spouses. I think you can find something every day to appreciate about your spouse, and verbalize it. When we examine and work to change ourselves, we almost always bring out the best in our spouse as well. When you really understand marriage -- I mean God’s heart and design for marriage -- you know that it’s a deeply spiritual connection with God. It’s not at all a fifty-fifty, “I’ll do my part, you do yours” because that makes it work and we’ll get a better relationship out of it thing. It’s that we love our spouse because it pleases God! It’s not actually about us.
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Student Ministries:
Elevate - High School Winter Camp Join us for a weekend of snow, awesome worship and hanging out with your friends! Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your faith to a new level! February 25-28, 2010 Register Online at: www.vailchristian.com/wintercamp For more details on Student Events, contact Julie Spier, Director of Children and Students. |
Children's Ministries:
Kid's Night Out! The next Kid's Night Out is Friday, April 9th! Click here to register your kids! For more details on how you can serve at this event, contact Julie Spier, Director of Children and Students. |
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Life was never meant to be lived alone, rather God designed us to seek community so we can learn, grow and enjoy the richness of life. At Vail Christian Church, we strongly believe this. That is why we say that we are a church of community groups, not a church with community groups. If you'd like more information about community groups, contact Dave Spier. |
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Men's Breakfast: On the third Monday of each month men from Vail Christian Church get together at Hacienda Del Lago for a great breakfast, a short challenge and just to hang out with other Christian men. Don't miss it! |
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All Pro Dad: Guys, check out this great resource to motivate you as you lead your wife and kids! allprodad.com |
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Become financially free! Get the tools you need on the road to financial freedom from Crown's Biblical Financial Study. There is still time for you to get in on our next class starting February 14th, so contact Thom Dusek at thomb.1@cox.net to get in the game! |
This two-day video conference is a great way to strengthen your marriage, prepare for marriage or simply grow in your understanding of relationships. Based on biblical principles, the Love & Respect Conference teaches essentials of communication through love and respect. Dr. Emerson Eggerichs and his wife Sarah teach this amazing conference and we're bringing it here to Vail, Arizona on February 12-13, 2010! Register online today at vailchristian.com/loveandrespect. |
books . . .
Love and Respect
by Emmerson Eggerichs
A wife has one driving need -- to feel loved. When that need is met, she is happy. A husband has one driving need -- to feel respected. When that need is met, he is happy.When either of these needs isn't met, things get crazy. "Love and Respect" reveals why spouses react negatively to each other, and how they can deal with such conflict quickly, easily and biblically. What do you want for your marriage? Want some peace? Want to feel close? Want to feel valued? Want to experience marriage the way God intended? Then why not try some "Love and Respect."
Cracking The Communication Code
by Emmerson Eggerichs
Communication between couples has been dissected in thousands of books and articles, so why does it remain the number one marriage problem? "Because," says Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, "most spouses don't know that they speak two different languages. They are sending each other messages in 'code,' but they won't crack that code until they see that she listens to hear the language of love and he listens to hear the language of respect." Dr. Eggerich's best-selling book, Love and Respect, launched a revolution in how couples relate to each other. Now with Cracking the Communication Code, the message can be studied and applied. The result will be better communication, mutual understanding, and a successful godly marriage.
music . . .
Hope Rising
by Fee
Fee writes songs that are perfect for both congregational singing and driving in the car. This album it takes the listener on a journey of hope, redemption, and God-centered worship. It’s very rare to get a CD where every song grabs you. Add Hope Rising to that small exclusive list.
messages this month . . .
Are great marriages discovered or grown? What is God’s
design for marriage? What do we do when our marriage
becomes difficult? In this three week series, Lead Pastor
Ben Pitney will teach us what the Bible says about marriage and the roles men and women have to play in this most sacred of human relationships.
January 31 - Soul Mates?
February 7 - Vesting In Truth
February 14 - Love and Respect
Sometimes between life at work and life at home, we need some encouragement or a reminder of what God is doing in our lives. That’s why the Vail Christian Church Podcast is a must have on your iTunes subscriptions.
It’s free to download, and when you 
subscribe with iTunes, each week’s
message is automatically downloaded
to your Mac or PC. Put it on your mp3
player, listen in the car on the way to
work or listen at home while you’re
making dinner.
We hope you take advantage of this
amazing resource!
Download each Sunday’s teaching from our podcast.
Lead Pastor: Ben Pitney
ben@vailchristian.com
Connection Pastor: Tim Sheaffer
tim@vailchristian.com
Lead Worshiper: Chris McLaughlin
chris@vailchristian.com
Director of Students & Children: Julie Spier
julie@vailchristian.com
Administration & Children: Meghan James
meghan@vailchristian.com
Assistant To The Pastor: Sherri Van Fleet
sherri@vailchristian.com
Community Groups: Dave Spier
dave@vailchristian.com
Accounting: Jennifer Bertrand
jennifer@vailchristian.com
8000 S. Kolb Rd., Ste. 190
Tucson, Arizona 85756 (map)
Voice - 520.722.1220
Fax - 520.722.1253
Mon. - Thurs. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sundays: 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 a.m.
Empire High School
10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way
Tucson, Arizona 85747 (map)
Middle School: Meets Wednesdays 7:00-8:30 p.m. at:
· 9216 E. La Palma Dr. - Rita Ranch - Map
Sal and Susan Rodriguez, John McKie, Sarah Klein, Nathan Porterfield and Kaitlyn Dusek
· 10143 Canyon Meadow Dr.
- Rita Ranch - Map
Gene and Cecilia Wright,
Brian McClung, Nason & Rachel Simpson
and
Sunday mornings during the 9:30 service. For more information, contact julie@vailchristian.com
High School: Meets Wednesdays 7-8:30 p.m. at:
· 10535 E. Heartleaf Willow Dr. - Rita Ranch - Map
Mike and Sherri Van Fleet
· 9519 E. Ashford Dr. - Rita Ranch - Map
Matt Johnson and Mikelle Cronk
· 9039 E Autumn Sage – Rita Ranch - Map
Mat Miller, Erica McLaughlin, Thomas and Lisa Taylor
and Sunday mornings during the 11:00 a.m. service. For more information
contact julie@vailchristian.com.
Our children's programs meet during our regular
service times at 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 a.m. We offer programs
for nursery, preschool, and elementary school aged
children. For questions, contact julie@vailchristian.com.